Chapter 178: The Grand Scheme

Bad news always travels with extraordinary speed. In less than a day, the tidings had already spread throughout the battlefield of the Floating Continent. Bai Ao Tu’s actions this time were on an unprecedented scale, as she simultaneously provoked the Zhao clan, the Song clan, and the Wei family of the Far East—and she did so with such severity that it was truly out of the ordinary. In the past, Bai Ao Tu was merely overbearing, but not entirely unreasonable. However, this incident was too significant for her to shoulder alone. Many conspiracy theorists grew excited, speculating whether the Bai clan was about to make a major move, and some even speculated that the Empire might be on the verge of upheaval.

On the western border of the Zhao clan’s defensive sector, a small but extremely sturdy fortress stood. The location, close to the edge of the Floating Continent, occasionally saw chaotic flows of void energy, making it an unsuitable place for large-scale battles. Yet, now the only two territories that the Empire could hold firm were the Zhao clan’s defensive zone and the Li family’s base in the Misty Forest. The dark races, clearly aware of this, had been probing and infiltrating around the Zhao clan’s defensive line, searching for weaknesses. This area, being near the edge of the Floating Continent, was perfect for infiltration by smaller aerial vessels, leading to a surge in dark race activity.

Suddenly, a shrill alarm sounded from the fortress. A motorcycle appeared on the distant wasteland, racing straight ahead at an extraordinarily violent speed, trailing a long plume of dust like a dragon’s breath.

The soldiers manning the ballista turret immediately swiveled their weapons and loaded specialized anti-stronghold tracking arrows. Whoever was riding the motorcycle was no ordinary strongman; otherwise, they would either be dead from a crash or a jolt.

Two anti-aircraft rapid-fire cannons were also lowered, aimed at the approaching rider.

A guard officer raised his telescope, observed for a moment, then stopped the alarm with a wave of his hand and shouted, “It’s the Fourth Young Master returning!”

Thus, the ballistae and rapid-fire cannons returned to their original positions, remaining vigilant without a hint of relaxation. This was a testament to the well-trained private army of the Zhao clan.

The motorcycle roared, smashing into the wreckage of an airship outside the fortress, bursting through countless fragments and smoke, then spinning around with a screech of tires, coming to a stop just before the gate.

Zhao Jundu, clad in green battle armor, leaped off the truck-like motorcycle, retrieving two werewolf heads from the rear compartment and tossing them to his awaiting men, saying, “Dispose of these and report them at the end of the month.”

The soldier dashed away, and several more robust warriors ran over, pushing the heavy motorcycle into the fortress. It was a behemoth weighing several tons, requiring multiple hands to move.

As Zhao Jundu walked into the fortress, he asked, “What’s happened these past few days?”

The intelligence officer beside him immediately replied, “Fourth Young Master, there is indeed an important matter involving Miss Yu Ying and General Qian Ye.”

Zhao Jundu raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Speak!”

The officer quickly summarized the conflict between Bai Ao Tu and Qian Ye. As Zhao Jundu listened, his calm demeanor faded, replaced by a frosty expression.

The fortress was not large, and Zhao Jundu soon reached his office, seating himself behind his desk. The officer, aware of the significance of the matter, had come prepared and placed two documents on the table, saying, “These are the injury reports of General Qian Ye and the Wei Crown Prince.”

Zhao Jundu picked up the reports, reading through them carefully, especially the part concerning Qian Ye. The report was written by a fleet physician from the Zhang clan and sent only to the Zhao clan.

After reading, Zhao Jundu set the report down slowly, saying, “Such injuries, hm! It seems Bai Ao Tu held nothing back.”

The officer was slightly surprised, but knowing the Zhao clan’s culture of frankness, he voiced his confusion, “If Bai Ao Tu held nothing back, wouldn’t Lord Qian Ye be unable to return?”

Zhao Jundu looked at him, unreserved before his trusted men, and gave a cold laugh, “Everyone underestimates Qian Ye. Given his current strength, I’m not surprised he survived a blow from Bai Ao Tu.”

The officer was astounded, never having expected Zhao Jundu to rate Qian Ye so highly. Bai Ao Tu’s recent rise in power had been meteoric, and she was known for slaughtering opponents beyond her rank as easily as slicing vegetables. She was hailed as the top warrior under the Divine General. While her actual strength might not be enough to dominate all her peers, those in the Empire who could match her were mostly middle-aged and long-established figures, reluctant to lower themselves to a bloodbath for a title. Moreover, even if they did fight, there was no guarantee of victory, and losing would ruin their lifelong reputation.

Even so, Bai Ao Tu’s dominance was unmistakable.

That Qian Ye had survived Bai Ao Tu’s strike meant he possessed comparable fighting prowess. And Qian Ye was even a year younger than Young Master Jundu!

At this thought, a restlessness stirred in the officer.

Zhao Jundu’s eyes half-closed, paying no heed to the officer’s fleeting thoughts, and mused aloud, “Before I arrived, Duke You and Duke Yan, along with Father, all told me that this battle was of paramount importance and that everything should be subordinate to the greater good. Ha! What is the greater good? If some people care nothing for it, how am I supposed to prioritize it?”

The officer was startled, hastily advising, “Young Master, don’t act rashly! We must still consider the greater good. Also, it’s… not the right time for you to confront Bai Ao Tu.”

She phrased it diplomatically, and Zhao Jundu laughed, saying, “You mean to say I’m no match for Bai Ao Tu yet, right? I understand. She’s ten years older, a gap that will take a year or two to close.”

Just as the officer breathed a sigh of relief, Zhao Jundu added, “Fetch me a challenge letter!”

The officer grew anxious, “You just said it wasn’t the right time to duel her!”

Zhao Jundu smiled faintly, “Not now. Three years from now, I’ll challenge her to a duel to the death. She has a ten-year head start. Even if she stops training for three years, she’ll still have a seven-year advantage. If I can’t face her then, she might as well renounce her title.”

This condition would be more painful for Bai Ao Tu than death.

“Three years, Young Master, isn’t that too soon?”

Zhao Jundu calmly replied, “Without risk, what kind of life-or-death duel is it? Write it down as such.”

“…Yes.”

The officer hurried away, and Zhao Jundu stood by the window, gazing at the distant wilderness where sky and land met, smiling softly, muttering to himself, “Let’s see what you consider the greater good—Bai clan and Bai Ao Tu, or me, the potential future Celestial King.”

At the heart of the Zhao clan’s defensive sector, a grand fortress had long since been constructed. From the very first day the Zhao clan landed on the Floating Continent, they began building, and construction continued nonstop. The fortress far surpassed the Li family’s base in both scale and capacity, able to house hundreds of thousands, with ten high-grade power towers. This was no mere fortress but a city.

This fortress, named the “Unfallen City,” hinted at the Zhao clan’s ambition.

The Unfallen City was not isolated. Surrounding it, the Zhao clan built over a dozen smaller fortresses, interdependent and connected by underground passages, as well as emergency power conduits that could divert energy from the Unfallen City when necessary, making the entire defense system impregnable.

Whether by foresight or other reasons, the Unfallen City was designed to accommodate at least five hundred thousand residents and included living areas. In its core, a massive garden and landscape had been constructed, complete with elemental arrays to control the climate. Though temperature control relied more on steam and ice, the cost of constructing this in a short time was immense.

Within this core area, only four of the ten estates had been assigned— to the Imperial House, the Zhang clan, the Song clan, and the Zhao clan itself.

The estate assignments were deliberate. The Imperial House and Zhang clan, being far more powerful than average clans, naturally merited a residence. The Zhao clan, as the host, had already claimed a quiet estate. The Song clan, due to their immense wealth, managed to secure a spot with a tempting offer. The remaining estates remained vacant, to be allocated as needed.

In such a symbol of status, the major clans would spare no effort.

In the Zhao mansion, in a lakeside pavilion, Zhao Ruo Xi sat by the window, chin resting on the sill, boredly gazing at the pool below.

“Miss, it’s time for your medicine.”

Hearing Old Wang’s voice, Zhao Ruo Xi’s ears twitched, but she remained motionless.

Old Wang, undaunted, repeated, “Miss, it’s time for your medicine.”

“I know!” Zhao Ruo Xi finally lazily lifted herself, grumbling, “This medicine tastes awful. Besides, don’t I have the Regenerative Force? Why do I need it?”

“This medicine aids in the digestion of the Regenerative Force and protects your body, reducing the damage when using Manjushri Flower.” Old Wang had said this countless times.

“Just put it on the table,” Zhao Ruo Xi sighed, and then there was a sharp crackling sound.

Old Wang placed the medicine tray on the table and turned to see Zhao Ruo Xi using the handle of a vintage pistol to crack nuts on the windowsill.

Old Wang, usually composed, couldn’t help but blink. That exquisitely crafted pistol—wasn’t it the Manjushri Flower?

Resisting the urge to rub his eyes, Old Wang took a deep breath and confirmed that Miss Zhao was indeed using the Manjushri Flower to crack nuts.

The national treasure used for cracking nuts? Though the Manjushri Flower was indestructible, Old Wang felt an indescribable unease and sighed deeply.

Zhao Ruo Xi, having cracked a handful of nuts, moved to the table, grimacing at the steaming bowl of medicine. She tossed nuts into her mouth one by one, but her crumpled face revealed that the taste of the nuts did little to mask the medicine’s bitterness.

Old Wang said, “There’s something you should know. Qian Ye clashed with the Bai clan the other day and was injured by Bai Ao Tu…”

Before he finished, Zhao Ruo Xi shot up, clenching her fists, “Bai Ao Tu? She’s asking for death!”

Old Wang coughed and began, “Miss, here’s what happened…”

But Zhao Ruo Xi cut him off, teeth gritted, “Where is Bai Ao Tu?”