Chapter 471: Inquiry and Caution, Inside Chen Cang, Returning Home in Glory and

Cai Qiu Calendar Year 299, October 18th, Late Night

Ssh...

Zhang Qinggu, covered in dirt and Lu Su powder, dragging his exhaustion, finally returned to his small courtyard. As soon as he returned, he immediately took off his clothes and jumped into a bucket of ice water that had been prepared in advance.

His skin was dark red and charred, emitting a scorching toxic aura. The whole person looked like a giant burning coal. As soon as he jumped in, the ice bucket produced a violent reaction, and the room was instantly filled with thick smoke.

"Living one more day, this harvesting is really not a job for humans!"

After a long time, sensing that the fire poison in his body had dissipated a little, Zhang Qinggu slowly opened his eyes and couldn't help but sigh heavily.

"Those dog officials really don't treat us as humans..."

These words could only be said in this small courtyard of his own.

Zhang Qinggu sighed again, then thought of something, a trace of excitement appeared in his eyes: "Zhu'er and Hong'er have both started to reshape their skin. Fortunately, I asked for leave for them in August. If they were discovered by the people of the jurisdiction, they would also be dragged to harvest Lu Su. Must warn them again, they cannot go out..."

Knock knock knock...

"Grandfather!"

Thinking of what came, hearing the voice of his little granddaughter outside the door, Zhang Qinggu hurriedly got up and asked while putting on his clothes: "What's the matter, Hong'er?"

"The Lord said he has something to ask you."

"Okay, you go first, grandfather will be there immediately."

Hearing that it was Hong Yu summoning him, Zhang Qinggu put on his clothes in two or three strokes, hurriedly got up, and walked toward the main room.

Entering the main room, seeing that the two granddaughters were only waiting outside the door and not staying in Xia Hong's residence, Zhang Qinggu showed a trace of disappointment in his eyes, then adjusted his mood, walked to the door of the residence, bowed and saluted: "The little old man pays respects to the Lord!"

"Come in."

Inside the main room, Xia Hong was sitting cross-legged alone on the wooden bed, still wearing that cyan Ge cloth garment. Seeing that Zhang Qinggu had been bowing his head and his expression was very cautious, he smiled and said: "I have been staying in your place for two months, you don't have to be so nervous."

"The Lord has a dragon-like appearance and a phoenix-like bearing. A vulgar person like the little old man feels like a firefly compared to the sun and moon, and cannot help but feel dazzled and ashamed of himself."

"Hahahaha..."

After all, he has lived for many years. Zhang Qinggu's flattery is really good. Xia Hong couldn't help laughing out loud, shook his head and said: "Summoning you is to ask you, do you know about the Frost-Ash Society?"

Frost-Ash Society...

Hearing the Frost-Ash Society, Zhang Qinggu's body shook violently. He subconsciously turned his head to look outside the door, then looked up at Xia Hong, and asked in a low voice with a look of shock: "Lord, these three words cannot be said randomly."

Xia Hong raised his eyebrows and continued to ask: "It seems you know. Tell me about it! What is the situation with this Frost-Ash Society?"

After asking, Xia Hong reached out from the Yellow Mustard Bag beside him, took out a plant about half a meter long and a silver box, and began to look at them carefully.

The plant was brown-jade-colored, with only one main stem, and dozens of palm-sized leaves on the top. The leaves were clustered with a flower bud that had not yet sprouted. The flower bud emitted a rich fragrance, and as soon as it was taken out, the whole room was filled with fragrance.

After looking at the plant, Xia Hong opened the silver box again. Inside the box lay five pitch-black insects, thumb-sized, with sharp heads and thick tails.

The five insects were not yet dead and were still alive. The moment the box was opened, they immediately raised their tails and shot toward Xia Hong's face at the same time.

Ding...

It's a pity that Xia Hong was too fast. He just reached out gently and grabbed all five insects. Then he opened his palm, and a majestic blood pressure was suddenly released. The five insects immediately twisted and struggled in his palm, obviously in extreme pain.

"Lu Su seeds, Black Fluorescent Insects, Lord, you..."

Seeing the top-quality Lu Su seeds and live Black Fluorescent Insects, Zhang Qinggu's expression froze instantly, but he reacted immediately. Xia Hong had already been to the Lu Su field, and he knew all about the turmoil caused by the Lu Su collection in the village for the past two months.

Combining these, and then connecting it with Xia Hong asking about the Frost-Ash Society, Zhang Qinggu had a guess in his heart. After his expression froze for a moment, he slowly began to tell Xia Hong about the Frost-Ash Society.

"It must be someone in the village who spoke nonsense, let the Lord hear it. This Frost-Ash Society..."

"You don't have to be afraid, I am not from Chen Cang..."

Xia Hong saw Zhang Qinggu's concerns instantly, waved his hand to let him settle down, and then continued to smile: "This Frost-Ash Society is a rebel organization, and the core purpose is to overthrow the Chu tyranny and abolish the six-rank status system. I know all these situations. Just tell me what you know and tell me roughly."

Zhang Qinggu's expression finally relaxed a little, but cautious by nature, he still hesitated for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.

"The Frost-Ash Society is a long-standing underground resistance organization in Chen Cang. It has been more than twenty years so far. It is rumored that they have set up general branches in five prefectures and seven cities, and then with the general branch as the core, they have established branches in the surrounding slave villages and developed a large number of members.

In the early years, they connected and did several big things in various places, and even alarmed the Prefect, but they were quickly suppressed by the army. The five prefectures and two cities have a deep hatred for this Frost-Ash Society. As long as their members are discovered, they will be killed immediately. Under such high-pressure and cruel targeting, theoretically, this organization should not be able to develop.

But the facts are completely opposite. According to the little old man, the scale of the Frost-Ash Society seems to be getting larger and larger in recent years, even..."

Zhang Qinggu stopped suddenly when he said this and didn't continue.

Xia Hong smiled and took the conversation: "Even your Qingwu Village has it. They should have invited you to join the society, right?"

Zhang Qinggu smiled awkwardly, then thought of something, gritted his teeth and walked toward the wooden shelf on the left side of the house. After fumbling on the top of the wooden shelf, he quickly took out a gray-white letter.

The letter had obviously been there for a long time, and the color had turned a bit yellow, but the few lines of characters on it could still be seen clearly.

The heading was the three big characters "Frost-Ash Society".

Below were three slogans and a paragraph of text:

【With the resilience of frost, burn the Chu territory】

【Resist all harsh taxes, restore our clothing and food】

【Smash the household registration, people are equal without rank】

【If you are interested in joining the society, please leave your name on this letter, and then bury the letter under the Kuhe tree ten miles east of the village. After confirmation, you will enter the assessment period】

"To tell the Lord, five or six years ago, the little man did receive an invitation from the Frost-Ash Society. It was daytime, and someone threw this letter into my house. The old man's heart is toward Chen Cang, so naturally, he wouldn't be with these chaotic parties."

This little old man is really cautious!

Hearing Zhang Qinggu's last guarantee, Xia Hong couldn't help but laugh. At the same time, he also had a few more traces of appreciation for the cautious degree of this little old man.

Being able to live to this age in a slave village is indeed not simple!

Thinking about it, it is understandable. This is Chen Cang after all. In Zhang Qinggu's eyes, a powerhouse like him is very likely a high-level official in Chen Cang. If he says the wrong thing at this time, it is very likely to bring disaster.

Appreciation is appreciation, but since the other party doesn't believe it, Xia Hong naturally wouldn't waste his breath to explain. He just looked down at the membership letter of the Frost-Ash Society in his hand, recited the three slogans, and his eyes lit up slightly.

With the resilience of frost, burn the Chu territory. Resist all harsh taxes, restore our clothing and food. Smash the household registration, people are equal without rank.

The society's platform and slogans are equivalent to the soul of the organization. Just like the four words "Great Xia Ten Thousand Years" that Xia people often hang on their lips, one can see from these three highly inflammatory slogans that this Frost-Ash Society is by no means a small fight, but is really resisting the Chu rule;

【If you are interested in joining the society, please leave your name on this letter, and then bury the letter under the Kuhe tree ten miles east of the village. After confirmation, you will enter the assessment period】

Absorbing members so cautiously, it's no wonder that under such extreme and cruel suppression in Chen Cang, it can still continue to develop. A mere Qingwu Village has ten thousand official members. Then in Lu He Valley, Yan Ling Prefecture, and even the entire Chen Cang territory, what is the total number of members?

Xia Hong's expression shook slightly, and he continued to ask: "Do you know who the Little Dragon Head of the Frost-Ash Society is?"

This question was obviously in Zhang Qinggu's blind spot. He shook his head first, but after thinking for a moment, he quickly thought of something and opened his mouth:

"The little man remembered that the Frost-Ash Society once caused a big riot in the south of Fengyang Prefecture sixteen years ago. It is said that it even alarmed the Fangbo Lord. It is rumored that the leader was the Dragon Head of the Frost-Ash Society. However, these news are all hearsay heard by the little man."

Chen Cang has five prefectures and two lakes. The number of large cities is the same as Cai Qiu. After removing the town cities, there are also seven.

The five prefectures are roughly arranged in the order of east, south, west, and north, which are Heyang, Yan Ling, Xichuan, Fengyang, and then the Donglin Prefecture, which is located in the center and is also the location of the town city;

The two lakes refer to Pingyang Lake and Yanzehu. Pingyang Lake is at the junction of Fengyang and Xichuan prefectures. For the convenience of management, Chen Cang also set up a Pingyang City here; Yanzehu only has a small section in the west, which belongs to Chen Cang. Due to the influence of blood miasma, Chen Cang naturally dared not set up a city here. Chen Cang's seventh city is set in the north of Fengyang, bordering the Hezang vassal town, named Longxing City.

Xia Hong closed his eyes and pondered for a while. After roughly depicting the entire territory of Chen Cang in his mind, he set the location to the south of Fengyang Prefecture, and his expression froze slightly.

The south of Fengyang Prefecture is Donglin Prefecture, which is almost bordering the town city. In other words, that place is almost the core hinterland of Chen Cang. No wonder it is said that it alarmed the Fangbo Lord.

This is equivalent to a rebellion in Great Xia, and the area of the rebellion is almost bordering Xia City. Can it not alarm Xia Hong?

Sixteen years ago, the Frost-Ash Society could cause such a big thing in the hinterland of Chen Cang! 【47

"That will be all, you may go! By the way, I will be in seclusion for the near future; do not let anyone disturb me for a short time."

"This lowly one obeys!"

After pondering for a moment, Xia Hong waved his hand to dismiss Zhang Qinggu, then looked at the two Zhang sisters and continued: "You two continue your cultivation in the outer room; I will call for you if there is anything."

"This lowly servant obeys!"

Hearing this, the two women hurried toward the outer room, not forgetting to close the door behind them.

"Although it has been refined, it is still Beast Emperor blood after all. A base strength of just over 100,000 jin is the limit. These two have too poor aptitude; if they hadn't met me, I'm afraid even a low-grade battle body would be a stretch!"

Watching the two women retreat, Xia Hong shook his head slightly. In over two months, the two Zhang sisters hadn't broken through to the Frigid-Resistant level, which spoke volumes, not to mention that he had generously shared some Beast Emperor blood.

At the Skin-Membrane Molding stage, a base strength of just over 100,000 jin is merely a subpar high-grade battle body. This aptitude indeed left him a little disappointed.

But then again, it's impossible for everyone he meets to be a genius. In a place like Changqing Valley, being able to pick up a supreme battle body like Su Xing'er was already a stroke of extreme luck; to ask for more would be too greedy.

Xia Hong cast aside the thoughts in his mind, recalled the details about Chen Cang he had gathered from Zhang Qinggu over the past two months, and revealed a playful smile.

"Unlike the other three domains, which only have one surname lineage of regional lords, Chen Cang has two major regional lord lineages, the Chu surname and the Chen surname respectively. The reason is that the entire territory of the Chen Cang domain today was formed by the merger of the Chen and Chu families, who each held one side over a hundred years ago.

This is somewhat similar to the Jiang and Xia Hou families of Jiangxia Town in the Southern Foothills, the difference being that these two families are more powerful.

Strictly speaking, the merger of the two families back then was forced by the joint pressure of the Cai Qiu and Hezang domains. Given the overall situation of Chen Cang at the time, if they didn't unite, they would inevitably have been swallowed up by those two domains in the end.

The two families made mutual concessions; the Chu family took the position of regional lord, while the Chen family retained the name of Chen Cang, as well as Longxing, a massive city that could be called a country within a country!"

Xia Hong took out a piece of rough paper, used a charcoal pencil to roughly sketch the territorial outlines of the Chen Cang and Cai Qiu domains, and then marked the locations of the three major cities: Linchu Commandery, Yan Ling Commandery, and Longxing.

Longxing City was the original base of the Chen family!

From the act of retaining the two characters 'Longxing' for over a hundred years, one can basically see that while the Chen family as a whole might be of one mind with the Chu family, there must be ambitious people within, and even that Frost-Ash Society, is it possible...

Xia Hong put away his playful smile and looked at Yan Ling Commandery on the map.

"No wonder the commandery on the westernmost edge of Cai Qiu that borders Yan Ling is named Linchu, because Yan Ling Commandery was the original base of the Chu family. Yan Ling Commandery City was formerly Chuqiu. Chu Longteng only renamed it Yan Ling fifty years ago. Changing the name is equivalent to actively diluting the influence of the Chu clan to seek faster integration with the Chen family. The regional lord's demeanor is truly extraordinary!"

While Xia Hong showed a trace of admiration, there was also some schadenfreude in the depths of his eyes.

Chu Longteng changed the name of Chuqiu, but the Chen family didn't play along and stubbornly retained the name of Longxing City to this day. From this, one can see that the two clans probably still have some estrangement in their hearts.

"It's been over a hundred years, and the two clans still haven't been able to fully integrate. This is the nature of long-standing noble clans; their cohesion is too deep. But precisely because of this, their subjective consciousness is also strong, and it's hard for them to be content as a foil for others. It's fortunate that Great Xia started in a small place like the Mo'ao Southern Foothills. If it were in the Mo'ao River, let alone developing to the current scale, whether it could even keep the name 'Great Xia' would be a problem!"

Recalling the seven people led by Chu Yan'er who broke into Xia City four years ago, Xia Hong shook his head slightly: "The conflict between the two clans should only be focused on the top level, because those in the Tribulation Body and Manifesting Yang levels were all eyewitnesses to the merger of the two families and are also stakeholders; while the middle and lower levels and those young descendants have not personally experienced that merger, so their centripetal force toward Chen Cang is still very strong.

Chu Longteng probably also holds the idea of taking it slow. Once these young people with strong centripetal force grow up, or even when they come to power, the estrangement between the two clans will disappear. Only then will Chen Cang be able to be as thoroughly united internally as the other three domains, but unfortunately..."

They ran into me!

A smile appeared on Xia Hong's face. Regardless of whether this Frost-Ash Society has any connection to the Chen family, Great Xia will definitely make use of it.

"Even if there's no connection, one can find a way to make them have one!"

Recalling the filthy things Chen Yiqing did in the Nine Towns territory, a trace of coldness flashed in Xia Hong's eyes.

It's not that he is finding a justification for his own actions. Frankly speaking, even without the bad things Chen Yiqing did, he would still adopt a hostile attitude toward the four domains of the Mo'ao River, including Chen Cang.

The keynote of the Frozen Abyss world is the law of the jungle. If Great Xia doesn't develop and grow along the way, the best outcome is to be reduced to a foil for others; the worst is to be buried in the hands of cold beasts and monsters, completely annihilated in this frigid world.

Xia Hong cannot accept either outcome!

Therefore, being hostile to the four domains of the Mo'ao River is inevitable.

He took such a big risk to break through the Bone-Eroding Path to come here, originally just to scout the reality of the domains to prepare for when he eventually clashes with them.

Since he has grasped such important information, he naturally must find a way to utilize it.

"The Chen and Chu families haven't been able to fully integrate for over a hundred years; this also serves as a reminder to me. Although the Eight Towns' heritage is not as long as these two families, they are basically all over a hundred years old. When the day of true merger comes, if not handled well, it will be a huge hidden danger that will inevitably be exploited by others in the future..."

Thinking of this, Xia Hong shook his head and sighed slightly, whispering to himself: "It is already the twelfth year of Great Xia. The Jiangxia and Muyin towns should be almost integrated, and the timing for an alliance has long been ripe. I must hurry and find a way back!"

After making up his mind, Xia Hong waved his hand to summon the Enlightenment Lotus Platform, then sat cross-legged on it, took out a Bone-Gathering Pill, swallowed it, and closed his eyes directly.

Soon, a seven-zhang-eight-foot-tall bone image emerged behind him. After the bone image appeared, a blood-colored medicinal power instantly permeated out, wrapped around his body, and quickly condensed into a blood cocoon.

"In over two months, the injuries have healed seven or eight-tenths. I can try formal cultivation to see if my bone growth has been affected after taking the Bone-Burning Pill!"

The cultivation progress of the Manifesting Yang level is specifically reflected in the growth of the bone image. Every bit of growth in the bone image is extremely rare and not so easy to perceive. Xia Hong must at least absorb all of this medicinal power to know whether his cultivation speed is normal.

The first day, the second day, the third day...

Xia Hong settled his mind and began his secluded cultivation, as did the two Zhang sisters in the outer room, but the progress of the two sides was completely different.

On the fourth day of his seclusion, which was October 22nd, Zhang Yuzhu broke through to the Frigid-Resistant level with a base strength of 107,000 jin; on the sixth day, October 24th, her younger sister Zhang Yuhong also broke through with a base strength of 105,000 jin.

With the two granddaughters breaking through one after another, Zhang Qinggu was so excited twice in a row that he came to kowtow and thank Xia Hong, only Xia Hong was in seclusion and ignored him.

The Zhang family's happy events seemed to be one after another.

Just the day after Zhang Yuhong broke through to the Frigid-Resistant level.

That is, October 25th, during the daytime.

The eldest grandson, Zhang Yuchuan, actually arrived home.

"Grandfather, Chuan'er is back to see you!"

In the Zhang family courtyard, Zhang Qinggu ran out quickly with his two granddaughters. Seeing his eldest grandson, whom he hadn't seen for nearly two years, his face was filled with a mess of emotions—surprise, strangeness, astonishment, and even panic.

The Zhang Yuchuan before him was dressed in white, with a long saber hanging at his waist, a handsome face, and all his black hair tied behind his head with a silver hairpin. His heroic brows and eyes revealed a sense of high spirits and confidence. Where was the unkempt, slightly timid young man he had personally sent away in January last year?

Not only Zhang Qinggu, but the two sisters Zhang Yuzhu and Zhang Yuhong also didn't rush up to their cousin as they had in previous years, but hid behind their grandfather, looking at Zhang Yuchuan with full faces of timidity, their eyes filled with strangeness and confusion.

"Yuchuan, why are you wearing damask and silver ornaments? This is a major crime of overstepping. If the administration sees it, they will arrest you. Quick, quick, quick, hurry inside."

Eyes cannot lie. Although Zhang Qinggu was stunned for a long time, upon meeting the young man's eyes, he immediately confirmed his grandson's identity and hurriedly pulled him into the side room.