In the lower realm, outside the Blue Cloud Kingdom.
Four Green-Winged Flying Birds pulled a huge, luxurious Jade Carriage as it sped toward the Blue Cloud Kingdom.
Everywhere it went, countless people stopped to watch.
"That's the Green-Winged Flying Bird Jade Carriage! It belongs to the Northern Profound Heaven Imperial Palace!"
"First the Ice Jade Carriage, and now the flying-bird carriage. Why have members of the Northern Profound Heaven imperial family kept appearing in the lower realm?"
"We're all mortals of the lower realm. What makes you think we're qualified to speculate?"
"To ride in such a luxurious and noble carriage—how enviable!"
The Jade Carriage was now entering the skies above the Blue Cloud Kingdom.
Many couldn't help guessing that the people inside seemed to have some mysterious connection to the kingdom.
At that moment.
Also outside the Blue Cloud Kingdom, a thousand miles beyond its border.
A cavalry force of more than a thousand was advancing rapidly toward the kingdom.
They all rode fierce, towering black-haired tiger-shaped beasts.
Every one of them wore scale armor and animal hides, with massive, heavy black-iron armor strapped across their chests and backs.
Each brandished a heavy weapon, riding atop a tiger-shaped beast with a fearsome air and a towering aura of baleful intent.
At the sight of them, the residents living beyond the Blue Cloud Kingdom's borders all showed expressions of terror.
These were the most savage beings within a hundred thousand miles of the Blue Cloud Kingdom's borders.
The warriors of the Blazing Flame Tribe!
The Blazing Flame Tribe had a population of thirteen million. Its people were born brave and skilled in battle, and excelled at taming demonic beasts.
Wherever they went, corpses littered the land and rivers ran red with blood.
They burned, slaughtered, looted, and pillaged—there was nothing they wouldn't do!
Not only the scattered residents outside the Blue Cloud Kingdom, but even its people feared them as they would the god of death.
After seeing the Green-Winged Flying Bird Jade Carriage enter the skies above the Blue Cloud Kingdom,
the three leading riders of the Blazing Flame Tribe all slowed down, and the entire force followed suit.
They glanced up at the Jade Carriage.
The burly man with a thick beard on the left said, "Could that Jade Carriage really be headed for the Blue Cloud Kingdom?"
His name was Muge, one of the Blazing Flame Tribe's Ten Great Warriors.
The man riding beside him in the middle had two black skulls hanging from his ears.
He was Bahelin, the younger brother of Bahetu, the Blazing Flame Tribe's chieftain.
He gave a scoffing laugh. "The Blue Cloud Kingdom is just a tiny country in the Eastern Wasteland. What right does it have to be connected to the people of the Northern Profound Heaven?"
As they spoke, the Jade Carriage disappeared from view.
It was too far away to tell whether it had landed within the Blue Cloud Kingdom or already passed beyond it.
Muge exchanged a glance with the other warrior. After a moment's thought, they both nodded.
"Exactly. If the Blue Cloud Kingdom had someone from the Northern Profound Heaven imperial family backing it, would our Blazing Flame Tribe have it cowering like a turtle?"
Bahelin sneered. "That's precisely the point."
"Today, when we go to the Blue Cloud Kingdom, we'll make them surrender more land and pay us more money."
"Silk, jewels, beauties—we want it all for the Blazing Flame Tribe!"
"If that useless ruler, Tang Yu, dares to refuse, then we'll make the horns of the Blazing Flame Tribe sound in every corner of the Blue Cloud Kingdom!"
Muge and the others all smiled smugly. "Good!"
Blue Cloud Kingdom, Imperial Palace.
The ruler, Tang Yu, sat on his throne, his face clouded with worry.
"Alas!"
With a heavy sigh, Tang Yu helplessly lifted his head toward the heavens.
"Today, I, Tang Yu, will not only have failed our imperial ancestors, but the people of this realm as well!"
Over the past year, the Blazing Flame Tribe had grown at an unimaginable pace.
They had waged war with reckless abandon, swallowing up the surrounding small tribes one after another before turning their eyes toward the Blue Cloud Kingdom, a land rich in heroes and natural splendor.
Over the past year, the Blue Cloud Kingdom's army had fought the Blazing Flame Tribe more than a hundred times, in battles both large and small.
The Blazing Flame Tribe had won seven or eight out of every ten.
This had not only made the tribe even more arrogant, but had also plunged the Blue Cloud Kingdom's three armies into despair.
The Blue Cloud Kingdom was now powerless to deal with the savage, overbearing Blazing Flame Tribe.
To save his kingdom, Tang Yu had been forced to sue for peace.
Today, Bahelin, the Blazing Flame Tribe's deputy chieftain, would bring his people to the Blue Cloud Kingdom to lay down their demands.
No matter how dull Tang Yu might be, he knew they would ask for the moon.
After today's negotiations, the Blue Cloud Kingdom's troubles would surely grow even worse!
Thinking of this, Tang Yu shook his head again and again, a glimmer of humiliated, resentful tears even welling in his eyes.
"Your Majesty! A grave matter has arisen!"
Just then, the chancellor, Wu Jingxian, hurried into the hall.
Seeing his panicked expression, Tang Yu's heart clenched. Had Bahelin and his men arrived?
"What is it?" Tang Yu forced himself to remain calm.
Wu Jingxian swallowed before replying, "A Jade Carriage from the Northern Profound Heaven imperial family has just landed in our Blue Cloud Kingdom."
"I suspect an extremely distinguished personage has arrived!"
"Why would anyone from the Northern Profound Heaven imperial family come to our Blue Cloud Kingdom?" Tang Yu exclaimed, his face full of shock and almost overwhelmed by the honor.
"I've already sent people to investigate," Wu Jingxian said.
"Why bother investigating?" Tang Yu sprang up, excitedly slapping the arm of his throne.
"I have to wait here for Bahelin and his men. You'll go to where the Jade Carriage landed in my place!"
"Whoever the visitor may be, you must receive them with the full honors due a state guest!"
"If you can invite them to the imperial palace, I'll make you a duke!"
Wu Jingxian was thrilled as well. He quickly answered, "Yes, Your Majesty. I'll go at once!"
Watching him hurry away, Tang Yu looked up at the sky.
"I hope Heaven has mercy and lets this unknown big shot save my Blue Cloud Kingdom from its desperate plight!"
Blue Cloud Kingdom, Fragrant City.
The Green-Winged Flying Bird Jade Carriage had stopped on a secluded patch of grass.
Even so, it drew plenty of attention.
The people only dared watch from a distance, not approach.
In their eyes, the people inside the Jade Carriage had to be extremely distinguished figures from the Nine Heavens Immortal Domain.
If they offended the big shot inside through their own discourtesy, the entire Blue Cloud Kingdom might not be enough to satisfy his wrath.
And so, a strange sight unfolded.
Not a single person dared to approach within a mile of the Green-Winged Flying Bird Jade Carriage!
Lin Xuan was sitting inside the carriage with his four daughters.
Seeing that they had landed, Lin Xuan picked up his four daughters, formed a hand seal, and slipped away from the Jade Carriage without a sound.
The Lin Family courtyard.
Lin Xuan brought the children down into the courtyard.
He looked around. Though he had been away for some time, everything at home was just as it had been.
"Young Master!"
When Zhao Wanfu saw Lin Xuan standing in the courtyard, he came hurrying over, his face alight with joy.
His eyes lingered fondly on the four little girls. "The four little princesses grow cuter by the day!"
Xuanzhu and the others quickly bowed to him. "Greetings, Grandpa Fu!"
Zhao Wanfu was so delighted that his heart blossomed with joy. He nodded again and again. "Oh, oh, oh!"
He had never imagined that the daughters of the Empress of the Northern Profound Heaven herself would call him Grandpa.
If the ancestors of the Zhao family knew, smoke would surely rise from their graves in celebration.
Looking up at Lin Xuan, Zhao Wanfu was filled with emotion.
If he hadn't devoted himself to following and caring for Lin Xuan all this time, how could he have earned the right to be addressed that way by the children?
"Young Master, I guessed you might come home today, so I've already prepared a meal."
Zhao Wanfu gestured respectfully toward the house. "Young Master, come inside. After we eat, we can go to the old master's grave."
Lin Xuan nodded. It was Qingming Festival today.
He had come back to visit the old man's grave.
Before you continue