Chapter 128: Sacrificing to the Array

The news brought by Jiang Miao was like a heavy bomb, stirring up turbulent waves in Cheng Xi's heart. The Little Emperor had passed away, the Empress Dowager was insane, and Ji Tang was stirring up trouble; Jindu had already fallen into a bloodbath.

"Jiang Miao, has your father mentioned the whereabouts of Li Zhi'an?" Cheng Xi's eyes were filled with worry.

Jiang Miao shook her head slightly, her face showing a hint of exhaustion and bewilderment: "Father is busy escorting the Grand Concubine to evacuate, and he also has to deal with the chaotic situation among various factions, so he did not mention the Regent's situation. The current situation in Jindu is chaotic beyond compare, with various factions intertwined, making it extremely difficult for news to travel."

Cheng Xi's heart sank. She paced back and forth in the room, trying to clear her thoughts. At this moment, Wanxing City had closed its gates, like an isolated island, cutting them off from the outside world; obtaining news of Li Zhi'an was even more difficult.

"Then, what was the result of Dean Jiang's discussion with the rogue cultivators when he went to Wanxing City?" Cheng Xi stopped her pacing and looked at Jiang Miao.

"Father said that the rogue cultivators are also in a state of panic. Although closing the city gates can temporarily prevent the chaos in Jindu from spreading, the city's material reserves are limited. In the long run, the people's livelihood and the order within the city will face severe tests. Moreover, they are also worried that the remnants of the Ji Family will take the opportunity to cause trouble within the city," Jiang Miao said helplessly.

Just as they were speaking, Cheng Fenglan walked in hurriedly with a grave expression: "Cheng Xi, it's bad! The people at the market heard that the city gates were closed, and some people with ulterior motives are taking the opportunity to cause trouble. The situation is already somewhat out of control."

The market was crowded with people, and shouts and cries rose one after another. Some rogue cultivators were brawling over items, merchants' stalls were pushed over, and goods were scattered all over the ground.

When Cheng Xi and the others arrived at the market, they saw that the matter had already been quelled. Dean Jiang had killed several rogue cultivators who were deliberately causing trouble, using thunderous means to intimidate the crowd. Now, no one dared to make a move under his nose.

Seeing Cheng Xi, Dean Jiang walked over, "Did you come over after getting the news?"

Cheng Xi nodded, "The Dean is still the most capable; you settled it as soon as you took action."

Jiang Zhongqiao glanced at Cheng Xi, thinking to himself that this little girl had a sweet mouth, though with her ability, she could also have settled it instantly.

"Now we need to assign people to patrol the market to prevent anyone from causing trouble in secret," Jiang Zhongqiao said.

"The students of the Academy can all take on this task," Cheng Xi said.

"We are still missing someone to lead and manage it."

"I think Senior Brother Lu is fully capable of the task."

Lu Jinfan was busy to the point of being overwhelmed. Hearing Cheng Xi call his name, he ran off without even looking back.

He didn't have three heads and six arms; he really couldn't handle any more work.

Cheng Xi:...

Jiang Zhongqiao looked at Cheng Xi with a smile.

Cheng Xi recommended with a straight face, "Senior Brother Mu Yao from Beast Taming Peak can also take on this heavy responsibility. If Senior Brother Mu cannot spare the time, my Senior Brother from Qingtian Peak can also do it."

Jiang Zhongqiao had never seen someone as lazy as Cheng Xi. He was so angry he blew his beard and stared, waving his hand at her in disgust, "Go."

Cheng Xi left with a smile. She was someone who feared trouble the most and was unwilling to manage things; she would rather carry a big blade to fight than rack her brains to manage affairs.

Cheng Xi walked around Wanxing City. There were people everywhere, all of them hurrying along with tense expressions, walking cautiously on the road.

This was the consequence of the great chaos in Jindu: people guarding against people.

Cheng Fenglan and the others had all been assigned tasks by the Academy. She returned to Qingtian Peak alone. Qingtian Peak was also very quiet; the Senior Brother, Senior Sister, and the others had all gone down the mountain to help.

Qingtian Peak was strangely quiet, with only the rustling sound of the breeze blowing through the leaves. She slowly walked to the stone stool and sat down, her gaze falling on the spirit flower in the courtyard; at this moment, it also seemed to be stained with sorrow, its petals drooping slightly.

"This world is truly so chaotic that it makes one unable to breathe," Cheng Xi muttered to herself.

She took Baohua to harvest the Spirit Rice in the Spirit Field. Wanxing City would soon lack food, and these things were good items.

After harvesting one round, she sowed the seeds again. Baohua took the initiative to start watering, and Cheng Xi put the harvested Spirit Rice into her Storage Bag.

By the time she finished, it was already dark. She went to Ji Muzhi's pill room, opened the storeroom, took out the herbs, and began to refine Pills.

This work lasted an entire night. When dawn broke, she finally came to her senses. She was exhausted and prepared to return to her own courtyard to rest.

Just as she stepped out, she saw Cheng Fenglan running over like the wind. Seeing her come out, he shouted from afar: "Cheng Xi, the Regent is back."

Cheng Xi was stunned and immediately quickened her pace to walk over, "Where is he?"

"At the foot of the mountain. I know you're worried about him, so I came to tell you first."

"Thank you." Cheng Xi lifted her feet and walked toward the foot of the mountain.

Cheng Fenglan followed behind her and said to her again: "The Empress Dowager is dead, and Ji Tang turned Jindu into ruins with a single fire."

Cheng Xi paused her steps and turned her head to look at Cheng Fenglan, "The city is so large; with Ji Tang's cultivation, it's impossible to do that with just one fire."

Cheng Fenglan pursed his lips and then said softly: "She obtained the map of the entire city from the Empress Dowager and set up a Flame Array, activating the array directly before the Regent could discover it."

"A mere Flame Array—it's impossible that Li Zhi'an couldn't handle it."

"I heard that Ji Tang used her own cultivation to sacrifice to the array."

Cheng Xi fell silent.

After a long while, she lifted her feet and walked toward the foot of the mountain.

Cheng Fenglan followed behind her and said softly: "Don't be sad."

"I'm not sad," Cheng Xi said through gritted teeth.

After a while, she asked again: "What about the casualties among the people?"

"Fortunately, after the Regent returned, he had the people evacuated from the city. It was also because of this that Ji Tang's plan was disrupted, forcing her to sacrifice herself to the array to activate it prematurely." Cheng Fenglan didn't know the details very clearly either; this was also something he had heard from others.

"I see," Cheng Xi said.

The two went down the mountain. Cheng Fenglan went to find Cheng Yunjian and Jiang Weiran. Jiang Weiran had returned alone; his mother had lost her life in the palace before he returned, and his father had not escaped the Flame Array while busy evacuating the people.

Now that he had returned, he had changed a lot, becoming silent and not speaking to anyone he saw.

She and her brother were afraid he would do something foolish, so they could only take turns watching him.

When Cheng Xi saw Li Zhi'an, he was talking to Dean Jiang. Seeing her arrive, he stood up and walked over, "Why did you come?"

"Cheng Fenglan sent me a message, so I came," Cheng Xi said.

"You've come at the right time; you should also hear the Dean's opinion." Li Zhi'an took her hand and sat down.

Seeing that although Li Zhi'an was a bit thinner, his overall condition was fine, Cheng Xi breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Jiang Zhongqiao looked at Cheng Xi with an indescribable expression; in the end, didn't she still have to come back?

"Jindu has been destroyed, and countless people are displaced. Li Zhi'an's intention is to completely open up Wanxing City so that the people can come here to settle. Relying on Wanxing Mountain, they won't be unable to survive. What do you think?" Jiang Zhongqiao asked.

Cheng Xi was stunned; she hadn't expected Li Zhi'an to have such an idea.