Chapters 279 to 80: Defender of the Liang Capital

I understand!"Several officers received their orders.Nie Xu nodded and, with Liu the head catcher, chased after Shen Changqing's footsteps."Nie sir.""This humble official is here, Sir Shen. What order...Millions of troops.

...making their way in a grand procession toward the Lu'an Mansion.

The imperial procession drove through the center of the army. The emperor’s elite guards were positioned on both sides, and inside the palanquin...

Dong Fang Zhao and Gu Xuan Ji sat cross-legged.

"How many people in the capital know you've left"

"Your Majesty, I left the capital without informing many people. I believe that besides a handful of people in the Demon Suppression Division, no one else would know."

Dongfang Zhao lightly sipped his spirit tea and smiled faintly.

Since he went out with the army, he has stayed here and not stepped out.

Therefore.

So far, the news that the head of the Demon Suppression Division is traveling with the army has remained a secret.

The reason for not publicizing it is that there is no need.

Once this news spreads, it might cause some unpredictable changes in the Capital Demon Suppression Division.

And another thing.

The message is confidential. At the time, it will be able to catch Zhou by surprise.

If an ordinary person were to stay in a driver's seat for half a month, without coming out and even refusing to eat, that would be impossible.

But for the garrison commander, it wasn't a big problem.

The stronger the being, the longer it can fast.

As long as there is spiritual energy in the world, it can be replenished endlessly.

That is exactly why.

Even if Dongfang Zhao didn't eat or drink for half a month, he wouldn't have any problems.

“Come here!”

Gu Xuanji suddenly spoke in a deep voice, his tone a few decibels louder than usual.

At once.

Then a respectful voice came from outside.

"May I ask your Majesty what your command is"

"How many days will it take to reach Lu'an Prefecture now"

“In two more days, we'll officially enter Luan Prefecture.”

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"As for provisions, are there any issues at present"

"Your Majesty, rest assured. Grain has already been requisitioned from various provinces and is estimated to have arrived at Lu'an Prefecture ahead of schedule. There will be no problems."

That's good.

Gu Xuanji nodded.

The sounds of driving outside also died down.

When the Eastern Emperor heard this, he calmly said: "In two days' time, we should be able to reach Lu'an Prefecture. Then it won't be long before we can enter the Zhou Dynasty directly."

Your Majesty, do you think that the Great Zhou is cooperating with demons or has become a vassal of them

“It’s not as simple as the Demon Clan wanting to turn a country's ruler into a demon. The difficulty is far greater than you imagine.”

But... the Demon Clan is just too mysterious. Perhaps there really are some ways they can do this.

Gu Xuanji's expression was calm and composed.

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As for whether the Zhou Dynasty had become a vassal of demonic creatures or simply cooperated with them, he didn't pay too much attention.

Whether it is the former or the latter.

The only result is one.

That is, the State of Zhou is an enemy of the Qin state.

Besides.

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Even if demons have a way to transform a king of a country into a demon, the price they pay will definitely not be small.

Otherwise.

The demonic clan had already attacked the Qin Dynasty, so they wouldn't have been constantly engaged in battle.

As for what happened in the Great Zhou dynasty, it remains a mystery.

Dongfang Zhao nodded thoughtfully.

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Then, the topic changed again.

"Your Majesty, with this expedition, the demon clan will undoubtedly be closely watching our every move. Our great Qin has always been unclear about the number of powerful beings within the demon clan that exist in this world."

This battle, I'm afraid, is going to test the depths of our abilities.

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"Is the Eastern Bastion afraid"

A subtle smile played at the corner of Gu Xuanji's mouth.

Upon hearing this.

Dong Fang Zhao shook his head and chuckled: "To say that I'm not afraid, that's a lie. Your Majesty, if something truly goes wrong with this plan, I might not even be able to return."

"I don't know whether to believe it or not."

Gu Xuanji's expression was a bit helpless.

In the court, there was only one person who dared to speak to him like that.

Although the royal family is quite wary of the Demon Suppression Division, it's impossible to truly leave once you're in.

So.

Gu Xuanji's view of Dongfang Zuo was also quite complex.

She shook her head slightly.

“The demonic clan comes from extraterrestrial news, although it cannot be completely confirmed, but it is basically not wrong. I even suspect that the disappearance of ancient times is related to demons.”

However, so far, all ancient sites have no record of demons.

>

If the disappearance of ancient times were truly related to demons, it would be impossible for there to be no trace left behind.

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When he mentioned ancient times, a barely perceptible solemnity could be seen in the depths of his eyes.

Although ancient times have disappeared.

But.

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For thousands upon thousands of years, the influence of ancient times has always been present.

Every powerful person in the world has, to some extent, been influenced by ancient times as they grew up.

Just by relying on some inheritance, one could achieve such a level.

Needless to say.

To what extent was the ancient era truly powerful

Dongfang Zhao's eyes were deep: "Who knows how things truly were in ancient times If we try too hard to guess, we'll get nowhere. It's better to focus on what's happening now."

Tens of thousands of years.

>

Among them, how many dynasties have changed is unknown.

How many strong individuals have been buried in the dust of history.

Hundreds of years ago, it's already difficult to investigate clearly, let alone thousands or tens of thousands of years ago, there is no way to explore at all.

Unless.

>

...What records can be found in ancient ruins

There are simply too many ancient sites that have emerged so far, and none of them have left a single trace.

"What you said makes some sense."

Gu Xuanji nodded, the smile on his face suddenly receding a few points.

“Demonic creatures seek the destruction of our human race. No matter if it's my Great Qin, or Great Liang or Great Yue, they all aim to eradicate us.”

How much power they truly possess hidden within the heavens and earth, even we cannot fathom.

This time when I leave the Qin Dynasty, they won't let this opportunity pass. They will probably send all their powerful demon clan members to attack us. The Demon Saint who was severely injured and fled a hundred years ago will definitely not stay idle either.

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As for the other demons of the demon clan, he didn't pay them much attention.

...what truly matters to him.

He was the demonic saint who invaded the capital a hundred years ago.

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If it weren't for leveraging the power of the Qin state, I truly wouldn't have been able to inflict such a heavy blow upon that demonic saint.

Since then.

The demonic saint then completely vanished, as if it had fallen.

But Gu Xuanyi can be sure.

The Demon Saint never perished.

The other party was in a certain place, silently watching Qin, always looking for an opportunity to strike and avenge the heavy losses they suffered back then.

Now.

Leaving the Qin Dynasty was just such an opportunity.

Then, Gu Xuanji continued speaking.

"Originally, I intended to have Shen Changqing go to Dahuang Prefecture to handle the barbarian affairs after stabilizing the situation in Nanyu Mansion."

Unbeknownst to him, after slaying three Tier 3 demon spirits, he completely opened up the situation for the Dahuang Mansion.

Now, the barbarian forces have suffered a crushing defeat and their retreat from Dahuang Prefecture is inevitable.

Therefore, I plan to summon Shen Changqing. What do you think

Then he fell silent.

The Eastern Emperor fell into deep thought.

After a long pause, he finally spoke: “Your Majesty, if you truly wish to summon Shen Changqing, it is not impossible. However, I cannot guarantee that he will come.”

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Just now finished speaking.

Dongfang Zhao turned his head to look outside the carriage, his eyes flickered with some emotion.

"A strong one has arrived."

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"The Strongest—"

Gu Xuanji's expression flickered.

As for strength, Dongfang Zhao was stronger than him. It wasn't strange that the other party sensed it first.

It's just to pique their curiosity.

At this moment, who will come

“This time, the Qin Dynasty is serious!”

Ran An, clad in purple, stood on the hilltop, gazing at the army below that snaked like a long serpent. Even his face showed a look of astonishment.

Millions of troops.

And they were all the elite of each government's forces.

Just gathering together, that aura could pierce the heavens.

To put it plainly, demons and fiends beneath the rank of demon will be instantly reduced to ashes before this sinister energy.

This is the terrifying power of military might.

Especially the aura of hundreds of millions of elite soldiers, that is truly killing gods and slaying Buddhas.

Even Ran An wouldn't be able to withstand such a formidable force.

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Of course.

In the absence of a powerful presence to restrain him, he was confident he could escape unharmed.

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After all, the individual's combat effectiveness will be greatly improved if they retreat.

I've been looking at it for a long time.

Ran An's gaze fell upon the Imperial Hunting Carriage in the center of the army.

The monster dragged it away.

There are palace guards escorting him.

But those masters in his eyes, were simply not worth mentioning.

What truly mattered to him was the person sitting in the carriage.

Unfortunately.

The material of the royal hunting robe was extraordinary, effectively isolating its wearer's scent. No matter how hard Ran An tried to scrutinize it, he couldn't detect any clues.

One step forward.

The purple-clothed figure glided gracefully.

>

Ran An walked toward the center army.

"Dare you, who dares to intrude without permission!"

A powerful warrior escorted by guards saw this scene, his face changed instantly. Several people didn't even think about it, they all rose into the air for a short time and launched their strongest attack to intercept the enemy.

However.

Those attacks hadn't even reached Ran An before they dissipated into nothingness.

Next.

A force of shock sent everyone sprawling.

At the same time.

Ran An took a step and appeared in front of the imperial hunt.

When all the strong men surrounded him, he remained composed and bowed gracefully.

“Greetings, Your Majesty! I am Ran An, from the Great Liang Town Demon Division.”

The Grand Liang Demon Suppression Division!

Hello!

Upon hearing this name, many of the powerful figures who had gathered there changed color.

>

Although the name "Ran'an" is not very famous, it would not be too unfamiliar to the strong individuals within the royal family.

As for the five characters of the Great Liang Demon Suppression Division.

Then there's no need to say more.

They didn't expect the arrival to be the head of Liang Town Demon Division.

It's no wonder that the other party showed such powerful strength, easily overwhelming them all without a scratch.

After Ran An revealed his identity.

Even those royal powerhouses did not dare to act rashly anymore.

First.

It's about understanding the other party's strength and not wanting to humiliate oneself.

Second, the Qin and Liang states are considered allies. Rashly attacking them could lead to Ancient Xuanji holding us responsible.

For a long while.

A majestic voice echoed from the imperial carriage.

"Since Commander Ran is here, why don't you come in and have a seat!"

"Greetings, Emperor Qin!"

Ran An stood up, straightened his clothes, and then walked towards the hunting ground.

> Once you step inside the carriage, the first thing you'll see is Gu Xuanji.

This was his first time meeting Qin the Emperor in person. Before this, he had only seen him in paintings.

It was just a glance.

Then there came a powerful sense of oppression, overwhelming.

Ran An understands clearly.

That wasn't something Gu Xuanji intentionally emitted, but rather the aura naturally emanating from someone who had long held a high position.

"Daliang Town Demon Division Ran An, pays respects to the Emperor Qin!"

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He bowed again deeply.

This is a sign of respect for a monarch.

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Gu Xuanji calmly said, "Ran, you are exempt from ceremony. Please sit."

“Greetings, Emperor Qin!”

Then Ran An took a good look at the scene inside the carriage. When he saw the person sitting beside Gu Xuanji, a faint smile appeared on his face, which then stiffened slightly.

"So Dongfang is guarding the east as well."

It's been a long time.

The Eastern Emperor raised his cup in a toast.

He and Ran An are old acquaintances.

We are all heads of the Demon Suppression Division and have interacted many times before. However, after I took charge in the capital city, we haven't had any further dealings.

Now it's goodbye.

There's also some sentiment in my heart.

Ran sat cross-legged, picked up the newly added teacup in front of him, and the two of them took a sip each.

Then, he put down the teacup.

"The Qin Emperor's army is truly awe-inspiring, with a menacing aura that pierces the heavens. Even I was almost afraid to approach."

“Ran, you’ve come all this way to defend me ”

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Gu Xuanji neither confirmed nor denied.

>

In his view, Ran An's arrival at this time must have been for other reasons.

Upon hearing this.

Ran An straightened his face. Since the other party wasn't willing to beat around the bush, he might as well get straight to the point.

“The First Emperor speaks quickly, so let me be direct. I hear that the Qin Empire’s Demon Suppression Division has created something called a Star Chart, which allows them to see all demons and monsters within the Qin realm.”

Over the years, my Liang dynasty has been plagued by demons and monsters. Therefore, I hope to exchange with the Qin Dynasty for a batch of celestial charts in order to deal with the demons and monsters within my Liang dynasty.

Exchange for a birth chart.

Gǔ Xuánjī and Dōngfāng Zhào exchanged a look so subtle it was almost imperceptible. Both saw understanding in the other's eyes.

No wonder.

The Big Liang will let Ran An come over.

If it's about the celestial charts, then it would indeed be something that would warrant a trip by the Demon Slayer Commander himself.

Gǔ Xuánjī said nothing.

"Dongfang Zhao merely smiled faintly and spoke, "General Ran should be clear that for the sake of researching the celestial chart, our Great Qin Empire has paid a considerable price. The time and effort spent are needless to say."

It can be said that the celestial chart is the crystallization of my great Qin's heart and soul.

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It seems like Daliang just wants to get his hands on the star chart with a single word. I'm afraid that might be quite difficult, wouldn't you say

"The Eastern commander's words are heavy. Our Liang dynasty is not asking for the star charts out of thin air, but rather desires to make a trade with the Great Qin. We want to know what price the Great Qin demands from our Liang in exchange for a batch of star charts"

As for Dongfang Zhao's refusal, Ran An had expected it.

It's unlikely that someone would agree to something like a birth chart reading right away when you first bring it up.

First, there was a refusal.

That's when the bargaining begins.

The Eastern Emperor said: "Logically speaking, my Great Qin would not trade celestial charts. However, Liang is ultimately an ally of my Great Qin. In the Battle of Luo'an Prefecture earlier, Liang also contributed greatly."

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If the beam is a sincere transaction, I wonder what it intends to exchange for.

He didn't answer the question directly, but rather rephrased it and threw it back.

Upon hearing this.

Ran An felt helpless in her heart, but on the surface she remained calm.

> “No matter if it's demons or silver resources, my Great Liang can contribute. It all depends on what Great Qin needs.”

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You should know that in terms of resources, the Qin Dynasty is actually abundant. Although the Qin Dynasty has only been established for over three hundred years, it is not as long-standing as the Liang Dynasty.

But, speaking of accumulated knowledge and depth, I believe that the Great Qin is not inferior to any other nation.

If it's just an exchange of resources, that would disappoint even Liang Huang.

Gu Xuanji spoke softly.

These words sent a jolt through Ran An's heart.

Then I wonder what the First Emperor desires

If Qin were to directly agree to an exchange of resources, even if they asked for a king's ransom, the Great Liang would be able to bear it.

The fear is the fear.

The other party not wanting resources, and thus having other demands, is what's most troublesome.

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On hearing this.

A hint of a smile appeared on Gu Xuanji's face.

"The Great Zhou abandoned their human identity and willingly colluded with demons, how can our great Qin stand idly by"

This time, millions of soldiers are my Great Qin's resolve. Anyone who betrays humanity shall pay the price they deserve.

Now that our Great Qin has made up its mind, yet there is still no news from Liang. I wonder what His Majesty the Emperor of Liang intends to do

Take a deep breath.

Ran An clasped his fists in greeting.

"The First Emperor may not know, but in our great Liang state, demonic evils have been rampant recently. Most of our strength is being used to suppress these demons throughout the land. Though we are willing to cooperate with the Qin state, we simply do not have the spare manpower."

"I see."

Gu Xuanji nodded, with an expression of understanding.

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"As for the difficulties facing the Zhou dynasty, I understand them well. The problem of demonic disturbances is indeed serious. However, since Ran has come to Qin, I believe the situation in Zhou has not reached a point that cannot be resolved."

"What Qin Shi Huang meant is..."

A bad premonition arose in Ran An's heart.

Gu Xuangji said, "The Great Qin and the Great Liang have always been allies, and the Great Liang aided Lu'an Prefecture first. If I were to truly take resources from the Great Liang in exchange for the star chart, it would be excessive."

Why don't you, Ran Zhen, accompany me to the Great Zhou Dynasty It would be a formality.

When I, the great Qin, return in triumph, the stars will naturally align to benefit Da Liang.

Then An was speechless.

It seems the other party was waiting for me here.

As for Gu Xuanji's words, he didn't know how to answer at the moment.

Don't look at how nonchalant Emperor Qin appears, but Ran An knows very well what he means.

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The Great Qin is now gone.

There's more to face than just something as simple as the Zhou dynasty.

The real problem is the demon clan behind the Great Zhou.

He could almost be certain.

Once Gu Xuanji leaves the Qin Dynasty, the demonic tribe will surely ambush him. At that time, the number of powerful figures involved will be completely unpredictable.

Don't underestimate your own strength.

In that situation, one careless mistake could easily lead to disaster.

So.

Though Gu Xuanji's words sounded lighthearted, Ran An knew the danger hidden within them.

If you agree.

Following the army on campaign meant a high chance of dying in the Zhou Dynasty.

But if you disagree, things about the horoscope, I'm afraid they will be over.

And.

Gu Xuanji's way of speaking made it hard for him to even open his mouth to refuse.

For a long time, Ran An’s chest heaved.

He first looked at the person in front of him, then glanced at Dongfang Zhao, and finally shifted his gaze back to Gu Xuanji.

“As for the Great Zhou, the Qin State is well-prepared. Thanks to Emperor Qin's trust, I wouldn't refuse. Let me follow Emperor Qin to visit the Great Zhou!”

In the end, Ran An still didn't refuse.

The star chart is really important for Da Liang.

In open combat, Daliang shows no fear.

What truly frightened Dàliáng was the unpredictable nature of demons and spirits.

The moment the astrological chart is revealed.

> can perfectly solve this problem.

Gu Xuanji's face showed a look of relief: "It comforts me that Ran Zhenzhun is willing to go."

"It seems like everyone's gathered here today."

Then the Eastern Emperor suddenly burst into laughter.

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At this moment, Ran An also turned her head to look in the direction of the person who was driving.

There.

Both of them felt a powerful aura.

This breath was nothing unusual to them.

There is no doubt.

That was a strongman from Dai Viet.

After mastering the power of the Dusk Azure God, Shen Changqing returned to Poshan City.

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Of all the places he had stayed in Southern Ghost Prefecture, it was Broken Mountain City where he spent the most time and thus felt most at ease.

Besides.

>

Tian Kui is still in Pushan City. It's been so long since he was last fed, I'm not sure if he's already starved to death.

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However.

Shen Changqing was just thinking about it.

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Although Tiankui is a ferocious beast, it's not an idiot.

When you're truly hungry, you naturally go out to find food.

And since the opponent was born with intelligence, they wouldn't do such a thing even though they were aware that eating humans was wrong. They would most likely go into the mountains to devour wild beasts or something like that.

Speaking of.

As his strength increased, the ferocious beasts at the peak of the Grandmaster realm became increasingly less useful to him.

Just like the previous battle with Wang Mubai, Shen Changqing did not bring Tian Kui this time.

Then, wait for the battle.

Tian Kui is gone, just cannon fodder.

Now, with the merging of powerful divine abilities, even ten Heavenly Lords might not be able to catch up to its speed.

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That way.

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Tian Kui's only use in the past, is gone.

Just.

That ferocious beast was ultimately one he had cultivated himself. Shen Changqing still didn't abandon his plans for the other party, intending to cultivate it well in the future. He didn't seek its growth to reach great heights, as long as it could stand on its own, that would be enough.

After returning to the ruins of Pokes Mountain.

Shen Changqing stayed there, rarely going out.

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During this period.

He went to the Demon Slayer Prison and the black market, harvesting a wave of demons. After that, his killing points rose from over 2,300 to over 2,500.

The only thing that made Shen Changqing regret was.

Demons exist, but the Demon Prison has never captured a mountain spirit.

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Therefore.

He particularly emphasized that, given the scarcity of demons in Nanyou Prefecture at present, their full efforts should be focused on capturing mountain spirits.

As for the demons.

Yuan Yang Auction House's current influence isn't just within the Qin Dynasty; acquiring anything else wouldn't be a major issue.

>

For more than half a month.

Shen Changqing remained in his residence, recovering his expended energy while silently pondering over his divine abilities and organizing all that he had learned.

Although.

As long as the panel exists, strength can be continuously improved.

But he still needs to spend time sorting it out little by little.

It's for nothing else.

...just to deepen my understanding of myself.

Just in case one day, the panel disappears or becomes unusable, you can also achieve self-improvement on your own.

Even though the possibility was slim, Shen Changqing would not put all his hopes on a single panel.

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Before we didn't have enough conditions, it's fine. Now that we do, we must prepare for the future.

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" will be included in the translated output. King of the Dushan clan, his face was grim."If you want to kill me, then see if you have the ability!"All believers perished.A massive amount of faith power converged on the Eternal Peace God King, c...