You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

"Li Cunxiao!"

After Li Cunxiao left, Zhou Chen sighed inwardly.

He never expected that the outstanding person who signed in this time would be Li Cunxiao, a man of unparalleled talent and ability.

This is quite a pleasant surprise. Throughout history, Li Cunxiao belongs to that small group of the most outstanding individuals.

Especially in terms of physical strength, almost no one can match them.

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty has now conquered the imperial court and unified the entire Eastern Region, the enemies it faces are becoming increasingly stronger. Not to mention the demons and other alien races that have not yet been eradicated, even the Holy King from the Holy Land who came before is not someone the Great Zhou Dynasty can easily deal with.

Now that the sign-in event has produced Li Cunxiao, a top-tier talent whose abilities are unmatched, even if the Holy King of that holy land were to return, Zhou Chen would no longer have much to fear from her.

of course.

Most importantly, the signing in revealed Li Cunxiao, which greatly enhanced the foundation of the Great Zhou Dynasty and elevated its overall strength to a new level.

Although the Great Zhou is still far behind the top powers in the Central Region, the distance between the Great Zhou and them is narrowing rapidly.

I believe that it won't be long before the Great Zhou can catch up with those forces, or even surpass them.

……

Qingfeng Palace.

After returning from the prison, Mu Yuyan began considering how to preserve some of the Mu family's bloodline.

The most direct way is to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and find His Majesty.

However, Mu Yuyan couldn't guarantee that His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation would approve of some of the Mu family's actions.

In particular, the upper echelons of the Mu family were inoculated with demonic beings and sided with other races. They even blocked the Great Zhou army during the battle to pacify the dynasty.

This is no longer just a matter of serving one's own master and being loyal to one's own side; it is a matter of betraying humanity and losing one's principles.

If the Mu family hadn't sided with the foreign race, but instead fought for the dynasty and blocked the Great Zhou army, they would have been loyal subjects, upholding righteousness, and would have been worthy of admiration and praise. Perhaps, out of consideration for the Mu family's 'loyalty and righteousness,' His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation would have spared some of their bloodline.

But the Mu family is different. The Mu family has sided with the foreign race and is fighting for them.

They lost both loyalty and integrity.

Normally, an emperor would deal with such a person by killing him as a warning to others.

As she thought about it, Mu Yuyan felt a headache coming on.

After rubbing her temples, Mu Yuyan felt she still needed to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to find His Majesty.

In any case, if the Mu family wants to preserve some bloodline, they cannot bypass His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Only if His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation gives his approval can the Mu family retain some bloodline.

otherwise.

No matter how many methods you try, it's useless if His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation doesn't agree.

Just as Mu Yuyan was about to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a figure walked in.

"Miss."

"Most of the Mu family members in prison have been released."

The person who arrived was none other than Steward Yang, who had always been protecting Mu Yuyan.

At this moment, Uncle Yang looked energetic and vigorous, showing none of his previous old age and lethargy. He seemed to have been rejuvenated and looked much younger.

In fact it is.

This Mr. Yang had been seriously injured and didn't have much time left to live. According to the normal trajectory, his final fate would have been death.

But life's encounters often happen unexpectedly. After following Mu Yuyan to stay in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the fate of this Steward Yang also quietly changed.

As the Great Zhou Dynasty swept across the land, conquering all directions and unifying the entire Eastern Region, this Steward Yang recovered from his injuries under the nourishment of some rare and precious treasures. He even broke through the barrier to becoming a Saint and entered the realm of Saints.

Not only did their lifespan increase by thousands of years, but they also regained their youth; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were like withered trees coming back to life.

Perhaps even Yang Bo himself did not expect that his choice back then would not only change Mu Yuyan's fate, but also cause a dramatic reversal in his own destiny.

It must be said that life's opportunities are often like this; an unintentional choice may lead to unexpected results.

Unexpected events and pleasant surprises may only be a matter of a single thought.

"Ok?"

"The Mu family has been released?"

Upon hearing Uncle Yang's words, a look of surprise flashed across Mu Yuyan's face.

"Uncle Yang, are you telling the truth?"

"Have all the members of the Mu family really been released?"

Mu Yuyan looked at Uncle Yang with some uncertainty, wondering if she was hallucinating.

Uncle Yang nodded affirmatively; "Miss, it's true. Apart from the patriarch and a few elders, most of the Mu family members in the prison have been released."

"Not only that."

"His Majesty also issued a decree that all prisoners in the jail who committed minor crimes would be pardoned, while those who committed serious crimes would be sent to the army's death camp to fight for the country."

"If you make a great contribution, you can be exempted from the status of a member of the Death Camp and join the Great Zhou army to serve the Great Zhou."

Yang Bo recounted all the information he had received in one go.

After receiving Yang Bo's affirmative reply, Mu Yuyan was extremely surprised.

Given the temperament of the person in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, how could he easily pardon those prisoners in the jail!
In particular, he pardoned all the prisoners in jail.

It should be understood that, with the exception of a very few individuals, the prisoners who are apprehended and imprisoned are almost never innocent people.

Take the Mu family for example. Putting aside their obstruction of the Great Zhou army, their act of colluding with a foreign race is enough to warrant punishment, confiscation of their property, and extermination of their clan.

Not to mention the great battles that blocked the Zhou army from pacifying the dynasty.

Not only was Mu Yuyan extremely surprised, but even the old man Yang Bo, who had experienced many hardships, did not expect that His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation would issue such an edict.

Since staying in the Great Zhou Dynasty, Yang Bo had heard about the temperament of His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

In Yang Bo's view, although the emperor in the Hall of Mental Cultivation could not be considered a butcher, he was definitely a ruthless killer who was decisive in his punishments.

Logically speaking, given the crimes committed by those in prison, and considering the temperament of the person in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, it would be virtually impossible for them to be let off the hook.

Not to mention pardon.

But now, His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation has not only released the prisoners in the jail, but also pardoned all the prisoners in custody in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

This is essentially equivalent to granting a general amnesty.

This is not in line with His Majesty's usual style in the Hall of Mental Cultivation!

However, Mu Yuyan and Yang Bo were not ordinary people. After thinking for a moment, they understood what His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation meant.

To put it nicely, they were pardoned; in reality, it was just another way of executing these prisoners.

What kind of place is the "death camp" in the army?
That place was basically a place where there was no chance of survival. It was very difficult for people who were exiled there to leave alive.

Unless one achieves sufficient merit, there might be a chance to escape the death camp.

The premise is that you are still alive.

It must be said that the mind of an emperor is truly unfathomable.

Such an imperial decree not only made these prisoners risk their lives for the Great Zhou, but also made them grateful for the Great Zhou Emperor's kindness, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

"It would be good to release those members of the Mu family from prison."

"I was originally planning to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but now I don't need to."

As Mu Yuyan spoke, she relaxed. Just moments ago, she had been worrying about whether she could preserve some of the Mu family's bloodline and was preparing to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Unexpectedly, the Mu family members had already been released in the blink of an eye. With Mu Yuyan's intelligence, how could she not guess that this was because of the special treatment given to the Mu family members by the person in the Hall of Mental Cultivation out of respect for her?

This saved her a lot of trouble.

As for those members of the Mu family who haven't been released yet, they'll most likely be sent to the death camp in the army, which is beyond her control.

……

The next day.

After the morning court.

Zhou Chen returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

As an emperor, Zhou Chen's daily schedule was very tight and fixed.

After the court session, he would return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to review memorials and handle important political affairs that the cabinet could not handle.

The Great Zhou Dynasty now has a vast territory and countless political affairs. Even with the cabinet sharing the burden, Zhou Chen's time is basically tied to the Hall of Mental Cultivation every day.

It must be said that this is also a kind of tragedy for emperors.

Sitting upright on the dragon throne, Zhou Chen opened the first memorial. Before he could even begin to review it, Cao Zhengchun rushed into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"His Majesty."

"We have news of General Bai and his men."

Upon entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Cao Zhengchun said urgently, "Cao Shaoqin has tracked down General Bai and Cao Youxiang in the Ten Thousand Mountains."

"However, General Bai and Cao Youxiang are in bad shape; they are being hunted down by the demons and the Holy King of the Demon Court."

"This is the detailed message sent back by Cao Shaoqin. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

After saying that, Cao Zhengchun immediately handed the message in his hand to Zhou Chen.

"Oh!"

"Any news about Bai Qi and the others?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen's spirits lifted.

After putting down the memorial he was about to review, Zhou Chen immediately took the message handed to him by Cao Zhengchun and began to read it.

After Zhou Chen finished reading the message in his hand, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The message said that Bai Qi and Cao Youxiang had suffered serious injuries and were being hunted down by two Holy Kings of the Demon Clan's Demon Court.

Zhou Chen was worried that something might have happened to Bai Qi and Cao Youxiang, since there had been no news of them for so long.

Now that the news has been released, Zhou Chen is relieved to see that the two are not seriously injured.

Holy King?

The Demon Clan and the Demon Court have both sent their Holy Kings?

Zhou Chen frowned slightly upon seeing the words 'Holy King' in the message.

The Holy King is no ordinary powerful figure.

Even in the Central Region, this person is a powerful and influential figure.

If it were before, a powerhouse of this level could single-handedly suppress the entire Eastern Region and wipe it out. Even if the Azure Dragon Dynasty and the four top sects joined forces, they wouldn't be able to stop one of them.

"The Demon Clan and the Demon Court are really going all out! They've even sent out Holy Kings."

"It seems they are determined to conquer our Great Zhou!"

After putting down the message in his hand, Zhou Chen said with a somewhat solemn expression.

Fortunately, yesterday's check-in revealed Li Cunxiao, a top-tier figure whose reputation is unmatched.

Otherwise, this trouble could be really big.

With two holy kings, the Great Zhou might not be able to withstand them.

This is not Zhou Chen boosting the morale of others while diminishing his own.

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty already has many outstanding figures, including some top-tier ones like Lü Bu, Zhao Yun, and Yuwen Chengdu, these are all among the most outstanding individuals.

However, these outstanding individuals have not yet fully matured.

If they were at the same level, whether it was Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, or Yuwen Chengdu, any one of them could easily take on one, two, or three opponents.

Even fighting against opponents of higher levels is not a problem.

However, this cross-level battle must be within a certain range.

No matter how extraordinary a person is, or how strong their combat power, it is impossible for them to overcome a significant gap in realms and fight against opponents of higher levels.

Moreover, after several major battles, almost all of Zhou Chen's heroes were injured and their combat strength was no longer at its peak.

If it weren't for Li Cunxiao who signed in yesterday, the Great Zhou Dynasty would basically be unable to withstand the two Holy Kings of the Demon Clan and the Demon Court with its current strength.

"His Majesty."

"The Demon Clan and the Holy King of the Demon Court are hunting down General Bai and his group. Shouldn't we immediately send someone to meet them?"

Cao Zhengchun began to speak.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen did not respond, but instead stood up and paced back and forth.

Sending people is absolutely necessary.

But we need to think carefully about how to distribute the funds.

This time, Zhou Chen not only had to meet Bai Qi and Cao Youxiang, but also had to keep both of the two Holy Kings of the Demon Clan and the Demon Court here, and wipe out the forces of the Demon Clan and the Demon Court that were lurking in the Eastern Region, so that they would no longer have any chance to cause trouble.

But achieving this goal is not so easy.

Holy Kings are not so easy to kill, especially two Holy Kings.

However, Zhou Chen had confidence in Li Cunxiao.

Li Cunxiao was no ordinary Holy King; he was the most powerful figure among the Holy Kings.

Although Zhou Chen didn't know the exact level of strength of the two Holy Kings from the Demon Clan and the Demon Court, he figured they probably weren't top-tier Holy Kings.

As for the remaining forces of the Demon Clan and the Demon Court...

Thinking of this, Zhou Chen stopped and looked up at Cao Zhengchun; "Issue an edict to summon Li Cunxiao, Ma Chao, Yuwen Chengdu, and Zhao Yun to the palace immediately to see me."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"This old servant will immediately go and deliver the imperial decree to the four generals, ordering them to come to the palace to meet the Emperor."

Cao Zhengchun bowed and was about to leave to deliver the imperial decree when Zhou Chen's voice rang out again.

"and many more."

"Also, summon the Left Chancellor Li Si to the palace immediately."

Zhou Chen had not forgotten the prisoners held in jail.

Now that we need to deal with the demons and the people of the Demon Court, aren't these prisoners who were originally going to be sent to the army's death camps perfect for dealing with the demons and the people of the Demon Court?

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun immediately left the Hall of Mental Cultivation to deliver the imperial edict to the four generals, including Li Cunxiao, and to Li Si.

Zhou Chen sat back on the dragon throne, looking at the message sent back by Cao Shaoqin, lost in thought. (End of Chapter)