Origin Paradise!

Jiang He remained noncommittal. The commander of the guard was a third-rank official with 5600 men under his command. The imperial court was responsible for the military pay and equipment, but given the current situation, the personnel were destined to be unable to arrive for the time being.

"It's important business." Jiang He had just woken up and was in a good mood, so she repeated herself.

Pei Yuye had no choice but to open the envelope and hand it over.

"The cabinet requests that Your Highness return to the capital to receive your reward; an imperial envoy is on his way urgently."

Angels are not extraordinary beings, but rather messengers of the imperial court. In the Southern Liang Dynasty, they were usually eunuchs skilled in martial arts or disciples of the Xuanjin sect.

Even though Jiang He had seen many situations, he couldn't help but laugh in exasperation, and said with a sneer, "Going back to collect your reward at this hour?"

When princes received rewards, they were usually given gold and silver items. If the emperor were present, there might even be a banquet in their honor.

Pei Yuye nodded heavily, remaining somewhat silent.

Leaving aside the possibility of being besieged and intercepted if they leave Dongyang City now, the danger of the emperor's retreat to a Buddhist temple and the princes' entry into the capital during the struggle for succession, not to mention the traditional law that no one may enter the capital without an imperial decree, the mere fact that the supreme commander leaves the front line is a devastating blow to the Dongyang garrison.

"They really don't want to live anymore," Jiang He joked.

Pei Yuye sighed, "To repel external threats, we must first secure our internal defenses."

Jiang He's silence wasn't entirely without reason. Perhaps in the eyes of these powerful figures, as long as they "strengthen the interior," they could then focus all their efforts on dealing with the Northern Wei. The current struggle was merely a difficulty on the road ahead. This apparent righteousness might even drag countless loyal and righteous people of the Southern Liang Dynasty into the fray.

When selfishness and public justice are mixed, there is no way to reverse the situation.

"Does Your Highness have a suitable candidate to lead the army independently?" Pei Yuye was very respectful and willing to support the Prince of Yong's representative.

"I'm not leaving," Jiang He said simply. He wouldn't give up the opportunity to expand his influence outside the core circle of Nanliang.

"The Pei family is responsible for locating the angel's position; Gui Man is still outside the city."

This time, Pei Yuye was speechless. It turned out that the Prince of Yong was planning to send someone to ambush and kill the envoy. Princes of the vassal states were not allowed to leave their prefectures on a regular basis. Unless there was formal permission and proper procedures, it was best not to move.

“Gui Man is a cavalry commander of a thousand men. If we lure him with fame and fortune, we’ll at least have to offer him a position with real power,” Pei Yuye said. “Military merit is not difficult for the prince; it just depends on whether he is willing to offer a pledge of loyalty.”

Killing the angel for Prince Yong is a qualification that earns entry into the core circle, but this does not refer to the players' qualifications.

The two sides remained silent for a long time, trying to figure out who was behind it all. According to the military report sent to the court, someone was clearly invisible.

"Let's assume it's General Hou; that would be most advantageous for him."

“Some people in the Northern Wei Dynasty held important positions in the court.”

Pei Yuye got up and poured Jiang He a cup of tea. Their joint plot to abduct and kill the angel had strengthened their cooperative relationship.

“Your Highness, Xuanran has no heir, but I have another daughter of marriageable age, who is Xuanran’s younger sister.”

Jiang He suddenly realized that, according to their initial identities, the other party was practically her father-in-law.

"The same figure as Consort Pei?"

"No, he looks quite different, but he is even more skilled in calligraphy and painting, and is famous in Qing and Xu prefectures."

"That's it."

Pei Yuye was speechless. He turned around and beckoned his personal attendant, who took out a government gazette and handed it to him.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on your fame spreading throughout the land."

Jiang He took the official gazette, her expression indifferent.

This is a document called the "World Ranking," which is listed alongside the Rouge Ranking and the Divine Weapon Ranking. It did not originate from the imperial court or a sect, but rather from a person or force behind the Nine Streams Sect.

Number one in the world.

Lu Tianzhen, Emperor Daodezong of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Land of Immortals (Ordinary Creatures in the Heroic Age)

Wu Ping: He was 120 years old and was known as the "Great Demon-Slaying Sword Immortal". He was born with the talent of a sword and began cultivating at the age of nine. At the age of twenty, he advanced to the fourth realm of myriad phenomena. He descended from Morality Mountain and entered the world. Over the course of ten years, he killed famous figures of various demonic sects. In the end, he angered the leader of the number one demonic sect in the world at that time, and the two chased each other for thousands of miles.

On his deathbed, Lu Tianzhen became a terrestrial immortal and won a life-or-death battle with his opponent. For the next fifty years, Lu Tianzhen continued to travel the world, killing countless demonic sect disciples with his sword. The once-great demonic sect, which had the potential to establish a kingdom, collapsed as a result. His successor had to add the words "sun and moon" to distinguish him from his predecessor, and was also known as "Jiazi Demon-Slaying True Man".

Overall assessment: Unrivaled in the world, a towering figure to be admired.

……

Second in the world.

Xiao Qingzhi, from Xuanjin Mountain Villa in Nanliang.

A paradise on earth.

Wu Ping: Originally a low-ranking official in the palace, he was favored by a nobleman of the Southern Liang Dynasty due to his outstanding talent. He served in the previous Southern Liang Dynasty and assassinated two emperors and seven kings, including the Zhenshan King (a non-royal prince) who was stationed at Shanhaiguan in the previous dynasty. This directly led to a huge rift between the current Southern Liang royal family and the Pingxi King.

Overall assessment: Emperor Wu of Liang's personal assassin.

……

Third in the world.

High Priest of the Western Barbarian Shaman Mountain.

A paradise on earth.

Wu Ping: A guide to barbarian beliefs, responsible for worshipping ancestors, heaven and earth, and spirits...

Overall assessment: The Western barbarians resisted the pillar, and though dead, they did not fall.

……

Fourth in the world.

Zhao Shukui of Jiange, Yizhou.

A paradise on earth.

Martial Arts Review: The leader of the martial arts in Shu, the brother-in-law of the King of Pingxi, was once an unparalleled genius in swordsmanship and a sword immortal in Shu. After advancing to the realm of terrestrial immortals, he went to Mount Daode to challenge Master Lu. He was defeated with a single sword strike, and the world distinguished the two as Great Sword Immortal and Sword Immortal.

Overall assessment: It's a pity he encountered a benevolent ruler; his sword could not achieve true dominance.

……

Fifth in the world.

Southern Liang Dynasty - Leader of the Demonic Cult.

A paradise on earth.

Martial Arts Commentary: Based on past examples, this person's identity is unknown. Since the Moral Sect is located in the Northern Wei Dynasty, while the Demonic Sect's main area of ​​activity is in the Southern Liang Dynasty, he attempted to assassinate Emperor Wu of Liang thirty years ago, but failed due to Xiao Qingzhi's obstruction.

Overall assessment: The flames have been rekindled, and the ambition remains undiminished.

……

Sixth in the world.

Xie Anan of the Southern Liang Dynasty.

A paradise on earth.

Wu Ping: The head of a top family, the pillar of the Xie family, was once the first disciple of the old master. He later betrayed the sect and fled back to his family. His former wife was a princess of the former Shu royal family. Because of the destruction of the former Shu, he had several tense confrontations with the Prince of Pingxi. The Xie family of Chenjun and the Wang family of Langya have long dominated the Southern Liang court.

Overall assessment: Leader of a prestigious family, pinnacle of martial arts.

……

Seventh in the world.

Western Barbarian Khan.

A paradise on earth.

Martial Arts Review: Fortunately, he received the lifelong power of the old monk of Tianchan Temple, making him the most indestructible being in the human world.

Overall assessment: Gratitude will be remembered for a thousand years, or perhaps only for a moment.

……

Eighth in the world.

Northern Wei Dynasty, Yuan Changling Mausoleum.

A paradise on earth.

Wu Ping: At the age of thirty, he reached the pinnacle of the land immortal realm. He was the Prince of Changling, a member of the Northern Wei imperial family, and was highly regarded by Emperor Xiaowen of Wei. He refused to take command of troops.

Overall assessment: Enjoying life to the fullest, forgetting all about war.

……

Ninth in the world.

Northern Wei Dynasty, Wuhuan.

A paradise on earth.

Wu Ping: He was the first of the eight people among the four pillars of the Northern Wei Dynasty and the four generals. The Wuhuan clan commanded 300,000 troops and wielded immense power.

Martial Arts Commentary: Gained through military might, lost through martial arts principles.

……

Tenth in the world.

The Jianghu of Southern Liang: The Bearded Stranger.

Myriad Realms (Sub-Hero)

Martial Arts Review: The number one person below the Earthly Immortals, the last glimmer of the martial arts world, and the leader of the sword path.

Overall assessment: His former glory has faded, leaving him standing alone on the riverbank.

……

Fourth among those awaiting appointment in the realm.

Deputy Leader of the Demonic Cult of Southern Liang Dynasty.

Myriad Realms.

Martial Arts Review: He advanced to the Myriad Manifestations Realm four years ago, possessing the Starry Sky Sword Body, which he calls the Lemon Sword Body. He once stole the Heavenly Wolf Sword (Immortal level), which ranked seventh on the Divine Weapon Ranking, from Xuanjin Manor. He was ranked fourth on the Rouge Ranking. He was only a "Little Sword Immortal" because of the Old True Man and the Sword Immortal of Shu.

Overall assessment: A stunning beauty, a female swordswoman.

……

Tenth candidate for the throne.

Prince Yong of Qingzhou during the Southern Liang Dynasty.

Martial Arts Assessment: He slashed through two thousand armored soldiers with a single blow. His cultivation level, the price he paid, and his lineage are unknown. He personally led eight hundred cavalry to recapture Dengfeng City and then killed the Dengfeng general outside Dongyang City, routing more than ten thousand enemy soldiers.

Overall assessment: A hidden dragon emerges from the abyss, and rivers flow into the sea.

……

Inside the Chengyun Hall of the Yong Prince's Mansion.

Jiang He didn't care much about his ranking, but the so-called "Hidden Dragon" was extremely glaring.

"Harboring malicious intentions."

Pei Yu nodded and said, "He points out the flaws in the world, uses fame and fortune as his pen, and is known for his fairness. If this continues, there will be no shortage of martial artists challenging the prince. After all, with the title of one of the ten candidates, one can get a powerful deputy position in any major sect, and money, beauties, and martial arts techniques will be readily available."

Jiang He remained silent. Being nominated as the tenth candidate was a minor matter; killing a high-ranking candidate would suffice. However, Qianlong would bring him into the sights of the court's faction vying for the throne.

"What did the Crown Prince say?"

Pei Yu clasped his hands in a fist and said earnestly, "Your Highness's command of the army is of great benefit to the struggle for the throne. Even if the Crown Prince is suspicious now, my father will surely be able to appease him. There is no need to worry about this matter."

Just as the two were chatting.

A huge flint streaked across the sky and crashed into Dongyang City, smashing down several houses. Before the twenty-odd people could even scream, they were already gone without a trace.

Boom boom boom!

Dozens of flint followed closely behind.

A large eagle landed in Pei Yuye's palm. He opened the secret message and his expression changed slightly.

"Your Highness, the Northern Wei's Tiele army has arrived outside the city, numbering 60,000, led by the eldest son of the Wuhuan chieftain of the Northern Wei."

Jiang He calmly stood up and said, "You go put out the fire, I'll go to the city wall."

Pei Yuye's expression was somewhat strange. In front of this person, it seemed that no matter how important the matter was, it was not worth mentioning. As the dignified head of the Pei family, he actually felt a strange sense of security.

……