132: Fourth Generation: Overlord (Twenty-Eight)

Xu Yuan's tone turned cold. An invisible Imperial majesty, responding to a slight shift in his thoughts, naturally radiated outwards.

Though not intense, it made the air inside the Imperial Study seem to stagnate, pressing heavily upon everyone's hearts.

"A personal campaign does not require conventional sieges and step-by-step advances."

His gaze was like a torch, sweeping over the people before him. "That is too slow, and the cost is too high."

"What I want is to crush everything in my path! It is to uproot the source of the rebellion!"

He raised his hand, his fingertips seemingly wreathed in a faint purple-gold luster, pointing towards the Void Realm, as if pointing towards the distant Southeast.

"I bear the Purple Star Emperor Body and cultivate the Purple Zenith Imperial Fate Art. The dissipating Luck of these rebellious Noble Families, the resentment and evil spirits they stir up when they fight to the death, and even the Origin that disintegrates when they finally fall in despair..."

"To me, all of these are resources to nourish the Imperial Dao and temper the Purple Star Emperor Body!"

Xu Yuan pointed toward the Southeast, his tone decisive.

His voice carried a calm that was almost cold, yet it contained a heart-palpitating power.

"I will use myself as the sharpest arrowhead, carrying the magnificent great trend of the newly established National Fortune of Great Shang, to pierce through the Qinglan Mountain Range in one strike!"

"I will prove the might of the Imperial Dao before the people of the world. I will make everyone with ulterior motives carve the eight words 'Those who submit will prosper, those who oppose will perish' into their very bones!"

"This battle is not just about suppressing the rebellion; it is about establishing authority! I will use the fastest speed and the most ruthless means to uproot this stubborn disease in the Southeast and intimidate all those petty scoundrels!"

"As for the safety of the Royal Capital..." Xu Yuan looked at the Grand Elder and Wang Qingshan, "With Father and the Grand Elder holding the fort, I am confident there will be no worries."

"Father will oversee the government, the Grand Elder will coordinate the overall situation, and the Shadow Guard will closely monitor internal and external affairs. Any suspicious movement can be dealt with immediately without prior reporting! The Northern Territory has the Black Tortoise and White Tiger coordinating their defense, and the East Sea has the Azure Dragon in support. Within three months, there will surely be no major issues!"

Xu Yuan suddenly withdrew his gaze and looked back at the Qinglan Mountain Range on the map, his tone resonant like the beating of war drums:

"As for this war in the Southeast, I do not need half a year, nor do I even need three months!"

"What I want is to level Qinglan within one month, bring back the heads of Xiao Huan and Shen Jun, and return to the Royal Capital with the overwhelming momentum of a great victory!"

"By then, with the might of a great victory, who would dare to defy the implementation of the new policies?"

"If the Northern Wolves dare to invade again, I can personally lead a strong army to strike them head-on!"

"I want to see who, after this battle, would still dare to act rashly within Great Shang?!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingshan and the others looked at each other, seeing shock and admiration in each other's eyes.

Wang Qingshan looked at his son, who was speaking eloquently and with an aura that could swallow mountains and rivers. Looking at the unquestionable confidence between his brows and the seemingly innate imperial aura, his heart was filled with complex emotions.

The last trace of subtle estrangement and worry caused by the change in identity and the death of Wang Jue completely vanished at this moment.

He had taken the initiative to call him "Your Majesty" initially to establish authority for his son and to intimidate those elders of the Wang family and court officials who might have looked down on Xu Yuan due to his youth.

Deep in his heart, he might have hidden a trace of imperceptible worry, worrying whether the young Xu Yuan could truly control this vast Dynasty and bear the weight of this crown.

But at this moment, listening to Xu Yuan's strategic analysis, which was calm to the point of being cold, and feeling the naturally revealed, seemingly innate imperial aura and the confidence that crushed everything, Wang Qingshan understood.

His worries were unnecessary.

The Xu Yuan before him did not need him to deliberately use titles to pave the way for his majesty.

Xu Yuan himself was the Incarnation of majesty. He was not playing the role of a monarch; he was born to be one!

It was a kingly essence that transcended age and experience, deeply rooted in the depths of his Soul.

Wang Qingshan took a deep breath, no longer having any hesitation or reservations.

He raised his head, his gaze burning, filled with the pride of a father and the firmness of a subject: "Since Your Majesty has already made the decision, I, Wang Qingshan, will do everything in my power to stabilize the government, guard the Royal Capital, and ensure that Your Majesty has no worries in the rear! May Your Majesty win the first battle and return with a song of triumph soon!"

The Grand Elder Wang Zhengqing saw the change in Wang Qingshan's expression and understood in his heart. He stroked his beard with a smile, bowed, and said: "This old subject also has no objections. I wish Your Majesty success and a crushing victory over the rebels!"

The others echoed in unison.

Xu Yuan swept his gaze over the people before him and said in a deep voice: "Since you all have no objections, then it is settled."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable decisiveness, clearly reaching everyone's ears in the silent Imperial Study.

"Three days from now, I will lead the campaign personally!"

"The target: Qinglan Mountain in the Southeast!"

"This battle will decide the outcome and determine the fate of the world!"

Once the decision was made, the massive war machine began to operate efficiently and secretly under the supervision of Wang Qingshan and the Grand Elder.

Provisions, armaments, Talismans, and Medicinal Pills were quickly mobilized and continuously transported through channels controlled by the Wang family to the front-line strongholds in the Southeast.

Orders for the Northern Territory and the East Sea were also quickly issued through encrypted channels. Great Shang was like a net slowly tightening, and the Southeast was the most restless part within that net.

Three days later, outside the Royal Capital, in front of the General Pointing Platform.

The morning sun rose, and the rosy clouds gilded the solemn military formation with a layer of gold.

Thirty thousand elite Imperial Guards were armored and armed, silent as the grave. Only the sound of banners snapping in the morning wind could be heard. Their blood and Qi were vigorous, their Killing Intent restrained, and their Spiritual Qi surged; they were all Cultivators!

Further back, one thousand Shadow Guard at the Late Qi Condensation Stage, wearing dark spiritual armor and with auras that almost merged with the shadows, stood silently, like poisonous snakes ready to strike.

One hundred massive "spirit boats" hovered in the low altitude, their hulls flowing with runes, emitting powerful Spiritual Pressure, like silent behemoths.

Xu Yuan stood at the highest point of the General Pointing Platform. He had changed out of his casual clothes into black light armor, covered by a cloak embroidered with purple-gold cloud patterns. He did not wear the heavy crown, only tying his hair with a jade hairpin, making him appear even more heroic and sharp.

His face still carried a trace of youthful handsomeness, but the composure between his brows and the majesty in his eyes made even the battle-hardened veterans below dare not look directly at him.

Wang Qingshan led the civil and military officials who were remaining behind to see him off below the platform.

"We respectfully see Your Majesty off! May Your Majesty win the first battle and return in triumph!"

Behind him, regardless of what the officials were thinking, they all bowed in unison at this moment, their shouts shaking the heavens and the earth.

Xu Yuan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Wang Qingshan and the officials, finally landing on the solemn military formation below.

He did not make a long-winded mobilization speech, but merely circulated his Spiritual Qi, his voice calm yet clearly reaching the entire parade ground, and even spreading far into the Royal Capital:

"The Xia House is devoid of Dao; I, following Heaven and responding to the people, established Great Shang and opened a new Dynasty."

"However, the Xiao, Shen, and other clans in the Southeast do not think of repaying the state but instead collude with foreign enemies, raise banners of rebellion, occupy territory, poison the lives of the people, cut off my Spiritual Veins, and obstruct my water transport. This is a crime of the highest order!"

"Today, I personally lead the Royal Army to head south and suppress the rebellion!"

"Wherever this proclamation reaches, those who submit may preserve their families and even be credited for service to the country; those who oppose, whether immortal or mortal, whether Noble Families or commoners, are all enemies of my Great Shang!"

"Kill them, no pardons!"