Chapter 677: Chapter 678: Summoned Honestly!
Time flew by, and more than ten days had passed.

Chen Yu was commanding his troops at the front lines, constantly pursuing the enemy. Because they needed to capture Southern Barbarians alive to enhance their soldiers’ cultivation levels, the efficiency of the pursuit was greatly reduced. They had to both chase and capture the enemy. The Southern Barbarians were in total disarray and a great number of them had been taken alive.

Li Xiaobai had been hiding within the fortress, stealthily absorbing the Inner Strength of the captives. Whenever Chen Yu brought prisoners into the city, he would siphon off a measure of their strength.

Now, there were more than fifty thousand captives gathered within the fortress. This number of prisoners was unprecedented in any previous war, and it continued to increase.

Although most of these soldiers were only at the Essence Refining Realm, and a small portion at the Spirit Refining Realm, there were so many of them that Li Xiaobai was able to absorb the Inner Strength equivalent to that of fifty thousand people each time, which he converted for his own use. Considering the soldiers’ fatigue, he only absorbed six times a day, once every two hours, thus accumulating the Inner Strength of three hundred thousand people inside his body each day.

After ten days of continuous effort, the Inner Strength within his Dantian had transformed from an ocean into a galaxy; it was now impossible to exhaust it, even if he didn’t rest day or night.

Even the power of his Primordial Spirit had substantially increased. If previously his Spirit Manifestation had been an ethereal form, now Li Xiaobai’s Primordial Spirit mirrored his own body, with no difference in the proportion of his figure or the solidity. It even felt the same to the touch and had essentially materialized.

Although his cultivation technique did not specify it, Li Xiaobai deduced that this must be the peak of the Void Merging Realm, reaching the Great Perfection Realm. Whether he could advance further and reach the legendary realm beyond depended entirely on luck.

“We’ve been fighting for so many days, yet we haven’t completely annihilated the Southern Barbarians. I’m not sure whether to call Chen Yu cautious or timid.”

“However, the situation is clear now. The total defeat of the Southern Barbarians is just a matter of time. I should be able to return soon. By now, Chen Yuanyuan must have made her move, right?”

Li Xiaobai murmured to himself, his thoughts lingering on Long Xue, and he wanted to quickly clear the groundless accusations he had been burdened with. Now that the border guards had achieved a great victory, it was time for him to retire with honor.

That night.

Chen Yu held a lavish feast to celebrate the soldiers’ triumphant return, which had become a nightly tradition recently.

It had been a long time since they had felt such unrestrained joy, and his subordinates were all elated.

However, when Chen Yu heard that Li Xiaobai was planning to return to the Central Plains, the smile on his face suddenly froze for a moment.

“Isn’t that a bit too hasty?”

“In a few days’ time, our forces will completely crush the Southern Barbarians. Young Master, why don’t you stay for a few more days to witness the triumph of the Central Plains with us?”

Chen Yu took a sip of his drink, trying to hide the panic in his heart. Having spent so much time at the border with Li Xiaobai, he had witnessed the other’s monstrous abilities—the unfathomable depth of his Inner Strength and the invincible presence of one who could match fifteen Refinement Void Realm experts alone. To say he wasn’t intimidated would be a lie.

At this moment, according to the original plan, Chen Yuanyuan had already delivered Long Xue into the Grand Emperor’s bedchamber, and a storm of bloodshed was about to erupt in the royal court. If Li Xiaobai hurried back at this critical juncture and discovered the Chen Family’s conspiracy, it would be a minor issue, but it would be a major problem if he disrupted the Grand Emperor’s indulgence!

He absolutely couldn’t allow Li Xiaobai to return at this time and disturb the Grand Emperor’s good mood!

“The collapse of the Southern Barbarians is a foregone conclusion. I am worried about Long Xue, and I am also waiting for my wife to clear my name,”

Li Xiaobai said with a smile.

“Not at all, not at all. A change is about to happen in the royal court. At this time, let’s not add to the chaos. It might cause unnecessary complications. Once my younger sister stabilizes the situation in the royal court, it won’t be too late for us to head there,”

Chen Yu continued, still pretending to have Li Xiaobai’s best interest at heart.

“I am merely going to find my junior sister. Whatever happens in the royal court has nothing to do with me, General. You needn’t worry about anything.”

Li Xiaobai said.

“Young Master Li can rest assured, Lady Long staying at Yuanyuan’s residence is absolutely safe, there won’t be any problems. It’s still best to stay a few more days. At this critical juncture, leaving Lady Long at Yuanyuan’s residence is the wisest choice, that place is absolutely secure.”

Chen Yu said.

Hearing this, Li Xiaobai’s brows furrowed slightly. Why was Chen Yu repeatedly preventing him from returning to the Central Plains?

Could there be some unspeakable secret hidden beneath all this?

Recalling the dissonance he felt during his previous conversation with Chen Yuanyuan, a bad premonition vaguely rose in his heart. Could it be that Long Xue had encountered some trouble within the Capital City?

“In fact, there’s something I haven’t yet told General Chen. Truth be told, ever since I came to the border, I’d been exchanging letters with my junior sister every few days to check in on each other’s safety. But for some reason, since last month, I haven’t received a single letter from my junior sister.”

“During that time, I’ve sent out countless letters but received no response whatsoever. This is highly unusual. It’s possible that Long Xue and your sister have run into trouble. If I don’t see it with my own eyes, I truly can’t be at ease!”

“Brother Chen, rest assured, if the Chen household indeed has come across trouble, I won’t stand idly by,”

Xiaobai said tentatively, his eyes unblinkingly fixed on Chen Yu, probing for his reaction.

The so-called letter exchanges were completely fabricated; he merely wanted to use this opportunity to determine whether his junior sister was truly in trouble, and whether the evasive Chen Yu in front of him understood the truth of the matter.

As expected, as soon as Li Xiaobai finished speaking, he saw Chen Yu’s wine cup tremble violently, spilling its contents on the ground.

“Ah, I’ve drunk too much, I can’t even hold a cup steady anymore!”

“Since Young Master Li is so concerned about Lady Long, I naturally shouldn’t obstruct you any longer. Tomorrow I shall arrange for someone to escort the young master back to the Capital!”

Chen Yu’s complexion looked somewhat unsightly, but he still squeezed out a slight smile and said.

“General Chen jests. The banquet has only just begun, and you’ve not had a single drop of wine yet. How could you be drunk? Or could it be something has happened at the Chen residence, and General Chen wants to hide something from me?”

Li Xiaobai squinted and smiled, his eyes emitting a sharp light, as he filled Chen Yu’s cup again.

“What are you talking about? With my little sister managing the Chen residence, what could possibly go wrong?”

“Lady Long is faring quite well at my sister’s residence. Once you return to the Capital, you will understand.”

Cold sweat broke out on General Chen’s forehead, and he couldn’t help but wipe it away.

Facing the piercing scrutiny of Li Xiaobai’s gaze, his back was soaked through. Even though he was right next to a bonfire, he could still feel an endless chill that was the murderous aura emanating from Li Xiaobai.

“General Chen, you’re not telling the truth.”

Li Xiaobai shook his head and leaned in, “It seems the madam has plans of her own, not purely out of selflessness. Whatever your objectives may be, I’m not concerned. However, there’s something I hope General Chen understands. Since the Chen family dares to challenge the imperial power, they must have their own strong cards. I suppose this army of 200,000 is the Chen family’s trump card, isn’t it?”

“You reveal your trump card in front of me and still dare to lie to my face, quite commendable courage.”

“General Chen, if you don’t come clean today, I’m prepared to slaughter this army of 200,000 to the last man. You should understand that I have the power to do so!”