Chapter 115: Preparing to Depart

Although Jiang Yuan currently lacked sufficient Tyrant Points, he felt it was necessary to promote Gao Lanying to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. This would give him more confidence when heading to the Celestial Clan.

"You damn system, I want to trade my dharma treasures for Tyrant Points," Jiang Yuan said.

He still possessed quite a few treasures. He hadn't fully converted all the items he had taken from the Dragon King of the South Sea, and he had also scavenged a significant haul during his time in the East Yi region. The defensive treasure, the Heavenly Dragon Armor, was of no use to him anymore. Aside from looking flashy and imposing, it was essentially useless to him. The "Life and Death Creation Scripture" allowed for the simultaneous cultivation of both spirit and body; not only was his mana far superior to others at the same level, but his physical constitution was on par with elite body cultivators. His current physical body no longer required the protection of the Heavenly Dragon Armor.

He wondered how many Tyrant Points it could fetch.

"Which dharma treasure does the host intend to trade for Tyrant Points?" the system asked.

"The Heavenly Dragon Armor."

"The Heavenly Dragon Armor is an Innate Spiritual Treasure; it can be exchanged for 188 Tyrant Points," the system declared.

Calculating the total, the 188 points combined with his current balance would be enough to promote Gao Lanying to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. Not a bad deal!

"Proceed with the exchange," Jiang Yuan said indifferently.

"Ding! Exchange successful. The host's Heavenly Dragon Armor has been deducted. Congratulations, host, you have gained 188 Tyrant Points. Current balance: 444 points!"

Jiang Yuan's face darkened. That number was truly ominous.

"Hurry up and perform the promotion for Gao Lanying," Jiang Yuan urged.

The system did not dally; with Tyrant Points in hand, its efficiency was remarkable.

"Ding! Exchange successful. The host may promote Gao Lanying to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm at any time. 399 Tyrant Points deducted. Current balance: 45 points!"

"Alright, you piece of junk, you can get lost now," Jiang Yuan said coldly.

Discarding the system after use—wasn't that standard procedure?

Exiting the system, Jiang Yuan looked at Gao Lanying and smiled. "Madam Zhang, your willingness to follow your husband and assist me is a great fortune for the nation. As the ruler of the Great Shang, I must naturally reward you."

Gao Lanying hurriedly waved her hands. "Thank you, Your Majesty, but I do not require any reward. I only came to follow my husband in serving you; there is no need for any reward."

After all, she hadn't performed any meritorious deeds yet; how could she have the nerve to ask for a reward?

Jiang Yuan wouldn't have it. He had already spent the Tyrant Points; he couldn't let the damn system take advantage of him for nothing, could he? He glanced at Zhang Kui, who stood beside his wife.

Zhang Kui immediately understood the King's intent and felt a surge of joy. His wife was currently at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm; it was self-evident what the King intended to reward her with. Zhang Kui tugged at his wife’s sleeve and urged, "Since this is the King's reward, you should accept it. Otherwise, His Majesty might think that by refusing his grace, you are unwilling to work earnestly for him."

Gao Lanying glared at her husband. Even if the King didn't know her intentions, surely Zhang Kui did? However, since her husband had already spoken, refusing further would make him lose face. Although she was the one who held the power at home, she was very mindful of her husband's dignity in public.

"Then this subject thanks Your Majesty," Gao Lanying finally decided to accept the reward.

Jiang Yuan looked at Zhang Kui with great satisfaction; he was truly his number one loyalist, always understanding his intentions perfectly.

"Madam Zhang, come before me," Jiang Yuan said calmly.

Gao Lanying approached him, half-doubting. Jiang Yuan decided not to put on a show this time. He raised his hand slightly toward her and said softly, "I bestow upon Gao Lanying the rank of Great Luo Golden Immortal."

Gao Lanying felt a jolt in her heart. She had heard her husband mention that the King possessed the divine ability to make his words reality, but she had remained skeptical, even though her husband had returned already at the Golden Immortal level.

The moment Jiang Yuan finished speaking, she felt a vast, majestic power surge through her entire body. Immediately after, she discovered that her cultivation bottleneck had been broken without her even realizing it! By the time she processed what had happened, she was already at the Great Luo Golden Immortal level.

"How does Madam Zhang feel?" Jiang Yuan asked with a smile.

Though surprised, Gao Lanying was not panicked; she remained remarkably composed. "This subject thanks Your Majesty for bestowing the rank of Great Luo Golden Immortal. However, this reward should have gone to my husband. After all, I am but a woman..."

"Madam Zhang, you worry too much. What of it if you are a woman? Heroines are no less than men. I believe that in the future, Madam Zhang will contribute more to Great Shang than the vast majority of generals," Jiang Yuan said, waving his hand to dismiss her hesitation. "As for Zhang Kui, once he reaches the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, I will naturally help him ascend to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm as well. You may rest assured, Madam Zhang; I will never treat those who follow me unfairly."

Gao Lanying hesitated for a moment but ultimately said nothing. This reward was simply too precious. It was no wonder her husband was so fiercely loyal to the King.

Fine, since her husband had made this choice, there was no turning back. She would accept this reward with peace of mind and serve the King honestly. Gao Lanying was a woman of clear perspective.

"What are the King's plans next?" Zhang Kui asked. He had been away from the King's side for some time and was unaware of many developments.

"We go to the Celestial Clan," Jiang Yuan replied.

"To save General Yang's mother?" Zhang Kui asked, eyebrows raised.

Jiang Yuan nodded silently. "As long as Yang Jian has not saved his mother, his heart will not be fully with the Great Shang. I do not wish for him to carry this burden in his heart forever."

Like Shen Gongbao, Gao Lanying’s perception of Jiang Yuan was refreshed once more. If she had been loyal to Jiang Yuan before because of the reward, she now felt that such a King was worth dying for. How many rulers were truly capable of genuinely caring for their subordinates? The Celestial Clan was no safe haven; one wrong step could cost them their lives.

"The King seems to value General Yang highly?" Zhang Kui asked, somewhat puzzled.

Of course I value Yang Jian highly, Jiang Yuan thought. He is a future titan, one of the ceiling-level combatants of the Heavenly Court. If I don't win him over now, I won't have the chance later. If he weren't worried about being too abrupt, Jiang Yuan would have even considered adopting Yang Jian as his son. This was his attitude toward navigating the Primordial Era: he wanted to be the "son" of those who were already powerful, and he wanted the future powerhouses to be his "sons."

Although that was his thinking, he certainly couldn't say it aloud. Since both Zhang Kui and Yang Jian were his subordinates, he couldn't play favorites; maintaining a balance was a basic skill for a ruler.

"Yang Jian is now my trusted confidant, as are you, General Zhang. I value you both highly, and should you face any troubles, I will naturally not stand idly by," Jiang Yuan said righteously.

Zhang Kui nodded, a flicker of emotion in his eyes, his loyalty to the King now firmer than ever.

"When does the King intend to depart?" Zhang Kui asked curiously.

"Now. I have already sent someone to summon Yang Jian," Jiang Yuan replied calmly.