State Preceptor Sun's Scheme

"Praying for blessings," Nian Songyu said with a huff. "Don't you even know that much?"

As the rain drenched him, He Lingchuan felt a sudden, refreshing clarity, as if his body were being scoured clean from the inside out. Not only was all fatigue washed away, but every muscle was infused with newfound strength.

The soldiers let out joyful shouts as well.

Blackwater City had long suffered under wind and sand, leaving many residents with damaged airways and lungs. Yet, this rain healed them by sixty or seventy percent, making their breathing smooth once more. Old ailments like aching joints and chronic fatigue also vanished under the cleansing touch of the spiritual rain, leaving them feeling light and unburdened.

The way the crowd looked at Sun Fuping shifted, instantly filled with awe and reverence.

To ordinary people, a State Preceptor was a distant figure, floating high above the clouds, untouchable and abstract. It wasn't until he performed this feat that soldiers and civilians alike knelt on the spot, as if worshipping a deity.

Seizing the moment, Sun Fuping delivered a resounding declaration of their expedition, instantly pushing the morale of the troops to its peak.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

Nian Songyu glanced at He Lingchuan. "Now, the ritual truly begins." It was time to open the eyes of these country bumpkins.

After the sudden downpour, the clouds thinned and the air cleared. Everyone was soaked to the bone, water dripping from their pant legs, the ground a muddy mess.

Sun Fuping raised his long staff again and tapped the ground. A peculiar scene unfolded:

The residual water on the people's bodies seeped out from their clothes and gathered on the ground.

Immediately after, the puddles beneath every soldier's feet began to flow, winding like snakes as they slithered toward the altar.

On the altar sat a large crystal vat, wide enough for two men to embrace, so clear and transparent that one could see straight through it without obstruction.

The water on the ground seemed to possess a life of its own, defying gravity as it rose in a line, filing into the vat.

Soon, the crystal vat was filled to the brim, the water level nearly flush with the rim.

The ground outside the gates of Blackwater City was trampled by thousands of feet and battered by relentless sand; no one could say how filthy it truly was. Yet, the water flowing into the vat from this very ground was as clear as if it had been distilled, without a single impurity.

Spilled water is hard to gather, yet he does it with ease! He Lingchuan gave a silent thumbs-up. Regardless of Sun Fuping's character, this technique alone proved his profound mastery.

A true State Preceptor, indeed, had the goods.

"Every one of you following me into battle has contributed a portion of your fortune here." Sun Fuping turned to Zeng Feixiong and held out his hand. "Hand over the State Decree."

The State Decrees of various nations took different forms; the one issued to officials of the Yuan Kingdom was the Kite Coin.

Zeng Feixiong had already prepared it, so he took it out and handed it over.

His Kite Coin was also shaped like a large copper coin, but the kite bird on its face was only a pale blue.

The weight and color of a State Decree were influenced by many factors, not just rank and position. However, judging by Zeng Feixiong's coin, he was merely an ordinary lieutenant.

Sun Fuping frowned. "This seems insufficient." With that, he tossed the Kite Coin into the crystal vat.

Interestingly, the coin did not sink to the bottom but floated steadily in the center of the vat. Instead, the water surface, once calm, began to ripple.

Under the washing of the water, the color of Zeng Feixiong's Kite Coin deepened, shifting to a shade between dark blue and light green.

"Even with the morale of the entire troop, this is barely enough." Sun Fuping pulled a cloth bag from his robes, opened it to show He Chunhua and the others, then cinched it shut and tossed the whole thing into the vat.

Inside, it held half a bag of yellow sand that writhed on its own, even without being touched.

He Yue asked in a low voice, "Is that the wild sand from the Coiling Dragon Desert?"

He Chunhua nodded, his eyes fixed on the vat.

When the Coiling Dragon Desert erupted, no one dared enter its core; this period was known as the Wild Sand Season. The half-bag of sand the He family had purchased at a great price had been gathered from the Red Cliff Road during this extreme period.

Not from the core, of course.

But the moment the sandbag entered, the entire vat of water began to boil, countless bubbles rising to the surface.

He Lingchuan even thought he saw flashes of lightning and heard thunder.

Soon, the water turned murky, but large plumes of steam rose from the surface—half deep blue, half a dull yellow tinged with dark red.

As these two colors of steam swirled together, it was miraculous to see that they appeared to be locked in a fierce struggle.

To be precise, after two rounds, the dark yellow vapor gained the upper hand, practically pinning its opponent against the surface of the water.

One look was enough to tell that the disparity in their levels was far too great.

Sun Fuping's expression was grim. "It won't work. The rank is too low, the primordial energy too weak! Who else is there?"

He Chunhua said hoarsely, "Is it truly impossible?"

"There is no way to contend with it!" Sun Fuping snapped. "Does the Governor have any suggestions?"

Entering the Coiling Dragon Desert during the Wild Sand Season was a death sentence; no official or commander with a path to survival would risk it.

Besides, there were no other officials present, and the highest-ranking person was—

He Lingchuan glanced sideways at Nian Songyu. "Can't he go?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. After all, he was still too unfamiliar with this world.

Nian Songyu let out a scoffing laugh, looking at him as if he were a complete idiot.

He Yue whispered, "This army belongs to Blackwater City and is not under Commandant Nian's jurisdiction. If he wants to utilize the troop's fortune, he would either need to be transferred to a post here or be stripped of his rank to become a commoner, then be appointed by Governor He—but all of that would require a royal decree."

How could a military officer from Xun Prefecture lead troops from Jin Province?

—At least, not under normal circumstances.

Sun Fuping approached He Chunhua and the others, whispering, "Going in like this is just suicide. Either we call off the operation, or a high-ranking official from Blackwater City must step up."

A high-ranking official from Blackwater City? That could only be He Chunhua.

Your life, or your future?

He Chunhua's expression shifted; he realized he had been played.

Yet, his subordinates, Zeng Feixiong included, were all waiting with bated breath.

He knew he couldn't wait, so he pulled a Kite Coin from his robes: "I'll try first."

He Yue cried out in alarm: "Father!"

How had the situation turned so drastic?

He Lingchuan grabbed his father's hand, pinning the Kite Coin between their palms. "Don't be impulsive, Dad. Now is not the time to sacrifice yourself for the country!"

He Chunhua swatted his hand away: "Stay calm."

Nian Songyu, standing to the side, gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Lord He is truly loyal!"

The He brothers glared at him in unison. Was this brat really so eager to force their hand?

Under the gaze of everyone present, He Chunhua took a deep breath, walked to the side of the crystal vat, and personally dropped his Kite Coin in.

His Kite Coin was light green, a grade significantly higher than Zeng Feixiong's.

As the Kite Coin entered the vat, the water churned even more violently, and a massive cloud of mist billowed upward—this time, it was yellow!

Distinct from the color of the sandstorms, this vapor was a bright, luminous yellow.

Not only were the others stunned, but even Sun Fuping let out a long "Oh," unable to hide his astonishment: "Leaping four grades at once?"

Even with the morale bonus of the entire army, the jump from light green to true yellow was staggering, even if only temporary.

He Chunhua offered a self-deprecating smile: "It seems I am quite well-loved."

He asked Sun Fuping: "If I lead the troops on this run, what are the odds I make it back?"