Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 721 The Adventists?
Upon hearing Mi Lanyue's confident assessment, Liang Jin narrowed his eyes slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his narrow slits.

The blood in the porcelain bottle... wasn't actually the blood of the divine turtle?

This conclusion instantly stirred up a storm in his heart.

Could it be that Yin Xi and the others never found the true form of the divine tortoise?

Could it be that they lured me to the spirit mine in Drought Dragon Gorge in order to help them find the spirit turtle?
In the blink of an eye, Liang Jin casually raised his hand, and an invisible suction force appeared out of thin air, precisely pulling the small porcelain bottle from Mi Lanyue's hand back and steadily placing it in his palm.

He lowered his head again, gazing at the drop of dark golden blood in the bottle, which was still emitting a faint light and contained a powerful life force.

Even though it has been confirmed that this is not the blood of the divine tortoise, its essence as belonging to some kind of divine beast remains unchanged. It is still a rare and wondrous object, but the intention behind it has become increasingly elusive.

"Besides those who are already dead, how many more people does Yinxi have in the Western Desert? How much do you know about their strongholds?"

Liang Jin composed himself and continued to press Mi Lanyue for answers, trying to piece together the outline of this mysterious organization in the Western Desert.

Mi Lanyue moved her aching body with difficulty, her face showing a mixture of recollection and helplessness, and slowly shook her head:

"Your Excellency, as far as I know, the core of the operation in the Western Desert is the leader with the bamboo hat, Shawuti, whom you killed before, and his close confidants. Hua Nongying... is the commander who was specially sent here."

She took a breath and continued:
"As for those who usually do odd jobs... in the past, most of them were my unfortunate clansmen, who were driven and enslaved by them. Now... there are none left."

"The Western Desert is a harsh environment with scarce resources and a complex web of various forces. It has never been a key area for the Yinxi Society to operate in. The only reason they have invested resources and operated here for many years is to find the lost divine tortoise."

"Now that the location of the Divine Turtle has been confirmed by the news of the Dry Dragon Gorge Spirit Mine, they should, in accordance with common sense, gradually withdraw from the Western Desert and concentrate their forces on the next step of their plan."

As Mi Lanyue spoke, she glanced at Liang Jin, her gaze carrying a pointed meaning:
"Now it seems that it was your sudden appearance, Lord Marquis, that caused an unexpected change in their plans, and may even have become a more crucial part of their plans."

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin, combining the information he had gathered earlier, gradually pieced together some vague clues in his mind, and gained a clearer understanding of the Yinxi Society's intentions.

He was about to press for more details.

at this time--

"Squeak-"

The door of the carriage next to them, which had been closed, was pushed open from the inside.

Leng You stepped down from there.

She strode to Liang Jin, knelt on one knee, bowed her head in apology, and spoke with a barely perceptible hint of defeat and gravity in her voice:
“My lord, I have failed in my duties. Please punish me.”

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, genuinely feeling somewhat surprised.

He was familiar with Leng You's methods of interrogation, and Xing Mo Hai's bewitching techniques were even more unpredictable and difficult to guard against; even the former Empress Mu Cong Shuang could not resist them for long.

How could Hua Nongying have made Leng You utter the words "incompetent in handling affairs"?

"how?"

Liang Jin's voice revealed no emotion:
"Even you can't do anything about her?"

Leng You hurriedly looked up to explain, her tone certain:
“It’s not that she’s incapable of being dealt with, Your Excellency, you are wise! It’s just that this woman… her willpower is far stronger than I expected.”

"She had clearly undergone extremely rigorous training specifically designed to counter interrogation and mental manipulation, and there seemed to be some strange secret technique for protecting her mind planted within her body. Her subordinates' bewitching techniques were about to break through her defenses several times, but she forcibly resisted them with an almost self-destructive will, which made the process unusually slow."

She paused, then gave a specific time:

"To completely break down her resistance and get her to reveal all the secrets she knows, it will probably take another two to three days."

Hearing this, Liang Jin felt somewhat relieved.

As long as it's not insurmountable, spending more time is fine.

He nodded, indicating that he understood.

Seeing this, Leng You hesitated for a moment, as if she had something to say but was also hesitant.

Liang Jin saw it clearly and spoke directly:

"If there's anything else, just tell me. There's no need to hold back."

Leng You then reported the truth, her tone cautious:

“My lord, it is precisely because Hua Nongying’s resistance is exceptionally strong, like a bowstring stretched to its limit, that if I were to disregard everything and forcefully use the most powerful mind-control technique to attack her, I might eventually get her to speak, but that domineering mental attack could very likely cause… irreversible and serious damage to her mind.”

She carefully chose her words:

"At best, there will be extensive memory loss, turning one into a confused and muddled person; at worst... one may suffer a complete mental breakdown, becoming utterly insane and essentially a useless person."

Leng You was unsure of Liang Jin's attitude towards Hua Nongying, this "enemy," whether he only needed information or had other considerations. Therefore, she had to lay out the worst-case scenario and let Liang Jin decide.

Liang Jin listened, but his face remained completely expressionless.

He spoke indifferently, his tone devoid of any pity:

"I gave her the opportunity long ago. It was she who didn't know what was good for her and chose this dead end."

"Go ahead and do whatever you want without any worries. Even if you go too far and cause her to lose her mind and die on the spot, it's not a big deal."

"I only care about the result."

To him, Hua Nongying's value lay in the information in her mind; whether she herself was insane, stupid, or dead was completely irrelevant.

Should an enemy who is plotting to sacrifice herself be expected to consider her physical and mental health?

Upon receiving Liang Jin's clear instruction, Leng You's last trace of hesitation vanished, and her gaze returned to its firm and cold intensity. She solemnly replied:
"My subordinate understands!"

"Rest assured, my lord, I will make her reveal all her secrets within three days, without missing a single word!"

Liang Jin nodded slightly, then slowly stood up from his chair.

At this moment, at the edge of the Gobi Desert, a red sun struggled to leap over the horizon, its golden rays piercing the last darkness before dawn like sharp swords, quickly illuminating the sky.

A new day has arrived, carrying with it the desolation and solemnity unique to the Gobi Desert.

Liang Jin's gaze swept over the well-organized army and convoy, his voice carrying clearly and decisively throughout the surroundings:
"Order the entire army to march!"

"Target—Dry Dragon Gorge!"

Upon hearing this, Leng You, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but show a hint of surprise and worry on his face.

She couldn't help but step forward and whispered her advice:
"My lord, now that it's confirmed to be a trap meticulously set by the Yinxi Society, why knowingly walk into danger? I'm worried..."

Liang Jin's lips curled into a cold, confident smile as he interrupted her:
“Previously, the enemy was in the dark while we were in the light. They laid a trap, and if we had rashly rushed in, it would have been extremely dangerous.”

"But now, the situation is different."

His gaze was sharp, as if it could pierce through the void and reveal the layout of the Dry Dragon Gorge:

“Those rats who plotted in the shadows have been eliminated by me; the spies who tried to infiltrate my side have also been captured.”

"At this moment, Hanlong Gorge is nothing more than an 'empty city' that has lost most of its threats to me."

"Moreover, whether it's that spirit mine or the ancient divine tortoise that might be sleeping within it, I... am also very interested in going to take a look myself."

At Liang Jin's command, the massive force sprang into action.

Several wagons carrying important figures and supplies were tightly guarded by elite cavalry, forming a well-organized convoy. They raised clouds of dust and made a grand procession along the winding road in the Gobi Desert, heading towards Hanlong Gorge.

The journey has been surprisingly smooth.

The black banner of "Marquis of Zhenxi" fluttered in the wind. Wherever it passed, whether it was local bandits or forces with ill intentions, they all fled in terror, daring not to offend it in the slightest.

In the entire Western Desert, no one dares to challenge the might of this new overlord.

The convoy traveled day and night, and after several days, the outline of a majestic and desolate mountain range gradually appeared on the horizon.

We've arrived at Yumen Mountain.

From a distance, this massive mountain range resembles a giant, earth-yellow dragon lying prostrate on the Gobi Desert, its undulating shape stretching as far as the eye can see.

This is the renowned jade mining town of the Western Desert, which once became famous worldwide for mining a giant jade stone weighing tens of thousands of kilograms, attracting countless greedy and dreamy eyes.

However, beneath the fame lies a shocking scar.

Upon closer inspection, one can clearly see that the mountainsides along the way are covered with numerous mine pits of varying depths, resembling festering wounds on a giant beast or hollowed-out honeycomb, telling the story of endless predatory mining over thousands of years.

Even today, a large number of miners and various forces behind them remain active on this land.

At the edge of those huge mine pits, you can see countless ragged, emaciated miners, like ants, mechanically wielding their tools under the fierce whips and shouts of the overseers, painstakingly digging out jade stones from the hard mountain that might change their fate.

The air was filled with dust, the stench of sweat, and a faint, almost imperceptible, smell of blood.

Excessive profits breed greed, and greed leads to conflict.

The power structure in the Yumen Mountain area was as chaotic as porridge boiling over a campfire.

Mining areas of all sizes are scattered like stars in the sky. Behind almost every mine pit stands one or more "masters" who maintain their rule by force.

The most primitive law of the jungle prevails here: the strong prey on the weak.

As long as you have strong enough fists and a group of ruthless thugs under your command, you can storm into someone else's mining area at any time and seize the jade mine and the miners for yourself.

Every year, countless battles, assassinations, and conspiracies erupt over the struggle for mineral veins, resulting in the loss of countless lives.

Because this area is far from the political and military center of the Western Desert, the environment is complex, and the forces are deeply entrenched, although it is nominally under the jurisdiction of Marquis Liang Jin of Zhenxi, in reality, the officials sent by the government office have no way to effectively exercise their power here, and it is common for government orders not to leave the government office.

But today, things are different.

When Liang Jin led his well-equipped and menacing army into the Yumen Mountain area, all the forces in this land were instantly enveloped in immense fear and vigilance.

"That murderous madman, Marquis Zhenxi, is here!"

"Why did he bring so many troops here?"

"Does this mean they want to wipe us all out and monopolize all the jade mines?!"

……

Various speculations and panics spread like a plague among the major mining areas.

No one believed that Liang Jin was leading such a large army just passing through or on a "friendly visit".

Almost everyone believed that this newly crowned overlord of the Western Desert had come to reclaim control of this "lawless land," and even to uproot them, these local tyrants!

Therefore, when Liang Jin's convoy arrived at the foot of the mountain, they were met with a scene that looked as if a formidable enemy was about to attack.

On each mine, the originally simple gates were reinforced, and figures were seen on the watchtowers, their weapons gleaming coldly. Outside the walls, rows of thick chevaux-de-frise were set up, forming obstacles. The miners were driven to move logs and rocks, ready to defend to the death.

However, this seemingly tough stance is more of a show of bravado than substance, intended to demonstrate a determination to "rather be a broken jade than a whole tile," in order to increase leverage in subsequent negotiations.

No mining faction truly wanted to engage in a direct battle with the Zhenxi Marquis's army, which had just swept through the three major sects of the Western Desert and was at the height of its military power. That would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.

The primary strategy remains to probe and negotiate first.

On the only road leading to the heart of the mining area at the foot of the mountain, a large group of people were already waiting in a dark mass.

They were dressed smartly, a stark contrast to the ragged miners around them, but their faces all bore an undisguised sense of unease and anxiety.

As Liang Jin's iconic luxurious carriage slowly approached under the escort of cavalry, a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe, with a plump figure and dressed as a merchant, took a deep breath and stepped forward with forced composure.

He bowed deeply towards the convoy, and in his loudest, yet still slightly trembling voice, proclaimed:
"This humble citizen, Yu Tianjian, owner of the Midai Peak Mine, along with the owners of all 108 mines in the Yumen Mountains, are here to respectfully welcome Your Excellency's esteemed presence!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the more than one hundred mine owners and foremen behind him, representing various forces in Yumen Mountain, all knelt down in unison before Liang Jin's convoy.

A sea of ​​heads hung low, appearing exceptionally submissive in the cold mountain wind.

"Welcome, Lord Marquis!"

A jumble of worship sounds arose, filled with awe and fear.

The massive convoy slowly came to a stop. The cavalrymen guarding the area sat upright on their horses, expressionless, their eyes coldly fixed on the kneeling mine owners, an intense aura of killing intent spreading out.

This silenced the once bustling mining area, leaving only the howling mountain wind and the occasional pawing and snorting of warhorses.

The mine owners, who usually acted arrogantly and domineeringly in front of the miners, now knelt on the cold, rough ground, filled with ulterior motives and unease, enduring the torment of invisible pressure, waiting for a response from the powerful figure inside the vehicle who controlled their fate.

Time slipped away silently, each second feeling exceptionally long.

half an hour.

Then the sound of horses' hooves rang out.

Qi Zijun rode out of the caravan, approached the kneeling crowd, reined in his horse, and looked down at them, his voice cold and hard, like striking ice:

"My lord asks: Have you, who have profited from mining here, paid taxes to the Marquis's manor in accordance with the law?!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding above the heads of all the kneeling mine owners!

Everyone shuddered involuntarily, secretly raising their eyelids and exchanging glances. The unease they had just barely managed to suppress on their faces instantly resurfaced, even more intensely than before.

In the past, the Western Desert was unclaimed and lacked a unified power. When they mined jade, they only needed to pay enough "protection fees" to the three major sects that ruled the Western Desert at the time: Xingmohai, Wuliangmingwang Sect, and Daxueshan Sect. This ensured the safety of the mining area, and no one dared to provoke them.

But ever since Marquis Liang Jin of Zhenxi swept away the three major factions with lightning speed and unified the Western Desert, this land has had a true master.

However, during this chaotic period of power transition and order reconstruction, these remote mine owners, who were hoping to get away with it, naturally chose to save money and delay as much as possible.

Who would willingly hand over large sums of money to a new master who has not yet established effective rule in the area?

But now that they've brought a large army to our doorstep, it's clear we can no longer pretend to be deaf and dumb and try to get away with it.

The leader, Yutian Jian, reacted the fastest. He immediately lowered his head even further, almost touching the ground, and hurriedly replied in a tearful, extremely sincere tone:
"Please forgive us, Your Excellency! Your Excellency is wise! How could we forget the fundamental duty of paying taxes?"

"The taxes...we've prepared them long ago! We've been waiting day and night for the officials sent by the Marquis to come and collect them!"

"But... but I never expected that I would have the honor of being graced by Your Excellency's personal presence today. This... this is truly a blessing we have accumulated over several lifetimes. We are so fortunate, so incredibly fortunate!"

He abruptly changed the subject, making a concerted effort to display enthusiasm and deference:

"Besides paying all the taxes due, we learned that Your Excellency has come from afar and must be tired from your journey. We have prepared a simple feast, which is not as good as the delicacies of Your Excellency’s mansion, but it is a sincere gesture. We earnestly request Your Excellency to do us the honor of welcoming you and allowing us to show you some hospitality!"

"This humble subject will now show you the way, Your Excellency. Please, Your Excellency, take this path!"

Money or life?
For Yutianjian and the mine owners, who were always on the edge of danger and calculating their own interests, this was not a choice that required any hesitation.

Losing money to avert disaster is the only way to protect oneself in chaotic times.

Immediately, Yu Tianjian and the others hurriedly got up from the ground, bowing and scraping as they led the way, guiding Liang Jin's large convoy into what appeared to be the largest and most well-equipped mine.

Although it was a mine, and living conditions were bound to be simple, Yutianjian and the mine owners went to great lengths to please Liang Jin.

They set up a series of open-air tents covered with thick carpets on a relatively flat open space in the center of the mine, and set up dozens of tables of sumptuous food and drink inside.

Although the ingredients may not be top-notch, in this remote mining area, it is already the epitome of luxury.

Fresh beef and mutton, aged wines, and a variety of rare fruits and vegetables from the Gobi Desert... a dazzling array of choices.

In addition, they prepared a large amount of high-quality fodder and clean water for the cavalrymen's warhorses to eat.

They even found dozens of attractive young women and a full band of musicians, clearly intending to liven up the banquet.

However, Liang Jin himself did not show up at this carefully prepared welcome banquet.

He only sent Qi Zijun as his representative, while he himself remained safely in the largest and most heavily guarded tent.

A group of small-time mine owners are not worth his condescension to attend their banquet.

Inside the largest tent, the atmosphere was heavy.

Liang Jin stood with his hands behind his back, while Leng Youjing stood quietly to one side.

Both of their gazes fell on Hua Nongying, who was slumped on the ground, her expression completely different from before.

Where is the Hua Nongying of today, with even a trace of her former alluring charm and shrewdness that captivated all?
Her eyes were empty and lifeless, staring blankly ahead, unfocused, as if her soul had been ripped away.

Her mouth was slightly open, and a strand of saliva flowed uncontrollably from the corner of her mouth, soaking the front of her clothes. She was completely unaware of it, like a mentally challenged person who had lost the ability to take care of herself.

After several days of tireless effort and a final, relentless mental assault, Leng You finally managed to forcefully break through her strong mental defenses.

But as she had predicted, it caused serious side effects.

Guided by the cold, low, and rhythmic tone, Hua Nongying remained in a dazed state, intermittently and vaguely beginning to reveal the secret hidden deep within her heart:
"We...we need to lure Meng Xinghun...to...the depths of...the spirit mine..."

"Because...the divine tortoise...sleeps deep within the spirit mine...and needs...a sacrifice..."

"Sacrifice... to a powerful figure like Meng Xinghun... who possesses great fortune... and... has fused with divine blood... only his death... can... awaken... the divine tortoise..."

"Killing Meng Xinghun...is not easy...it requires...waiting...for...experts...to...arrive..."

Her words were fragmented, illogical, and her voice was so muffled it sounded like a dream, requiring careful listening to understand.

Liang Jin frowned slightly and looked at Leng You with a questioning expression.

Leng You immediately explained in a low voice:
"My lord, her will to resist was too strong. In the end, I had no choice but to use the 'Heart-Eating Demonic Sound' to forcibly destroy part of her mental barrier."

"While this made her speak, it also damaged her language abilities and some areas of her memory, which is why she is like this... Please forgive me, Your Excellency."

Liang Jin waved his hand, indicating that it was alright.

He only needed the intelligence; whether Hua Nongying spoke clearly or unclearly was of no concern to him.

He just didn't expect that the Yinxi Society's plan was actually to use him as a sacrifice to awaken the divine tortoise whose existence was unknown.

That's incredibly audacious!

But why was I chosen?

Is it just because of this so-called "gathering of great fortune"?
Upon closer examination, to outsiders unaware of the system's existence, Liang Jin's rapid rise from obscurity to become a regional overlord within just one or two years, sweeping across the Western Desert, is indeed a miracle. It seems plausible to describe his rise as "accumulating great fortune."

Unfortunately, they chose the wrong target and were destined to shoot themselves in the foot.

Leng You continued to guide the conversation with a specific tone and questions.

While in a dazed state, Hua Nongying uttered more crucial information in fits and starts:
"I wonder... which expert... the guild leader... will send..."

"My...mission...is to...keep Meng Xinghun...and wait...for...the experts in the gathering...to...arrive at the agreed time..."

"At that time...the power of the Soul Jade hidden within the Spirit Mine will be activated...to initiate the sacrificial ritual..."

"Sacrifice... Meng Xinghun... Awaken... the Divine Turtle..."

Liang Jin was not surprised by this.

He had long anticipated that Hua Nongying and the straw-hatted leader, Shawuti, were not strong enough to deal with him and would definitely have outside help.

The hidden soul jade and the so-called sacrificial ritual seem to be their trump card.

Under Leng You's continued guidance, Liang Jin inquired about details of the trap's setup, the hidden location of the Soul Jade, and possible methods of rendezvous, gradually piecing together a more complete picture of the Yinxi Society's conspiracy.

It turns out that this trap was set up after Mi Lan Yue and her people confirmed that the divine tortoise was roughly located in the spirit mine of Hanlong Gorge.

Hua Nongying and others had already infiltrated the spirit mine and secretly buried special soul jades that could gather and amplify spiritual energy at some key points.

According to their plan, Hua Nongying used Bao Rui as a pawn and lured Liang Jin to the Hanlongxia Spirit Mine with the promise of "three great gifts".

Then, she would try to keep Liang Jin calm and wait for the top experts sent by the Yinxi Society to arrive at the agreed time.

When the time is right, Hua Nongying will suddenly launch an attack, ambushing Liang Jin and simultaneously activating the power of all the Soul Jade she had buried beforehand. Together with the experts from the Yinxi Society who have arrived, they will surround and kill Liang Jin deep within the spirit mine.

According to Hua Nongying, because Liang Jin possessed great fortune and had also fused with divine blood, such a powerful person would inevitably be sensed by the divine tortoise underground if he died in the spirit mine.

Then, Hua Nongying and others will amplify this sensation through a so-called "sacrifice ritual," thereby completely awakening the divine tortoise from its slumber and bringing it into the world.

"You... went to great lengths, even at the cost of so many lives, to awaken the divine tortoise."

Liang Jin finally asked the core question, his voice icy:

"What is the ultimate goal?"

Hua Nongying stared blankly with empty eyes, drool constantly dripping from the corners of her mouth.

In a muffled yet strangely devout tone, she intermittently revealed the seemingly lofty, but actually insane, ultimate goal of the Yinxi Society:

"The world is corrupt... people are... ignorant, rotten, and degenerate... there is no way to reverse the situation..."

"We need...the gods to return to their rightful place...to cleanse the mortal world...to reshape human relations...to recreate...the universe..."

The tent was completely silent, except for the unconscious murmurs of Hua Nongying that echoed in the air.

Liang Jin shrugged helplessly.

This Yinxi Society actually wants to resurrect ancient divine beasts and let them rule the world!

Do you think this will make the world a better place?

The Adventists in "The Three-Body Problem"?

Will human tyranny be eradicated and the world belong to the divine beasts?
Such an ideal goal is really... cliché!

(End of this chapter)