From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 259 Immortal Army
Afterwards, Tuoba Hongyang learned that Tuoba Luopu had not died, but had been forced to take a Heart-Eating Pill by Xiang Liuyun, and he cursed inwardly in anger.

The Heart-Eating Pill is a second-grade poison pill.

Even cultivators at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment cannot withstand its poison. Once the poison takes effect, it will take anywhere from half an hour to three to five hours for the cultivator's internal organs to be corroded and die.

The ingredients and refining methods of the Heart-Eating Pill vary from alchemist to alchemist.

Every alchemist who can refine the Heart-Eating Pill has their own unique Heart-Eating Pill and antidote.

After taking the Heart-Eating Pill, one needs to take the antidote regularly every one or two months to delay the onset of the poison. Without taking the antidote, one can only wait for the poison to take effect and die, with no other recourse.

The characteristics of the Heart-Eating Pill make it a frequent means of controlling people.

Using the threat of death to control others is a rather low-level tactic. After all, it doesn't control others both physically and mentally.

However, the cost of controlling others' minds and making them truly loyal is far greater than that of a single poison pill.

The Heart-Eating Pill is simple and convenient, has good efficacy, and is used in a wider range of applications.

Tuoba Hongyang was furious because it was a disgrace to the Tuoba family that their members had been controlled by such despicable means.

Using the Heart-Eating Pill to control Tuoba Luopu, isn't that a slap in the face to the Tuoba family?
They completely disregarded the Tuoba family!

However, Xiang Liuyun had the right to disregard the Tuoba family.

"I wonder what Xiang Liuyun is doing using the Heart-Corroding Pill to control my clansmen?"

While angry, Tuoba Hongyang felt puzzled.

With the Xiang family's power, what use would it be to control a demonic cultivator at the third level of Foundation Establishment?
You should know that people controlled by the Heart-Eating Pill are at most used as servants or cannon fodder; no one will treat them as true confidants or subordinates.

As Tuoba Hongyang conducted his investigation and inquiries, the matter concerning the Huangze Mountains gradually came to light.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Yuanli County Government Office.

Numerous Foundation Establishment Immortal Officials gathered together.

Xu Xiaoniu, Xu Xiaohou, and Xu Yiqing were together, with Jiang Hao also present.

Bailiwei was with two celestial officials from the Baili family.

"How come there are so many Foundation Establishment Immortal Officials in our Yuanli County?"

Xu Xiaoniu looked around in surprise at the four or five hundred people around him.

In three years, the number of immortal officials in Yuanli County nearly doubled.

This is the result of Xiang Liuyun's three years in office.

During his three years as prefect, he accomplished many practical things, such as cracking down on demonic cultivators.

What he did most was increase the number of celestial officials in each department.

Previously, the Foundation Establishment Immortal Officials of Yuanli County, such as the Demon Subduing Division, including the Demon Subduing Guards and the reserve Demon Subduing Guards, numbered less than thirty people in total.

Now it has expanded to almost fifty people.

This was the case in all government offices, with a significant increase in personnel. This was especially true for the prefectural garrisons.

"I don't know what the prefect intends to do."

Xu Xiaohou muttered to himself.

Xu Yiqing used his spiritual power to whisper: "I've heard that this matter is related to the border war."

While the three were discussing, Xiang Liuyun appeared.

He stood on a high platform, three zhang high, looking down at the celestial officials below.

He used his spiritual power to speak, and his voice resounded throughout every corner of the county government office.

"Good morning, esteemed celestial officials."

"I have gathered you all here today because I have an important announcement to make."

"Do you all know about the desolate mountains south of our Zhennan Prefecture and the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty?"

The Huangze Mountains stretch for thousands of miles, and their vastness is comparable to that of our Zhennan Prefecture.

Deep within lies a reclusive family of demonic cultivators, the Ruan family.

This family, relying on the strength of their ancestor, settled here, independent of the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty and our Great Qian Dynasty, and was not subject to their jurisdiction.

However, the Ruan family often harms the people of my Yuanli County, which is a gathering place for demonic cultivators.

Many demonic cultivators who were wanted by Zhennan Prefecture and had nowhere to go sought refuge with the Ruan family after escaping Zhennan Prefecture.

There are several accounts of the Ruan family's origins.

One widely accepted explanation is that they descended from the remnants of the royal family of the former Nanling dynasty, who changed their surname to become the present-day Ruan family.

"Let's talk about the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty again."

According to historical records, it launched a war in Zhennan Prefecture 1,800 years ago, massacring millions of people in our Great Qian Dynasty.

One hundred and twenty years ago, at a spirit stone mine near Yunbian County, the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty came to fight for it, resulting in the deaths of millions of people in my Great Qian Dynasty.

……

A few years ago, a merchant caravan from my Great Qian Dynasty was traveling between the two countries to do business when it was detained and its whereabouts remain unknown to this day, with no explanation given.

......"

Xiang Liuyun was listing the "evidence" of crimes committed by the Ruan family and the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty in the desolate mountains.

Some of the content is true, while some is fabricated, or even completely distorts the truth.

For example, in the case of the spirit stone mine, although the discovered spirit stone vein was closer to the Great Qian Dynasty, it was still located in the Wilderness Mountains, not within the Great Qian Dynasty's territory. The resulting war between the two sides resulted in greater losses for the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty.

And the Ruan family.

It is true that some demonic cultivators fled Zhennan Prefecture and sought refuge with the Ruan family, but the Ruan family is a legitimate lineage of cultivators, not a demonic cultivator family.

The origins of the Ruan family are too ancient to be clearly traced.

It seems to be related to the former Nanling dynasty that once occupied Zhennan Prefecture, but the Ruan family has no intention of restoring it.

Xiang Liuyun said this in order to have a "justifiable reason for his actions".

That's right, he's sending troops to the Wilderness Mountains!

Like the struggle for spirit stone mines, this is a war for resources, unrelated to right or wrong, good or evil, justice or reason.

Sending troops in the name of the imperial court requires a "just cause," regardless of whether the reason is reasonable.

After Xiang Liuyun finished speaking, he continued, "Now, the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty is once again stirring up trouble, harming the people of our Great Qian Dynasty on the border battlefield. And the Ruan family is also adding fuel to the fire..."

"At the request of the Zhennan Prefecture government, our Yuanli County will assemble a large army of cultivators to rush to the battlefield and kill the enemy!"
Of all the soldiers and officers in the county camps, those at the Foundation Establishment stage and the late Qi Refining stage, 10% remained to guard Yuanli County and maintain its security, while the remaining 90% joined this large army.

Of the Demon-Slaying Guards of the Demon-Slaying Division, 30% were left to maintain the daily affairs of Yuanli County, while the remaining 70% were used to form a large army.

As for the remaining departments, at least half of their personnel joined this large army.

The county camp and the Demon Subduing Division were the offices responsible for fighting and killing enemies, while the other offices, such as the Forestry Bureau, the Water Conservancy Bureau, and the county government, were all clerical positions that handled documents.

Ninety percent of the personnel came from the county garrison, seventy percent from the Demon Subduing Division, and half from each of the other departments and offices.

In other words, more than half of the Foundation Establishment Immortal Officials in Yuanli County will be assigned to this large army that will go to the Wilderness Mountains to participate in the war.

This is why Xiang Liuyun recruited many new immortal officials for various departments and offices over three years.

"In addition to the celestial officials in our county government, I will also recruit a large number of cultivators from outside to join us."

Xiang Liuyun can force the celestial officials to fight, but the family cultivators and rogue cultivators from the outside world will not listen to him. He can only recruit them with generous conditions.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Before he could finish speaking, the crowd below the stage had already started whispering and discussing among themselves.

Normally, these celestial officials wouldn't act this way. But upon hearing Xiang Liuyun's arrangement, even the prefect's authority couldn't suppress their discontent.

"Wow, there are way too many people going into battle."

"More than half of us celestial officials are going to serve in the army and fight?"

"I'm just a civil official, and I haven't even cultivated any combat skills in my family. You want me to go to the battlefield and kill people? Are you kidding me?"

“I am from the Forestry Bureau, not a local soldier, much less a border soldier of the Great Qian Dynasty.”

"Heh, no wonder they've been recruiting so many new people lately."

"I heard that the Ruan family not only has a Golden Core cultivator, but their patriarch is a Nascent Soul Dao Lord. We are all ants in the face of a Golden Core cultivator. Are we supposed to deal with a Nascent Soul Dao Lord? Isn't that just sending us to our deaths as cannon fodder?"

"..."

Most of the celestial officials present were unwilling.

Not to mention those civil officials, even the people in the county camp didn't want to go.

Serving as a soldier in the prefectural garrison and fighting on the border are two different things. Fighting means death, and the enemy is the massive army of the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty.

When the two sides clash, late-stage Qi Refining cultivators will be nothing but cannon fodder and ants, Foundation Establishment cultivators will be everywhere, and even Golden Core cultivators can kill many people in battle.

The battlefield is a veritable meat grinder.

Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator, who usually holds a prestigious position, might not survive more than a few days on the battlefield.

Despite what Xiang Liuyun had said before, everyone was smart enough to know his true purpose.

"Quiet!"

Xiang Liuyun shouted loudly, plunging the scene into silence.

He remained expressionless, knowing everyone had objections. But this was a task given to him by the Carefree King.

Not only the Carefree King, but the Ruan family also possessed a cultivation technique that the Xiang family desperately needed, which is why the Xiang family cooperated so well with the Carefree King.

They each get what they need and cooperate with each other.

Under Xiang Liuyun's oppressive aura, the scene quieted down, but everyone looked at Xiang Liuyun with resentment.

Even with his status as a member of a Golden Core family, Xiang Liuyun, at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, could not suppress so many Foundation Establishment Immortal Officials.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"At that time, the Zhennan Prefecture government will send a Golden Core cultivator as commander to lead our Yuanli County's immortal army into battle."

Xiang Liuyun continued.

With the Golden Core cultivator as the commander, he is the guarantee of everyone's safety.

However, everyone still looked disdainful.

What good is it if a Golden Core cultivator is the commander? He'll just use them as cannon fodder.

On the battlefield, it's impossible for a Golden Core cultivator to protect every single one of them.

"..."

Xiang Liuyun fell silent.

After a moment, he changed the subject: "Let me be honest."

Do you know how many resources are in the Wilderness Mountains?

It is a vast and prosperous land with many spiritual lands. First and second-tier spiritual lands are everywhere, and there are also quite a few third-tier spiritual lands, as well as many spirit stone mines.

If you discover a spirit stone vein, you can distribute the harvested spirit stones as you see fit.

Due to the abundant spiritual energy, first- and second-tier spiritual plants are readily available in the Desolate Marsh Mountains, and one might even encounter third-tier spiritual plants. Or perhaps, rare and precious natural treasures imbued with immortal energy!

What is immortal energy? It's the opportunity to refine a golden elixir into one's body and use it as a natal magic weapon!

"Upon reaching the Desolate Marsh Mountains, countless resources await your exploration and discovery, along with the opportunity to advance to the Golden Core stage..."

"To be honest, the patriarch of the Ruan family was indeed a Nascent Soul Dao Lord."

However, that Daoist Lord had been dead for twenty or thirty years. Back then, the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty had already sent troops to besiege the Ruan family, attempting to seize their family's resources.

How many treasures does a family with a Nascent Soul Dao Lord possess, a family that is independent of the Great Qian Dynasty and the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty and not subject to their jurisdiction?
can not imagine!

It took the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty more than ten years to break through the Ruan family's protective formation, and the two sides fought a fierce battle for many years afterward.

In the desolate mountains, there are members of the Ruan family who possess great treasures, or people from the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty who have brought resources they have seized.

......"

Since lecturing with grand principles was useless, Xiang Liuyun simply resorted to enticing her with benefits.

Sure enough, everyone's expression changed after he said those words.

This is the real reason why the imperial court sent troops to the desolate mountains.

What are the resources of a Nascent Soul family?

There are also many cultivators from the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty?
And what about the countless resources in the Desolate Marsh Mountains? Even the chance to achieve the Golden Core stage?
The opportunity to achieve the Golden Core stage—which Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn't care about that?

The journey from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core is like a fish leaping over the Dragon Gate, entering the ranks of powerful cultivators.

Among the many Foundation Establishment Immortal Officials, the three members of the Xu family all lit up when they heard about the "Golden Core opportunity".

Over the years, they have been trying to find a way for Xu Yiqing to attain the Golden Elixir.

"Liu Zi, did you hear that? The prefect just said something about rare and precious materials containing immortal energy, and the opportunity to refine a golden core into a natal magic weapon!"

"I heard!"

"..."

The three exchanged glances and secretly communicated, their expressions filled with excitement.

The opportunity to obtain the Golden Elixir, which I have been searching for for so long, seems to be right before my eyes.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Seeing the excited expressions on everyone's faces, Xiang Liuyun thought to himself: If the opportunity to obtain the Golden Core was so easy to find, and if there were so many resources in the Desolate Marsh Mountains, the Great Qian Dynasty and the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty would have occupied the Desolate Marsh Mountains long ago, and would not have allowed it to become a no-man's land.

The reason why the Wilderness Mountains are unclaimed land is partly because they serve as a buffer zone between the two immortal dynasties, preventing them from bordering each other and thus avoiding frequent conflicts and wars.

More importantly, the Huangze Mountains are fraught with danger.

Not only is it rich in spiritual energy and filled with spiritual veins, but many areas are also shrouded in poisonous fog and miasma. It is unsuitable for ordinary people to live in.

Let alone ordinary people, even Qi Refining cultivators with weaker cultivation levels would find it unbearable to encounter the poisonous miasma.

Furthermore, the monsters are even more dangerous!

The vast, desolate mountain range has existed for countless years.

Spiritual energy can nourish cultivators, and it can also give rise to demonic beasts.

The desolate mountain range is home to countless monsters of all sizes, including some third-tier monsters whose strength is comparable to that of a Golden Core cultivator.

This is why Zhennan Prefecture recruited so many late-stage Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators.

No matter how many cultivators there are in the late stage of Qi Refining, they cannot defeat a single Golden Core cultivator.

However, the Desolate Marsh Mountain Range is too vast, and a Golden Core cultivator cannot constantly guard against those weaker demonic beasts. Even if a Golden Core cultivator exhausted all their true essence and died from exhaustion, it would be impossible to kill all the demonic beasts in the Desolate Marsh Mountain Range.

Searching for resources and guarding against demonic beasts are the main roles of late-stage Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After Xiang Liuyun spoke some "sincere" words, the celestial officials present were no longer so opposed.

Although many celestial officials were still unwilling, the remaining celestial officials were enough to make up the number of people Xiang Liuyun had mentioned.

Each department only needs to send a portion of its personnel.

Apart from the county garrison, which requires 90% of its troops to be mobilized, the officials of other departments have the option to choose.

(End of this chapter)