C95 The Imperial City of the Ming Dynasty

Qin Buyi had not anticipated the staggering might of his adversary, nor the presence of a guardian at the Mahayana Stage providing close protection. Reflecting on this, he cast an admiring glance at Ying Zhi, who, despite the vast gap in strength, was managing to hold his ground—a feat far from trivial.

"Mr. Zhi, how long can you sustain the current situation?" inquired Qin Buyi.

After a moment's contemplation, Ying Zhi responded, "Should the strategy I proposed take effect, I can hold out for three years."

"And if it fails to work?" pressed Qin Buyi.

With a wry smile, Ying Zhi replied, "Then we're down to a single year. And if the northern Qin Dynasty presses hard, it might be even less."

"Don't fret, Mr. Zhi. Within a year, I assure you, I will eliminate the First Prince," Qin Buyi declared confidently.

Hearing this, Ying Zhi was riddled with skepticism, but seeing the unwavering determination on Qin Buyi's face, he held back further comment and simply stated, "I trust you, Mr. Qin."

As Ying Zhi uttered those words, he was suddenly gripped by the sense that Qin Buyi might indeed accomplish the feat. Shaking off the thought, he chided himself internally, "I must be drunk to entertain such fanciful notions."

The banquet dissolved into the late hours of the night. Both Ying Zhi and Qin Buyi, having chosen not to clear their inebriation with spiritual energy, succumbed to a profound drunken stupor.

Qin Buyi, though having imbibed his fair share, remained lucid. A sweep of his Divine Consciousness through his body eradicated the vestiges of intoxication.

Ding! An Epic Level mission was activated: Travel to the Imperial Capital and ascend to the pinnacle of power in the Ming Dynasty within one year. Failure will result in obliteration. The reward: 200 attribute points and the divine abilities of the Eight Nine Profound Arts and Land Crossing Golden Light.

The system's prompt echoed in Qin Buyi's ears. Gazing at the newly assigned mission, he turned to Ying Zhi, who had slumped over the table in deep sleep, and murmured, "Mr. Zhi, it seems your ascent to the throne is all but assured."

Although the task had no direct connection to Ying Zhi, with Qin Buyi's ascension as the most powerful individual in the Ming Dynasty, aiding Ying Zhi to the throne would be a breeze.

As the sun rose the following day, Ying Zhi gradually came to, his head resting on the table, his mind foggy. Channeling spiritual energy through his body, within moments, the haze of intoxication lifted, leaving his mind crystal clear.

Upon regaining his senses, Ying Zhi stood up just as Qin Buyi entered the room. Seeing Ying Zhi awake, he greeted, "Mr. Zhi, you're up."

Ying Zhi nodded, slightly embarrassed. "I made a fool of myself with the drink last night. My apologies for the spectacle, Mr. Qin."

"There's nothing to apologize for, Mr. Zhi," Qin Buyi reassured. "Everyone has their burdens. If a little drink helps lighten the load, so be it."

Ying Zhi chuckled in agreement. "Well said, Mr. Qin."

The two stepped out of the room, only to be met by Huang Yan, who approached with a look of concern. He seemed hesitant to speak.

"What's the matter, City Lord Huang?" Ying Zhi inquired.

With a glance at Ying Zhi and a covert look at Qin Buyi, Huang Yan reported, "Third Prince, the Falling Star Mountain Range has vanished. The scene suggests it was as if someone had erased it from existence. I came to inform you immediately."

Time was of the essence for Huang Yan. As the city's ruler, the disappearance of a nearby mountain range was a matter of great urgency. Failing to report it swiftly could spell disaster once the authorities began their inquiries.

"I'm already aware of the situation. You needn't concern yourself further," Ying Zhi dismissed.

Understanding the gesture, Huang Yan bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Third Prince. I shall take my leave."

As Huang Yan departed, his thoughts lingered on Qin Buyi, who had stood by Ying Zhi's side. He couldn't help but wonder, "From where did the Third Prince recruit such a formidable ally? To obliterate the entire Falling Star Mountain Range is nothing short of horrifying!"

"We need to inform the First Prince about this immediately so he can be on guard," I said, urgency in my voice.

The night after Huang Yan departed, the news of the Falling Star Mountain Range's vanishing reached us. Without delay, we ventured to the site of the ruins to survey the aftermath. But standing amidst the remnants of the Falling Star Mountain Range, Huang Yan was so stunned that he was at a loss for words for quite some time...

Ying Zhi and Qin Buyi's visit to Azure Sun City was brief. Ying Zhi took Qin Buyi to the Wang family for a quick catch-up, and shortly thereafter, they hastened their departure. Wang Zong of the Wang family, upon learning of Qin Buyi's level of cultivation, had his eyes bulging as if they were bells. He stared at Qin Buyi as though he were a creature of myth, taking a considerable time to regain his composure.

After bidding the Wang family farewell, the pair set off, soaring toward the Imperial Capital. With Qin Buyi's current level of cultivation, he could cover several miles in just a second. Yet, it still took them close to four hours of flight to reach the Imperial Capital. Qin Buyi was puzzled—how had Ying Zhi managed to travel from the Imperial Capital to the Falling Star Mountain Range so swiftly?

Sensing Qin Buyi's curiosity, Ying Zhi inquired, "Mr. Qin, are you wondering how I made it to the Falling Star Mountain Range so quickly?"

Qin Buyi didn't hide his thoughts and responded, "Indeed, I am."

Ying Zhi went on to clarify, "I used a Teleportation Array. These arrays come in various sizes. The larger ones can assist cultivators in crossing the vastness of space to reach entirely different worlds."

"The smaller ones are quite diverse. Some enable cultivators to instantly traverse from one side of our world to the other. The array I used is of this variety."

With that explanation, Qin Buyi's confusion dissipated. He was well-acquainted with teleportation, having been transported back and forth numerous times with the aid of the system. He'd even experienced long-distance teleportation between Blue Star and the Heavenly Desolate Realm. However, Qin Buyi had never actually seen a Teleportation Array. After hearing Ying Zhi's explanation, he gained a newfound appreciation for the breadth of techniques available to cultivators.

Ying Zhi added, "When there's time, I'll take you to experience the Teleportation Array, Mr. Qin."

"We've arrived!"

The Royal Capital of the Ming Dynasty came into view.

The imperial city rose majestically, sprawling across tens of thousands of miles.

Soldiers stationed atop the city walls bore a fierce determination in their gaze, their eyes sharp as hawks, vigilantly scanning the crowds below.

The walls themselves, constructed of bluestone bricks, radiated an air of ancient simplicity.

Ying Zhi offered some insight, "This is our Royal Capital of the Ming Dynasty, home to a population of several hundred million."

"Impressive, isn't it? Haha, everyone is taken aback when they lay eyes on the Royal Capital of the Ming Dynasty for the first time."

Qin Buyi withdrew his astonished look, musing silently, "If the Royal Capital of the Ming Dynasty were relocated to Blue Star, its expanse could rival that of an entire nation."

Ying Zhi chimed in, "There's ample time for sightseeing later, Mr. Qin. For now, let's head to my estate."

Around the outskirts of the imperial city, numerous practitioners were seen descending from the sky and proceeding on foot towards the city from a certain point.

Qin Buyi inquired, "Should we descend now?"

With a knowing smile, Ying Zhi replied, "Flying is prohibited in the Royal Capital of the Ming Dynasty, but that rule applies only to those who haven't reached the Tribulation Crossing Stage."

"Mr. Qin, follow me!"