Chapter 553

With the implementation of the cultivator settlement policy in Nanxiang County, undercurrents of suppression and obstruction began to quietly descend in various places.

The major forces found it difficult to openly tear off their masks, but they made quite a few trips behind the scenes.

On one hand, they created chaos at major traffic arteries and gathering places for rogue cultivators, spreading rumors that "Nanxiang County has always been in turmoil," attempting to cut off the path of relocation for ordinary cultivators at the source.

On the other hand, they secretly funded desperate criminals to sneak into Nanxiang County, creating friction and inciting riots within the city, attempting to use one riot after another, large or small, to show the outside world the "outward strength and inward weakness" and instability of Nanxiang County.

The demon race also participated in the destruction; their behavior was more brutal and direct, frequently harassing the surroundings of Nanxiang County, attempting to use bloody slaughter to create panic and force those cultivators and mortals who wanted to move to stay away from this land.

Riots, large and small, came one after another; although they seemed to be scattered trifles, they precisely disrupted the order of Nanxiang County, deliberately creating the illusion that the county's foundation was unstable and the new policies were chaotic, attempting to dissuade subsequent cultivators and commoners who wanted to settle down.

Regarding this, Song Weimin's response strategy was also very tough.

Facing external rumors and interceptions, the Zhu Que Army moved out directly, using thunderous means to wipe out several forces causing trouble, telling everyone with absolute strength—the stability maintenance capability of Nanxiang County.

Facing the undercurrents within the city, the "collective responsibility system" and "heavy rewards for reporting" system promoted by Song Weimin played a miraculous effect; those spies who tried to stir up trouble were twisted and sent to the government office by vigilant neighbors before they could even cause a big stir.

Under the escort of iron-blooded means, the construction of Nanxiang County not only did not stagnate but, on the contrary, pushed forward in full swing at a speed that left all forces dumbfounded.

The county, which was not originally large, was gradually expanding outward.

On both sides of the originally empty streets in the city, brand-new shops sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

Although the major forces were apprehensive about Nanxiang County's policy, it did not affect their entry in the slightest.

Direct-sale stores of the four great sacred lands of alchemy, artifacts, talismans, and arrays, as well as flagship stores of major sects, appeared one after another in the prosperous areas of Nanxiang County.

For a time, all kinds of supporting resources needed for cultivator practice were complete and available here.

Nanxiang County, in this situation where light and dark intertwined and disputes and rebirth coexisted, stood firm under the overwhelming pressure and completed an overall upgrade unknowingly.

Song Weimin was busy with the internal construction of Nanxiang County, and Hua Changxi was not idle either, personally taking action to clear away various obstacles from the outside.

After confirming that popularity could dilute the crisis in her heart, all destroyers who obstructed Nanxiang County from absorbing cultivators to settle down were enemies she had to eradicate.

It was just that she could still understand why the major human forces were hostile to Nanxiang County out of self-interest; but why was the demon race also frequently causing destruction in secret?

On this point, she was always unable to find an answer.

However, if she couldn't figure it out, there was no need to think too much; just beat them into submission.

Her time was limited; she didn't have time to deal with human forces and the demon race, so she could only strike with heavy blows.

Facing the secret obstruction of human cultivators, she ultimately found it difficult to directly kill them.

However, she crippled a batch of core disciples of various forces and caught a batch of disciples with good talent to go to Li Huo Cliff to mine.

Under such thunderous means, all parties suffered unimaginable losses and had to hibernate, not daring to show their heads easily again.

And facing the demon race, Hua Changxi's strikes were even heavier.

Whenever any demon race dared to attack cultivators on their way to relocate, only one fate awaited them—total annihilation!

In just a few short days, Hua Changxi killed the demon race until they were terrified and forced to stop.

Wanting to completely pull out the external obstacles by the roots was obviously unrealistic.

But under Hua Changxi's thunderous heavy blows, those blatant interceptions and large-scale destruction finally disappeared, leaving only some invisible rats still secretly doing small things in the dark.

Facing these sporadic harassments, Hua Changxi no longer did everything herself; she directly issued a clearing task at Lingguang Hall and handed this errand entirely to the Zhu Que Army to handle.

And she herself was currently standing quietly outside the eighth blessed land of Nanxiang City—Mount Huoyan.

Previously, the ominous crisis that followed her like a shadow over Nanxiang County had intensified bit by bit as the number of blessed lands she occupied increased.

After noticing this strange connection, she instinctively rejected continuing to occupy blessed lands.

Now that she had found a way to resolve the crisis, she naturally had the confidence and mood to prepare to come and take this Mount Huoyan.

The time it would take to take down a blessed land was unpredictable, but Hua Changxi still entered Mount Huoyan through a spatial rift.

She was not unaware of the gravity of the situation—it was precisely because of her personal actions and iron-blooded suppression during this period that the entire cultivation world already knew she was not in the Soul Realm, but was truly sitting in Nanxiang County.

In the short term, all parties, cowed by her deterrence, should not dare to stir up too much trouble.

The moment she passed through the spatial rift and entered Mount Huoyan, she was met with scorching, burning heat waves; the air was distorted and restless, and surging red fire waves and floating flames and clouds could be seen everywhere.

The entire Mount Huoyan was sealed by layers of flame barriers and restrictions, isolating all outside prying and disturbance.

Hua Changxi did not fear the impact of the flames and landed steadily on a piece of scorched red earth.

Mount Huoyan lived up to its name.

Looking around, the earth was cracked like a spider web, and dark red magma surged in countless cracks; occasionally, bubbles would surge and burst, splashing a string of sparks.

The sky was obscured by thick volcanic ash, with no sun or moon to be seen; only the light of the magma illuminated the entire world in a depressing dark red.

The air was filled with the smell of sulfur, and every breath felt like swallowing fire.

In the distance, several active volcanoes were spewing thick smoke, and occasionally fire would shoot into the sky, accompanied by dull roars, and the earth would tremble accordingly.

This was not a place for mortals to set foot, and even low-level cultivators who rushed in rashly would have their spiritual veins eroded by the scorching energy, resulting in a regression in cultivation at best, and the burning of their meridians at worst.

In Hua Changxi's view, Mount Huoyan was like a huge natural furnace.

At the core of this furnace, in the hinterland of Mount Huoyan, a towering volcano rose from the ground, looking down on all others.

On the peak where fire shot into the sky, a giant rock burned red by flames stood impressively, with three vigorous characters carved on the stone surface—Training Ground!