Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 125 Secrets of the Mainland

"First, military intelligence from the Northern Frontier." The Empress took out a secret report and handed it to Lin Chen.

"Wanyan Honglie has increased his troops to 250,000, and the Northern Shuo Sword Emperor Tuoba Lie has also arrived at the border."

A great war is imminent. I have decided to appoint you as the Northern Border Inspector. You will depart in ten days to command the three armies of the Northern Border and defend against the Northern Northern forces.

Lin Chen took the secret report and read it, then understood.

This was expected; he had planned to go to the North after the wedding.

"Your subject obeys the decree," he said, bowing.

"The second thing," the Empress paused, "is about the Purple Robe Tower and the Yama Palace."

On your wedding day, both families joined forces to attack, but you wiped them all out.

This incident shocked the court and the public, as well as the martial arts world.

Now that the Purple Robe Tower is leaderless and the Yama Palace is severely weakened, I want to know... how you plan to deal with their remaining forces?

Lin Chen thought for a moment and said:

"Your Majesty, although the Purple Robe Tower and the Yama Palace belong to the Jianghu (martial arts world), they have been assassinating court officials and disrupting local order for many years, and have long been a hidden danger to the court."

Your subject suggests that we seize this opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop, thus preventing future troubles.

"Exterminate?" The Empress raised an eyebrow.

"The Purple Robe Tower has a history of hundreds of years and has secret agents in various states."

The Yama Palace is even more mysterious and unpredictable; the location of its main altar remains unknown to this day.

"You want to wipe them out? That's easier said than done."

Lin Chen smiled and said, "Your Majesty, what if I said... I already know the location of the Yama Palace's headquarters?"

The Empress's eyes narrowed: "What did you say?"

"The main altar of the Yama Palace is located deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains of Southern Xinjiang, in a place called 'Netherworld Valley'," Lin Chen said calmly.

"I have also gained control of more than 70% of the various branch altars of the Purple Robe Tower."

"If Your Majesty issues a decree, I can uproot both families within a month."

The Imperial Study was completely silent.

Shock flashed in the eyes of the Imperial Advisor, and the Empress was also slightly moved.

The royal family had been searching for decades but couldn't find the location of the Yama Palace's headquarters, yet Lin Chen knew it?

"How...how did you know?" the Empress asked in a deep voice.

Lin Chen glanced at Li Bai, who understood and smiled:

"Your Majesty, I have some knowledge of divination. A few days ago, I had nothing to do, so I cast a divination and it turned out to be quite accurate."

The art of divination? Did you cast a divination?

The Empress and the Imperial Advisor exchanged a glance, both seeing disbelief in each other's eyes.

Can divination techniques calculate a precise location? Are you kidding me!

But they didn't investigate further.

Everyone has their own secrets, and since Lin Chen is unwilling to talk about them, forcing him to tell her is useless.

"Very well." The Empress nodded slowly. "I grant your permission."

You are fully responsible for eradicating the remaining forces of the Purple Robe Tower and the Yama Palace.

"Tell the Ministry of War exactly how many troops you need."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"The third thing..." The Empress looked at Li Bai, her tone becoming serious.

"Li Jianxian, I have a question for you."

Li Bai cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."

"What level has your cultivation reached...?" The Empress stared directly at Li Bai.

"On your wedding day, you killed Yin Jiuyou with a single sword strike. The 'Time' law contained in that sword strike was beyond the grasp of the Celestial Realm."

"I want to know... have you already attained the status of a terrestrial immortal?"

The air in the imperial study seemed to freeze.

The Imperial Advisor held his breath, Lin Chen frowned slightly, and gave Li Bai a look.

Li Bai understood and smiled:

"Since Your Majesty has asked, I will not hide anything from you."

"This humble citizen has indeed entered the realm of a terrestrial immortal, but only at the initial stage; I have only recently broken through."

"As expected..." The Empress took a deep breath.

"Land Immortals... There hasn't been a Land Immortal in the Eastern Region for three hundred years."

She looked at Lin Chen, her gaze complex:

"Duke Lin, if word gets out that you have a terrestrial immortal guarding your residence, the entire continent will be shaken."

Do you know what this means?

Lin Chen nodded: "Your Majesty, I understand. Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to keep this matter confidential for the time being."

"I will naturally keep it a secret," the Empress said with a wry smile.

"But how long do you think you can keep this a secret? Those people from the Heavenly Mystery Institute are very shrewd; they'll figure out the truth sooner or later."

And those reclusive old monsters... the terrestrial immortals have appeared in the world, they wouldn't be unaware of it.

She paused, then said in a deep voice:

"Lin Chen, I summoned you here today not only for matters concerning the Northern Border, but also for something even more important."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

The Empress stood up, walked to the window, looked at the sky outside, and slowly said:

Do you know how big the Tianyuan Continent is?

Lin Chen was taken aback: "Tianyuan Continent... spans 30,000 li from east to west and 25,000 li from north to south. The three kingdoms of Dayan, Dongli, and Beishuo stand in a tripartite balance, with some small countries and tribes in the surrounding area."

"That's what's out in the open." The Empress turned around, her eyes flashing with a deep light.

"The real Tianyuan Continent is much larger than this."

Dayan, Dongli, and Beishuo... are just three countries in the eastern region of the continent.

In the center of the continent, there lies an even more vast land and an even more powerful force.

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat: "Your Majesty means... Zhongzhou?"

"You know about Zhongzhou?" The Empress was somewhat surprised.

"I've heard a little about it," Lin Chen said casually.

"I've heard that martial arts are flourishing in the Central Plains, with countless powerful individuals, far surpassing the Eastern Region."

"It's far beyond anything the Eastern Regions can compare to," the Empress sighed.

"In the three kingdoms of the Eastern Region, the strongest are no more than those at the Celestial Realm."

In Zhongzhou, those at the Celestial Realm are only considered first-rate experts; the truly top-tier forces all have terrestrial immortals in charge.

Even... legend has it that there are beings who surpass even the gods of the mortal realm.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Li Bai's eyes:

"Your Majesty is referring to... a celestial being?"

The Empress looked at Li Bai: "Does Sword Immortal Li know about Celestial Immortals?"

"I've heard some of the legends," Li Bai said casually.

"Land immortals live for a thousand years, while celestial immortals live for five thousand years, and their strengths are worlds apart."

However, celestial beings are extremely rare; it is said that none have appeared on the entire Tianyuan Continent for a thousand years.

"Not bad." The Empress nodded.

"Celestial beings are just legends, but terrestrial immortals... do exist in the Central Plains, and there is more than one."

She walked back to her desk, took out a yellowed file, and handed it to Lin Chen.

"These are secret documents from the royal archives, recording some information about the Central Plains. Take a look."

Lin Chen took the file and opened it.

The file was thin, only a dozen pages long, but its contents shocked him.

Zhongzhou, located in the center of the Tianyuan Continent, is more than ten times the size of the Eastern Region.

There, numerous sects existed, dynasties rose and fell, and martial arts civilization was highly developed.

The Central Plains have three sacred sites: Kunlun Domain, Penglai Immortal Island, and Mount Sumeru.

Each sacred site is presided over by at least three terrestrial deities, with a lineage spanning over ten thousand years.

Besides the three holy lands, there are also the "Nine Great Dynasties," each with a terrestrial deity in charge.

Its territory is larger than that of Dayan, Dongli, and Beishuo combined.

In the eyes of the people of Zhongzhou, the three kingdoms of the Eastern Regions were nothing more than remote and barbaric lands, not worth mentioning at all.

"One courtyard, two halls, three temples, four gates, five families..." Lin Chen murmured.

"They are a top-tier power in the Eastern Region, but in the Central Plains..."

"They're not even worth mentioning," the Empress replied. "Any first-rate sect in the Central Plains has several Celestial Realm experts in charge."

In the Central Plains, forces like the Heavenly Mystery Academy and the Temple of War Gods can only be considered second-rate powers.

The Azure Dragon Gate and the White Tiger Gate aren't even third-rate.

Lin Chen put down the dossier and took a deep breath: "Why did Your Majesty suddenly tell me all this?"

"Because the time has come." The Empress looked at him.

"Li Jianxian is a terrestrial immortal; this cannot be kept secret for long."

Once the forces of Zhongzhou learn that a terrestrial immortal has appeared in the Eastern Region, they will surely send people to investigate.

At that time... Da Yan will face unprecedented challenges.

She paused, then said in a deep voice:

"Lin Chen, I need you to be prepared. The war in the Northern Border is not just about dealing with Bei Shuo."

I suspect... that there might be forces from the Central Plains behind the Northern Shuo.

Lin Chen frowned slightly: "Your Majesty means..."

"Northern Shuo has expanded too rapidly in recent years," the Empress said.

"Beishuo was originally weaker than Dayan, but in recent years, their army's combat power has increased by leaps and bounds, and strong people have emerged one after another."

I suspect... they have received support from some power in Zhongzhou.

"So Your Majesty sent me to the northern border not only to defend against foreign enemies, but also to investigate the forces behind Northern Shu?"

Lin Chen understood.

"Indeed." The Empress nodded. "This matter is of great importance, and I can only entrust it to you."

I hereby grant you absolute command over the three armies of the North.

Furthermore…I will send royal advisors to assist us covertly, but publicly, everything is up to you.”

"Your Majesty, I understand," Lin Chen said solemnly. "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will definitely find out the truth."

The Empress looked at Lin Chen, a complex expression flashing in her eyes, and hesitated to speak.

"Is there anything else, Your Majesty?" Lin Chen noticed.

The Empress remained silent for a moment, then waved her hand: "Grand Preceptor, you may step down."

The Imperial Advisor bowed and withdrew, leaving only the Empress, Lin Chen, and Li Bai in the Imperial Study.

The Empress looked at Lin Chen and slowly said:

"Lin Chen, I'll ask you one more time... who exactly are you?"

Lin Chen was taken aback: "What makes Your Majesty say such a thing?"

"You've risen from a spoiled brat to the head of the Lin family, with countless powerful subordinates, even terrestrial immortals at your service." The Empress stared directly at him.

"This transformation is too incredible."

I have investigated you, investigated everything about you from childhood to adulthood, and found nothing unusual.

Until six months ago, you suddenly showed your talent... like a completely different person.

She paused, then said, word by word, "Are you really Lin Chen?"