Around the two prefectures of the Capital Territory lay eight great provinces, collectively known as... the Eight Direct Prefectures.
If the Capital Territory was the heart of the realm, then these eight great provinces were the flesh protecting that heart. Their status was anything but ordinary.
Among them was Maijing Prefecture, located toward the south. Within it stood a sect called Fuluo Mountain. Its lord was at Strong Martial Sixth Heaven, making it a sect of middling strength.
The target of this mission was Fuluo Mountain.
The public explanation was that Fuluo Mountain had shown disrespect toward the Sealed Lord and defied orders, thus requiring a campaign of conquest.
Well, aside from ceremonial duties and protection, the Imperial Guards were also responsible for accepting the Sealed Lord's orders to subdue all those who refused to submit.
No matter how great a sect was, it still had to stand upon the Sealed Lord's soil and show submission. Otherwise, it was a rebellious subject and would be conquered.
Well, logically speaking, there was nothing wrong with that. If the little brother refused to behave, beat him.
Forget a sect like Fuluo Mountain—even a super sect like Broken Brow Mountain, with a grandmaster overseeing it, had to submit to the Sealed Lord's rule. If people were demanded, they provided people; if resources were demanded, they provided resources.
The tribute system was the most direct means by which benefits flowed between the upper and lower classes.
Fuluo Mountain's crime was refusing tribute—an outrage beyond measure!
That money-grubbing Zhou Suanni had introduced the mission this way. It sounded like there was nothing amiss.
Yet Zhou You knew perfectly well that this was free information. Since he had not paid, he was not entitled to the paid content.
Zhou Mou had called it a top-secret mission.