Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gongsun Shi’s move was undoubtedly to establish his authority.
Everyone present, including the vicious beasts, felt as cold as cicadas in winter.
This method had completely exceeded the comprehension of a Heaven Rank cultivator.
This was especially the case when they didn’t know at all that Gongsun Shi was only able to create such a terrifying effect by borrowing the effects of the Divine Artifact.
“I am the 10th Saint of the Human Race, Gongsun Shi!” He introduced himself.
Sweeping his gaze across everyone, he said in a deep voice, “I summoned all of you here because Nine Nether Island is about to reappear. At that time, it will become a channel that connects the Demon Realm and the Human Realm. At that time, once the Demon Race invades, it will be a disaster for everyone.”
“Gasp!”
Everyone gaped in shock.
This was no joke.
According to historical records, the intensity of the war between humans and the demons was extremely terrifying.
Nine out of ten people who went did not make it back.
The Demon Race fed on humans, and they destroyed everything.
There was no need to mention the vicious beasts.
They were also targets for the demons to slaughter and eat.
“Is there no way to stop it?”
“Yeah! Can’t we stop the island from resurfacing?”
“How much longer?”
Gongsun Shi said in a deep voice, “Six months. In six months, Nine Nether Island will reappear in the void. At that time, the Demon Clan can enter the human world through Nine Nether Island.”
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
What should they do?
“In that case, Senior Gongsun, what should we do?” Someone asked.
“Gather all our strength and control the battlefield on Nine Nether Island to resist the demons!” Gongsun Shi said.
Immediately after, he swept his gaze across everyone and asked, “Do you have any questions?”
“Um… can I not go?”
Someone asked.
Not everyone had the courage. Even if they knew that they had to fight, even if they knew that the consequences of not fighting were very serious, there were still people who did not want to fight!
Gongsun Shi’s eyes were ice-cold as he said, “Those who don’t dare to fight will die!”
With his methods just now, this sentence seemed especially terrifying.
Everyone fell silent.
Everyone had their own thoughts at the moment.
Gongsun Shi casually waved his hand and a chair appeared beside him. He sat down and said, “Changqing, introduce the Nine Nether Island to them.”
Su Changqing stood out and said with a smile, “Hello everyone, there might be some people who know me. My name is Su Changqing, the former prime minister of Zhou Country and the current minister of the Ministry of Appointments in Great Chu. My son is the Great Chu Nanli King, Su Wen. He is also here!”
As he spoke, he pointed at Su Wen.
Su Wen didn’t stand on ceremony and laughed loudly. “Hello, Uncle Gongsun.”
He had on a smile full of ‘happiness’!
Gongsun Shi nodded at him to express his goodwill.
Everyone was stunned when they saw this interaction.
This father and son pair!
They were pretty impressive!
Or rather, they were too impressive!
To think they could even form a relationship with this person!
Furthermore, Su Changqing was the person in charge of this matter.
Emperor Yan was dumbfounded as he took in the scene.
No way? I just had a verbal argument with Su Wen… and now his father is following the Saint?
Could his luck really be that disgusting?
Su Changqing continued, “Although Nine Nether Island is an island, its surface area is no smaller than any country in the present world. In fact, it’s even larger. According to Senior Gongsun, it’s still impossible to step into the void. Just now, it was Senior Gongsun who led me forward.
If an ordinary Heaven Rank cultivator enters, they will only end up losing their ability to sense the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth! They will then fall into the Endless Abyss. Therefore, all Heaven Rank experts, do not try to enter the void.”
As he spoke, Su Changqing took out a map and said, “The terrain of Nine Nether Island is long and narrow, and the defense area is relatively cramped. This can be considered a good thing for us. But even so, the defense line is still very long. When defending against the invasion of the Demon Clan, everyone must disperse as much as possible, especially to prevent the Demon Clan’s Heaven Rank experts from entering the human world!”
That was true. Even if the entire continent’s experts had gathered, there were only a few hundred Heaven Ranks present.
It was extremely difficult for these people to want to completely protect Nine Nether Island.
Su Changqing said in a low voice, “Because Senior Gongsun has already brought me to take a look, I have my thoughts! We need to push the defense line as far as possible, around 10,000 miles away from Nine Nether Island. At the same time, we need to set up a monitoring formation to prevent the Demon Race’s Heaven Rank experts from sneaking into the human world!”
“All the high-grade spiritual masters in the various countries need to be transferred over as well. Does anyone have any objections?”
The emperors looked at each other.
This… it was impossible to say that they had no objections.
But who would dare to say no?
Seeing that everyone was silent, Su Changqing smiled and said, “Then this matter is decided. Next is the materials for the grand array! With the country as the unit, the Chu Country needs to pay 30,000 kilograms of Jadefall Crystals… 20,000 kilograms of Star Magnetic Iron…”
A long list of materials was revealed.
Furthermore, the Chu Country was only the first country. After that, there were other countries that set different standards for each country. They also adjusted the standards according to each country’s mineral production.
The specific work was developed by Old Su. Who knew how many brain cells he had lost?
After reporting the list, Su Changqing swept his gaze over these people and said, “The things on the list might be a little difficult to gather, but all the materials have to be delivered on time. If you can’t deliver them, you’ll be punished!”
One of the emperors of a small country spoke, “Lord Su, I would like to ask, the things that each country has to hand over are different. Are you sure you’re not biased towards the Chu Country?”
Just as he finished speaking, a stifling pressure suddenly slammed down.
The emperor fell to his knees with a groan.
Gongsun Shi looked at him, saying with a sunken voice, “You all can raise your opinions, questions, but do not raise unnecessary doubts towards my people!”
“This is the first time I’m sparing your life. Next time, you’ll die!”
Gongsun Shi’s words were very simple.
This was what Su Changqing had discussed with him.
Since he wanted Su Changqing to preside over this matter, he had to give him enough support. At this moment, explaining was the most troublesome because no matter how he explained, it was impossible to maintain peace. There would definitely be people who would feel resentment in their hearts, especially when it came to matters involving benefits. No matter what, there would be a knot in their hearts.
Time was tight, and the mission was important. Some things had to be obeyed without questioning.
Emperor Yan gulped in fear. He was about to speak as well!
In the list of materials Su Changqing announced, the materials that his Yan Country needed to provide were clearly higher than that of the Chu Country and Zhou Country!
However, seeing Gongsun Shi supporting Su Changqing so strongly, he endured it for now.
Su Changqing continued, “At the same time, the various countries will be mobilizing their elite soldiers to form a group of 7th Grade Star Rank and above! The Barbarians will send 80,000, and the Yan Country will send 50,000. The other major countries will send 30,000 each, and the small countries will send 10,000! They will be handed over to be trained and managed as part of the defense against the demon army.
At the same time, we will also be mobilizing the commoners. After the Heaven Rank experts have taken up residence in the Nine Nether Island, they will immediately construct and set up an offensive array.”
Su Changqing issued his orders one after another.
All the emperors’ expressions changed drastically.
With this, almost all of the power in the country would be drained!
This included the Heaven Rank experts.
Emperor Yan was even more dissatisfied. “Why does my Yan Country need to produce the most?”
“I know!” Su Wen stood up and said loudly, “The greater the power, the greater the responsibility! The Yan Country has the largest land area and the strongest power of the country. My Great Chu and Zhou Country are deeply inferior! A war is imminent, yet you’re still so calculative! Doesn’t Emperor Yan have this magnanimity?”
Emperor Yan :”…”
He seriously suspected that Su Changqing and his son were abusing their power for personal revenge, but he had no evidence.
After Su Changqing finished speaking, he smiled and asked, “Everyone, if you have any questions, you can speak now.”
Emperor Zhou stood up and said in a deep voice, “Changqing, I’m the emperor of a country. Do I also have to enter the Nine Nether Island to fight?”
Su Changqing glanced at him and said, “In the moment of life and death, anyone has to do this.”
At this moment, Su Wen smiled and said, “Uncle Zhao, I don’t think you need to worry too much. If we can occupy a position in Nine Nether Island, we can naturally pull out a portion of the Heaven Rank experts. After all, we all have our own sects. If the situation stabilizes, pulling out some will have less impact on the battle.”
As he spoke, he looked at Su Changqing and asked with a smile, “Father, don’t you think so?”
Su Changqing’s eyes narrowed slightly as he said, “Of course!”
Emperor Zhou looked at Emperor Yan again and said, “Then what if someone starts a war while we’re inside?”
He had also thought about it. This matter was both good and bad for him.
The bad thing was that they had to fight inside! There might be some variables in their country in the meantime!
However, the good thing was that Zhou Country would be able to take a breather.
One had to know that during this period of time, Lu Zhen’s troops had increased greatly. This was extremely stressful for Great Zhou.
It was a good thing for him to get a breather.
However, if he went in and someone started a war outside, he would definitely not tolerate it.
Especially since the Yan Emperor wasn’t a Heaven Rank cultivator, so he could do whatever he wanted outside.
Gongsun Shi said in a low voice, “During the war, all external wars will stop. The battles in the martial world are not allowed, and no one is allowed to usurp the throne!”
He knew that it was impossible to stop all the fighting.
Because fighting was the source of these martial artists’ advancement.
But similarly, he needed to maintain the stability of these regimes.
Because these regimes were the logistics of all the people on the front lines!
This included the delivery of rations and materials for setting up the array formation.
Moreover, in Su Changqing’s follow-up plan, the spiritual masters would have to work together to research a large number of war weapons to deal with the demons!
He knew that there were two paths to war. The first result was that these Heaven Rank experts had been defeated!
The moment the Demon Race marched into the human world, apart from the suffering of the people, they would also have to try to nurture experts in the human world to continue resisting the Demon Race.
The other option was for humans to win or be in a stalemate.
But whether it was victory or stalemate, it was definitely not realistic to say that they would fight their way into the Demon Realm.
Therefore, a long-term confrontation was inevitable.
Unless… they could shatter the Nine Nether Island into the void again.
However, with his current ability, it was obvious that this was impossible.
Therefore, before the situation was clear, the external side had to maintain relative stability.
Of course, if he really had the advantage and finished setting up defenses, then he would not interfere in these normal battles between humans.
The scariest thing now was that everything was unknown!
There was no information!
It was the same for the demons. No one knew how strong the other party was!
Upon hearing Gongsun Shi’s words, Su Wen’s eyes lit up.
Some plans began to surface in his mind!
When everyone heard Gongsun Shi’s words, they all fell silent.
This was a battle that one had to fight even if they didn’t want to.
Including the Barbarians and Vicious Beasts, no one raised any objections.
“Alright, you can leave and make preparations. Half a year isn’t long.” Su Changqing casually spoke.
It was indeed not long. It would take time to gather resources, deploy manpower, and rush to the extreme north of the continent.
After all, not everyone could fly like a Heaven Rank expert.
“Remember! I don’t want to see Heaven Rank experts fighting each other for the next half a year!” Gongsun Shi growled.
With the Divine Artifact in the sky serving as a surveillance camera, apart from being able to hide from the heavenly secrets, he could also monitor the entire continent.
To most people, this battle was not a good thing.
There were too many things to consider.
Su Changqing smiled. “Now, apart from the emperors of the various nations who can bring two people back, the rest of the Heaven Rank experts, please stay.”
“Eh?”
All of the Heaven Ranks frowned.
One had to know that the largest percentage of people here were the Heaven Rank experts from the aristocratic families and sects.
They had to stay, but the Emperor could bring people back?
In this half a year, wouldn’t the Emperors be able to do whatever they wanted?
Su Changqing naturally did this on purpose. He knew very well that the materials he wanted were absolutely not something that the royal family could gather by themselves. It required a large amount of manpower and wealth.
At that time, they would definitely have to squeeze out a portion from the wealthy families in the country.
If all of the Heaven Rank experts were present, the royal family would be restricted.
However, if these people were forced to stay, the emperor’s power would reach an unprecedented peak.
They could control any aristocratic family in the country!
In fact, there might even be situations where the aristocratic families would bear most of the materials.
But there was no other way.
If the royal family could not keep their word at this time, with only half a year left, it would be extremely difficult to complete such a large-scale human and financial transport.
Su Changqing then looked at everyone and said, “This Qi pillar here is a Heaven Earth Origin Qi pillar created by Senior Gongsun. Everyone, cultivate here. It’s much faster than usual.”
After choosing a Heaven Rank expert, Xiang Feiyan thought for a moment and chose Su Wen and Ning Shuang. She smiled at Xiang Ding and said, “Since we can’t fight during this period of time, Fourth Great-Grandfather, you should rest well here.”
Xiang Ding’s eyes flashed, but he did not say anything.
Emperor Zhou left with the old eunuch.
Emperor Yan also left with two Heaven Rank experts.
It was worth mentioning that Emperor Zhou was the only Heaven Rank expert among the emperors.
This fellow was quite extraordinary!
After Xiang Feiyan finished speaking, Su Wen picked her up and flew straight to the Great Chu Palace with Ning Shuang following closely behind.
In the capital…
Brother Jin was lying in his room. He had a big drumstick in his left hand and a book in his right. There was also a pot of old wine on the table beside him. He looked truly comfortable.
“This is truly life…”
Zhao Jin sighed.
After finishing the meat and drinking, he sighed again.
“What a pity, I can’t just behave like dirt for the rest of my life.”
With a bitter smile, Zhao Jin exited the room and went to the courtyard. He carried the rock and started training again.
Without Ning Shuang’s supervision, he could be more relaxed.
But he would not completely indulge himself.
Although he always complained in his heart that Ning Shuang’s training was too ruthless, he was clear that not everyone had a chance to ascend to the Heaven Rank.
It could even be said that it was something that everyone dreamed of.
Becoming a Heaven Rank expert meant becoming one of the strongest people in the continent.
Brother Jin was at least still a little ambitious.
A few days later, Su Wen returned to the capital.
Compared to the other emperors, his speed was considered extremely fast.
However, they would not be too slow either.
“Brother Wen, what should we do now?”
Xiang Feiyan asked Su Wen.
Su Wen smiled.
What should he do? It was better to prepare for the worst case!
He took out a memorial and handed it to Xiang Feiyan.
Xiang Feiyan opened it and was shocked. This was the tax system set by Ji Yuchen and the others.
Su Wen said coldly, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! All the Heaven Rank experts are gathered in the extreme north of the continent! They won’t be able to return, and they don’t know what’s going on in the family. No one will dare to resist Her Majesty’s tax system. If they resist Her Majesty, they will definitely be exterminated!
By the time those Heaven Rank experts return from Nine Nether Island, the matter would have already been decided. There’s no way to reverse it!”
That’s right. In Su Wen’s opinion, this was the moment when the royal power reached its peak.
With the departure of all the Heaven Rank experts, especially in the country, there was no longer any resistance. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for reforms.
Especially when Su Wen and Ning Shuang returned. They were both Heaven Rank experts!
This way, the power would completely lean towards the royal family.
Su Wen said to Xiang Feiyan, “Once the reform is completed, the income of the national treasury will greatly increase, and we can change the lives of the commoners. When the lives of the commoners at the bottom are better, more people will practice martial arts, and more people will invest in martial arts. This will also greatly strengthen the power of the country.”
Xiang Feiyan looked at the memorial in her hand.
She did not have so many misgivings. In her opinion, since it was good, she would just go ahead with it.
There are naturally benefits to being simple-minded…
After settling Xiang Feiyan down, Su Wen and Ning Shuang returned home.
Currently, Zhao Jin was only at 7th Grade Earth Rank.
It couldn’t be helped. His aptitude was not good, and it was not something that could be improved through hard work.
Su Wen took out some elixirs and handed them to Zhao Jin.
“Here are some pills,” he said in a low voice. “Eat as much as you want and cultivate as much as you want! Don’t worry about your foundation being unstable! You have to raise your cultivation level as soon as possible! I need you to break through to 9th Grade Earth Rank in half a year! Otherwise, I’ll get someone else to help him enter the Heaven Rank!”
Su Wen was not joking when he said this!
Zhao Jin asked curiously, “Young master, why are you in such a hurry?”
“I plan to create a bug!” Su Wen said.
Zhao Jin was at a loss. “Take a Tyrant Brother? Who is Tyrant Brother? Why do you need to take him?”
(TL Note: Bug is directly spoken as such in Chinese, which sounds like Ba Ge. Hence Zhao Jin thinks the person is called Tyrant Brother since it sounds the same.)
“Cultivate! You talk too much!”
Su Wen could not be bothered to explain to him.
Su Wen had his own way of thinking and doing things as well…
Now that all the Heaven Rank experts were gathered in the far north…
And even Gongsun Shi would have to enter the Nine Nether Island…
If someone suddenly broke through to the Heaven Rank, what sort of outcome would happen?
An invincible expert would appear!
It was enough to influence the general trend of the world! Although Gongsun Shi said that no conflicts between countries were allowed, loopholes could still be exploited…
For example… accidentally getting into a conflict with an enemy general… and then helplessly counterattack and kill him…
If all of the Yan Emperor’s generals were dead… Wouldn’t it be wonderful to fight again?
People from all over the world would be fighting for their lives inside the island…
Wouldn’t the outside world be totally free for Su Wen to manipulate?
Taking a step back, even if he didn’t want to mess around, Su Wen had to be wary of others harming his family after breaking through to the Heaven Rank.
Or rather, under the reform system, there would definitely be repercussions from the aristocratic families.
Although the possibility was not high…
However, with a Heaven Rank expert to hold down the fort, he would be much more at ease.
After speaking to Zhao Jin, Su Wen fell into deep thought again.
He still had to think of a way to earn these Emotional Value points. Seeing that the war was about to start, having some Emotional Value points at hand was definitely the best.
After some thought, Su Wen opened the teleportation portal once more.
Great Zhou, I’m back.
