The Thought of Playing the Game

----One day later, Tang County

Large plumes of residual flame generated by high-level Spirit Artifact continued to surge through the cracks in the city wall. The city gate, which was originally covered with spiritual seals, was knocked down by the combined force of a large group of elite soldiers. Now, it was crooked and embedded in the sticky scorched earth. The countless remnants of the runes on it scattered like butterfly wings, falling haphazardly into pools of blood.

The bluestone slabs beside the city gate are covered with gnarled, purplish-black scars, which are the result of the poisonous fire caused by the collapse and backlash of the city's protective formation.

This caused gray smoke to rise from every street and alley of the city, making it resemble a bamboo cage that only steamed people's lives.

The cracked gullies along the roadside were filled with human blood and fat, which, along with the scorching heat of the poisonous fire, emitted a burnt smell that was extremely pungent.

The stench emanating from every octagonal well in the city mingled together, so pungent that the large number of commoners wailing in the city could not open their eyes and had no choice but to weep incessantly.

Tang County was a large city with five or six Foundation Establishment Lineage and more than ten True Cultivator stationed there. No one had ever imagined that such a large city would be taken in a single day by a team that had not even reached the level of Pill Master, and that these cultivators' descendants would be left to fend for themselves.

The crying grew louder and louder, until even the Pine Wind Volunteers it.

Having just escaped death from the battlefield, he was hardly a man of good temper. So he brandished his magic Law Artifact, thinking it would be a good opportunity to kill one as a warning to others and thus bring peace to the land.

But he had only just finished making half of the hand seals when he heard someone speaking beside him.

"Alright, alright, now that the city has fallen, why suffer further bloodshed?"

You Xiaobao's talent and cultivation were limited, he was quite senior and therefore held considerable prestige among the righteous followers. After he spoke a few words, he persuaded the righteous followers to put away their swords and halberds.

However, You Xiaobao didn't really care about the lives and deaths of ordinary people. But seeing this scene, it wasn't difficult for him to feel a little compassion and offer a word of advice.

After You Xiaobao spoke, he ignored the actions of the righteous followers and turned his gaze back to the group of cultivators forcibly conscripted by the Ghost Sword Sect. After looking at them for a while, he felt that one of the young men had a youthful appearance and looked quite like his son, which made him feel somewhat sad.

Among these people were many cultivators from sects and Aristocratic Clan under the Ghost Sword Sect, who were thus turned into lambs to the slaughter.

Looking back now, if You Xiaobao hadn't risked his life to seek medicine for his master and answered the summons of the Chongming Sect to secure a better future, he would never have had the opportunity to look down upon these figures.

Fortunately, his smugness didn't linger for long before he began to lament that the Ghost Sword Sect, Golden Core sect, was utterly immoral.

These ordinary people, unfamiliar with drums and banners, and with no training, how could they possibly fight? The Ghost Sword Sect is truly resorting to any means necessary to protect themselves.

You Xiaobao's Pine Wind Volunteers Righteous Cavalry could not match the Azure Jue Guard and Crimson Zhang Guard in terms of prowess, they had indeed experienced many major events over the years, and under Yuan Jin's supervision, they had trained diligently without ceasing, making them far superior to the garrison troops of this Tang County.

"No wonder that after the self-defending army collapsed, the clan soldiers sent by these families were all useless. They were defeated by us in just one Tang County. They are truly weak."

As he was pondering this, a soldier came from the main camp, bowed, and said, "Captain, Elder He from the Shang Sect summons you."

"What is it, Steward?" You Xiaobao's spirits lifted, and after calming himself down, he nodded to the righteous man and replied, "Keep a close watch on these defeated soldiers for me. The sect leader said they are useful, and we must not let them die too many times."

"Yes"

When You Xiaobao arrived at the main camp, He Chang, who had been Chongming Sect to oversee the battle, was talking with several deputy generals from the Pine Wind Volunteers. Upon seeing him, He Chang did not say anything more, but simply said in a deep voice, "General Dong Bai is seriously injured and has passed away. All matters he left behind will temporarily be handled by you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the golden-haired old donkey next to He Chang raised its eyelids slightly, glanced at You Xiaobao, and then lowered its head and dozed off again.

Upon hearing the news, You Xiaobao felt both sorrow and joy. After all, although Dong Hu came from a noble family, he had taken good care of the former and was quite close to him. You couldn't just remain silent and numb like an ordinary person who had passed away.

He was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening and respectfully accepted the order.

However, He Chang had no time to worry about You Xiaobao's intentions, because Dong Baijiang, who always liked to lead from the front, was actually related to his second maternal uncle Yuan Jin's wife.

He was already annoyed by this matter, so he didn't bother to order You Xiaobao to leave the camp. Instead, he talked to several of his deputy generals about the arrangements afterward.

"Are all the geomancers in place? When will the hidden channels and poisonous fires in the city be cleared away? You can ask for any necessary supplies and manpower, but don't be slow, lest you delay the subsequent arrangements;

"Not enough Alchemist? I've already written to Junior Sister Qi; things will be fine once she arrives."

"Instruct the right battalion to go out and wipe out the remaining enemy forces, and not to go too far, there are still some outside."

Although He Chang had not yet Foundation Establishment, he was of noble status. Therefore, even though these Pine Wind Volunteers the Songfeng Righteous Army were all outstanding True Cultivator, they did not dare to treat him with the slightest disrespect because of his low cultivation level. Instead, they had to obediently nod repeatedly.

This was Chongming Sect He Chang had summoned He Chang, as Chongming Sect was somewhat short-handed.

Aside from False Core Duan Anle, He Chang was the most suitable person to be assigned to Tang County. After all, while these righteous followers were outwardly obedient, the leaders, who were True Cultivator, were all shrewd and experienced individuals.

However, He Chang's title as the only nephew of the Sect Leader Kang Da is quite valuable. Because of this title, even if these True Cultivator insist on outwardly complying but inwardly disobeying, they will still have to think twice beforehand.

Furthermore, it's unclear whether that golden-haired old donkey has attained enlightenment in recent years, but its cultivation speed is truly astonishing. It is now Second-Tier Upper-Grade spirit beast, enough for He Chang to suppress many who are dissatisfied.

He Chang was not good at managing affairs. After he had discussed all the matters in Tang County, he was already somewhat annoyed. After thinking for a while, he called Tang Jiu behind him and said:

"Nephew Tang, please come up and tell the fellow Daoists what will happen next."

"Yes, Martial Uncle He."

Tang Jiu, as the Chongming Sect, possessed truly formidable skills.

When Tang County fell, there were less than ten Ghost Sword Sect True Cultivator cultivators whose heads could be taken, yet he managed to snatch two of them ahead of the many Foundation Establishment. It was truly remarkable.

Therefore, when it was his turn to speak, all the cultivators listened very attentively.

"After my troops have fully recovered Tang County, following the instructions given by my master before his departure, we can station ourselves here and rest for a while."

"Rest and recuperate?"

Upon hearing this, not only You Xiaobao, who was standing in a corner, but also the group of True Cultivator next to Tang Jiu were surprised. Because Tang County was descending so quickly, many cultivators in the Pine Wind Volunteers hadn't even seen the battle for long before being easily swept into the city by the troops.

Apart from unlucky guys like Dong Hu, there were really few other casualties, so there was no need for the word "rest".

The cultivators were stunned for a moment, and finally mustered up the courage to elect one of them to ask the question. However, just as they were about to speak, Tang Jiu stopped them with a wave of her hand. But they heard the latter speak:

"I know that you fellow Daoists are sincerely working for the sect, but our master instructed that there is no need to rush. Please wait."

"Wait?"

---- Xian Prefecture, Tong County

"Of course we must wait,"

As they were talking, Kang Dabao led a group of Pill Master into the Ghost Sword Sect's treasury for a look around.

Despite his usual emphasis on pragmatism and integrity, Sect Leader Kang Da becomes remarkably generous once he's on the battlefield.

You should know that there is only one word difference between the Golden Core and the False Core, but those Pill Master behind Kang Dabao now may never have the opportunity to come to this Golden Core Treasury in their entire lives.

If it were just a casual browsing, that would be fine, but Sect Leader Kang Da is truly generous, even offering them the entire amount. While there's a hint of winning people over in this, it also demonstrates his magnanimity and generosity.

It's strange, these Pill Masters have come into contact with quite a few high-ranking cultivators, including many from wealthy families, yet they are all so generous. It's rare to see Kang Dabao, who was once just a minor sect leader with virtually no status, displaying such magnanimity.

In comparison, I've heard that many of the cultivators recruited by the Ghost Sword Sect can't even afford a single robe, they've certainly been exploited quite severely. The saying "Benevolence and righteousness are not lost, but the balance of offense and defense is different" is quite fitting here. Under such circumstances, it would be strange if the Ghost Sword Sect could withstand the Chongming Sect's offensive.

Kang Dabao, the head of the household, is highly skilled, young and promising, and generous. Even the most obtuse person could see that he has a bright future if he continues like this.

In addition, the dazzling light before their eyes was truly blinding, and the hidden worry that Sect Leader Kang Da had been most concerned about—the lack of unity among the people—was gradually dispelled.

Kang Dabao secretly used his powerful Divine Sense to scan all the spiritual items in the storeroom, confirming that there were no particularly valuable items or resources for Core Formation, before he felt much more at ease.

The cultivators present were all Pill Master, figures who could be called patriarchs in the outside world. Even if they were envious, they still maintained some dignity, which prevented no one from responding when Sect Leader Kang Da spoke.

The latter, drawing on his previous statement, said, "Reports from the front indicate that the Rouge Temple and the Thousand Buddha Grove have joined forces to occupy Si Prefecture. Now, the Cloud Marsh Shaman Venerable Hall has lost two of the five states. That scoundrel Huang Mi is leading a large army to Si Prefecture to drive out the enemy. In the short term, his attention will not be on our side."

These words weren't particularly obscure, and the Pill Master understood them without needing to ponder them.

Rouge Temple and Thousand Buddha Grove Huangpi Circuit, one governing the southern region and the other the eastern region, have suddenly become irreconcilable enemies with their old neighbor, Cloud Marsh Shaman Venerable Hall. The deeper meaning behind this is yet to come.

Thinking about it another way, could it be that the families behind these two households also...

Many Pill Master stopped thinking about this, as these matters were still too far removed from their own understanding; comprehending the meaning of Sect Leader Kang Da was enough.

The current situation couldn't be simpler. Kang Dabao led the cultivators under his jurisdiction and suddenly occupied most of Xian Prefecture. Then he would sit on the sidelines and watch the two tigers fight, to see if he could wait until they were both exhausted and he could reap the benefits.

He wasn't worried that the leaders of the Rouge Temple and Thousand Buddha Grove would harbor resentment. After all, this was the time for the two families to pay their blood tax to Kuang Liuting. If Chongming Sect were to make great strides now, they might even be blamed for stealing the limelight.

Sect Leader Kang Da is known for his tact and understanding of others' feelings; he would never do something so discordant.

"Xiangyi,"

Kang Xiangyi was taken aback when his name was called out, and immediately stepped forward, bowing respectfully and asking, "What are your instructions, Ancestor?"

"The contents of this storeroom are quite numerous and varied, so the task of taking inventory will be assigned to you. Don't find it too arduous."

As soon as Kang Dabao finished speaking, the slight grievance that Kang Xiangyi felt earlier because her homeland had fallen again vanished instantly.

The remaining cultivators, upon hearing this, also revealed expressions of envy.

After all, anyone could tell that Kang Dabao's words, ostensibly asking Kang Xiangyi to inventory the treasury, were actually a ploy to get the latter to allocate the funds.

Even handling a piece of fatty meat leaves your hands greasy, let alone this kind of task.

How Kang Xiangyi not be pleased? After all, even if he had to consider his reputation when allocating the positions, he couldn't be too unfair. But he could still gain some benefits and win some favors through this opportunity, couldn't he?

As for one's homeland? What a joke! What homeland can compare to the Golden Core Elixir Treasury?!

After these actions, Sect Leader Kang Da already knew exactly how the cultivators present would react. He then offered some words of encouragement to each of them, and then ignored the Pill Master, leaving the Ghost Sword Sect's treasury with only Jiang Qing and Ye Zhengwen.

It was only at this moment that Ye Zhengwen was able to speak up and ask, "These families have not achieved any merit or fought any hard battles. Isn't the sect leader being too lenient?"

"It's alright. If we're willing to reward, we can punish more effectively in the future." Kang Dabao laughed and replied, then turned and said, "The Ghost Sword Sect has spent several generations nurturing a single cultivator, and they've already exhausted their resources and luck."

Furthermore, after being tormented and ruined by that Wujian Wu Jian for three or four hundred years, what eye-catching items are left in this treasury now? So be it. If we can open the Cloud Marsh Shaman Venerable Hall before others, we'll have an excuse to give them a smaller share."

Ye Zhengwen laughed upon hearing this, no longer dwelling on the matter, but then asked, "But why did the sect leader choose Kang Xiangyi?"

Knowing that Ye Zhengwen hadn't finished speaking, Sect Leader Kang Da bluntly stated, "It's always good to leave a legacy for future generations."

Jiang Qing and Ye Zhengwen's expressions changed slightly upon hearing this, but they remained silent.

At this moment Kang Dabao spoke up again, "The Second has sent word that Elder Donggu of the Fei Household has led the Ying Mountain Army to garrison in Mountain South, and five or six senior cultivators from the Duke's Mansion have also arrived together. Moreover, we have not yet seen any action from the Two Instruments Sect on the other side, so we can rest assured."

It would be a waste to leave Yuan Jin, who already possessed Third Tier Spirit Slave, to his home to maintain the family business. However, Ye Zhengwen quite agreed with Sect Leader Kang Da's Shenzhi approach.

Even though Chongming Sect has already easily conquered a Golden Core Dao of Alchemy thanks to Kang Dabao's newly Law Treasure magic weapon, Ye Zhengwen still harbors the worst-case scenario in mind.

After all, this war has only just begun. The various factions have different intentions, and the situation is like interlocking teeth. They are worried about defeat before they are worried about victory, so they can win every battle.

Third Master Jiang, who was standing to the side, couldn't figure it out and was too lazy to think about it. Compared to all these schemes and plots, it was much simpler to just listen to Sect Leader Kang Da's order to execute people.

"Alright, with war raging around us, it's rare to have some peace and quiet. Let's just wait and see how things unfold." Kang Dabao sighed deeply. After all these years, although he was still just a pawn, he should strive to become one that could influence the course of the game.

"I just wonder what it would be like to be the one truly in control of the game."