Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

Northern Song Dynasty.

Mount Liang Marsh.

Brotherhood Hall.

At this moment, the heroes of Mount Liang were gathered together with excited expressions.

The atmosphere was extremely lively.

"Heavenly King Chao, we finally did it."

"Our Mount Liang has successfully annihilated Fang La."

"From now on, we will no longer fear the Song Imperial Court, nor any other power."

"Indeed, the entire Song Dynasty is already on the verge of death. In the future, there's no reason Mount Liang can't compete for the world!"

"Hahaha, the Heavenly King will be Emperor, and we can all become generals!"

Not long ago, the Northern Song Imperial Court was not only at war with Liao Kingdom and Jin Kingdom in the north, but also under attack from Great Li Kingdom, Western Xia Kingdom, and Tibet Kingdom.

For a time, rebel forces arose everywhere.

Volunteer armies could be seen across the land.

And now, with full control of Mount Liang Marsh, the bandit force led by Heavenly King Chao Gai had broken free from its past predicaments.

They had completely risen to power.

Their forces were powerful, ranking among the very top of all volunteer armies.

Especially as various rebel armies waged war against one another.

Big fish ate small fish, and small fish devoured shrimps.

Through the absorption of other rebel and volunteer forces, Mount Liang grew stronger and stronger.

Not long ago, they even wiped out a rebellion force that had once rivaled them in strength.

It could be said.

Aside from their lowly origins, Mount Liang Marsh was in no way inferior to other top-tier powers.

Of course.

For Chao Gai to achieve all this, it was not only due to the bandits under his command.

Behind him stood a much greater force lending support.

Otherwise, he would have long died at the hands of Song Jiang.

How else could he have built such a foundation?

After dismissing the Mount Liang brothers.

Chao Gai returned alone to his residence.

At that moment, a dark figure suddenly appeared before him.

Chao Gai showed no surprise at all.

"Subordinate Chao Gai, Branch Master of the October 18th Branch, pays respect to Lord Azure Dragon Envoy."

"No need for such formality. Now that you are the leader of a force, such courtesies can be set aside in private."

"Lord, propriety cannot be abandoned."

"No matter how great my achievements become, I will never forget that I am a member of the Azure Dragon Association."

Though Chao Gai was the master of Mount Liang Marsh, a renowned leader of a volunteer army.

And despite commanding countless troops under his banner, he dared not show the slightest disrespect to the Azure Dragon Envoy before him.

Mount Liang Marsh was indeed a sizable force.

It held sway over many lives and deaths, but it all depended on who they were compared to.

In the face of the Azure Dragon Association, just one Land Immortal would suffice to destroy Mount Liang Marsh in the blink of an eye.

In the eyes of the Azure Dragon Association's higher-ups, Mount Liang Marsh was mere child's play.

Just like the Azure Dragon Envoy before him.

If he truly wished to wipe out Mount Liang Marsh, it would be effortless.

Understanding the Azure Dragon Association's foundation and terrifying power, Chao Gai never allowed his authority over Mount Liang to make him arrogant.

Mount Liang Marsh was merely a pawn to complete his mission.

As long as he completed enough tasks, earning more resources and benefits, he too might one day become a Land Immortal.

Compared to that, what was Mount Liang Marsh?

It wasn't worth mentioning at all.

"Branch Master Chao, I have come in person this time to deliver an order from Lord Dragon Head."

"See to it that the task is completed at all costs."

"If the result is satisfactory, Lord Dragon Head will not be stingy with rewards. But if it goes poorly, you should know what to expect."

"Naturally. Please instruct me, Lord Azure Dragon Envoy."

Chao Gai was overjoyed.

To receive personal attention from the legendary Lord Dragon Head, a figure said to be in the Mythical or even God Demon Realm, what an honor this was.

If he could establish a connection with Lord Dragon Head through this success, his future would be limitless.

The Heavenly Human Realm, the Mythical Realm, even the God Demon Realm, were all potentially within reach.

The Azure Dragon Envoy handed a confidential report to Chao Gai.

He didn't even glance at the contents.

"Your subordinates seem to be plotting against you. Will you not act to eliminate them?"

"Is Lord Azure Dragon Envoy referring to Song Jiang and the others?"

"Those people are mere clowns."

"Before, though I knew of their secret schemes, I wished to use them to eliminate Fang La."

"But now that Fang La is dead, there's no longer any need to keep them around."

"I only need the right opportunity, and I will wipe them out in one swift move, leaving none alive!"

"Good. As long as you're aware. I've delivered the report. As for how far you go from here, that depends on yourself."

Watching the Azure Dragon Envoy vanish in an instant, Chao Gai's eyes were filled with envy.

Toward such beings who had long since transcended the mortal realm, Land Immortals, Chao Gai was filled with longing and ambition.

Compared to a Land Immortal, even being the master of Mount Liang Marsh lost its appeal.

He then recalled how Song Jiang had been running around in recent days, constantly drawing others to his side.

Building prestige, forming a small force of his own.

A chilling murderous intent arose in Chao Gai's heart.

It seemed some people could no longer be spared.

==========

Northern Song Dynasty, Capital City.

A rather hidden residence

"Greetings, Director!"

"His Majesty has issued an imperial decree. The Northern Song Dynasty plan will be fully overseen by you, Director."

"As for operational matters, they will be under my responsibility."

The Azure Dragon Envoy looked at the frail man before him, who occasionally took a swig from the wine pouch in his hand.

Yet he dared not be careless.

The Director of the Military Advisor Division, by rank, was considered a high-level figure within the entire Imperial Court.

Moreover, seeing the glint of wisdom in this man's eyes.

Even though he was a Heavenly Human in martial cultivation, he dared not show the slightest carelessness.

He feared being calculated against in secret and left without a grave.

Thus, he remained respectfully cautious before this man at all times.

"Since this is His Majesty's will, I shall accept without protest."

"My first order is this–"

"Effective immediately, all battle plans are to be halted and converted entirely into intelligence-gathering operations."

"As for when to resume combat, I will issue real-time directives."

==========

Tang Dynasty Territory.

Bad People Headquarters.

At this moment, the Bad Marshal Yuan Tiangang had personally arrived.

"Subordinates greet the Marshal!"

"Mm, rise."

"Have you discovered any information regarding the Ming Dynasty's Military Advisor Director, the Qin Dynasty's new Black Ice Platform Leader, or the Vast Sea Dynasty's Secret Intelligence Director?"

"Reporting to Marshal, those three are extremely powerful."

"Whenever our Bad People agents even slightly approach or make a move, they are killed instantly."

"When it comes to dealing with Land Immortals, our Bad People are currently no match."

"Which forces have made moves?"

"Reporting to Marshal, Qin Dynasty's Black Ice Platform, the Sui Dynasty's Yuwen Tuo force, and various other minor forces from several countries have all begun plotting in secret."

"From this moment on, aside from the forces of the dynasties."

"Any other force that dares act against the Bad People shall be met with direct retaliation and complete extermination."

"As for the spies from the Qin Dynasty and the like, I will personally handle them."

"Yes, Marshal!"

"Gather a complete report on all forces operating within Northern Song Dynasty Territory and their relevant information."

"I shall conduct a thorough review."

==========

As the forces of the various dynasties rampaged wildly through Northern Song Dynasty Territory.

Three months passed swiftly.

On this day.

While all the forces were still fiercely vying for their respective interests.

Boom!

Suddenly.

The sky roared.

Purple qi surged, golden light blazed.

"A new ranking? Already?!"

Such a phenomenon had appeared many times before.

In fact, many forces were caught off guard.

They hadn't even noticed how much time had passed.

Three months ago, they were still in the midst of war.

Yet three months later, the fighting had not even ended.

"I wonder what kind of ranking it will be this time?"

"Heh, no matter what kind of ranking it is, it won't have anything to do with us."

"Knowing the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking's usual nature, it will surely only include those in the Land Immortal Realm or higher."

"Yeah, for us little shrimps who haven't even reached the Grandmaster Realm, we won't even see a shadow of it."

"Sigh, if in my lifetime I could ever make it onto the ranking, I could die without regret."