Chapter 242: Chapter 131: The Demon Soldier Takes Shape
After this conversation with Zhang Xinghuai, Wang Ping felt that he and Zi Luan would probably get along. However, Zhang Xinghuai would most likely not put himself in Daoist Zi Luan’s path. In Zi Luan’s presence, he would be a lamb to the slaughter, but with Wang Ping, there was at least the bond of their sect to consider.
Zhang Xinghuai was not wrong. Three days after his discussion with Wang Ping, Zi Luan sent a messenger to invite Wang Ping to Jinhuai Prefecture for a meeting.
When they arrived at the Daoist Scripture Hall in Jinhuai Prefecture, the two exchanged another round of pleasantries. Then, just as expected, Zi Luan brought up the matter of the Northwest. Wang Ping, of course, did not refuse. ’If this is handled well, the big shots will get the meat, and I can at least have some of the soup.’
Once they reached an agreement, Zhang Xinghuai would be responsible for the actual implementation.
And so, another year passed.
The progress of Wang Ping’s divine soul in fusing the Spirit Communication Talisman and the Luck-Borrowing Talisman reached (33/100). After the Spring Festival, Wang Yang officially completed his Qi Cultivation. He left the mountain and returned to his family to continue cultivating while also taking charge of a portion of the family’s affairs.
「On the tenth.」
Zi Hong’s Puppet Bird landed in the courtyard. Through it, Wang Ping witnessed the state of the counties surrounding Shangjing City.
The region was truly prosperous and well-governed, yet a culture of extravagance was rampant.
To solve issues of production, these regions had established a system of serfdom, stripping the serfs of their rights to worship and belief. To absolve themselves of any moral condemnation, some places even forbade serfs from walking upright or speaking. In this way, they deluded themselves into distinguishing the serfs from human beings.
There were three main sources for these serfs: they were either purchased from outside Zhongzhou, "bred" like livestock, or were prisoners of war.
Although Wang Ping had known about this, witnessing it through the bird’s authentic memories was still difficult for him to accept.
’Divine Techniques truly are incompatible with a system of government!’
’It should only be used as a method of oversight. Otherwise, the ruling class will be held hostage by so-called ’fairness,’ creating twisted systems to resolve issues of production and social conflict.’
「On the day of the Lantern Festival.」
Zhang Xinghuai came to the Mountain Peak Dojo and gave a brief report on the situation in the Northwest. The Imperial Envoy had been dispatched to crack down on the smuggling routes. If that problem was solved, the next step would be to purge the local administration.
"This next step will definitely cause problems," Zhang Xinghuai stated firmly.
"What do the two Lords have to say?" Wang Ping asked his most pressing question.
"With only one Lord, it might be unpredictable. With two, it’s much simpler. Surely you haven’t forgotten the chaos in the Northwest a century ago, Martial Uncle?"
At these words, Wang Ping asked no more questions.
「In the 22nd year of the Jianwu era.」
The ambitious Emperor reached the end of his life. On the very day he passed on the throne, Xia Yao led two northern divisions of the Imperial Guard back to Shangjing City.
A rumor spread that when the new Emperor ascended the throne, he saw the Sovereign Fortune of the Xia Dynasty split in two.
Wang Ping found the rumor laughable when he heard it. ’That’s impossible. Even if Xia Yao practices Divine Techniques, she couldn’t possibly split this fortune, which is rooted in faith.’
’It’s just a rumor!’
’But it’s an incredibly dangerous rumor. If people start to believe it, the fortune really will split in two!’
「March.」
Wang Ping received a visit from an old friend.
It was Feng Miao.
She had ended her seclusion and was on her way to Shangjing City to seek refuge with Xia Yao, hoping to gamble on her chances of breaking through to the Second Realm.
Wang Ping gave her one of his Blessing Talismans.
Feng Miao seemed to be clutching at straws, lacking the composure and confidence of her youth. ’Time is a terrifying thing,’ Wang Ping thought. ’It takes away what you hold most dear.’
"She clearly has nearly a century of life left. She could have planned things more prudently, yet she insists on being so radical," Yu Lian commented after Feng Miao had left.
Wang Ping remained silent.
「May.」
A brilliant light suddenly erupted from beneath the Fire Institute.
The Demon Soldier nurtured by the Outer Realm Demon had taken form!
Wang Ping arrived on the scene instantly. He saw a long saber, wreathed in flames, that seemed to possess its own consciousness as it darted wildly within the Sealing Array.
"Look to the Inspiration Realm!"
Yu Lian shouted, suppressing the local fire spirits with her Water Spirit Qi.
Wang Ping activated the Spirit Gathering Array on his right wrist, manifesting his divine soul. In the Inspiration Realm, the Outer Realm Demon was frantically absorbing fire spirits, using all of them to forge the Demon Soldier.
"The fire spirits here have been influenced by the Outer Realm Demon; they’ve already formed the rudiments of pseudo-spirits. They’re incredibly sensitive to everything in the Inspiration Realm. Fire Box was right—fusing with them would make you sensitive and drive you mad."
Yu Lian added, sharing her own insight.
Wang Ping could also see it clearly now. The consciousness of the newly formed Demon Soldier instinctively tried to ignite all the Spiritual Qi in the room. The moment any Spiritual Qi flowed into it, it would become extremely violent. This created a vicious cycle, turning it into a volatile, incendiary puppet.
"Time to get rough with it!" Wang Ping ordered Yu Lian.
"You got it! Just watch me."
Yu Lian had been waiting for Wang Ping’s command. Her aura flared, and the patterns on her skin flickered with a cyan halo. The light converted the surrounding Spiritual Qi into water spirits, suppressing the fire spirits in the sealed room to an absolute minimum.
The frenzied flames were extinguished in an instant. As they died out, the Demon Soldier fell onto the Sealing Array, reverting to an ordinary steel saber. The Outer Realm Demon also grew quiet, its consciousness falling dormant the moment the water spirits erupted.
’Interesting!’
Wang Ping tossed out a Wood Spirit Sealing Array and collected the Demon Soldier.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor. A panicked Fire Institute disciple who was guarding the seal point ran over. "Grandmaster, our disciples have detected an Outer Realm object falling toward this location!"
Wang Ping was immediately reminded of what Fire Box had told him about the nature of Outer Realm Demons. He instantly placed the sealed Demon Soldier into his storage bag, then took Yu Lian and merged into the Wood Spirit Qi. A moment later, he reappeared above ground.
A heavy Protective Shield was already active in the sky—a technique deployed by Yu Cheng Taoist in conjunction with the Nine Extremes Array.
Beyond the Protective Barrier, a crimson blaze stained half the sky. At its center, a glittering object swayed back and forth.
"Was it drawn here by the Outer Realm Demon we have underground?" Yu Cheng Taoist asked via voice transmission, his tone uncertain, upon seeing Wang Ping.
"Most likely!" As he spoke, Wang Ping shot out of the barrier. Just as his Wood Spirit Qi unfurled around him, a green Energy Light Pillar suddenly erupted in the direction of Yongshan County.
"That’s Zhao Yu’Er’s aura! Why is she attempting her breakthrough now?"
Yu Lian reverted to her true form, releasing a dense cloud of Water Spirit Qi that intertwined with Wang Ping’s Wood Spirit Qi, suppressing the flames in the sky at a visible rate.
Wang Ping glanced at the Energy Light Pillar created by Zhao Yu’Er’s breakthrough and formed a tacit link with Yu Lian’s Qi Sea. At the same time, he activated several Wood Spirit Sealing Arrays, attempting to capture the swaying Outer Realm Demon.
But at this critical moment, a golden halo shot toward them from the distance!
"The nerve!"
Yu Lian, furious, roared and manifested a sky-filling mist of acid that blocked the incoming golden halo.
The great disturbance caused by the Outer Realm Demon’s appearance had caused some of the reclusive Entering Cultivators in Shang’an Prefecture to give in to their greed.
