Chapter 112: Breaking Through to Heaven Transformation, An Unprecedented Array

“Ha, General, you may not know, but the recipe for this wine has not been lost, and the ingredients are easy to obtain. However, it must be brewed in a vessel made from the cold jade mined from the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Mountain; only then can this Jade Intoxication be created.”

Prince Ying County smiled with a hint of pride.

“Hiss, Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade? Prince Ying, you truly have grand means to acquire such a celestial treasure! I must savor this long-lost famous wine carefully and see if it indeed has the power to intoxicate immortals!” The other man eagerly swallowed his saliva, unable to hide his anticipation.

The five of them settled in a side chamber. A guard carried in a wooden box, which was opened to reveal a jade urn about two feet tall, exuding a misty cold aura. Instantly, the hall felt as if summer was fading into winter.

Yet, all five had cultivations; they only felt a refreshing, cool breeze sweep over them, accompanied by a faint, ethereal fragrance wafting through the air.

A maid opened the jade urn and poured the wine into goblets. Even Prince Ying County could not wait and took a sip.

“Ha, indeed an immortal wine, a rare masterpiece. Even His Majesty would hardly have the chance to taste this. I, old Ox, feel truly blessed today. I thank you, Prince Ying! But no reward without merit—Prince, is there business you wish to discuss?”

General Ox Horn smiled with satisfaction as the maid refilled their cups.

“Hehe, having obtained this fine brew, I naturally invited General Ox. But today, my old friend Captain Han, Ouyang’s close confidant, has come to visit. Someone is troubling him, so he sought me out. I intend to discuss this matter with you, General Ox.”

“Oh?” General Ox raised an eyebrow, surprised that the dignified Prince Ying County would speak for a mere guerrilla captain. This was rare indeed, and he could not help but look at Han Chong with renewed respect.

“Your Highness, I have heard that this man has offended three imperial princes consecutively. The other three officers under my command are quite concerned about this matter. Does Your Highness have any wise counsel?”

“Hehe, this coincides with turmoil in the northwest. His Majesty has issued an edict to recruit capable and strong generals to aid in pacifying the northwest. Captain Han is quite interested in this, so I hope you, General Ox, can help facilitate the matter.”

“Ah, I wondered what this was about. Your Highness, rest assured, leave it to old Ox! But since we’re gathered here in good spirits, I feel a sudden urge to compete in drinking with Captain Han. Would you honor me with your company?”

“Gladly!” Han Chong smiled and cupped his hands in response.

“Good. This wine is fiercely cold; one cup is worth a hundred. Let’s begin with ten cups!” Saying so, he downed a cup in one gulp and prepared for the next.

Han Chong smiled faintly and drank as well, the piercing coldness of the wine penetrating his very being.

For Han Chong, versed in the arts of potion consumption and water intake, even draining a great river would be no challenge, so a mere urn of icy wine was nothing.

Yet this wine was truly extraordinary, bearing a subtle, purifying spiritual essence. He refrained from invoking his arts, choosing to rely solely on his physical strength.

The others initially expected to witness Han Chong falter, but to their surprise, he drank with an unchanging expression. Suddenly, his brow furrowed tightly, and he closed his eyes firmly.

Boom! The sound of turbulent river waters echoed from within Han Chong’s body. His aura grew increasingly wild, and an unknown wind swept through the hall, knocking maids and servants off balance.

“This… Captain Han is about to break through!” Prince Ying County exclaimed, eyes wide with astonishment.

“This is the aura of breaking into the Celestial Transformation Realm!”

Han Chong himself was surprised. After downing several cups of the icy wine, he unexpectedly felt the opportunity to break through the Celestial Transformation threshold!

This breakthrough lasted a full day and night, during which the dining hall remained sealed. Ouyang and Mingzhen sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and waiting, while Prince Ying County came by periodically to check.

“Ouyang, your friend is truly extraordinary. After just a few sips, he comprehended the way to break through the Celestial Transformation bottleneck. Despite my countless resources and relentless effort, I have only managed to reach the Celestial Realm. I am truly ashamed.”

“Hehe, Your Highness, you are burdened with state affairs, unlike us humble mountain wanderers.”

Though he spoke lightly, Ouyang felt a twinge of envy. Since returning from Pei Jun’s mansion, he had been spurred by Han Chong to intensify his cultivation, only to find the gap between them widening.

At last, a low shout came from within the hall, followed by a loud crack from the eaves. Tiles were blasted off and a rolling azure true qi burst forth like a plume of smoke.

A human-shaped figure slowly rose to midair, standing with closed eyes as his aura swirled, making Han Chong appear like a transcendent being.

“Ha ha, congratulations to Captain Han on breaking through to the Celestial Transformation Realm! Truly joyous! I have arranged a banquet to celebrate your initiation!”

Han Chong slowly opened his eyes and floated down into the courtyard, bowing in thanks.

A warrior at the Celestial Transformation Realm was sufficient to dominate a region, becoming a pillar of the martial world.

Seeing Han Chong’s boundless future, it was no wonder Prince Ying County sought to win his favor.

News of a warrior in Prince Ying’s mansion breaking through to the Celestial Transformation Realm spread quickly among the other princes’ households, prompting them to dispatch spies for investigation.

However, the prince’s residence had strengthened its defenses, sealing off all information tightly, which only fueled the other princes’ suspicions.

The next day, Han Chong bid farewell to Prince Ying County, Ouyang, and Mingzhen. Wearing a servant’s hat, a purple robe, and jade belt, he strode alone through the gates of the Western Imperial City’s Demon-Slaying Division.

Presenting his official credentials, he passed through multiple courtyards and guards, arriving before the main hall of the central courtyard.

Before the hall stood an imposing statue of a five-zhang-tall jet-black tiger, poised as if descending a mountain, radiating immense authority.

It was not until the afternoon that Han Chong was summoned.

“Captain Han Chong of the Qiongzhou Demon-Slaying Division, enter the hall,” called a gate guard.

Han Chong stepped steadily inside. Behind the main hall’s rear wall hung a black tiger totem. The throne was empty, but seated on four sandalwood chairs below were four generals clad in golden armor, one of whom was General Ox Horn.

At the foot of the steps stood five silver-armored cavalry generals and over a dozen guerrilla generals. Not a single subaltern captain was present.

Han Chong silently realized this was no ordinary gathering; all hope for leniency vanished.

It seemed the Demon-Slaying Division was deeply influenced by the rival princes’ forces. To convict him, they had marshaled such a display of power that “partiality” was no longer an adequate word.

“You must be Han Chong?” asked a slender, smiling general at the head.

“That is my humble self.”

“Hmph. You were originally the captain of Yuzhou. In recognition of your merits in demon slaying, you were exceptionally promoted to guerrilla general and assigned to Qiongzhou. Later, after further achievements, headquarters intended to cultivate you carefully, thus again promoting you to acting cavalry general. Yet you have grown arrogant, acting recklessly, breaking into the prefecture’s armory without permission and tampering with military equipment. Do you understand your crime?”

“Respectfully reporting, General, at that time, the deputy commander of Hanguo County’s navy urgently requested assistance. The former prefect of Qiongzhou was being escorted back to the capital. The situation was critical, so I made an immediate decision to open the armory to support Hanguo County against the Eastern Yi Kingdom’s warships. It was a measure taken out of necessity.” Han Chong presented the deputy commander’s letter.

The four golden-armored generals examined the letter in turn, their brows furrowing slightly.

“Ahem. Our Demon-Slaying Division’s duty is to slay demons and ghosts, not to meddle in politics. While your reason is understandable, you have breached a cardinal rule of the court. If all captains and generals acted as you do, bullying local administration, chaos would engulf the court!”

Another round-faced, slightly plump general chuckled.

“Yes, I was reckless. I beg the four generals to be lenient.”

Han Chong thought to himself that the Demon-Slaying Division’s principles were excessively rigid, almost comparable to the palace’s prohibition against political involvement.