The journey back to the capital was both solemn and foreboding. Lu Sang sat in silence within the grand carriage as the ndscapes rolled by, his thoughts a storm of conflict. Beside him, Cao Suyin sat bound, her expression eerily calm. Despite her physical restraint, her piercing gaze seemed to dissect everything in her view.

  Pan Lian rode ahead with her guards, the regal yet daunting figure of an Empress whose presence alone demanded reverence. She had spoken little since they departed the battlefield, her mind evidently weighed down by matters beyond the immediate.

  When they arrived at the capital, Lu Sang was summoned once more to the private chambers of Pan Lian. The Queen dismissed her attendants, leaving only the two of them and a small jade box resting upon her desk.

  “This,” Pan Lian began, her voice low and measured, “is the Jade Pill. It will elevate you to the level of a Jing Emperor, granting you power beyond what you currently know. But with great power comes great peril.”

  Lu Sang stepped closer, his eyes fixed on the jade box. He had heard of such treasures before—myths spoken in hushed tones by elders. Few had ever id eyes on one, let alone held one.

  “Why offer this to me now?” he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.

  Pan Lian’s gaze was unwavering. “The battle cost us dearly, and I cannot afford another loss of this magnitude. The Empire needs protectors of unparalleled strength. You have proven yourself capable, Lu Sang, but even you have limits.”

  She opened the box, revealing a luminous green pill radiating a soft, otherworldly glow. The energy emanating from it was palpable, filling the room with a strange warmth.

  Lu Sang reached for it but hesitated. “This is no ordinary cultivation,” he said. “To ascend so quickly—there is always a price.”

  Pan Lian nodded. “There is. The conventional method will take five months, but the Ying and Yang technique could achieve the same in a week. It is forbidden, of course, for good reason. The duality of the energies could tear your soul apart—or worse.”

  Lu Sang’s lips curled into a faint smile. “In my previous life, such methods were commonpce. I know their risks, but I also know their rewards.”

  Pan Lian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Then you understand what you are about to undertake. The pill’s energy will amplify the technique, but should you fail...”

  “I won’t fail,” Lu Sang interrupted, his voice firm. “I’ve walked this path before.”

  Pan Lian handed him the pill, her expression unreadable. “Very well. You are dismissed.”

  Chapter: TransformationBack in his quarters, Lu Sang prepared for the ritual. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of incense. He sat cross-legged on the floor, the Jade Pill resting in his palm. Cao Suyin watched him from the corner, her bindings loosened slightly but still secure.

  “What are you pnning, General?” she asked, her tone mocking. “Hoping to ascend and py god?”

  Lu Sang ignored her, focusing on his breathing as he swallowed the pill. The effect was immediate—a surge of energy flooding his meridians, threatening to overwhelm him. He began the Ying and Yang cultivation technique, drawing the demonic and holy auras into a delicate bance.

  Cao Suyin’s mocking expression faded as she sensed the power radiating from him. The room grew cold, then unbearably hot, as waves of opposing energies cshed and merged around Lu Sang. His body glowed with alternating bck and golden light, the energies weaving a chaotic yet harmonious dance.

  Hours passed, and Lu Sang’s breathing grew bored. Sweat poured from his brow as he pushed his limits, his body trembling under the strain. The energies cwed at his soul, threatening to consume him, but he held firm, his determination unyielding.

  Finally, as dawn broke, a powerful shockwave burst from his body, shattering the silence. The auras around him stabilized, blending into a radiant, ethereal glow. Lu Sang opened his eyes, now shimmering with a golden hue tinged with bck. He had ascended.

  Chapter: New BeginningsPan Lian stood in the pace courtyard, her hands csped behind her back. When Lu Sang approached, she turned to face him, her eyes widening slightly as she sensed his newfound power.

  “You succeeded,” she said simply.

  Lu Sang inclined his head. “I did.”

  Pan Lian studied him for a moment before nodding. “Good. We will need your strength. The Union Rebels may have been defeated, but their allies are already stirring. War is far from over.”

  At that moment, Cao Suyin stepped into the courtyard, her eyes narrowing as she regarded Lu Sang. She could feel the weight of his presence, the power that now coursed through him. For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face.

  “What will you do with her?” Pan Lian asked, her gaze shifting to Cao Suyin.

  “She will serve,” Lu Sang replied, his voice resolute. “Willingly or not.”

  Cao Suyin smirked, though the confidence in her eyes had dimmed. “I suppose I have no choice.”

  Pan Lian nodded. “Then it is settled. Prepare yourself, Lu Sang. The Empire’s enemies will not wait.”

  As the Queen turned and walked away, Lu Sang felt the weight of his new power settle upon him. The path ahead was uncertain, but he was ready to face it. With Cao Suyin by his side—whether as an ally or a reluctant servant—and his newfound strength, he would shape the fate of the Empire