Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 179 Obstacles to the Journey to the South
In the third year of the Tianyou calendar, in Zhenzhou, Xuan Chong received an imperial edict. The edict tacitly approved Xuan Chong's northward march to eliminate the plague. — Seemingly giving the Wu family a way out, it actually severely restricted the Wu family's army. Their actions to retaliate against the lords of Jizhou and other places became illegitimate.

At the same time, Xuan Chong also received a secret letter from Su Wang. Xuan Chong looked at it for a long time but couldn't understand it. He didn't pay attention to it and casually put it in the list of unimportant documents in his study.

Yang Sanniang, who happened to be able to enter the study, seemed to sense something. She pulled the letter out of the archives and asked Xuan Chong, "Husband, how could you just leave this secret letter from a powerful minister in the court lying around like this?"

Xuan Chong glanced at the document she pulled out, instinctively thinking he had leaked important information, and wanted to take it away; but when he saw it was a letter, he put his hand down and said to Yang San Niang, "A powerful minister? He's just an iceberg that doesn't know how many more days he can last. I haven't settled the old scores with him yet (for instigating forces like Jizhou to seize Zhenzhou). He came to drag me into this, but I can't be bothered with him."

Yang San Niang covered her mouth and smiled, knowing that Xuan Chong did not understand the meaning of the letter.

As a "thousand-fold strategist," she could see through the subtle clues and hidden schemes within the "myriad changes" of the plot.

Suwang's veiled threats in the letter were an attempt to make Wu Fei understand something. But all the efforts of this "keeper of secrets" were like casting pearls before swine.

Xuan Chong was far away in Zhendi, busy raising funds and acquiring land for the railway lines in Lingnan and Zhendi, and was extremely busy; he had no idea what Su Wang was talking about with his "simple riddle".

Xuan Chong felt that this guy was trying to extort him. But he didn't know why he was trying to extort him.

In Xuan Chong's mind, the matter of Li Nu stepping on the ground in her dream and being told by the system that she "had an extra son" was long over.

Back then, Xuan Chong thought that the witch would then obediently raise her son.

It is said that Xuan Chong still needs to take care of weak women, but a demoness is capable enough to take care of herself.

Xuan Chong had no idea that through her own hard work and ambition, she had managed to remarry and bring her child into the palace. She even managed to get her adopted son the title of "Prince Ji".

Seeing Xuan Chong's complete ignorance, Yang San Niang maintained a smile.

Xuan Chong was bewildered: "What are you laughing at?"

Yang San Niang pouted: "I like to laugh, is that not allowed?"

After Xuan Chong left the study, Yang San Niang put away the letter and looked at Xuan Chong's back. "Husband, you are truly upright and have nothing to fear."

…The flickering lights behind Wu Fei cast a long, long shadow…

At a court assembly in February of the third year of the Tianyou era, when an imperial censor reported that the Wu clan was causing trouble in the south and ravaging the region, requiring the court to issue an edict to strip them of their titles—Suwang, who had always adhered to the principle of suppressing the Wu brothers, suppressed the issue at this moment. On the white jade steps, Suwang read out the edict on behalf of Emperor Ling: the matter of Zhen was merely due to Wu Hanluan's oversight.

Suwang was subtly trying to signal to Xuan Chong that cooperation was possible. However, his plan was destined to be a futile effort.

Xuan Chong in the west had no idea that he was now involved in something called "tainting the harem".

On the contrary, Suwang, because he was cursed, had his soul locked by purple thorns in his heart, and was tormented by the feeling of wanting to speak but being unable to.

They had no choice but to desperately keep the explosive secret that "Prince Ji is Wu Fei's son."

"Defilement within the palace"? No, no, no. Everyone knows that when Emperor Ling was still the Prince of Zhou, he forcibly took Wu Fei's fiancée as his wife. When the Li family's servant went to the Wu family to discuss this matter in private, he caused a disturbance, resulting in Wu Fei's retainer angrily beheading the Li family servant in the street.

Even back then, the controversy surrounding the censors' impeachment of the Wu family for allowing their servants to commit violence was still being talked about by storytellers in the streets and alleys.

Furthermore, what was Wu Fei doing when Consort Li was taken as a concubine by King Zhou? He was constantly waging war against the Hao Kingdom and fighting for Da Yao in the northern border.

So even if the matter comes to light, how will the many officials of Yaodu explain to the world how Wu Fei managed to be in two places at once, eating sand in Bojun in the north, and how he managed to get into the bed of the imperial concubine?

In recent years, even the most critical historians have been busy fabricating stories about how Wu Fei was shameless in the north, how he had an affair with the general of Hao Kingdom by exchanging gifts, and how he brutally exhausted the manpower of Bo County in his conquests. The storylines have already been filled up.

If we were to further distort the story of Xuan Chong's use of flight techniques to return to Yaodu from Bohai and cross the palace walls, oh dear, how would future generations view this history? What would they say? Even historians have their pride.

Moreover, even if we really clarify things, in the eyes of the common people: which of these procedures did Emperor Ling follow: betrothal, asking the name, accepting auspicious gifts, presenting gifts, setting the date, the grand ceremony, issuing the register, and welcoming the emperor? It was because Li Shi did not complete the procedures back then that she was rejected by the Prince of Beijing's mansion.

When King Zhou was regent, he secretly sent eunuchs to abduct women from the common people. Why weren't the people happy about being chosen? Because everyone knew that King Zhou was just buying a mold to use and then discard. And the people abducted weren't entirely from humble backgrounds; they were from collateral branches of large clans, raising daughters hoping for marriage alliances with the main branches of other clans. Now they were treated like discarded objects used by King Zhou. It was impossible not to harbor some resentment.

If it were to be revealed now that the Li family's son was not Emperor Ling's offspring, the people would gloat over this absurd truth. They might even secretly mock him, saying, "How can an emperor govern the country if he lacks virtue?"
If the emperor loses his virtue, the emperor will not die, but Suwang, this close minister, is unforgivable.

By this time, Suwang had offended all of Emperor Ling's adopted children, and even if Suwang wanted to turn back, he would have no way to go back.

After court, Suwang went to the Wind and Thunder Communication Platform in Zhen Palace again, but did not receive a reply from Wu Fei.

His attempt to bring Wu Fei into the fold failed, and he couldn't help but turn to look in the direction of Consort Li in the palace, gritting his teeth: "How on earth did you (Consort Li) get pregnant with Wu Fei's child out of thin air?!"

After all, people in ancient times could not understand the advanced sowing methods of the 40th century.

…the great Confucian scholars severed ties with the land and its culture…

Xuan Chong had no time to decipher the letters of enticements and threats sent to him by the imperial court and local powerful families. Strategically, after confirming the stability of the situation on all sides, Xuan Chong arrived at Fenxing City, summoned the peacock, and assembled a force to fly south towards the Chi You army's territory.

Besides the peacock ridden by Xuan Chong himself, there were a total of five large flying vehicles, including the Taiyue Luan and the wooden Yufeng Feiluan. The group crossed south of the Lingjiang River, landed at the supply depot to replenish their provisions, and then reorganized a force of five hundred crow people.

These southward-bound teams were all skilled, having ventured deep into the southern mountains and forests multiple times. Xuan Chong's southward journey wasn't merely about acquiring weapons and leaving; it was a preparatory step for a future southern expedition.

Xuan Chong's southward journey was not an expedition. No matter how large the expedition, the considerations are limited to each individual, who is responsible for their own affairs. After a failed expedition and retreat, individuals stick together. Sick or injured people can simply be abandoned.

Even the smallest military unit must consider maintaining its combat effectiveness under the most extreme circumstances! Combat effectiveness needs to be guaranteed by belief, and belief is collectivism—never abandoning or giving up.

In the event of non-combat casualties, evacuation priorities and support arrangements must be prioritized. All available resources, including diplomatic support, must be mobilized to ensure a safety net.

As the commander of the army, no matter what pressure you encounter, you must not rush and lose your composure. Every order must be serious and feasible, and the time and location must be precisely quantified.

When a crisis is anticipated, the commander must provide clear numerical standards for assigning actions to subordinates regarding the risky tasks, leaving no room for ambiguity.

The phrase "You must adapt to changing circumstances" should only be given when there is sufficient manpower at the front. In times of crisis, the commander must be responsible and issue clear orders.

Approaching forty, I will not allow others to mislead me…

Giant birds flapped their wings in the sky, horses traversed the jungle, and local guides led the group on river voyages, advancing by land, water, and air.

Under Xuan Chong's command, the journey was very smooth. Although strange storms, bizarre forest fires, and miasma appeared along the way, these anomalies did not pose much of an obstacle.

Despite these disturbances, the team guides were able to orient themselves based on the landmarks left by previous expeditions.

Furthermore, Xuan Chong himself could determine his location by starlight.

This behemoth, with its mages and armored legions, marched straight ahead, causing the villains who created all sorts of anomalies to become extremely anxious.

After spending half a month traveling east along the Lingjiang River and then turning south, the army found Chiyou Mountain, an inverted hill covered with rust-covered bands of regular hexagonal patterns, as if covered by a grid.

After confirming that they had reached the target, Xuan Chong did not order them to enter, but instead ordered all teams to rest for three days before proceeding.

Just then, Jamud walked over to Xuan Chong and said, "Sir, the wind and rain around here are very unusual."

Xuan Chong glanced at the distant glow of the sunset, understood what he was talking about, and summoned Bai Renfeng.

Bai Renfeng said bluntly, "My lord, these are people from the Wangheng Sect. This place is quite far from the Human Realm, and your army numbers only a thousand."

Xuan Chong nodded and said, "Could you talk to them and say that we should stop fighting and forget each other in the martial world?" Bai Renfeng glanced at Xuan Chong's expression and said, "I can talk to them, but sir, do you really think you can let bygones be bygones?"

Wang Hengzong wished that Xuan Chong would just die while traveling, thus severing the fortune of Zhendi.

Xuan Chong sighed, "We still need to say what we need to say. We'll trouble you to make the trip, Immortal Master."

Bai Renfeng nodded: "No need to trouble yourself."

Before he finished speaking, he transformed into a streak of red light, and from the five hundred men in the army formation, a sword beam mixed with spiritual energy shot into the sky.

This is the state of being stuck at the 28th level of Qi Refining. The density of mana is no less than that of Core Formation, but because of the highly unstable nature of the mixed evil energy, it cannot condense.

Xuan Chong raised his head and looked at the distant clouds where the sunset glowed, and nodded slightly; then he turned to the group and instructed everyone, "Everyone do your own thing and set up camp here."

Jamud, who was accompanying the general, said, "General, aren't we going to help?"

Xuan Chong: "How can you help? If you slowly send troops to chase after them, the cultivators will escape thousands of miles in an instant. Then, after you fall victim to their Plum Blossom Scheme, the camp we left behind will be blown to pieces by a whirlwind in the middle of the night, or even burned down!"

Although spiritual energy can ward off evil energy, if the evil energy is insufficient, or if the army is in a remote place, they may encounter disasters such as fire or water, or even a meteor shower or a sinking city wall.

Xuan Chong said to the soldiers around him, "As long as we follow the steps, we won't make a mistake."

Xuan Chong began to adjust his work and rest schedule. Due to the loss of qi and blood, as well as the fatigue from traveling, many systems in his body became unstable.

The team set up four camps, one on the mountain, one near a water source, and one near the edge of the jungle. The four camps were about 100 zhang apart on average, forming a defensive perimeter.

Xuan Chong himself would rest quietly by the water during the day, observe the stars at dawn and dusk, and sometimes rest by the forest.

…The formation is set, the malevolent energy is present…

The cultivators from the Wangheng Sect had followed them all the way. They had calculated that Xuan Chong's 500-strong force was heading south to unleash a devastating aura of slaughter. Therefore, they wanted to stop them.

As Xuan Chong guessed, if spiritual energy and malevolent energy reach a critical point where they wax and wane, military strategists will be harmed by natural disasters instigated by immortals.

However, Xuan Chong overcame all obstacles along the way, such as opening up mountains and building bridges over rivers, and the tribal outposts along the route responded, just like a king on a journey.

What is a king? The essence of malevolent energy is to take from the insufficient and give to the abundant, so that the injured party is willing to serve as a subject in order to oppose the way of heaven. This is what it means to be a king.

Therefore, when Xuan Chong's small army of five hundred, traveling by land, sea, and air, crossed the southern border, the cultivators were still unable to mobilize enough spiritual energy to affect the group.

It wasn't until they walked three hundred miles south of Lingjiang and entered the forest that Xuan Chong's kingly aura began to wane.

In other words, cultivators can now use Taoist arts to create some unexpected events for Xuan Chong's southward-bound army, such as a raging fire caused by a strong wind or a flood. However, these effects can only reach a distant point; they are far from the extent that, during the ancient conflict between the Chan and Jie sects, they could directly set up formations to create a river, a desert of quicksand, or even a swamp to block the army's path.

Xuan Chong's camp formation was quite sophisticated, with the camps facing each other in turn, and every soldier's gaze fixed on the surrounding area, watching every rustle of grass.

The "killing aura" guarding the camp alternately sweeps around the area. As long as the formation remains intact, cultivators are still unable to use their spiritual techniques.

Next, a monument was erected here by the Southern Frontier Expedition Team; and as long as the inscription on this monument is read every ten years, this place will be within the realm of the Human Path. Within the Human Path, as long as the eyes of fifty soldiers are on it, immortal techniques above the Foundation Establishment stage cannot be used!

Xuanchong's camp was heavily guarded. Any slight movement would surely raise alarms. Whether it was a strong wind at night or a flame, magic would be ineffective.

…just like the scene of the battle at Jiepai Pass…

Fifty-three cultivators from various sects, some piloting spirit boats and others riding spirit beasts, were watching Wu Fei's "Four Towns of Slaughter" camp when suddenly a sword light rushed out from the formation.

Bai Renfeng stopped in front of them and said loudly, "Fellow Daoists, the general has given orders that we have no enmity with you. Why do you repeatedly commit acts of banditry?"

A cultivator from the Linjian Sect stepped forward and said, "You are mistaken. The way of Heaven is constant. Once the sealed object in the Southern Border is released, it will surely bring chaos to the world. We are acting in accordance with the will of Heaven, while Wu Fei is acting against the will of Heaven. Please do not make a mistake for yourself."

Bai Renfeng: "What you have sealed is in accordance with the will of Heaven? Then why did you not only fail to save the people and eliminate the source of the disaster when the people of Zhen suffered from the plague several months ago? Why did you also cut off the flow of water and mountains in the entire province?"

The swordsman frowned, wanting to explain, but what responded to him was an unparalleled sword light.

Bai Renfeng had no intention of debating; he merely wanted to guide his opponent to defend himself. Once a swordsman begins to debate, his sword intent is at its weakest. Therefore, the moment his opponent opened his mouth, his sword strike arrived. After beheading the swordsman, Bai Renfeng shouted, "Why don't you try my sword!"

Amidst the collision of rosy clouds, the sword's edge and thunder began to clash, and the auspicious cloud formed by numerous cultivators was cleaved apart by a single sword strike.

Bai Renfeng swept across many cultivators with a single sword light. After exchanging thirty blows, the cultivators realized that Bai Renfeng's sword energy did not disappear after it was released, but instead began to form an array. They then said, "This person has fallen into demonic possession. Let's split up and go back to our sect to get reinforcements."

The spiritual energy sent messages back to the major sects, and the main peak of the immortal cultivation holy land sounded the alarm that the sects were facing a major crisis.

…The battle of wits spanned thousands of miles…

Because at this very moment, Yang San Niang held the imperial seal and looked at the map beneath her feet. She was comparing the distance between the humanitarian power of the Zhen region and the surrounding mountains and rivers.

She raised the lotus lantern, and at the same time, the aura of the Taoist appeared in the lantern's light.

The Taoist priest enticed, "You've obtained the fortune of an entire province. Very good, very good. Quickly offer sacrifices to him." His words seemed to describe a wonderful scene.

Yang San Niang nodded, seemingly lost in thought: "It is time to offer sacrifices. It seems that the formation of those immortal sects collapsed once before, and they have now set up a net on the outer perimeter to trap the dragon flying south."

Master Xian: "What did you say? I set up this formation. (Master Xian is currently using it at various immortal sects.)"

Yang Sanniang raised the lotus lantern in her hand: "Yes, you set up this scheme, but why should I follow your plan?" At this point, Yang Sanniang smiled: "There must be changes and innovations."

Xian Daoren seemed to suddenly realize: "Qian Zuan, you want to oppose me!"

Yang San Niang: Well, it's not that I'm going against you, it's just that we're not looking in the same direction at all.

Yang San Niang pinched the lamp, and the golden gourd, which had been wandering aimlessly in the earth and was now flaming after being purified, suddenly flew towards Yao Du.

At this moment, the image reflected in Xiandaoren's pupils was that he had fallen into a large pit, with a large number of fleshy tentacles emerging from the floor tiles, pustules constantly growing underground, and the sound of kind laughter from below.

With each laugh, the walls trembled like fat, and the floor tiles cracked like sores, spurting out unknown pus.

Xian Daoren struggled to escape the dream, gritting his teeth as he cried out, "Qian Zuan!"

Yang Sanniang innocently raised her head to look at the slowly merging crescent moon in the sky, and said slowly, "The old general (Wu Hanluan) said before he died that he would always reserve a place for you, and I have reserved this place for you."

Xian Daoren felt another evil moon power shining on him, and he was unable to speak.

The land was designed to be corrupted by the "Green Evil Moon," and after Xuan Chong resolves everything, the cause and effect will backfire one by one.

Problems may arise in various immortal sects, but if the mastermind behind the scenes, Daoist Xian, can remain "safe," then Yang San Niang's years of cultivating the "Way of Change" will have been in vain.

At this moment, Yang San Niang's pupils flashed with golden light as she said to Xian Daoren, "Senior brother, you're alright. It's just a normal transformation. Should I help you?"

At this moment, the eyes of the Daoist Master, which were already covered in pustules, were also reflected with gold. This was the last straw for the Daoist Master when he was about to be crushed into a mutated chaotic egg by the two evil moons.

(End of this chapter)