Chapter 213: Immediate Southward Departure
Inside the spacious palace hall, silence reigned.
A chilling wind blew from an unknown source, cutting through to the bone. Even the floor of the hall was covered in a thin layer of frost because of it.
“The King speaks too seriously.”
Facing the King of Qing’s inquiry, Zhong Xin’s expression remained steady. He said solemnly, “The outcome is yet unknown. How can the King speak lightly of life and death?”
“…Hahaha.”
In the next second, the King of Qing suddenly laughed. “Minister Zhong worries too much. I was just joking. Let’s talk about the front line. Which Foundation Establishment cultivators died?”
Zhong Xin continued, “One was a rogue cultivator from Jiangbei. Besides him, the Sect Master of the [Cloud-Climbing Sect], Fairy Yun He, the ancestor of the Zhaoxia Clan, and the ancestor of the Yuanchen Clan were all captured alive. Those who escaped back were all injured and looked scared out of their wits by the Demonic Sect. Given time, I fear Zhalong Pass cannot be held…”
Zhong Xin explained the causes and consequences in detail.
At the same time, after hearing the whole story, the King of Qing instantly revealed an angry expression: “Incompetent fools, forfeiting sovereignty and humiliating the country… It seems I must come out of seclusion!”
“Pass my order. I will personally lead the expedition.”
“With my strength, gathering the power of the nation before the formation, and borrowing the position of a Great Perfected One, whatever devil comes will be nothing more than trash to be beheaded with a single sword strike!”
“The King must not be impulsive.”
Seeing this, Zhong Xin hurried forward and said, “The King has a body of ten thousand gold, the foundation of the country, different from ordinary people. How can you personally venture into dangerous lands? This action absolutely must not be taken!”
“Then forget it.”
The King of Qing went with the flow and sat back in his original position. Are you kidding? I am a noble descendant of the Heavenly Emperor, different from those commoners. How could I risk fighting a powerful enemy in a battle?
But if he didn’t go, who could?
Thinking of this, he held Zhong Xin’s hand again, sighing and lamenting, “Minister Zhong, if I do not personally lead the expedition, who can share my worries?”
“This humble subject is willing!”
Zhong Xin did not hesitate in the slightest. He said solemnly, “The King can grant this humble subject the Sword of the Son of Heaven and the Imperial Insignia, allowing this humble subject to hold the position of a Great Perfected One on the King’s behalf for the expedition. In this way, even if the war is dangerous and an accident occurs, the one who dies will be this humble subject. The King will be safe and sound and can choose another worthy subject to take my place.”
“Wouldn’t this hurt you too much?”
The King of Qing said kindly, “With your Merit and Fate, holding the position of a Great Perfected One on my behalf will likely cause immense consumption. The backlash afterward might ruin the rest of your life.”
“To share the King’s worries, this humble subject accepts it as sweet as honey.”
Hearing this, the King of Qing nodded in satisfaction. “Good! Good! Among all the civil and military officials in the court, only you are a loyal subject, a worthy subject, a good subject!”
“The King flatters me.”
Zhong Xin shook his head. “This humble subject is merely an honest subject.”
The King of Qing smiled, then changed the subject. “Since you are an honest subject, speak honestly to me. To deal with that Chong Guang of the Demonic Sect, what exactly should be done?”
“The Jiangdong Dao Court is unreliable.”
“That old fogey from the Directorate of Astronomy actually said my Mandate of Heaven is exhausted, with strong enemies outside and petty people inside. He said instead of stubbornly resisting in a corner, it would be better to surrender early…”
Speaking to this point, the King of Qing glanced at Zhong Xin again.
Despite his disdainful tone, he actually believed it about thirty to forty percent. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have deliberately used the idea of personally leading the expedition to test Zhong Xin just now.
“Replying to the King,”
Zhong Xin continued, “In this humble subject’s opinion, the urgent task should be to thoroughly investigate the country. All infants less than a year old must be strictly screened.”
“After all, according to the message from the Directorate of Astronomy, that Chong Guang came via reincarnation.”
“It is still early days. He is but an infant. Even if he possesses some Divine Abilities, he is easy to deal with. The longer we drag this out, the more dangerous it becomes!”
The King of Qing nodded. “I naturally know this. I have long sought many capable people and strangers to search among the populace, swearing to find his reincarnated body…”
“Forgive this subject for speaking frankly, but doing so is unlikely to be effective.”
Zhong Xin shook his head. “That Perfected One Chong Guang is said to be a Great Perfected One of the Demonic Sect, supported by a Perfected Lord. Trying to find him is too difficult.”
Speaking to this point, Zhong Xin’s tone suddenly revealed a few degrees of chilling killing intent. “So rather than wasting time searching, it is better to simply issue an order— drown all newborn infants! This way, no matter how powerful that Perfected One is, even a clever housewife cannot cook a meal without rice!”
“Drown all newborns…”
As his voice fell, the King of Qing narrowed his eyes. He was not a stupid person; naturally, he had also thought of this vicious plan. However, he couldn’t do it.
Because it would attract too much hatred.
Moreover, drowning newborns was digging at the foundation of the Dao Court system. After all, without newborns, the population would decrease year by year. What rule would there be to talk about?
But if a subject proposed it, then there was no problem.
Thinking of this, the King of Qing couldn’t help but smile. “Minister, this suggestion is very good, but it must be done by a loyal, reliable, and meticulous person.”
“Why not let Minister do it?”
Without a second word, Zhong Xin immediately bowed his head. “This humble subject accepts the command!”
“Very good.” The King of Qing nodded.
“…During this time, I will claim illness and stay in the palace, ignoring external affairs. During this period, I leave this matter to you, Minister Zhong. I trust you will not disappoint me.”
As his voice fell, the King of Qing sighed secretly in his heart. A pity for such useful talent. Afterward, I definitely cannot keep him. The reason for claiming illness in the palace was also to avoid being implicated in the drowning of infants. Once Chong Guang was eliminated, he would naturally “recover” and come out to set things right.
At that time, he would still be that heroic and wise enlightened ruler.
As for Zhong Xin, he would become the great treacherous minister who exploited the King’s trust to implement tyrannical policies and harm the people. His value as talent would come to an end.
However, just then.
“Report!”
A report suddenly came from outside the palace. Then, an armored soldier ran in quickly, holding a memorial in his hands, looking flustered. “My King… we found it!”
“Found what?”
The King of Qing raised his brows slightly, then snatched the memorial from the armored soldier’s hand. Focusing his eyes on it, he instantly froze in place, then looked at Zhong Xin blankly.
Seeing this, Zhong Xin also revealed a look of curiosity. “My King?”
“…Hahaha! we found it!”
In the next second, the King of Qing laughed loudly, a look of wild joy appearing on his face. “The people sent out earlier reported back. They found that reincarnated Perfected One Chong Guang!”
….
Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea, Sacred Fire Cliff.
On a silk bed covered by curtains on all four sides, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue reclined, twirling a strand of black hair around her fingertip, carelessly examining the space below.
There was a map.
A great river divided the East, West, South, and North. Dazzling stars were distributed on the map, one of which was located exactly at the position of the [Kingdom of Qing].
However, until now, this star had been extremely dim.
Just then, a voice suddenly came, crisp and pleasant to the ear: “If Chong Guang breaks through and joins forces with you and me, perhaps there is hope for the Late Stage.”
“Actually, [City Rampart Earth] would also work.”
Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue smiled, her gaze fixed on the map. “I quite like that young man named Yuan Tu. His conduct and dealings have the style of the Patriarch.”
“Let’s forget about it.”
“The [City Rampart Earth] is in the Pure Land. Just the three of us can’t get it out. The Pure Land treats it as a treasure, waiting to open up a Buddhist Kingdom on Earth.”
Hearing this, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue also snorted coldly. “Relying on that bunch of bald donkeys?”
“Buddhist Kingdom on Earth… they even dare to dream of the False Dao Lord position!”
Just then, the dim star on the map gradually emitted a faint light. Although far less bright than the other stars, it was finally glowing.
“…It’s finally starting!”
Seeing this scene, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue instantly stopped talking, revealing a look of anticipation. Then her red lips parted slightly, and a voice fell directly toward Jiangbei.
It fell into the ears of Lu Yang, who was in seclusion on Mount Gaizhu.
The content had only three words:
“Head south Immediately!”
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