Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 1006 - 820 Heavenly Empress Puji_2

Chapter 1006: Chapter 820 Heavenly Empress Puji_2

Due to the current shortage of black gold divine armor and firearms, only these one hundred thousand black gold armored soldiers can follow Li Xuan into underwater combat.

Just as Li Xuan’s vast army was arriving, the Dragon King Ao Shenghai’s jurisdiction of several millions of soldiers also gradually arrived.

The number of this underwater army notably reached five point eight million, much more than Li Xuan had anticipated.

This was because the East Sea Dragon Palace and the Fusang Gods had further mobilized and increased their troops a few days earlier.

Especially the Fusang Gods, who had felt the chill of the sweep of Kunpeng across Nanyang, thus they did not feign compliance and dismissal like before.

Afterward, Li Xuan blocked several strategic underwater points, and built massive defensive structures below the sea, creating layers of ice walls in preparation, with a three-tier defense system.

Li Xuan did not lack the odds of victory in open warfare. However, if he could exhaust the Kunpeng’s army to the point of collapse, there would be no need for a decisive battle.

The lives of the sea creatures under the Dragon Palace’s command were also precious, and their numbers were closely linked to Li Xuan’s ’authority’.

Moreover, the cost of an underwater blank cartridge was still a staggering twelve silver yuan, while an underwater blank cannon shot was a shocking two hundred and fifty yuan.

Li Xuan estimated that this decisive battle would cost ten million silver yuan, in addition to numerous casualties.

Li Xuan spent a full five days coordinating with Ao Shenghai, commanding the army to roughly construct the multi-layer defense works.

Afterward, he hosted a banquet on his Xuanhuang Emperor’s call, entertaining a dozen core individuals from the East Sea dragons and the Fusang Gods.

This banquet could indeed be described as enjoyable for both host and guests. Whether it was because Li Xuan was honey-tongued, or because he had agreed to marry Ao Shuying after the war, Ao Shenghai was extremely joyful and open-hearted.

Even the Fusang Gods did not feel neglected.

Li Xuan did not pay much attention to them, but by this time, he was already surrounded by Dragon Qi, his authority and might growing day by day. When he spoke, it seemed as if he embodied the heavenly mandate, and his every motion seemed to manipulate the heavenly and earthly laws.

Moreover, he was surrounded by powerful individuals, many Extreme Heaven powerhouses and high-ranking Divine Generals encircling him.

The more arrogantly and imperiously he treated the Fusang Gods, the more they respected him.

Previously, they considered him merely a mortal, yet not only did he dare to aspire to the Heaven Emperor’s dignity, but he also dared to attack Fusang, aiming to become the lord of the Fusang Gods, which incited their excitement.

But after the great battle of Naniwakyo, the vast majority of the Fusang Gods began to revere this Emperor’s power.

By now, they only saw this Emperor as having grand plans and a divine mandate, fitting to rule over all.

Just as the feast was about to disperse, Li Xuan suddenly changed his expression and looked ahead.

As he slightly raised his hand, the entire hall gradually quieted down.

A smile also emerged on Li Xuan’s lips, "I was not aware that Heavenly Empress Puji was descending here. We apologize for the lack of a distant welcome and ask for your forgiveness."

Heavenly Empress Puji, also known as Matsu.

In the future in Southeast Asia, Matsu would acquire the titles ’Saintess’ and ’Heaven Lady’ from the mortal realm’s court.

But now, the title awarded by the Jin Dynasty is ’Heavenly Empress Puji,’ a protective and benevolent spirit, just a half rank below the Emperor.

At that moment, countless water droplets gathered from all directions and eventually manifested into the figure of a woman dressed in white robes and skirt.

She was in her twenties, her appearance as gentle as hibiscus in the distant mountains, her features like a painting, and her demeanor was kind and amiable, making one feel affable at first sight.

The origins of Matsu remain a mystery. It is said that during the era of the two Zhao dynasties, a woman named ’Lin Moniang’, died while rescuing others from a sea disaster, and hence was revered as a deity by the coastal people.

Later, because her divine power was effective, she was jointly worshipped by many shipbuilders, seafarers, travelers, merchants, and fishermen of Southeast Asia, becoming the most powerful deity of the region.

Ships traveling here would erect a shrine to Matsu on board to seek favorable winds and safety.

Upon her appearance, she nodded to Li Xuan, "The person who has been disrespectful is me. I did not know the Emperor was hosting a banquet and have disturbed Your Majesty."

Li Xuan smiled and then gestured with his eyes to the side.

Most people inside the hall immediately understood and left the place.

Then several dozen celestial soldiers came over and quickly arranged a seat for Matsu.

Li Xuan actually wanted to recruit some women with cultivation as palace maids in his Heavenly Court of Xuanhuang.

In ancient times, didn’t every emperor travel with a group of celestial maidens as attendants? That was the true mark of majesty and grandeur.

Unfortunately, just after Li Xuan had instructed Li ShanChang to handle this matter, Luo Yan, Yu Hongshang, and Xue Yunrou coincidentally came before him, one leisurely sharpening a knife, another sighing endlessly, and telling the children that they were pitiful for possibly becoming fatherless in the future.

Another was outside practicing the Sword Control Technique. The unleashed Sword Qi, perhaps not fully controlled, "whooshed" and flattened the tribunal of the Dadudu of five armies.

Li Xuan’s scalp tingled, and he had to ask Li ShanChang to suspend the recruitment of palace maids.

Li Xuan suspected that the old man had leaked the news, but he had no proof.

Two days later, Jiang Hanyun also ran back from outside.

She didn’t say anything, but the next day Li Xuan felt his whole body aching.

He had now achieved the ’Zhongzi Golden Body’, and he reckoned none of the girls around him could break his defense.

But somehow, Jiang Hanyun had learned the power of vibrational force from Ao Shuying.

Li Xuan’s ’Zhongzi Golden Body’ was incredibly dense. As long as his Yuan Qi was plentiful, he could withstand even the forces of the Extreme Heaven.

But the vibrational technique that Jiang Hanyun had learned was exactly what countered him.

Thus, Li Xuan completely abandoned the idea of recruiting palace maids. He felt that his attendants, decked in Black Gold Divine Armor, were quite sufficient.

They were all transformed Yin Gods of female Wu cultivators after death, not only meticulous in their duties but also allowing him to focus on state affairs and Martial Law.

When Li Xuan, Heavenly Empress Puji, and several core figures in his command settled in their respective seats as host and guests, those attendant heavenly soldiers served spiritual tea and immortal fruits. Li Xuan then dismissed these distracting thoughts and smiled at the Heaven Lady opposite him.

"So they say, one does not visit the Hall of Supreme Harmony without a cause. I reckon I know the purpose of Heaven Lady’s visit, but do you wish me to deploy troops, to provide relief to Nanyang?"

"Indeed, that is why I am here."

Heavenly Empress Puji glanced outside the window, "At present, the countries of Nanyang suffer greatly from floods and frequent maritime disasters, resulting in widespread calamity and sorrow. Your Majesty controls nearly six million troops and a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers at sea, which could alleviate the crisis in Nanyang."

Li Xuan, however, shook his head, "Jin Dynasty holds no territory in Nanyang, and I have no followers among the foreign nations there. What benefit is there in saving them?"

He could not possibly risk deploying his troops for the people of Nanyang, with whom he had no ties.

Maintaining a fortified position along the line of Penglai and Hainan islands and wearing down Kunpeng’s massive forces, wouldn’t that be a sweet victory?

"Your Majesty, there are also people from the Central Plains in Nanyang, and if, after the incident, the nations of Nanyang become desolate, it will not benefit your Majesty’s policy of valuing commerce," Heavenly Empress Puji said.

But Li Xuan only smiled, noncommittal, causing her to sigh softly, knowing that her words could not sway him.

Thinking pessimistically, he might even intend to watch as the people of Nanyang suffer, reducing the challenges Jin Dynasty would face in future expansions into Nanyang.

Heavenly Empress Puji would actually prefer to see more people from the Middle Earth colonizing Nanyang, but due to the debts she owed to worshippers, and with over three million sea tribe subjects in Nanyang in dire straits, she had to intervene.

"So be it."

Heavenly Empress Puji’s eyes flickered, "I see that there’s a triple layer ice wall constructed five hundred li to the south, with all fortifications extremely sturdy. Is your Majesty planning to hold this position and wait for the enemy to collapse?"

"That is my intention," Li Xuan acknowledged the Heaven Lady’s understanding of military strategy. She had risen in the South Sea thusly. He admitted openly, "I only need to hold out here for two months, and victory should follow without battle."

Heavenly Empress Puji felt a headache brewing, her biggest fear being this very point.

If the Great Emperor Tunhai fails to conquer the defenses of the Xuanhuang Emperor, he might simply plunder Nanyang further, even considering her three million sea tribe subjects as sustenance.

"Actually, I may also opt to face Kunpeng head-on now," Li Xuan said, looking at Heavenly Empress Puji with a full smile.

"But the problem is, I currently see no reason to do so."

If the Heaven Lady wanted to avoid the worst scenario, she would need to make a sacrifice.

On hearing this, Dugu Bilo frowned, sensing that Li Xuan’s smile was rather scheming.