Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 957 Multiple choice questions

Xu Xuan headed northwest towards Luoyang, determined not to cause any trouble.

They were worried that unforeseen complications might affect the imperial examination plans.

But he was also well aware of the peculiar nature of his causal pollution, which was constantly attracting all sorts of bizarre and extraordinary events.

He's a thousand times more ruthless than the so-called Bao Zheng and Conan; he wouldn't even dare to get involved in something that might result in the death of one or two people.

They would destroy a city, a county, or even a state at the drop of a hat.

Therefore, I deliberately set off early after the New Year, allowing a full three months' advance notice, hoping to travel at a leisurely pace.

But to everyone's surprise, it seems that all the "most exciting programs" in the northern land were concentrated in the early spring.

There wasn't a single day of peace on our journey!
Demons, monsters, evil spirits, strange occurrences, and the secrets of the powerful and wealthy emerged one after another, flocking to both sides of the northbound road like a bustling market.

Xu Xuan sometimes couldn't help but feel secretly fortunate.

Fortunately, I'm the Zen Master Fahai, who prefers action to words, not the Venerable Xuanzang who needed his disciples' protection...

Otherwise, given the current 'dungeon strength,' it would probably need to be raised two levels, directly aiming for the level of immortals and gods.

However, despite his complaints, the current level of trouble is still within his control.

After all, he had spent three years developing his strength in Jiangnan, and the White Lotus Demon King had accumulated a certain amount of resources. Ordinary demons and monsters were really no match for him.

So... where should we go next?
At this moment, Xu Xuan was standing at the crossroads of fate, looking at the three paths that had diverged ahead, his feelings were somewhat complicated.

To the north lies Xiang County of Pei State, which is said to be quite unsettled lately.

To the northwest lies Qiao State, the ancestral home of the Cao family, a taboo state of the Jin Dynasty.

To the west lies Ruyin County, where the road is relatively flat, but the clan power dynamics are complex.

To avoid potentially major problems that could erupt prematurely, the first step is to choose a route that is neither too peaceful nor too difficult from the outset.

The remaining troubles... can be dealt with one by one when he has time.

"Huh?" Xu Xuan suddenly chuckled, muttering to himself, "Could this be the reason why the White Lotus Saint Mother felt 'the whole world is against her' back then?"

He shook his head, dismissing the absurd idea. "Why am I empathizing with this nonsense?"

I am the righteous head of the security guards!

He then skillfully pulled out a finely crafted sheepskin map and several jade slips containing intelligence from various places from his sleeve, and spread them out on the spot.

Based on what I've seen and heard along the way, I began to analyze it calmly.

The stone king stood quietly to one side, initially puzzled. With Master Xu's abilities, why did he need to hesitate so much over a simple route selection?

But then I thought about all the "encounters" I'd had since stepping into Jiangbei.
From Hongze Lake to the Huai River, then to Tushan, and finally to Gaixia, the journey seemed to be filled with endless "unexpected events".

Even the deepest part of the Stone King's hard core couldn't help but nod silently.

Master Xu is right; we need to be more cautious.

The waters in the north are so deep.

After a short wait, Xu Xuan lightly drew a line on the map, eliminating Ruyin County in the west as the first target.

"This place may seem calm on the surface, but it is actually the place with the most hidden traps and the most unpredictable risks."

First, there is an ancient Dongyue Temple here, which, according to research, was built during the Xia and Shang dynasties and was an important site for ancient worship and administration.

Any place involving the accumulation of human fortune and ancient sacrificial rites is bound to cause trouble, and once triggered, the consequences are unpredictable.

Secondly, the legend of "Erlang carrying the mountain" is popular in this area.

Joyfully, he broke off blades of grass to measure the heavens and earth; in anger, he carried mountains to chase the sun. The protagonist of the story is named Yang Jian.

Although the immortals and gods have vanished without a trace, there are always a few exceptions that have survived, so it is not absolute.

Finally... there's also the legend of the Old Mother of Lishan here. As for Miss Bai's sect background, those who know, know.

Upon hearing this, even the expressionless stone face of the Stone King seemed to stiffen for a moment.

Good heavens, an ancient priest, the Pure Source Mystic Dao True Lord, plus an ancient goddess of terrifyingly high seniority...

This Ruyin Prefecture is no prefecture, it's clearly a hell. No, hell isn't this cruel!

Given the characteristics of our young master, he absolutely cannot be allowed to get involved.

Otherwise, it wouldn't know what others would do to it, but it would definitely be reduced to dust and return to the world.

So... what about the state of Qiao in the northwest?
Xu Xuan turned his gaze to another place.

The legends that are publicly known in this area seem to be much more "mild": the legendary physician Hua Tuo created the Five Animal Frolics, and Cao Cao laid out the "Seventy-two Suspicious Tombs".

It sounds much better than the "gathering of heroes" in Ruyin County.

But do you think that the seasoned, sharp-witted, and mature White Lotus Demon King would be so easily deceived by appearances?
impossible!

Who is Xu Xuan?

He was a man who fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, finding endless joy in fighting against heaven, earth, and man!

He saw through the enormous danger lurking behind this "peaceful" scene at a glance!

"Something is definitely amiss! This place is too 'clean' and too 'peaceful,' which could very well be the biggest trap!"

Therefore, the process of elimination takes effect.

Remove A, which is extremely difficult, and then remove C, which seems simple but is actually more dangerous.

"Therefore, there is only one answer left."

Xu Xuan pointed heavily to the path leading north, his tone resolute, "The choice is yours—Pei State, Xiang County!"

The reason for choosing this place is that its legends are mostly related to "human" history and legends, which makes it seem much "simple" compared to those regions that often involve ancient gods and immortals.

For example, the story of Min Ziqian, one of the seventy-two disciples of Confucius, who "wore reeds to please his mother," is a filial piety tale that has been passed down here.

This falls under the category of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, and while it reflects the fundamental principles of human relations,
Although Xu Xuan was a scholar, he did not follow the orthodox Confucian path of self-cultivation and cultivating righteousness.

Naturally, they were not bound by the inherent moral constraints of the word "filial piety," and their hearts remained unmoved.

This morally ambiguous legend was like a gentle breeze to this White Lotus Demon King.

Another example is the bizarre legend of "ghost soldiers borrowing a path" in Dazexiang.

Yin soldiers?

Xu Xuan's lips curled into a strange smile.

If his network of connections in the underworld were truly revealed, it would probably scare several ghosts to death.

Our name has been known throughout the Five Directions Ghost Emperor's Dojo, the Eighteen Levels of Hell, and the Southern Jambudvipa.

The mere array of ghost soldiers is probably no match for him.

These two seemingly troublesome points are actually minor issues that he can easily "handle".

As for the local imperial power in Pei State, it was mainly led by a prince named Pei Shun who was enfeoffed there.

As the center of Kyushu, the north is a fertile land that has always been an important place for feudal kings to enfeoff.

Most of the dozens of vassal kingdoms enfeoffed by the Great Jin Dynasty were crammed into this region, with each prefecture basically having a king, and they were as numerous as hairs on a cow.

Among them were several powerful vassal kings with even larger fiefdoms and greater strength, who possessed strong armies and privately kept armored soldiers.

(End of this chapter)