Chapter 685

The intelligence obtained by Qin Zhanhong completely matches that provided by Lu Chuan.

"Where do they get their confidence?" Chen Wuji muttered.

No matter how he considers it, he can't understand where Zhong Qiang still has the strength to found a state in Nan Jun and Qiang Land; could it be that lately it's become fashionable to proclaim statehood and become emperor? Even if it's just to occupy a name, they'd still do it.

The Qiang People can do whatever they want in Qiang Land; even if they only have a few dozen, there's no problem with them wanting to found a state.

The problem now is that they also want to include Nan Jun.

The entirety of Nan Jun's territory now only has Songzhou still stubbornly holding out.

Given Zhong Qiang's population, could they possibly scrape together another 200,000-strong army to wipe him out?

"Family Head, we have indeed obtained such intelligence," Chen Wushuang said.

"Langdu is gathering several thousand troops at Yingzui Ridge, resting and recuperating; it's heard that Zhong Qiang's great Shi Bi is also on the way, precisely for this matter of founding a state. But the Qiang elder we captured is tight-lipped; along the way we used various methods, yet he refuses to give specific details."

Chen Wuji frowned, pondered for a moment, then asked: "Is there any other news?"

"The other news is about Jiazi Ling; Madam led us deep into Jiazi Ling to scout. This place, within a radius of fifty li, has only a small settlement of fewer than two thousand people, already destroyed by General Chen Baojia's troops; all the inhabitants of that settlement have been captured and taken to Yushan Prefecture, where they are currently in General Chen Baojia's army."

"If the Family Head uses this place as an outpost to establish a military garrison, there are currently no obstacles. On the way back, we also made a side trip to General Chen Baojia's army; according to the captured Qiang People, within a radius of two hundred li around Jiazi Ling there are only seven or eight settlements of various sizes, the total Qiang population is about twenty thousand, and the number of Young Strongmen is under ten thousand."

Chen Wuji nodded, looking toward the side courtyard's gate.

A Personal Guard was leading Zhi Xu Daozhang over from there.

"I'm going to see someone; have Madam first entertain my Third Uncle!" Chen Wuji ordered.

General Chen Baojia

Yushan Prefecture

Young Strongmen

Zhi Xu Daozhang made a Daoist bow, saying, "Commander Chen, your words are too heavy; being able to share the Regional Commander's worries is my fortune; it's just that I ran a bit of an unnecessary detour, which I'll consider as training my legs."

He just led his disciples back to Fuyun Guan; the futons hadn't even been cleaned yet, when Chen Wuji's Personal Guard came again.

"I'm ashamed; I've encountered some extraordinary things; besides asking you, the Daoist priest, I truly can't think of anyone else who could help me relieve my worries." Chen Wuji gestured with his hand, inviting him, and brought Zhi Xu Daozhang to the east wing.

Commander Chen

Regional Commander

Upon entering the east wing, the two took their seats as host and guest; Chen Wuji ordered tea, water, fruit, and snacks to be served.

After exchanging a few words of trivial talk, Zhi Xu Daozhang turned the conversation to the matter at hand: "I don't know what difficult problem the Regional Commander has encountered."

Chen Wuji explained the situation in Songzhou to Zhi Xu Daozhang, then immediately asked: "Daoist priest, does there truly exist in this world a Talisman Scroll that can cure all diseases and plagues?"

"There are Talisman Scrolls for curing illness, but a Talisman Scroll that cures all diseases and plagues—I've never heard of such!" Zhi Xu Daozhang said. "The people around the false emperor of Songzhou are likely not from the orthodox tradition; this technique of using Spell Talismans to cure diseases sounds like incantation therapy, yet seems somewhat different, more like a heretical technique that blends incantation therapy."

"Those who have mastered incantation therapy can indeed use Spell Talismans to treat people without face-to-face consultation, but different diseases require different Spell Talismans; it's not that one Spell Talisman can cure all diseases."

Chen Wuji pressed further: "Does such a method truly exist in the world?"

"I too have heard of such things; they indeed occur in stories." Zhi Xu Daozhang said. "I was also quite surprised at the time; after searching through the classics, I managed to clarify this matter a bit."

"Using a single Spell Talisman to cure most diseases across the world, this technique takes incantation therapy as its outward form, but deep inside it relies on the personal ability of a Qi practitioner; one must be accomplished in cultivation, not only understanding incantation therapy but also knowing our sect's various Talisman Scrolls, and also being skilled in aura-reading technique."

"Those capable of this must be great talents of the age with hopes of ascension."

Qi Refiner

Observing Qi Technique

If ascension is possible, does that mean he also has a chance to return?

A perfectly fine ancient dynasty, out of nowhere popped up terms like ascension and qi practitioners—high-powered vocabulary—making it hard for Chen Wuji not to think more; although a foreign land is also nice, he still wants to go back and have a look.

"Daoist Master, is there truly a method of ascension in the world?" Chen Wuji asked persistently.

He really is feeling quite enthusiastic now.

Zhi Xu Daozhang smiled and shook his head: "There are many such records in the classics, and folk rumors are even more numerous, but this humble Daoist has never truly seen one. What this humble Daoist has personally seen are only those who have accomplished qi cultivation; such people are still mortals, just with fewer illnesses and a somewhat longer life."

Generally, when such virtuous and benevolent persons ride a crane westward, we call that ascension.

Chen Wuji remained silent for a moment; it turned out to be just a saying.

He really overthought it.

Zhi Xu Daozhang gave a faint smile: "Regional Commander, the ascension rumored among the folk is unreliable; the person I just mentioned is the sort who has hope of ascension."

But those who can reach this step are exceedingly rare in the world; each one that appears spreads far and wide in fame, pursued by countless people, and there are hardly any obscure nobodies.

Chen Wuji caught the implied meaning in Zhi Xu Daozhang's words: "So Daozhang means, the person beside Yu Ren is not that sort of person?"

The talk of ascension threw him off, and he almost jumped to conclusions.

Zhi Xu Daozhang lightly sipped tea, shook his head and said: "Regional Commander, in today's world I have not heard of any such person anywhere under heaven. Although they are truly extremely rare, there are many fakes; a single Spell Talisman claiming to cure a hundred ailments can deceive the masses, making them believe."

But that is not curing illness, it is poisoning. Those Spell Talismans contain drugs that cause hallucinations and relieve pain; after the common folk drink the Talisman Water made from them, they will indeed think their illness has improved in a short time, but this is actually just the hallucination brought on by the herbs.

Upon hearing this, Chen Wuji immediately understood.

Well, well, well, damn, they're pulling this trick, right?

He doesn't understand Spell Talisman arts, but he gets this thing!

In the waning days of the Pig's Tail rule, the world is nothing but this sort of corrupt, miasmic air.

"Daozhang, do you have any means to dispel such evil arts?" Chen Wuji asked with a stern face.

He was unaware of the Daoist methods in this world, and was just asking out of a desperate, try-anything attitude.

Zhi Xu Daozhang shook his head: "This matter is too difficult."

"During my wanderings, I have seen people deeply trapped in hallucinations because of those drugs; unless someone with great will can restrain themselves, plus the effect of metals and stones, it will work; otherwise even immortals find it hard to cure."

"This is a calamity upon the people of Songzhou; tomorrow this humble Daoist will go to Songzhou to discern truth from falsehood!"