Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [TBD]
Chapter Title: Orders for the Southern Campaign
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Almost on the second day after Heavy Light's reincarnation, True Lord Pure Clarity Flying Snow personally emerged from seclusion to take command at Sacred Fire Cliff. He then summoned Perfected Being Yin Shan and Lu Yang.
"This southern expedition will be led by Yuantu."
True Lord Pure Clarity Flying Snow sat at the head position, speaking indifferently.
"I will personally oversee things to ensure no Golden Core True Lords interfere in this battle."
"Aside from that, most Perfected Beings at the peak of Foundation Establishment won't get involved either. Everyone has their own selfish motives. With Heavy Light taking the lead, they'll be more than happy to sit back and won't put in real effort to stop you. As for late-stage Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings, most are focused on reaching perfection and won't join in."
"Moreover, Heavy Light has already made arrangements."
"Even if some Perfected Beings do participate, you needn't worry. Others will handle them. Your opponents will only be mid-stage and early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators."
Lu Yang let out a breath of relief upon hearing this.
"Disciple obeys."
Heavy Light True Person's arrangements were reassuring. They weren't forcing him to challenge those above his level. Facing only mid-stage and early-stage opponents, he had some confidence now!
"Very good."
True Lord Pure Clarity Flying Snow nodded. A sudden glint of killing intent flashed between her embroidered brows.
"For this mission, I want you to storm into the [Qing Kingdom], annihilate its sects, and strip away its spirit veins!"
"The [Qing Kingdom] is the Dao Court's nail driven into our Jiangbei region. Under its rule are the Zhao Xia Clan, Yuan Chen Clan, Five Elements Sect, Cloud-Climbing Sect, and Supreme Profound Sword Sect—the five major Foundation Establishment powers. The Supreme Profound Sword Sect leads them, and its Sect Master has received support from the Sword Pavilion. He has already reached the peak of mid-stage Foundation Establishment."
True Lord Pure Clarity Flying Snow gave a brief overview.
To a True Lord, the inner workings of mere Foundation Establishment powers were as clear as lines on one's palm. Since she had spoken them aloud, there could be no mistakes.
Finally, True Lord Pure Clarity Flying Snow stated bluntly:
"This concerns Heavy Light's pursuit of the Golden Core. Once you're south of the border, don't hold back. Kill, plunder, destroy. I've long despised that wonder of theirs in the [Qing Kingdom]!"
Lu Yang didn't hesitate. He immediately bowed low.
"I shall strictly follow True Lord's decree!"
Moments later, Lu Yang and Perfected Being Yin Shan rode beams of escaping light away from Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea. Of course, Heavy Light True Person hadn't just assigned the two of them to head south.
In truth, they were primarily the ones in charge.
With True Lord Pure Clarity Flying Snow personally issuing the order this time, the momentum far surpassed the previous extermination of the Divine Martial Sect. A single decree from the True Lord had the entire Jiangbei region responding.
It was clear that Heavy Light True Person had been preparing for this long ago. The [Qing Kingdom] was now surrounded airtight by various major and minor sects from Jiangbei. The two sides had been in stalemate for several months, like a powder keg waiting for someone to light the fuse.
On the way, Lu Yang didn't forget to exchange thoughts with Perfected Being Yin Shan.
"Though True Lord has ordered me to take charge this time, I'm still young and lack sufficient experience and knowledge. I'm far inferior to Senior Brother Yin Shan's steady maturity."
"So I ask Senior Brother to offer more guidance and help fill in my gaps."
"Yuantu speaks too highly of me."
Perfected Being Yin Shan waved it off, but his expression showed he was pleased. Lu Yang's respectful and courteous attitude clearly gave him face.
Moreover, since the two were in the same boat this time, Perfected Being Yin Shan held nothing back. He returned the courtesy.
"Junior Brother, don't underestimate this [Qing Kingdom]. Heavy Light Senior Brother and I once divined the heavenly secrets and studied it carefully. That wonder has truly been fortified by the Dao Court like an iron barrel."
"Or rather, the Dao Court's system is like that."
"It may fall short in outward expansion, but in defending its homeland, the [Qing Kingdom] is as unshakeable as an eternal dynasty. Its rules are hard to overturn."
"The Dao Court's system enforces the Heavenly Mandate and hunts the Dao?"
Lu Yang furrowed his brows slightly. Up to now, he hadn't truly visited regions under other powers' control. He hadn't even properly explored Jiangbei.
This trip was a good opportunity.
With that in mind, Lu Yang turned to Perfected Being Yin Shan again, asking curiously.
"Senior Brother, please explain. What makes this [Qing Kingdom], or the Dao Court, so different?"
Perfected Being Yin Shan paused for a moment before continuing.
"In a word: a hell for cultivators, a paradise for mortals."
"What one reads on paper is always shallow. I can't make you truly feel it just by telling you. Once we arrive, you'll understand when you see it for yourself."
Jiangbei, [Qing Kingdom].
This wonder spanned five provinces, ruling over more than a million souls. Beyond it lay the Great Dragon River, which divided the four major powers of east, south, west, and north.
After Lu Yang and Perfected Being Yin Shan arrived quietly on escaping lights, they didn't rush to meet the gathered Jiangbei forces. Instead, they first entered a sparsely populated city, currently guarded by a mag sect from Jiangbei—the Fragrant Harvest Sect.
"This place was originally under the [Qing Kingdom]'s rule."
Perfected Being Yin Shan explained.
"Though they've been driven out now, the [Qing Kingdom]'s influence lingers. It hasn't fully recovered even yet."
"Hohoho."
Lu Yang's face showed surprise. He suddenly reached out, pulling a book from the air—from a private stash in one household.
The cover bore only two large characters: *Dao Repository*!
"Under Dao Court rule, they use the *Dao Repository* for imperial exams to select scholars. Mortals can only become cultivators by earning scholarly honors. Without honors, they're wild foxes practicing Zen."
"So the first step in cultivation is reading the *Dao Repository* and passing the [Child Student Exam]."
"Next come [Xiucai], [Juren], [Jinshi]. But these are all just reserves for cultivators—titles without real power."
"Only after securing a [Jinshi] position, pulling strings, making friends, and finally earning the Dao Court's grace with an official post, do they truly enter the gates of cultivation. Even so, under Dao Court rule, these honored mortals aren't to be trifled with."
"Because the Dao Court bans all arts!"
"Cultivators below Foundation Establishment, without Dao Court honors or official status—even at the peak of Qi Refining—can't display any supernatural feats."
"For in the Dao Court, heaven and earth spiritual energy has ownership."
"Not a single strand belongs to anyone else. Cultivators without honors who breathe in heaven and earth spiritual energy are stealing public property and will have their nine clans exterminated."
"In such circumstances, any mortal with honors can make an illegal cultivator collapse limp on the ground with a single angry shout."
The *Dao Repository* even described a case in detail: a ninth-rank county magistrate in the Qing Kingdom was once hated by an illegal cultivator. The foe forged a Wu Dang flying sword to assassinate him, but the magistrate's shout made it fall, scattering all his magic power. He was then beaten to death by officers with clubs.
"What a Dao Court!"
Seeing this, Lu Yang finally understood Perfected Being Yin Shan's earlier words. Such a world of governance was indeed a hell for cultivators!
As for a paradise for mortals...
"I wouldn't say so." Lu Yang's gaze deepened.
To be sure, under the Dao Court, the people lived in peace and prosperity, with favorable weather. But its class structure was completely rigidified, with almost no room for advancement.
In essence, it was herding people like livestock.
"The Dao Court just makes it look pretty..."
Did fattening up livestock make them any less livestock? It was all for show—they'd still be eaten in the end!
When it came time to slaughter, the people under Dao Court rule wouldn't even have the power to resist!
Even in Jiangbei under the Holy Sect, major sects that had produced True Lords existed. Herding Jiangbei's people would face resistance.
But in Jiangdong, that wouldn't happen.
A single decree from the Dao Court Emperor, and no matter how many died, there'd be no rebellion. Under Dao Court rule, superiors held absolute life-and-death power over inferiors!