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Chapter 141 Zhang Yuanlong Blocks the Way

Black Wind Ridge, Black Wind Village.

Zhang Yuanlong sat upright in the Hall of Righteousness, surrounded by bandits from Black Wind Village on both sides.

These people are all key members of Black Wind Stronghold.

No one dared to utter a sound as news of Zhang Yuanhu's death reached the mountain stronghold.

The two brothers relied on each other since childhood and had a deep bond.

When he was young, a fortune teller once told him that he had the destiny of a python, and that when the time came, he might transform from a python into a dragon.

He was then instructed to head south, as the south would be where he would rise to prominence.

Zhang Yuanlong did not believe in fate, but that day he and his younger brother went out of the city to collect herbs and accidentally fell off a cliff.

A cave was discovered at the bottom of the cliff, inside which lay a skeleton.

Beside them lay the "Devouring Heaven Demon Art," and since the two of them obtained the demonic art, their cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds.

Their massive absorption of martial artists' true energy naturally attracted attention, and they were pursued all the way south, eventually arriving at Black Wind Ridge.

After killing the former leader of Black Wind Stronghold, he became the king of the mountain.

Just as the fortune teller had said, after he arrived in the south, he traveled a thousand miles a day, and Black Wind Village grew stronger day by day under their leadership.

The powerful families of Jiangnan Prefecture needed a strong bandit, so they approached them.

The aristocratic families provided him with provisions and money, and he helped them with their dirty work.

Black Wind Stronghold has become the strongest bandit force in the entire Jiangnan Prefecture.

Upon hearing that his younger brother Zhang Yuanhu had been killed, how could he not be furious?

"What did the Zeng family say?"

"Boss, the brothers we sent to the Zeng family haven't returned yet."

Zhang Yuanlong's lips twitched as he tried his best to control his anger.

He looked at the Black Wind Stronghold bandits beside him and said in a deep voice, "This grudge cannot go unavenged. If there is still no news from the Zeng family by tomorrow, we will first go and take the heads of the Shen family members to offer as a sacrifice to our fallen brothers. We will demand an explanation in Shangjiang Nan Prefecture!"

"A blood debt must be paid in blood!"

Zhang Yuanlong never expected that something he thought was a sure thing would go wrong.

Not only did they lose Zhang Yuanhu, but they also lost two thousand elite troops.

This was the foundation he had built up over several years, all for the purpose of conquering the world in the future.

He never forgot the fortune teller's prediction for him back then.

After arriving in the South, he truly transformed himself like a fish leaping over the Dragon Gate, rising from a street thug to the leader of the Black Wind Stronghold, commanding nearly ten thousand men.

Jiande County Town.

Last night, Shen Yan studied the "Devouring Heaven Demon Art" all night long, and he discovered that many of its contents were in line with the concepts of the "Longevity Manual".

Both aim to construct an inner and outer world, achieving a state of harmony between humanity and nature.

However, the Devouring Heaven Demon Art is even more domineering, plundering the outer world to replenish itself.

I will devour all things in the world; I am the heavens.

The Longevity Formula is more stable and gentle, following the path of integrating the inner and outer worlds, the interaction between heaven and man, and achieving unity between the inner and outer, and harmony between the body and the Great Dao.

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Shen Yan thought to himself, "It seems that these cultivation methods, though different in their paths, all lead to the same goal: the unity of man and nature."

Unfortunately, the Devouring Heaven Demon Art not only has great drawbacks, but it is also an incomplete technique.

This is why the people of Black Wind Stronghold look old and dilapidated.

One must overdraw one's lifespan to achieve advancement in martial arts; indeed, everything in the world has its cause and effect.

Hearing the commotion inside the county government office, Shen Yan knew it was time to set off.

Shen Ci didn't sleep all night and set his goals for the day.

He planned to intercept the silver in the granaries of the nine counties before it was transferred.

Last night, Meng Lie was dispatched to arrange for men to set off ahead and keep an eye on the counties to prevent them from transferring the silver.

Several hundred boxes of copper coins and silver could not be transferred in a short time.

Seeing Shen Yan walk out of the room, Shen Ci smiled and said, "If we can intercept the silver today, the matter in Jiangnan Prefecture will be pretty much over."

Even if the powerful families couldn't be completely wiped out, Shen Ci had no intention of exterminating them all.

Just like when we talked with Shen Yan and the others before, kill some and intimidate others.

That concludes the matter in Jiangnan Prefecture; it is time for Shen Ci to return to the capital.

Upon arriving outside the county town, the troops assembled and set off.

The Vermilion Bird Army had limited provisions, as the imperial court had not allocated any grain when they set out.

In order to reach Jiangnan Prefecture as soon as possible, the army marched urgently, traveling light and making it impossible to carry much food and supplies.

Coincidentally, bandits entered the city last night, and the Zhang family's granary fell.

In gratitude for the Zhuque Army's assistance, the Zhang family generously donated a large amount of grain and fodder.

It was enough to feed the Vermilion Bird Army for ten to fifteen days, and it was made clear that if it was not enough, they should ask for more.

Before leaving, he also gave away 50,000 taels of silver to reward the soldiers of the Vermilion Bird Army.

Seeing how sensible the Zhang family was, Shen Ci felt a little embarrassed to punish them.

Zhang Qi also appeared out of nowhere to see the Vermilion Bird Army off.

He looked at Shen Ci with tears of gratitude and said, "Thank you so much for your help, Lord Shen. Otherwise, my Jiande County would probably have become a dead city."

"Lord Zhang's appearance was timely."

Shen Ci gave him a meaningful look. He had disappeared last night when Zhang Yuanhu and his men attacked.

It appeared first thing this morning; if there's nothing fishy going on, no one would believe it.

Zhang Qi wanted to explain a few more words, but Shen Ci didn't want to pay any more attention to him.

After leaving some soldiers to guard the silver in the granary, the troops split into several groups and set off to settle the tax payment as soon as possible.

Shen Ci then led a group of people to Jiangnan Prefecture to meet Zeng Yue.

Trees along the official road are sprouting new buds, and the grass is lush and green. Everywhere you look, there is a vibrant spring scene.

Just like Shen Ci's feelings at this moment.

His trip to Jiangnan Prefecture was nothing short of a valuable experience.

This was the first time he had witnessed another side of aristocratic families; in Bianjing, everyone silently followed a set of rules.

They never deviated from the rules because they were still under the suppression of Emperor Xuanwu.

This forced them to act in this way.

Once you arrive in Jiangnan Prefecture, these powerful families are the law of the land, and they naturally call the shots.

Shen Ci thought to himself, "This time, I'll show you what I'm all about."

Just now.

Suddenly a figure appeared ahead, dressed in a blue robe.

Like a scholar or poet enjoying a spring outing, he sat alone in a pavilion beside the official road, drinking wine.

A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the stray hairs at his temples, adding a touch of poetic charm.

If it weren't for the approaching army...

It is a scene of literati and poets expressing their feelings through nature.

However, this person made no attempt to conceal his aura, and even from a great distance, one could sense his power.

This man was even better than Zhang Yuanhu; he was none other than his elder brother, Zhang Yuanlong.

They came here naturally to avenge Zhang Yuanhu, and for Shen Yan's sake.

Shen Yan's gaze was fixed on that figure.

He said to Shen Ci and the others, "You guys go first, I'll deal with this guy."

"With your command of a large army and your imposing aura of iron and blood, wouldn't that increase your chances of victory?"

Shen Ci was unaware of the level of cultivation of the person before him, but he could glean some insight from Shen Yan's solemn expression.

Shen Yan shook his head and said, "The army here is only a few hundred men, which is of little use to me. It is you who will need the army's protection when you enter the city."

""

Early in the morning, the troops were divided, and Shen Ci led nearly a thousand soldiers to the city of Jiangnan.

With Shen Yan included, this trip will definitely be without problems.

But now Zhang Yuanlong has appeared, standing alone in the middle of the road.

Only if Shen Yan stays can Shen Ci's arrangements not be delayed.

Shen Ci was not an indecisive person, so since Shen Yan said so, he had no choice but to believe him.

So the two separated, leaving Shen Yan to deal with Zhang Yuanlong.