Chapter 477

Hua Changxi used the 'Buddha Hand' to transport Song Weimin and his group to Lingguang Hall. Along the way, she neither deliberately hid her tracks nor restrained her aura, so all the factions in Nanxiang County received the news immediately.

Inside the main hall of the Nanxiang County government office, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt as if it could drip water.

Cultivators filed in one after another, their spiritual pressure subtle yet powerful—the lowest cultivation among those present was the Nascent Soul Realm, and there were even several Spirit Platform Realm cultivators sitting among them.

Prince Fu sat high in the main seat, his expression as gloomy as water. His gaze swept over his subordinates and finally landed on the secret royal order that had just been transmitted to his palm.

The cinnabar handwriting was particularly glaring, writing only five words—Withdraw from Nanxiang County.

Since the emergence of Lingguang Hall, Prince Fu had taken over Nanxiang County and had painstakingly managed it for so many years. Now, being asked to withdraw, he was truly extremely unwilling.

However, he dared not refuse to withdraw.

For no other reason than that he did not want to follow in the footsteps of Prince Shou.

Prince Shou was burned to death alive by the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall!

"Calling everyone together today is not for any major matter."

Prince Fu really did not want to announce the royal family's order, but he also knew that this batch of cultivators in his hands had been cultivated by the royal family at a great cost. If they were really lost in Nanxiang County, the royal family's loss would be too great.

"Nowadays, the Zhu Que Army is becoming increasingly aggressive. Everyone must be prepared to withdraw from Nanxiang County at any time." Even though he was unwilling, Prince Fu gritted his teeth and said these words.

Upon hearing this, the cultivators did not have much of a reaction.

As this group of undercover personnel, they were actually the most aware of the situation in Nanxiang County.

The Hall Master of Lingguang Hall is too aggressive and will not allow existences like them to jump around under her nose.

If they hadn't been driven away before, perhaps it was just because she hadn't had the time to deal with them.

The several Spirit Platform Realm cultivators present actually breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that they were to withdraw from Nanxiang County.

Since the phantom of the Nine-Layer Prison Tower appeared in the southeast of Nanxiang County some time ago, many cultivators sensitive to crisis had felt a sense of panic and unease in their hearts.

A clear voice told them that the days of acting recklessly in Nanxiang County were over.

If they continued to rely on their high cultivation to do whatever they wanted, perhaps spending the rest of their lives in the prison tower would be their final outcome.

"Your Highness."

A Nascent Soul cultivator spoke up: "Then should we continue to search for the traces of the blessed land?"

Prince Fu heard this, and the gloom in his eyes deepened.

Wutong Forest, Ghost Fire Well, Zhurong Tomb...

The royal family had discovered these three blessed lands early on and had made many secret arrangements.

But what was the outcome?

The royal family didn't get a single blessed land!

"Continue searching, but move from the open to the shadows, and the manpower must be reduced accordingly."

Nanxiang County was in the hands of the royal family, so even if the royal family searched for blessed lands openly and brazenly, others could say nothing.

But once the Zhu Que Army fully took over Nanxiang County, if they did this again, it would be a provocation to the Zhu Que Army.

After announcing the decision to withdraw from Nanxiang County, Prince Fu dismissed everyone, but later summoned a batch of people separately.

Prince Fu first met with the current Magistrate of Nanxiang County, Ji Huaice.

"I will be leaving the county seat in a few days. The Hall Master of Lingguang Hall has taken the Ghost Fire Well, so the many things the royal family did at the Ghost Fire Well will certainly not be hidden..."

Prince Fu looked at Ji Huaice. This person was his wife's younger brother, and he hadn't hidden many things from him: "Although the royal family has voluntarily given up Nanxiang County, it cannot be given to the Zhu Que Army for nothing. You arrange for a batch of people to stay behind undercover."

Ji Huaice understood Prince Fu's meaning: "Your Highness, rest assured, this subordinate knows what to do."

Prince Fu patted Ji Huaice on the shoulder: "You are knowledgeable and govern well. When I chose you to be the Magistrate of Nanxiang County, I originally wanted to take you to do something great. I didn't expect that now we have to leave with our tails between our legs."

Regarding this, Ji Huaice was also very regretful: "Brother-in-law... things change. Today's defeat does not mean there won't be a chance for a comeback tomorrow."

Prince Fu did not respond to this, only saying: "The Zhu Que Army is developing too fast, and in terms of management, they often encounter things and make temporary repairs. When they take over Nanxiang County, I imagine there will be many loopholes. This is our opportunity."

Ji Huaice nodded. The officials in the government office and the people in the county seat were all gaps they had inserted.

After meeting Ji Huaice, Prince Fu met with all the Spirit Platform Realm cultivators.

Toward the Spirit Platform Realm cultivators, Prince Fu was much more polite: "Everyone, the search for the City Lord Token cannot be interrupted."

The Spirit Platform Realm cultivator with the highest cultivation frowned: "If we continue to search, once discovered by the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall, I fear our lives will be at risk."

Prince Fu looked over: "The Retired Emperor and the Emperor both know the danger of the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall, so they specifically instructed that in the process of searching for the City Lord Token, if you sense a crisis, you may withdraw immediately."

Seeing that everyone was silent, Prince Fu sighed: "Are you really willing to return empty-handed? The land beneath our feet is one of the top ten forces on the Central Continent, Nanxiang City!"

Sure enough, as soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of several Spirit Platform Realm cultivators changed.

Prince Fu continued: "The royal family's promise remains unchanged. As long as you discover the traces of the City Lord Token, after the royal family takes over Nanxiang City, you may choose a blessed land within the jurisdiction of Nanxiang City as your Daoist site."

It was the same Spirit Platform Realm cultivator as before: "We understand your meaning, Your Highness. We will do our utmost."

Prince Fu heard this and pulled out a smile: "In the struggle for the great trend, everyone must fight. I wish you all in advance that you may each possess the Daoist sites you desire."

After watching the Spirit Platform Realm cultivators leave, Prince Fu let out a long breath.

The royal family's ambition for Nanxiang City has a failure rate as high as ninety percent. The remaining ten percent chance of success depends on whether Heaven shows mercy.

The royal family, the largest force, was already preparing for withdrawal, so other forces went without saying.

Consequently, within the county seat, many places where cultivators gathered gradually became deserted.

Li Huo Cliff.

Out of respect for a master artifact refiner, and also considering the favor of the 'dharma robe and mask' gift, Hua Changxi took Gongshu Xingyan for a tour of Li Huo Cliff.

After touring Li Huo Cliff, Gongshu Xingyan had no more grievances about refining artifacts for the Zhu Que Army. He even had a dizzying feeling of being hit by a pie falling from the sky.

"Hall Master Hua, can I subdue the Nanming Ancient Flame in the sea of fire at the bottom of the cliff?"

Besides possessing a unique talent for artifact refining, Gongshu Xingyan's aptitude for cultivation was also quite high—not only was he a single fire spirit root, but he also possessed a Fire Spirit Body.

For a fire spirit root cultivator, the Nanming Li Fire is absolutely a fatal temptation.

Hua Changxi smiled at him: "As long as it doesn't affect artifact refining, you can try."

She was able to subdue the Nanming Li Fire because she refined the Zhu Que essence blood. She didn't know if this was a necessary condition, but what was certain was that the Nanming Li Fire, as the Zhu Que's natal spiritual fire, was definitely not something just anyone could control.

Seeing her agree, Gongshu Xingyan immediately grinned.

Even though he knew it wasn't easy to subdue the Nanming Li Fire, at least he had the opportunity to try, right?

Even if he couldn't subdue the Nanming Li Fire in the end, the complete artifact refining heritage of the Zhu Que Army was a supreme opportunity for an artifact refiner.

"In the future, you will be responsible for the refining of the Zhu Que Armor. I will assign a batch of artifact refiners to be under your command."

"One hundred thousand Zhu Que Armors, I hope you can lead the people to refine them as soon as possible."

"Let's go, I will take you to meet the several people in charge of managing Li Huo Cliff."

When the Zhu Que Army's artifact refiners and the group including Yuan Xing, Duan Yue, and Tang Yuyuan learned that the person standing beside Hua Changxi was the legendary master artifact refiner Gongshu Xingyan, their eyes almost popped out.

The one with the biggest reaction was Yuan Xing.

When he was first captured and brought to Li Huo Cliff, Yuan Xing had mentioned Gongshu Xingyan's name to Hua Changxi in order to gain her attention. He didn't expect that Hua Changxi would actually save the person from the Nine Nether Ghost Domain fortress.

Looking at the admiration in everyone's eyes, Gongshu Xingyan raised his chin with great self-satisfaction.

However, thinking that Song Weimin had over three hundred subordinates from the start, while Hua Changxi had no intention of making him the head of Li Huo Cliff, he became a bit unhappy.

"My artifact refining level is much higher than these people."

"These people should completely obey my command."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Having solid artifact refining skills doesn't mean you have the ability to command people. If you want everyone to listen to you, it depends on whether you have the ability to make them admire and submit to you."

Was this letting him act on his own?

Hearing the words he wanted, Gongshu Xingyan immediately shut his mouth.

Regarding Hua Changxi, whether it was yielding the Ghost Fire Order to Jingsheng or directly delegating power to let Song Weimin manage Nanxiang County, it could be seen that she was not someone who held onto power and wouldn't let go.

If he truly had the ability to make the people of Li Huo Cliff admire and submit, Hua Changxi had no reason not to let him manage Li Huo Cliff.

Thinking of this point, Gongshu Xingyan became excited. Thinking back to how Hua Changxi let go of the Ghost Fire Well as soon as she said so, perhaps, maybe, it's possible that one day he could become the Master of Li Huo Cliff?

One hundred thousand Zhu Que Armors, right?

He must show off his skills and let Hua Changxi see what a genius master artifact refiner is!