I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 200: The Northern Royal Court War! Ancient Secrets! (Please subscribe, please vote)
In the palace of the Holy Mountain City.

The surrounding area is heavily guarded, and the generals inside all have serious expressions.

Because Khan Tuoba Zhen had just experienced an unprecedented defeat and was chopped in half.

Now Tuoba Zhen has been resurrected in the palace.

The light spots continued to gather into the shape of a person.

But resurrection will not be that fast. It will take several hours to reconstruct the body and integrate the soul.

At this time, the soldiers need to stand guard by his side and give him some time to resurrect.

After waiting for about four hours, Tuoba Zhen finally came back to life, breathless.

He looked as if he was exhausted, and the people around him immediately offered him rare treasures to help him replenish his body.

At this moment, Tuoba Zhen's face looked very bad. Since he cultivated to the Saint Realm, this was the first time he lost so badly.

He felt it was very exaggerated that he had reached this level of cultivation at such a young age.

Because he was baptized by holy blood, his physique was activated, and with the addition of various natural treasures, his cultivation speed was naturally fast.

He is also a rare strong man in the history of the Northern Royal Court.

But the emperor of the Tiance Dynasty was even more outrageous. Tuoba Zhen didn’t even know how Li Chen practiced.

Although he was angry at this time, Tuoba Zhen was thinking: The strength shown by Li Chen is enough to prove to this world that I have not yet reached the upper limit of my cultivation.

At first, Tuoba really felt that he had reached his limit. After all, any saint he met was no match for him.

Moreover, his progress in recent years has been slow, or even impossible to improve, so he feels that he has reached his ceiling.

Now it seems that this is not the case. Li Chen’s upper limit is higher than his, which proves that he has not reached it yet.

After a short rest, Tuoba Zhen asked, "What is the movement of the Tiance Dynasty's army?"

Altai knelt down respectfully and replied: "Khan, during this period, the infantry of the Tiance Dynasty launched two sieges, but they were repelled by our brave soldiers!"

The Holy Mountain City has a natural moat, the city walls are high and thick, and the formations are extremely powerful. Unless the army of the Tiance Dynasty is determined to die here and use the method with the highest casualty ratio, using human corpses as sandbags, they will definitely not be able to attack the city walls.

According to Altai, even if the army of the Tiance Dynasty was willing to sacrifice, they might not be able to defeat us. With soldiers baptized by holy blood and the harsh cold climate, our soldiers are invincible!

Holy Mountain City is undoubtedly the strongest barrier of the royal court!

"How are things going in other areas?" Tuoba Zhen continued to ask.

He has made a lot of arrangements and is not a reckless man.

The reason why they challenged Li Chen to a duel was simply because neither of them was familiar with each other's fighting ability.

As I said before, among the Saints, as long as they have never fought, no one thinks they will lose to the other party.

What's more, both of them are top-notch experts.

"Reinforcements from other tribes are on the way. We have also sent people to the Xingyue Cave in the Great Snow Mountain to invite Biluo Tianzun and Bichen Tianzun. It is said that Biluo Tianzun is still in seclusion, but Bichen Tianzun puts the overall situation first and wants to eliminate the rebellion personally. He is on the way."

Altai also answered honestly that as long as the royal court persisted for a while longer, it would be able to turn the situation around.

As long as the army of the Tiance Dynasty fails to capture the Holy Mountain City, the tribes that are watching will definitely send troops to support it.

Because they also knew that once the army of the Tiance Dynasty captured the Holy Mountain City, nothing would be able to stop them.

Moreover, if Shengshan City were occupied by the army of the Tiance Dynasty, it would be like a nail stuck in the north and become a permanent scourge. The danger can be imagined.

As long as we think of this, all the northern tribes will come to help.

“What about the Hidden Clan?” Tuoba Zhen mentioned casually.

“Three people from the Hidden Tribe have already sent people to help, and there has been no movement from the Sun and Moon Dragon Tribe.” Altai answered while still looking at Tuoba Zhen’s expression.

This was because Tuoba Zhen had some conflicts with Helan Xuan, a powerful Saint from the Sun and Moon Dragon Clan.

What Helan Xuan meant was, if you, Tuoba Zhen, beg me, I will go to help you. If you don’t beg me, I won’t care even if you die.

Altai certainly didn’t dare to say that, he could only say that the Sun and Moon Dragon Clan was not making any movement.

Anyway, it’s enough that Tuoba Zhen already knows what this means. If he says it out loud, Tuoba Zhen will be embarrassed.

Tuoba Zhen couldn't ask Helan Xuan for help.

Helan Xuan is a person with top dragon bloodline. Of course, the so-called top is only what his clan says, and it is still impossible to verify whether it is true or not.

Anyway, the combat effectiveness of the Sun and Moon Dragon Clan is very strong, and the physical bodies of some members of the clan are comparable to magical weapons.

It is said that after practicing to a certain level, one can cover the whole body with dragon armor and become a dragon warrior.

The degree of coverage depends on the realm of cultivation.

Helan Xuan is the only one in the Sun and Moon Dragon Clan who can cover his entire body.

But even so, he was defeated by Tuoba Zhen, whose fighting power was top-notch in the north.

The ones counted here are also those who have been born into the world, and the Snow Leopard God and the like are definitely not included.

Helan Xuan couldn't beat Tuoba Zhen, but that didn't mean he would surrender sincerely.

The reason is very simple. Not only does Tuoba Zhen have no interest in Helan Xuan, but while making Helan Xuan's tribe pay tribute every year, he also forcibly recruited many women from the Sun and Moon Dragon Tribe into his harem, including Helan Xuan's sister.

It’s good enough that Helan Xuan didn’t rebel, no one would listen to him.

Tuoba Zhen went to the Sun and Moon Dragon Clan in person, and Helan Xuan gave him face.

If Tuoba Zhen left, he wouldn't care who Helan Xuan was, as the emperor was far away.

Hearing Altai say this, Tuoba Zhen knew that it was so.

Now we can only count on Bi Chen Tian Zun of Sanxing Cave. Bi Chen Tian Zun is superior to the surrendered Bi You Tian Zun in formation and other aspects. With his help, defending the city will definitely be easier.

It's a pity that Biluo Tianzun didn't come. Biluo Tianzun's strength is just so-so, but his greatest strength is his ability to invent and create, and he has many trump cards.

The method of preventing ice from melting was developed by him based on his research on the local climate. Even the materials used are simpler than those in ancient times, but the effect is very good.

Unfortunately, they encountered Chen Xuannan, the reincarnation of the ancient celestial master, otherwise the progress of the northern army of the Tiance Dynasty would not have been so fast.

Tuoba Zhen already understood the general situation, and now he just had to wait for himself to recover.

In Tuoba Zhen's opinion, Li Chen would not be able to defeat him for a while. Even if he did, he would have an absolute geographical advantage by then, and Li Chen would not be able to defeat him in such icy and snowy conditions.

At this time, several women from the harem came to care for Tuoba Zhen. Looking at their plump and graceful appearance, Tuoba Zhen felt that he was willing but unable to help them.

The five people in front of him were all Tuoba Zhen’s most beloved concubines.

Her figure and appearance are impeccable, and she is a top-notch woman no matter where she is.

Even though they were all forcibly recruited by Tuoba Zhen, Tuoba Zhen usually treated them very well and gave them all kinds of benefits. No matter what they wanted, Tuoba Zhen would let his men do it.

Now seeing them coming to care about him, Tuoba Zhen felt warm inside.

I thought to myself: These women still know how to care for themselves, unlike the others.

But what these women said next made Tuoba really angry.

Because these women were hinting to Tuoba Zhen to make their children the 'King of Zuo Tuqi'.

This title means crown prince in the Tiance Dynasty.

Even if it wasn't said directly, the meaning was certainly there.

Tuoba was so angry that he wanted to kill someone. I'm not even dead yet, and you're already thinking about making your son the crown prince?
Are you cursing me to death?

I thought you were here to care about me, but it turns out you were just thinking about yourselves.

There is no way. In the absence of an emotional foundation, these women are in Tuoba Zhen's harem naturally for their own interests, or the interests of their clansmen.

As long as Tuoba Zhen remains invincible, they will definitely not have any second thoughts.

Now that Tuoba Zhen's undefeated legend has been shattered, they have also begun to prepare for their own retreat.

"Get out, all of you!" Tuoba Zhen shouted angrily.

The women ran back to their palaces in fear.

After a while, a more elegant, beautiful and fuller-figured woman came in.

"What's wrong? Why are you so angry?"

The woman's voice was very gentle, and felt different from the women in the north. She sounded more like a woman from the Tiance Dynasty.

"Sister? Why are you still here?"

Tuoba Zhen looked at the woman who had just appeared in confusion.

This is Tuoba Zhen's half-sister, and the daughter of the previous Khan.

The previous Khan had married a member of the royal family of the Tiance Dynasty, so naturally he had children.

Tuoba Zhen's sister has followed her mother since she was a child. Her every move is very much like that of a noble of the Tiance Dynasty, but she still has an air of royal nobility that is hard to conceal.

Normally, according to the customs of the northern tribes, whenever there is a war with other tribes, the children of the core figures must enter the Great Snow Mountain and come out after the war.

In fact, this tradition is for the royal family to preserve their bloodline.

Tuoba Zhen felt that his sister should go to the Snow Mountain with her mother, so why was she in this place?

"Because my mother and I believe you will win!" Tuoba Yan said this slowly, and Tuoba Zhen felt the strength in his heart! His confidence was restored!

Only the elder sister from my own family knows how to feel sorry for me.

Tuoba Zhen even thought that it would be better if Tuoba Yan was not his sister.

"Don't worry, if Li Chen dares to come, I will make sure he never comes back!"

The wind stopped and the rain cleared up, and Tuoba Zhen felt that he was fine again.

Anyway, Li Chen will definitely not be able to attack these few days, so he just needs to rest.

The brother and sister chatted for a while, and Tuoba Yan did not disturb her brother any further and returned to her resting place.

Besides her, there was another woman in this place, her mother.

This woman is breathtakingly beautiful, with a perfect figure, and no matter what she wears, it cannot conceal her innate noble temperament.

"Mom, the Khan has regained his bravery. I'm sure the Tiance Dynasty's army will not be able to attack us. I also heard that support from other tribes is on the way."

Tuoba Yan was telling her mother some things she had just found out.

In her opinion, the Northern Royal Court is still very strong and will definitely be able to withstand the army of the Tiance Dynasty and may even be able to fight back.

Tuoba Yan said this to make her mother feel more at ease.

She grew up in the Northern Royal Court and definitely hopes that the Northern Royal Court will respond.

Her mother stroked her head gently, with a loving look on her face.

Even though her mother's surname is Tuoba now, her original surname was Li.

She had no choice but to follow the local tradition of using the surname Tuoba.

As for the reason why Tuoba Yan's mother didn't want to leave, I believe that what Tuoba Zhen said was actually false. In fact, she wanted to wait for the army of the Tiance Dynasty to invade so that she could return to her homeland!
This is one of the reasons why she is still alive today.

Tuoba Yan's mother had once fantasized that her brother would call and rescue her.

But her brother's character is to consider the overall situation, and the emperor is very good at playing the balancing act. Giving up small profits can make the world peaceful and the country stable, so sacrifice is necessary.

So as she thought about it, she no longer expected the late emperor to come.

After all, she was sent by the late emperor.

Next are the rulers of later generations, that is, the sons of the previous emperor, whom she basically knows.

The Crown Prince was raised by the late Emperor, and his personality is similar to that of the late Emperor. He will probably demand stability after ascending to the throne, so he cannot be relied upon.

The second brother is very arrogant and extremely talented, and he probably won't compromise with the Northern Royal Court.

The third brother is even more ferocious and warlike. If he comes to power, he might think of attacking the north.

The fourth brother was obedient and honest. He went to his fiefdom early, so he can't be relied on.

It was a pity for the fifth brother, a genius of his generation, who was abandoned. She used to feel sorry for the fifth brother and thought that maybe after the fifth brother came to power, he would remember his aunt's kindness and maybe after writing a letter, he would be able to take his aunt back.

I heard that a few years after I left the Tiance Dynasty, the fifth brother was deposed and lost his qualifications in the battle for the throne.

Tuoba Yan's mother did have some impression of Lao Liu's words. She thought Li Chen was really handsome and had always been handsome since he was a child.

When she has nothing to do, she comes to Li Chen to play with the little gadgets that Li Chen made himself.

It was also because of those so-called "toys" that Li Chen was described by the late emperor as unlearned and unskillful.

But the late emperor did not get angry about this. After all, it was enough to have a few useful princes, and it was not necessary for all of them to be capable.

Tuoba Yan's mother still remembered that Li Chen had never been favored by the late emperor, and he did not try as hard as other princes to please the late emperor.

Every day I just eat, drink, play, have fun and practice normally.

Tuoba Yan's mother often went to see Li Chen, but was often rejected by Li Chen.

She never thought that Li Chen would come to save her, and her expectations were only limited to the second and third brothers.

But no one expected that Li Chen would become the emperor.
When Tuoba Zhen proposed the marriage, she was still thinking that Li Si Ning would probably follow her old path.

The domestic situation of the Tiance Dynasty is grim, and Li Chen will definitely choose to let Li Sining come over for the sake of the overall situation.

Even if he didn't understand, the Queen Mother and the ministers would tell him.

Unexpectedly, Li Chen not only refused to agree, but also said he would fight and even hit me.

Li Chen's strength was so terrifying that even Tuoba Zhen was beaten and fled.

The handsome little prince back then has become so powerful.

She increasingly felt that staying was the right choice.

I haven't seen Li Chen for a long time. I wonder what he looks like now.

Even if she wanted to help Li Chen, she was powerless now.

The previous Khan was on guard against her, so she didn't know how the formation here was built, but she knew one thing, that is, there was actually a secret passage leading into the Holy Mountain City.

This was a means of escape prepared by successive Khans when they built this place.

If you encounter a mutiny or something like that, you can escape through the secret passage.

She accidentally heard the previous Khan talking in his sleep when he was drunk.

The secret passage should be in the palace, but she was not sure about its exact location.

If I find this passage now and let the strong men of the Tiance Dynasty come in and destroy the formation, wouldn’t it be a great achievement?
Thinking of this, she told Tuoba Yan to tidy up Tuoba Zhen's harem, as those concubines simply didn't know the rules.

Doing this can also be considered as sharing some of Tuoba Zhen's burden.

As Tuoba Zhen's good sister, Tuoba Yan readily agreed when she heard that she could help her brother.

She also felt that with her mother's and her own prestige, she would definitely be able to keep the concubines in the harem under control.

There should be rules in the harem. If someone is so casual like his younger brother, things like this will happen.

Tuoba Yan told Tuoba Zhen the news. Tuoba Zhen trusted his sister very much and would definitely agree.

Tuoba Yan's mother used this as an excuse and followed her to the inner courtyard of the palace.

What she didn't know was that while she was looking for the secret passage, someone with incredible luck was also looking for it.

In the Tiance Dynasty camp, Chen Xuannan, the son of destiny, began to play a role.

Chen Xuannan hasn't appeared recently because he joined the reconnaissance unit.

As an ancient cultivator, he has his own understanding and experience of this kind of formation and building.

He felt that since the northern tribes began to learn from the Tiance Dynasty, they would definitely learn some strategies.

You know, the imperial palace of the Tiance Dynasty is full of secret passages.

Not only that, no matter whether it is the dynasties or the imperial palaces of any country on the mainland, there must be secret passages.

These were all built by the emperor in order to survive, and after they were built, most of the people involved in the construction would be killed, making them a secret that only the emperor knew.

Chen Xuannan observed the Holy Mountain City, looking for where the secret passage might be.

The Holy Mountain City was built on the Emur Holy Mountain, which is also a mountain range.

The area is vast and the secret passages are hidden very deeply. There must be some restrictions, making them extremely difficult to open.

Even if a million people searched for it, they might not be able to find it.

But who is Chen Xuannan? He is not only experienced, but also has great luck.

While Li Chen and Tuoba Zhen were fighting, Chen Xuannan had been searching in the Emur Holy Mountain.

The most important thing is that no one cares about him here.

There are usually some guards patrolling, but even the guards don’t know where the secret passage is.

Now the guards are concentrated in the Holy Mountain City, and most of the troops are still dealing with Li Chen, so Chen Xuannan is free to search.

He released dozens of exploratory paper cranes to search in the snow and ice.

Even though he was extremely lucky, it still took him 17 hours of searching in the snow before he found the entrance.

This is still at the foot of a steep cliff.

Chen Xuannan did not rely solely on luck. He also locked onto dozens of small areas based on the terrain, and spent a lot of time searching these dozens of small areas where secret passages might appear.

After determining the location and entering, Chen Xuannan returned to the military camp and hid the prepared "ancient map" in a place, which was actually the map of the secret passage entrance he drew.

Then Li Ling "accidentally" discovered it, and immediately led a team to check, and sure enough, they found the entrance to the secret passage.

She knew that she would not be able to enter and cause trouble with her own abilities, so she met with Li Chen late at night and told him the news.

After Li Chen got the map, he said to Li Ling: "If we capture Shengshan City this time, you will be credited with the first achievement!"

Hearing this, Li Ling was extremely excited. She felt that she was finally going to make it!

What she didn't know was that whether it was breaking the unmelting ice, conquering the Ice Bear Tribe's city, or finding the underground secret passage, it was her husband Chen Xuannan who was helping.

Chen Xuannan really enjoys this feeling of doing good things without leaving a name.

(End of this chapter)