Chapter 144: Nanxiangcheng

The revival of spiritual energy only became known to the general public in the last two years; for the vast majority, they have just stepped onto the path of cultivation. When most are still at the Qi Refining realm, a Core Formation cultivator is undoubtedly an overwhelmingly powerful existence.

Yet now, a late-stage Core Formation cultivator turned to ash in the blink of an eye, directly shocking everyone who witnessed the scene; even the various nobles secretly monitoring the situation felt an immense gravity.

Core Formation cultivators are not easy to nurture, even for those nobles who knew of the spiritual energy revival early and seized some cultivation resources in advance; even for the imperial family, every Core Formation cultivator lost is one less forever.

In what was once the Nanxiang County Magistrate's office and is now the Nanxiang Prefecture government seat, Prince Fu stood on the watchtower within the compound, his face dark as he gazed toward the direction of the Lingguang Hall.

The court had already dispatched soldiers to block all intersections, making its stance clear: the master of Lingguang Hall must submit to the court. He had not expected the hall master to dare oppose the court so openly.

He had intended to send a Core Formation cultivator under his command to teach the Lingguang Hall master a lesson, never expecting them to be killed in return.

Prince Fu felt a ball of fire burning in his chest; now that Nanxiang Prefecture was under his control, Lingguang Hall was blatantly slapping his face: "Come! Notify the Celestial Division. Have them dispatch the Demon-Suppressing Army to block the intersections. Anyone daring to enter or exit Lingguang Hall shall be killed without mercy."

In contrast to Prince Fu's furious frustration, others were delighted to see this.

For some nobles and aristocratic families, they had long wished to break free from imperial control, but due to certain reasons, they could not openly declare their stance; now that someone had made the first move, their future actions following suit would not seem abrupt.

As for ordinary people with spiritual roots who wished to cultivate but could find no path, the domineering attitude and displayed strength of Lingguang Hall injected even greater confidence into them.

Previously, some hesitated to take risks due to fear of the court's blockade, but now they were less afraid; looking at the dozens of figures behind the memorial archway, all bathed in flames, their hearts grew increasingly restless with ambition.

Outside the main hall of Lingguang Hall, Hua Changxi saw more people gathering on the Firestone Plaza below; the corners of her mouth curled slightly, and then she turned back into the main hall to continue cultivating.

As the first light of dawn broke, Hua Changxi walked out of the main hall, holding a red-covered book titled "Zhu Que Army Roster."

An Ran: Fire Spiritual Root, possesses Phoenix bloodline.

An Ze: Fire Spiritual Root, possesses Phoenix bloodline.

Yun You: Fire Spiritual Root, possesses Green Luan bloodline.

Su Yu: Fire Spiritual Root, possesses Golden Crow bloodline.

Ye Liyue: Fire Spiritual Root, possesses Bi Fang bloodline.

?

Liu Shuyi: Fire Spiritual Root.

Qin Zhilan: Fire Spiritual Root.

Looking at the automatically generated roster, Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised by the high technology of the ancient cultivation era; detecting spiritual roots was one thing, but it could even identify specific bloodlines.

Moreover, in just one night yesterday, eighteen people had received Zhu Que transmission; adding An Ran and An Ze from before, the Zhu Que Army now numbered twenty.

Hua Changxi sensed fluctuations of spiritual energy in the training hall opposite the Transmission Hall; she extended her divine consciousness to investigate, and upon seeing that all eighteen people who received transmission last night had dispersed their cultivation to start anew, a look of astonishment crossed her face.

"Every single one of these people is ruthless; they discarded their cultivation without a second thought."

The highest among them had reached the late stage of the Qi Sea realm, on the verge of breaking through to Core Formation, yet they scattered their cultivation just like that; truly decisive.

However, soon a look of understanding appeared on Hua Changxi's face; those daring to enter Lingguang Hall on the very first day she spread the news, risking persecution by the court, were sufficient proof that they possessed strong subjective initiative.

Hua Changxi did not disturb them nor appear before them; since Mu Qingying and Yuan Tianchou were about to give lectures at No. 6 Qihuang Hall, she had nothing to do at the Medical Bureau anyway, so she simply returned to the main hall, took out her alchemy furnace and medicinal ingredients, and began refining pills.

"What? Prince Fu sent people to attack Lingguang Hall? Has he gone mad?"

In the Celestial Division, upon learning that Prince Fu had dispatched a late-stage Core Formation cultivator to attack Lingguang Hall, Wei Zhenjie was completely unsettled.

The Four Spirits are the supreme existences of the Four Spirit Realm, embodying the will of the realm itself; Lingguang Hall represents the might of Zhu Que, and attacking it is disrespect toward Zhu Que, which will invite backlash.

Chu Junyi said, "Master, Prince Fu wants to mobilize the Demon-Suppressing Army to block the intersections around Lingguang Hall..."

Wei Zhenjie cut him off directly: "Do not concern yourself with him, and do not have any contact with him during this period."

Chu Junyi looked over in confusion.

Wei Zhenjie spoke with profound mystery: "Prince Fu is bound to suffer misfortune during this time; if he cannot resolve it... heh..."

Chu Junyi's face showed shock: "Just because he sent people to attack Lingguang Hall? If so, won't Lingguang Hall stand above everyone else? Does that mean we must not offend the Lingguang Hall master in any way?"

Wei Zhenjie replied: "Of course, we cannot show disrespect to Lingguang Hall itself, but regarding the people inside, that depends on the situation. The Lingguang Hall master only temporarily manages the hall; she cannot represent Zhu Que."

After hearing this, Chu Junyi nodded, then added: "If we ignore Prince Fu here, I fear the Retired Emperor and the Emperor will make trouble."

Wei Zhenjie fell silent for a moment: "I will enter the palace shortly. Since Prince Fu dares to act recklessly without considering the consequences, the Emperor will consider the bigger picture. With the revival of spiritual energy, the imperial family's fortune is already declining; the Emperor and the Retired Emperor dare not, and will not, do anything that harms the imperial fortune."

Hearing this, Chu Junyi said nothing more.

Wei Zhenjie continued: "During this period, spend more time roaming the Nanxiang County territory. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has divined that the southern star chart is changing rapidly, subtly suppressing the north, east, and west; a major transformation is likely imminent."

Chu Junyi asked in confusion: "What kind of major transformation will there be?"

Wei Zhenjie looked at his disciple: "Nanxiang County... this name is wrong; it should be called Nanxiang, not a county, but a city: Nanxiangcheng."

"In ancient times, the most powerful forces on the Central Continent were the Five Sacred Lands and the four great cities established by the Four Continents on the Central Continent; Nanxiangcheng was one of them. Besides this, there were also Dongxiangcheng, Xixiangcheng, and Beixiangcheng."

"You possess the Fire Qilin bloodline. Nanxiangcheng is the outpost established by the Zhu Que Continent on the Central Continent, where fire spiritual energy is most abundant and pure. Apart from the City Lord's Manor, Nanxiangcheng contains nine blessed lands and grotto-heavens; if you can obtain one of these grotto-dwellings, it will be of immense benefit to your cultivation."

"Lingguang Hall has already appeared; Nanxiangcheng is probably not far behind."

Upon hearing this, Chu Junyi immediately nodded in agreement: "This disciple has noted it."

Subsequently, Wei Zhenjie entered the palace, while Chu Junyi dismissed the envoys sent by Prince Fu.

"Commander, if we do not block the intersections around Lingguang Hall, won't Prince Fu send other cultivators?"

"Let him do as he pleases."

"If you ask me, blocking the intersections won't stop people anyway; it would be better to simply open them up."

"Who is Prince Fu? The Emperor's younger brother, the Retired Emperor's beloved son. For years, he has had everything he desired; now that he has been slapped in the face like this, he certainly won't let it go."

"If I were the Lingguang Hall master, I would annihilate everyone blocking the road; block once, annihilate once. Even if Prince Fu refuses to give up, his subordinates won't rush forward to seek death."

"In my view, the Lingguang Hall master must have other considerations; the court's blockade, to some extent, serves as a trial for those wishing to enter Lingguang Hall to acquire cultivation techniques."

"That is true as well."