The Four Heavenly Kings of Xia Kingdom Diplomacy

Capital City, International Affairs Office.

Minister Wang Desheng was gathered with three colleagues responsible for diplomacy. The large LCD screen behind him displayed four videos showing what had happened—and was still happening—at the Biler Red Valley garrison.

One video showed soldiers from Buddha Country preparing to invade.

One showed Zhang Hongxing tearing through them like a tiger among sheep, fighting a hundred men alone.

One showed Zhang Hongxing digging and filling holes around the entire garrison, setting up a formation.

The last showed a live feed from the Biler Red Valley garrison. In it, the Xia Kingdom soldiers wore nothing but summer combat uniforms, standing tall and moving with crisp efficiency.

The land behind them was lush and brimming with life, a stark contrast to the snow-covered world belonging to Buddha Country just five meters ahead.

Through the live feed, they even saw one Buddha Country soldier after another cautiously approach the border, then take out the recording devices they carried and begin filming.

Their eyes betrayed confusion, fear, and curiosity.

But however curious they were, not one dared cross the line.

"Everyone, you've seen the videos. Let's hear your thoughts. How should we announce this to the outside world?"

Minister Wang Desheng was the first to speak.

"If you ask me, we should just leave them hanging. Why bother explaining?"

"Hahaha, Yunfei, you're still too aggressive. This incident has had a considerable impact. Quite a few countries, America included, are already watching."

"Minister, what do you suggest? Even if we wanted to explain, we wouldn't know how. Why don't we send someone to invite Zhang Hongxing here?"

"I disagree with Old Yang's suggestion. We still have no idea what happened during the thirty years Zhang Hongxing was missing. Acting rashly could anger him.

"Judging by his actions so far, his heart seems to be with the Xia Kingdom. There's no need for us to take that risk."

"I agree with Xia Yun."

Wang Desheng looked up at Zhao Yunfei and Xia Yun, who had reached an agreement. His initial support for Yang Guangwen's idea began to waver.

Since approaching Zhang Hongxing directly was inconvenient, perhaps asking the veteran Zhang Jun would be a viable alternative.

He acted on the thought immediately, contacting the Biler Red Valley garrison through a dedicated line.

As luck would have it, the person who answered was Zhang Bing, the very man he wanted to speak to.

"This is the Red Valley Garrison. Zhang Bing speaking. Who's calling?"

"Hello, Zhang Bing. This is the Foreign Affairs Department in Capital City. I'm Wang Desheng."

"Hello, Minister Wang. What are your instructions?"

"I wouldn't call them instructions. I'm actually calling to speak to you."

"To me?"

"Yes, Comrade Zhang Bing. We'd like to ask about your father, Zhang Hongxing, and the current situation at the Red Valley Garrison. Many countries are now watching your location, and we need to prepare our response."

As a military man, Wang Desheng saw no reason to beat around the bush. He laid out everything he wanted to ask in one go.

"Reporting, Minister. I can't really explain my father's situation clearly myself. All I know is that during the thirty years he was missing, a Spacetime Rift sucked him into another Plane.

"As for what happened here at the Red Valley Garrison, it's because my father set up a formation, something like what those cultivators in legends could do.

"In fact, my father also taught me some cultivation methods, and I've passed them on to every soldier at the garrison. Unfortunately, not everyone can learn them."

Wang Desheng and the other three exchanged looks. None of them had expected such a simple phone call to uncover something so earth-shattering.

Faced with Zhang Bing's frankness, they suddenly had no idea how to respond.

The matter of Spacetime Rifts and other Planes, in particular, would undoubtedly shake the entire world if it got out.

"Comrade Zhang Bing, have you told anyone else what you've just told us?"

Wang Desheng asked solemnly.

"Minister, aside from my family, you should be the first to know about my father. As for cultivation, I can't be sure. To spread the method, I've made a video of the complete cultivation process and uploaded the whole thing to the War Department Internal Network."

Far away in Capital City, the four of them were once again stunned by what Zhang Bing had done.

As soon as Zhao Yunfei recovered, he logged into the War Department Internal Network and opened the Ultimate Cultivation Method video, which had already reached ten thousand views.

"Ultimate Cultivation Method: a cultivation method for breaking through the limits of the human body and becoming a supreme fighter capable of taking on a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand opponents alone.

"A special reminder: this is not superstition, nor is it a rumor. I'm Zhang Bing, captain of the Third Infantry Squad at the Red Valley Garrison. Anyone who doubts this is welcome to come find me and put it to the test."

The video opened with a rousing introduction from Zhang Bing.

As he introduced the method, he even demonstrated his own speed and strength. The abilities he displayed exceeded those of professional athletes specializing in strength or speed by more than threefold.

"Minister, could this cultivation method actually be real?"

Zhao Yunfei stared in shock at the video and the comments beneath it.

Some believed it, and others did not. Overall, the skeptics were more numerous, but a handful said they had already cultivated a faint sense of qi.

"Old Yang, why bother asking me that?"

Wang Desheng looked at Yang Guangwen with a smile.

"Minister, I'm just too shocked. It's a shame so few people have succeeded in cultivating it. Otherwise, our Xia Kingdom's strength would surely take another enormous leap forward."

"Old Yang, that's not necessarily true. Think about the age we live in. However strong an individual might be, he can't face aircraft and artillery head-on, can he?"

"Comrade Xia Yun, this time I'll have to side with Old Yang."

"Suit yourself. Don't act as though anyone cares whose side you're on. Count how many times you've switched sides already."

"Hahaha..."

Hearty laughter rang out through the International Affairs Office. With Zhang Bing's sincere answers, the Xia Kingdom's Four Heavenly Kings of Diplomacy could come up with five or six plans for dealing with foreign powers in no time.

The weather was exceptionally clear on April 1.

The Capital City Hive Stadium, which could hold a hundred thousand people, was already packed. Almost every spot was occupied, all because of the match taking place that day.

A UFC men's lightweight championship bout.

The Xia Kingdom lightweight fighter Qin Dagang would face Banjo Ichito, the champion fighter from Cherry Blossom Country who had won the UFC lightweight title three times in a row.

He was the first Xia Kingdom fighter to challenge for a UFC title, and his opponent was a champion from Cherry Blossom Country.

And the match would take place on Xia Kingdom soil.

A match like this needed no publicity at all. The slightest whisper of it was enough to set off heated discussion.