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Exiting Liu Fei’er’s room, Xiaozhuang walked alongside Qin Tian.

Xiaozhuang said in a low voice, ”Boss, there’s news from the Imperial City.”

Qin Tian glanced at Xiaozhuang.

Xiaozhuang continued, ”According to intelligence from my spies in the Imperial City, the Ice Emperor... has compromised.”

”I hear the Ice Emperor is considering granting you military power. I don’t know how much exactly. Also, over here in the West State, it seems the Ice Emperor canceled the previous consideration of appointing people from the Ninth Prince or the Crown Prince’s side. It’s said that the open and covert power struggle for this position between the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince has left the Ice Emperor uneasy about entrusting the West State to either.”

”This information was obtained beforehand, and the Imperial Decree from the Imperial City should arrive in these next few days.”

Qin Tian listened and nodded, ”Let’s wait and see how sincere the Ice Emperor is.”

Over these past few days, Qin Tian has been absorbing and digesting the large amount of Primordial Energy absorbed from Wuwang. Now, relying on his powerful Dan Tian Qi Sea, Qin Tian can easily wield the Five Dragon Power.

Simultaneously, his cultivation has advanced to the Middle Stage of the Great Immortal Realm, and his aura, once fully released, would make anyone within a mile shiver without feeling cold!

On the day he finished his cultivation, the Imperial Decree from the Ice Emperor arrived.

It was largely consistent with the information Xiaozhuang had received earlier.

After Qin Tian was conferred the title of Marquis of Pingxi, the Ice Emperor awarded him ten cities as his fief, with Yueya City at the center, which made Qin Tian somewhat satisfied.

As for the City Lord of the West Capital City, the Ice Emperor conferred the title to Xu Kuan, which was quite acceptable to Qin Tian.

However, at the end of the Imperial Decree, the Ice Emperor also set conditions requiring Qin Tian to return to the Imperial City immediately, and simultaneously, to lead four hundred thousand soldiers back to the Imperial City!

The four hundred thousand troops would essentially withdraw half of the West State’s military forces!

These two conditions made Qin Tian feel something was amiss.

It’s obvious that once Qin Tian led the four hundred thousand troops back to the Imperial City, they would no longer be his.

Qin Tian, without an army in the Imperial City, would be in a perilous situation, potentially being devoured by the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince!

After all, the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince should now view Qin Tian as a thorn in their side.

And as the Martial King mentioned before he died, that mysterious prominent figure, after the West State war, should also be keeping a close eye on Qin Tian.

Returning to the Imperial City at this time would indeed be fraught with peril for Qin Tian.

However, with the Imperial Decree already issued and the Ice Emperor having made concessions, if Qin Tian were to resist the decree, even unintentionally, the Ice Emperor might truly become angry.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Qin Tian decided to accept the decree against the advice of others.

”With General Xu Kuan overseeing things, I am very confident about the safety of the West State.”

”For this trip to the Imperial City, Zhou Yang and Xiaozhuang will accompany me. Lao Zhao, you must fully assist General Xu Kuan, prevent the Demon Clan from invading, and meanwhile, train the troops rigorously to prepare for any eventual needs.”

”As for the forty thousand troops I’m taking back this time, you should filter them first. Those lacking in ability or suspected of being spies from the Imperial City should be taken along and delivered to them.”

”The remaining forty thousand soldiers must be elite and unquestionably reliable. I want to forge an invincible Qin Family Army!”

Everyone listened to Qin Tian’s grand and heroic words, nodded, and silently went about following Qin Tian’s instructions.

Returning home, Qin Tian also bid farewell to Fan Bing and Liu Fei’er. As for Du Qiuniang, Qin Tian naturally planned to keep her by his side. After all, the cultivation levels of Zhou Yang and Xiaozhuang were not considered high, and having a master like Du Qiuniang for protection would be safer.

Lin Yu was left in the West Capital primarily to train the True Qi Artillery Troop. This unit was currently Qin Tian’s trump card for the Qin Family Army. As long as the enemy remained ignorant of what the True Qi Artillery Troop was, it would be Qin Tian’s Magical Treasure for victory.

Three days later, Qin Tian departed, taking along the elderly, sick, and less loyal soldiers from the army, totaling forty thousand.

In addition, Qin Tian also brought a guard team of a thousand men, heading grandly toward the Imperial City.

At this point, it had been almost a year since Qin Tian last left the Imperial City.

Ten days later, Qin Tian returned to the Imperial City with a four hundred thousand strong army. The State Preceptor, on behalf of the Ice Emperor, personally led numerous officials to welcome him, giving Qin Tian due honor.

The first order of business upon Qin Tian’s entry into the city was having the military power of the four hundred thousand troops taken away by the State Preceptor.

Then, Qin Tian was left with only his personal guard of one thousand to enter the city.

The awkwardness arose when the previous Qin Residence had been burned to ashes, and with no new Qin Residence built, Qin Tian, with over a thousand people, had nowhere to go upon returning to the Imperial City.

”Qin Tian, you’re back? Hahaha... In the Imperial City, I’ve heard of your legendary feat of crushing the Martial King and dominating the West State...”

Just as Qin Tian and his party were feeling quite embarrassed, the Fourteenth Prince came by with several attendants, seemingly by chance, and upon seeing Qin Tian, immediately came over to greet him.

Qin Tian promptly dismounted to pay respect to the Fourteenth Prince.

”Hahaha, we’re friends, no need for formalities. I just returned from an outing and heard you were back. Hehe, I even planned to visit your residence, then realized your residence had been burned by villains.”

The Fourteenth Prince laughed heartily and, seeing Qin Tian and his group, said, ”Are you without lodging now? Just as well, I have a side hall. If you don’t mind, you can stay there for now, and move out once your new residence is completed.”

Qin Tian had indeed been fretting over this issue. Hearing the Fourteenth Prince’s offer of help, he quickly bowed in gratitude.

The Fourteenth Prince smiled, ”Let’s not stand on ceremony between us. Now that you’re the Marquis of Pingxi, you’re among the ranks of nobility, and I am but a scholar. Come, drink with me, and I’ll have my people arrange accommodations for the rest, alright?”

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Qin Tian agreed. The Fourteenth Prince had saved Qin Tian’s life from the Ninth Prince nearly in the past and had shown him kindness numerous times. Hence, Qin Tian regarded him as a friend and promptly agreed to drink with him at Wuyou Palace.

The side hall of the Fourteenth Prince was only about four to five kilometers from Wuyou Palace, and over a thousand people were quickly settled.

Qin Tian drank until dusk with the Fourtieth Prince at Wuyou Palace, revisiting old haunts, and inquired about Murong Fei, ”Your Highness, the Murong Family... Murong Fei, have you heard any news recently?”

”Hahaha, Qin Tian, you truly are a romantic... Regarding you and Murong Fei of the Murong Family, I have indeed heard of your affairs. This past year, I’ve kept an eye out for you.”

The Fourtieth Prince laughed heartily, ”This year, General Murong Tiannan arranged four marriage proposals for Murong Fei. She refused to accept the first three even upon death. For the fourth... the groom is... the Princely Heir of Marquis Xuanwu... so...”