Chapter 459 - 226: Small Desert Shop

King Chonghou’s eyes were sharp, as if stars revolved and the cosmos shifted between light and dark within them.

"The Manghuang Race merely benefits from favorable timing and terrain. To reach the pinnacle in this world, one must ultimately win the hearts of the people. They do not comprehend the will of the heavens, nor the cycles of prosperity and decline. They are nothing to be feared."

King Chonghou declared with arrogance.

Mo Wuji bowed and praised, "Marquis King, your might is on par with creation itself. The Manghuang Barbarians are but a trifling ailment, easily swept aside. It’s just..."

"Just what?"

"It’s just that the Great Zhou is menacingly powerful, and several Manghuang tribes have already pledged their allegiance to them. I fear the world’s political landscape is on the verge of a major shift."

"I rule over a vast and fertile domain, with countless fierce generals and a million elite soldiers under my command. I also have the aid of the Central Asian Barbarians. If the Great Zhou stays away, fine. But if they dare to come..."

An indescribable emotion flickered in King Chonghou’s eyes. A tangible aura of untamable pride emanated from him.

Mo Wuji dropped to his knees, bowing respectfully as he declared, "Marquis King, your might shakes the world! You are destined to build an unparalleled legacy!"

"HAHAHA!"

His laughter boomed like thunder and great bells, resonating in all directions and causing the very roof to hum.

An hour later, in the Mo Family residence, a grim-faced Mo Wuji summoned his eldest son, Mo Longteng, and his younger daughter, Mo Ling’Er.

"Father, did the Marquis King issue a command? Is something wrong?"

Seeing his father’s worried frown and solemn expression, Mo Longteng couldn’t help but ask.

"The Marquis King didn’t issue any new orders. Rather, he revealed his ambition today... Sigh!"

Mo Wuji sighed, his voice heavy.

"The Marquis King revealed it to you, Father?"

Mo Ling’Er was taken aback, then asked curiously, "Was he testing the Mo Family’s loyalty? It seems the power behind the Marquis King can no longer remain patient."

"During the Gui Xu period, the Marquis King still knew his place. Now that he occupies such a vast territory by himself, his ambition is naturally becoming irrepressible. But Father, what about our Mo Family...?"

"The arrow is already nocked. Since our Mo Family was assigned to the Marquis King’s command, we are already considered his people. Even if the Emperor of Great Zhou is wise, his other high ministers will hold a grudge against us. When that time comes..."

"Effective immediately, enforce military discipline, stockpile grain and provisions, and have the army drill once every day. There can be no slacking."

"Yes, Father."

Mo Longteng bowed in acceptance.

Mo Wuji nodded, then turned to his daughter and said softly, "My dear daughter, focus on your cultivation. You must break through to the Domain Realm as soon as possible. When you do, I will pass on our Mo Family’s Divine Techniques to you..."

"In this tumultuous world, only martial might is the ultimate path to power!"

A harsh glint flashed in the corner of Mo Wuji’s eye. A faint, jade-green halo flickered in and out of existence around his body.

As this halo manifested, Mo Wuji’s entire body seemed to become ethereal, flickering between substance and illusion.

It was as if he existed somewhere between reality and illusion.

"Father, your Life and Death Seal Technique has already reached Great Success?"

Mo Longteng and Mo Ling’Er were overjoyed, exclaiming in unison.

"Yes."

Mo Wuji replied nonchalantly.

"Wonderful! Father, with your Divine Skill at Great Success, our Mo Family can now advance or retreat as we please. We are now in an invincible position!"

Mo Longteng shouted, unable to contain his joy.

"Teng’Er, you’re so impetuous. How can I rest easy?"

Mo Wuji said, his brows furrowed.

"Father, Big Brother is just overjoyed," Mo Ling’Er said, but then she turned to her brother and added a stern warning, "However, you must be discreet. No one outside of the three of us can know."

"Ling’Er is right. Alright, Teng’Er, go and make the preparations. We must remain on high alert. Not a moment can be wasted."

"Yes, General!"

Mo Longteng suppressed his elation, turned, and strode quickly out of the hall.

After Mo Longteng left, Mo Wuji looked at his daughter with a gentle smile. "How is your practice of the Spring Breeze and Rain Divine Skill coming along?"

"Yes," Mo Ling’Er said with a nod. "I’m just one final barrier away from breaking through to the Domain Realm."

"Good. You are truly worthy of being a top-tier Martial Artist, born with the blood of both the Mo and Yun Families. At your age, I had only just entered the Dharma Realm."

"Father, stop praising me like that. This trip has shown me just how many heroes there are in the world. I wouldn’t dare be so arrogant as to think I’m the best."

As Mo Ling’Er spoke, the dashing figure of Zhao Rui surfaced in her mind.

’He probably entered the Domain Realm long ago.’

Seeing his daughter lost in thought, Mo Wuji coughed lightly and asked with a frown, "Daughter, is something on your mind?"

"No, nothing! Father, I’m going back to my cultivation. I’ll strive to break through to the Domain Realm as soon as possible. Please don’t disturb me unless it’s important."

Mo Ling’Er hurriedly finished with a smile, then turned and rushed out of the hall.

"That girl! Her personality is just like her mother’s."

Mo Wuji chuckled softly, his fond exasperation plain to see.

「Northern Border Desert」

Zhao Rui rode on a camel led by a young boy, traveling from the desolate borderlands toward the Central Asian States.

Beside him were a man and a woman in martial attire. They were in their early twenties, looking to be three or four years older than Zhao Rui.

The two appeared to be a couple. They each rode their own camel but were still acting affectionately toward one another.

The young couple’s playfulness made Zhao Rui a little envious.

Ever since becoming a Grandmaster, it had been a long time since he’d simply chatted with a woman like that.

’I don’t know if reaching the peak of the Martial Dao truly makes one forget about love, or if I just haven’t met a woman who can truly capture my heart.’

’To this day, I still haven’t felt that uncontrollable longing and affection for a woman that I felt in my past life.’

’An instinctual attraction, or what you might call being fated from a past life—that’s the most ideal and blissful partner one can pursue.’

’Because being with someone like that is truly a gift from the heavens.’

’Unfortunately, while Miao Miaomiao and Qin Rui are both beautiful, and I do like them... it’s only just ’like’.’