Deep within the Great Wilderness, a massive path cut through the forest in many twists and turns, narrowly avoiding the territories of powerful Demonic Beasts.

As the path was created with many formations lain upon it to push off any attacks, most of the Demonic Beasts avoided it completely.

Suddenly, the silent path lit up with Pure Qi seconds before a long chain of tube-like objects shot past the area at speeds too fast for any mortal to comprehend in this world.

Inside the chain of compartments, there were many people celebrating the official launch of this new form of transportation. However, at the very front, the people inside were seriously concentrating on their tasks.

“Huang, how are the inscriptions holding up?”

“As far as I can tell, they are doing good despite the cargo being at full capacity.”

“What about the detection formation on the path? And the defensive arrays?”

“They look good as well. I am only picking up low-level Demonic Beasts in the area.”

“What is the rate of Qi drain on the Spirit Stone?’

“Within what we expected.”

Da Wei nodded at the near-optimal operation of the train and left Huang, the designated ‘driver’ of this train to his work.

“What do you think, Yin Lingxi? Is this something that the Royal Family is interested in establishing across the Empire?”

Princess Yin Lingxi watched the entire cabin with a calculating look, mentally calculating the cost of production, the training required for the designated staff, and the materials required for creating such paths. Then, she calculated the benefits gained from such a device and compared it with the initial investment cost.

The conclusion she arrived at was that the Empire and the Royal Family would make a profit many times more than the initial investment.

Thus, the answer to her friend’s question was simple.

“Yes. This ‘Train’ of yours is an ingenious invention and I am willing to put in an order for it. The ceremony for my ascension to the throne is going to take place in a week. Once that is done, I want you to send your people to the Imperial Capital with the designs and the budget requirements for officiating the contract.”

“Alright. I’ll inform Old Li to take a few students from the school to the palace. How many trains are you thinking about.’

“We will start with ten. I want paths connecting the Imperial Capital to the five major territories of the Empire for transporting critical goods. Depending on their success, I will put in more orders.”

Those words surprised Da Wei greatly.

“To all five territories? Aren’t those territories under the control of the Five Noble Families of the Empire? Two of which supported your elder brother in the fight for the throne and one of which you are actively fighting against in the shadows?”

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Yin Lingxi gave a humorless smile to her friend.

“Correct. I need those paths connected to the territories of the Five Noble Families. While the issues between these families and the Royal Family mean that trade between us is strained at the moment, I am confident in taking care of this problem once I ascend to the throne. After the dust settles, I will need large amounts of goods transferred between all these territories to make up for the deficit that the Capital is currently experiencing.”

Da Wei winced at that reminder.

During the last month that Yin Lingxi spent in Da Wei’s village, word somehow leaked out to the Five Noble Families that Yin Lingxi was preparing to annihilate the Yanfeng Family and had already removed all the supporters of the family from within and outside its territory.

This caused the families who opposed her from the very beginning, such as the Qingmu and Tuzhao families that supported the Eldest Prince before his fall from grace, to ally together in restricting her in every way possible.

The Yanfeng family restricted the food supply sent to the Capital.

The Qingmu family reduced the amount of wood and charcoal provided to the Capital.

The Tuzhao family reduced the number of Luxury goods, such as jade-based furniture, spiritual materials, and other such things sent to the Capital.

Normally, such actions would have incurred an immediate retaliation from the Royal Family and these families would have been wiped out from existence. However, as the current Emperor is bedridden and the Royal Protectors and soldiers will only move at the word of the current Emperor, Yin Lingxi is left in a situation where she can do nothing but wait.

This unrest in the capital was also the reason why Yin Lingxi had decided to live in Da Wei’s village for this long.

“I will inform Old Feng to speed up the establishment of the Assembly line. If my experiment with the factory is successful, we will be able to reduce the time taken for the manufacturing of the train to a fraction of what it takes currently.”

Yin Lingxi smiled at those words.

“I would really appreciate that.”

Then, her face morphed into a serious look.

“What have you thought about my other suggestion? About the one related to your upcoming ‘travel plan’?”

“…..I’ll ask you one last time. Are you really sure you want to do something like that? The date I depart is only a few weeks apart from your date of coronation as the Empress. Should you not use that time to secure your position instead of traveling with me?”

“Da Wei. I know what I am doing. While my decision to go with you to wherever it is you are going is mostly a personal desire, there is also an official reason mixed in with it.”

“I will be going with you to scout the current military and whereabouts of the Baihu empire’s forces. Especially since they have not taken any action since their declaration of war on my empire.”

Once again, Da Wei hid a grimace as those words reminded him of the other reason why he was rushing so much to obtain resources for his disciples and his village.

While he had been preparing to protect his village from war for a long time now, the war that he was preparing for was one that should have started in the south, far away from the village where he would have ample warning to prepare his people. What he was not prepared for was a war between the two empires with his village being one of the first places to be hit should the war begin in full force.

“In that case, I have no reason to refuse your request. Although, what does Miss Yao think about this trip?”

At those words, Yin Lingxi couldn’t help but give a smug grin.

“She supports my idea. In fact, she was the one who suggested I stay in your village until the coronation.”

This time, Da Wei could not hide his surprise. However thinking about it for a few minutes, he found no fault in Yao Xingchen’s actions.

Both as the bodyguard of the princess and the Aunt of the girl, her decision to keep Yin Lingxi away from the capital which was currently experiencing bloody turmoil was a sound decision. Especially since the thwarted assassination attempt carried out on Yin Lingxi while she was on her way to Starfall City.

The two friends fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts as the train continued on its way.