The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 822 Awaiting Death's Arrival

Zhu Xiong Ying was overjoyed. He had finally become an immortal!

"Thank you for your teachings, Heavenly Venerable!" Zhu Xiong Ying hurriedly bowed to the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.

Yuanshi Tianzun stroked his beard and smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, there is no need to be so polite. This is Your Majesty's own good fortune."

"Now, I can go back and quell the chaos!" Zhu Xiong Ying said, his eyes filled with confidence.

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded: "Your Majesty, go! I believe you will succeed!"

Zhu Xiong Ying bid farewell to Yuanshi Tianzun and flew back to the capital.

Upon returning to the palace, he immediately summoned all civil and military officials and announced that he had become an immortal.

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials were utterly shocked.

"Your Majesty, have you truly become an immortal?"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Ming Dynasty!"

……

Zhu Xiong Ying felt extremely pleased with himself as he looked at the excited expressions on everyone's faces.

"I am now an immortal! I will lead the Ming Dynasty to conquer the world!" Zhu Xiong Ying declared loudly.

Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials were even more excited.

"Your Majesty is mighty! The Ming Dynasty will surely prevail!"

……

Seeing the passionate emotions of his ministers, Zhu Xiong Ying felt a surge of pride in his heart.

With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Issue my decree: all soldiers in the nation, begin cultivating immortality immediately! I intend to assemble a massive army of cultivators to sweep across the land!"

"According to the order!"

……

Thus, under the leadership of Emperor Zhu Xiong Ying of the Ming Dynasty, a craze for cultivating immortality swept through the entire Ming Dynasty.

Soldiers practicing immortality are everywhere throughout the country.

Zhu Xiong Ying, along with his army of cultivators, began his journey to conquer the world.

Our first target is our neighbor—North Korea!
Zhu Xiong Ying flew on his sword, leading a large army towards Korea.

Wherever the army passed, the monsters were terrified and fled in all directions.

Soon, Zhu Xiong Ying's army arrived at the Korean border.

When King Yi Seong-gye of Joseon received the news, he was terrified.

He immediately sent people to seek peace with the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, I, the humble prince, am willing to submit to the Great Ming and be your subject for eternity!"

Zhu Xiong Ying sneered: "Trying to make peace now? Too late!"

Having said that, he waved his hand and ordered, "Attack!"

The Ming Dynasty's army of cultivators surged into Korea like a tidal wave.

The North Korean soldiers were no match for them and were routed.

In just three days, the entire territory of Korea was occupied by the Ming Dynasty.

Yi Seong-gye was captured and escorted back to Seoul.

Looking at the conquered Korea, Zhu Xiong Ying felt a surge of pride.

"Next target: Japan!"

Zhu Xiong Ying stood high in the sky on his sword, looking down at the scattered Japanese army below, which resembled ants. A disdainful smile curled at the corner of his lips. "This? You dare call yourself an army?"

His robes fluttered, making him appear like an immortal, yet his words were as chilling as ice. "Tell me, where is your Shogun? Tell him to come out and face his death!" His voice echoed like thunder over the capital of Japan, shaking the city's inhabitants to their core, causing roof tiles to fall and dust to fly everywhere.

Before long, a middle-aged man dressed in magnificent armor, but who was clearly overweight, arrived on the city wall, surrounded by several warriors, looking trembling with fear.

"Your Majesty...the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty...I am none other than Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu..." Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's voice trembled as he struggled to utter a few words. Faced with Zhu Xiong Ying, who had descended like a god, he was already terrified out of his wits.

Zhu Xiong Ying stared at him coldly, his eyes filled with disdain. "Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the Japanese pirates under your rule have repeatedly invaded the coastal borders of my Great Ming Dynasty, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities! Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven and exterminate you Japanese pirates!"

"Your Majesty, spare me! I... I was forced into this situation!" Ashikaga Yoshimitsu knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face. "It's all those damned pirates' fault! They disobeyed my orders and went out to sea to plunder without permission! I... I was a victim too!"

"Victims?" Zhu Xiong Ying sneered. "As the ruler of a country, you can't even control mere pirates. What face do you have to live in this world?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please understand! I am willing to submit to the Ming Dynasty and serve as your subject for eternity. I only beg Your Majesty to spare my life!" Ashikaga Yoshimitsu kept kowtowing, his forehead was bleeding, and blood flowed down his cheeks.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked down at him, his heart filled with contempt. "Do you think I'd believe your nonsense? You're just trying to prolong your life!"

With that, a flash of golden light appeared in his hand, and a gleaming longsword materialized there.

"Today, I will show you what true power is!"

Zhu Xiong Ying raised his golden sword high, and the sword shone brightly, illuminating the entire night sky of Kyoto.

"cut!"

With a roar, the golden sword swung down, unleashing a massive golden sword aura that seemed to split the heavens and earth, cleaving towards the capital city.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu closed his eyes in despair, awaiting death.

However, the expected severe pain did not come.

He opened his eyes in confusion, only to see an old man dressed in a Taoist robe, with an air of otherworldly wisdom, appear before him at some unknown time.

With a gentle wave of his hand, the old man neutralized Zhu Xiong Ying's sword energy.

"Yuanshi Tianzun?" Zhu Xiong Ying frowned slightly as he looked at the old man who had suddenly appeared.

"Your Majesty, one should show mercy when possible," said Yuanshi Tianzun calmly. "Although Japan is small, it is still a territory. Why must Your Majesty drive it to extinction?"

Zhu Xiong Ying was somewhat displeased: "Your Majesty, I have already promised the people that I would exterminate these Japanese pirates. How can I go back on my word?"

"Your Majesty, when will this cycle of revenge end?" Yuanshi Tianzun advised. "Wouldn't it be better to stop here and make Japan a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Xiong Ying pondered for a moment, then finally nodded. "Very well, since the Heavenly Venerable has spoken, I will give you face."

He turned to look at Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and said coldly, "I will spare your life today, but you must agree to three conditions!"

Upon hearing this, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu grasped at a straw and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, please speak, and I will certainly comply!"

"First, Japan shall forever be a vassal state and pay tribute every year!"

"no problem!"

"Second, hand over all the wicked pirates, and I will deal with them as I see fit!"

"no problem!"

"Third..." Zhu Xiong Ying paused, a playful smile appearing on his lips, "offer your most beautiful daughter to me as a concubine!"

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's expression changed. His most beloved daughter was only sixteen years old, the most beautiful age in her life. How could he bear to give her away?

However, faced with Zhu Xiong Ying's coercion, he dared not resist in the slightest.

"No problem!" He gritted his teeth and finally agreed.

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. I hope you will keep your promise, otherwise, I will make you regret your decision today!"

After saying that, he turned around, mounted his sword, and flew away, disappearing into the night sky.

Only Ashikaga Yoshimitsu remained, standing atop the castle wall, his expression shifting between light and shadow, lost in thought...

Meanwhile, deep within the palace, a masked man dressed in black night clothes lurked in the shadows, observing everything.

(End of this chapter)