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

This soaring aura of malevolence turned the sky crimson!

The Dragon Transformation Realm expert from Da Yu on the opposite side descended upon the border immediately.

He looked solemnly at the spatial gate in the distant sky, his hands behind his back clenching into fists.

His expression was clearly not calm. "Do you know which army from Great Xia has descended?"

Someone rushed forward, "Ancestor Qi, our spies in Great Xia have sent word that the ones arriving are the Great Xia Heavenly Punishment Army!"

"The Heavenly Punishment Army?" The Great Universe Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator turned to look at his subordinate, his expression slightly incredulous.

"The Heavenly Punishment Army under the command of the Benevolent King of Great Xia?"

The Heavenly Punishment Army, commanded by Guo Jing, had already become famous throughout the continent after the battle at the Sima family.

With the support of an army of 300,000, a person with the combat strength of a half-step Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator actually possessed the combat strength of a true early Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator!

While military formations can indeed enhance the strength of a commander, I have never seen an army that can enable a commander to cross the chasm and possess the power to transform into a dragon.

"Yes, Ancestor, but Prince Ren has now been named Crown Prince!"

The appointment of the crown prince... This Great Yu Ancestor immediately understood.

"It seems the Great Xia has already decided who will inherit the throne!"

Just then, a tall and imposing figure emerged from the portal.

A powerful aura instantly enveloped the surrounding tens of thousands of miles of void, and countless low-level cultivators felt a heaviness in their bodies.

Immediately afterwards, groups of soldiers dressed in black armor and black cloaks appeared in the sky.

At this moment, the military personnel from Yunmeng Kingdom came to Guo Jing and saluted him directly.

"Our vassal state's border troops respectfully welcome the arrival of our suzerain state's army!"

"Everyone, please rise!" Guo Jing's gaze, however, was fixed on the distant opposite side.

A picture was reflected in his pupils: he saw the Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator from the Great Universe.

"Who in the Great Universe is that Dragon Transformation Realm expert opposite us?"

The Grand General of Yunmeng Kingdom hurriedly said, "General Guo, that is an ancestor of the Great Yu royal family!"

"In the past few days, although the other side hasn't launched any attacks, their army has already engaged in dozens of small-scale battles with us!"

At this moment, Guo Jing's fighting spirit gradually awakened.

With my own plans in mind, even though I have the support of the military formation, my combat strength is comparable to that of the early stage of the Dragon Transformation Realm.

But I heard that Ye Gucheng is about to break through, at which time he will possess the true power of the Dragon Transformation Realm.

However, I still need the support of the military formation. If I could break through to the perfect Shattered Realm, with the support of the military formation, I would be able to easily kill someone in the early stage of the Dragon Transformation Realm.

Unlike Brother Qiao, I won't suffer the backlash!

This Dragon Transformation Realm is just right to be my whetstone...

...

As time went by, ever since the Heavenly Punishment Army took up a command post at the Yunmeng border, every small-scale conflict between the two sides ended in defeat for the Dayu side.

In just over a month, millions of people were killed or wounded on the border.

However, the casualties were all soldiers from vassal states under the command of Da Yu and Da Xia.

That day, just after Xia Zhaoyan returned to the Crown Prince's residence from the court session, Mu Wenhan came to visit.

"You're pretty quick, coming straight here from the Heavenly Punishment Division. Tell me, what's the emergency?"

Mu Wenhan took out a piece of intelligence and handed it to Xia Zhaoyan, and said something.

"Your Highness, the Heavenly Punishment Division has found leads in their investigation of the White Lotus Sect!"

"Within Liuzhou City, a local family power is hiding remnants of the White Lotus Sect!"

Xia Zhaoyan's expression instantly turned serious; he had not yet relaxed his investigation into the remnants of the White Lotus Cult.

"The Six-Fingered Deputy Chief Clerk has personally gone to Liuzhou to investigate in secret!"

Finally, we have the results today!

After reading the intelligence report, Xia Zhaoyan immediately stood up and asked a question.

"Six Fingers went personally? Good."

"Immediately send the order to him: do not alert them. There are still quite a few remnants of the White Lotus Cult who went into hiding!"

"This time, I will completely eradicate these remaining villains!"

Unexpectedly, the White Lotus Sect has quietly developed so much influence in the Great Xia Dynasty.

They also have influence within the local families in Liuzhou city and the Liuzhou hometown association.

Doesn't this mean that there are officials from the White Lotus Sect in Liuzhou's officialdom?

No wonder! With official protection, these remnants of the White Lotus Cult are naturally well hidden!

"The hometown associations in various states within the Great Xia territory are also a huge malignant tumor."

"They control the local imperial examinations, just like the powerful clans; it's time to take action against them too!"

While hometown associations may not have the same cohesive power as established families, their groups are much larger.

"If I remember correctly, the Liuzhou hometown association once threatened me because of Zhang Linhai!"

"Your Highness has a good memory. The Liuzhou Fellow Association did indeed threaten you back then." Mu Wenhan had long wanted to get rid of these groups that monopolized the local imperial examinations.

"But Your Highness, it would be easy for us to deal with them now."

"But how will the officials implicated be replaced?"

He knew that His Highness didn't trust the current officials very much, but His Highness's biggest drawback at present was the lack of an official training system.

To put it bluntly, it's because they haven't been in power long enough!

Xia Zhaoyan originally wanted to deal with the hometown association, but then he thought that if he also had to deal with the powerful families, the local officials of the Great Xia would probably be wiped out.

Who will govern the local area?

It seems I'll have to wait until I'm on the throne and can summon historical figures.

"Although we can't deal with all hometown associations, we can't let any of them get away with anything that's involved with the White Lotus Sect."

"You will personally oversee the investigation of this matter!"

With a large number of men under his command, Xia Zhaoyan no longer needs to give specific instructions on these matters.

Even when the government sent him memorials and official documents, he only glanced at them and didn't give any specific instructions.

After Mu Wenhan left, Xia Zhaoyan addressed the women.

"I have a feeling my tribulation is about to descend!"

"Instead of waiting for the heavenly tribulation to arrive, it is better to trigger it in advance."

The women looked worried. "Your Highness, should we wait a little longer?"

This is a Grandmaster-level Heavenly Tribulation, which is not even in the same dimension as the Purple Mansion-level Heavenly Tribulation.

"It doesn't matter. Have you forgotten my physical body and that supreme treasure?"

"Even without using any supreme treasures, I can safely survive the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation at the Grandmaster level using only my physical body!"

The women had no choice but to make the arrangements immediately.

This tribulation obviously cannot be conducted within the manor; the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation of the Grandmaster realm covers an area of ​​over ten kilometers.

Even the scattered remnants of lightning tribulation could destroy this prince's residence.

Therefore, the Heavenly Punishment Army camp outside the city is the most suitable place to undergo tribulation!

The news that Xia Zhaoyan was about to undergo tribulation spread instantly throughout all the major powers!

Of course, this is also why he didn't block the news. After all, the commotion of his tribulation was so great that it couldn't be kept from everyone's eyes and ears.

Bai Yujing and the people of the Heavenly Punishment Bureau sealed off the military camps outside the city.

With Qiao Feng and Tie Zhongtang present on the surface, and the weather being fine and sunny, it was the perfect time for them to undergo their tribulation!

Qiao Feng and Tie Zhongtang stood in the void, their divine senses spreading out to cover an area of ​​tens of millions of miles.

No matter what the slightest movement was, it could not escape the divine sense of the two.

Moreover, Xia Zhaoyan himself was quite careful, keeping the two Dragon Transformation Realm experts of the Underworld hidden in the shadows!

With four Dragon Transformation Realm experts acting as gatekeepers, who in the world is qualified to enjoy such protection?