Inside the secret archives of the Xuanwu Kingdom.
This was the highest classified repository of the Xuanwu Kingdom, where the truths of many past dynastic secrets were stored.
Alongside these truths, there were also collections of strange tales and anecdotes.
Unofficial histories were included as well—after all, some events in the official records were simply too outrageous. Recording them would serve no purpose other than making future generations laugh at their ancestors' foolishness.
No one wanted to be mocked by their descendants after death, so such histories were sealed away.
Subsequent emperors, faced with these mysterious gaps, naturally grew curious.
Thus, they would gather folk legends and unofficial accounts to fill in the blanks.
The guiding principle? Accuracy didn’t matter—just as long as there was something to say.
Zhao Xuan was flipping through a book with utmost seriousness. Once he confirmed its contents, he quickly stood up and hurried over to Chu Xingchen’s desk, placing the book before him.
"Senior, look at this!" he said earnestly. "Here are some fascinating anecdotes about the founding emperor and empress—and they even involve the Xuanwu!"
At these words, Li Yingling, who had been swiftly handling official documents nearby, paused and cast an exasperated glance at Zhao Xuan.
Digging up wild stories about one’s own ancestors—now that was true filial piety.
And this man’s ability to flip allegiances was even faster than his master’s.
His moral compass? Even lower.
Initially, Zhao Xuan had been skeptical of his master’s somewhat radical policies.
But after a private half-hour conversation with Chu Xingchen, though visibly reluctant, Zhao Xuan began enforcing those policies with strict precision.
During those uncertain times, Zhao Xuan had yet to open the secret archives to the public. Li Yingling and Chu Xingchen were still working in the document repository, coordinating with Li Xingtian in Cangzhou.
While searching through records, Li Yingling often noticed Zhao Xuan wandering around with a grim expression, as if he were marching to his execution.
He lingered in the document repository, even processing urgent dispatches there.
Yet, he never dared to directly question his master—only sighing and shaking his head in silence.
He said nothing, yet his meaning was crystal clear.
Fortunately, his master had a soft heart and couldn’t stand seeing someone mope in front of him.
So he simply kicked Zhao Xuan out of the repository.
Once expelled, Zhao Xuan wouldn’t return that day.
After all, even an emperor had his dignity—so he’d usually come back the next morning.
This went on for some time, until the refugee crisis in Chizhou was safely resolved.
Only then did Zhao Xuan abandon his dramatic performances, his expression shifting from gloom to awe.
The emperor of the Xuanwu Kingdom had begun his transformation.
Especially when the rebels, just as his master predicted, launched desperate assaults on the cities at any cost.
Facts didn’t lie—the situation in Chizhou suddenly became clear, and the rebels, having altered their strategy, seized the initiative.
By this point, Zhao Xuan had surpassed even Li Yingling in devotion, practically ready to warm his master’s bed himself.
Originally, Li Yingling had been the one searching through records while Zhao Xuan handled state affairs.
But Zhao Xuan soon decided that serving tea and offering solicitous care wasn’t enough.
He stunned Li Yingling by declaring:
"As a descendant of the Zhao family, I should be the one researching our ancestors’ deeds. Senior, urgent matters like these are better left to me!"
"As for state affairs—leave them to your senior disciple! A great master naturally produces outstanding students!"
After reviewing Li Yingling’s memorials, he was even more reassured.
Chu Xingchen could only watch Zhao Xuan’s newfound reverence with mild exasperation.
The man was now even more sycophantic than Xiao Zheng had been back in the day.
With a sigh, Chu Xingchen said, "There’s no need for this. I preferred your earlier, more defiant self."
"Defiant? I was just young and hot-headed," Zhao Xuan replied sheepishly before swiftly changing the subject, pointing at the book.
"Look here—my great-grandmother—"
Chu Xingchen glanced at the contents and immediately raised a hand to cut him off.
This so-called "collection of anecdotes" might as well have been titled The Untold Stories of the Founding Empress.
It wouldn’t feel out of place among the raciest of novels—far too scandalous for Li Yingling’s young ears.
"Enough about your great-grandmother. Let’s spare her some dignity," Chu Xingchen said dryly.
"Fine, I take it back. Find me something actually substantial to read, will you?"
Zhao Xuan nodded obediently, offering no argument, and immediately turned to leave.
Just as he reached the bookshelves in search of a less outrageous account, Chu Xingchen called out:
"Recently, I saw military reports saying Jinshui City is on the brink. Did you follow my instructions?"
Zhao Xuan hurriedly nodded. "Of course! All supplies that could be moved were taken; the rest were burned. Even edible wild plants were uprooted."
"And the other cities beyond Jinshui? Were the same preparations made?"
"Everything is ready."
"Then proceed as planned." Chu Xingchen gave a slight nod and stood. "Yingling, put down the memorials. It’s time to go."
Li Yingling’s eyes lit up as she immediately dropped her brush.
Handling state affairs wasn’t difficult, but it was tedious and dull.
Being emperor was utterly joyless—far better to follow her master and witness the wonders only cultivators could see.
Zhao Xuan blinked in surprise and took a few steps forward. "Senior, where are you going?"
Chu Xingchen stretched lazily. "I stayed this long because I was worried you’d overthink things—not because your kingdom’s unofficial histories were so precious."
"No matter how exaggerated those tales are, they’re still just stories."
"Now that the situation is clear, the rebels pose no real threat as long as you handle them properly. The Xuanwu Kingdom’s foundations are solid."
"What you should focus on is Chizhou. That’s where the real problem lies. Remember my words—"
"When it’s time to hang them… or execute them, do it."
"I’ll go see what kind of mastermind we’re dealing with."
Zhao Xuan understood and didn’t press further, simply bowing deeply.
"Thank you, Senior. This kindness will not be forgotten."
"Cut the flattery. What use is a small kingdom’s gratitude to me?" Chu Xingchen strode toward the exit.
"Just remember your own words—you are the people’s sovereign and father."
Zhao Xuan bowed even lower in response.
---
Jinshui City.
Yu Zhu stood grimly before a pile of ruins—what had once been Jinshui City’s official granary.
The generals beside him remained silent.
No one understood the importance of provisions better than military men.
Soon, a scholar rushed over, his voice trembling as he reported:
"We’ve searched the entire city—not a single grain of rice remains. Nothing edible was left behind."
"Even the wild herbs were dug up completely, and…"
Yu Zhu took a deep breath. "And what?!"
"And they even stripped the bark from the nearby trees!"
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
e, Immortal Body, Transmigration, System, Progression Fantasy, Academy Setting, Third-Person Perspective. Alternate Title: Transmigrating into a High Martial World and Reading Live Comments. Bad news: I transmigrated. This is a terrifying high-martial world, and my original, pathetically weak body fell into a coma and never woke up. Good news: I got a Popularity Points system upon arrival. I can see live comments and even create an unkillable alternate identity. Starting out, the alternate identity has all stats at 1. The system tells me that to grow stronger, I must participate in the plot, gain popularity points to allocate stats and grow stronger, and ultimately awaken my original body. And so, carrying my original body on my back, I officially entered Huaqing Academy, where the story's protagonist resides. From that moment on, Chen Guan kicked the original plot to pieces. Live Comments: [Doesn't anyone find this mysterious coffin guy creepy? He can summon indescribable grey misty hands.] [Is this guy a hero or a villain? What kind of onion became a spirit?] [By the way, does anyone know who's in the coffin? Shouldn't the debt for saving his life be repaid by now?] [According to unofficial histories, the person in the coffin was Chen Guan's first love. Their love was once passionate and earth-shattering, but they were separated by life and death due to worldly circumstances. What a star-crossed pair.] ... Years later, the world knew of a demon god born from a coffin, shrouded in grey mist, impossible to gaze upon directly. His foremost divine emissary often wielded a scythe, reaping lives like the god of death. As war approached, facing former friends and a boundless sea of enemies, Chen Guan merely raised his scythe. "Would you like to dance as well?"
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
nto another world, I bought a slave for the first time, never expecting the silver wolf girl to be so cute... Lin Feng: I know it's cold, but you don't have to sneak into my bed! Yuna: Just sharing body warmth, if you dare do anything naughty, I'll definitely...
