Impact

"The Jiazixu Mountain has been lost, and the Clear Cloud Alliance cultivators have already restored the foundation of the Auspicious Brocade Gate's grand formation on its original site?"

The official boot on Acting Sima Gun's right foot was already unstitched, and the sole had fallen off somewhere.

At this moment, he was standing barefoot on the head of the Mo Household patriarch that had just fallen off. Upon hearing the news that his confidant had obtained from the message, his expression showed slight astonishment.

Upon hearing the battle report, he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. If he had known this would happen, he would have been better off sending more Foundation Establishment to the Jiazi Xu Mountain.

They thought that sweeping through Hong County with overwhelming force would be an easy task.

However, the Mo Household Hong County had deep roots in this area, having allied with several Foundation Establishment forces and more than a dozen Qi Refinement forces. Suppressing the rebellion was not as easy as he had imagined, and it was only today that he finally succeeded.

As for the life and death of Sect Leader Kang Da and his own Lineage, he might mention them occasionally when he had some free time, but compared to the urgent military and national affairs at hand, they were somewhat insignificant.

"Fellow Daoist Lang, once this matter is settled, I, Gun, will certainly report your merit in turning the tide to the Lord." Acting Sima Gun, put aside these thoughts for the time being, and without even taking off his blood-stained armor, looked at a withered old cultivator with wrinkled skin and white hair, and made a gentle promise.

"Lang Yi, a mere nobody, has been fortunate enough to contribute his meager strength and serve the country loyally. I dare not claim any merit." The withered old man's voice was hoarse, his attitude was respectful, and his words of loyalty were quite blunt, yet they made Acting Sima Gun feel somewhat comfortable.

After all, there aren't many guides like Lang Yi to be found in this remote place of Cloud Horn Prefecture. Even though the Mo Household Hong County, which had just been wiped out, was his eldest daughter's husband's family, he didn't care at all.

This old man really doesn't have many days left to live. Is a mere pill that can extend his life by three years really worth it?

Acting Sima Gun, who had already reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage before the age of one hundred, couldn't quite understand Lang Yi's actions. He simply said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist, please rest assured. I have already sent someone to deliver your daughter and her two children without Spirit Roots to your cave abode."

"Thank you, Sima." Lang Yi's rough tone remained unchanged, as if he didn't care about his own flesh and blood at all.

Acting Sima Gun was somewhat displeased by Lang Yi's cold tone, but the state court was now in a state of rebellion, and it was rare to have such a powerful Foundation Establishment built by the latter joining them. The state court had no choice but to be selective.

But Acting Sima Gun was too lazy to engage in any pretense with Lang Yi, and simply made up an excuse to leave.

Lang Yi saw that the Acting Sima Gun was far away, he gently tapped the black wooden token at his waist with his index finger. As the rune of black dogs fighting for food on the token slowly lit up, He Dezong walked up with a respectful expression.

"Senior Lang." Even though the He Household has been paying tribute to Lang Yi for so many years, He Dezong has had very few opportunities to meet Lang Yi directly.

This man, who was considered a shrewd and arrogant figure by his peers, was now completely devoid of his usual air of superiority. Facing Lang Yi, a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, he lowered his eyes and was extremely respectful.

"Is everything ready?" Lang Yi didn't even look up. His stooped figure was at least two or three feet shorter than He Dezong's, but no one would be surprised to see the burly giant He Dezong behaving so humbly in front of him.

"The first payment of five thousand Spirit Stones was made three days ago."

"I'm asking about the second one!" Lang Yi's tone suddenly turned fierce. "You should know that, or are you just deliberately trying to evade me?"

"Senior, please forgive me. For this second payment, I will need to pawn some clan property to raise the funds. However, time is too tight, and it will be difficult to find a buyer in a short time. If I sell it at a low price, the loss will also be yours, Senior."

"I'll give you ten more days. Can you gather enough?" Lang Yi ignored all of that and kept asking.

"Good evening," He Dezong began, but upon seeing Lang Yi's piercing, cloudy old eyes, he dared not make any further requests and could only bow his head in agreement. "This junior will take care of it immediately and will certainly not delay your important matter, senior."

"Good," Lang Yi nodded with some satisfaction. As the two were talking, the personal guard of the Acting Sima Gun entered the central tent with a proclamation in his hand.

Lang Yi, a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, was a commoner, yet he dared to join in the fun in the central command tent.

A moment later, Lang Yi came out of the tent with a strange expression on his face. He then transmitted his voice to He Dezong and said, "Huo Bing has been captured by the Clear Cloud Alliance at the Foundation Establishment and has surrendered."

The Earl of Nan'an was furious and ordered the acting Acting Sima Gun to dispatch a detachment to annihilate the Huo Household of Tanggu. He also ordered the Spirit Root to be sent to the West of the Sea, and all mortals to be sold off locally. The Huo Household's relatives by marriage would also be implicated, and the conscription quota would be increased by 50%, with all conscripts immediately sent to the Little Wu Mountain battlefield for deployment.

Lang Yi was puzzled. Everyone said that Huo Bing would die this year, so why did he surrender after being captured?

It would be better to die for the king. Kuang Liuting is a man who cares a lot about his reputation. With this loyalty, even if the Huo Household cannot produce a Foundation Establishment for the time being after Huo Bing's death, his family's wealth and status will still be preserved.

This is terrible; another Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Clan in Cloud Horn Prefecture is about to be wiped out.

However, He Dezong was concerned about something else. Although he knew nothing about military affairs, he knew that the prefecture was currently engulfed in flames of war.

The originally formidable army that was suppressing the rebellion suffered a great loss due to the division of its forces. The army was bogged down at the city walls, Buse to capture it after a prolonged siege, and showing signs of weakness. At this critical juncture, why would the military commander, Gun Acting Sima Gun to divide the troops at the Jiazixu Mountain, where the Pingrong militia were stationed?

However, it seems that Acting Sima Gun is not short of troops now. Among the rebellious families and sects that were suppressed, except for the ringleaders who were all executed.

Of the other disciples and followers, apart from a small number of quick-footed individuals who escaped capture, the remaining cultivators who surrendered out of fear of death were all Enlisted Army Talisman by the state court's army.

The Enlisted Army Talisman was a special talisman created by the founding emperor of this dynasty to control the slave army. The Fifth Tier Enlisted Army Talisman is still enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, enjoying the royal incense offerings.

Every three cycles of sixty years, the Vice Minister of War on duty would request one Fourth Tier Enlisted Army Talisman, twenty-four Third Tier- rank Enlisted Army Talisman, and several first and second-rank Enlisted Army Talisman on behalf of the current emperor.

Its purpose is to be implanted into the body of the corresponding cultivator, so that the person holding the Slave Army Tiger Tally can control their life and death and transform them into the slave army for the Immortal Dynasty's conquest.

In fact, many prestigious sects have similar methods, such as planting Gu worms or converting people into Vajra warriors, but none of them are as far superior as this Enlisted Army Talisman.

When the founding emperor was in power, countless Daoist nuns and immortal maidens from major sects became mere laborers used to pave the way for the king.

At the height of Emperor Taizu's power, there were at least three Spirit Transformation True Lord who were openly controlled by the military seal and became puppets in his hands. As for Nascent Soul True Persons and Golden Core cultivators, the number was countless.

With the help of these slave troops, when Emperor Taizu went to conquer the outer seas, he was able to frighten the other forces under the jurisdiction of Bitter Spirit Mountain, guard their gates, and dare not show their faces.

It can only be said that every drink and every bite is preordained, and everything has a cause.

The Immortal Dynasty was once so domineering, so it's no wonder it has fallen into such a desolate and forlorn state.

Lang Yi didn't care about any of that. He knew that the Huo Household of Tanggu had previously taken a large piece of the fat meat from the Dingnan Niu Household by following the Earl of Nan'an. Destroying that family would be a great thing.

If he could go along, he could probably gather the few Spirit Stones he was short of without having to squeeze a poor Qi Refinement clan like the Hong County He Household.

But how could such a good opportunity possibly come his way if the Acting Sima Gun doesn't like him?!

Suddenly, Lang Yi thought of something, and almost jumped up excitedly. He gestured towards He Dezong, a strange red flush spreading across his old face, and shouted sternly:

"Three days! I need another five thousand Spirit Stones in three days! You can steal, rob, plunder, or sell them—I don't care. I just want Spirit Stones! Do you understand?!"

"I understand!" Lang Yi's expression was somewhat deranged at this moment. Seeing this, He Dezong did not dare to ask for anything. He only felt a trace of sorrow in his heart and gritted his teeth to agree.

"If you fail to Foundation Establishment, what are you but pigs and dogs? Ants? Dust?"

He Dezong took his leave. There were several guards at the camp entrance who had been temporarily conscripted from the Mi Household's archives on the way back from his Acting Sima Gun. He had met them several times.

One of the pale-faced guards greeted him warmly as he came out:

"Brother He Household, are you finished with your work? If you have time, please have dinner and drinks with us tonight before you leave. We brothers recently went to the Mo Household and brought back First-Tier Superior-Grade Lotus Spring wine. Since you've come all this way, it's a good opportunity for us to show our respect."

He Dezong had no time for such thoughts, but seeing that the soldier looked friendly and offered his best, he could only cup his hands in a respectful gesture and politely decline, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, brother, but the senior has important matters to attend to and cannot be delayed. Next time we meet, let's find a tavern and have a good drink."

Men Jun, naturally not taking offense, continued, "Then we'll hide this Immortal Lotus Spring wine well, and drink it again when you come next time, brother. But I've heard that in Pingrong County there's a man named Chongming Sect, whose family has a sect leader surnamed Kang, and those elders are all your sworn brothers. Is that true?"

"Oh, that's true. What brings you to that conclusion, brother?"

"Wow, no wonder they're brothers of the He Household family!" Men Jun clapped his hands excitedly, his speech quickening.

"When Sima Naqin passed by earlier, I overheard him talking to someone else, saying that the Chang County Lin Household had a Foundation Establishment wanted to kill the Fire Dragon Daoist."

It was your brothers, brother, who turned the tide, not only saving the Fire Dragon Daoist but also joining forces to utterly destroy that Foundation Establishment from the Lin Household! They will surely be back soon to be rewarded!

"Slaying Foundation Establishment in a battle formation, leaving no trace of their body?" He Dezong was shocked upon hearing this, feeling both disbelief and reluctance to accept it.

He Dezong gave the army a perfunctory reply and rode alone on the official road, looking somewhat desolate, as if his spine had been temporarily ripped from his flesh and blood.

A gentle breeze stirred up some dry dust, and a fallen leaf landed lightly on He Dezong's broad shoulder, making it almost hard for him to breathe.

Only the autumn insects resting in the forest heard his soft sigh, "Ah, Foundation Establishment is within reach."

Acting Sima Gun acted much faster than Lang Yi and his ilk had anticipated.

However, only one day later, Acting Sima Gun led a large force to quickly reinforce Little Wu Mountain.

Meanwhile, Qin Sufu, the commander who had just recovered from his injuries, was left behind with a small squad of state guards. After suffering heavy casualties while escorting half of the slave soldiers captured from various rebellious Aristocratic Clan, they directly breached the Second-Tier Upper-Grade the Huo Household had just spent ten years setting up.

Several rogue cultivators who had been hired by Huo Bing to serve as offerings also suffered a terrible fate. Qin Sufu, without distinguishing right from wrong, treated them as traitors and coerced them into submission, and each of them was also given a military token.

In a way, they were lucky to be born at the right time. When the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty was at its peak, the Second Tier Enlisted Army Talisman would not be used on people like them who had poor Cultivation Method and weak Green Leaf Foundation Establishment.

In other words, since the founding emperor had been trapped in the forbidden area for too long, the country had deteriorated beyond recognition. The Enlisted Army Talisman issued by the Ministry of War at all levels were kept in the hands of the imperial palace and could not be used. This is why they could be wasted on these soldiers.

The Huo Household collapsed so quickly, and the rebellion in Cloud Horn Prefecture was like a bubble in the water, rising and falling in an instant.

Many powerful clans and sects, who had initially intended to Little Wu Mountain neutral, had no choice but to abandon their ambitions and submit as the state court's gleaming sword drew ever closer.

Many people have already died for the Two Instruments Sect in Cloud Horn Prefecture; that's enough!

Now that they've all learned their lesson, it's a piece of cake for the generals and officers of the state's military force to take advantage of the prestige of their family's destruction, carry the personal seal of the Acting Sima Gun, visit all of Huo Household's relatives by marriage, and bring back a new batch of cannon fodder.

However, since these people were only implicated, Qin Sufu could not Enlisted Army Talisman again, so he only gave them a warning with both kindness and severity.

Back in his tent, Qin Sufu checked the roster and noticed something was wrong. He frowned and called over the junior officer beside him, "Why is one of the cultivators sent by the Illusory Sword Alliance missing? Even a Middle Qi Refinement disciple has stumped his family?"

The junior officer chuckled and said, "Commander, please calm down. His sect leader said that one of his disciples, whose cultivation and background are all extraordinary, is still in Double Brightness Trade Market in Pingrong County. He's just sent someone to summon him."

Qin Sufu immediately saw through the scheme, but he had no intention of pursuing such trivial details. He didn't care whether the junior officer had received any benefits from the Illusory Sword Alliance, and casually said, "In that case, hurry up and urge them. The situation is changing, and we won't have much time to train our troops. Don't delay."

The junior officer retreated in response, while Qin Sufu muttered to himself, "Pingrong County, Double Brightness Trade Market. The report clearly states that my virtuous brother and the others helped the Fire Dragon Daoist kill Lin Yuanfeng, so why haven't they returned yet?"

"I... I'm going to Little Wu Mountain?!" Huo Ying, who was leading her people to stock the shop, turned pale when she saw the plain-clothed elder sent by the Illusory Sword Alliance. Her body went limp and she almost collapsed to the ground.

The elder in plain clothes trembled at the sight of the beautiful woman's fragrant flesh, a lewd glint in his eyes, but he spoke solemnly, "Junior Sister Huo, as the widow of you and Junior Brother, you should also contribute to the sect!"

"I'm not, I..." Huo Ying cried, tears welling in her eyes, but the elder in plain clothes interrupted, "So, Junior Sister Huo considers herself a Huo Household? Very well, I'll go and fetch an Enlisted Army Talisman for you."

"No, no, no!" Huo Ying became even more anxious. Who wouldn't be afraid of the Enlisted Army Talisman? She could only turn her gaze to Deng Baichuan had come to watch the show.

This disciple of the Acting Sima Gun remained expressionless. He had only a superficial relationship with the Sect Leader Kang Da, and there was no reason for him to waste any effort on the mistress left behind by the latter, whose fate was unknown.

Seeing this, Elder Bu Yi thought to himself that he had indeed made the right bet. Kang Dabao's fate was indeed unknown, just as people had heard. The benefits he had given had not been in vain.

With Kang Dabao dead, Double Brightness Trade Market and Chongming Sect have little to do with each other anymore. Since Chongming Sect can no longer take care of its own Illusory Sword Alliance shops, Huo Ying's life as a young widow sleeping with someone can come to an end.

As for offending someone?

Chongming Sect truly lost the Fei Household's eldest son-in-law, the Pingrong County, and the Double Brightness City Magistrate, the Illusory Sword Alliance, being a long-established sect with a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator still alive, had nothing to fear from a Qi Refinement sect.

Would the Daoist Black Shoes really come after the Illusory Sword Alliance for something like this? Unless Kang Dabao is his illegitimate son!

Take her back, strip off all her clothes and inheritance from her junior brother, play with them, and then send her to the state army to die.

"Just thinking about it is wonderful!"

The elder in plain clothes had an even stronger lewd glint in his eyes and was about to make his move.

Many who had previously benefited from Sect Leader Kang Da had gathered here, but now none of them were particularly interested in standing up for his mistress. People had already left, and now that the mistress's fate was unknown, what chance did they have?

Pei Yi rushed over upon hearing the news. Chongming Sect suffered heavy losses in this battle, and Chongming Small Pavilion couldn't spare the manpower to manage it for the time being, so it couldn't be opened. He was leading Jin Shilun and others to collect the goods and return to the sect when he encountered this incident.

"Where did you come from, you pig and dog, daring to act so presumptuously in Double Brightness Trade Market?!" Pei Yi cursed the unassuming elder from the Illusory Sword Alliance as soon as he entered the door.

The fact that Kang Dabao and the other two, along with Han Yundao and the others, had not returned to their sect caused this usually refined man to become increasingly worried and agitated, sometimes even losing his temper.

The elder in plain clothes didn't seem angry at being insulted; he simply retorted with a sinister sneer, "You have quite the arrogance. If others heard this, they'd probably think that Double Brightness Trade Market is your personal property!"

Deng Baichuan could tell that the old man was trying to get him on board. How could someone as arrogant as him be taken advantage of by a country bumpkin? He snorted coldly at the elder in plain clothes, turned around and left. He wasn't particularly interested in the grudges between them.

Seeing that his strategy of muddying the waters had failed and he had offended Deng Baichuan, the elder in plain clothes felt some regret for his earlier cleverness. However, he still spoke stiffly to Pei Yi: "I'm taking my disciples to serve my country with utmost loyalty. What's it to you!"

"Deacon Huo is my senior brother's." Pei Yi paused, unable to think of a better word.

"I'll speak for you, isn't your senior brother this harlot's lover?!" The elder in plain clothes said sarcastically, which angered Pei Yi so much that he pulled out his Bright Light Spike.

At this moment, the patrol team, established by Sect Leader Kang Da, made its appearance. Led by Xie Liusheng, whom Sect Leader Kang Da had appointed as the fire chief, he said sternly, "Fellow Daoist Pei, violence is forbidden within the market. What are you doing?!"

"Fine!" Pei Yi put down the Law Artifact, his eyes blazing with rage.

This bastard, who used to fawn over everyone with "Uncle," is now calling his fellow Daoist "fellow Daoist"!

Pei Yi knew that after hearing about Kang Dabao's accident, most of the scum in the patrol team, except for a few like Shao Meng, had all sided with Deng Baichuan. But he hadn't expected that Xie Liusheng, who had always been Chongming Sect, would do the same.

Enraged, Pei Yi smashed the Illusory Sword Alliance's shipping container. The elder in plain clothes showed no remorse and became even more arrogant, reaching out to capture Huo Ying.

Jin Shilun stepped forward to block him, and Pei Yi, completely losing his composure, tried to pull the old man away Huo Ying was so frightened that she cried out, "My nemesis, my nemesis, where are you?"

But then an old woman's voice rang out. "If you don't want these claws anymore, try moving them one step further."

Upon hearing this, the elder in plain clothes looked over and saw an old woman leaning on a spirit wood cane following an elegant female cultivator as they entered.

"Master's wife!" Fei Shuhe Jin Shilun immediately shouted. Fei Shuhe nodded and smiled, "He's quite a clever child."

Xie Liusheng, who had just been looking serious, knelt down with his men. Deng Baichuan, who had just been indifferent, immediately returned. The onlookers who had been laughing at the Chongming Sect Mingzong and the others turned to laugh at the elder in plain clothes.

"Acting Commandant Deng, you've done a good job as a fake officer. I've been married into Pingrong County for several years, and this is the only time I've come out for a stroll, and you've prepared such a spectacle for me. Very well, I'll write to my uncle tomorrow and definitely put in a good word for you."

As Fei Shuhe spoke, a smile bloomed on her face, truly as beautiful and pure as a lotus emerging from the water.

Deng Baichuan broke out in a cold sweat. His mentors were nothing but lackeys of the Fei Household. If Fei Shuhe against him, even the slightest negative impression on Fei Nanying would seriously affect his future.

"Please allow me, Miss, this is Deng."

Fei Shuhe ignored him and stared straight at the elder in plain clothes, asking, "My uncle asked you earlier, 'Where did you come from, you pig or dog?' Why didn't you answer?"

The arrogance on the elder's face vanished, replaced by a resentful expression. "I, Tang, am honored to be an elder of the Illusory Sword Alliance. What Fellow Daoist Pei said earlier was truly an insult."

Fei Shuhe said coldly, "Oh? So, it was my uncle who humiliated you earlier? Then I'll ask you again, who are you, you pig or dog, daring to act so presumptuously in Double Brightness Trade Market?!"

The elder, dressed in plain clothes, turned deathly pale from the drinking and could only stammer, "I am Tang..."

Fei Shuhe's eyebrows furrowed, and with a flick of her slender finger, she angrily retorted, "You pigs and dogs who can't even speak properly dare to act Double Brightness Trade Market! Nanny Sun, drag her out and beat her to death! Have your portrait hung at the entrance of the Illusory Sword Alliance for a month. I'd like to see what they dare to say then!"

"Please spare my life, young lady!" The elder in plain clothes begged for mercy while trying to break through the roof to escape, but with Nanny Sun, a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, present, how could his plan possibly succeed?

With a flick of her cane, Nanny Sun brought the elder in plain clothes back with a surge of powerful spiritual energy. With another wave of her cane, yellow and white splattered all over the ground in front of the Illusory Sword Alliance shop.

Ordinary Qi Refining Qi Refinement are utterly powerless against Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Pei Yi watched with great delight, thinking, "From now on, this sister-in-law is truly my sister-in-law!"

Fei Shuhe didn't even glance at the corpse of the elder in plain clothes, but instead gave Deng Baichuan another instruction:

"Acting Commandant Deng."

"Please give your instructions, Miss."

"Green Lotus Courtyard is short-staffed, so I'll ask Wei to take care of hanging this fool on the gate of the Illusory Sword Alliance."

"Yes, yes, Xie Liusheng, you shall go and do it!"

After saying this, Fei Shuhe nodded goodbye to Pei Yi and took the nearly terrified Huo Ying back to Green Lotus Courtyard.

Once inside, he dismissed everyone around him, carefully examined Huo Ying for a while, and then smiled, saying, "He has good taste; he picked a pretty one."

Although she was younger Huo Ying, she spoke to her like a young girl, "Your taste is really poor. You don't have a single valuable item on you. How could you have been so easily won over by him?"

"I... I... Thank you so much, Mistress, for saving my life!" Huo Ying was still in a daze and could only cry and bow in gratitude.

Fei Shuhe smiled but didn't speak to her. She instructed Ping'er to prepare some clean clothes and light food and water for her, and then Nanny Sun followed her into the flower and bird garden.

A little sparrow hopped onto her fingertip, chirping "Congratulations, congratulations!" Fei Shuhe smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "He seems like a simple-minded person, so let's take him in."

"Miss has a kind heart," Nanny Sun chimed in from the side.

"I'm no bodhisattva," Fei Shuhe, shaking her head slightly. The image of her clutching her heart by the pool flashed through her mind again. She told herself, "Just consider it repaying a favor."

Fei Shuhe suddenly realized that many of the women in the courtyard seemed to be concerned about the life or death of someone.

"My darling, are you dead or alive?!" Huo Ying cried, her eyes red from crying, as she lay on the embroidered bed with its quilt covering her head, a sight she had never seen before.

(I'm not trying to keep you in suspense, I just feel like everyone's gotten a bit tired of watching these magical battles every day, so a different perspective might be more refreshing. The words in parentheses are still free, don't worry.)

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