To silence the County Yamen of a whole province, an ordinary character definitely won't suffice...

He supported his forehead. Qi Xiu gently rotated the jade slip in his hand, and slowly, four words emerged in his mind: The Great Profound Royal Family!

The Dianchuan Military Governor, Gao Tianxiong, has passed away. The only ones qualified to command the County Yamen, allowing them to condone the actions of the Demon-suppressing Army, could only come from a higher power. That one possibility... it must be the Great Profound Royal Family in Shangjing!

Military Governors are acting independently, and the imperial power weakens. Regional governors pay lip service while secretly acting against orders, amassing troops to assert their own strength. Could it be that the Great Profound Royal Family wants to take advantage of Dianchuan's leaderless state to support a new 'Gao Family' and reclaim control of Dianchuan Province?

Qi Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly. The sudden emergence of the Demon-suppressing Army and their subsequent actions—everything seems to be laying the foundation for winning the people's hearts for their future rule.

But this, too, is normal. 'The Azure Sky is already dead; the Yellow Sky will soon rise.' This leaderless Dianchuan Province must have someone pick up the mantle. Moreover, the Great Profound Royal Family must be aware of the turmoil within the dynasty and are attempting to mend it. The death of Gao Tianxiong is an opportunity. Unless the Gao Family can produce another Primordial Spirit Boss to inherit the position of Military Governor and regain control, then even without the court or the Demon-suppressing Army's intervention, the Gao Family and the County Yamen are merely hanging on by a thread, unable to stabilize Dianchuan for long.

Having understood the crux of the matter, most of Qi Xiu's doubts dissipated, and his gaze relaxed considerably. Being kept in the dark is always frustrating.

He would never involve himself in this power struggle. But he also didn't want to be unwittingly used as a pawn or become a scapegoat. Watching the drama from the sidelines is fine, but he couldn't bring himself to be a mere extra on the stage.

However, from the current looks of it, the Great Profound Royal Family seems to have long been scheming to reclaim authority from various regions. The death of Gao Tianxiong... perhaps it was no accident.

A glint of hidden Divine Light flashed in his eyes as Qi Xiu's fingers stroked the jade slip, gradually grinding it to powder. The Demon-suppressing Army only appeared in the past three months. But Song Tingye and his faction have been infiltrating Dianchuan's major county towns for decades, gradually moving up and occupying key positions in the County Yamens. Over these decades, these individuals have been diligent and just, charitable and kind. Through their immense efforts, made without regard for personal cost, they have won over a great deal of public support. Especially Song Tingye, the Water Army Commander, who commands one hundred thousand naval troops. His departure meant that one hundred thousand soldiers from the County Yamen were effectively taken with him.

To think that this planning and scheming began decades ago... it's truly chilling.

Shaking the jade powder from his sleeve, Qi Xiu slowly stood up. He didn't care who ruled Dianchuan Province. At least, from what he could see, Song Tingye and his faction hadn't done anything wrong. Countless common folk had their lives preserved due to their actions and were living in relative peace and prosperity. The people themselves would judge whether they or the Gao Family were better.

I have a rough grasp of the situation now. The rest is to worry about my own affairs.

Flicking his sleeve to clear the jade debris from the ground, Qi Xiu flicked a drop of water into the air. It transformed in midair into a smooth, intricately detailed water mirror, depicting the tangled battle lines across the entirety of Dianchuan Province.

Standing before the water mirror with his sleeves gathered, Qi Xiu's eyes were tranquil as he surveyed the heavily annotated locations marked on it. This map, too, was purchased from the Listening Wind Teahouse. The price was ten times that of the jade slip he had just destroyed! It meticulously detailed the current strategic layout of the entire Dianchuan Province. Furthermore, the purchase included updates every ten days, valid for six months.

Chaos reigns in Dianchuan, with Demonic Evil Cultivators invading. The major Sect Aristocracies are calling on their disciples and clan members to enter the mortal world, not only to protect their ancestral lands but, more importantly, to earn a share of Human Path Merit through their deeds in these turbulent times.

With a turn of his palm, a ray of brilliant light flew out from Qi Xiu's mind, coalescing into an ancient and robust lamp.

The candle of the Hunyuan All-Encompassing Luminance is formed from Human Path Merit. To enhance the Five Thunder Orthodox Skill, two-thirds of this merit candle has already been depleted. Once it's completely exhausted, it will consume my own Human Path Merit to reform. A preliminary estimate suggests that forming a single merit candle will reduce the proficiency of my Human Path Merit by at least fifty percent. And if the level of my Human Path Merit falls below the Sixth Realm, this Hunyuan All-Encompassing Luminance will vanish as well. Thus, if I wish to use this Merit Treasure, I must continuously acquire Human Path Merit. Otherwise, once the merit candle burns out, this Merit Lamp might become just a decoration.

Having personally experienced the powerful and divine marvels of this Merit Treasure, he knew that in just three months, it had directly elevated his Five Thunder Orthodox Skill by one full level. This was nearly ten times his original efficiency! If it weren't for the limitation of the merit candle, he would have been tempted to enter secluded cultivation immediately and raise all his techniques to the Ninth Realm. But while the treasure is potent, its consumption is also massive. Moreover, the merit candle can only be formed from Human Path Merit. If it weren't for the current chaos in Dianchuan, where Human Path Merit is more readily manifested, he would have been reluctant to use this lamp to enhance the Five Thunder Orthodox Skill.

Currently, the main battlefield where Demonic Evil Cultivators clash with the local Human Cultivators of this province is still in the six prefectures previously occupied by the Golden Flower Maternal Sect. After fighting for so long, both sides have seen advances and retreats, but overall, neither has crossed any critical lines. However, the current stalemate in the war is primarily because the Dao Experts have not yet entered the fray. The most intense fighting is still concentrated among those at the Dao-Entering Realm. If Dao Experts were to participate, the front lines could undergo drastic changes within a single day.

Quietly analyzing the situation, Qi Xiu's gaze swept over the map, encompassing Yangshan, Yuantong, Shuyang, Meitan, Qingjun, and Baiwu—the six prefectures.

Yangshan, Yuantong, and Qingjun are the three prefectures most heavily afflicted by demonic and fiendish disasters. Consequently, the Demon-suppressing Army maintains a large presence there, engaging in fierce battles with Demonic Evil Cultivators. Add to this the cultivators from the various Ancient Sect Nobility, and it's practically a chaotic free-for-all. Shuyang Prefecture is the main battlefield for the County Yamen. Having governed Dianchuan for so many years, the County Yamen still possesses considerable capabilities. Unlike the Demon-suppressing Army, which relentlessly hunts down Demonic Evil Cultivators in bloody, unending battles, the County Yamen employs more stable and cunning tactics. Their seventeen army divisions coordinate to encircle and suppress, advancing methodically, scouring mountains and rivers. They aim to systematically drive out all Demonic Evil Cultivators from Shuyang Prefecture, leaving no openings for them to return. In Meitan and Baiwu, the concentration of Demonic Evil Cultivators is relatively lower. However, the number of local cultivators and Demon-suppressing Army units is also smaller. By avoiding the more populated prefectures of Yangshan, Yuantong, and Qingjun, and by being diligent, the number of Demonic Evil Cultivators one can eliminate in these two prefectures is not necessarily less than in the other three.

Slowly rotating the Golden Cry Jade Beads in his hand, Qi Xiu nodded slightly. Getting involved in such turmoil can easily lead to trouble if one isn't careful. The number of Demonic Evil Cultivators in Yangshan, Yuantong, and Qingjun is vast, a motley assortment, making the danger level high. Moreover, the Demon-suppressing Army has a large presence there. Unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to get entangled with that group again.

Having decided on his next course of action, Qi Xiu flicked his sleeve. SHATTER! The water mirror before him broke, and crystal fragments rained down like a flurry of silver snow.

"Boundless Celestial Venerable," he murmured. "The state of the world is unbearable. It seems I have no choice but to begin this slaughter in earnest."

With that soft utterance, the young Daoist transformed into a Lei Mang that shot into the sky, disappearing over the horizon in an instant.

「 」

"Song Qingyun," the Tiger Demon sneered, "I advise you to run for your life. Do you really think you can fight me when you're covered in those disgusting lesions?"

Leaning against a colorful palanquin carried by eight Bull Demons, a Tiger Demon—human-bodied but with a tiger's head, covered in gore, a tattered fur pelt tied around its waist, its fangs dripping with blood and bits of flesh—scoffed derisively at the Qinghe Sect cultivators on the opposite mountain.

Clutching his longsword, Song Qingyun, the Sect Master of the Qinghe Sect, his skin covered with large, flower-shaped, foul-smelling lesions, wore a grave expression, his eyes firm and resolute.

"You malformed abominations!" Song Qingyun retorted, brandishing his sword. "How could your filthy, stinking hearts ever comprehend the great righteousness of our Human Race? Even if I, your Sect Master, fall today, the Qinghe Sect will not perish! You may kill me, but you cannot destroy the heritage of the Qinghe Sect! Come, you vile tiger, if you dare!"

The fewer than twenty remaining disciples of the sect, seeing their severely injured Sect Master still standing tall, also found their expressions growing firm and resolute.

SHIING! SHIING! SHIING! The continuous sound of swords being drawn echoed. Sharp, piercing gazes cut through the air, and a profound, dense pressure emanated, making even the Tiger Demon feel a shiver of fear.

"Then I shall grant you your wish!" the Tiger Demon snarled. With a wave of his massive hand, hundreds of grotesque, hideous Demonic Evil Cultivators, their demonic aura flaring, charged forward with a thunderous roar.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The mountain trembled, and the thunderous noise continued unabated.

As the terrifying and cruel Demonic Evil Cultivators surged towards them, Song Qingyun took a deep breath and said to his disciples, "I have failed as your Sect Master, leading you to die alongside me."

"Sect Master, you are wrong!" one disciple cried out. "The Demonic Evil Cultivators are slaughtering our Human Race brethren! As Human Cultivators, we vow to slay these demons and reclaim our lands! If we die today, it is only because our skills were insufficient. If there is an afterlife, we will still fight these filthy beasts to the bitter end!"

"Exactly! To the bitter end!" Their defiant shouts seemed to dispel the encroaching shadow of death.

At that moment, the screeching, howling Demonic Evil Cultivators had already reached the Mountain Gate of the Qinghe Sect.

BANG! The crimson Mountain Gate was shattered with a single palm strike. Wood splinters flew, the explosive sound reverberating.

But just as one of those ugly, repulsive feet stepped past the threshold of the Qinghe Sect's Mountain Gate, a streak of golden light erupted from the ground! Instantly, it sliced the invading leg in two.

HUMMM— The void trembled, brilliantly dazzling! A golden radiance bloomed in the sky like a newly risen sun. An immense protective barrier sprang from the ground, standing tall like a giant golden pyramid before the Mountain Gate of the Qinghe Sect.

In the center of the golden glow, the character for "Suppress" hung suspended in the void, its powerful and solemn aura permeating the air. Majestic and dominating, mighty and resolute!

"What?!" The Tiger Demon frowned, startled by the sudden appearance of the golden barrier.

The next instant! A powerful sense of imminent danger flooded its heart. Up there!

It quickly looked up, its pupils shrinking. A thousand meters high in the sky, a young Daoist in a deep blue Taoist Robe stood upon a vermilion-glazed gourd, his gaze calm as he overlooked the scene below.

And just as the Tiger Demon looked up, the young Daoist's eyes were slowly turning a brilliant gold, a terrifying power of thunderous destruction rapidly brewing within his pupils.

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