"Ling Feng, the Northwestern Army is indeed powerful and well supplied. However, it is separated from the Southern Army by vast distances. The two armies cannot possibly unite in one place. That old fellow Han Li will probably not agree so easily to raise the banner of Jingwang."

Yuan Tiangang shook his head. He understood the situation clearly. The circumstances were still uncertain. It would not be easy to make Han Li openly declare his position.

Even if Han Li announced his allegiance to Jingwang now, the assistance would not arrive in time to change the immediate situation.

"As long as my name, Ling Feng, carries enough weight, that will be sufficient!"

Ling Feng smiled faintly.

"Besides, I never intended for the two armies to merge. All that is required is a single statement from Commander in Chief Han. Once he speaks, the garrison troops across the counties will not dare act recklessly. That will give me more time to infiltrate the imperial capital and eliminate Yan Jinghong first. When that happens, the empire's crisis will be resolved without sacrificing a single soldier."

"Uh..."

Yuan Tiangang's eyelids twitched.

"You bold brat. So this was your plan all along. If my Southern Army joins forces with the Northwestern Army led by that old fellow Han Li, the city lords across the counties will not dare deploy their troops."

He paused briefly and glanced at Ling Feng.

"However, do you really think you can persuade Han Li with just your name? Do you think the name Ling Feng alone will convince that old fox?"

"Perhaps!"

Ling Feng pursed his lips and neither confirmed nor denied it.

The reason he asked Li Bufan and Jiang Xiaofan to travel together to Qingtian Fortress also had its own purpose.

Nothing would be more convincing than their strength. Moreover, Ling Feng himself was even stronger.

"Very well, Ling Feng. You intend to turn the tide alone and rescue the empire from disaster. Throughout history, I doubt any other hero could compare with you!"

Yuan Tiangang gazed at Ling Feng for a long moment. His tone carried genuine admiration.

Ling Feng shook his head with a wry smile.

His purpose in coming to Tianmang Fortress had simply been to inform Jingwang and the others so they could cooperate with his plan. If they slowly led the Southern Army back toward the imperial capital, he could afford to wait. However, those companions imprisoned by Yan Jinghong in the imperial capital might not survive that delay!

Moreover, Yan Jinghong had done all this partly to lure him back.

"In that case, I will wait for your good news!"

Once Ling Feng eliminated Yan Jinghong, every problem would resolve itself.

"Brother Feng(Ling Feng), I never imagined that the internal conflict of the imperial family would depend on you alone to resolve it. If we succeed in reclaiming the imperial authority of the Mo family, I will honor you as my elder brother and share the empire with you!"

Mo Feng looked at Ling Feng with complete sincerity.

"Forget it. I have no interest in ruling an empire!"

Ling Feng patted Mo Feng on the shoulder.

"Besides, we were already brothers, were we not?"

"Yes! Yes, we were. We became brothers back when we studied at Tianwei Academy!"

Mo Feng's eyes reddened as he looked at Ling Feng. His heart filled with emotion. Becoming brothers with Ling Feng during their time at Tianwei Academy might have been the greatest fortune of his life.

Jiang Xiaofan looked at Ling Feng and clenched his teeth. "Big Brother, I want to go with you to the imperial capital!"

"Xiaofan, this time you must travel with Li Bufan to Qingtian Fortress and follow the plan I explained!"

Ling Feng understood Jiang Xiaofan's concern for his safety. However, with Ling Feng's current strength, Jiang Xiaofan's presence would only become a burden.

"Don't worry. I am Ling Feng! What can Yan Jinghong possibly do to me?"

Ling Feng laughed freely. His confidence filled the room.

Jiang Xiaofan finally nodded.

"Big Brother, I will definitely persuade Commander in Chief Han."

"Good!"

Ling Feng smiled slightly. He then turned toward Li Bufan.

"Do not worry, Bufan. After I return to the imperial capital, I will find a way to rescue Grand Commandant Li and the others."

Although Li Bufan had not mentioned it, Ling Feng understood that Li Bufan valued his family deeply, especially his grandfather, Grand Commandant Li.

"Thank you."

Li Bufan nodded. His words remained few as always. However, he knew that Ling Feng never made empty promises.

Once Ling Feng gave his word, he always fulfilled it.

After the discussion ended, Jingwang dismissed the generals and ordered them to return to their camps. They were to remain on standby and wait for Ling Feng's message.

The meeting concluded and the generals departed one by one. Only Ling Feng and his close companions remained.

"Brother Feng(Ling Feng), how did you arrive at exactly the right moment? Did you not travel to the Dongling Immortal Pool? Do you possess the ability to predict the future and foresee the crisis of the Tianbai Empire?"

Now that the others had left, Mo Feng relaxed considerably. Only in front of these former classmates did he revert to the familiar personality he once had.

"I do not possess such abilities."

Ling Feng shook his head.

"Do you still remember Feng Yan?"

"Brother Feng?"

Jiang Xiaofan's eyelids twitched.

"Big Brother, Brother Feng stayed at Tianmang Fortress for some time. Later he led several brothers from the fortress and secretly infiltrated the imperial capital. They attempted to cooperate with several Human Emperor experts in the city to oppose Yan Jinghong. However, he never returned afterward. We believed he had already..."

"Brother Feng survived. However, he lost one arm. Yan Jinghong was responsible for that."

Ling Feng frowned.

"Yan Jinghong likely wanted to force me to return. That is why he spared Brother Feng's life and allowed him to travel to the Dongling Immortal Pool to inform me."

"What arrogance from Yan Jinghong!"

Jiang Xiaofan clenched his fists. He wished he could charge directly to the imperial capital and fight Yan Jinghong immediately.

"Judging from Brother Feng's injuries, Yan Jinghong's strength is indeed formidable. His power no longer resembles the ice techniques he once used. Instead, it carries a deeply unpleasant aura of demonic qi. He must have cultivated some form of demonic arts!"

"Demonic art again!"

Jiang Xiaofan gritted his teeth.

Back then, Lin Canglang had cultivated demonic arts. That choice caused the deaths of many villagers in Jiang Xiaofan's hometown. Even Jiang Xiaofan's father died because of it.

For that reason, Jiang Xiaofan harbored deep hatred toward demonic cultivators.

"Only by practicing those forbidden techniques could he have advanced so rapidly."

Ling Feng drew a slow breath.

"Let us leave that matter aside for now. I owe Brother Feng an enormous debt. After this crisis ends, I will find a way to restore his right arm."

"If you require rare treasures or spiritual materials, I will mobilize the entire nation to find them for you."

Mo Feng spoke with solemn determination. This was a promise from a future ruler.

Ling Feng smiled faintly.

"With friends like you, I will not hesitate to ask."

He continued speaking.

"Now we should not waste any time. Feng Mo, remain here and command Tianmang Fortress. Xiaofan, you and Bufan must also exercise caution during your journey to Qingtian Fortress."

Mo Feng, Jiang Xiaofan, and Li Bufan all nodded firmly.

Ling Feng's return had changed everything. Earlier everyone had felt helpless. Now each person had a clear role, and the situation had begun to turn.

Afterward, Ling Feng located Fatty Huang and Lan Yingying within the fortress. He informed them about Feng Yan's condition. The two immediately grew worried and bid farewell to Ling Feng. They traveled north toward Iron Ice City to reunite with Feng Yan.

Soon afterward, Jiang Xiaofan and Li Bufan also departed for Qingtian Fortress.

If they traveled day and night at full speed, the journey would likely take only four or five days.

As for the final decision of Commander in Chief Han Li, the answer would depend not only on the reputation of Ling Feng's name but also on the performance of the two young men.

Ling Feng held great confidence in his brothers. He believed they would eventually return with good news.

As for Ling Feng himself, he set out alone once more on the road toward the imperial capital.