Starting as a centurion, he fought his way through the chaos of the world.

Chapter 86 The Hidden Dragon Mansion Erupts

When Lu Ming swallowed a True Essence Pill, he felt that the True Essence in his body, which was about to overflow, began to transform instantly.

The "Dragon Elephant Strength" began to operate rapidly.

Then, the true essence within his dantian became increasingly condensed and filled with aggression.

The originally pale color began to deepen in depth.

A desolate and savage aura wafted within Lu Ming's body.

His muscles became even more toned at this moment, gleaming with a golden light.

A huge golden bell seemed to have formed around his body, inverted on his body.

Although faint, it truly exists.

It gives people a sense of weight and solidity.

The vital energy was constantly floating above the head.

It flows through the mouth and nose.

As he breathed, thunder rumbled.

The clash between muscles and bones was like a battle between swords.

Lu Ming's strength is improving in all aspects.

At the same time, in the palace, the newly awakened Empress of Great Yu had a slightly flushed face.

Sitting in front of the dressing table, I looked at my exquisite appearance.

Although the time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed, my chest is still heaving up and down.

Because she dreamed of the same armored general who had appeared before, and he seemed even stronger.

Even in her dreams, it gave her a sense of security she had never felt before.

But when she wanted to go up and speak...

However, they were always blocked by an invisible light barrier and could not get close at all.

He glanced at the female official serving him and said indifferently, "Any news about the person we're looking for?"

"Your Majesty, we have secretly screened most of the generals within the capital city, but found nothing. We have already sent people out to investigate."

The female official said carefully.

She appeared very nervous; only she knew that the empress before her was not as weak as she had imagined.

Not only their strength, but also their methods are unfathomable.

The reason why the imperial court has become what it is today is because of this.

Firstly, the other party had just ascended the throne, and when he took over, the country was in a mess.

Secondly, it is still a contest between sects, and the immortal sect behind Da Yu is at a disadvantage.

But that's the case.

The empress was still able to keep the various regional lords from showing their faces.

This shows how powerful it is.

However, they could not defy fate in the end, and signs of great disaster had already appeared.

Those who were secretly watching would definitely not let this opportunity pass them by.

Surrounded by wolves, one can't help but feel worried.

"The process is a bit slow. Time is of the essence. Let's search as soon as possible," the Queen said calmly.

Then, as if remembering something else, she asked, "How is the heir of Prince Yong?"

"In Yunzhou, he advanced with unstoppable momentum, and it seems that Lin Futong has nowhere to retreat."

"Lin Futong won't be defeated so easily. Double the number of guards at Prince Yong's residence, and say that Prince Yong's son has made outstanding military achievements, which pleases me greatly." The Empress selected a hairpin and handed it to a female official, asking her to put it on her.

The female official in green carefully inserted the hairpin engraved with dragons and phoenixes into the Empress's thick black hair.

Looking at the person in the mirror, a hint of admiration couldn't help but appear in his eyes.

Your Majesty is truly a rare beauty in this world.

She herself was quite beautiful, but compared to the other person, she felt utterly inferior.

Then, he carefully said, "Your Majesty, there is one more thing. Recently, many officials have submitted memorials requesting that Prince Yong return to his fiefdom, and even the Imperial Advisor has signed his name."

"Reject all of them!" the Empress said coldly.

Then, he slowly asked, "Among these people who submitted memorials, are there any feudal lords from various regions?"

“Yes, and quite a lot.” The official’s arm trembled slightly.

I don't know what the Empress is going to do.

After a moment, the other party said calmly, "I will hold a sacrificial ceremony to Heaven in six months. Notify all the vassal kings to set off in three days to participate in the ceremony. No one is allowed to delay."

With a "whoosh!" he said, his long sleeves swaying.

They then headed out of the palace.

The female official immediately knelt down and said, "Yes, sir!"

"Boom!"

At this moment, a booming sound rang out from Lu Ming's secret chamber.

Then, his eyes opened.

A smile appeared on his face after feeling the surging power within him.

"My cultivation has reached the early stage of Gang Qi, and the Golden Bell Cover has reached the eleventh level. The Primordial Xuanhuang Manual can control an area of ​​two miles in radius. I can also borrow more energy, plus the blessing of divine charm."

Now he should be able to completely rival an ordinary innate master.

Lu Ming muttered to himself.

At that moment, he felt that he was in a better state than ever before.

Then, the system store was opened again.

Now, I don't have many points left, only 110,000.

However, the appearance of a secret manual greatly excited him.

[The Black Tortoise Golden Bell Shield, 50 points (An advanced version of the Golden Bell Shield; upon mastering it, one gains the power of the Black Tortoise, making the physical body indestructible and impervious to magical artifacts)]

Now that the "Golden Bell Cover" technique is about to be completed, Lu Ming naturally longs to obtain it.

But unfortunately, I don't have enough points.

Fortunately, there is still time, and it's not too late to figure out a solution slowly.

Then, he stood up.

They walked towards the outside of the secret room.

"Squeak!" The door had just opened.

They saw Li Xirou practicing under the tree, her swordplay was incredibly agile.

The sword light shone with a soft luster.

His forehead was covered in beads of sweat, indicating that he had been practicing for quite some time.

A moment later, he finished practicing a set of sword techniques.

She ran towards Lu Ming and asked, "Husband, how was my sword technique?"

The sound is much clearer than before.

"Very good. Judging from your strength, you should have already reached the Bone Forging Realm, right?"

"Late stage of Bone Forging," Li Xirou said proudly.

He seemed very happy.

After practicing, she felt that her body became much more agile.

I feel comfortable all over.

Most importantly, both she and her husband became cultivators.

"Cultivate diligently, and we'll become immortals together and be together forever."

"Mmm!" Li Xirou said happily.

Then, he pulled Lu Mingdao along.

"Eat quickly."

Seeing that his wife was much more cheerful than before, Lu Ming was also quite happy.

Then, he sat down next to Li Xirou.

It was summer by then, and a stone table had been set up under the tree, making it a good place to eat.

After all sorts of delicious food were laid out...

Lu Ming didn't hesitate and started eating immediately.

Each time I practice, I'm completely exhausted.

They need to rely on various kinds of meat to supplement their diet.

After finishing the meal and drinking a jar of wine, he patted his belly contentedly.

Just then, a maid cautiously walked in.

"Master, Lord Zhang Meng requests an audience."

Lu Ming raised an eyebrow.

After pouring the last bit of wine into his stomach.

He looked at his wife and said, "I'm going out for a bit."

Then, he walked out of the courtyard. As soon as he arrived at the gate, he saw Zhang Meng waiting anxiously at the door, his two thick palms rubbing back and forth.

It seems something has really happened.

"What happened?"

Lu Ming asked.

Zhang Meng hurriedly said, "My lord, something terrible has happened! Chaos has broken out in Zhelong Prefecture, and hundreds of thousands of rebels are marching towards Yunmeng Prefecture."

"How could there be hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Zhelong Prefecture, given how few people there are in total?" Lu Ming asked incredulously.

"My lord, this is a message from Lord Bai Yan. The Prince Yong's heir, greedy for merit and reckless, rushed into the depths of Zhelong Prefecture when supplies were running low. With the army starving and thirsty, he even ordered his men to plunder the people."

It's another year of disaster. Along the way, countless people have been driven to rebellion. The entire Zhelong Prefecture is now almost empty, with nine out of ten houses empty, all of which have been taken hostage by the rebels.

Just a few days ago, he was besieged by Lin Futong in Jinsha County. It is said that a mysterious army also joined the battle. Three of the Xiantian Realm retainers brought by the Prince of Yong were killed, and he himself was seriously injured and was rescued by someone who risked their life.

They have now retreated to Yunmeng Prefecture, and the entire Yunzhou is in a state of panic.

As he said this, a look of fear appeared in Zhang Meng's eyes.

After all, he had never heard of such a situation in his entire life.

If Yunmeng Prefecture is destroyed, can Hongdu Prefecture, with its current strength, withstand the rebels from both prefectures?

Anyone would feel uneasy.

Lu Ming also had a solemn expression.

However, it still comes down to this.

"Don't panic."

As he spoke, he walked outside.

After three months of rectification, everything in Hongdu Prefecture is now developing in a positive direction.

Zheng Yong, Wang Han, and others have already reached the peak of True Essence cultivation and have also comprehended their own power.

Although Zhang Meng's cultivation level was somewhat lower, he had still reached the early stage of True Essence.

Several captains under his command had also entered the True Essence stage, and Su Lie had even broken through to the Gang Qi realm.

All the soldiers have entered the country.

All members of the Mo Dao soldiers broke through to the Blood Moving Realm, and the Tie Fu Tu also reached the late stage of Bone Forging.

The crops outside the city are growing even better than before.

I thought the chaos had temporarily subsided.

But who could have imagined that the heir of Prince Yong would be so disappointing?

With most of the army of Zhelong Prefecture wiped out in Hongdu Prefecture, they were still ambushed and defeated.

Not only did they suffer heavy losses, but they also completely drove the entire Zhelong Prefecture into rebellion, and their methods were even more brutal than those of the rebels.

This was something Lu Ming had never expected.

As soon as they arrived at the front yard, they heard Bai Yan's angry curses: "That bastard Tuoba Hao should be torn to pieces! He went to suppress the rebels, but instead he robbed the people of their grain, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to rebel!"

Can the Prince Yong's mansion shoulder this responsibility?

He always had a calm and collected demeanor, but his current outburst clearly indicated that he was extremely angry.

Upon seeing Lu Ming arrive, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "General, we..."

Before Bai Yan could finish speaking, Lu Ming waved his hand and said, "We won't do anything. You continue to organize the formation of local protection teams in various towns and villages. If there aren't enough weapons, the garrison will provide them. The most important thing now is that Hongdu Prefecture cannot be allowed to have any more incidents."

As for using force, that depends on the imperial court's order.

At this time, not only in Zhelong Prefecture, but also in other parts of the country, with the arrival of summer, the trend of severe drought was unavoidable, and chaos appeared in all states.

However, the situation in Yunzhou was even more chaotic due to the arrival of the Prince of Yong's heir.

"I'll arrange it right away." She knew that Lu Ming's words made sense.

Bai Yan didn't waste any time and left immediately.

Meanwhile, inside Li Yan's residence.

The empress, dressed in men's clothing, sat in the courtyard, a hint of melancholy on her exquisite face.

"Teacher, I remember climbing this tree when I was little. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye."

She touched the apricot tree in front of her.

A hint of worry was hidden in his eyes.

"You've always been competitive since you were little. Among my disciples, you're the most stubborn. You've come here this time because you're worried about Yunzhou, right? Although it's remote, its geographical location is quite important, and Yunmeng Prefecture is right next to the sea."

"If Yunzhou falls into the hands of traitors, it will be very inconvenient for our Great Yu to go out to sea in the future," Li Yan said quietly.

At the same time, I was also very worried.

After all, Lu Ming is still in Hongdu Prefecture.

At that moment, for the first time, he regretted arranging for the other person to be there.

The power struggle between the emperor and Prince Yong also drew Lu Ming into it.

"Teacher, I just wanted to come here to relax, not to ask you for advice," the Queen said with a hint of coquetry.

She studied under Li Yan since she was a child, and the two had a deep relationship.

Like father and daughter.

Now, I only feel relaxed when I'm with the other person.

Especially now, with Li Yan's vital energy about to be depleted and himself powerless to help.

There are some things I don't want to trouble the other person with.

Unexpectedly, Li Yan found out about what happened in Yunzhou.

"Do you have any good ideas? This time, although the Yongwang Mansion suffered a lot of losses, the Yongwang Heir's prestige in the army was suppressed to the lowest point, and it even had a certain impact on the reputation of Yongwang and Xianwang."

You've won a great victory, but what about the situation in Yunzhou?

Li Yan's words exposed the Empress's scheme. Her face flushed, and then she said seriously, "Teacher, Prince Yong has the support of the Immortal Sect, and his son is about to become an elder disciple. If he also holds an important position in Dayu..."

The imperial court is truly doomed.

That's why I resorted to this desperate measure, urging him to send troops. If he wins, the troubles in Yunzhou can be resolved. Although this will enhance his prestige, it will also be a drain on the Yongwang Mansion. Moreover, there is no one more suitable to take on this important task. To deal with Lin Futong, we must rely on the Yongwang Mansion and the resources of the immortal sect behind him.

If we lose, it will definitely cause huge losses to the Yongwang Mansion. I never expected that Tuoba Hao, despite his good talent for cultivation, would be so incompetent in leading troops, leading to the current situation. This is something I didn't foresee either.

The Empress explained softly.

Then he continued, "As for the solution, I have already issued an order for the armies of the nearby prefectures to gather in Yunmeng Prefecture. However, there are rebellions in various places, so I'm afraid we won't be able to mobilize many troops."

We can only suppress them after the Imperial Guards arrive.

With chaos erupting across the land, even the Empress, with her unwavering resolve, is feeling powerless at this moment.

Li Yan's heart skipped a beat.

The nearby prefectures went to suppress the rebellion, and Lu Ming was probably among them, but he couldn't stop them.

Then, his eyes flashed and he said, "I'll go to Yunzhou myself and go with the Imperial Guards."

"Teacher," Li Yan waved his hand, interrupting the Empress.

"Although I am not skilled in military force, I can still appease the people. The people of Yunzhou were forced into rebellion, so the key is to appease them rather than suppress them."

Li Yan's voice carried a hint of determination.

Although the Empress was worried, she couldn't go against her teacher's wishes, and there really was no one more suitable than him.

In fact, the reason why Li Yan went there in person was firstly for the sake of the people of Yunzhou.

Secondly, it's naturally because of Lu Ming.

Since the other party has lofty ambitions and extraordinary abilities, there is no need for me to hide anything.

Considering that Li Yan had no children in his life and is now halfway to the grave, it's not unreasonable for him to adopt a godson.

At that time, it will be considered that there is a successor.

It's a pity that Lu Ming is also an only child; otherwise, it would be better to adopt him as a godson.

Moreover, Lu Ming will definitely have to go to the prefectures near Yunzhou to send troops; he will feel more at ease if he goes in person.

"Then it's up to the teacher to decide," the Empress could only say.

On the other side, after breaking through his cultivation level and reorganizing his army for several days, Lu Ming finally received orders to send troops to suppress the rebellion.

Looking at the military order in his hand, a smile appeared on his lips.

Now that we've run out of points and silver, sending troops is the only way to break this deadlock.

The hundreds of thousands of rebels may seem numerous and powerful, but only tens of thousands are likely capable of fighting.

I may not be unable to defeat them.

If we are lucky enough to kill Lin Futong, with such a tremendous achievement, we may be able to be promoted to a higher position.

Thinking of this, he looked at Zhang Meng beside him while he was in the training ground.

"Notify all battalion commanders to each lead two thousand men to assemble outside the city in two days. Have Guo Zhun prepare a month's worth of provisions for the army."

Upon receiving the order, Zhang Meng quickly replied, "Yes, sir!"

Then, he hurriedly retreated.

Lu Ming, however, let out a deep breath.

They walked towards the backyard.

After entering the secret room, I used the remaining points to exchange for a jar of Dragon Elephant Blood.

He planned to push the "Golden Bell Cover" to twelve layers before sending out troops.

That gives us a much better chance.

(End of this chapter)