Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 172 The Filth of the Palace
In the midst of the city-wide dream of Lelang City, the black prison built by Wu Hanluan finally appeared. The originally narrow streets slowly opened up like a human mouth, expanding the space. The stone paving stones, black tiles, and the ruts worn by carriages and horses over the years were all revealed.

However, this building is an inverted structure. The entire prison originally descended gently, with seven underground levels, but now, upside down, it has become a tower. The first underground level has become the first above-ground level, and the seventh underground level has become the seventh above-ground level.

From the perspective of most of the conquering army, it is a seven-story building; however, in the Xuanchong space reference system, this seven-story building is not what everyone sees on the ground right now.

The actual size of the building is visually reduced, much like how official military propaganda photos from the previous life could make the runway of a 70,000-80,000-ton warship look like the deck of a fishing boat.

In Xuanchong's true spatial coordinate system, the first level is a hundred meters, the second level is over a thousand meters, and by the seventh level, one has actually reached Xieyue. The top of the tower, as seen from the ground, is now connected to Xieyue by a green line.

Besides the tower in front of him, Wu Fei saw another red line on the Evil Moon swinging at the tip of this black tower.

The line is scattered with countless loose ends, which lead to a large number of architectural ruins. These ruins appear to be former gladiatorial arenas, meaning that if the gladiatorial business established by the King of Lelang had continued to develop, it would have caused the entire prefecture to be corrupted.

Since others cannot see these red lines and scattered green lines, the remains of these buildings surround the prison like random fragments.

This tower now connects to the Green Rotten Moon; while in the past, Lelang City was the birthplace of the "Berserk Disease," so the old ruins were once the passage to the Red Blood Moon.

Xuan Chong watched as the building opened, and from the dark entrance to the underground prison where criminals were originally held, a foul stench continuously emanated.

Xuan Chong looked at the opening. It looked like it was going downwards, but in reality, the passage below was like a mirage, and the actual thing was that you had to climb upwards.

The soldiers lined up behind Xuan Chong looked at the rotten, mushroom-covered door as it opened. Inside, it was dark and gloomy, and they could hear the popping and squeezing sounds of pustules inside. They couldn't help but feel nauseous.

Xuan Chong inexplicably thought of the scene in the Resident Evil movie where the gates of the underground Raccoon City base were opened.

However, the ones blocking the entrance now were not the few soldiers from the movie, but four hundred soldiers standing ready, shrouded in a menacing aura, long spears and shields in hand, bows drawn and crossbows nocked, along with three crossbows with their bows strung. Each soldier had a herbal medicine in their mouth and wore black armor covering their faces.

At the cave entrance, a group of hunched-over people, like dogs, huddled on a horse with a meter-long abscess, sucking on it like milk. When the gate opened, these little people chattered excitedly, "More good friends have come!" "We are happy little elves!" and then surged forward.

Xuan Chong looked at these things and, on a whim, took out the Restoration Gem to try it out and see if it could work. However, the system prompted: "These are all corpses, and the Restoration Gem cannot be used."

To be precise, these are all corrupt individuals among the city's greedy hooligans.

"The first team lights torches, the captain picks up the measuring rope, and advances fifty paces." Xuan Chong gave the first order, and the team began to move.

Although the soldiers were somewhat awkward about returning to Wu Fei's command before taking up arms, they instinctively felt they needed a commander when faced with something so inhuman.

After hearing Wu Fei's methodical commands, the people in the first team seemed to calm down from their initial anxiety.

The surging, rotting "sprites" died swiftly in the spear thrusts, leaving no remains but turning into green dust and dissipating. Just how many of these rotting sprites perished under the spear's thrusts?
Since there were no corpses, no one could count, but Wu Fei counted them very clearly in his mind (with system-assisted marking), it should be one hundred and fifty-seven.

The morale of everyone who won the first battle was greatly boosted. After the demons were wiped out, the rot in the Black Prison Hall was swept away, leaving only the dilapidated buildings that had been deserted for a long time.

This is the first level, but the soldiers behind him shouted, "General, the steps behind have disappeared!"

All the soldiers turned to look, and the gate they had entered through was now a wall. Xuan Chong knew very well that it wasn't the gate behind them that was blocked. Rather, the first level of the Black Prison Tower had disappeared, and everyone had been silently lifted up. Now, Xuan Chong's army was not trapped underground, but suspended high in the air.

Xuan Chong rebuked the soldiers: "What are you panicking for? This battle is one of advance and no retreat."

The soldiers fell silent. As rebels, they had a crisis of trust with Xuan Chong. But now, facing certain death, Xuan Chong had always stood by their side. This contrast between their "crisis of trust" and Xuan Chong's presence evoked a sense of being "reliant," so they all stood beside their lord.

The campaign continued. The soldiers pushed open the second door, and this time, instead of the hunchbacked little monsters that were half a person's height on the first floor, they were enormous, fat men, each as tall as a person, covered in pustules. Their bloated bellies would burst with fluid at the slightest touch. The soldiers who were tainted immediately grimaced in pain, their bodies covered in blisters.

When a soldier standing at the front tried to flee in fear, he was killed by Xuan Chong with a single blow.

After Xuan Chong moved Wu Baichuan to the front, he shouted, "No one can retreat! Anyone who can't advance with the team will die!"

Under military orders, the entire army formed heavily armored squares and began thrusting with spears.

Even as many were splattered with pus on their faces, experiencing a tingling and itching sensation, they endured the discomfort and continued the slaughter. At this moment, they had already given their lives to Xuan Chong; even with their stomachs slashed open and their intestines exposed, they continued to hack and slash.

The malevolent aura intensified, and the laughter of the rotting monsters gradually faded away. In the empty underground battlefield, only the thrusting of spears and the sound of command whistles could be heard.

The battle was extremely difficult, but in the end all the enemies were wiped out.

After the enemies were all reduced to ashes, all the soldiers found that the pustules on their bodies had immediately scabbed over and fallen off. The soldiers with severed limbs were still groaning, reminding everyone that what had just happened was not a dream.

As Xuan Chong walked up to the wounded soldiers, a soldier with a slit in his stomach crawled forward, propped himself up on his knees, and reported back, indicating that he had not disgraced his mission!

Xuan Chong pondered for a moment, and then, sensing something in the darkness, he cut his finger and dripped a drop of blood. The dying soldiers immediately began to writhe in the firelight, and soon their bodies recovered.

Wu Baichuan broke his leg in battle, but it was rekindled by the fire of regeneration. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he was full of energy again. He said gratefully, "I am willing to die for the general."

Xuan Chong did not respond to their pledge of loyalty, but instead issued the order as cold as cast iron: "Open the third door."

The arena once built by King Lelang absorbed slaughter and fear; while this rotten land absorbs despair and care! Xuan Chong sensed that both of these emotions emanating from this place would increase its rotten power, so he kept a straight face, as if he had no feelings at all.

However, as soon as the third door opened, a swarm of mosquitoes rushed towards us.

Xuan Chong raised his hand, and a burst of fire shot out. Under the terrifying heat, all the mosquitoes that swarmed towards him were roasted to death. The powerful flames also poured into the third door, and the joyful laughter inside was roasted into groans.

The human soldiers, initially startled by the mosquitoes and prepared to tough it out, were greatly encouraged by the lord's terrifying magical counterattack. Shouting slogans, they advanced directly to the third level. The third level consisted of swarms of giant toads; the mosquitoes were actually expelled by these toads' burps.

A few minutes later, the halberdiers attacked relentlessly, piercing the toads with holes until they deflated like punctured balloons, eventually turning to ashes.

Xuan Chong looked down at his wrist. A few days ago, he had tried using this lotus seed, but it seemed that the mark only worked on the foreheads of some "plague-contaminated" individuals. In reality, it couldn't be removed as a physical object. But now, the lotus seed in his hand seemed to have taken on a tangible form!
In this battle, not only were the enemies stronger, but Xuan Chong also felt that the power of "idealism" around him had also become stronger.

For example, when he held up this lotus seed, within a three-zhang radius of its radiance, the wounds of all the injured soldiers were stitched up by tender green shoots. And the biting mosquitoes were as if sprayed with insecticide, falling headfirst to the ground and turning into dust.

Xuan Chong opened the system: "System, I feel like this is becoming more and more like a virtual game."

System: "The closer you get to the target's true source of information, the more complete the information projected by the lotus seed itself will be. Please keep up the good work."

Xuan Chong: "Next, I'll be on an expedition to the Evil Moon? Will the environment of the Evil Moon make the shadows projected by the lotus seeds even more realistic?"

The system replied succinctly: "Yes."

Xuan Chong seized on the key point and pressed further: "So, is Xieyue a virtual network or another objective physical world?" The system paused for a while, clearly avoiding certain rules: "Your exchange items (lotus seeds) all objectively exist in this plane of the universe. The lotus seed mark on your hand is an 'information source.' When you feel the lotus seed becoming more and more real, it's because your 'channel' for receiving information is getting better and better."

Xuan Chong pondered for a moment and roughly understood some key points.

At this moment, the fourth gate appeared before them. Bai Renfeng, who had been using sword energy in the ranks, prompted Xuan Chong, "My lord, the target is getting larger and larger. Should I imbue the soldiers' weapons with the Blade Technique?"

Xuan Chong stopped him.

Xuan Chong discovered that whenever he opened the door, the opponent behind it was actually identified by scanning data about him and others.

…The lotus seeds became increasingly clear, while the gamma-ray spot on the evil moon grew brighter and brighter…

Meanwhile, in the north, the capital of Yao.

In the prison cell, Suwang interrogated a palace maid covered in blood.

Suwang said, "These letters of rebellion, could they be from the Prince's residence?" The palace maid glanced at him, her face full of fear, and said, "If you say so, then it is, Your Excellency."

Suwang: "I want you to say yes!" With that, he pressed the branding iron onto her, and the palace maid fainted after screaming in agony.

Suwang stood up and ordered those around him, "Pour water on her to wake her!" He desperately needed to find the mastermind behind the rebellion. However, the palace maid took advantage of his inattention and committed suicide.

During the reign of Emperor Da Yao, powerful eunuchs, in order to maintain their power and influence, not only needed to please the current emperor but also arrange for a suitable successor. This was the key to the eunuchs' ability to hold onto their authority in the late Eastern Han Dynasty.

When Emperor Ling was still the King of Zhou, Su Wang was just one of the attendants, but not the only one who could be trusted.

At that time, there were other people in the Zhou royal palace who were also guardians of the crown prince, such as the tutor of the Zhou king's son (the crown prince), and even advisors sent by other powerful families. Everyone worked together to support the Zhou king's ascension to the throne.

Now that Suwang holds absolute power, he has suppressed all his enemies and former allies and is beginning to consider the possibility of being overthrown.

Although all of King Zhou's sons died in the palace collapse, two more children were quickly adopted from the clan, who are now King Ding and King Yuan.

Suwang's former allies have now quietly gathered around these two princes, creating a significant sense of crisis for Suwang. (Li Fei's identity is complicated, and her son Ying'er lacks the influence of his maternal clan, thus he is not being considered by other groups in Yaodu.)
In particular, Prince Ding and Prince Yuan were already seven years old, old enough to remember things, and had begun to have likes and dislikes about the outside world.

The way Prince Ding and Prince Yuan looked at Suwang clearly conveyed the feeling that "you are a treacherous minister," which made Suwang feel extremely cold inside.

By day, Suwang was majestic and imposing, but by night, he was constantly filled with fear and anxiety about future changes in his dreams. After much thought, he realized that instead of passively waiting for changes to happen, he should take control of them.

In the end, Suwang made a decision: since others were unrighteous, he would be unrighteous too! Supporting the imperial heir was nothing, he could do that as well.

Suwang entered Consort Li's palace under the pretense of delivering fruit to pay his respects, but Consort Li responded with a smile and made no promises.

Finally, Suwang gritted his teeth and decided to be frank and say that he wanted to form an alliance with Consort Li, and that he would help Consort Li deal with the other consorts and force the other princes out of the competition for the throne.

Consort Li looked at him and then said, "How can I trust you?"

Suwang, with an innocent look on his face, said, "Your Majesty, I am absolutely loyal." He then squeezed the ornate "heart-to-heart doll" and prepared to offer it as a sacrifice.

Consort Li nodded: "How about this, come forward." A purple butterfly emerged from Consort Li's hand.

Consort Li: "This is a heart-locking butterfly. This butterfly flies into your heart and will lock away a greatest secret. If this secret is ever revealed, you will be doomed. Are you willing?"

Suwang examined the Gu worm, hesitated slightly, and tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, is this secret... about...?"

Consort Li smiled mysteriously: "Since it's a secret, naturally you can't know anything about it right now."

Suwang scratched his head and thought for a while, then finally agreed. The butterfly landed on his heart, quickly transforming into a chain of thorns.

After everything was completed, Suwang asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, what exactly is this secret?"

Li Fei also dripped her blood onto the puppet given to her by Su Wang, fulfilling her promise to him. With a mysterious smile, Li Fei said, "You'll find out in time. If you reveal anything, you'll suffer a fate worse than death!"—Of course, the more she wanted to reveal something, the less she could, and the more delighted the purple power became.

The alliance between Queen Li and Suwang was reached. That very night, Suwang had a nightmare in which he learned something momentous, but as soon as he tried to reveal it, he was overcome with pain. Upon waking, he forgot about it, but the wooden puppet at the head of Suwang's bed was watching him with its eyes.

The Taoist priest, who lived a carefree life outside the palace, watched with a smile, much like someone on the shore watching a drunkard he had kicked into the water with amusement.

Just as Xian Daoren was admiring his masterpiece, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked up at the evil moon in the sky. It was like the "great wisdom" who was waiting for a pie to fall from the sky but instead received hail.

…What has been divided for a long time will unite, and what has been united for a long time will divide…

In outer space, two evil moons orbiting the Xiren star suddenly began to converge once again.

This time, the evil moon, a combination of green and red, is heading straight for the evil moon, a combination of blue and purple! And the force that drives this collision is not the earth vein energy deep within the Xiren Realm, but a blue beam of light coming from beyond the sky.

This beam of light, like a pool cue poking a basketball, landed on the green and red evil moon. The slowly pushing "green and red moon" flew towards "blue and purple."

Clearly, Lan Zixieyue is trying to escape, but is frozen in place by the power of the "Xi Ren Realm".

The Daoist watched helplessly as the rotten and violent green-red evil moon crashed into the "wisdom and joy" purple-blue evil moon.

The Daoist Master stood up, staring intently at the blue beam of light radiating from the heavens. This was something he had never anticipated!

Xian Daoren was agitated: "Have I forgotten something? What happened! The past! No—the past has been altered."

He turned his head to look at the land of Zhen, which was the result of his plan from several years ago: to let Zhen rot and backfire, and then be despised by the world.

In the Great Divination of Mountains and Rivers, the various parties' verification of the "source of the epidemic" was actually evidence he secretly provided to the immortal sects, thus luring out this whole drama.

"The plan was originally wonderful, how did it suddenly turn into a boomerang-like situation?"

The first person Xian Daoren thought of was Wu Fei, this guy who was completely unaffected by the "blessing," yet possessed a rare treasure. Then, he suddenly realized something and gritted his teeth, saying, "Qian Zuan!"

(End of this chapter)