Changes in the Ancient Country of Loulan

The Land of Wind, the ancient kingdom of Loulan.

As the sole autonomous region within the Land of Wind, their purpose for existence was to protect the "Dragon Vein," and under the mediation of the Land of Wind's Daimyo, they were shielded from the Sand Village's covetous gaze.

If it were in the past, the Sand Village might have seized this power, but after Leaf Village's unconditional gift, there was no need for it at all!

If you want to ask why the Daimyo protected Loulan, you can only ask the Queen of Loulan!

Inside the Minister's Palace.

"Prepare yourselves. If the Queen agrees with my proposal, we won't have to lift a finger. If she disagrees, then kill her..." the Loulan Minister An Lushan said fiercely.

"Then, sir, should we also deal with the princess..." a subordinate asked.

An Lushan waved his hand, saying, "The princess is useful to us, we cannot kill her. Execute all the guards and ministers who are loyal to the Queen!"

"Yes!" Three subordinates went to prepare.

An Lushan was also a rogue ninja from the Sand Village, known as Hyakkō. He used ninjas as puppets in the village, and gradually, he became unsatisfied with dead ninjas and began targeting ninjas from the Sand Village, leading to his execution by the village.

However, during his imprisonment, he killed the guards, escaped from the Sand Village, and created a false appearance in the Land of Rivers. In reality, he transformed into "An Lushan" and hid in Loulan.

This was already his second year in hiding in Loulan. During this time, he had gathered a large number of confidantes and gained the Queen's trust, as Loulan's urbanization was completed under his advocacy.

Today was the day to decide whether to use the Dragon Vein to develop a puppet army, as his previous proposal had already been rejected.

"If it's not passed today, I'll have to resort to my own methods!" An Lushan revealed a sinister smile.

The Royal Palace Hall.

"Your Majesty, I propose again that the Dragon Vein be used to create a puppet army to strengthen Loulan's defenses!" An Lushan's faction of ministers stepped forward to propose.

The Queen, seated on the throne, did not immediately respond, looking at the ministers of her faction below.

A minister, receiving her gaze, immediately stepped forward to refute, "The Dragon Vein is Loulan's greatest treasure, how can it be used to develop an army? Doesn't that make it seem like we intend to provoke war!"

"Why not? Developing the army is the only way to better protect the country..."

The two factions argued back and forth, neither able to convince the other. In the end, the decision rested with the Queen.

Queen Saori looked at her ministers and said, "My Loulan is a peaceful country. We will not use the Dragon Vein to create an army. It is enough that our people can live a stable life..."

"If it's still like this, then don't blame me!" An Lushan signaled his subordinates, who understood immediately and acted.

"Ah...!" The ministers loyal to the Queen were immediately killed by An Lushan's subordinates, and some who attempted to escape were executed on the spot by the guards at the entrance.

The solemn and majestic palace had now become a hellscape, with blood flowing everywhere...

Although the Queen had considered that he might resort to underhanded tactics, she hadn't expected him to be so ruthless as to act directly in the hall.

Queen Saori trembled and roared, "An Lushan, are you attempting a rebellion?"

"Hahahahaha..., Your Majesty, don't you understand yet?" Mad laughter echoed as An Lushan looked at Queen Saori and murmured, "What a pity! I'll take care of your daughter!"

As soon as the words fell, he was in front of the Queen, and his sharp kunai was about to pierce her chest...

Bang! An Lushan was sent flying back. It turned out a person disguised as a guard had intervened. He hadn't escaped?

This guard was naturally Su Zheng. He had restored his appearance and looked at Queen Saori, saying, "Now, are you willing to believe what I told you?"

Queen Saori nodded in terror. It turned out Su Zheng had long told the Queen about An Lushan's ambition, but she hadn't believed him. Now, she could only witness this cruel truth with him!

An Lushan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, surprised, "Who exactly are you? How do you possess such power!"

Su Zheng spread his hands helplessly, "I wouldn't deign to act against an idiot like you, but to establish a high status in the Queen's heart, I've decided to exchange a few blows with you!"

Queen Saori heard his words. Her face, pale from fear, regained its color. Thinking of his teasing words earlier and their agreement, her face turned even redder...

"Very well, you're seeking death!" An Lushan formed hand seals, "Summoning Technique: Earth Puppet!"

Bang! After a cloud of white smoke, over a dozen mechanical puppets roared and charged forward, firing kunai and shuriken in between their attacks...

"Ah~!" Su Zheng patted his mouth with his right hand, feeling a bit sleepy. Had he not slept well last night!

His left hand was not slow, "Lightning Style: Lightning Net!"

A highly dense network of lightning wove into an inescapable net. Wherever it passed, everything was cut and destroyed!

As for the ministers present, they were all reduced to fragments, unable to utter a sound. Su Zheng looked at the dark shield with some surprise.

"Puppet Technique: Mechanical Light Shield Seal!" An Lushan, covered in sweat, emerged from behind the puppet shield. He had never seen such a powerful ninjutsu; a casual attack had the strength of an ANBU captain!

Boom! The puppet shield that blocked the lightning technique shattered in response. He had no choice but to bring out his strongest technique.

Swish! A scroll was taken out and opened with blood.

Boom boom boom!

Another dozen puppets were summoned, though they looked slightly different.

Crack crack crack! Purple chakra threads rose from the puppets, quickly connecting, disassembling, and reassembling to form a new, massive puppet. An Lushan entered the chest cavity, and the armor was complete!

Su Zheng watched all this with amusement. He thought it was quite creative! But it was useless!

Sizzle sizzle sizzle! Lightning chakra in his left hand condensed, "Lightning Style: Kirin!"

Crack! Crack!

A sky-blue lightning dragon condensed in Su Zheng's left hand. Its enormous and ferocious appearance was enough to make one's heart pound!

"Ah...!" As An Lushan roared and charged, Su Zheng unleashed the Kirin...

Boom, boom, boom! Boom, boom, boom!

The Kirin wrapped around the puppet, its bursting lightning continuously triggering new explosions...

However, the scattered puppet parts, after An Lushan took out a purple crystal and swallowed it, reformed!

Queen Saori quickly explained, "He stole the power of the Dragon Vein. That purple crystal is the condensed power of the Dragon Vein!"

Su Zheng nodded, stroking his chin as he thought, "If ninjutsu won't work, then I'll just use Yin-Yang Release!"

He still had important matters to attend to; he didn't have time to waste on this guy.

Whoosh! Su Zheng instantly placed his hand on the puppet. To An Lushan's shocked gaze, the puppet disintegrated. He couldn't feel his own chakra...

An Lushan lay on the ground, disbelieving, "Impossible! What power did you use? I didn't feel anything!"

Su Zheng stepped forward, pressing his hand onto the top of An Lushan's head. Boom! The Yin-Yang Release activated, instantly destroying An Lushan's mind. He fell to the ground, lifeless and silent!

This was a technique Su Zheng had been researching recently. Since Yin-Yang Release could be bestowed upon an object, it could also be withdrawn, destroyed, or added to from an object...

It could be said that he had truly mastered the art of Yin-Yang Release!

Su Zheng sat back on the throne and looked at Queen Saori, saying playfully, "Your Majesty, you won't forget our agreement, will you!"

Saori's face turned bright red. She didn't know how she had gotten herself into agreeing to such a ridiculous request—if An Lushan rebelled, she would become his woman, and...

Su Zheng pulled Queen Saori closer, stroking her beautiful chin and whispering in her ear, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Besides you and me, there will be no one else here..."

Queen Saori said, "You promise that Sara and our people will be safe, and then I'll agree!"

"Of course! Don't you trust me yet!" Su Zheng patted his chest and promised.

In another palace.

Su Zheng sat in a chair, holding the petite Princess Sara. She was sleeping soundly, while at their feet lay a sea of blood, with countless corpses scattered before them...

This bloody scene, with a man and a woman, was so incongruous. The quiet and peaceful image was strangely captivating!