All sects work

Chapter 250: Destroying the Heaven (22)

Xiao Hongfan was silent for a moment before he replied, "I am willing to follow my master's wishes."

Upon hearing this, Shi Xuanying laughed heartily, whipped her horse, and said loudly: "I want to be an enemy of all the strong men in the world. The road ahead is difficult and dangerous. If I am not careful, I will be crushed to pieces. In the future, I will rely on General Xiao to protect me!"

"I will definitely live up to my lord's trust!" Xiao Hongfan smiled and rode his horse to catch up.

Mangzhou is a territory recently occupied by the new country.

After the three kingdoms joined forces to attack Xu, the New Kingdom did not take the better territory near Huazhou, but instead exchanged it with the Qu Kingdom for a relatively remote and poor area. These cities were the former territory of the Small Chen Kingdom, and happened to border the original territory of the New Kingdom.

These places seem insignificant, but in fact they have extraordinary strategic significance. It's just that the plague is raging in Qu State and the civil strife is serious. The country is eager to get the "magic medicine well" near Huazhou, so it gritted its teeth and agreed to the "exchange".

Mangzhou is only a hundred miles away from the Pingzhou camp of the southwest army of Qu State. The terrain is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It will soon become a good rear stronghold. Chen Jizhi attached great importance to it. After receiving the territory, he rushed over overnight.

Since then, construction began in full swing in Mangzhou City.

The two men rode into the city.

The streets were bustling with people, people were pushing bluestones to repair the damaged roads, many men were carrying wood and stones to the city walls, most of the shops on both sides were open, with wine flags waving and the aroma of medicine in the air, blacksmiths were standing shirtless in front of a blazing fire, hammering iron tools, and the sounds of children chasing and playing were mixed in.

Chaotic but vibrant.

"I didn't expect Prime Minister Chen to act so quickly!" Xiao Hongfan exclaimed.

She had seen the city construction in the rear and admired Chen Xiang's abilities from the bottom of her heart. He was always able to make the most of limited resources and create an endless virtuous cycle.

Seeing her increasingly relaxed expression, Shi Xuanying suddenly realized that perhaps the most important of the seven stars was this "Xuanwei Star".

Xuanwei Star Chen Jizhi and the original main star Chen You both represent "vitality". The loss of vitality probably foreshadowed the final demise of the Heavenly Dao.

She was able to successfully replace Chen You as the main star, probably because of the various initiatives she took in the two counties that created vitality.

"Greetings, my lord!" Chen Jizhi led his men to greet them and saluted from a distance.

Xiao Hongfan didn't dare to accept the gift and quickly dismounted.

"No need to be so polite, Prime Minister Chen." Shi Xuanying also dismounted and quickly stepped forward to help him up. "I heard that the caravan I sent out to look for the Chen family has returned, so I came to take a look."

"I never thought I would see my family again in my lifetime. Thank you so much for your concern!" Chen Jizhi's eyes were filled with tears. "I regret that I have no way to repay your kindness!"

He had never shed a tear when he was pushed to such a point by Emperor Qu in his early years, but today he could hardly control himself. Now his family was safe and sound, and after enduring hardships for most of his life, he had the opportunity to realize his ambitions. He had no regrets in this life!

"Prime Minister Chen is worthy." Shi Xuanying asked with concern, "Is everyone in your family okay?"

"All is well, all is well!" Chen Jizhi was even more grateful when she saw that she had lightly passed over the matter. "My young son nearly died while resisting the Restoration Army. Fortunately, the people sent by the Lord rescued him in time! Otherwise, how could I bear to see my son die before me?"

Shi Xuanying smiled and said, "Good times will come after bad times! The two young masters are rare talents. If anything happens to them, it will be a loss for our country. After they are settled, I will let them come to see me."

Chen Jizhi's three sons are not extremely talented, but they have rich experience in local governance. They are all practical people, which are exactly the talents that the new country lacks most.

"Yes! Thank you, my Lord, for not abandoning me..."

Chen Jizhi was about to salute again, but Shi Xuanying held him back and said, "Prime Minister, there is no need to do this."

Several people walked and talked as they entered the yamen.

"How come my Lord and General Xiao are free today? Do you have something important to tell you?" Chen Jizhi didn't believe that they came here in their busy schedule just to ask about his family's situation.

Xiao Hongfan was suddenly caught and didn't know the real reason, so he looked at Shi Xuanying.

"I came to see you." Shi Xuanying took out a handful of spiritual fruit from her sleeve pocket and placed it on the table. "Prime Minister is the pillar of our new country. You must take good care of your health and live another 200 years. This spiritual fruit has the effect of prolonging life, so you don't have to save it."

"Thank you, my Lord."

"Yes, there is something." Shi Xuanying paused before continuing, "Do you know that Emperor Qu is dead?"

Chen Jizhi was slightly startled, and said calmly: "I have never heard of it. How did he die?"

Xiao Hongfan was also hearing this news for the first time, and she was not happy. She thought that she would be able to lead troops back to Qudu and kill Emperor Qu herself, but she never expected that what was like an insurmountable mountain before would collapse so easily.

"He burned down the entire Qudu." Shi Xuanying didn't know the details, so she guessed, "I suspect it was because the plague in Qudu was out of control."

"Not necessarily." Chen Jizhi shook his head. "He probably just can't face failure."

Emperor Qu relied on his father and his ministers to win his life. He was proud all his life and thought he could go down in history. However, he suffered a series of setbacks and finally saw himself clearly before his death. But he saw it clearly but could not accept it.

"His death is a good thing for us." Chen Jizhi had been looking forward to Emperor Qu's death for a long time. Now that he is really dead, he feels calm.

"Also, there is one more thing."

The two men came to their senses after hearing this.

Shi Xuanying then talked about extracting the pure qi from the monks to make medicine: "When the plague breaks out, it is a good time to win people's hearts. I plan to personally go and capture the monks to extract the pure qi, and by the way, release the news of the antidote. What do you think?"

Chen Jizhi knew that she had this idea after careful consideration, but he was still worried: "Master is the backbone of the new country, and he cannot afford to lose. Once the news spreads, those great masters will definitely join forces to resist. Master... are you sure?"

Xiao Hongfan thought of Chen You who died before dawn in his dream, and couldn't help but worry: If the lord also died before completing his career, would the future of the new country be the same as the Dazhao in his dream?

"Of course, I won't joke about my own life." Shi Xuanying said firmly.

Both of them realized that although she asked them what they thought, she was actually just informing them and had no intention of soliciting their opinions.

Chen Jizhi took the lead and said, "Master, rest assured, we will do our best to seek the greatest benefit!"

Xiao Hongfan was silent for a moment before he slowly said, "Me too."

After the three of them briefly discussed the layout, Shi Xuanying returned with Xiao Hongfan.

There was a scholar setting up a stall on the street writing couplets for people. Xiao Hongfan suddenly remembered that the New Year would be here in a few days.

She spent most of the New Year alone, sometimes at the general's mansion, sometimes at the farm. The men of the Xiao family always died in battle, so they could never put up red scrolls during the New Year. As far as she could remember, her family had never put up Spring Festival couplets. After so many years, her only impression of the New Year was "loneliness".

While other families were reuniting, laughing and talking happily, putting up Spring Festival couplets, frying fruits, and setting off firecrackers, she was sitting alone in front of a table filled with wine and food, offering wine to her deceased father and brothers one by one.

"When does my lord plan to leave the new country?" Xiao Hongfan asked.

Shi Xuanying didn't answer. She dismounted and walked to the stall, distributing a handful of money to the people in line: "Cut in line!"

Everyone received the money and smiled happily.

"Please, please!"

Shi Xuanying put a silver ingot on the table and said, "Scholar, write me two festive couplets."

"Okay!" The scholar pressed his lips hard, spread out the red paper, picked up the pen and dipped it in ink, and wrote three pairs in one breath.

"The spring rain moistens the green mountains, and the spring breeze blows thousands of red dots." Shi Xuanying barely made out the few lines of calligraphy, "Not bad."

She pinched her fingers to blow dry the ink, rolled up a few couplets and stuffed them into Xiao Hongfan's arms, then answered her previous question: "I'll leave today."

Xiao Hongfan tightly grasped the Spring Festival couplets in his hand and followed her out of the crowd: "You brought me here today to see the reconstruction of Mangzhou, right?"

Shi Xuanying did not deny it: "You are not in a good state. If you have something on your mind, why not tell me?"

Xiao Hongfan felt upset because of the recent predictive dreams. Even though he knew that reality had changed and those things might not happen, his mood was still affected by the dreams.

The two mounted their horses again.

Xiao Hongfan asked a question that had nothing to do with dreams: "The cultivators have practiced hard for decades to reach their current level of cultivation. Is it really fair to extract the pure energy in their bodies and return them to their original state overnight?"

Shi Xuanying reined in her horse and waited for her to catch up with her, then looked at her sideways.

Xiao Hongfan looked at him calmly.

"Some people are born with excellent bones and can communicate with heaven and earth to obtain spiritual energy, while others have mortal bodies and cannot absorb and refine spiritual energy even if it is sent to their mouths. They can only watch it flow away. What's more, some people can't even feel spiritual energy... Is this fair?" asked Shi Xuanying.

"unfair."

Shi Xuanying smiled and drove the horse forward: "The natural rules themselves are unfair to some creatures. I broke the rules and redistributed the pure energy, which is also unfair. Tao is Tao, Tao follows nature, it is a rule and order, and has nothing to do with fairness."

"Master, do you think the new way will be better?"

"Of course." Shi Xuanying said without hesitation, "Otherwise I would have nothing better to do than mess with it!"

What's good about it? Xiao Hongfan doesn't know: "Human nature is selfish and vicious."

"Human nature has many sides. You have had a rough life and received too little kindness, which is why you are so pessimistic. Think about the fathers and brothers who sacrificed their lives for the country. They were loyal, kind, and selfless. Aren't they the other side of human nature? What you see is just that 'evil' temporarily suppresses 'good'. The good are not weak, they just chose the wrong path. If you give up just like that, what hope is there in this world? General Xiao, don't you agree?" Shi Xuanying asked with a smile.

Xiao Hongfan lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then looked up at Shi Xuanying: "You are right! I will wait for your triumphant return!"

"That's inevitable!" Shi Xuanying waved her whip and said loudly, "Put up the couplets and wait for me to come back for the New Year!"

"it is good!"

Two horses were galloping on the official road, one in front and one behind.

Xiao Hongfan looked at the man in front of him, his robe flowing like clouds, so free and easy, and the haze in his heart disappeared, and he felt open-minded.

The two went their separate ways outside the military camp.

As soon as Xiao Hongfan came back, he carefully pasted the Spring Festival couplets on the door curtain, and then summoned all the generals to discuss the matter.

……

Shi Xuanying began a solo hunt.

Her soul has almost merged with Chenjie Tiandao. As long as she lets her consciousness run wild, no martial artist in the world can escape the hunt.

No one could stop Shi Xuanying who was attacking with all her might. Within a few days, she destroyed two grandmasters and dozens of high-level martial artists.

The rulers and ministers of the three kingdoms of Dachen, Qu and Xu were simply stunned and thought that the ruler of the new kingdom was a mad dog!
News spread even faster in the world of cultivators. Just when everyone was feeling worried and began to investigate what had gone wrong with Master Xuanying, news came from the new country—pharmacists had developed an antidote to the plague, and the most important ingredient was the pure energy in the bodies of the cultivators.

With the new country's deliberate propaganda, the news spread quickly among ordinary people.

Several other forces were ready to make a move, but no one dared to actually take action.

This antidote has provoked a war between monks and ordinary people. Nowadays, which royal family does not have one or two great masters? If the emperor dares to support the extraction of pure energy, he is likely to be directly counterattacked.

Master Xuanying started out by recruiting monks, so she cannot burn bridges after crossing them.

Xiao Hongfan seized the opportunity to announce: The monks who have already served the new country can choose whether to contribute their pure energy or not, there will be no force.

At first, everyone was still unconvinced, but as Master Xuanying began to hunt all the cultivators, the value of this promise began to soar. Some people who wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble immediately gave up their thoughts.

The monks outside the new country quickly formed a force and attempted to counterattack.

Led by eight grand masters, a hundred high-level monks may not be able to fight against hundreds of thousands of troops, but they can definitely easily break into a country's palace and eliminate the emperor and civil and military officials.

In an instant, all countries were as quiet as a chicken.

Just when everyone thought that the new monarch's luck had run out, she actually rushed into the group of monks single-handedly.

No one knew the process. All they heard was that hundreds of cultivators had their pure energy drained away overnight, their foundations destroyed, and she left with injuries and returned safely to the new country.

A few days later, the new country announced that it had begun to produce antidotes in large quantities, and the people who were forced into despair by the plague migrated to the new country one after another.

Several forces suddenly reacted and sent envoys to ask for medicine.

It's not that they didn't think about intimidation, but the new country's ruler was so powerful that she overwhelmed all the other warriors on her own. Even when the news spread that she was seriously injured, no one dared to act rashly.