Chapter 173: Disaster Strikes! Zhao Xing's Countermeasures!

Yun City, the Ministry of Agriculture.

After the meeting concluded and the prevention plan for Yun City was confirmed, he returned immediately and led his people to begin work.

First, checkpoints were set up at the mouths of various tributaries entering Yun City within the Canglan River basin.

These were not ordinary checkpoints, but formation arrays.

Before the people could even be mobilized, Zhao Xing had Ling Yuan craft a batch of formations named the 'Water-Clearing Pure Origin Array'.

At this moment, Ling Yuan was leading people to set up the array at the entrance of the 'Mei River'.

Zhao Xing had requested a group of martial artists from Xia Jing; currently, the martial artists were helping to carry the array bases off the flying boats.

The array bases were primarily made of fifth-tier material 'Silk Green Crystal Mother', supplemented by third and fourth-tier materials, and looked like a huge black box.

Each weighed ten thousand tons; the workshop's specially made dragon boats could transport only twenty array bases at a time.

"My lord, the dragon boat's triple crane has already lowered forty-five array bases; the formation at the Mei River entrance is expected to be completed by tomorrow," Ling Yuan ran over and said to Zhao Xing. "With the help of the martial artists, progress is much faster than expected."

Zhao Xing glanced at the river surface and said to Ling Yuan, "Ask the brothers to work overtime; finish it today."

"My lord, they haven't slept in three days; perhaps..."

"I sent martial artists to help so it could be finished as soon as possible," Zhao Xing said. "The Southern Barbarian Witches will surely act in the fourth month; working overtime and enduring hardship now is far better than being dismissed from office or losing one's life later."

"Please, Lord Ling, explain these principles clearly to the brothers; under no circumstances must they cut corners or be lazy and slack. As long as you do not leave, no one will say anything. Work hard for this moment; tomorrow your team may rest for a day."

"Yes, this official will surely hold this position," Ling Yuan replied. Although he was also very tired, since Zhao Xing had issued the order, he could only agree.

Although he did not agree with Zhao Xing's grandiose approach, Zhao Xing did not need his agreement; he only needed to follow orders.

After looking around here, Zhao Xing ran to the next location.

"What does this array defend against?" Long Xiao asked curiously. "I'll make a note; perhaps it will be useful later."

Following Zhao Xing, he had also become eager to learn.

"How much do you know about the Southern Barbarian Witches?" Zhao Xing asked.

"The character 'Witch' has one horizontal stroke on top representing Heaven, one horizontal stroke on the bottom representing Earth, and a vertical stroke in the middle representing Shenshan; some say this vertical stroke is the Divine Tree."

"Categorized by rank, there are Heaven Witches, Earth Witches, and Human Witches."

"Heaven Witch-level ones all reside in Shenshan deep within the Southern Wasteland; generally, tribal chieftains or kings of other races are also at the Heaven Witch level."

"Shenshan in the Southern Barbarian lands commands all tribes, kingdoms, and Fangwaizong Sects hidden within."

"Categorized by type, there are many: Five Elements, Wind, and Thunder—that makes seven types. There are also Blood Witches, Insect Witches, Beast Witches, and so on. The most common are Strength Witches, similar to our martial artists, though their combat methods are also diverse."

"Categorized by position, it is much more complicated; customs differ across Southern Barbarian regions. For things like sacrifices, in some places any Witch can do it, even Strength Witches who also possess sacrificial abilities. But in some tribes, only a specific type of Witch can perform them."

"I can remember the fighting styles and Witch specialties of twenty-seven major tribes."

Zhao Xing gave a thumbs-up: "Knowing these, the imperial court granting you the title of Wu Hou would be more than sufficient."

Long Xiao laughed: "Don't flatter me; you haven't even said what array the Heavenly Workshop is deploying."

Zhao Xing said: "When Southern Barbarian tribes fight, they first deploy Witches to cast spells using the Canglan River basin. Have you heard of the Ten Calamities of the Heaven Witch?"

"I have heard of them; a legendary spell: sand turning into lice, five grains not surviving, clear water turning to blood, beasts going berserk, ice blades across the land, rivers of blood surging, terrifying parasitism, evil gods devouring souls, darkness descending, and severing the connection between Heaven and Earth."

"It is said that even a Heaven Witch cannot cast the final step."

Zhao Xing nodded: "The legend you speak of is the Ten Divine Calamities of the Heaven Witch; if cast to the final step, everyone would perish together, and the heavens and earth of that area would become a forbidden zone. It would not be used unless it was a war of extinction."

"We won't talk about that far ahead; I am defending against the Ten Insect Calamities of the Human Witch level."

"Ten Insect Calamities?" Long Xiao rubbed his chin. "I seem to have heard of it somewhere."

Zhao Xing said: "A seventh-rank Insect Witch can cast the Ten Insect Calamities; the specific insects and their names differ."

"If it were normal natural disaster methods, I would not fear them; we could clash, and perhaps we would see who wins."

"But Insect Witches are troublesome; occupying the terrain, they only need to stand upstream and activate the spell, causing water-borne insect eggs to flow downstream, secretly entering the territory of Yun City."

"If it were an Earth-level Insect Witch, a single mother insect could cause all humans and livestock in Yun City to die out; even military doctors could not save them."

"Even if I could use the Hou Transformation Method to kill these mother insects, their reproductive ability is too strong, and dealing with them would be troublesome. If they really entered, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Medical Bureau would have nothing else to do afterwards, so they must be prevented."

"The fifth-tier Water-Clearing Pure Origin Array is the best means to defend against Insect Witches."

"Ling Yuan does not understand because he thinks this formation is too obscure and unnecessary to build at such a high level."

"Insect Witches are difficult to train and do not appear often on the battlefield."

"However, better safe than sorry; Fucheng has supplied Yun City with so many materials, I certainly will not let them go moldy."

"I will give you a book; read it carefully; it is all related to Insect Witches."

Long Xiao nodded: "I indeed rarely see Insect Witches, but you are an expert; you decide. Water-Clearing Pure Origin Array? I have noted it; I will read it upon my return."

Zhao Xing spoke so much to Long Xiao not purely to enlighten him, but because he knew that Insect Witches, which had rarely appeared in the previous two hundred years, would appear in large numbers during this great war!

Great Zhou is progressing, and the Southern Barbarian races are progressing too; indeed, the pressure on the Southern Barbarian races is even greater. To guard against Great Zhou, this colossal power, they have racked their brains to develop various secret arts.

Insect Witches also unleashed astonishing energy in this campaign to pacify the Southern Barbarians, inflicting heavy blows on the Pacification Army.

Long Xiao will surely have the opportunity to venture deep into the Southern Wasteland, and so will Old Chen; Zhao Xing did not want anything to happen to these two, so he used this opportunity to warn Long Xiao.

Actually, this book still depends on Old Chen seeing it; Long Xiao, being a martial artist, can think of few solutions; Old Chen is the spellcaster.

Since all five bureaus of Yun City had unified their front, and the heads of each bureau strongly supported the actions of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Zhao Xing's work progressed quite rapidly.

Even though he used these obscure formations and luxurious materials to order the artificers to make the arrangements, no one dared to say anything.

He did not need the people below to understand; he only needed the support of the heads of each bureau.

To what extent did the bureaus support Zhao Xing?

"Soul, return!"

At the hour of Yin, Zhang Yi stood at a bridgehead, holding a soul-guiding lantern and shaking a bell.

Before him stood an altar, with many ritualists sitting and repeating the actions with him.

Yellow paper burned fiercely in the bronze furnace.

The chief official of the Divine Hall, Shen Mingyu, willingly took a subordinate position beside Zhang Yi to assist him in casting spells.

Firelight illuminated the night, and within moments, the glow turned green.

Zhao Xing and Xia Jing stood behind Zhang Yi.

Both possessed high-level Bright Eye spells; they could see that the surroundings were already thick with ghostly shadows. Although it still appeared to be an empty space, it was in fact a vast army of ghosts.

If an ordinary person stayed in this empty space, they would likely soon be eroded by the overwhelming yin energy, causing their physical body and vital blood to wither.

Shortly after, the ritual was completed.

Zhang Yi walked down from the altar. "Why have you come?"

"Seeing you were about to finish, we came to take a look," Xia Jing said with a smile. "Your efficiency is impressive, Brother Zhang. A hundred-meter-high Dashan, and you dug it through in ten days. You said you'd dig it through, and you did."

Zhang Yi said helplessly, "Wasn't it Zhao Xing who wanted it dug? I never thought I'd one day use ghost souls to move bricks."

"If I had known I'd be doing this after graduating from the Yuan Yin Academy, my fellow students would have laughed me to death."

Zhao Xing patted Zhang Yi's shoulder. He knew this man had entered the army only after graduating from the academy, and upon joining, had immediately gone to the Ten Yang Cave Heaven for training, so he was still somewhat unaccustomed to such matters.

"Being an official isn't shameful. Someday, Brother Zhang, when you return home in glory and visit the academy again, who would dare say anything? The beauties of the past will surely look at you differently. Those who mocked you will eventually bow beneath your Cloud-Climbing Boots, respectfully addressing you as Lord Zhang!" Zhao Xing habitually painted a beautiful future for Zhang Yi.

Shen Mingyu, standing nearby, saw Zhang Yi's intrigued expression and exclaimed, "He's a pro!" He, the nominal chief official, even felt like following Zhao Xing.

"By the way, how much longer can these ghost laborers last?" Zhao Xing asked. "Can we finish tomorrow?"

"Yes," Zhang Yi said. "However, the incense medium for the temple is running low; it can support these ghost laborers for at most half a month."

"Half a month," Zhao Xing stroked his chin. "Can these ghost laborers do other things? Like fighting wars or something."

"No," Zhang Yi shook his head. "The rule for these ghost laborers is that they work for money; they do not sell their lives."

"If you don't give them money, it doesn't count as selling, does it?"

Xia Jing: "..."

Zhang Yi: "???"

Zhao Xing looked at Shen Mingyu and said, "You can ask Lord Shen to see if it's feasible."

Shen Mingyu helplessly nodded. "Theoretically, it is possible. If these ghost laborers disperse due to an accident, there is no need to consume incense medium to send them back..."

Shen Mingyu's words left Zhang Yi stunned. Could they really play it this way? He felt his path of sacrifice had opened a door to a new world.

Xia Jing also looked at Zhao Xing in surprise. Even though he was accustomed to Zhao Xing's flights of fancy, he was often still startled by Zhao Xing's ideas. "Brother Zhao, how are you so proficient?"

Zhao Xing casually brushed it off. "I read it in books too. The library of the Ten Yang Cave Heaven has many such volumes; go back and flip through them and you'll see."

What kind of miscellaneous books would teach this? Although Xia Jing was suspicious, he didn't ask further, having slowly grown accustomed to it.

"Ahem," Shen Mingyu said. "Lord Zhao, this method goes against the harmony of heaven and earth."

Zhao Xing clasped his hands and said, "I didn't say I wouldn't pay. Isn't it just about using it sparingly? If we reduce the incense a bit, can't we extend the half-month period even longer?"

Xia Jing, now corrupted as well, added, "True. If all else fails, just wait until the incense supply arrives next time to pay."

Shen Mingyu was speechless. He felt his thinking was completely out of sync with this group of young people, especially Zhao Xing, whose pace he simply couldn't keep up with.

Damn, even saving ghost money! That's just too much!

What has happened to this world? Has the era changed so quickly?

Am I too old-fashioned, or is Zhao Xing too perverted?

Zhao Xing didn't say more. People change step by step. Zhang Yi couldn't accept it fully now, but he would gradually get used to it later.

"Brother Zhang, Lord Shen, thank you all for your contributions to Yun City. After this Dashan is dug through, I will host a banquet for the officials of the Divine Hall to reward you. Please do honor us with your presence."

"Lord Zhao speaks too humbly; this is what we ought to do," Shen Mingyu said politely. He had been implicated in the Shao Wanjie case previously, and negligence and dereliction of duty were inescapable, but he was decisive, choosing to stay and work with this group of young people.

Even if asked to relinquish his position as chief official, he had no objection. The Divine Hall was now effectively under Zhang Yi's command; how would he dare to put on airs?

"Huff~"

Zhao Xing and Xia Jing boarded a flying boat to patrol the next location.

After the functions of the government agencies were restored, the energy they unleashed was terrifying.

Now, when people were needed, there were people, and they were elites!

When supplies were needed, there were supplies, instantly making up for ten years of shortages.

Moreover, with all departments of Yun City working together, the defense of Yun City, which had previously been as leaky as a sieve, was quickly restored.

Amidst the vigorous restoration and prevention efforts in Yun City, time quickly arrived at the fourth month of the seventeenth year of the Jingxin Era.

On the first day of the fourth month, Zhao Bo led ten human shamans of the Hana tribe, patrolling by the river.

He had already been at the upper reaches of the Canglan River for ten days.

"Young Clan Leader, this place is only a hundred li from Yun City; we cannot advance further. If we advance any further, we might be discovered, or even encounter soldiers of the Great Zhou."

"Hmm," Zhao Bo nodded. "Although it is not the optimal spellcasting route, let us choose this spot."

"Young Clan Leader, Yun City is merely a mess; it collapses at a touch. Why must we cast the Ten Locust Disaster?" asked an elder shaman.

"As long as the Mother Worm does not die, it can lie dormant in Yun City. If we are able to strike the Nine Heavens Ying Yuan Mansion in the future, we can activate the spell at any time," Zhao Bo said.

"Strike the Nine Heavens Ying Yuan Mansion?" The elder shaman internally dismissed this notion as a pipe dream. He wondered whether it was good or bad that their Hana tribe had a young clan leader with such ambition, but having already questioned twice, he did not dare say more, simply placing his hand on his chest and bowing in agreement.

"Place the Mother Worms into the spell boat," Zhao Bo commanded. "Cast the spell according to the pre-planned route, allowing them to enter the territory of Yun City."

"Yes."

The ten human shamans immediately dug out boxes from the ground, each containing a Mother Worm.

"Go!"

Subsequently, fifty Mother Worms were thrown into the spell boat, drifting downstream along the Jiang He.

The placement of the Mother Worms required care. Zhao Bo and his people used spells to conceal their forms; the vessels carrying the Mother Worms were either a piece of dead wood, a fragment of a wooden board, or a fish...

After placing them, Zhao Bo and the others remained motionless, their minds attached to the spell boat, carrying the fifty Mother Worms along the planned route toward the territory of Yun City.

Sending the guaranteed two updates. I won't make up the owed updates today; it's too late. Things were normal for a few days recently, but now the schedule is flipped again.

Still owe 14 updates; I'll make them up slowly this month.