NOVEL NEXT Chapter 348: Tianxi
If the Song court really reallocates all the personnel from the Demon Suppression Department, it would mean the rear becomes extremely vulnerable.
The conflict between the righteous and the demonic is not only at the borders but within Tian Shui as well, where there are numerous Demon Cultivators lurking. Without the Demon Suppression Department to watch over, chaos could easily ensue, even leading to major disturbances.
Therefore, the Song court's decision has many unreasonable aspects.
But no matter how you look at it, the crisis in Si Xue Dao has been temporarily resolved.
After repelling the Demon Army, the Array Masters within the Song Court invested significant manpower and resources to reconstruct the formation, restoring the situation to a standoff between the two armies.
The rankings on the Heavenly Dao List changed once again.
The first is still the Loose Cultivator Shen Tuye, followed by the Demon Suppression Department's Xiang Baixuan.
And Chen Sansi's rank dropped from third to fourth.
On the battlefield, he couldn't exert his full Power, so naturally, he lost his advantage, especially since Xue Xianrong was a combined effort of several people.
The best way to overtake them is to find a way to acquire those thousand Copper Coins from Little Witch Mountain.
Moreover, with reinforcements arriving at Si Xue Dao, no one knows if Emperor Tianxi will send others to reclaim Little Witch Mountain, so he must act swiftly.
As the sun set, Chen Sansi left Star Peak Mountain, planning to return to Dragon Elephant City to recuperate, but was blocked by the Forbidden Army halfway.
"Stop!"
Two men, standing on large black-beaked dark eagles, blocked the way with their spears, "This area is air-restricted, please take a detour."
"Air-restricted?"
Chen Sansi looked through them and gazed below, seeing that the southern peak was filled with people from Song Dynasty inside and out.
If he recalled correctly, this should be the Imperial Mausoleum of the Song Dynasty, which had suffered considerable damage when Star Peak Mountain fell.
Now that Emperor Tianxi of Song personally arrived, it was likely for repairs and maintenance.
And indeed.
When Chen Sansi detoured back to the city dojo, he saw a new task posted on the bulletin board.
[Repair and guard the Imperial Mausoleum, ten Copper Coins daily]
To earn ten Copper Coins through enemy kills would require slaying one hundred Early-stage Qi Refining Demon Cultivators or ten at the Late Stage!
And this task only needed you to stay at the Mausoleum, doing nothing, essentially earning money lying down.
Such a good deal made almost everyone scramble, including Su Yang and Lu Zhiyong, who signed up, wanting to guard the Mausoleum.
However, not everyone could go; they needed to pass the layers of selection by the Forbidden Army.
Chen Sansi wasn't tempted, though. Getting ten free Copper Coins a day was nice, but that would mean he'd have no chance of being the first to gather two thousand Copper Coins.
Now that the situation is stable, cultivators can already take on external missions.
He followed the original plan, accepting the task to go to Yici Mountain, preparing to set out early the next morning.
That night, Chen Sansi worked tirelessly to draw talismans and carve puppets, making full preparations for the trip.
"Are you packing up to flee?"
At midnight.
A raspy voice suddenly sounded behind Chen Sansi. The Longdan Bright Silver Spear appeared in his hand instantly, and he turned to see a familiar fox mask.
He frowned and said, "Senior Dugu, Daoist Shangguan?"
"Please understand, Brother Chen."
Shangguan Siheng explained, "Dragon Elephant City is heavily guarded, we couldn't notify in advance, so we had to visit suddenly."
Chen Sansi put away the spear and gestured for them to sit: "You two came uninvited at this late hour, it must be something urgent?"
"Leave here."
Dugu Ao picked up a drawn talisman paper and examined it in his hand, "If nothing unexpected happens, something big will go down in Si Xue Dao."
"..."
Chen Sansi pondered for a moment and speculated, "Is it related to the Song court?"
"That's correct!"
Shangguan Siheng stepped closer, lowered his voice, and said, "Do you know why Emperor Tianxi of Song suddenly brought people to Si Xue Dao?"
"If it's not to fend off the Demon Cultivator army..."
Chen Sansi paused, "then there's trouble internally?"
"Song is doomed!"
Shangguan Siheng made a startling statement, "Just recently, the Holy Sect suddenly initiated an investigation against the Song court!
Years ago, the matter of Emperor's Breath Soil in Beiyang Dao was brought to light, accusing Song of attempting to secretly hoard treasures, indicating rebellion.
Although Emperor Tianxi blamed the missing Eighth Prince Zhao Xun for the incident, who knows if he himself is not implicated.
The Holy Sect issued an Immortal Decree to summon Emperor Tianxi to Kunxu for questioning, and then he led the people from the Capital City to Dragon Elephant City.
But that's of little use, at most it can only buy time.
After the Nascent Soul Cultivators from the sects have freed themselves, they will send people to Dragon Elephant City.
"Given this, Si Xue Dao will truly fall into chaos.
Given Chen Sansi's own experience in the military rebellion, he naturally understands the intricacies of such matters.
Emperor Tianxi suddenly bringing all controllable personnel to the border clearly indicates preparation for rebellion, against the Holy Sect!
Where does such confidence come from?
The Song court, at most a Golden Core Sect—how will they deal with even two Nascent Souls from the Holy Sect?
Either Emperor Tianxi is making a last-ditch struggle, or he has some trump card in hand.
Regardless of which, it's not good news for Chen Sansi.
He asked, "When will people from the Holy Sect arrive?"
"It might not be the Holy Sect."
Dugu Ao continued, "I just received the news that not long ago, Cao Xie of the Heavenly Sword Sect specifically went to the Holy Sect.
"After his return, he gathered disciples and placed the dispersed descendants of the Cao Family near the Song Capital.