Feng Miaojun didn’t know what they were looking at, as it wasn’t depicted in this fragment.

She deduced that the patterns might connect to form a complete story. Of course, this was just speculation.

Beyond this, the fragment had no particular special qualities. When she infused it with spiritual power, the result was like a stone sinking into the sea—not a trace of response.

Strangely, it looked and felt somewhat familiar.

The more Feng Miaojun thought about it, the stranger it seemed: “This object’s properties are unknown, its purpose unclear. Why would the ancestors of the Jiao Kingdom choose this instead of the Golden City as their State Vessel?”

The couple, Miao Fengxian and his wife, also stared at it without blinking. The former Crown Prince of Jiao had naturally never seen the true appearance of the State Vessel either, but the grief of losing his country overshadowed his curiosity, leaving him somewhat numb.

“I don’t know,” he replied without much thought, “This object came from the old collection of the Haoli Empire, said to far surpass divine artifacts.”

The battle in front of the ancestral temple had already stopped when the green light spread.

From that moment on, this place was territory belonging to New Xia, and the Wei-Jiao agreement took immediate effect!

According to the agreement, the Wei Kingdom could not invade New Xia territory. Therefore, every Wei soldier received a warning from that vast will in the mysterious beyond.

Whether cultivators or ordinary people, none wished to oppose the heavens. Occasionally, a few hotheads with bloodshot eyes still refused to withdraw, but after a couple of “crack” sounds from the sky delivered divine punishment by lightning, the entire battlefield fell silent.

The Heavenly Way had delivered punishment, which meant that the Jiao Kingdom had truly been annexed by New Xia!

This world was too fantastical—everyone had been fighting to the death, and on the eve of taking Yinzi City, it suddenly transformed into New Xia territory!

This fight to the bitter end had ceased in just a few moments.

The Jiao troops who had been defending the ancestral temple were already at their limit. Now with the pressure suddenly gone, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, though somewhat bewildered.

Before long, Feng Miaojun and Princess Hanyue walked down from the ancestral temple, and the commander immediately stepped forward and bowed: “Greetings, Crown Princess!” Actually, there was an exceptionally beautiful woman standing in front of Princess Hanyue, but he didn’t recognize her, so he cast a few uncertain glances at Feng Miaojun.

Princess Hanyue looked at Feng Miaojun and announced loudly: “This is Queen Changle of New Xia. From today onwards, she is also our ruler.”

The thousands present were shocked, simultaneously raising their heads, with all eyes focusing on Feng Miaojun.

In that instant, Feng Miaojun sensed their surprise, confusion, admiration, wariness, doubt, and grief, along with countless other indescribable emotions.

Since mastering the Celestial Demon Secret Scroll, she could easily detect the strong emotional fluctuations of ordinary people.

Even in a disciplined army, there was inevitable stirring at this moment, with whispers buzzing all around.

A golden light flashed in Feng Miaojun’s hand, and the Golden Pestle appeared in her grasp. She raised the Golden Pestle and gently tapped the ground. The sound “dong—” resonated like a distant imperial bell, causing everyone’s hearts to tremble and rendering them speechless.

“You have all performed meritoriously in your defense, winning survival for the million citizens of this city,” Feng Miaojun said slowly. “Now, we must drive the Wei people out of Yinzi City.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, yet it lingered in everyone’s ears, allowing them to hear clearly and calling them back from their state of shock:

Yes, there was still a large Wei army stationed outside the gates—that was the primary contradiction at present!

After all, most Jiao military and civilians didn’t understand what the Wei-Xia agreement was. They only knew that Heaven had announced that Jiao territory had changed hands, and then the fierce Wei attack had abruptly stopped.

At this unexpected turn of events, most people didn’t know what would happen next.

Just then, a clear shout came from outside:

“Queen Changle, why not come out and reminisce with me?”

Feng Miaojun recognized this voice.

Wei King Shah Yan had arrived.

She lightly stepped forward, and the Jiao troops silently made way for her, creating a path straight to the mountain gate. Today was the first time they had seen the legendary Queen of New Xia, and they were awed by her dignity and the glory bestowed upon her by Heaven.

Otherwise, why would the Heavenly Way transmit her words for everyone to hear?

Twenty zhang beyond the gate was the Wei army.

No one knew that Feng Miaojun secretly took a deep breath before stepping across that threshold, straightening her back as she walked out.

This time, was she going to face that person directly?

The identity of Queen Changle, with an official and businesslike attitude.

Feng Miaojun walked out of the mountain gate.

The ground outside had been blasted into deep craters by formations, divine abilities, and cannon fire, leaving almost no place to stand. She smiled faintly yet still walked across as if treading on level ground, her pace unhurried.

The Wei army watched this peerless beauty approach step by step, in complete silence.

Every step she took was in midair, with nothing to support her.

Yet she walked so steadily, as if before she was only the grand boulevard of Zhuangkang.

As Feng Miaojun approached, the Wei army parted, and one person rode out on horseback—it was Shah Yan.

The last time she had seen Shah Yan was at Wufu Snow Mountain. Back then, he was just an approachable prince, far from today’s imposing figure wearing a golden crown.

Seeing her, even though he was burning with anger, Shah Yan couldn’t help but be slightly stunned. The world never lacked country-toppling beauties, and Shah Yan had always known what Feng Miaojun looked like, especially since she had come today in simple attire, without splendid clothes to enhance her appearance. But her dignified nobility as she held the Golden Pestle, her calm composure that viewed the Wei army’s iron armor and steel cavalry as nothing—other women couldn’t match her even if they tried their hardest.

This kind of confidence and pride required years of cultivation, yet she had only been Queen of New Xia for about two years.

Looking at Feng Miaojun now, where was the small maid who once followed State Preceptor Yun?

“Miss Anan, this move to pull the carpet from under my feet, I deeply admire,” Shah Yan’s handsome face was very tight, without a hint of a smile. “But such an action is too unfair!” Not only Yinzi City but the entire Jiao Kingdom had been within his grasp, yet it was snatched away by New Xia at the last moment—naturally he was unwilling to accept this.

Feng Miaojun said calmly: “And is massacring a million lives in the city considered fair?”

Shah Yan’s gaze was profound: “In that case, Queen Changle reluctantly accepted Jiao’s surrender to save the entire Yinzi City?”

Don’t be smug after gaining benefits!

Feng Miaojun shook her head: “In all matters, one should not go to extremes; one must leave room for life. If the Wei King hadn’t issued the order to massacre the city, how would the Jiao Kingdom have come to seek surrender to me?”

Shah Yan was momentarily speechless.

He didn’t consider himself a ruthless person, and issuing the massacre order was out of necessity. The Yanxi War was about to end, and if he didn’t use harsh measures to intimidate the Jiao people, how could he achieve a quick victory?

But Feng Miaojun was correct—if he hadn’t declared his intention to massacre the city, forcing the Jiao people into a desperate situation, how would they have handed over their great land to New Xia?

In the conflict between Jiao and Wei, it was New Xia that ultimately benefited. The most frustrating part was that from beginning to end, New Xia hadn’t done anything at all!