An ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal couldn't last ten rounds against Nezha.
Otherwise, how could he be known as the Heavenly Court's second God of War?
"Universe Ring, Golden Brick, go!"
Having fought in the Battle of the Gods, Nezha wasn't completely ignorant of formations.
There were two ways to break one.
The first was to use the principles of mutual generation and restraint to find the one who set up the formation or locate its core.
The second was to break through by force, using overwhelming cultivation to shatter the formation.
The first method took time and required extensive knowledge of formations.
The second required cultivation far surpassing that of the formation's creator, or a powerful treasure capable of breaking formations.
As it happened, Nezha had just such treasures.
The Universe Ring was pure yang, while the Golden Brick suppressed the void and slowed the formation's operation.
A Golden Brick flew from Nezha's hand, growing a hundredfold in an instant as it rode the wind.
It came crashing down, unleashing a tremendous suppressive force.
Ripples spread through the void.
The Universe Ring followed close behind, turning into a streak of Golden Light as it slammed into the spot where the Golden Brick had landed.
Boom!
The formation Bai Qianli had hastily set up shook violently when the Universe Ring struck it.
Several Great Dao Runes shattered.
"Kids like you have such a short fuse. Here, let me cool you down!"
Bai Qianli clapped his hands. He had no intention of repairing the formation as it gradually fell apart.
At Nezha's pace, he'd break through just in time to be sent into the bridal chamber.
"I wonder what this brat will choose when the time comes?"
Bai Qianli stroked his chin, deciding to keep the show in the program.
While Zhao Family Village was filled with joy, the emperor of Great Tang was also greatly excited.
"Good, good, good! Wei Zheng has finally done something that puts my mind at ease!"
Li Shimin looked thoughtful. After considering it, he gave his orders.
"Summon the Director of the Imperial Manufactories to the palace. Also, send the items that arrived with this memorial to the Imperial Manufactories.
Have Yuchi Jingde dispatch a thousand elite troops from the Right Guard to protect the Imperial Manufactories. No unauthorized personnel are to enter or leave!
Also, summon the Chief Chancellor, along with the Ministers of Works, Revenue, and War!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
A eunuch bowed, stepped backward three paces, then turned and hurried away.
After giving his orders, Li Shimin picked up the memorial again and read it carefully.
"It will save half the manpower. That means each person will be able to cultivate more land.
Chen Fan is certainly talented, but he's using incense offerings to recruit demon cultivators!"
Li Shimin pondered for a long while, still unable to decide what reward Chen Fan deserved.
So he decided to discuss it with Fang Xuanling and the others when they arrived.
If it really could greatly increase grain production, then such a great achievement deserved a title!
Ever since Li Shimin took the throne, he had begun to cut back on the granting of titles.
He had also gradually revoked titles granted to nobles during Li Yuan's reign.
But with Chen Fan's contribution, it was impossible not to grant him a title.
The only question was how high a title to bestow.
Moreover, if the method Wei Zheng had mentioned in the memorial were put into practice...
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live—"
"Enough, no need for formalities. Xuanling, you all take a look at this memorial from Xuancheng first!"
Before long, Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, and the others had passed the memorial around and read it.
Everyone fell silent.
Fang Xuanling took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, though Xuancheng would never lie, I won't be at ease unless we verify this first."
As senior court officials, even the hot-tempered Yuchi Jingde knew this was no small matter.
Fang Xuanling's caution also served to protect Wei Zheng.
After all, the method Wei Zheng had mentioned in the memorial was bound to make him deeply unpopular.
Li Shimin nodded slightly. Wei Zheng was a blade he had prepared.
Although that blade often criticized him, attacking the matter rather than the person, Li Shimin still couldn't bear to let it break so easily.
"Minister Fang is right. The Imperial Manufactories are already preparing to make this device.
Here's what we'll do: have the Ministry of Rites prepare another Ploughing Ceremony. We'll bring the device out then.
Jingde, I'll have to trouble you to step forward at that time. Will you do it?"
"I obey!"
Yuchi Jingde bowed, indicating that he had no objections.
Fang Xuanling could only agree with a wry smile.
Getting the old scholars in the Ministry of Rites to change some of their rites wouldn't be easy.
Li Shimin assigned the matter to them, nodded in satisfaction, then asked, "Chen Fan, a villager from Zhao Family Village, made this Qu Yuan Plow. What do you think would be a suitable reward?"
"Your Majesty, isn't that obvious? With this tool, in no more than two years, Great Tang could amass enough money and grain to support an army on campaign against the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.
For such a great achievement, surely a Count would be appropriate!"
Yuchi Jingde blurted out. Fang Xuanling's mouth twitched.
Chen Fan acted far too recklessly. He had even dared to recruit the Demon Race and secretly trade in incense offerings.
Of course, that wasn't a major offense, but it showed that Chen Fan held too little respect for the court.
Such a gifted young man might not benefit from suddenly being given a high position.
"Your Majesty, he could be granted the title of County Male. In addition, you could bestow upon him the third-rank title of Grand Master of the Household as a sign of your favor."
Li Shimin nodded at that. The third-rank position of Grand Master of the Household was high, but it was only an honorary post. Giving it to him would simply mean an additional stipend.
It would also demonstrate his magnanimity.
"Good. We'll do as Xuanling suggests. Draft the decree!"
"Open up for me!"
A crack suddenly split the void in front of Zhao Family Village. A child with three heads and eight arms, carrying all manner of spiritual treasures, leapt out from the rift.
He panted twice, then looked toward the village, where red silk hung everywhere.
"Damn it! Just wait till I find out who you are!"
A vicious glint flashed in Nezha's eyes. He put away his divine powers and spiritual treasures, then quietly concealed his presence.
Before leaving, he thought for a moment and sent a streak of spiritual light flying away.
Only after watching the light disappear did Nezha turn back, gritting his teeth.
"I want to see what secrets Zhao Family Village is hiding!"
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Nezha Is Stunned—A Mortal Beats Up a God?
"Invisibility? That won't do. It wouldn't be right to disturb the newlyweds!"
With a soft laugh, Bai Qianli traced a rune in the air with his fingertip and sent it flying.
At that moment, Nezha had already slipped into Zhao Family Village unnoticed.
A hazy gray light suddenly enveloped the incantation of invisibility on his body.
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