Back in Chaoge, Di Xin returned to Qingxian Hall alone. Empress Jiang went back to her palace with a sorrowful look on her face. Before long, a brocade handkerchief left the royal palace and arrived at Earl of the East's residence in Chaoge.
Because the eight hundred lords would come to Yin Shang for their court audience next year, Earl of the East, as one of the Four Great Earls and a maternal relative of Yin Shang's royal family, naturally had to make preparations in advance. Thus, his son Jiang Wenhuan had been sent over.
It was already the middle of the night. Jiang Wenhuan had long since gone to sleep, but a maid gently woke him:
"Young Lord, a letter from the palace has arrived."
"The palace?"
Jiang Wenhuan abruptly opened his eyes and glanced outside at the bright moon hanging high in the sky. The night was still long, and he was puzzled:
My sister sent a message at this hour. Could something major have happened?
"Help me change!"
"Yes!"
Before long, Jiang Wenhuan was dressed properly and crouched before the desk, frowning at the brocade handkerchief in his hand:
Di Xin wants to make Jiao the Crown Prince. Why so suddenly?
"My sister means for me to help Jiao once more, so he can firmly secure the position of Crown Prince first.
"Indeed. Di Xin's thoughts have been changing constantly lately. You Hun has been forced by him to start biting people at random, while Fei Zhong has even gone off to Golden Rooster Ridge. It seems that even my sister can no longer see through his temperament.
"Di Xin, Di Xin, what exactly are you trying to do? A hundred thousand strong slaves—once given a little training, they would become an elite army. Whose head are you planning to throw this force at?"
"Yuan Futong?"
As though he had thought of something, Jiang Wenhuan suddenly spoke:
"Master, among the adepts, is there really someone who can slaughter all the soldiers of the Seventy-two Lords of the Northern Sea alone?"
"Heh!"
After Jiang Wenhuan asked, the shadow beneath the candlelight wavered. A scoff came from within the shadow, but it revealed no trace of itself.
The armies of the Seventy-two Lords of the Northern Sea? Not to mention a Saint— even a Grand Luo, or even a Taiyi Golden Immortal holding a spirit treasure, could slaughter them all!
But I can't crush this fellow's confidence at a time like this.
The black shadow pretended to ponder, then stammered:
"Among the adepts, there is no shortage of those capable of swallowing mountains and rivers. Slaughtering one lord's forces would naturally be no problem. But rest assured, my lord: although an adept could do it, none would."
When Jiang Wenhuan heard this, he was eighty percent certain of his guess. However, he still wanted to learn more about the adepts, so he could prepare against them in the future.
"Please explain in greater detail, Master."
"We adepts are mostly Qi Practitioners. We absorb the rosy clouds, morning dew, the essence of the sun, and the radiance of the moon. We don't even dare provoke the mortal world too much, for fear of becoming entangled in karma and losing our path.
"As for harming living beings, that is even more serious!
"Those who harm living beings will naturally have Karma and Obstacles brought down upon them by the Heavenly Dao. If the consequences are light, their fortune will be exhausted, their bodies and Dao destroyed, and they will fall forever into Avici Hell, suffering the eighteen forms of torment before they can find release."
After the black shadow finished speaking, it paused and immediately fell silent, whetting Jiang Wenhuan's appetite.
Jiang Wenhuan's curiosity had been piqued. Naturally, he refused to let the matter drop when the other party stopped speaking:
"Master, what happens in more serious cases?"
"Alas!"
The black shadow let out a long sigh, its words filled with lament:
"In more serious cases, the Heavenly Dao will punish them. They will vanish like smoke and disperse like mist, their souls scattered, their True Spirits extinguished forever. That is eternal damnation without hope of reincarnation!"
"So that's how it is!"
A trace of delight appeared on Jiang Wenhuan's face. Since that was the case, everything could be explained.
Everything Di Xin had done was to suppress Yuan Futong and allow Wen Zhong to return triumphantly to court!
Adepts did not dare cause too much slaughter, so that Kong Xuan fellow would naturally have to aid Di Xin through other means. These hundred thousand slaves were the death soldiers he had prepared for Kong Xuan!
The more Jiang Wenhuan thought about it, the clearer and more certain his guess became:
What a Di Xin! What a benevolent Human King! He hid it so deeply!
The coordinated performance in court was all to put on a show for the civil and military officials and the common people! To make the performance convincing, he had not even spared his own son, demoting him to a slave for a month to display his benevolence toward these slaves and conceal the illusion that he was sending a hundred thousand slaves to their deaths!
Not a single one of the hundred thousand slaves will die? Bah! I think it would be more accurate to say not a single one will survive!
"Since you have already made your plans, my lord, I shall take my leave. You may summon me at any time if you need anything."
"Sorry for the trouble, Master. The treasures will be sent over shortly..."
In court, Di Xin skillfully finished handling the various affairs, but his gaze kept sweeping over Jiang Wenhuan from time to time:
Little brother, you really can hold your nerve. Can you truly resist such a huge bait?
After finishing his work, Di Xin glanced at the court official in charge of announcing matters. The latter understood and stepped forward, lifting his neck as he shouted:
"Those without further business, withdraw from court!"
"Great King! This minister, Jiang Wenhuan, has something to report!"
At the instant the civil and military officials were preparing to salute and leave court, Jiang Wenhuan successfully drew everyone's attention.
"Oh? Worthy brother, what do you wish to report?"
A trace of sly amusement appeared in Di Xin's eyes.
Little brother, in the end, you still took the bait.
"Great King! I heard that you intend to build the Star-Gathering Pavilion and gather the adepts of the world. This is a great deed for the country and its people, so I informed my father, Earl of the East! When Father heard of it, he was delighted. He said that, as one of the Four Great Earls, he was also willing to share some of Your Majesty's burden."
As Jiang Wenhuan spoke, he straightened his back and looked down proudly upon the assembled officials:
"Therefore, this minister is willing to offer ten thousand strong slaves for Your Majesty to use as you please. Even if they must brave boiling water and scorching fire, and all ten thousand slaves perish, this minister will have no complaints!"
Didn't you want me to offer some slaves as well? Then I'll grant your wish and personally place this broken blade forged from the flesh and blood of humanity into your hands!
The Three Sovereigns acknowledge this? If you rebel, you'll be a traitor to humanity? Then I'll see whether the ancient Three Sovereigns will feel ashamed after you use these hundred thousand slaves as bait!
The Master was right. Cheng Tang's destiny is exhausted! You want to defy Heaven and change fate, swallowing the eight hundred lords to sever and continue your own fate—but you'll still need to see whether we agree!
This Human King can be yours, Di Xin, but can it not be done by my Jiang clan as well?
"Great King! Western Qi is also willing to offer five thousand strong slaves for Your Majesty to use as you please in constructing the Star-Gathering Pavilion! Even if they must brave boiling water and scorching fire and all the slaves perish, Western Qi will have no complaints!"
"Great King, Southern Capital is also willing to offer eight thousand strong slaves for Your Majesty to use as you please! Even if they must brave boiling water and scorching fire and all ten thousand slaves perish, Southern Capital will have no complaints!"
Upon hearing the declarations of the Earls of the East, South, and West, Earl of the North, Chong Houhu, immediately grew anxious. Of the Four Great Earls, he was the only one who sincerely submitted to Di Xin, yet the brats from the other three families had beaten him to it:
"Great King! You may choose from my slaves as you please. I will also provide provisions and fodder, and leave them entirely to Your Majesty's disposition!"
You want to compete with me for the Great King's favor? Even if all three of your old men came personally, it would be useless!
"Congratulations, Great King! Congratulations! Thanks to the generosity of the Four Great Earls, the hundred thousand slaves will soon be gathered!"
You Hun was struck by this sudden delight. Taking advantage of the Four Great Earls inexplicably joining forces, he jumped out and strutted about triumphantly!
Those who refused to give even a hair's breadth, and even shut the door in this Grand Commandant's face— the tide has turned. Just you wait!
If I don't strip a layer of skin from you, I won't be You Hun!
"How could I accept this?"
Di Xin secretly rubbed his fingertips together.
This bunch of stupid fish has all jumped out, haven't they?
The Kongtong Seal really is useful. With just a little suggestion, they all start thinking in the wrong direction!
You want to set a trap for me?
Just wait. You'll be the ones crying!
"Then let us begin construction with all our strength!"
Before you continue