[Ding! The system is signing in...]
[Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for receiving the reward: Emperor Wu's Cultivation Pass Card!]
[Martial Emperor Cultivation Pass Card: After using this card, you can directly attain the cultivation level of the Martial Emperor without any side effects!]
"Martial Emperor!!" Orion exclaimed in surprise.
It was as if the universe had conspired to grant him precisely what he needed. A prop that could instantly elevate him to the realm of the Martial Emperor!
Although the Martial Emperor level wasn't the pinnacle of power, it was enough to ensure his survival in this dangerous world. Orion was more than satisfied.
"Quick! Use that pass card!" Orion urged the system impatiently.
[Ding! The Martial Emperor Cultivation Direct Card was used successfully!]
As the system notification ended, a surge of pure energy erupted within Orion's dantian, filling his entire body with a turbulent yet gentle force. It spread through his limbs, causing a dramatic transformation.
The Qi that Orion had painstakingly cultivated just the night before suddenly amplified, growing exponentially as if it had been injected with steroids. The energy coursed through his veins, elevating his aura with each passing moment.
Warrior level perfected...
Martial Arts early stage...
Great Martial Artist perfected...
King Wu's peak...
Finally, Orion's cultivation stabilized at the early stage of Emperor Wu!
"So, this is the power of the Martial Emperor..." Orion marveled, feeling an immense strength coursing through him, as if he could shatter mountains and rivers with a single punch. It wasn't an illusion. The power was real, and it was his.
As he became accustomed to this newfound strength, Orion realized it was as natural to him as if he had been born with it. There were no side effects, no drawbacks. He could wield this power effortlessly.
"The Martial Emperor's strength is incredible. If I feel this powerful, then how strong must half-saints like Xu Chu and Li Sandao be?" Orion pondered. Despite his newfound power, he recognized that in the face of a holy realm powerhouse like Li Sandao, who could destroy a city with a single strike, he still needed to be cautious.
"It seems that discretion is the better part of valor..." Orion sighed, deciding to keep a low profile unless absolutely necessary.
Orion's sudden burst of power awakened Jiang Qianning, who had been sleeping beside him. She was stunned by the terrifying aura emanating from him. Wasn't Orion just an ordinary person before? How could he have transformed so drastically overnight?
Seeing the shock on Jiang Qianning's face, Orion couldn't help but smile. He had gone from a mere mortal to a Martial Emperor in the span of a night. Now, his physical prowess was beyond anything he could have imagined.
Jiang Qianning bit her lip lightly, pain flickering in her eyes, but she refused to show any weakness. She would not beg for mercy from her enemy, no matter how powerful he had become.
The Great Zhou Dynasty.
The atmosphere in the imperial court was tense, filled with an air of impending doom. In just one day, both Yumen Pass and Beiyang City had fallen, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers had been defeated by Orion's forces, some of which included powerful semi-saints.
The news sent shockwaves through the court, leaving courtiers exchanging nervous glances as they tried to assess the implications of this disaster.
On the golden dragon throne, Empress Zhou Linglong clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. She cursed Zhao Kuanying for his incompetence. Not only had he failed to capture Orion, but he had also lost 200,000 of her elite troops, further tarnishing her authority as Empress.
But her true hatred was reserved for Orion. His strength had grown beyond her control, and she had no choice but to take him seriously.
"My lords, what do you propose we do about Orion?" Zhou Linglong asked, her voice cold and steely.
"The traitor Orion is more formidable than we anticipated. With the fall of Beiyang City, it appears that Governor Jiang Shicheng of Liangzhou has also surrendered to him. Liangzhou is likely under Orion's control," one courtier reported.
"Hmph! Jiang Shicheng has long been in league with the Lu family. His betrayal was inevitable. It's a pity we didn't apprehend him sooner!" another courtier remarked.
The courtiers continued to bicker, but none offered any concrete solutions. No one wanted to take responsibility, especially after Zhao Kuanying's disastrous defeat. Their hearts were filled with fear of Orion's power.
As the officials argued, a frosty expression settled on Zhou Linglong's face. She seethed with anger, realizing that these self-serving courtiers were more concerned with their own survival than the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"When I fully control this dynasty, I will rid myself of all these parasites!" Zhou Linglong vowed silently.
For now, however, she couldn't afford to alienate them. As a female ruler, her position was precarious, and she needed the support of these powerful nobles to maintain her grip on the court.
"Yang Yan, what do you suggest?" Zhou Linglong addressed the Minister of War, her trusted confidant.
Yang Yan, feeling the weight of the Empress's gaze, wiped the cold sweat from his brow. He knew the situation was dire, but as a loyal servant of the Empress, he couldn't afford to falter.
"Your Majesty, we must mobilize our forces from Yizhou and Liangzhou to intercept Orion's advance. If 200,000 elite soldiers couldn't stop him, then we must send 500,000 or even a million. The Great Zhou Dynasty commands tens of thousands of armored elites. I refuse to believe that a single Orion can overcome them all!" Yang Yan declared.
"Yang Shangshu is right!" another courtier chimed in. "But we must also consider the semi-saints in Orion's army. We should dispatch our own experts to counter them."
The mention of semi-saints caused a stir. These powerful beings, just one step away from the holy realm, could turn the tide of battle. While the Great Zhou had its own semi-saints, most were affiliated with otherworldly sects and were not entirely loyal to the dynasty. This made the situation even more precarious.
The courtiers exchanged worried glances, knowing that the outcome of this conflict would shape the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty.