Heaven Dou City, Hall of Governance.
The coronation ceremony of the new emperor was simple and solemn.
"Xue Qinghe" was wearing a dragon robe and sitting on a dragon chair with a calm face and steady eyes.
Ning Fengzhi stood in the front row of His Highness, with his cane across his knees, and his eyes stopped for a moment on "Xue Qinghe".
That face is the prince's face, that voice is the prince's voice, and that posture is also the prince's posture.
But he always felt that something was wrong. He couldn't explain it, it was just an intuition.
Sword Douluo stood behind him and whispered, "Prince... No, Your Majesty, he seems to be more silent than before."
"I have just ascended the throne and need to adapt." Ning Fengzhi withdrew his gaze and did not delve deeper.
After the ceremony, the first imperial edict was sent to Ashen Territory.
Chen Jieqi was granted the title of Marquis of the Kingdom of Zhen, and was given a million in gold, thousands of carts of grain and grass, and hundreds of boxes of medicinal materials. He also authorized Ashen Territory to recruit his own guards and was not subject to the control of the City Defense Department.
Dugu Yan took the imperial edict at the entrance of the valley, unfolded it, took a look, curled the corner of his mouth, and handed it to Chen Jieqi.
"Master Marquis, congratulations." Her tone was as casual as if she was talking about the weather.
Chen Jieqi took the imperial edict, folded it, and put it into his sleeve. "The new emperor has just ascended the throne, so he gave me such a big gift."
"It's not a gift from the new emperor." Dugu Yan lowered his voice, "It was arranged before she left. The substitute is just executing it."
Chen Jieqi said nothing.
He looked in the direction of Heaven Dou City, and the person sitting in that position was no longer Qian Renxue.
But he knew that this imperial edict was left by her, and she had already paved the way before she left.
Ashen Territory, Council Hall.
Yang Wudi, Ye Lingling, and Niu Gao sat around the long table. Dugu Yan spread out a map.
The positions of the Cangmang Mountain Range and Evil Soul Master are marked on it, with dense red circles.
"The main force of Lord Black Robe is deep in the mountains. There are more than a dozen small strongholds scattered around the periphery. Each stronghold has Soul Saint or Soul Douluo in charge. The number of people ranges from a dozen to dozens."
Dugu Yan pointed at the map, "They are collecting death energy, refining pollution, and at the same time monitoring Ashen Territory's movements."
"Destroy the outer strongholds, and the black robes will be unable to sit still." Yang Wudi said.
"It's better if you can't sit still." Chen Jieqi said, "If he moves, we can clearly see his trump card."
Niu Gao touched his chin. "Marquis, how many people do you plan to bring?"
"Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, plus Dugu Yan, grandpa will guard the house." Chen Jieqi stood up,
"The goal is to clear out the peripheral strongholds, not to fight head-on, not to be reluctant to fight, and to leave immediately after fighting."
Yang Wudi nodded. "When will you leave?"
"Tonight."
Cangmang Mountain Range periphery, the first stronghold.
Gray-black fog enveloped the abandoned quarry. A dozen men in gray robes shuttled through the fog, pouring the collected dead energy into a well made of black stone.
A dark purple fire glowed from the mouth of the well, like a breathing lung.
Chen Jieqi squatted on the ridge, Holy Light Perception spread out in the night wind.
There are seventeen people in the quarry, the strongest Soul Power is at the Soul Douluo level, and most of the others are Soul Emperor and Soul King.
Yang Wudi is lying on his left side, Shi Mo and Shi Mo are on the right, Dugu Yan is behind, and the khaki Soul Power is ready to block the road at any time.
"Do it."
Chen Jieqi jumped down first, and Ashbringer solidified in the palm of his hand.
Holy Light Domain spread out, and a white-gold light curtain enveloped the entire quarry.
Evil Soul Master The black mist was illuminated by the light curtain and made a sizzling sound, like water dripping on a red-hot iron plate.
The men in gray robes raised their heads and saw the light, their expressions changed, some screamed, some turned around and ran away.
Yang Wudi's Soul Breaking Spear penetrated from the flank, and the double shields of Shi Mo and Shi Mo pressed forward, knocking the gray-robed man to the ground as he tried to escape.
Dugu Yan's earth wall sprang up from the ground, blocking all escape routes.
Chen Jieqi did not take action. He stood in the center of the quarry, watching Holy Light Domain dissolve the gray-black mist layer by layer, watching the remaining pollution turn into nothingness in the flames of light.
The Soul Saint rushed out from the wellhead and stabbed his chest with a gray-black spear.
Chen Jieqi ducked sideways, Ashbringer slashed horizontally, the white-gold flame collided with the gun light, and Soul Saint was knocked back several steps.
He didn't chase after him. Holy Light Domain shrank and gathered around him, blocking Soul Saint's next attack from the light screen.
"Withdraw!" Soul Saint ordered through gritted teeth.
Chen Jieqi didn't give him a chance to retreat. Yang Wudi and Niu Gao on one side shot Soul Saint through the chest after dealing with Soul Douluo.
The remaining people fled in all directions, and the battle ended quickly, with less than half a stick of incense.
Dugu Yan came over and counted the corpses. "Seventeen, all destroyed."
Chen Jieqi put away Ashbringer and stood next to the black stone well.
The dark purple flame at the mouth of the well has been extinguished, leaving only gray-black residue.
The mark between his brows was slightly bright, and the holy light penetrated down the well mouth, and he felt that there was a thicker pollution in the depths, like an underground river, flowing from the depths of the mountains in the direction of Ashen Territory.
"Next one," he said.
In the next three days, Chen Jieqi led people to raid seven outlying strongholds.
Every time a stronghold was removed, he would stand in the ruins and feel the contaminated death energy dissipate in the holy light.
The power of faith came from all directions along the wind, not from the prayers of believers, but from the villages he saved.
While eradicating Evil Soul Master, he also purified the polluted water sources and land.
The people knelt on the roadside, kowtowed and shouted "Benefactor". Those trusts turned into light as thin as hair, converging into Heart of the Naaru.
The voice of Sheng Hui sounded in Soul Ring.
"There are 30% more faith than in the past few days. They are people from the villages around the Cangmang Mountain Range."
Chen Jieqi didn't say anything. He squatted by the stream, took some water and washed his face.
The stream water, which was originally polluted and turned gray-black, is now transparent again, and the pebbles on the bottom of the water are glowing in the moonlight.
"They don't believe in you because of how strong you are." Sheng Hui said, "It's because they don't have to die because you are here."
Chen Jieqi stood up and shook the water from his hands. "Where is the next stronghold?"
Dugu Yan spread out the map and pointed at a red circle deep in the mountains.
"Here. But further in, is the main range of Lord Black Robe.
The outer perimeter has been almost cleared, and the remaining strongholds are in the depths. Breaking in will be a decisive battle."
Chen Jieqi looked at the red circle on the map and was silent for a moment.
"No more fighting. Go back."
Yang Wudi Soul Breaking Spear. "Is this enough?"
"That's enough." Chen Jieqi turned around and walked in the direction of Ashen Territory.
"Just force him to move. If he doesn't move, we won't fight. If he moves, we'll see."
Ashen Territory, night.
Chen Jieqi stood on the altar, the moonlight shining on the bluestone floor.
The mark between his eyebrows is a little brighter than before departure. Is it not a change in brightness, but a change in texture? The lines of the mark are deeper and denser, like a golden flower in bloom.
Dugu Yan came over and handed him the registration book.
"More than a dozen families have moved here from the surrounding areas. They are all from the villages you saved. They say Ashen Territory is safe and want to live here."
Chen Jieqi took the register, turned over two pages, and closed it.
"Arrange to live outside the valley. Food will be delivered from the warehouse, and medicinal materials will be collected from Ye Lingling."
Dugu Yan nodded. She looked at the bandage on Chen Jieqi's right arm. It was newly replaced and there was no bleeding, indicating that the wound had healed.
"Is your injury healed?"
"Okay."
"What about tomorrow? Are you still going to fight?"
"No fight." Chen Jieqi handed the register back, "Wait, wait for the black robe to move, wait for Stone Gate to open."
Dugu Yan took the register, turned around and left.
The voice of Sheng Hui sounded in Soul Ring.
"Your light is 20% brighter than three days ago.
Faith is still growing. Those who have moved here, every new face brings a new ray of light.
Ashen Territory is no longer your fiefdom, it is a place where they are willing to risk their lives."
Chen Jieqi said nothing.
He stood on the altar, and the moonlight shone on him, stretching his shadow very long.
The light from the mark between his brows slowly faded away, and he stepped down from the altar and walked into the chapel.