Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 557 The Thought of Holding the Chess
—One day later, Tang County

Large plumes of residual flame generated by high-level spiritual artifacts 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 look like a bamboo cage that only steams 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 was so intense that the horrifying crowds of people wailing in the city could not open their eyes and could only weep incessantly.

Tang County was a large city with five or six Foundation Establishment families and more than ten True Cultivators 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 a Pill Master, and that these cultivators and their descendants would be left to fend for themselves.

The crying grew louder and louder, until Matsukaze, who was in charge of guarding these mortals, grew tired of it.

Having just escaped death from the battlefield, he was hardly a man of good temper. So he brandished his magic weapon, 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?"

Although You Xiaobao's talent and cultivation were limited, his seniority made him quite respected among the followers. After he spoke a few words, he persuaded his 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 speaking, You Xiaobao 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 glancing at them, he noticed that one of the young men had a youthful appearance and resembled his son quite a bit, which made him feel somewhat wistful.

Among these people were many cultivators from sects and aristocratic families under the Ghost Sword Sect, who were thus turned into pigs and sheep to be slaughtered.

Looking back now, if it weren't for the fact that he, You Xiaobao, risked his life to seek medicine for his master and answered the summons of Chongming Sect to secure a better future, he would never have had the opportunity to look down upon these people from a high position.

Fortunately, his smugness didn't linger for long before he began to lament that the Ghost Sword Sect, a 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.

Even though You Xiaobao's Songfeng Righteous Cavalry could not match the Qingjue Guard and Chizhang Guard in terms of prowess, they had indeed experienced many major events over the years. Moreover, under Yuan Jin's supervision, they had trained diligently and tirelessly, making them far superior to the garrison troops of this county.

"No wonder that after the self-defense army was defeated, the clan soldiers sent by these families were no match for us. They were defeated in just one encounter and the Tang County was taken down. They were 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 to meet."

"What is it, Steward?" You Xiaobao perked up and, after calming himself down, nodded to the righteous man and replied, "Keep these defeated soldiers on guard for me. The sect leader's words are useful, and we must not let them die too many times."

"Yes"

When You Xiaobao arrived at the camp, He Chang, who had been sent by Chongming Sect to oversee the battle, was talking with several deputy generals from Songfeng Righteous Army. 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 left behind will be temporarily 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 General Dong Hu came from a noble family, he had taken good care of the former and was very 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 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 the necessary supplies and manpower, but don't be slow, lest you delay the arrangements later."

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

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

Although He Chang had not yet established his foundation, he was of noble status. Therefore, even though these deputy generals of the Songfeng Righteous Army were all outstanding true cultivators, 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 precisely why Chongmingzong had summoned He Chang, as Chongmingzong was somewhat short-handed.

Aside from Duan Anle and his group who were sent to suppress the others in the other counties with fake pills, 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 genuine cultivators, were all shrewd and experienced individuals.

However, He Chang's title as the only nephew of the Grand Master Kang is quite valuable. Because of this title, even if these true cultivators insist on outwardly complying but inwardly disobeying, they will have to think twice beforehand.

In addition, the golden-haired old donkey has become enlightened over the years, and its cultivation speed is indeed terrifying. It is now a second-tier high-grade spirit beast, which is enough for He Chang to suppress many who are dissatisfied.

He Chang was not good at managing affairs. After discussing 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, Uncle He."

Tang Jiu, as the most outstanding disciple of the eighth generation of Chongming Sect, possessed truly formidable skills.

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

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

"After my troops have recovered Tang County, we can stay here and rest as my master invited us before he left."

"Resting?"

Upon hearing this, not only You Xiaobao, who was standing in a corner, but also the group of true cultivators next to Tang Jiu were astonished. Because Tang County descended so quickly, many cultivators in the Songfeng Righteous Army were easily swept into the city by the troops before they even had a chance to fight for long.

Aside from unlucky fellows like Dong Hu, the casualties were minimal, hardly warranting any "rest." The cultivators were stunned for a moment, then mustered their courage to elect someone to ask, but Tang Jiu stopped them with a wave of her hand before speaking:

"I know that you fellow Daoists are sincerely doing things for the sect, but our master instructed that there is no need to rush. Let's wait and see."

"wait?"

—Xianzhou, Tongxian

"Of course we must wait,"

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

Despite his usual emphasis on pragmatism and integrity, Master Kang becomes remarkably generous once he enters the battlefield.

You should know that there is only one word difference between the Golden Elixir and the Fake Elixir. However, those alchemists behind Kang Dabao now may never have the opportunity to come to this Golden Elixir Treasury in their entire lives.

If it were just a casual browsing, that would be fine, but Sect Leader Kang 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, really. These alchemists have come into contact with quite a few high-ranking cultivators, including many from wealthy families, yet they're all surprisingly generous. It's rare to see someone like Kang Dabao, who was once just a minor sect leader with virtually no status, displaying such magnanimity.

In comparison, it's said that many of the cultivators recruited by the Ghost Sword Sect couldn't even afford a single robe, indicating they were being severely exploited. The saying "Benevolence and righteousness are not lost, but the balance of offense and defense differs" is quite fitting here. Given this situation, it would be strange if the Ghost Sword Sect could withstand the Chongming Sect's offensive.

Kang Dabao, the master 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 Headmaster Kang was most concerned about—the lack of unity among the people—was gradually resolved.

Kang Dabao secretly used his powerful divine sense to scan all the spiritual items in the storehouse, confirming that there were no particularly valuable items or resources for forming a core, before he felt much more at ease.

The cultivators present were all alchemists, 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 Headmaster Kang spoke.

The latter, taking advantage of his previous speech, said: "Reports from the front say that the Red Powder Temple and the Thousand Buddha Forest have joined forces to occupy Sizhou. Now, the Yunze Witch Lord Palace has lost two of the five states. Huang Mi is leading a large army to Sizhou to drive out the enemy. In the short term, his eyes will not be on our family."

These words were not cryptic, and the alchemists understood them without needing to ponder them.

Hongfen Temple and Qianfolin Huangpi Road, one governing the southern region and the other the eastern region, have suddenly become irreconcilable enemies with their old neighbor, Yunze Wuzun Temple. 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 alchemists stopped thinking about this, as these matters were still too far removed from their own understanding, and comprehending the meaning of Grand Master Kang was enough.

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

He wasn't worried that the leaders of the Hongfen Temple and Qianfo Forest 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 be blamed for stealing the limelight.

Master Kang 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. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully, asking, "What are your instructions, Ancestor?"

"The contents of this storehouse are quite numerous and varied, so I'll leave the task of taking inventory to you. Don't complain about the hard work."

As soon as Kang Dabao finished speaking, the slight grievance that Kang Xiangyi had 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 for the latter to distribute the funds.

Even a piece of fatty meat will leave your hands greasy after passing through it, let alone this kind of task.

How could 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.
As for one's homeland? What a joke! What homeland can be compared to the Golden Elixir Treasury?!

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

It was 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 them more effectively in the future." Kang Dabao laughed and replied, then turned and said, "The Ghost Sword Sect has spent several generations to produce a single cultivator, and they've already exhausted their resources and luck."

Furthermore, after being tormented and ruined by that scoundrel Wu Jian for three or four hundred years, what eye-catching items are left in this treasury? So be it. If we can open the Yunze Witch Lord's Palace before others, we'll have an excuse to give them a smaller share.”

Ye Zhengwen laughed upon hearing this and stopped dwelling on the matter. He then asked, "But why did the sect leader choose Kang Xiangyi?"

Knowing that Ye Zhengwen hadn't finished speaking, Master Kang bluntly said, "It's only right to leave more inheritance 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 brother has sent word that Elder Donggu of the Fei family has led the Yingshan Army to garrison in Shannan. In addition, five or six senior cultivators from the Gongfu have also come together. Moreover, we have not yet seen any action from the Liangyi Sect on the other side, so we can rest assured."

It would be a waste to leave Yuan Jin, who already possessed a third-tier spirit slave, to his home to maintain the family business. However, Ye Zhengwen quite agreed with the cautious approach taken by Headmaster Kang.

Even though Chongming Sect has already easily conquered a Golden Core Daoist site thanks to Kang Dabao's newly acquired 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 ideas, and the situation is like interlocking teeth. They are worried about defeat before they are worried about victory, so they can win every battle.

Jiang Sanye, 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 Master Kang'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 don't know what it would be like to be the one who truly controls the game."

(End of this chapter)