The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

When the Great Zhou royal family was extinguished, the empire fragmented into eight ancient kingdoms.

The founders of those kingdoms were a mix of famed dukes and marquises, frontier generals, long-standing noble houses, and deeply-rooted sects.

Now, in the Great Xia Dynasty, the factions attempting to seize power and carve out kingdoms are of similar backgrounds.

Upon hearing that Ji Yuying intended to surrender the Great Xia to the Great Qian, many of these factions were sullen and furious, struggling to accept the blow to their ambitions.

But soon, some began to respond.

For example, the reigning Grand Chancellor—once known far and wide for producing countless top scholars—immediately rejected all suggestions to declare himself king. He publicly voiced support for Princess Ji Yuying's decision and vowed to obey Great Qian's rule.

The Great Xia's strongest sect, the Shenxu Sect, also declared:

"We were a sect of the empire before. We will continue to be a sect within an empire now."

Nearly ninety percent of the Great Xia's officials and nobility likewise aligned with Ji Yuying's decree, pledging allegiance to Great Qian.

They were wise and practical—aware that to resist further would only lead to annihilation.

After all, the Fang Clan had subdued the Eight Ancient Kingdoms with minimal noise. Crushing them would be effortless.

When the Great Zhou collapsed, its fragmentation was permitted—no greater power intervened. Everyone wanted Zhou to split, as it diluted future threats.

But now, with the Fang Clan's overwhelming influence, things were different. Being stubborn would mean death.

And yet, amidst all these would-be kings, one man still refused to yield—

The Great Xia's mighty Weiwu General.

For two hundred years, he had defended the empire's gates. His influence in the military was immense. Many elite troops and confidants would only follow his orders.

After hearing of the royal family's downfall, the general had led his personal guard back to the capital, claiming he was "investigating the incident." In truth, he seized control of the imperial palace.

There were even rumors that he had donned imperial robes and was already pondering a new dynastic name.

Even if the rumors weren't true, his occupation of the palace alone made his intentions obvious.

No one dared to confront him—not with his power and troops.

Well, some tried. But those who criticized him in the morning... vanished by nightfall.

At this rate, without intervention from a stronger force, the Weiwu General would likely crown himself king and found a new state.

After the palace was razed by Northern Region demon tribes, some new buildings and towers had been constructed.

In the grandest of these stood a burly middle-aged man seated behind an imperial desk.

He wore a golden robe, his blood energy vast as a dragon, exuding dominance and defiance. This was the Weiwu General—a man whose power had long shaken the realm.

Ordinarily, someone of such enormous influence would've been discreetly dealt with by the royal family. In fact, they'd already planned to do so.

But before they could act, they were wiped out.

After hearing his soldier's report, the general's face darkened.

"So... that little girl is still alive!"

He was, of course, referring to Ji Yuying. Not only had she survived, but she had made a move so devastating it had ruined his ambitions—and possibly doomed him entirely.

His anger boiled. He wanted nothing more than to strangle her with his own hands.

After a moment of silence, he turned toward the shadows and said coldly,

"Tell them—I'm willing to cooperate."

A shadow slipped into the void and vanished without a sound.

Soon after, under the general's command, his elites and trusted troops gathered. Together, they ascended into the skies above the imperial palace.

Standing at the front, the Weiwu General clasped his hands behind his back. Behind him, his troops formed an imposing phalanx, their auras connected, emanating the presence of a primordial beast poised to devour all.

Their murderous aura surged skyward. Anyone seeing them would consider them an unstoppable army of conquest.

About half an hour passed.

"So fast!"

The general's eyes snapped open. As he beheld the approaching figures, his pupils contracted. A sinking feeling weighed on his heart.

He saw two young men seated atop massive dragon-headed, winged beasts.

One had an average appearance but deep eyes. The other had an aura of imperial majesty, golden dragon light dancing in his gaze.

Behind them flew a giant Azure Thunder Roc, wings spanning over 300 feet. Upon its back stood a group of peerless youths, each exuding deep, boundless auras, their gazes sharp and their presence overwhelming.

They were none other than Fang Luo, Fang Kong, and the Fang Clan's Hidden Dragon Guards.

The Weiwu General had always believed his army was unmatched, that with them, he could conquer and dominate.

But now, seeing these youths, he was shocked to the core.

"So the Fang Clan had such elite forces?!"

Even his proud confidence faltered. His soldiers paled in comparison—not even in the same league.

A sense of defeat crept into his chest.

And he hadn't even spoken yet—already, he was a step behind.

Among the Hidden Dragon Guards, Ji Yuying stepped forward. Her gaze was piercing as she addressed him.

"General Chen! You were ordered to guard the border. Yet you entered the capital without imperial decree—and seized the palace! This is treason!"

"If you surrender now, you may yet receive leniency. But if you continue this rebellion, not only you—every one of your men will be executed as traitors!"

Even if he surrendered, his fate was sealed.

According to Fang Ting's orders, any rebel would be put to death without exception.

But Ji Yuying pitied the soldiers. They were merely obeying orders. So she gave him one last chance—for their sake.

If the Weiwu General had any intention of yielding, he'd have done so long ago. But he remained, rooted in the palace.

He raised his eyes slightly, his voice thunderous:

"The Great Xia royal family is dead! I returned with my troops to find the truth. You hold no office or authority—what right have you to command me?"

"And all of you! You dare trespass the imperial palace—death is your only sentence!!"

Ji Yuying hadn't expected such obstinance, especially at this point. Did he really intend to drag all his soldiers down with him?

Fang Luo and Fang Kong, however, sensed something else.

"For him to persist like this, even now… he must have a backer."

"In today's Cangzhou, who still dares oppose the Fang Clan?"

"The Western Region's Buddhist Order? The Southern Devil Sect?"

"Or perhaps… a force from beyond Cangzhou itself?"