Chapter 215: Head South Immediately

Inside the vast hall, silence reigned.

A cold wind blew in from somewhere, chilling people to the bone, and even a thin layer of frost formed on the hall's floor.

"Your Majesty speaks too heavily."

Facing Prince Qing's inquiry, Zhong Xin's expression remained steady; he said solemnly, "Who will win the deer is yet unknown; how can Your Majesty speak lightly of survival or extinction?"

"Hahaha."

The next second, Prince Qing suddenly laughed loudly: "Minister Zhong worries too much; it was merely a jest from me for a moment. Let us speak of the front lines instead. Which Foundation Establishment cultivators have died?"

Zhong Xin continued: "One was a Jiangbei independent cultivator. Besides that, Yun He Fairy, the Zhang Sect of Pan Yun Sect, the ancestor of the Zhao Xia clan, and the ancestor of the Yuan Chen clan were all taken alive. Those who escaped back are all injured; they seem to have been terrified by the Mo Sect. Given time, Zhe Long Pass will likely be impossible to defend."

Zhong Xin explained the causes and consequences in detail.

At the same time, after hearing the full story, Prince Qing immediately showed an angry expression: "Incompetent fools! Losing power and humiliating the nation! It seems I must emerge from seclusion!"

"Issue the order; I will lead the army in person!"

"With my strength, gathering the entire nation's power before the battle lines, temporarily holding the position of Great True Person, no matter what demon, is merely fodder for a single sword strike to behead!"

"Your Majesty, do not act impulsively."

Seeing this, Zhong Xin hurried forward and said: "Your Majesty is the body of ten thousand gold, the foundation of the nation, not an ordinary mortal; how can you personally face a dangerous place? This action is absolutely forbidden!"

"Then let it be."

Prince Qing went with the flow and sat back in his original seat. He was the Son of Heaven, different from those commoners; how could he possibly go risk his life fighting a powerful enemy?

But if he did not go, who else could go?

Thinking of this, he grasped Zhong Xin's hand again and sighed deeply: "Minister Zhong, if I do not lead the army in person, who can share my worries for me?"

"Your humble servant is willing!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhong Xin said solemnly: "Your Majesty may bestow upon your humble servant the Sword of the Son of Heaven and the authority of the Jie Yue; let your humble servant temporarily hold the position of Great True Person and lead the expedition on Your Majesty's behalf. In this way, even if the battle is dangerous and war brings disaster, should anything unexpected happen, it will be your humble servant who dies, while Your Majesty remains safe and can select another worthy minister to replace me."

"Would this not hurt you too much?"

Prince Qing said kindly: "With your merit and fate, temporarily holding the position of Great True Person would likely cause immense damage; the backlash afterward might ruin the rest of your life."

"To share Your Majesty's worries, your humble servant would accept it gladly."

Upon hearing these words, Prince Qing immediately nodded with satisfaction: "Good! Good! Among all the civil and military officials in the court, only you are a loyal minister, a worthy minister, and a good minister!"

"Your Majesty overpraises."

Zhong Xin shook his head and said: "Your humble servant is merely a straightforward minister."

Prince Qing smiled and changed the subject: "You are a straightforward minister, so speak frankly to me. Exactly how should we deal with that Master Chongguang of the Mo Sect?"

"The Jiangdong Dao Court is unreliable."

"That old stick from the Si Tian Tai actually said my mandate of heaven has ended, with strong enemies outside and petty people inside; rather than resisting stubbornly, it would be better to surrender early."

Speaking to this point, Prince Qing glanced at Zhong Xin again.

Although he spoke disdainfully, he actually believed it to the extent of three or four parts; otherwise, he would not have deliberately used the matter of leading the army in person to test Zhong Xin just now.

"Replying to Your Majesty,"

Zhong Xin continued: "In your humble servant's opinion, the most urgent task is to thoroughly investigate the country; all infants under one year of age must be strictly screened."

"After all, according to the message from the Si Tian Tai, that Master Chongguang was reborn."

"Now the time is still early; he is merely an infant. Even if he possesses some supernatural powers, he can be dealt with easily. The longer time drags on, the more dangerous it becomes!"

Prince Qing nodded: "This I naturally know. I have long sought out many talented and extraordinary people among the common folk to search, determined to find his reborn body."

"Forgive your humble servant for speaking frankly; doing so is unlikely to yield results."

Zhong Xin shook his head: "That True Person Master Chongguang is said to be a Great True Person of the Mo Sect, backed by a True Lord; finding him is far too difficult."

Speaking to this point, a sharp killing intent suddenly permeated Zhong Xin's tone: "Therefore, rather than wasting time searching, it would be better to simply issue an order: any newborn infant must be drowned! In this way, even if that True Person is extremely powerful, a skilled housewife cannot cook without rice!"

"Drown all newborns."

As the words fell, Prince Qing narrowed his eyes. He was not a fool; he had naturally thought of this poisonous scheme, yet he could not do it.

Because it would be too hated.

Moreover, drowning newborns would be digging up the very foundation of the Dao Court system; after all, without newborns, the population would decrease year after year; how could one talk about ruling?

However, if a minister proposed it, then there would be no problem.

Thinking of this, Prince Qing could not help but smile: "Minister, this suggestion of yours is excellent, but it must be carried out by a loyal, reliable, and meticulous person."

"How about letting you do it?"

Without a second word, Zhong Xin immediately bowed his head and said: "Your humble servant accepts the order!"

"Very good." Prince Qing nodded:

"For this period, I will claim illness and remain in the palace, ignoring external affairs. During this time, this matter will be entrusted to you, Minister Zhong. I believe you will not disappoint me."

As the words fell, Prince Qing sighed inwardly. It was a pity for such a useful talent; afterward, he certainly could not keep him. The reason for claiming illness and staying in the palace was also to avoid being implicated in the drowning of infants. Once Master Chongguang was eliminated, he would naturally "recover" and come out to correct the chaos.

At that time, he would still be that heroic and wise enlightened monarch.

As for Zhong Xin, he would become a great treacherous minister who abused trust, created political chaos, and harmed the common people; the value of his talent would have reached its end.

However, just at this moment.

"Report!"

Suddenly, a report came from outside the palace. Then an armored soldier hurriedly ran in, holding a memorial, with a panicked expression: "Your Majesty... found it!"

"Found what?"

Prince Qing's eyebrows lifted slightly. He then snatched the memorial from the soldier's hand, looked at it intently, and immediately froze in place. Then he looked at Zhong Xin in confusion.

Seeing this, Zhong Xin also showed curiosity: "Your Majesty?"

"Hahaha! Found it!"

The next second, Prince Qing laughed loudly, his face showing狂喜 (狂喜): "The people sent out earlier reported back; they have found that reborn True Person Master Chongguang!"

Where the clouds and sea meet, at the Holy Fire Cliff.

On a canopied couch with curtains drawn on all four sides, True Lord Clear-Bright Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue reclined at an easy angle, a strand of dark hair twined around her fingertip, surveying what lay below with a casual air.

What lay below was a map.

A great river divided east, west, south, and north; brilliant stars were scattered across the surface, and one of them happened to sit right over the position of 【Qing Nation】.

Yet up to this point, that star had been extremely dim.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out, clear and pleasant: "If Chongguang breaks through, and the three of us join forces, the latter stage may finally be within reach."

"Actually, 【City-Cheng Tou Tu】 would also work."

True Lord Clear-Bright Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue smiled, her gaze falling on the map: "That young man called Yuan Tu — I rather like him. In the way he conducts himself, he has the bearing of our patriarch."

"Let's forget it, then."

"【City-Cheng Tou Tu】 is in the Pure Land. The three of us alone can't produce it — over there in the Pure Land they treat it as a treasure, just waiting to open up an earthly Buddha-realm."

At these words, True Lord Clear-Bright Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue also gave a cold snort: "Those bald donkeys?"

"An earthly Buddha-realm — they even dare dream of usurping the position of the true Lord of the Dao!"

Just then, that dim star on the map gradually began to show a faint glow; though far from matching the brightness of the other stars, it had, after all, begun to shine.

". It's finally begun!"

At the sight of this, True Lord Clear-Bright Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue immediately stopped mid-sentence, a look of anticipation crossing her face. Then Zhu Chun parted slightly, and a voice dropped straight down toward Jiangbei.

It fell into the ears of Lu Yang, who was at that very moment in closed-door cultivation atop Zhushan.

The message contained only four characters:

"Set out south at once."

(End of chapter)