Night covered the Northern Border like a black ocean.
Snow fell quietly over the outpost walls, and the crimson banner of the Fifth Prince stood against the storm like a blade refusing to bend.
Most people were asleep.
But kingdoms were rarely built during comfortable hours.
I stood inside the command hall with Lord Xue, Yue Lian, Feng Yuehuang, and the others gathered around the strategy table.
Maps covered everything.
Village routes.
Mountain paths.
Abandoned forts.
Old military supply tunnels.
And one particular area circled three times in red.
The Snow Burial Valley.
Lord Xue's expression was serious.
"This place was once an imperial military storage zone."
He pointed at the map.
"Thirty years ago, during the Northern Demon Beast Tide, an elite army disappeared there."
I raised a brow.
"Disappeared?"
He nodded.
"Ten thousand soldiers."
Silence.
Even Mo Jianli stopped pretending not to care.
Ten thousand.
That was not an army.
That was a foundation for conquest.
I leaned forward.
"And no one investigated?"
Lord Xue gave me the look of a man disappointed in imperial intelligence.
"They did."
He tapped the valley.
"No one returned."
Much better.
Danger.
Mystery.
Possibly treasure.
This was exactly how all terrible decisions began.
Hu Mei smiled brightly.
"I love this already."
Of course she did.
Feng Yuehuang stood by the window, golden eyes calm.
"There is ancient death there."
Her voice was low.
"Not ordinary ghosts."
Even better.
I smiled.
"Perfect."
Yue Lian looked like she expected that answer.
"Your Highness plans to go personally."
Not a question.
I nodded.
"Yes."
If ten thousand soldiers were buried there—
Then there might be:
army inheritance,
spirit weapons,
war formations,
or…
an army waiting to be claimed.
And with my myth system?
I was absolutely going.
Mo Jianli smirked.
"At last. Something less boring than paperwork."
Fa Yun quietly pressed his palms together.
"This poor monk senses karmic disaster."
Hu Mei patted his shoulder.
"That means adventure."
He looked unconvinced.
Reasonable.
I opened the system panel.
[Special Territory Quest Detected]
Hidden Army Beneath the Snow
Quest Objective:
Explore Snow Burial Valley
Possible Rewards:
Ancient Army Recruitment TokenSpirit General Summon CardMilitary Formation InheritanceUnknown Mythic Opportunity
Unknown Mythic Opportunity.
Ah.
The system knew exactly how to manipulate me.
I smiled.
"We leave at dawn."
—
The next morning, the valley welcomed us like a grave.
White.
Silent.
Too silent.
Snow Burial Valley was surrounded by steep black cliffs, and strange, broken banners still stood half-buried in the ice like forgotten warnings.
No birds.
No beasts.
Even the wind felt wrong.
The Frost Wolves refused to step deeper.
Smart wolves.
I probably should have listened.
Instead, I walked forward.
Because I was the protagonist, and poor decisions were legally required.
Behind me:
Feng Yuehuang,
Lin Xue,
Hu Mei,
Mo Jianli,
Ye Shura,
Fa Yun,
Yue Lian
and twenty Phoenix Flame Guards.
Honestly, if we died here, at least it would be dramatic.
As we entered deeper into the valley, broken weapons appeared beneath the snow.
Rusty spears.
Shattered shields.
Ancient armour frozen in ice.
The remains of war.
Lord Xue had not exaggerated.
This place had swallowed an army.
Then—
Lin Xue stopped.
Her cold blue eyes narrowed.
"There."
Ahead, beneath layers of snow and frost, stood a massive stone gate.
Half-buried.
Ancient.
Covered in military runes.
And in the centre—
The symbol of the Great Yan imperial army.
I smiled slowly.
Oh, I loved suspicious giant doors.
Yue Lian stepped forward.
"This was not on any military records."
Even better.
Secrets.
My favourite.
Fa Yun frowned.
"There are souls here."
Hu Mei looked around.
"Friendly souls?"
Fa Yun gave her a look.
"Not remotely."
Excellent.
I walked to the stone gate.
At its centre was a handprint formation.
Old.
Cracked.
But still alive.
The moment I placed my hand on it—
BOOM.
The entire valley shook.
Snow exploded from the cliffs.
The stone gate trembled.
Ancient runes lit up one by one like sleeping stars waking.
The Phoenix Guards instantly raised weapons.
Yue Lian stepped beside me.
Feng Yuehuang's flames quietly appeared around her fingertips.
Good.
Standard friendship.
Then—
a voice.
Ancient.
Heavy.
Like a general speaking from inside a tomb.
"Bloodline confirmed…"
"Royal blood detected…"
"Successor candidate acknowledged…"
Everyone froze.
I blinked.
Excuse me?
The gate slowly opened.
A wave of ancient spiritual pressure rushed outward.
Inside—
darkness.
Then rows.
Rows and rows of armoured figures kneeling beneath the earth.
Silent.
Still.
Thousands of them.
Ancient soldiers preserved beneath the snow.
An underground army.
Even Mo Jianli stopped smiling.
"…Now that is interesting."
At the centre of the underground hall stood a throne of black iron.
And on that throne—
a skeleton in an ancient general's armour.
Crown broken.
Sword across his knees.
Even dead, the pressure he released was terrifying.
Feng Yuehuang's voice became serious.
"This was no ordinary general."
No.
It wasn't.
I stepped forward.
Because clearly I had learned nothing from previous bad ideas.
The moment I approached—
The skeleton's empty eyes ignited with blue flame.
The entire underground army rose at once.
Ten thousand armoured soldiers.
Moving.
Breathing.
Undead? Spirits? Terrifying?
Probably yes.
The Phoenix Guards nearly fainted.
Hu Mei whispered,
"Well…"
She smiled nervously.
"…this may be slightly more exciting than expected."
The skeletal general slowly stood.
His ancient sword scraped across the stone.
Then he looked directly at me.
And knelt.
The entire underground army knelt with him.
His voice shook the underground hall.
"This general greets…"
"The rightful sovereign."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even I needed a second.
Then the Myth System exploded with light.
[Legendary Opportunity Triggered]
Ancient Army Recognition Successful
Reward:
Imperial Ghost Army 10,000Commander: General Bai WuchenRealm: Half-Step Divine PalaceLoyalty: 60
I stared.
Then looked at my army.
Then, the kneeling undead legion.
Then back at the system.
Honestly—
best day ever.
Far away in the capital, Chen Lie was probably planning grain shortages.
Meanwhile—
I had accidentally found ten thousand ghost soldiers.
Life was beautiful.
Very beautiful.
I smiled slowly.
"Third Brother…"
I looked at the kneeling army.
"…you are going to have a very bad week."