Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao (3,249,100,000)

Sun Xuanji?

The disciple of the supervisor?

The officials scrutinized Sun Xuanji with surprise and doubt.

Not everyone knew the unassuming Senior Brother Sun. Apart from Xu Xinnian and the three great scholars of the Cloud Deer Academy, none of the officials present knew who Sun Xuanji was.

Therefore, Yuan Hufa's "explanation" played a crucial role.

How could this person know what I was thinking? Xu Xinnian coughed forcefully, got up and walked towards Sun Xuanji, saying:

"This is Sun Xuanji, the second senior disciple of the Bureau of Astronomy of the Imperial Observatory."

"To think it's a disciple of the Imperial Academy Director! We are so sorry for not greeting you sooner!" The officials nodded in acknowledgment.

Xu Xinnian added, "A third-rank Warlock."

With a clatter, the chairs slid in unison as the civil officials, led by Yang Gong, and the military officers, led by Zhou Mi, hastily rose to their feet.

"Senior Brother Sun, I've long admired your name!"

"Senior Brother Sun is coming to Qingzhou. We should have informed him in advance so that we could have a grand banquet."

"When I was in Qingzhou, I heard that Senior Brother Sun was a remarkable figure in the Imperial Bureau of Astronomy. I had long admired him but had never had the chance to meet him. Today, my wish has finally come true, and I can die without regret."

The atmosphere in the council chamber instantly became lively. Officials and military officers beamed with enthusiastic smiles.

Yang Gong gestured for silence to fall over the inner hall. The Layman Ziyang stroked his beard and smiled, saying:

"Brother Sun, have you come to aid Qingzhou?"

Although Sun Xuanji was a third-rank Warlock, he was much younger than Yang Gong. As a Confucian School scholar with integrity, Yang Gong simply couldn't bring himself to call him "Senior Brother Sun."

Sun Xuanji nodded.

Seeing this, the officials in the hall were even more delighted. They had just been arguing about the issue of combat strength and were worried about the power of Buddhist School.

In the blink of an eye, a transcendent-level Warlock also arrived on our side.

Although the officials present were not cultivators, they were extremely knowledgeable about Warlock. Warlock were proficient in Qi Refinement and formations could unleash massive destructive power on the battlefield that was incomparable to crude warriors.

Yang Gong immediately ordered someone to bring a chair and let Sun Xuanji sit next to him. As for Protector Yuan, he wisely stood next to Senior Brother Sun.

Everyone sat down again, Yang Gong asked:

"How's the situation with the supervisor?"

Sun Xuanji glanced at Protector Yuan, who immediately understood. His clear, azure eyes scrutinized him for a moment before he spoke in broken Great Feng:

"The teacher will keep the Gara Tree Bodhisattva and the eldest brother occupied; you only need to protect Qingzhou."

The others didn't ask any more questions. That level of combat was beyond their reach. They only needed to know that the supervisor could hold off the extraordinary experts among the rebels.

Sun Xuanji is far too arrogant. On the contrary, Sun Xuanji's attitude has drawn criticism from the high-ranking officials of Qingzhou.

Zhang Shen frowned deeply.

"The supervisor can hold off the Bodhisattva of the Gara Tree, but he can't hold off the other Bodhisattvas and Arhats of Aranda. Once the Western Regions army arrives, the situation will be dire."

The civil and military officials looked worried, and even their smiles disappeared.

They are not actually afraid of fighting; what they fear is a war where there is no hope, or a war whose outcome is already known.

Upon hearing this, Sun Xuanji immediately looked at Protector Yuan.

The latter was also looking at him, and after sensing his thoughts, said:

"Ignore the Buddhist School; they're too busy taking care of themselves. Even if they send troops to attack Great Feng, the number won't be large, and they certainly won't deploy any Transcendent Realm experts."

Yang Gong looked on in astonishment.

Zhang Shen and Li Mubai also frowned. What did that mean?

The high-ranking officials at the table exchanged bewildered glances, unable to comprehend what Protector Yuan meant.

After a few seconds, the prefect of Qingzhou tentatively asked:

"You just said that we shouldn't pay attention to Buddhist School?"

Protector Yuan nodded.

Commander-in-Chief Zhou Mi added:

"Too busy to take care of themselves?"

Protector Yuan nodded again.

A moment of silence fell over the council chamber. No one spoke for a brief period, and the officials wore strange and complex expressions—a mixture of eagerness to ask questions and fear of scaring away the answer if they were too hasty.

The prefect of Qingzhou lowered his voice involuntarily, and asked in a slightly trembling tone:

What does this mean?

Zhang Shen suddenly said:

"Speaking of which, why are there Demon Race by Brother Sun's side?"

Protector Yuan glanced at Sun Xuanji again, catching his thoughts, and said:

"I just returned from the Southern Frontier. Together with Xu Qi'an, we broke the seal on the great enemy of Buddhist School. The Southern Demon General seized the opportunity to launch an attack on the Hundred Thousand Mountains and reclaim the territory. If Buddhist School sends a large army to the east, it will play right into the Southern Demon's hands."

Just returned from Southern Frontier

Together with Xu Yinluo, they broke the seal on the great enemy of Buddhist School.

The Southern Demons are about to restore their kingdom and reclaim their former territory, while the Buddhist School are preoccupied with their own problems.

The officials in the hall were stunned by this unexpected good news, their faces blank, and they didn't come back to their senses for a long time.

"I see!"

Yang Gong suddenly realized and sighed:

"So that's why Xu Ningyan didn't come to Qingzhou to guard it. Turns out he already had a plan. He secretly slipped away to the Southern Frontier to burn down the Buddhist School's backyard. Joining forces with the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons to restrain the Buddhist School —brilliant, brilliant!"

Zhang Shen shook his head slightly. "Ningyan truly deserves to be called a master of military strategy, deeply versed in tactics, which is truly admirable. In this way, the greatest crisis of the Great Feng has been resolved."

Li Mubai remarked with emotion, "Wei Yuan has a worthy successor."

At this moment, the Qingzhou leadership finally realized what was happening. The military officers slammed their fists on the table in excitement, while the civil officials beamed with smiles. Everyone inexplicably felt a sense of relief, as if a ray of hope had appeared after a long period of darkness.

Without his knowledge, his elder brother had done another great thing. Xu Xinnian hurriedly asked:

"Is my elder brother injured? Why didn't he come with you?"

Protector Yuan spoke on behalf of Sun Xuanji:

"He's still in the Southern Frontier and won't be coming to Qingzhou anytime soon."

Xu Yinluo assured the officials that the Southern Demon uprising would proceed smoothly, and they all nodded in agreement.

After Yuan finished speaking, he said, "Why do you only mention Xu Qi'an and not others?"

He suddenly couldn't speak, his face turned red, he couldn't breathe, he clutched his throat, and looked like he was about to suffocate.

The white ape protector shook his head vigorously at Sun Xuanji, indicating that he would not speak carelessly.

"Hoo hoo."

He then regained his breathing, gasping for air, his chest heaving violently.

No one understood what was happening, but those who knew better didn't ask. Yang Gong smiled and said:

"Tell the soldiers about this to boost their morale. I've heard that the soldiers at the front are all hoping that Ningyan will take command in Qingzhou."

The legend of Xu Qi'an single-handedly defeating the 200,000-strong army of the Witch God Cult at Yuyang Pass and taking the head of the enemy general is deeply ingrained in people's hearts, especially among the soldiers who fought on the battlefield, who revered him as a god.

The soldiers of Qingzhou also longed for Xu Yinluo to come to Qingzhou, to single-handedly defeat the mere 60,000 rebel troops.

"Yes, go quickly!"

The prefect of Qingzhou laughed and said, "The occupation of the nine border counties by the rebels has greatly damaged the morale of our soldiers. It's a good opportunity to spread this news, boost morale, and reassure the people."

When the war is going badly, the importance of ideological construction cannot be ignored.

Within Baisha County.

A large courtyard with three sections, in the back garden.

In the pavilion, at the stone table, Warlock in flowing white robes sat facing a bodhisattva in a kasaya, his chest half-exposed, drinking tea.

"I never expected that even with the Great Feng Kingdom's decline, my teacher, the Supervisor, still possesses such strength. I have never underestimated him, but I still underestimated him."

Xu Pingfeng's face was slightly pale.

The Bodhisattva of the Gara Tree held a teacup, his voice deep and resonant:

"Back then, the first acting supervisor was able to fight three against one and not be at a disadvantage. It wasn't until Emperor Wuzong breached the capital and beheaded the tyrannical emperor that his power was over and he was killed by us."

"It's already a cause for celebration that the two of us have managed to hold him off to a draw. You should know that Buddhist School can no longer send another Bodhisattva to assist you. Bodhisattva Guangxian believes that the Southern Demon will seize this opportunity to launch an uprising and reclaim the Hundred Thousand Mountains of Southern Frontier."

Xu Pingfeng nodded slowly:

"It is true that the Southern Yao Qi' fate has not yet run out. However, without territory, they are like castles in the air. If they can endure for another five hundred years, the Southern Yao Qi' fate will come to an end."

When will the Buddhist School send troops to conquer Leizhou in the east?

The Bodhisattva of the Gara Tree:

"Once the Arhat of Du'e has assembled his troops, he will contact me. When I entered the Central Plains, the Western Regions were already preparing provisions and military supplies. It should be soon."

Xu Pingfeng nodded. "That's excellent. With the two armies supporting each other from afar, we can reach the capital in less than three months. Once I've refined my luck along the way and arrived in the capital, Master Jianzheng will be powerless to save us."

He smiled, took a sip of tea, and asked:

"Is the Southern Frontier adequately arranged?"

The Bodhisattva of the Gara Tree nodded. "With Asura guarding the Hundred Thousand Mountains, even if the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox were to come in person, he would be helpless against him."

Xu Pingfeng chuckled.

At this moment, Gara Tree put down his teacup, extended his right hand, and flattened his palm.

A ray of golden light rose from his palm, transforming into a golden bowl, from which a soft golden light emanated.

Within the light screen, a young monk with rosy lips and white teeth sat cross-legged, his expression solemn.

"Galo Tree, something's happened in Southern Frontier."

The young monk's voice was ethereal and vast, as if it came from the horizon, and it was impossible to tell whether it was male or female, young or old.

The Bodhisattva of the Gara Tree remained expressionless. "What is it?"

The young monk said:

"Xu Qi'an and Sun Xuanji joined forces to defeat Asura, break the sealing tower, and take away Shen Shu's severed limbs."

Xu Pingfeng narrowed his eyes, and ripples appeared in the teacup in his hand.

The Bodhisattva of the Gara Tree slowly asked, "How did he do it?"

The young monk did not answer, but continued:

"I have sent Du'e back to Aranya and Southern Frontier border to guard against the southern demons' resurgence."

"The right arm of Shenshu, which was sealed in Sangbo, has been freed from the Sangbo case. The left arm, which was sealed in the Floating Pagoda, has been taken away by the Buddha's disciple. The torso has long since fallen into the hands of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox. Now, Shenshu has lost both legs, and apart from the head, the body has been reassembled."

"As I predicted, reclaiming the Hundred Thousand Mountains is only the first step for the Southern Demons. They will attack Alanto while you are away."

"With the eastern expedition cancelled, I can only send 20,000 elite troops to attack Leizhou as a harassment."

You should take care of yourself.

The young monk's figure disappeared into the golden curtain of light.

The Bodhisattva of the Gara Tree and Xu Pingfeng remained silent.

Inside the barbican atop the city wall, the generals, who had been discussing military matters, were greeted by soldiers who came to report.

"General!"

The soldier bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "The Imperial Preceptor has conveyed that the Western Regions will send two elite armies to harass the border of Leizhou as a diversionary tactic, but they will not cooperate with us in attacking Great Feng."

The officers of each battalion froze for a moment.

Qi Guangbo asked in a deep voice, "Why?"

The soldier said, "Xu Qi'an will join forces with the remnants of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons to attack the Southern Frontier and Aranya. The Buddhist School sect is already deployed and has no time to attend to other matters."

"What?"

"The Xu family wants to attack Aranya?"

"What makes him think he can attack Aranya with just his status as a mere third-rank martial artist?"

"The Buddhist School takes him way too seriously."

The battalion commanders were shocked and indignant, and discussed the matter.

Xu Qi'an and Ji Xuan's expressions darkened, and their fists clenched tightly.

After the meeting ended, a starving Xu Xinnian went straight to the inner hall.

Lunch was over, and he hadn't even had breakfast that day, before accompanying his mentor Zhang Shen to a meeting to discuss military matters with the high-ranking officials of Qingzhou.

I'm so hungry right now, my stomach is practically glued to my back.

Stepping over the threshold and into the inner hall of the Provincial Administration Commission, Xu Xinnian saw a table littered with cups and plates, the dishes licked clean.

He wasn't left with even a drop of broth, not a single dish on the table.

This younger sister is better off gone. And Lina, there's nowhere for her to stay in the capital. Xu Xinnian silently turned and left.

P. S.: I'll repay one chapter first, and then summarize at the end of the month to see how much I can repay this month.