Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

While Zhang Dongyun was cultivating, the old bloody shadow demon suddenly returned to the fortress.

A bloody light returned to the fortress and landed respectfully before the fortress gate, not daring to enter immediately.

“Your Majesty, someone has barged into the White Cloud Abyss. I have brought him back.”

When the bloody light landed on the ground, a young man appeared.

He had the Blood Demon Ring on his finger.

This young man was pale with astonishment as he looked at Chang’an Fortress.

He never expected that a complete and majestic fortress would exist in the remote and dangerous White Cloud Abyss in Dragon Ridge.

Did the earth-shattering changes in Dragon Ridge originate from this fortress?

“Who is he?” A clear, dignified voice came from the fortress.

A red light condensed beside the young man and turned into a blood-colored figure.

“Your Majesty, I’ve examined him,” the old demon answered respectfully. “He is a disciple of the Thunderclap Sect, a small sect within Tongzhou Prefecture, next to Qinzhou Prefecture in the southern foot of Dragon Ridge.”

The change in the Dragon Ridge’s White Cloud Abyss had alarmed many nearby locals.

This included the Thunderclap Sect.

A group of Thunderclap Sect members were in the forest in Dragon Ridge and thus approached the White Cloud Abyss to explore.

All of them had dispersed to find the source of the turmoil, and this young man entered deep into the White Cloud Abyss. He ended up meeting the Blood Demon Ring and was brought back by the old demon.

“Bring him in,” Zhang Dongyun ordered.

The old bloody shadow demon entered the fortress with the young man.

The blood river in the fortress was empty, and the old bloody shadow demon had a fixed gaze and stayed aloof.

When it arrived outside the Great Ming Palace, it was suddenly startled.

The old demon narrowed its eyes and sized up the old man in black standing outside.

He had served the Evil Emperor for many years in the White Cloud Abyss and had never seen this old man.

Did I not notice this old man when I was patrolling outside the fortress and let him sneak in?

The old man in black stood respectfully outside the Great Ming Palace, and based on his appearance, he seemed to be a servant just like the bloody shadow.

More importantly, the old bloody shadow demon sensed a dark, terrifying power from that old man.

It was not confident against this old man in black, even if it faced him at its peak before it had been injured.

Who is this old man?

“Black Cloud, this is Bloody Shadow, a servant just like you.”

‘Evil Emperor’ Ming Tonghui’s voice sounded from within the Great Ming Palace.

The old man in black said respectfully, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

He looked at the old bloody shadow demon and greeted it, “It is an honor to meet you.”

The old bloody shadow demon suddenly sensed a threat.

This was not a threat to its personal safety.

Rather, it was status.

“Nice to meet you.” It took a deep breath and remained calm. Then it nodded at the old man in black and turned to look at the Great Ming Palace.

‘Evil Emperor’ Ming Tonghui’s voice came again from within the Great Ming Palace.

“Bloody Shadow, hand over the person in your hands to Black Cloud and continue with your tasks. Bring whoever disturbs my peace back to the fortress and hand them over to Black Cloud.”

Upon hearing the order, the old bloody shadow demon’s expression changed drastically.

His Majesty sent me to patrol the area outside the fortress, but the old man in black can serve by His Majesty’s side and help His Majesty manage the fortress?

The old demon was full of grievances at once.

All these years, it had been following His Majesty and hiding in the White Cloud Abyss.

However, this newcomer had climbed above its head the moment he arrived?

Was it because I was rebellious outside the fortress at that time?

The old bloody shadow demon shook his head helplessly. “I will follow Your Majesty’s orders.”

The ‘Evil Emperor’ let out a sound of acknowledgment. “You may go.”

Silence then filled the Great Ming Palace.

The old bloody shadow demon sorted out its feelings and handed the Thunderclap Sect disciple to the old man in black.

The other party said faintly, “It has been hard on you all these years. We are here to serve His Majesty, so I hope we can work together happily in the future.”

The old bloody shadow demon’s heart moved slightly. Why does he sound much older?

It was as if this old man in black had been following the Evil Emperor closely before the Evil Emperor entered the White Cloud Abyss and the immortal ruins incident.

Did he really come earlier than me? The old bloody shadow demon felt disdain in its heart as it pondered. Your true colors will only show after a stern test, and only the faithful ones will be spotted in times of trouble.

Where were you when His Majesty was living in seclusion? You only came back now that His Majesty has reappeared and is making a comeback.

The old bloody shadow demon bade farewell to the old man in black hastily and flew out of the fortress.

His Majesty cherishes old friendships and even takes care of you now, but he will know that I am his most loyal servant one day.

The old bloody shadow demon once again wanted to give its previous self a beating.

If I had been sane in the past and loyal to His Majesty, I would have been the one staying in the fortress based on the fact that I lived in seclusion in the White Cloud Abyss for the past decades.

I regret it! I regret it!

Fortunately, His Majesty has given me another chance.

If I can remain loyal and do my best on the tasks, His Majesty will certainly think highly of me again.

First, I will earn His Majesty’s grace so that His Majesty will heal my injuries.

Then I will bring down the old man in black!

The old bloody shadow demon was burning with fighting spirit now!

Zhang Dongyun watched it leave and smiled slightly.

It would be best if this old demon could capture more and more people back.

Taking on the image of the old man in black, he once again interrogated the new captive.

After the Thunderclap Sect disciple entered the fortress, Zhang Dongyun had sealed his perception, which he only unsealed now.

This malefic existence before him turned from blood-colored into black, causing him to tremble in fear.

After a series of interrogations, this person provided a piece of information that made Zhang Dongyun’s heart palpitate.

A great turmoil was currently breaking out in the Eastern Tang Dynasty’s Longbei County.

Due to a disaster, the people could not earn a living, and the officials were ineffective in managing the situation, eventually leading to the unrest of vagrants.

The Great Xuanwu General, who was stationed in Longbei County, was leading an army to quell the unrest.

Vagrants, displaced commoners, families moving, and a great number of commoners…

This is almost a natural source of population.

In contrast, the army has their families to worry about.

Zhang Dongyun planned carefully in the Great Ming Palace.

The next step in his cultivation was the fourth realm of the Martial Dao.

This realm was known as Brave Officer, where your strength would be strong and supple; thunderous and as light as a feather. The martial artist would also be able to glide through the air over short distances.

Zhang Dongyun estimated that he would take around half a month to reach this realm.

It would take even longer for the fifth, sixth, and even higher realms.

A martial artist’s cultivation was all in their body and blood. They took it one step at a time, as there were many critical points, so there were no shortcuts.

A martial artist who reached the fifth or even sixth realm in one year was enough to amaze the entire world and overturn the view of the world.

However, time was tight for Zhang Dongyun.

It would be best for him to expand the scope of Chang’an Fortress during this period.

If he could gather all the fragments of the immortal ruins into the fortress, that would be best.

The faster he completed the system’s quest, the better it would be.

He needed some preparations to take in a large number of vagrants and stabilize them for a long time.

As the old man in black, Zhang Dongyun once again interrogated the Cold Mountain Sect disciple Hui Tianyu.

“Based on what your fellow disciples said, you’re treated quite well by your master.” Zhang Dongyun examined the one-eyed young man and slowly said, “Are you so quick to turn your back on your master and be loyal to this place?”