Chapter 859

Western Demon Kingdom, east of Iron Arm City, which is also the western side of the Sui Dynasty's Qiyin Mountain defense line, diagonally opposite the Dead Ox Pit and Dead Donkey Pit among the Qiyin Eight Pits, a large horde of demons is relocating.

Here, the Strong-Mane Demon Lord and the Golden-Eyed Demon Lord jointly issued a Demon Lord's edict, opening up a rectangular tract of land 100,000 li wide east-west and 1,000,000 li long north-south; all demons who had gained spiritual awareness within the region were moved away.

This plot of land isn't actually large; with powerful great demons and giant demons taking action, the demons inside the region had completely withdrawn within just three days.

Afterward, along the edges of this area, they drove in the demon tribe's unique prohibition stakes.

Every three to five li along the boundary line, a wooden stake several zhang high, coated in blood plasma, was erected. Several dozen skulls of different species were hung on it, with a Demon King-level entity leaving a wisp of demonic aura inside each stake.

This is a common practice in the Western Demon Kingdom.

This informs nearby natives or passing demons that this plot of land has been claimed by a powerful Demon King.

If you don't want to provoke a deadly battle, do not step in recklessly.

Batch after batch of human slaves were sent from Blood Prison Mountain, Iron Wall Mountain, Iron Arm Mountain, and the territories of the Strong-Mane Demon Lord and the Golden-Eyed Demon Lord, and they were stationed in this newly opened territory.

Human slaves with little cultivation began leveling the land, opening up good fields, digging mines, and building irrigation canals.

Human slaves with some cultivation began hunting wild beasts, building animal pens in the mountains and forests, and raising large numbers of meat beasts. At the same time, with the help of the demon horde, they started taming various beasts that could be used as war mounts.

Slaves skilled in various arts and with higher cultivation employed spells to excavate foundations, stabilize bases, forge city walls, refine various metal liquids, and cast extremely sturdy city foundations, laying down one massive formation after another.

Those human slaves at the Embryonic Storage realm and above, mainly the captured Sui Dynasty border troops and imperial guards, were incorporated under Pei Feng's command, with Pei Feng overseeing their training.

Lao Tie, unwilling to remain idle, granted himself the title of 'Grand General of the Vanguard Against Rebels', hurriedly selected a batch of Divine Realm elite captives, and prepared to train an elite vanguard corps that would be invincible in attack and undefeated in battle.

The number of human slaves sent by the two Demon Lords was enormous; within just half a month, hundreds of millions of slaves had been delivered.

Wu Tie had already set up an incense table with the two Demon Lords, drunk blood wine, and sworn brotherhood… but brothers settle accounts clearly; these human slaves, Wu Tie had also bought them with real gold and silver.

However… rarity makes things valuable.

The price Wu Tie paid to acquire these hundreds of millions of human slaves was truly negligible.

He merely paid out a million immortal soldiers and a hundred thousand precious pills.

Moreover, the raw materials for those immortal soldiers and precious pills were provided out of pocket by the two Demon Lords; Wu Tie merely used the Grand Dao Forge, briefly heating them, and in total spent hardly any of his time.

What's more, Wu Tie explicitly told the two Demon Lords that refining weapons or pills would inevitably involve normal loss.

The two Demon Lords had no clue about this!

Wu Tie reported a sixty percent loss, but in fact, when he refined weapons or pills with the Grand Dao Forge, where could there be any chance of failure?

Thus, Wu Tie kept for himself over a million immortal soldiers, several hundred thousand precious pills, and additionally received hundreds of millions of human slaves.

Such a zero-cost trade, Wu Tie became increasingly adept at it.

One month later, on this divided land, nearly a hundred mighty cities stood tall, each enveloped in a thick layer of cloud-light, and Wu Tie had arranged at least hundreds of layers of great defensive formations inside and outside these cities.

In each city, there were clearly uniformed elite troops patrolling back and forth; in the high skies, line after line of standard warships moved like evil sharks, silently gliding through the void.

Beyond the cities, in the boundless fertile fields, various crops had already sprouted tender shoots.

Beyond the cities, in the mountains and forests, there were also numerous large animal pens operating smoothly; under the demon tribe's secret arts, the pens now held countless newborn beasts.

In the artificially excavated fish ponds, various fish leapt about happily, also mixed with turtles, bullfrogs, eels, loaches, and crayfish; all kinds of delicious aquatic creatures stirred up waves in the ponds, enough to make one's mouth water.

Rows of neatly arranged villages and farms operated normally; the villagers, organized in earnest, worked from sunrise to sunset, having freed themselves from demon control and escaped daily beatings and punishment, now each one diligent and hardworking.

The operation of the entire territory has already entered the proper track.

This is also the merit of the Strong-Mane Demon Lord—unlike other Demon Lords, when invading the Sui Dynasty's territory, other Demon Lords' great and small demons only looted young, strong men and women to enslave, whereas the Strong-Mane Demon Lord ordered that a certain number of scholars and officials must be captured.

These scholars and officials have now been incorporated under Wu Tie's command.

Feng Xiao stepped forward, using the title of the Yin King's heir to win over hearts; these scholars and officials bowed in submission, and they have now formed the basic administrative organ of the territory.

Finally, two months after Wu Tie obtained this territory, several hundred elite small-scale cavalry units charged out of the territory and invaded the Sui Dynasty's borders.

They did not attack the outposts and fortresses on the Sui Dynasty's border line, but instead shot out proclamation after proclamation with whistling arrows.

Soon, the contents of these proclamations spread throughout the world.

The proclamation's content is simple: Wu Tie, in the names of Feng Shang and Feng Xiao, declared a campaign to subdue Feng Rong.

The proclamation states that Feng Shang has been expanding territory for the Sui Dynasty overseas, fighting bloody battles, while Feng Rong, within the Sui Dynasty, plotted to seize the throne, secretly murdered the previous Divine Emperor with treacherous means, and usurped the imperial position.

Feng Rong lacks any virtue of a ruler; after taking power, he ruthlessly slaughtered loyal and innocent individuals, blood-washing clans, truly a 'great harm to the state'.

Feng Xiao, the heir of the Yin King, was persecuted by Feng Rong and nearly killed. Fortunately, a reclusive master rescued him, he narrowly escaped death and fled from Feng Rong's clutches. Feng Xiao wishes, in the name of the Yin King Feng Shang, to issue proclamations to the world, calling upon all loyal and virtuous to gather under his banner and jointly overthrow the tyrant Feng Rong.

In the proclamation, Feng Xiao promises—anyone who joins the righteous army, regardless of prior crimes, will be pardoned.

Feng Xiao further promises—this is a battle of national destiny for the Sui Dynasty's survival, so military merit will be especially abundant; all military merit will be rewarded according to the Sui Dynasty's past merit system, raised by three ranks.

This is clear: no matter what heinous crimes you previously committed—murder, arson, the ten unpardonable sins—as long as you lead troops to join Feng Xiao and follow him in toppling Feng Rong from the throne, then the merit that would originally only earn a marquessate in the Sui Dynasty's merit system could very well earn you the title of state lord!

As for the loyalists who come to join, who already hold the rank of state lord, Feng Xiao also makes it clear—additional territory will be granted.

As long as a state lord achieves merit, comparing contributions, their territory will be directly increased.

According to Feng Xiao's reward conditions, as long as a joining state lord puts in a little sincere effort to achieve merit, once Feng Rong is toppled from the throne, that state lord's fief could easily double or more.

When the proclamation was issued, the entire Sui Dynasty was shaken.

In the court, Feng Rong flew into a rage, jumping like thunder, and also used the paperweight and jade seal on the dragon desk to smash the heads of dozens of senior officials.

In the Sui Capital's court, the battered civil and military officials were furious and indignant; moreover, a senior veteran official openly rebuked Feng Rong on the spot, but Feng Rong directly suppressed him with the Qianyan Divine Bell, then issued an order to imprison that official's entire family—elders and children—in the heavenly prison.

Thus, panic spread throughout Sui Capital; among the regional lords and prefects who had not yet rebelled, more than half of their senior officials directly recalled their divine avatars stationed in the Sui Dynasty.

Feng Rong grew ever more furious, issuing edicts to rebuke those officials who had recalled their divine avatars, ordering them to personally rush to the Sui Capital to apologize to him.

At the same time, the Sui Dynasty's imperial guards began mobilizing; the Grand Tutor Xiahou Wuming himself personally led a detachment of the imperial guards, racing to the western border of the Sui Dynasty at utmost speed.

On the third day after Wu Tie issued the proclamation, Xiahou Wuming had already mustered his troops and arrived at the western frontier of the Sui Dynasty.

Without bringing a single soldier or guard, Xiahou Wuming marched straight in, heading straight for 'Langmo City', where dozens of rebel kings had stationed their troops in the western frontier.

In Langmo City, Xiahou Wuming faced the dozens of rebel kings, earnestly advising them to turn from their mistaken ways and return to the warm embrace of the Sui Dynasty, urging that state affairs and national destiny be paramount, and that they must not act to cause pain to kin and joy to enemies.

The dozens of rebel kings laughed in unison, merely asking Xiahou Wuming: 'If we return to the Sui Dynasty, then if Feng Rong orders settlement after the autumn, demanding the extermination of our clans, how should we conduct ourselves?'

Xiahou Wuming broke an arrow in oath, swearing that he would guarantee the wealth, status, lives, and titles of the many rebel kings.

The rebel kings were moved, and they had Xiahou Wuming present a petition to Feng Rong for an imperial edict exempting them from guilt.

Xiahou Wuming sent a memorial to Sui Du, while Feng Rong delivered an imperial edict that arrived shortly—within the edict, Feng Rong harshly denounced Xiahou Wuming as a traitor, ordering him not to associate with the rebel kings, commanding him to execute the rebel kings on the spot and exterminate their nine clans to intimidate the world.

The name Xiahou Wuming should be rendered in pinyin as Xiahou Wuming.

Feng Rong.

Sui Du.

(excluded as generic)

In the edict, Feng Rong further told Xiahou Wuming that, to prevent his ineffective warfare and collusion with rebels, he had ordered the imprisonment of Xiahou Wuming's entire family, relatives, and in-laws in the heavenly prison.

Feng Rong, Xiahou Wuming, Heavenly Prison.

If Xiahou Wuming fails to suppress the rebellion, Feng Rong will conclude that he is colluding with the rebels.

Xiahou Wuming, Feng Rong. (excluded as generic)

Xiahou Wuming commands the army abroad; Feng Rong can do nothing to him, yet he will order the execution of the entire Xiahou clan.

Xiahou Wuming, Feng Rong, Xiahou clan.

It is said that Xiahou Wuming, holding the edict sent by Feng Rong, cried out "corrupt ruler" to the heavens and vomited blood before dozens of rebel kings.

Xiahou Wuming, Feng Rong. (excluded as generic)

Though many rebel kings felt uneasy, they did not trouble Xiahou Wuming—faced with this veteran official of four dynasties whose prestige was immense, they still showed due respect and sympathy.

Xiahou Wuming. (excluded as generic)

Xiahou Wuming withdrew from Shuomocheng, then issued an order to mobilize troops from across the realm to gather in the Western Frontier, preparing to suppress the rebellion.

Xiahou Wuming, Shuomocheng.

Western Frontier.

Western Frontier.

Xiahou Wuming, Shuomocheng, Western Frontier.

Dozens of rebel kings are the primary targets to be attacked.

(excluded as generic)

In the Western Frontier, dozens of rebel kings trembled with fear, for Xiahou Wuming's prestige was overwhelming; in the Sui Chao army he was unmatched, whether in personal cultivation or in commanding troops, none could rival him.

Western Frontier, Xiahou Wuming, Sui Chao.

Sui Chao.

(excluded as generic)

It is said that Xiahou Wuming, holding the edict sent by Feng Rong, cried out "corrupt ruler" to the heavens and vomited blood before dozens of rebel kings.

Xiahou Wuming, Feng Rong. (excluded as generic)

(excluded as generic)

(excluded as generic)

(excluded as generic)

Wu Tie, Sui Chao, Western Frontier, Yin King City, Feng Xiao.

The hall was simple, filled with weapon racks holding cold-glinting blades, spears, swords, and halberds; the walls were hung with various shields. Feng Xiao sat upright on the throne, silent.

Feng Xiao.

Beside Feng Xiao, wearing a fur robe and letting his hair hang loose, Wu Tie affected the pose of a "powerless scholar," holding a feather fan and smiling as he looked at the rebel king envoys below.

Feng Xiao, Wu Tie. (excluded as generic)

"Is that what the monarchs say?" Wu Tie laughed, his eyes narrowing: "Don't worry, don't worry—although Xiahou Wuming is formidable, we need not fear him… as the saying goes, those who follow the Way prosper, those who defy it perish."

Wu Tie, Xiahou Wuming.

"Feng Rong, you traitor, you who have lost the Way—your position is illegitimate, and everyone knows it… since you ascended, you have acted wantonly, slaughtered the loyal, and the people's hearts have turned against you—eighty or ninety percent gone. Though you appear formidable, you are nothing but a paper tiger."

Feng Rong. (excluded as generic)

"My lord, known throughout the world as the true heir to the throne, the most legitimate successor—only because he was away at war did the traitor gain an advantage. When he returns, order will naturally be restored, and the court will be cleansed of corruption."

(excluded as generic)

"Although my lord has not returned, my heir cannot stand by while the traitor brings chaos to the world."

(excluded as generic)

"This time, issuing the proclamation and raising the righteous army—if the monarchs wish to follow, they will gain merit without fault… Feng Rong will heap various charges upon the monarchs, which are nothing but absurd fabrications."

Feng Rong. (excluded as generic)

The chief envoy of the many rebel kings was the senior civil minister of the ancient Qiang State, Gu Yin, whose state had the longest history, deepest foundation, and greatest strength in the Western Frontier.

Western Frontier, Qiang State, Gu Yin.

Western Frontier, Qiang State, Gu Yin.

Gu Yin, steady and thoughtful, meticulous and scheming.

Gu Yin.

Like Xiahou Wuming, Gu Yin had served several generations of the Qiang State's rulers, a true veteran minister.

Xiahou Wuming, Gu Yin, Qiang State.

Upon hearing Wu Tie's words, Gu Yin's expression remained unchanged; he nodded slowly and said in a deep voice, "Lord Wu Tie's words are truly sound—could not be more correct. Nevertheless, as an old minister, I would also like to hear the heir's opinion."

Wu Tie, Gu Yin. (excluded as generic)

Wu Tie spread his hands, sighed, and glanced at Feng Xiao.

Wu Tie, Feng Xiao.

Feng Xiao nodded slowly and said, "Lord Wu Tie, you have shown me great kindness… moreover, your cultivation is unfathomable, your divine powers reach the heavens—you are truly a great adept, a great immortal… as for the righteous army's campaign against the traitor, Lord Wu Tie, a single word from you decides all."

Feng Xiao looked at Gu Yin and said solemnly, "Even whether my father can return safely depends entirely on Lord Wu Tie."

(excluded as generic)

Gu Yin's face twitched; he instinctively drew a breath of cold air and stared in shock at Wu Tie.

(excluded as generic)

Wu Tie looked at Gu Yin, shook his head, and said helplessly, "I truly wish everyone in the world were fools… but how could that be? The world is full of clever people—take, for example, that certain Pig Second Brother, who is frighteningly smart."

(excluded as generic)

(excluded as generic)

Casually tossing aside the affected, pretentious feather fan, Wu Tie looked at Gu Yin and said coldly, "Tell your lord: if he cooperates with me, he may live; if he refuses, once I have gathered enough strength to launch a pincer attack with Xiahou Wuming, he will surely die."

Wu Tie, Gu Yin, Xiahou Wuming. (excluded as generic)

"If they reject this opportunity, they will have no further chance."

No specific names.

"You can see now that Feng Rong only wants to kill people… whereas I merely seek what is rightfully mine. And I will respect the interests the monarchs already enjoy."

Feng Rong. (excluded as generic)

"What course to take depends on the monarchs' choices!"

No names.

(excluded as generic)

Gu Yin departed the Yin King City with a grim expression.

(excluded as generic)

The next day, the rebel kings of the Western Frontier jointly announced to the world—leading their private forces, they all defected to Feng Xiao's righteous army.

(excluded as generic)

The Sui Chao realm was shaken once again, the whole nation trembling.

(excluded as generic)

(excluded as generic)

Trembling, trembling, the people of Sui Chao came to their senses—looks like this newly enthroned divine emperor might have an unstable throne, huh?