Chapter 347: The Demon Emperor Gazes at the Heavens
In the afternoon, the setting sun descended, casting the dim autumn day in brilliant gold.
Instructor Cao packed his belongings and, with everyone's help, moved into the Inner Courtyard.
Ji You also helped. Sitting in a wheelchair, he carried a ladle of soup to Instructor Cao's new courtyard, using this as an excuse to force the old Instructor Cao to voluntarily host a celebration banquet at Hongding Restaurant.
“You unfilial Disciple!”
“With three months of monthly salary in hand, you can’t expect me to help you move for nothing. If not now, when will you treat me?”
“?”
In the following days, Ji You stayed secluded in Tianshu Academy, focusing on recuperating from his injuries.
His Physical Body was already strong, and with Danyang Zi prescribing various medicines to strengthen his foundation and cultivate his Origin Qi, the depletion in his body was quickly replenished.
With Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu providing close companionship, sometimes pushing him out for a stroll, sometimes chatting together, his days were not dull.
The only thing that needed slow nourishment were his atrophied Meridians.
During this period, Kuang Shusheng returned from the epidemic area and visited Ji You with Wei Rui.
Ever since self-healing patients appeared in Qibao County, other patients also inexplicably began to recover. Until a few days ago, the epidemic there had been completely cleared, so Kuang Shusheng rushed back to Shengjing.
Since Ji You went out for Body Refining in the spring, and then the incident at Dan Sect, they hadn't seen each other for more than half a year, so they chatted a lot.
“Jian Zhu JieJie was so majestic on the mountain, not at all as cute as she is in front of Young Master Ji.”
“Really?”
“Really. All the Disciples on the mountain look up to her. She feels even more imposing than His Majesty, the Emperor of our Great Xia.”
Wei Rui strongly attested to the Master Jian’s aloofness.
She admired Yan Shuyi so much, but she couldn't understand why such a cold person would touch her belly whenever she was idle, looking like she wanted to have babies.
Hearing Wei Rui's words, Ji You could vaguely imagine Master Jian's peerless appearance, and a hint of longing arose in his heart.
In fact, Ding Yao had already written a letter yesterday, sending the news of Ji You's Awakening to Lingjian Mountain. Based on the days, it should arrive in two or three days.
However, the Qingyun World was currently plagued by internal and external troubles. Master Jian was preoccupied with Sect affairs and couldn't leave, and Ji You still needed to recuperate, so when they would meet was still unknown.
Another letter reporting safety was sent to Dan Sect, but Dan Sect had not yet lifted its mountain closure.
Ji You then looked at Kuang Cheng: “Where are you staying after returning to the capital?”
“I'm staying at Director Mu's house.”
Old Ancestor Chu came to Shengjing and fought a battle with the Celestial Book Institute Head Teacher, directly collapsing the entire Chunhua Alley.
Kuang Shusheng had finally become a civil servant and was assigned a small official's residence, but after only a few years, he was homeless again.
“You can't always stay at someone else's house. Not to mention the inconvenience, it's also not convenient for you and Wei Rui to have a secret rendezvous.”
“Brother Ji is truly reckless!”
Kuang Cheng and Wei Rui's faces instantly flushed red.
Ji You's mouth twitched as he looked at Kuang Cheng, thinking, 'You two have been together day and night on Lingjian Mountain for several months. Is calling it a secret rendezvous still reckless? My two are already researching having children.'
“I donated most of my Family assets during the snow disaster before the New Year. I'm truly short on money, so rebuilding the house will have to be slow. After all, Director Mu is also unmarried and lives alone.”
Kuang Cheng knew that Ji You was about to bring up 'endless life' in the next second, so he immediately steered the conversation back to the house.
“I said I could lend it to him, but he didn’t want it.”
Hearing his description, Wei Rui looked up at Ji You and said.
Kuang Cheng pursed his lips: “How can I use Ruier (Girl)’s money to repair my own house?”
Ji You then picked up his teacup: “You don’t need to borrow. The grain in Feng Province is almost ready, and the seeded Spirit Seedlings have been harvested twice. We still have some snowy region demon stones in Feng Province’s inventory. The world is awaiting reconstruction, there are plenty of places to earn money.”
“With the frequent chaos now, earning money is secondary. Grain must always be sold.” Kuang Cheng interjected.
“Then I'll leave this matter to you. In the next few days, think of a way to circulate the grain and Spirit Seedlings, and take this opportunity to sign labor agreements with the common people, inviting them to move to Feng Province. Once my injuries improve, we'll start a big one.”
“That would be excellent.”
Kuang Cheng had always been an active character, always meddling in Yuyang County. Now, entrusted with an important task, he had already begun to ponder.
So, without staying too long, he left with Wei Rui, intending to use this time to carefully consider his plans.
Not long after, Jixiang Hall welcomed two more visitors: the Lu Family Sisters, who had traveled thousands of miles from Yun Province.
Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu had entered the back hall in advance and did not meet the two of them.
During the New Year last year, they were instructed by their Master Jian to meet the Lu Family Sisters and ask if the matter of serving was true, and also if it hurt. At this time, it was not appropriate to meet.
The two sisters quickly entered the hall. The elder sister wore a plain white flowing immortal dress, while the younger sister wore a light yellow embroidered dress with intertwining branches, leaping in.
It was evident that their return this time was not easy. Their pretty faces showed fatigue and pallor, with a touch of delicate beauty.
“Senior Brother!”
“You’re back?”
Lu Hanyan nodded obediently: “We just arrived today.”
“Senior Sister Wen sent a message,” Lu Qingqiu explained, “and when we learned that Young Master Ji had woken up, we rushed back.”
“Your relationship with Senior Sister Wen is very good now?”
Ji You was surprised by Lu Qingqiu's address for Wen Zhengxin.
Previously, Lu Hanyan and Fang Jincheng had a private duel in the bamboo forest, which eventually led to Elder Fang secretly intervening. Not only did he repeatedly make things difficult for Ji You, but he also restricted him from using swordsmanship in the Tiandao Conference preliminaries.
Therefore, Wen Zhengxin was very displeased with them, feeling that the Lu Family, being heavily mercantile, clearly had intentions of exploitation, and her impression of the sisters was not good.
Although they later went through many things together and their relationship eased a lot, it was still cold compared to others.
But on the day he woke up, Wen Zhengxin's attitude when mentioning the Lu Family Sisters was noticeably friendly, and she even dropped their surname, simply calling the younger sister Qingqiu, which made Ji You feel a bit confused at the time.
“Our relationship improved during the expedition.”
Hearing the question, Lu Qingqiu couldn't help but whisper softly.
Also from a Family with businesses, Lu Qingqiu and Yuan Caiwei shared similar personalities, both well-educated and reasonable, with a hint of aloofness. But at this moment, a blush couldn't help but rise to her delicate face.
At this moment, Ji You couldn't help but recall the three girls who were constantly charging forward on the expedition, and thought, 'I understand.'
Senior Sister Wen and Young Miss Lu must have both discovered each other's pretense of Lu Hanyan being spanked. Because they shared the same secret, they became closer.
Older sister, younger sister—
So, they’ve already sorted out the seniority in the backyard without even notifying me, huh?
Ji You couldn't help but think of Yuan Caiwei, who always wanted to call Yan Shuyi 'JieJie,' and mused, 'Why are all women like this?'
The crucial thing was, it wasn't just Lu Qingqiu and Lu Hanyan. How did even the usually proper Senior Sister Wen get involved and become the 'big one' among the three of them?
That’s too informal. Even if my body is well, it shouldn’t be like this. They should at least inform me, shouldn’t they?
“How is Yun Province now?”
Ji You sighed at the fickleness of human hearts, and after a moment of sputtering, finally remembered the most pressing matter.
Lu Qingqiu replied: “Currently, the Youyun Two Prefectures are plagued by warfare. The Barbarian Yao Alliance Army has already pushed to the Rege Plain and is currently stationed in the upper reaches of the Nu River.”
“Half of it?”
“Yes, so this time, not only are my sisters and I returning to the capital, but my parents and other members of the Ling Shi Business Association have also come. We’ve rented a house in the West City, preparing to temporarily avoid the conflict.”
The Rege Plain spans the Youyun Two Prefectures, located in the heart of both prefectures. Since the Barbarian and Yao Race have already reached there, it means that half of the area has been occupied, naturally affecting the largest mine in Yun Province.
The Lu Family is a century-old Sect, and the Ling Shi Business Association, when united, is not weak, but against the Barbarian and Yao Race, their strength still seems too small, with no chance of resistance. They can only withdraw from Yun Province first.
However, fortunately, Lu Hanyan is still an Inner Courtyard Disciple, and Tianshu Academy still has the responsibility to protect her Family.
“You unfilial Disciple!”
“?”
While conversing with the Lu Family Sisters, Cao Jinsong, Ban Yangshu, and Wen Zhengxin, who visited daily as a routine, entered the hall.
Upon seeing the two sisters return, Wen Zhengxin immediately went to inquire, showing deep sisterly affection.
After a long conversation, she finally came before Ji You, looking at him with a faint gaze, and earnestly inquired about his health, only to find that Ji You was looking at her with scrutiny.
In the following days, Tianshu Academy was relatively calm, but battle reports from the north frequently arrived.
The Barbarian and Yao Race, having reached the Rege Plain, began to continuously plunder the occupied territories, while also constructing layers of defensive fortifications from east to west, and completely dismantling the western section of the Northern Border City Wall.
Even thousands of miles away, the Human Race soldiers stationed in the upper reaches of the Nu River could still see the dust kicked up when the towering Northern Border City Wall collapsed.
At this time, they gradually slowed down their offensive pace.
This was consistent with Zuoqiuyang's prediction; although they came fiercely, they still feared the power of the Sacred Artifact.
North of the Northern Border City Wall, at the junction of the wilderness and the snowfield.
In the biting cold wind, several strong, mountain-sized Yao Beasts were flapping their sky-obscuring large wings, sweeping across the vast frozen tundra, kicking up boundless broken snow as they headed north.
Carried on the broad backs of these Yao Beasts were none other than the Yao Race Prince Night Chill, who had commanded the army to tear open the Youyun Two Prefectures a few days ago, and the Scale Clan Young Clan Chief, Lin Dou.
Before long, as the Yao Beasts landed in the snow-covered Demon Emperor City, the two walked side by side into the Demon Emperor Palace.
The deep palace was quiet and solemn. The Demon Emperor sat on the throne in the hall, his colossal and majestic figure exuding a profound and mysterious pressure.
Feeling the two enter the hall, the Demon Emperor slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of brilliant golden vertical pupils.
“How are the battles in the Youyun Two Prefectures now?”
“Reporting to Imperial Father, the war is progressing smoothly. The western section of the Northern Border City Wall has been dismantled. Although the Human Race Immortal Sects and Sects sent some people to resist, slowing down the army's advance south, I am confident that we can completely conquer the entire Yun Province before spring next year.”
The Demon Emperor nodded upon hearing this: “You have done well.”
Night Chill cupped his hands: “Thank you, Imperial Father, for your praise. However, your son believes that our race should not be content with just You Province.”
“What are your thoughts?”
“Although the Barbarian Race is currently allied with our race, they probably do not wish to share an inch of land with the Yao Race. The lesson of being a mere stepping stone a thousand years ago must be remembered. We need to quickly multiply and strengthen our clan, which requires more land and resources.”
The Demon Emperor half-opened his eyes: “You mean to continue south from You Province and contend for Qing Province?”
Night Chill nodded upon hearing this: “Qing Province is vast and borders the Youyun Two Prefectures. We cannot let the Barbarian Race seize it first.”
“What does Lin Dou think?” the Demon Emperor couldn't help but ask.
The class disparity among the Yao Race is not as insurmountable as that of the Human Race, so the Young Clan Chiefs of the Scale Clan, Fang Clan, Mao Clan, Claw Clan, and Feather Clan are not much lower in status than the Yao Race Prince.
Especially Lin Dou, who is considered a Prodigy among the Yao Race, naturally has the right to speak.
Upon hearing the Demon Emperor's question, Lin Dou immediately said: “According to the intelligence we have gathered, after the Human Race’s great calamity, Clan Chief Chen entered seclusion and has not been seen since. I think he might no longer be in the world, and Qing Province might be conquerable.”
“Clan Chief Chen is not dead yet.”
“?”
The Demon Emperor looked at the wind and snow outside the palace with vast eyes: “He is indeed severely injured, but his aura still remains.”
Lin Dou's eyes narrowed upon hearing this: “Does he have a chance to recover?”
“He, like that Xuan Yuan Head Teacher, has been preparing for Ascension for many years. His Physical Body has long since withered, and a Physical Body that has lost its vitality can no longer heal its injuries; he is merely holding on.”
“Even so, in a severely injured state, he must be extremely weak and perhaps unable to wield the Sacred Artifact. This is an even better opportunity.
The Demon Emperor gently shook his head: "For us to successfully cross the Northern Border, timing is exceptionally important. We took advantage of the Human Race being severely weakened after a great catastrophe, leaving them no time to react. But now, those Immortal Sects have settled down. Not to mention the Chen Clan Chief, other Head Teachers are probably also watching our movements."
Lin Dou pursed his lips: "But it is said that the other Linxian Realm cultivators of the Human Race were also injured."
"That's right, all of them have varying degrees of injuries. But as long as one person can activate a Sacred Artifact, we will lose what we have gained. The Youyun Two Prefectures are manageable, but continuing south is no different from pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth."
"This—."
The Demon Emperor looked at Lin Dou and Night Chill: "Sometimes, conquest doesn't necessarily rely solely on military force. We also have the snowy region demon stone that Human Race cultivators rely on. Especially after taking Yun Province, seventy percent of the Spirit Stones in Qingyun World are now in our hands. We can also make a fuss about this."
Lin Dou's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Your Majesty intends to use Spirit Stones to open up Qing Province?"
"The Human Race's loyalty to their clan is almost nonexistent, unlike our Yao Race. To be precise, they are more like scattered sand. It's not impossible that some people would be willing to be used by our race for Spirit Stones. Although this approach is gentle and slow, it can allow us to gain the upper hand even before the Barbarian."
"Your Majesty is wise."
As the Demon Emperor said, Spirit Stones are extremely important to the Human Race, and now seventy percent of Qingyun's Spirit Stones have fallen into their hands.
They have now returned to the Nine Provinces, but because the Human Race possesses Sacred Artifacts, they cannot continue south. This 'boiling a frog in warm water' method has become the lowest-risk and most effective approach.
"Besides that, what Night Chill just said is correct: strengthening our clan is also a top priority. In your opinion, when can our clansmen relocate with the army into Yun Province?"
The Demon Emperor's deep voice echoed through the hall once more.
Night Chill replied: "The war has not yet subsided, and half of the territory of the Youyun Two Prefectures has not yet been taken. The earliest would be after spring."
"Spring, it's not far. For the past thousand years, we have given our clansmen hope with the Nine Provinces. Now, they can finally see the Nine Provinces."
"Heaven bless Your Majesty, Heaven bless the Yao Race."
The Demon Emperor nodded and looked at Lin Dou: "Go see your father. I heard he has been missing you ever since you went on the expedition. In recent days, he has also been feeling unwell and hasn't even attended morning court."
Upon hearing that his father was unwell, Lin Dou immediately cupped his hands: "This subject takes his leave."
The Demon Emperor watched him leave, then looked at Night Chill: "You go too, see your mother."
"Your son was already prepared. This time, I brought some gifts for both my mother and sister."
"That's thoughtful. However, you shouldn't go to Feng Yang's side for now. She is about to break through, so don't disturb her."
"Yes."
Night Chill bowed and left the hall, then headed towards the imperial harem to visit his mother and tell her many things about Yun Province.
By the time he emerged from the Demon Empress's bedchamber, heavy snow had already begun to fall outside.
This was the Snow Region. Three hundred days out of three hundred and sixty-five days a year, it snowed. Crops wouldn't grow, and infants were difficult to raise.
This was also why they absolutely had to return to the Nine Provinces.
Night Chill walked along the vast snowy path within the Demon Emperor Palace and soon arrived at the Star-Picking Platform.
For a thousand years, the Demon Emperor's lineage had always resented that the Heavenly Dao had not bestowed Luck upon their clan. So, they built this Star-Picking Platform to observe the heavens, hoping to comprehend the operating Law of this world through their own power.
At this moment, the Demon Emperor stood on the Star-Picking Platform, surrounded by swirling snow.
After gazing from below for a long time, Night Chill couldn't help but walk up: "Father Emperor."
"Have you finished seeing your mother?"
"I have."
"Matters on the front lines are important, don't delay too long in the Snow Region," the Demon Emperor instructed.
Night Chill immediately said: "Your son will not stay too long. I will set off for the front lines tomorrow."
"That's very good."
As his voice fell, Night Chill seemed to hesitate, as if he had something to ask but didn't know how to begin.
As the supreme monarch who ruled a race, the Demon Emperor naturally didn't miss this expression. So, he turned and looked at him for a moment before gently speaking: "You suddenly fell silent in the hall just now. Is there something you intend to ask privately?"
Night Chill raised his eyes upon hearing this: "Your son just doesn't understand. Father Emperor clearly possesses the means to deal with Sacred Artifacts. Although he cannot truly suppress them, dealing with a dying Chen Clan Chief should be more than enough. Why did he hesitate in the matter of seizing Qing Province?"
For hundreds of thousands of years, both the Barbarian and Yao Race have wanted to return to their homeland.
The Barbarian used war to sustain war, and the Yao Race was not without plans.
According to Night Chill, his Father Emperor had always been researching how to deal with Sacred Artifacts and had already made some progress.
"Do you remember what I said when the Barbarian wanted to form an Alliance with our Yao Race, and I refused?"
"You said the time was not right, and that we had to wait for the old fellow from Tianshu Academy to leave and for the Heavenly Secrets to be spied upon before acting. But isn't the Head Teacher of Tianshu Academy clearly deceased now?"
The Demon Emperor looked at Night Chill: "That day, I saw him pass away amidst immortal light, but I found that he neither Ascended nor died."
" ? "
Night Chill's eyes instantly trembled, feeling very confused by this statement.
For the Human Race in Qingyun, there were only two paths after death: either dying or Ascending. He didn't understand how there could be another path to take.
"I always felt that this person was plotting something. I thought his passing would be the end, but I never expected even his passing to be so peculiar, as if there's a significant hidden secret behind it."
Night Chill looked up after hearing this: "Does this pose a risk to our Yao Race?"
The Demon Emperor looked at the wind and snow before him: "What can a deceased person, no matter how skilled, do? Our Yao Race has already entered the Nine Provinces and will never give up. I just want you to be more cautious, and not too impulsive."
"Your son respectfully obeys your command."
Night Chill bowed slightly and then left the Star-Picking Platform.
At this moment, the Demon Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, continuing to look up at the Heavenly Dao.
Although the Human Race was the only race favored by the Heavenly Dao after the Lasting Peace Race, this King of the Snow Region had never looked down on the Human Race.
Because they were selfish, greedy, and cunning, inheriting almost all the flaws of the Lasting Peace Race, yet lacking the strength of the Lasting Peace Race. But the one person the Demon Emperor dared not ignore was that old fellow from Tianshu Academy.
That person had spent his entire life comprehending Heavenly Secrets and was the most profound existence in all of Qingyun regarding the Heavenly Dao. Although the two had never met,
the Demon Emperor had felt his aura, and it was by no means as simple as Linxian Realm.
He could ignore anyone's actions, but he would never ignore him.
Now that he had left Qingyun, yet neither Ascended to Immortality nor returned his soul to the Heavenly Dao, it indicated that there must be a hidden secret in this matter.
The most crucial thing was that after that person left, the obscured Heavenly Dao gradually became clear, and he had already sensed that the Human Race had lost its Luck. But the fact that everything in this world seemed to remain unchanged was what made him ponder the most.
In the Snow Region, there lived a type of rat whose intelligence had not yet awakened, living in highly structured hierarchical colonies.
Each clan had only one Queen, and this Queen would have five consorts, dedicated solely to reproduction.
Aside from these six, all other Family members had no reproductive capacity and could not bear offspring throughout their lives.
However, if the Queen died unexpectedly, a female within their clan would suddenly be chosen, inexplicably Awakening reproductive ability and succeeding as the New Queen.
Similarly, if one or two of the five consorts died, it would also cause other males within the clan to gain reproductive ability and become consorts to the Queen.
This was the choice made by the Heavenly Dao in the unseen.
But this time, it seemed to have made no new choices.
"Father."
"You're back?"
In an ancient city made of massive stones on the east side of Demon Emperor City.
Lin Dou walked into his father's room and bowed slightly to the Scale Clan leader sitting behind the desk: "Your son has not failed the clan's trust and has, along with the Prince, occupied half of Yun Province's territory. I just met His Majesty in the palace and learned that Father has been unwell these past few days. What happened?"
The Scale Clan leader waved his hand after hearing this: "It's an old ailment, no need to worry. What's most important now is the clan. You must remember to be wary of the Barbarian; they are not steadfast allies."
"Regarding this matter, I already discussed it with His Majesty when I entered the palace."
"What did His Majesty say?"
Lin Dou then repeated the conversation from the hall: "His Majesty believes that Sacred Artifacts are difficult to resist and doesn't want to use military force, but rather wants to make a fuss about Spirit Stones."
The Scale Clan leader's eyes instantly narrowed: "His Majesty is still a bit too indecisive. Perhaps his arrogance has been worn away by this endless frost and snow."
"Father, this is highly disrespectful—"
"It's just a few words between us father and son, behind closed doors."
The Scale Clan leader finished speaking and pulled out a brocade box from his sleeve: "When you return to Yun Province, help me take this and find a way to send it to Yan Dang Mountain."
Lin Dou looked at the brocade box: "Isn't Yan Dang Mountain in Central Province? Who do you want me to give it to, Father?"
"It's buried beneath the third tree behind the mountain stele. This act is of great significance to our clan; you must not neglect it."
"Yes!"
After the Scale Clan leader finished speaking, he looked up: "Leading troops and traveling between the Nine Provinces, you must be tired. Go and get some good rest today."
Lin Dou bid farewell to his father and then pushed the door open and left the room.
He had received many invitations upon his return; some old friends wanted to see him and ask about Yun Province.
But just as his father said, he was indeed a bit tired and didn't plan to attend any banquets today, wanting to go back and rest well.
However, before he could leave the courtyard, Lin Dou heard the sound of a table being slapped suddenly coming from his father's room, followed by a low roar of anger.
"Stop arguing!"
"I said, stop arguing!"
" ? "
Lin Dou paused slightly and turned to look at the closed door.
He had just come out of there, so he naturally knew that his father's room only contained himself. He was a little confused about who he was talking to.
Perhaps because he already knew his father was unwell, he was a little uneasy, so he turned back and pushed open the door.
The Scale Clan leader was sitting in the room at this moment, his posture not much different from when he left, except his shoulders were a bit tense, and his eyes were a little red, as if he was exerting himself in secret.
"Father, what happened just now?"
The Scale Clan leader panted for a moment: "Nothing, just a slight error in my cultivation. After a few days of recuperation, I'm much better."
A trace of worry flashed in Lin Dou's eyes: "Father, are you really alright?"
"As the Clan Chief, what kind of great storms haven't I seen? No need to worry, go."
"Your son will be returning in a few days. Please take good care of your health, Father."
Night Chill and Lin Dou did not stay long after returning to the Snow Region. After several banquets from various clans, they hurried back.
As he traveled, Lin Dou looked at the box in his hand and fell into deep thought.
In the past, when the Yao Race and Human Race traded, their clansmen indeed existed in various prefectures. But after the great disaster of the Human Race, those who died died and those who fled fled, leaving not many behind.
In other words, the box his father wanted him to send to Central Province might be for the Human Race.
Could it be that his father had always been in contact with the Human Race?
Lin Dou found this matter very strange, but he had no way to guess the inside story.
Thousands of miles away, it took ten days for the Yao Beast to fly through the air, and the Barbarian-Yao Alliance, after resting, began to continue south.
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