Hark! An evil cult, named ‘Wusheng,’ utterly depraved and malevolent, has spread its poisonous tendrils across ten thousand miles.

It wrought wickedness in Mo and Cheng, acted with savagery in Yong and Luo, defiled the very grasslands, and plagued the mighty Qi.

The Lu Shuang Lei clan, imperial relatives themselves, a family of prominence in Qian, the very pride of the nation! And the Lin clan, inheritors of the blue plaque, successors to the lineage of Tianluo Bo, a renowned house! Both were harmed by Zhang Linchuan, who falsely claimed supernatural powers to usurp the legitimate son of the Lei clan!

How foul and sinister! He dares to disrupt the harmony of a great nation!

With a treacherous heart and perverse intentions, he even seeks to undermine the prosperity of Qi!

If this demonic miasma is not dispelled, the rising sun itself will merely cast a pale light.

If this villain is not executed, how can Heaven endure!

The world is not solely governed by the laws of Qi; how can the universe be cleansed solely for the eastern lands?

Therefore, in the name of the eastern nation, we summon the world to exterminate this evil cult!

Wherever the bright sun shines, wherever human traces exist, those who obstruct shall be executed, those who conceal shall be investigated.

Dare to offer protection, and instantly become an enemy of Great Qi!

The Great Qi Empire, founded two thousand years ago, has reformed the ancient abuses of a millennium from above, and soothed the myriad sufferings of billions of common people from below.

Thus, its influence extends to the southeast, and connects horizontally across the seas.

The weight of a great nation lies in its virtue and responsibility!

It bears the calamitous waters of the迷界, and it bears the demonic and treacherous evils.

It must teach the human world to be without hateful blood, and not let the blue sky witness evil spirits.

Hence, with this decree, we transmit to the world, broadly proclaiming to the present age to know and hear.

All followers of the Wusheng cult, the people shall collectively execute! Allow no remnant!

This imperial decree from the Great Qi Empire, issued with such severe language, how could it merely stir up a thousand waves with one stone? It raised naught but a mountain collapse and a sea tsunami.

After the public letter of Marquis Wuan and the public stance of the Three Punishments Palace, those countries that had remained silent all hurriedly responded. East Shen and West Xue, the Northern Liao Iron Five Countries, Xuan Qiao South Liang to Li Yue… all with formal documents, confirmed the evil cult nature of the Wusheng cult. Under this grand tide, who dared to be an “obstructer” or a “hider”?

Even the great hegemonic nations of Qin and Jing, though they issued no publicized imperial decree, silently listed the Wusheng cult as an evil cult, ordering their domestic monitoring institutions to exterminate it, so as not to give anyone a handle and lose their “weight of a great nation.”

From this day forth, the Wusheng cult could almost be declared wiped from the face of the earth.

Though the world is vast, there was no place to hide.

Those with discerning eyes noticed a detail—

In the public letter of Marquis Wuan, it was clearly mentioned that the predecessor of the Wusheng cult, the White Bone Path, had harmed his homeland, destroyed a city, causing him to leave his hometown and drift alone.

Yet in this imperial decree from the Qi country, it mentioned Mo, Cheng, Yong, Luo, and the western border countries, a wide circle, but conspicuously failed to mention the Zhuang country which was most harmed by the White Bone Path. Could it be that there were hidden circumstances behind Marquis Wuan’s departure alone for ten thousand miles?

Speculation, debate, and inquiry, this was of course a logical line of development.

But before these scattered public opinions could form a tide, the response from Jing country’s Mirror World Platform had already arrived.

Fu Dongxu, the deputy platform head of the Mirror World Platform, publicly stated—

After the Mirror World Platform’s multi-party detailed investigation, destroying many Wusheng cult sub-altars, capturing three Earth Sha envoys, educating several Wusheng cult followers, and deeply analyzing the Wusheng cult’s propagation scripture, the “Wusheng Sutra”… it is confirmed that the Wusheng cult indeed belongs to an evil cult.

The Wusheng cult’s god master, dao master, and cult master, the three in one Zhang Linchuan, is indeed the former envoy of the White Bone Path. And the White Bone Path is the evil cult that worships the nether god White Bone Evil God; Dao Shu’s Zhuang country once also deeply suffered from it!

Zhuang country suffered from the torment of the White Bone Path for hundreds of years, enduring unbearable suffering. Fortunately, monarch and people united, exerting efforts to exterminate the evil, until the third generation monarch, Zhuang Gao Xian, finally purged it thoroughly.

As early as four years ago, Zhuang country had already issued an imperial decree, fully pursuing and exterminating the White Bone Path, to the death with it. Jade Capital Mountain also has records on this. The so-called “Pity that the country is small and weak, it did not get world response, not as much as the eastern country.”

That Qi country can participate in the pursuit and extermination of the White Bone Path’s remnants four years later, and pursue the rekindled Wusheng cult, is to have a keen cognition of evil cults, and further embodies the responsibility of a great nation. The Mirror World Platform expresses its respect for this.

This speech was both a clarification and an attack, impeccably phrased, and further competed with the Qi country for “fame.”

The Wusheng cult could be exterminated, could be exterminated together, but precisely who was leading this matter could still be debated.

At the same time, the inscription engraved on the Spirit Tablet by Zhuang country’s monarch Zhuang Gao Xian back then, somehow, also circulated in the various countries of the world.

The so-called “In the winter of Yongtai’s 14th year, the country lost its territory, I lost my people…”

The so-called “The pain pierces the heart, how can it be like this! Like a thousand knives and ten thousand cuts, this heart fried in oil…”

This inscription was indeed engraved four years ago, and indeed every word wept blood.

For a time it was widely recited, and together with the public letter of Marquis Wuan Jiang Wang, it was jointly called “The most heartbreaking words in ten years.”

The names Zhuang Gao Xian and Jiang Wang were also, for the first time, mentioned together by the world.

Pei Xinghe, the commander of the Jing country’s disaster suppression army and from Jade Capital Mountain, commented that these two articles, with the same sincere emotion, sorrowful heart, and bloody pain, and from the perspectives of the monarch and the involved commoner respectively, interpreted the harm of evil cults, “making people close the book and shut their eyes, as if facing tragic events.” It is the so-called—”The ferocity of evil cults’ harm, to this extent, then the world’s righteous men cannot but investigate!”

He had no disparagement towards Marquis Wuan Jiang Wang, and therefore his recommendation of the Zhuang monarch Zhuang Gao Xian was more easily accepted by people.

People were surprised to discover that the strong lord who led the revival of Zhuang country was originally also such an emotional person! Thus, those who wanted to go to Zhuang country to serve were not few.

Du Rujui, the prime minister of Zhuang country, also publicly stated that back then they did not protect their own citizens well, resulting in the loss of Fenglin city’s domain, with only Jiang Wang escaping and going far to foreign lands. All these were his fault as prime minister. Initially, he was trapped in the pain of Fenglin city and could not extricate himself, saw some one-sided evidence, and then misunderstood Jiang Wang as colluding with demons, once hating him to the bone. Fortunately, the Three Punishments Palace clarified the truth, preventing the misunderstanding from continuing. Although he had already been whipped and received the due lesson, he still felt ashamed and hoped to have the opportunity to apologize to Marquis Wuan in person.

At the same time, he very much understood Jiang Wang’s distrust of the state and the Zhuang court. Jiang Wang was only seventeen years old back then; it was not realistic to ask him to understand the state’s difficulties.

He said: “Zhuang, though Jiang Wuan’s homeland, is a small and weak country, not having fulfilled its duty, not having reached its heart, unable to fully bear the responsibility of protecting its people. Now Jiang Wuan has great achievements in Eastern Qi, enjoying great fame; I am very comforted in my heart. The pain of Fenglin’s departed souls also has a place to rely.”

He was very pleased that Jiang Wang had achieved such great accomplishments in Qi country, and on behalf of Zhuang country, expressed respect to Qi country, this world hegemonic nation, and blessed Jiang Wang to have a better future in Qi country, saying, “A good man does not need to achieve merit in his homeland; a great man can become famous in other places.”

From Jing country to Zhuang country, from Pei Xinghe to Du Rujui, this series of actions flowed smoothly, instantly reversing the unfavorable public opinion that the Mirror World Platform had encountered due to previous silence.

The Mirror World Platform was fundamentally not silent and never targeted a specific person. The Mirror World Platform had greater responsibility and greater undertaking and naturally had to be more cautious, unable to act rashly!

For a time, the Wusheng cult was the target of everyone’s shouts, its bad reputation spreading far.

And Zhuang country’s monarch and ministers were harmonious, monarch and people united. Zhuang monarch Zhuang Gao Xian and Zhuang country’s native Jiang Wang, one guarding the homeland, one going far for thousands of miles, both for avenging the evil cult, both striving for the pain of hundreds of thousands of innocent departed souls… different paths but the same goal, truly moving to the lungs. Zhuang country’s considerate and protective attitude towards the departed wanderer further became a beautiful story.

Zhuang country, New An city, in the not-luxurious Prime Minister’s mansion.

“…The matter is thus.”

Du Rujui sat in the main seat, speaking slowly.

His once full black hair, he knew not when, was already mixed with silver threads.

It was said that with divine arrival one does not age, but he worried too much for the country.

After Dong A’s death, he had delayed in finding someone to share state affairs.

Fu Baosong was too straightforward, Li Jianqiu too taciturn, Lin Zhengren too unreliable.

He on one side handled state affairs, on one side bore responsibility for the monarch, on one side still had to cultivate talents… Once Cave True had hope, now it had gradually drifted away.

Fortunately, Zhuang country’s national power was gradually robust, and he also did not necessarily have to find attachment in the official path, without rushing to pass on political power.

He sat with worries hard to dispel, speaking to several young people: “Now Jiang Wang secretly holds a high position in a hegemonic country, deeply trusted by the Qi emperor. That Jiang Shu, for the hegemony of Qi country, will inevitably spare no effort to strike at Dao Shu, so he will certainly spare no cost to maintain Jiang Wang’s reputation and speak for Jiang Wang.

Initially, the one who testified for Jiang Wang, Gui Tian Palace’s Ju Kui Zhenren, is an old acquaintance of Yu Beidou. Yu Beidou, in search of a way out for the fate divination technique, lingered in Qi country for many years. For whom he speaks, and what he seeks, is self-evident…

We are inferior in power, and because of always being self-reliant, we cannot get more support from Jing country.

Initially, this prime minister could only go to Jade Capital Mountain to receive punishment, and now, he can only follow the surging public opinion of the world.”

He heavily sighed: “We not only cannot expose him, but also have to help him cover the lie. Otherwise, the dirty water of the White Bone Path’s harm back then will be poured on our Zhuang country’s head.”

The young people sitting with him all had great prospects, many were from the National Dao Academy, listed as the former “National Academy Six Talents.”

Of course, having entered court as officials, scattered in military, political circles, and Jicingsi, they were no longer known by their old name. The National Academy had new talents emerging, and they were also beginning to show their talents.

Today, the six young people gathered in the Prime Minister’s mansion were all listed in the “New An Eight Junxians.”

The so-called “New An Eight Junxians” were eight talents recognized by court and common folk, among whom two were talents from other countries coming to serve, the rest mostly from the National Dao Academy… Because of their outstanding talents, they were widely expected.

For example, the first among the New An Eight Junxians, with the image of a benevolent heart and knowing etiquette, widely praised, Lin Zhengren, once even entered the main tournament in the Yellow River Assembly. Unfortunately, he fought too hard for the country, suffered a blood ghost backlash, and could not go further.

For example, the successor to the deceased vice prime minister Dong A, the third among the Eight Junxians, Li Jianqiu. His sword technique was extraordinary and refined, and his divine channel methods were even rarer in the country.

For example, the fourth among the Eight Junxians, both smelly and hard, Fu Baosong…

“Why would the Prime Minister say…” Fu Baosong pondered and said: “Qi country will pour dirty water on our head?”

Daring to question Du Rujui’s judgment face to face, probably in Zhuang country from top to bottom, there was only one Fu Baosong.

This person was not close to human feelings, only recognized dead principles, and was often feared and resented by his colleagues.

Lin Zhengren often said to people that although he greatly admired Fu Baosong, Fu Baosong’s personality was such that in any dynasty or generation, he would easily cause trouble. It was only because of the current wise monarch and virtuous prime minister of Zhuang country that Fu Baosong had a day to stand out… People deeply agreed.

Du Rujui glanced at Fu Baosong, and calmly said: “Listing the evil deeds of the White Bone Path, it created the most sins in our Zhuang country. The Wusheng cult originated from the White Bone Path. But this imperial decree from Qi country fundamentally did not mention the name of our Zhuang country. If we ignore the past, this is a loophole. One day, Jiang Wang can tear from this loophole and slander us for colluding with the White Bone Path… We cannot not guard against this.”

Fu Baosong said: “So you want to fill this loophole yourself, expose the scars of hundreds of thousands of people, empathize with Jiang Wuan, and help him promote the extermination of the Wusheng cult. Since Jiang Wang and Zhang Linchuan are irreconcilable, taking killing Zhang Linchuan as the priority, we can only tacitly approve. Especially since you also invited the Mirror World Platform and Marshal Pei to stand for us…”

“It cannot be said whether we invited or not; this is getting the way having many helpers, losing the way having few helpers.” Du Rujui continued: “Our Zhuang country’s people’s suffering, Jade Capital Mountain also deeply knows.”

“But excuse Baosong for speaking bluntly.” Fu Baosong said: “In recent years, we haven’t targeted the White Bone Path much. For the Wusheng cult, we’ve managed even less. How can the Mirror World Platform take all the credit on us and implicitly mock Qi country for picking up others’ wisdom?”

The room for a time was somewhat awkward.

Du Rujui sighed in his heart; he had even specifically blocked Fu Baosong’s words, yet this fellow still spoke in such a manner… He simply did not know how to gauge the superior’s intent.

People all said Fu Baosong was upright, almost carved from the same mold as the deceased vice prime minister Dong A. Zhang Ren, the sacrificial wine of the National Dao Academy, also greatly favored him, saying he was a sincere gentleman and expecting him to achieve something.

But Dong A, besides being upright, would also make changes for the state. This Fu Baosong, however, went one way to the end, stubbornly guarding the principles in his heart. Was he not different from Dong A by more than a hundred miles?

“How cruel is the struggle of great nations?” Lin Zhengren proactively replied for the prime minister: “Qi country can suppress the countries of Dao Shu without principle; Jing country naturally also has to counter. In this, there is no reason to speak of. Baosong, I know you always cannot tolerate sand in your eyes, but this matter is not for you and me to discuss. Furthermore, Qi country harbored evil intentions first; do we still have to lecture them on rules and righteousness? Is it your and my upright ideals that are important, or our Zhuang country’s national security?”

Fu Baosong for a time was speechless, only saying: “Master Lin, I cannot argue with you.”

“Simply hateful! Our Zhuang country’s people have suffered from the harm of the White Bone Path for generations. Our Zhuang country’s cultivators have fought to exterminate the White Bone Path for generations. No one has more qualification to raise this flag! How exactly can this basin of dirty water still be poured on our Zhuang country’s head?!” Angrily speaking was Jiang Liuyue, ranked last among the New An Eight Junxians: “Can Qi country just reverse black and white and confuse right and wrong?”

“This is a world of strong power; where is there justice?”

Some words that Du Rujui found inconvenient to say were no problem for Lin Zhengren to say; he very consciously stepped forward to teach Jiang Liuyue: “Executive Jiang, we can have our own ideal world, but we cannot expect others to have this naivety. Since Jiang Wuan wants to cover up his evil deeds, he must put us to death. And Qi country dominates the eastern domain, devouring Yang and destroying Xia, committing all evils; where will it care about us?”

After graduating from the National Dao Academy, Jiang Liuyue served in the Jicingsi. He had now adapted for a period and was about to be sent out as the executive of Qinglan city. Hence his title.

Jiang Liuyue gritted his teeth, his anger hard to quell, but he respected Lin Zhengren very much and bowed his hand: “Junior brother has received the teaching.”

He had earlier been taught a lesson by Lin Zhengren and had some ideological disagreements with him. Later, he strove and also showed talent in the National Dao Academy. Lin Zhengren, as his senior brother and the first of the National Dao Academy, had personally apologized to him. He said that at that time, it was all military affairs, and also for the victory of the national war, so he could understand, and the knot in his heart had long since gone.

Senior Brother Lin’s cultivation and character were first-class; the more he came into contact with him, the more admirable he became.

Now, in his view, the most trustworthy person was of course Senior Brother Fu Baosong, but the second was Senior Brother Lin Zhengren. So when Lin Zhengren called him by his official position, he still called himself junior brother.

Du Rujui sighed in his heart again.

Lin Zhengren truly could be said to be good in all aspects, a talent too usable, except for not being trustworthy…

Now, with the cultivation of the divine arrival realm, he could still firmly suppress this person. Waiting until the day Lin Zhengren reached divine arrival, who in the court could control him?

Not to mention waiting until then, only…

“Jianqiu, what do you think?” He looked at the always silent Li Jianqiu.

Li Jianqiu, with that peach branch sword hanging at his waist, sat upright there, only saying: “Jianqiu has no opinion. But for the country’s long-term plan, however the prime minister says, Jianqiu will do.”

Before asking, Du Rujui knew it would be such an answer.

He was not surprised and only asked again: “You and Ye Hu are both from Fenglin city; what do you think he will think?”

Du Yehu, ranked second among the New An Eight Junxians, was not in the prime minister’s mansion at this moment. Unless it was a mandatory requirement, he habitually did not participate in these private gatherings, and even rarely attended court meetings. He ate and lived in the military camp, spending every day training soldiers and cultivating. Among these young talents in Zhuang country, he was known for being aloof and taciturn.

And few people knew that once in Fenglin city, Du Yehu was the most noisy and boisterous?

Jiang Wang knew, Zhao Rucheng who was mixing in Mu country knew, and then there was himself…

Li Jianqiu sighed slightly in his heart; on his mouth, he only said: “The prime minister has judgment in his heart, why need Jianqiu speak more. But I think, one thing, Your Majesty believes, the prime minister believes, Jianqiu believes, Fu Baosong believes… The whole country believes, what reason does General Du not believe?”

“Who will not believe what they saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears, yet believe others’ one-sided words? Moreover, last time in Bu Shu city, if not for the prime minister’s action, General Du would have died completely!” Lin Zhengren said: “If Jiang Wang was not backed by the demon race, colluding with the White Bone Path, sacrificing the people of the whole city, using demonic arts to take the talents of wronged souls for himself, how could he have today’s cultivation progress?! You know that back then in Fenglin city, I could press him to death with one finger. He was never any genius figure, yet he committed all evils, luckily gained fame, and instead is praised by the world! See the folly of the common people, who only judge by the strong.”

“Silence!” Du Rujui rebuked: “Such words can also be said casually? Without evidence, just shut your mouth! Have you forgotten this prime minister’s humiliation at Jade Capital Mountain?”

Lin Zhengren hummed: “He has now washed himself clean…”

In the end, he also said no more.

But it also led young people like Jiang Liuyue to hate in their hearts.

They had never seen Jiang Wang, never contacted Jiang Wang, but in their hearts, he had already been painted with a brush, depicting Jiang Wang’s specific image—young in age, but old in scheming, good at hypocritical performance, an inner extremely vicious hypocrite.

Whether Lin Zhengren or Du Rujui, after several encounters, they already had a certain understanding of Jiang Wang. They were very clear that Jiang Wang would one day return to Zhuang country.

Now, as Great Qi’s Marquis Wuan Jiang Wang, he was no longer someone they could deal with through diplomatic means. Jiang Wang, with four years of struggle, had won a protective golden body for himself.

After the attempt to frame him as a demon failed, they could only passively wait. The higher Jiang Wang stood, the more passive they were.

Times change!

Now Jiang Wang could represent Qi country; his private grudge was called a national hate by the Qi emperor.

They, with the momentum of an emerging Zhuang country, could only hide under the wings of Jing country.

But to say give up, no one was willing to give up.

Now all they did was subtle influence, precisely one of their many preparations.

Wait until the day Jiang Wang came to Zhuang country, he would know against whom he was standing… With whom he was an enemy!

“Junior Brother Jiang’s letter, I read it and feel somewhat sad.”

In the dim underground palace, Zhang Linchuan, who looked neither good nor bad nor beautiful nor ugly, casually sat on the stone steps.

Of course, these stone steps were wiped clean, smooth as a mirror surface.

A few steps behind was the cult sovereign’s throne, yet he was too lazy to sit on it.

The cult’s believers no longer exceeded a thousand, and all had been transferred underground, stealthy like mice.

They even dared not mention the name of Wusheng anymore.

This cult sovereign, what meaning did it still hold?

For a cult that had once expanded to tens of thousands in various sub-altars, it was truly a dramatic change from heaven to earth. Many high-level cult members, unable to accept this, had taken suicidal actions… Thus leading to even fiercer strangulation.

He now fundamentally did not contact any sub-altar, and absolutely did not respond to any believer with the Wusheng world, because any trace was enough to cause his death.

He was said to be the supreme god master, the great dao master, the Wusheng cult ancestor, said to have borrowed the White Bone holy body, borrowed vast faith, successfully stood in the position of a true god at a young age, seemingly not inferior to Daoism’s Li Yi’s genius…

But under the grand trend, he was also just like an ant.

Even his painstakingly compiled “Wusheng Sutra,” now gradually lost its divine support, becoming a dead pool without living water.

In one night, the career he had striven for many years—his present cultivation—his future path, almost comprehensively suffered heavy blows.

Changing to any other person, presumably, they could not accept it.

And he now sat here, his expression very indifferent, even having the leisure to comment on that Junior Brother Jiang’s writing style.

“It’s also no wonder so many inexplicable people go crazy for this…”

He said: “But there is one point I don’t understand.”

Zhang Linchuan lifted his eyes, somewhat puzzled: “The extermination of the White Bone Path, don’t I count a share of the credit? How am I still beaten into the White Bone Path’s remnants?”

Standing not far in front of him was a tall and thin man with a gloomy face.

He was one of the Wusheng cult’s five great protective law kings, Wing Ghost.

Bowing back, pressing his eyes, standing in the shadow of the lamp stand, his entire person had a gloomy murderous intent.

Hearing this, he also sucked his teeth, and chuckled: “This is buckling the shit basin on your head, ah.”

Zhang Linchuan looked at him, and slowly frowned. “This metaphor is too disgusting.”

Wing Ghost’s neck shrank, and he said dryly: “Hug… sorry, I’ll change…”

Zizi zizi!

Suddenly, dark thunder leaped, already wrapping him entirely.

That was a group of shadowy existences, but paradoxically, there was the sizzling sound of thunder!

The sound only lasted for a moment.

After the dark thunder dispersed, on the spot, only a charred skeleton remained, still maintaining the bowing back and neck shrunk posture, ready to pounce…

Zila, zila.

Zhang Linchuan brushed away the non-existent dust from the corner of his clothes and stood up.

“Come all.” He said calmly.

From afar came a huge bang, and soon was the sound of large troops surging into the underground palace.

And in this dim great hall, there were also more than ten powerful aura cultivators, who threw off their disguises and walked out from the shadows.

－－－－－－Words outside the topic－－－－－－

Today, six thousand words, including one chapter, for A Shen adding more to the debt lord committee. (2/10)

It’s already the limit…