The Balak Kingdom Rebels

Time flew. An hour soon passed, and the cries of "pain" in the room gradually faded.

Qian Renxue leaned lightly against Jiang Mingyang, breathing a little hard. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes brimmed with tenderness as she gazed at him.

Jiang Mingyang gently squeezed Qian Renxue's "pride" and stroked her smooth back. "Qianqian, does this Bracelet Soul Tool have some special history?

Why did it change like this after blood got on it?"

Qian Renxue tidied her slightly disheveled hair. "As far as I know, there's nothing special about this Bracelet Soul Tool!

Spirit Hall has many Space Soul Tools passed down by its predecessors, so there's a chamber dedicated to storing them.

When I was seven, Grandpa took me to choose a Space Soul Tool. I picked this bracelet at random.

I suppose... some ancestor obtained it. But there's no special record of it in Spirit Hall, which means that predecessor never discovered its secret either. That's all I know."

Jiang Mingyang frowned. Was that so?

On his third day in the Heaven Dou Empire Capital, Jiang Mingyang took Ma Hongjun to visit Jiang Tian.

Jiang Mingyang also asked Jiang Tian to help Ma Hongjun suppress the Evil Fire. Jiang Tian readily agreed...

Half a month later, outside the cultivation room

Ma Hongjun hurried over to Jiang Mingyang, who had just finished cultivating and stepped out of the room. "Boss, something huge has happened! Word is spreading through the capital that the Balak Kingdom has rebelled. Everyone's in a panic!"

Jiang Mingyang stared at Ma Hongjun in surprise. "Are you sure it's the Balak Kingdom? That doesn't make sense! Why would the Balak Kingdom rebel now?

The Balak Kingdom has no pretext for rebellion. Why would it do something so foolish?"

Jiang Mingyang could hardly help being shocked. Almost everyone in the Heaven Dou Empire's upper ranks knew the Balak Kingdom harbored rebellious intentions.

But the Heaven Dou Empire had never moved against it, for two reasons:

First, Spirit Hall backed the Balak Kingdom. If the Heaven Dou Empire acted, it might shatter the existing balance.

Given the Heaven Dou Empire's current strength, its leaders had no wish to do that.

Second, any rebellion needed a cause. With one, it could win the support of the people.

Other kingdoms that were neutral or contemplating rebellion might also be drawn in, increasing the chances of success.

Without a pretext, a kingdom generally would not rebel unless it already held an overwhelming advantage or had been driven into a corner.

As far as Jiang Mingyang knew, the Balak Kingdom had no pretext for rebellion.

Nor did Xue Ye seem to be forcing its hand. The fact that Prince Xue Beng's consort was a princess of the Balak Kingdom was proof enough.

Why would it rebel? Puzzled, Jiang Mingyang asked, "Hongjun, is anyone in the capital saying why?"

Ma Hongjun answered at once. "They say Prince Xue Beng blamed his consort, who came from the Balak Kingdom, for his failure to become Crown Prince.

Even you, the Grand Marshal's son, chose to grow close to His Highness Xue Qinghe. So Xue Beng resented his consort and often abused her.

The first time it happened, she told the king of the Balak Kingdom. He told her to endure it and not let such a small matter damage relations between the Balak Kingdom and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

So each time it happened afterward, she hid it and endured it.

But... half a month ago, around the time we returned to the capital, the abuse killed her.

When Xue Ye learned of it, he ordered her buried three days later. The king of the Balak Kingdom thought such a quick burial was suspicious, so he sent someone to examine her.

That was how it came to light... A few days ago, the Balak Kingdom declared rebellion. Many neighboring forces have rallied to its cause."

Jiang Mingyang fell into thought, then felt a surge of excitement. This is perfect. Chaos is spreading... chaos at last! Only in chaos will there be an opportunity. Troubled times breed heroes!

Ma Hongjun brightened too. "You're right! Ha! Even heaven is helping us."

Jiang Mingyang had originally planned to develop his forces in secret and absorb other factions around the time of Tang San and the others' five-year reunion.

After all, Spirit Hall's ambitions would throw the world into chaos by then.

He had intended to seek his chance during that period. Now... he no longer had to wait.

As Jiang Mingyang recalled, the Balak Kingdom had rebelled later in the original story, probably because of Spirit Hall's influence. This time was different.

Xue Beng had likely changed because his spirit had truly broken. Perhaps it had broken in the original story too, but not this badly.

After all, that story had no one with Jiang Mingyang's unusual standing growing close to "Xue Qinghe."

And Jiang Tian, his adoptive father and the foremost figure in the Heaven Dou Army, could not openly take sides. His neutrality had probably left Xue Beng a sliver of hope.

Now Jiang Mingyang was close to "Xue Qinghe," though Jiang Tian still appeared neutral.

But anyone could see that if a crisis forced Jiang Tian to choose between "Xue Qinghe" and Xue Beng, he would choose "Xue Qinghe" without question.

Jiang Mingyang could only marvel. Was this the butterfly effect? Well, the more chaos, the better!

He adapted quickly, realizing what he had to do next to reach his goal.

Troubled times—join the army.

Jiang Mingyang took Ma Hongjun to the Jiang Residence to see his adoptive father, Jiang Tian, ready to set his plan in motion.

Jiang Tian was delighted to see him. "Your father has been run off his feet lately. Judging by that fire in your eyes, you've found yourself a goal.

Go on, then. If your father can make it happen, hmph..."

Jiang Mingyang spoke at once. "Father, Hongjun and I want to join the army and earn our place through military service."

Jiang Tian narrowed his eyes. "With my position, I can arrange a chance for you to distinguish yourself. Some paths are dangerous, and some aren't. Which will you choose?"

"The dangerous one," Jiang Mingyang said without hesitation. "I'd rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix..."

Jiang Tian's eyes narrowed further. Surprise flickered through them, along with a look that said he had expected as much. So that's it... He said slowly, "You've reached the Soul Ancestor level, which makes you a formidable fighter on the battlefield.

And since you're eager to earn merit, by rights you should serve in the vanguard.

But you hold a noble title. I can start you a little higher, and as long as you win the men's respect, no one will dare object.

Besides, you're my son. How could I send you off to be just another vanguard soldier?

Here's what we'll do. Follow me for now and start in the vanguard. I'll find you opportunities to earn merit and get you promoted to Commandant.

A Commandant generally ranks below a general.

But unlike some deputy generals and generals with titles but no real authority, a Commandant can lead a force independently."

Jiang Mingyang was overjoyed. "Thank you, Father."

Jiang Tian smiled and nodded. An old hand at reading people, he had long since understood Jiang Mingyang's intentions from his words and bearing.

He made a silent decision. Since you've decided, let us overthrow this rotten rule! Your father will lend you a hand!

In ancient times, the four pillars collapsed, and the nine provinces split apart; heaven could not cover all, and earth could not bear all.

Fires blazed without dying, and vast waters surged without end.

Soul Beasts devoured the people and seized the old and weak.

Then Empress Gao refined Angel Divine Light to mend the heavens, severed the Black Dragon's four legs to raise the four pillars, slew the Black Dragon to save Ji Province, and piled up reed ash to stem the raging flood.

The heavens were mended, and the four pillars stood firm; the flood receded, and Ji Province knew peace; the Soul Beasts withdrew, and the people lived.

"Empress Gao's Sky-Mending Record"