In the following days, the snow fell heavier and heavier, and the war between East Province and Japan also temporarily ceased.

On the East Sea, the sea surface froze, and the thick ice layers made it impossible for warships to advance, so manpower had to be used to transport supplies to the East Sea Coast.

Meanwhile, the Japanese took this rare opportunity to occupy the ownerless lands surrounding the battlefield and began to establish themselves in East Province.

When the next battle begins, the Japanese plan to push the battlefield forward and further encroach on East Province.

This island country coming from the east is not here to simply seize victory and leave; they truly intend to take root in the Central Plains and invade its territories.

At Yanhuang Ridge, four miles out in East Province, the heavy snow sealed off the mountains, and a purple lightning bolt shot into the mountains, entering a hidden valley.

This valley was not much different from other mountain wildernesses, covered in white snow, but it had people unseen in other territories.

A figure with black hair and white clothes sat cross-legged on the snow, a snow-white longsword inserted in front of them, subtly resonating with the snowy landscape and the falling snow.

"Cangtian."

Lin Zixiao, upon entering the valley, instinctively restrained his aura, a hint of respect in his words.

"Yang Tian, you have arrived."

Qing Yu opened his eyes, the True Qi within him still circulating, adapting to this new body.

During this period, Qing Yu's avatar, Ren Piaomiao, returned to the Zhenwu Sect once, uniting the two bodies, and returned to East Province with another body.

This body was that of Yinhuang Zhuwu.

The new body required some time to adjust, so Qing Yu simply secluded himself in the valley, avoiding interactions with the Jiang Family.

"What is the current situation of the Jiang Family?" Qing Yu asked.

"As you expected, the Jiang Family has quietly contacted Daqian." Lin Zixiao affirmed.

Ren Piaomiao, Qing Yu's avatar, along with Lin Zixiao, assisted the Jiang Family, alleviating the Japanese advance, repelling Amaterasu and Yueyejian, and becoming honored guests of the Jiang Family.

In a sense, they even shared a common enemy with the Jiang Family. Jiang Muyun, both a traitor to the Jiang Family and an undercover agent in the Nine Heavens, posed a mutual threat to both sides aligned with Japan.

However, this did not necessarily mean that the Jiang Family would stand united with the Nine Heavens, or even come to each other's aid. Especially in the current situation with the emergence of the Human Emperor's Spiritual Sense.

The Eighth Generation Human Emperor Lie Mountain was, after all, an ancestor of the Jiang Family.

In terms of relations, the Jiang Family remained closer with Daqian. They were still part of Daqian.

"Then there's no need for you to stay at Yanhuang Ridge; come with me back to Northern Zhou," said Qing Yu.

"Not helping the Jiang Family defend East Province?"

"They no longer need our assistance." Qing Yu stood up and said.

With the end of the Southern Border war, Daqian could now spare their forces. Although still needing to dispatch warriors against Hou Qian, ensuring the Jiang Family's safety was manageable.

Staying in East Province was meaningless and might even allow the Jiang Family to leverage them as a weapon against Japan. The Jiang Family's secret contact with Daqian likely anticipated utilizing the Nine Heavens.

"Let's return to Northern Zhou. Things there are about to become unsettled as well."

As he spoke, a storm seemed to brew in Qing Yu's eyes.

························

Northern Zhou, Imperial Palace, Yangxin Hall.

Zhuge Longsu bowed: "Minister Zhuge Longsu, greets Your Majesty."

"No court assembly today, Grandmaster Zhuge, no need for such formalities," the Emperor Zhou said while reviewing memorials, instructing his attendants, "Grant a seat."

A nearby little eunuch silently withdrew, bringing a Taishi Chair from a side hall for Zhuge Longsu to sit.

"The Grandmaster braved the heavy snow to see me at the start of the new year, must be for some urgent matter."

The Emperor Zhou spoke without lifting his head, still reviewing the documents.

"Your Majesty, I indeed have important matters to report," Zhuge Longsu said, sitting upright, "This year's snow, widespread and unprecedented, is something I haven't seen in all my years in our dynasty.

Snow has fallen for days, resulting in a snow disaster, with towns in mountainous areas suffering avalanches, causing significant casualties."

"I am aware, and have already tasked General Xu Tiecheng with disaster relief. The Ministry of Revenue is preparing aid, and the Ministry of Works has sent people to repair homes, with a Daoist Official from the Qintian Observatory assisting as well," replied the Emperor Zhou.

The Northern Land experiences snow annually, but this year's snow was incomparable to previous years. Even the south accumulated snow up to a foot and a half, let alone the north.

Thus, the Emperor Zhou had early on prepared the necessary measures for timely disaster relief aid.

"Your Majesty's foresight is truly remarkable," Zhuge Longsu praised.

"Enough with the flattery; I don't have time for that now."

Emperor Zhou lifted his head and patted the stack of memorials piled by his left hand. "Look at this, all these urgent reports sent by city governors and prefects from the three provinces. There's no idle time, even at the beginning of the year.

Especially over there in Meng Province. The plan to transform Meng Province has been temporarily halted due to the heavy snow, which is really quite frustrating."

Meng Province, which is the grassland, is home to nomadic people who mainly live in yurts. This is because they raise sheep and horses, living according to the water and grass, which is also due to the environmental factors of the grassland itself.

Therefore, transforming the grassland not only involves building Central Plains-style houses but also altering the environment to make it suitable for the people of the Central Plains to live in.

What Emperor Zhou wants is for the grassland to be assimilated by the Central Plains, rather than for those who go to Meng Province to become another kind of nomadic people.

However, transforming the environment is extremely difficult. Even martial arts like the Circulation of the Six Voids Technique, which can change the world, require a lot of calculation and manpower. Any slight disharmony could worsen the environment, turning it into the neighboring desert of the Western Regions.

Thus, the plan to transform the grassland is what most strains the resources of Northern Zhou and what most concerns Emperor Zhou.

Of course, his concern is not only about ruling the country. There are other reasons. Not to mention the benefits of presiding over the welfare of all beings and controlling the Qiankun, but just consider the transformation of Meng Province.

This incarnation of Emperor Zhou is primarily contending for control over the Dragon Vein with the Will of the Human Dao. But fighting based solely on personal will against the Will of the Human Dao is not a long-term strategy.

Qing Yu also tires and needs rest. Although he never sleeps, that's because his recovery exceeds his expenditure.

Competing with the Will of the Human Dao cannot be a battle of expenditure. Qing Yu's will alone, no matter what, cannot outlast the Will of the Human Dao, which has been entrenched within the Earth for thousands of years.

When it comes to strength, Qing Yu can still win. But in a battle of attrition, he is undoubtedly destined to lose.

Therefore, besides using Emperor Zhou to suppress the Dragon Vein, it is also necessary to strike at the Will of the Human Dao and gather the Dragon Vein unto oneself.

Transforming Meng Province is a crucial step in this strategy. By transforming the environment of Meng Province and imprinting the Dragon Vein with his own mark, it would completely remove any potential for the Will of the Human Dao to control it. This is the true intention behind the Meng Province plan.

In short, it is about step by step, reshaping the Northern Zhou Dragon Vein into one's own form.

"Grandmaster, in these few days of running around my court, you surely have more in mind than just these overt matters, don't you?" Emperor Zhou asked with a smile.

He knew that Zhuge Longsu had been visiting various places in person to inspect the damage. Relying on his Divinity Realm power, he managed to make a tour around Northern Zhou in just a few days. Now that he's here, it's obviously not just for the known issues.

"Your Majesty is indeed wise."

Skilled in rhetoric, Grandmaster Zhuge offered another polite phrase before continuing, "I have been traveling recently and discovered that each prefecture is well-organized and united in disaster relief. There are also many Taoists in various places distributing porridge, seemingly with compassionate intent."

"Seemingly? So, there are hidden motives," Emperor Zhou finally showed some interest.

Since Qing Yu unified the Taoist sects, they have gradually shifted towards Northern Zhou. The Northern Land has finally seen an increase in Taoists, giving the whole country a slight resemblance to a terrestrial Taoist state.

The reason for this, naturally, is Qing Yu's status in Northern Zhou.

The major families knew that this Taoist, Qing Yu, held significant sway in Northern Zhou, arguably second only to one, which drove them to diligently curry favor with him and study the principles of governing through Taoism.

As above, so below—seeing such behavior from those above, local officials naturally followed suit. Therefore, the study of Taoism became prevalent in Northern Zhou, standing in contrast to the Confucian sect.

Emperor Zhou was well aware of this and did not interfere. Letting Taoism and Confucianism contend with each other was the way of an emperor's balancing act.

Now, however, Zhuge Longsu, a major figure of the Confucian sect, was subtly suggesting that the Taoists distributing porridge harbored ulterior motives.

"Grandmaster, you understand the implications of your words, don't you?" Emperor Zhou put down the memorials with interest.

Such an accusation, if mistaken, could easily backfire. Given Zhuge Longsu's wisdom, he surely wouldn't speak lightly without absolute certainty.

He is the head of the Mountain River Academy, and every word and action represents the Confucian sect, so he should not act recklessly.

"I understand," Zhuge Longsu stood and said, "Distributing porridge is a benevolent act. But these Taoists, while distributing porridge, are also spreading beliefs, encouraging disaster victims to worship the so-called Qinglian Rescue Suffering Venerable and follow the teachings.

This approach of offering sweetness with one hand and teachings with the other has already enticed many disaster victims into conversion. Now, nearly ten thousand disaster victims have become devoted believers, and their numbers are potentially endless."

To worship Qinglian Rescue Suffering Venerable and rally a following into a religion is no longer simply distributing porridge but proselytizing.

Usually, those who preach in times of great disaster have, by nature, connections with the term "ulterior motives." To the extent that it would not be an exaggeration to say they harbor ill intentions.

This behavior of guiding people's faith while they are unsettled by a calamity cannot be considered a noble deed. Besides, if you review the histories, you'll find that religions born of this model generally end up in rebellion against the dynasty.

The famous examples of Taiping Dao and the White Lotus Sect belong to this category.

"This is indeed quite intriguing," Emperor Zhou could not help but laugh, "The Daoist purge didn't happen too long ago, and already there are those who court death."

He did not doubt Zhuge Longsu was lying because the matter is too easy to verify. As long as someone is sent to investigate, they will basically find out whether Qinglian Rescue Suffering Venerable exists.

Moreover, with some use of unconventional means, it might even be possible to quickly uncover the person behind it all.

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