Become a king right from the start, beginning with receiving rewards from all the heavens.

What does it mean to be missing?

Two powerful experts at the Dragon Transformation Realm are telling me they've gone missing?

Great-grandfather, are you sure you're not joking?

Xia Wuzheng really wanted to ask, but seeing his great-grandfather's current state, and recalling the expressions of the people in the mansion before he entered...

His expression immediately darkened, realizing that his ancestor was not joking.

But this is just too unreasonable; two experts at the Dragon Transformation Realm have gone missing!

He disappeared at this crucial moment, which gave King Wu a bad feeling!

"Great-grandfather, what happened to the soul lamps of the two patriarchs who went to the Northern Territory before?"

Although this question was somewhat presumptuous, the King of Wu had no choice but to ask it.

"Well... that's the strange thing."

"The soul lamps of those two, including those of the two founding emperors, are all intact!"

"We now suspect that the two patriarchs who went to the Northern Territory have been detained by Bai Yujing!"

Were they detained by Bai Yujing?

"This..." King Wu immediately felt it made perfect sense.

"However, Prince Ren probably doesn't know yet that the two ancestors are from our Duke's Mansion."

...

King Wu nodded with a grim expression. Indeed, if King Ren knew, he would have already attacked him and the Demon-Sealing Lord!

It's just tough on the two elders; they'll have to endure interrogation and torture. Just thinking about it is terrifying!

In fact, he didn't care much about whether the two lived or died, as long as their identities as demonic cultivators weren't exposed.

Because this is the biggest landmine under his and his mother's backside.

Once it's detonated, he and his mother's clan will be blown to smithereens!

"How did the two great ancestors of that clan disappear?"

This is what he cares about most. He's about to need people, so why are those two old geezers disappearing?

"The ancestral land was suddenly attacked by a stranger, and the two great ancestors were immediately born to fight that person in the outer heavens!"

"After that, they were never seen returning."

"If it weren't for the fact that the soul lamp in the ancestral land was intact, and there weren't any unusual phenomena of dragon transformation realm cultivators falling in the outside world, we would probably all have thought..."

This is troublesome. Xia Wuzheng looked frustrated and annoyed.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Great-grandfather, didn't you suspect that the two ancestors were being held captive by Bai Yujing?"

"Then we should get involved this time even more, an eye for an eye, and take this opportunity to take down a few high-ranking officials of Baiyujing."

"Then it will be used to exchange for the two captured ancestors!"

Cao Changkang, who still had no clue what to do, suddenly thought this plan was pretty good.

To be honest, he wasn't worried about the safety of the two founding emperors.

Although they have disappeared, their capabilities mean they are not in any safety predicament.

But he was really worried about the safety of his two elderly parents.

"Okay, whatever you say."

"I will inform the ancestral land, and I believe the ancestors will agree."

...

At the Prince Ren's residence, Xia Zhaoyan put down the intelligence report in his hand, looked up, and spoke calmly.

"So, the remnants of the Zhang family were actually deliberately released by the Sima family?"

...

"Yes, Your Highness. According to our investigation, the remnants of the Zhang family can now openly roam the streets."

"Moreover, the Sima family clearly did this on purpose for the world to see."

Mu Wenhan paused here, then spoke again.

"This is also something they're doing for us. After analyzing it, we believe that the Sima family is deliberately provoking you and the Heavenly Punishment Division!"

"It's like they're forcing us to take action!"

Xia Zhaoyan waved his hand, and the women stopped feeding and massaging him. He then got up, walked down the steps, and went outside.

"The Sima family must be tired of living. If it were before, I would have pondered why they would do this!"

"Unfortunately, I don't think about these things at all right now."

"Mu Wenhan, immediately intensify the investigation into the Sima family. I will have Bai Yujing's intelligence network cooperate with you."

"As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' Before I take action, I need to know if the Sima family has powerful backers!"

...

"Your Highness, do you mean to take action against the Sima family?"

A hint of worry flashed in Mu Wenhan's eyes!

"That's right!" Xia Zhaoyan nodded.

"But Your Highness, wouldn't this be like walking into a trap?"

"This is a clear provocation; they want us to take action!"

...

"Indeed, since they've taken such a proactive approach, how could I possibly let them down!"

"Don't worry, in the face of strength, any schemes and tricks are utterly insignificant!"

Xia Zhaoyan's confidence puzzled Mu Wenhan!

However, he knew that as a subordinate, he had the right to offer reminders, but he should never question or oppose them.

After Mu Wenhan left, the women came forward, and Shi Guanyin was exuding a faint but palpable killing intent.

His tone was also filled with murderous intent as he said, "Your Highness, should I go and wipe out the Sima family tonight with a single slap?"

After saying that, a faint aura of dragon transformation flashed by and disappeared.

That's right, Shi Guanyin's realm has broken through to the late stage of the Shattered Realm, and her combat power has also reached the Half-Step Dragon Transformation Realm!

Xia Zhaoyan calmly shook his head, "No need!"

"It's easy to wipe out the small Sima family, but I want to know what kind of ghosts and monsters are standing behind them."

"There's no rush tonight. Once the Heavenly Punishment Division has investigated the matter thoroughly, that will be the time for the Sima family to perish."

He didn't need to understand why the Sima family dared to slap him in the face; the charge of harboring remnants of the Zhang family was enough for him to destroy them.

It would be best to use your Sima family's resources; you'll be able to catch more big fish!

...

Just as the entire Great Xia was paying close attention to the movements of both sides, the Heavenly Punishment Army suddenly announced that it was restarting its expansion plan.

This expansion of the army by 200,000 troops has the same requirements for enlistment as last time!

The news spread rapidly in all directions, and within just half a day, a large number of low-level cultivators headed to the Heavenly Punishment Army camp outside the city.

Moreover, a large number of cultivators from the other states adjacent to Xia Prefecture also came to Xia Prefecture.

Now everyone understands that the Heavenly Punishment Army is not in the same league as other armies of the Great Xia Dynasty.

The Heavenly Punishment Army enjoys good treatment, and its commander is none other than the renowned Guo Jing.

With such a commander leading the army, at least in future battles, things will be much safer.

Of course, among these people rushing to the military camp were the 200,000 troops that Xia Zhaoyan had deployed!

Two hundred thousand people are insignificant among tens of millions of people.

In the military camp, Xia Zhaoyan personally oversaw operations from the rear, which, in the eyes of outsiders, demonstrated the importance he placed on the Heavenly Punishment Army.

Only he himself knew at that moment that he was watching the situation of an army of 200,000.

"I didn't expect this army to be so much stronger than the last one."

"Tsk tsk... two early-stage Dharma Aspect Realm cultivators!"

"Four late-stage Grandmasters, twenty Grandmasters, and two hundred Purple Mansion Realm cultivators!"

"The minimum requirement is the mid-stage of the Innate Realm!"

At this moment, Xia Zhaoyan suddenly asked Guo Jing, who was standing next to him!

"Guo Jing, with your current strength, and with the help of 300,000 Heavenly Punishment Army soldiers, can you defeat a true early-stage Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator?"

Guo Jing did not rush to answer, but instead looked deep in thought.

After a long while, he answered cautiously.

"Your Highness, while the military formation can enhance my combat power, it only allows me to fight to a draw against those at the early stage of the Dragon Transformation Realm!"

The gap between the Shattered Realm and the Dragon Transformation Realm is simply too great!

It's a pity about Xia Zhaoyan, but I can accept it.

But at that moment, Guo Jing's voice suddenly rang out.

"but..."