After leaving the Empress's palace, Orion wandered aimlessly, feeling both powerful and restless. He had just obtained the holy body and new skills, but hadn't yet fully utilized them. Seeking something to do, he found himself searching for familiar faces. The first person he thought of was Yao Xi'er.
The next morning, Yao Xi'er approached him, carrying a tea tray. She had been through considerable suffering the day before, but still endured her discomfort to serve Orion. "Master, please have some tea," she said softly, offering the cup.
This was no ordinary tea. It was brewed from scraps of Emperor Danlu Helix's body—valuable remnants that held immense energy, despite their humble origins. Of course, it wasn't something as vulgar as foot skin or dandruff, but rather sacred remnants containing concentrated spiritual energy.
Orion took a sip, and immediately felt the immense power coursing through his body. What he drank wasn't just tea, but a liquid form of spiritual energy. A silent explosion echoed inside him, and his cultivation surged, finally advancing to the Queen Wu stage.
However, despite this success, Orion couldn't muster excitement. He sighed. "All my subordinates are Great Emperors, yet here I am, still stuck at Martial Emperor. It's embarrassing to admit."
Even though the title of Martial Emperor commanded respect across the Dongzhou Continent, Orion knew it wasn't enough. The power gap between him and the Great Emperors was immense. In every major battle, he could do nothing but stand on the sidelines, watching as his stronger allies protected him.
"I need something more... something to boost my strength, or I'll keep being a burden," Orion muttered, feeling the weight of his limitations.
In search of a solution, he activated his system interface.
Host: Orion
Strength: Queen Wu Period
Factions under his command: Yanyun's Eighteen Cavalry, Three Thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, Snow Dragon Cavalry (enhanced version), Trap Camp, Shadow Guard, Xiaoyu, Beifu Army (disabled)
Guards under his command: Emperor Qingyun, Xu Chu (enhanced), Qinglian Sword Emperor Ye Bai, Nine Nether Empress You Susu, Li Sandao
Luck value: 4,940,563
Scanning the list of his forces, Orion felt some comfort. Despite his personal weakness, his forces had grown considerably stronger. He still had powerful allies under his command, loyal enough to protect him while he improved. But a thought crossed his mind: I still have that emperor-level power upgrade card!
Orion had been holding onto the upgrade card for a while, busy dealing with other affairs. Now, it was time to use it. But which of his forces should receive the upgrade?
He quickly ruled out Xiaoyu, his intelligence network. As useful as they were, an intelligence organization didn't need elite combat power. Their current capabilities were more than sufficient. His gaze then shifted to his hidden army—the Shadow Guard. These covert operatives had always served as his silent protectors and assassins. If anyone deserved the upgrade, it was them.
"System," Orion commanded, "use the emperor-level power upgrade card on the Shadow Guard."
Ding! The emperor-level force upgrade card has been successfully used on: Shadow Guard!
In an instant, Orion felt the surge of power ripple through the air. He couldn't see them, but he knew that the Shadow Guards hidden around him had just become exponentially stronger.
Curious, he opened the Shadow Guard's updated information panel.
Shadow Guard:
Leader: Peak Half-EmperorDeputy Leader: Junior Half-EmperorTen Captains: Martial SaintsMembers: Martial Emperors and Martial Sects
Orion smiled, though there was a hint of regret. The Shadow Guards still lacked an emperor-level powerhouse, but the addition of two half-emperors and hundreds of Martial Emperors made them a formidable force.
"Well, it's better than nothing," he sighed. Two half-emperors were still an incredible asset, and with more than three hundred Martial Emperors now at his disposal, the Shadow Guard had become a deadly hidden weapon.
For now, it would have to do. But deep inside, Orion knew he wouldn't rest until his own strength could match the mighty warriors under his command.