National Division

Chapter 131 Cui Mei: We've arrived just in time!
Ningyang County

The streets were in ruins, littered with black bloodstains and severed limbs. Disciples of the Corpse Yin Sect, dressed in green robes, came and went from time to time, carrying magical artifacts such as bells and bronze mirrors, controlling the restless corpse demons that roared from time to time.

The corpse demons had bluish-black veins bulging on their faces, bloodshot eyes, and torn clothes, revealing fragments of internal organs mixed with blood clots and intestines hanging from their bodies.

However, the outer disciples of the Corpse Yin Sect, dressed in green robes, were driving away the corpse demons under the leadership of the altar master and incense master.

The county government office has been completely occupied by members of the Corpse Yin Sect. Outside, there is a chilling demonic aura, and many corpse puppets covered in black armor guard key points, exuding a sinister and ferocious aura.

Seated on chairs on both sides of the hall were a protector and two hall masters of the Corpse Yin Sect, while the other members of the Corpse Yin Sect stood behind them.

The Corpse Yin Sect is a tightly organized and hierarchical sect, with inner and outer branches. The outer branch has three levels: disciple, incense master, and altar master.

The inner sect has three levels: true disciples, hall masters, and protectors.

The Corpse Yin Sect's operation this time involved both inner and outer disciples, divided into two teams.

A team led by Sect Master Mo Qianqiu, consisting of most of the inner disciples, was tasked with a secret mission.

The other team consisted of two protectors, each leading several hall masters, who assigned the outer disciples to do some dirty work.

"Without the life force of the people to sustain it, the officialdom of the court will vanish like smoke." Qin, the protector of the Corpse Yin Sect, who was seated at the head of the table, squeezed his fat, ball-shaped body into the chair. He had a lion's nose, tiger's eyes, and several pockmarks on his face. He picked up a teacup with his greasy hand and gulped down the tea, which was viscous and bright red blood.

"Indeed." A few smiles appeared on the thin face of the hall master Pang Shuxun. "The incessant infighting among the three sects is precisely the time for us to put our skills to use."

"Has there been any news from Linchuan County?" Protector Qin asked, frowning.

"Protector Yu sent someone to say that Linchuan County has completely fallen into the hands of my Corpse Yin Sect, but Linchuan County has not been completely lost, and many people have fled to Guhe County," said Hall Master Shen Cong.

Protector Qin said in a deep voice, "Intensify the expansion throughout Anzhou. Once we take Guhe, we can expand to the north and south."

Hall Master Shen Cong said, "Protector Qin, the Great Jing Dynasty has received the news and will send troops soon."

Mentioning this matter, Hall Master Pang Shuxun couldn't help but feel angry. He slammed his hand on the table and said indignantly, "It's all that fifth-realm martial artist from the imperial court's fault for accidentally ending up in Ningyang County. Otherwise, we would have had more time. If three or four counties were infected with the corpse poison, that would be nearly 100,000 corpse soldiers!"

Pang Shuxun was at the fifth level of the Immortal Realm, [Divine Illumination]. He had previously fought a great battle with Shen Cong and Wang Shence. Although they were besieged, they were still unable to defeat him and instead suffered some minor injuries. He was quite resentful.

"It's pointless to talk about this now; it's just a matter of timing and luck." Shen Cong, who had previously besieged Wang Shence, was much more composed.

Protector Qin cautioned, "That Shangqing Sword Immortal who came to our aid is incredibly powerful, and Elder Chu is seriously injured. We should be careful."

To prevent interference from the higher-ups of the three religions, the Corpse Yin Sect mobilized its entire force, with even some old fogies coming out to protect them.

Among them, two Supreme Elders (early stage of the Eighth Realm) and three Elders (two mid-stage of the Seventh Realm and one early stage of the Seventh Realm) serve as a check and balance to deal with the interference of the three religions.

When Lin Xuan arrived, he used his peak cultivation at the seventh realm [Myriad Manifestations Realm] to defeat an eighth realm Loose Immortal and severely injured an elder surnamed Chu (mid-seventh realm) with a single sword strike.

"It seems the Shangqing Sect has sent reinforcements again," Shen Cong said.

Protector Qin waved his hand dismissively, saying, "There's no need to worry about that. The sect leader has his own contingency plans."

Qin, as a protector, is qualified to participate in core secrets within the Corpse Yin Sect and knows some of the Corpse Yin Sect's high-level plans.

Pang Shuxun said, "Protector Qin, everything is ready now, we just need the right opportunity. Why don't we take Guhe first?"

Protector Qin nodded in agreement, saying, "We should divide our forces with Linchuan County and surround Guhe County from the north and south. One force will be transported by boat to Guhe, while the other will travel by official road, so that the Dajing court in Guhe County will be unable to attend to both ends."

As he spoke, Protector Qin turned his gaze to a group of young men and women sitting not far away and asked, "Gentlemen, do you have any good suggestions?"

There were five people sitting down to listen: three men and two women, dressed in various colors and with different expressions.

These five young people were arranged by their elders in the Demonic Sect to observe the Corpse Yin Sect's operation. They can be considered the young prodigies of the Demonic Sect.

The first one on the left was a man dressed in a dark blue robe, holding a broken iron fan. His face was pale and bloodless, with a hooked nose, thin eyebrows, and sinister eyes.

A black raven perched on one of their shoulders. Its sharp eyes kept glancing at the Sumeru pouches on the waists of the Corpse Yin Sect disciples, as if something inside had attracted the raven's attention.

His name was Nie Huai, and he was a Taoist disciple of the Yellow Springs Sect.

"Although your sect's actions have deviated somewhat from the plan, I expect them to be a great success." Nie Huai smiled, his tone neither warm nor cold.

Wang Yaozhi, the Holy Maiden of the Hehuan Sect, wore a pink silk dress with a shawl wrapped around her neck, revealing her fair shoulders and snow-white skin. Her smile was charming and alluring, with an indescribable allure. Her voice was soft and sweet, making one's heart flutter. She said, "The Corpse Yin Sect's arrangements are all in line with military strategy. Protector Qin, which elder made these arrangements? Truly a brilliant general with profound wisdom."

This holy maiden of the Hehuan Sect has a bit of the feel of an atmosphere-setting group and a cheerleading squad.

Sitting to the side, Ye Wuyou, a Daoist disciple of the Hehuan Sect, laughed and said, "Sister Yaozhi is right. It is said that Protector Qin was a fierce general of Daxu back then. If he had not entered the path of immortality, I'm afraid Li Jing might not have had anything to do with this world."

After being flattered by the two from the Hehuan Sect, Protector Qin laughed so hard that his fat face jiggled, and said happily, "I suggest to the elders that we divide our forces into two groups and surround the Valley River together."

The Heavenly Punishment Sect's Daoist disciple, Ying Wuming, seemed to be pondering as he asked, "Elder Qin, has the imperial court taken any countermeasures?"

Protector Qin sneered and said, "The Great Jing Dynasty is in great turmoil. The Demon Queen is powerless to control the situation. Even if troops are mobilized to suppress her, the forces cannot be mobilized in a short time. The army is currently in Tanzhou."

"Anzhou is not far from Shendu, and the military governor of Weibo is stationed in Weizhou. Has your clan considered that Weizhou might send troops here?" Tang Huiyu, the holy maiden of the Youluo Sect, suddenly asked.

The woman's voice was calm and unhurried, exuding a sense of tranquility. Her eyes and brows were shrouded in a gentle and refined air, which seemed incongruous with the arrogant and seductive temperament of the Youluo Divine Sect.

Upon hearing this, Protector Qin looked at him with newfound respect and said, "The sect leader has already made plans for this matter, but the arrangements involve the sect's secrets, so the details cannot be revealed."

Tang Huiyu's heart stirred slightly, but she didn't press for details and said, "Since your clan has something to consider, then this junior will await good news."

Upon hearing this, Nie Huai's eyes flickered as he pondered the words "secrets of our sect."

"During this period, experts from the Shangqing Sect may come. My fellow disciples, please be extra careful and lest you be taken advantage of by villains," Protector Qin instructed again.

Several people nodded in agreement.

Although they were all disciples of their sect and had protectors secretly protecting them, they did not want to rashly get involved in the Corpse Yin Sect's vortex.

"Protector Yu has returned." Just as everyone was having different thoughts, a large group of Corpse Yin Sect members dressed in green robes entered the courtyard.

The visitor was Protector Yu, who was stationed in Linchuan County.

He was also one of the two guardians who carried out the blockade mission.

Protector Qin stood up, took a few quick steps, his fat jiggling, and asked with a smile, "Old Yu, how's the situation in Linchuan County?"

The Dharma Protector transmitted his thoughts, saying, "The second forbidden point in Linchuan County has been laid. We can now raise the corpse demons and head towards Guhe County."

Protector Qin looked excited and said repeatedly, "Good, good, we're just waiting for you to finish your work here."

Protector Yu was clearly a cautious person, and reminded him, "However, Elder Yan encountered Taoists from the Shangqing Sect again, and a fierce battle broke out between the two sides. The people from the Shangqing Sect seem to have noticed something unusual."

"It will take some time before the Shangqing Sect mobilizes its mid-level combat forces. The bigger the commotion we make, the more time we can buy for the sect leader." Protector Qin said calmly, a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Protector Yu nodded and asked, "How do you plan to arrange it?"

Before attaining enlightenment, Protector Qin was a fierce general who ruled over a region during the late Great Xu Dynasty. He was quite resourceful and skilled in troop deployment. Protector Qin's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled, "Divide the troops into two groups and attack Guhe County."

“I don’t understand these things either, just arrange it as you see fit.” Protector Yu nodded.

Qin, the Protector, ordered his men to retrieve the map and began to deploy his troops.

……

……

Anzhou, the capital city

As evening approached, the sky was ablaze with the colors of sunset.

Shen Xian and the Princess stood atop the clouds, looking at the majestic outline of the city in the distance, a city that had stood the test of time for countless years. Shen Xian said, "Your Highness, we have arrived."

At this moment, the eldest princess arrived alone, carrying dozens of people on a cloud.

"Anzhou City seems to be on high alert as well." Under the Princess's divine sense, it was clear that the number of guards in the city had increased significantly, and their expressions were more vigilant.

“Such a major event occurred in Ningyang and Linchuan counties. It would be unacceptable if we were completely unprepared,” Shen Xian said.

Xue Zhihua said, "Your Highness, let's go down."

The eldest princess descended from the clouds and landed on the outskirts of the city.

In Anzhou City, news did indeed arrive that Ningyang County had been attacked by corpse demons, and various rumors were flying, causing widespread panic.

Wealthy families have already packed their belongings and are preparing to flee to Weizhou and Huazhou, which are further away.

Coincidentally, when Shen Xian, the Princess, Xue Zhihua, and Jiang Rui arrived outside Anzhou City, Zheng Nianxi and Cui Mei arrived at the Prefectural Governor's Office.

Cui Mei stepped forward, handing over a visiting card. Her face, as bright as a rose petal, was as indifferent as ice as she asked, "Is Magistrate Cui at the yamen?"

The servant opened the visiting card and, upon seeing the words on it, was startled. He quickly said, "Miss Cui, the Prefect is not in the government office. I will go and ask Prefect Feng."

Feng Chong, the Prefect of Anzhou, is currently handling affairs in the prefectural government office.

This Prefect was not just an ordinary mortal like Chief Secretary Qiu Ying. Feng Chong was a Taoist official from the Jade Purity Sect, with a cultivation level at the peak of the Danxia Realm. He was a confidant of Cui Xu.

After Chief Clerk Qiu Ying left the prefectural city for Guhe County, Prefect Feng Chong had to take on general affairs as well. Upon hearing the report from his servant, he was startled.

"Quickly, welcome us in," Feng Chong said hastily.

A short while later, Cui Mei and Zheng Nianxi, one in a red dress and the other in a green dress, entered the yamen together.

Feng Chong quickly emerged from behind the desk, took a few quick steps, and asked with a broad smile on his refined face, "Was it Miss Cui in person?"

Cui Mei cupped her hands in greeting and said, "Cui Mei greets Prefect Feng."

"The magistrate has often mentioned Miss Cui, saying that among the three generations of the Cui family, Miss Cui comes from a prestigious family, is well-educated and reasonable, and can be described as a first-rate talent in the Daoist path." Feng Chong said with a smile, while gesturing to invite her to sit down.

As he spoke, he instructed the clerk to serve tea.

"Uncle Jiu, you flatter me." Cui Meiyu's expression softened slightly as she spoke gently, then asked in surprise, "Prefect Feng, where is Uncle Jiu now?"

Feng Chong hesitated for a moment, then transmitted his thoughts through divine sense: "The magistrate said half a month ago that he had discovered a blessed land created by an ancient immortal and went to explore it. He has not returned since."

"A blessed land?" Cui Mei frowned slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her phoenix eyes.

Cui Mei naturally knew what a blessed land was.

True Immortals, also known as Earth Immortals, can be conferred the title of True Lord and can create blessed lands, which often contain the lineage of the True Immortals in their previous lives, as well as spiritual plants and medicinal treasures.

Cui Mei's heart stirred slightly, and she asked, "Why wasn't this matter reported to the Jade Purity Sect?"

Such a relic as the Blessed Land should, in principle, be reported to the Jade Purity Sect, which would then send people to explore it.

Of course, if Suzaku discovers the information, he will also go to investigate.

In fact, many of the elixirs and immortal scriptures in the Vermilion Bird Blessed Land of the Great Jing royal family were unearthed from ancient, incomplete caves and blessed lands.

Because of the matters concerning blessed lands and grotto heavens, the Great Jing royal family and the Yuqing Sect had many disagreements.

“Firstly, the incident happened suddenly, and the magistrate has not yet determined the boundary markers. Secondly, the magistrate said that this place, the blessed land of the True Lord, seems to be related to the Cui clan, and he wants to investigate it first,” Feng Chong transmitted his thoughts.

Cui Mei pondered for a moment and didn't ask any more questions. Cui Li frowned and asked, "Did Uncle Jiu say when he would be back?"

Feng Chong shook his head and said, "These past few days, something bad has happened in Ningyang County, and we haven't been able to contact the magistrate."

"Trouble?" Cui Mei asked.

"The Corpse Yin Sect of the Demonic Path has committed atrocities, and the people of the entire county have suffered as a result. However, the people from the Vermilion Bird Division have already gone there," said Prefect Feng Chong.

Feng Chong had not yet realized the seriousness of the matter, or rather, even if he did realize the seriousness of the matter, he did not think it was a big deal.

If the sky falls, there will be tall people to hold it up. As a noble and respected official, he can simply transfer to another place to serve as an official.

"The Corpse Yin Sect?" Cui Mei raised an eyebrow, a look of worry appearing in her phoenix eyes. She asked, "Has Anzhou made any preparations?"

"To be honest, Miss Cui, I am also extremely worried about this matter." Feng Chong smiled bitterly and said, "Commander Huo has already mobilized the state troops to strengthen the defense of the city gates, and we still have to wait for the next move of the imperial court."

Cui Mei and Zheng Nianxi exchanged a glance, then looked at Feng Chong and said, "Prefect Feng, we would like to stay at the Cui residence for the time being and wait for Uncle Jiu to return."

Prefect Feng Chong quickly smiled and said, "The Lord's residence is in the backyard. Miss Cui is a relative, so she can stay there."

As he spoke, he instructed his subordinates to lead Cui Mei and Zheng Nianxi to the backyard to settle in.

"We've come at the wrong time; there are demonic sorcerers causing trouble in Anzhou," Zheng Nianxi said worriedly.

Cui Mei, however, said nonchalantly, "We've come at the perfect time. Only by slaying demons and monsters can we improve our cultivation."

Zheng Nianxi smiled and said, "Then the Vermilion Bird Division should suit you."

“I wanted to go too, but Master wouldn’t allow it.” Cui Mei sighed and said, “Master and the others used to be good at subduing demons and monsters, but now they’ve abandoned all responsibility because of that woman’s regency.”

Zheng Nianxi remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly, "If the Empress were to abdicate and return power to Li Jing, the world would naturally be at peace."

Cui Mei snorted coldly and said, "I think she's unwilling to give up power at all. Even if she wanted to step down, the people around her wouldn't agree. Isn't that Shen Xian a prime example?"

A shadow of gloom flashed across Cui Mei's eyes when this person was mentioned.

His brother, Cui You, should still be hanging on the flagpole.

(End of this chapter)