"Is this what you thought of just now when we got back to land?"
"Ever since I heard about the Immortal Cultivation Realm, I have decided to ascend the throne as emperor."
"How do you know that we still have a chance to return to Da Zhao... What if we get killed at sea?"
"If you die, you die." Xi Heng answered casually.
"You are quite open-minded." Chen Fenghuo sighed softly.
She really couldn't understand why Xi Heng could adjust his mentality so quickly.
I had just returned to Da Zhao and had already started planning.
Doesn't this person ever fail?
She had been drifting on the sea for half a year and was ready to die, but in the end she returned to Da Zhao, with the thought of giving up in her heart.
But in Xi Heng's heart, it seemed that the word "giving up" had never occurred to him.
Chen Fenghuo had a vague feeling and expressed it: "I think, if there is really someone in this world who can find the fairyland, that person will only be you."
"Hmm?" Xi Heng didn't know why the other party said that.
"In that case, I will be most likely to find the way to immortality if I go with you." She said, "I am willing to help you."
"Thank you." Xi Heng said, "After that, please continue to serve as the Red Sky Goddess and lead the remaining Jingming Sect and Dark Sky Sect."
"Dark Heaven Sect?"
"Please take on the role of the Merciful Saint of the Dark Sky Sect."
……
Chapter 99: The Long Road Ahead
"Please take on the role of the Merciful Saint of the Dark Sky Sect."
Xi Heng grabbed casually, took out a book of Blood Sea Dharma from the air like a magic trick, and pushed it to the other party.
"This Blood Sea Method is the foundation of the Dark Heaven Sect. Once you learn it, you can pretend to be a demon and become the Saint of our sect."
The other party was stunned for a moment, but asked first:
"Where did you take this thing out from? Do you have the legendary magical storage tool used by immortal cultivators?"
"Why are you asking this?" Xi Heng said with a click of his tongue, "I guess so."
"How enviable."
As she spoke, she stretched out her finger and opened the Blood Sea Method on the table.
Seeing what was written above, all of which involved transforming flesh and blood into spiritual energy to use magic, Chen Fenghuo couldn't help but purse his lips.
"It's really a demonic method..."
As a descendant of a more righteous immortal technique, she is indeed somewhat prejudiced against this.
Xi Heng continued to grab a few empty spirit stones from the inventory:
"I have also given you these spirit stones, but the spiritual energy in them is empty. You need to use the Spirit Absorption Method in the Blood Sea Method to refill them with spiritual energy."
Chen Fenghuo found it difficult to accept for a moment.
But after a while, I thought about it and agreed:
"Evil methods can also be used for good, and I do lack spiritual energy... I agree."
"Then, you will be the one in charge of both the Dark Sky Sect and the Pure Bright Sect."
Xi Heng continued:
"I will go to the north to join the army in the future to resist the Yan Meng Kingdom and establish my prestige in the army so that I can seize the throne later... During this period, please develop as quickly as possible and follow me to attack the capital."
Upon hearing that they were going to attack the capital, the other party became somewhat interested and nodded steadily.
Afterwards, Xi Heng called the waiter over, gave him a small piece of silver as a tip and asked him for information.
In this small coastal town, even the most well-informed innkeepers knew little about current affairs in the Great Zhao.
In the end, she only asked a few questions that were widely circulated.
For example, after Fang Tiande's death, the Tianliang Army was divided into three forces, each occupying three sides.
One of the parties was lured by the government and surrendered. They joined forces with the government soldiers and turned to attack their former companions. In just over half a year, they destroyed the other party and recaptured most of the area south of Xiujiang for the court.
Their leader was also given the title of General Guarding the South, and was also called the Court Dog by all the important figures in the martial arts world.
Today, there is only one team of the southern uprising army still holding out along the coast, but since the death of Fang Tiande, they no longer have enough appeal and reputation. They can only continue to hold out in a few large cities that are easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is difficult for them to continue to expand their momentum.
As for the imperial court, the rebels in the south had been defeated, and two of the several large bandit groups in the capital area had been wiped out by the intensively trained Beijing troops, and the domestic situation had temporarily eased.
But soon after, trouble broke out in the outer borders again.
The northern Yanmeng Kingdom settled their dispute over the throne in the spring, and the new king Yan Qingshi ascended the throne as the Great Khan. This man was brave and good at fighting, and had great strategies. He had won several rare victories for the Yanmeng Kingdom when fighting against the northern army of the Great Zhao more than ten years ago. Later, he had his right arm cut off by a general of the Great Zhao, and he always held a grudge against him.
Upon hearing that there were numerous civil unrests in the country and that tens of thousands of soldiers of the Ever-Victorious Army of Zhao stationed in the northern border were heading south to maintain stability, Yan Qingshi immediately reorganized the military and personally led his troops to invade the northern border of the Zhao in early March this year.
It is now the end of March, and the North has already fought several major battles.
The Northern Frontier Army put up a tenacious resistance, and although it did not suffer defeat, it inevitably added some financial and food pressure to the country.
The people worked and farmed every day, but still could not get enough food or warm clothing, and their resentment grew day by day, so small uprisings arose in various places.
In this turbulent time, evil cults are flourishing, but the Mahakala sect, which has taken over the headquarters of the Pure Bright Sect, is thriving. Even on the southernmost coast where Xi Heng is now, there is a branch of the Mahakala sect with many believers.
The Jingming Sect did not disappear either. In order to avoid the Mahakala Sect, which viewed them as enemies, it moved to the southwest to preach.
Other evil sects, big or small, can hardly compare with these two.
In a subtle way, based on their influence alone, the two major sects are already qualified to participate in the world's affairs.
As for the leader of the martial arts world, Dong Huangmei Mountain, it seemed as if it had reached an agreement with the imperial court and had never led troops to revolt and attack the government. At most, some warriors used the name of Huangmei Mountain to cause trouble to local governments.
Today, the biggest cholera risk for the imperial court is still the war in the northern border.
Xi Heng paid silver to the shopkeepers, storytellers, or customers in the shop to hear these news, so they should be somewhat credible.
After the meal, Xi Heng continued to wander around the city. He and Chen Fenghuo bought new clothes and went to a grocery store to buy a map.
While returning to the port and boarding the boat to return to the fleet, Xi Heng proposed the following itinerary:
"You and I can return to Mingzhu City first and issue an order to merge the Dark Heaven Sect and the Pure Bright Sect. You will become the new leader and control both factions."
The Goddess of Chitian, who has been in the sect longer than Xiheng, said:
"We have been away from the land for half a year, and the sect has been developing freely for a long time. If we want to regain control of it, we may need to perform a miracle."
"That requires spiritual energy... but it's not difficult." Xi Heng nodded:
"In troubled times, there are bandits everywhere. You can continue to lead the fleet to sail on the sea, while I will walk on land. I should be able to fill up a few spirit stones on the way. I will wait for you in Mingzhu City first, and then I will naturally have spiritual energy to use."
The Goddess of Scarlet Sky nodded gently: "The fleet still needs to be repaired for a while, and supplies need to be replenished to fill in the gaps. During this period, people can be sent to spread the news in Da Zhao, saying that the Saint of the Dark Sky Sect has returned from the Great Dark Sky, and she will lead believers from all over the world to gather in Mingzhu City for pilgrimage... After this publicity, we can take control of power in the fastest and most stable way."
Xiheng blinked.
When it comes to running cults, the other party is indeed more professional.
If she were to come by herself, she would probably still use killing to establish her authority as she did before.
Now that I have the help of this former cult leader, I don’t have to put in any more effort.
"As you say."
……
The fleet that had completed the voyage had stopped at the beach, and everyone on the fleet had set up tents and lit bonfires around the camp.
These tents have been stored in a deep warehouse for a long time, and some of their surfaces have become moldy and rotten. Now they are finally put to use.
The fleet's cook set up a big pot on the campfire and used both hands to grab a big spoon to stir a pot of thick seafood rice porridge.
Once they reached the coast, they no longer had to save food like they had at sea, and they could finally eat their fill for the day.
Before sunset, Xi Heng returned to the camp and saw a few familiar crew members drinking porridge from wooden bowls.
These crew members seemed to have been tied up tightly in the lower cabin before, and had become as crazy as evil beasts.
A careful glance revealed that many of their wrists and ankles had been tightly tied with thick hemp ropes. Their movements of drinking porridge were trembling, as if they had difficulty controlling their hands and feet.
Just when I was feeling puzzled, the captain, who was no longer sad and melancholy, came over respectfully to report the situation.
Before he opened his mouth, Xi Heng asked, "Are those people over there no longer crazy? How were they cured?"
Previously, she had no idea how to cure these crazy patients on the ship.
How come these people regained their spirits immediately after coming back after going out for a while?
strangeness.
"Your Highness." After the captain came to the land to rest, his attitude became much more positive and he said with a smile:
"After you left, I led people to the cabin where they were imprisoned and shouted and shook. Just by mentioning the words land, Da Zhao, and going home, a few people came back to consciousness... Then I asked the boatman to carry the still crazy people back to land. After a while, they all woke up one by one."
"..."Xi Heng didn't expect it to be so simple.
Perhaps these people went crazy because they saw no hope of returning to land. Now that they are back on land, there is no need to go crazy anymore.
"Well done." She praised him and made a promise: "Since you can follow me across Chonghai, you will definitely be the backbone of the sect. Goddess Chitian and I will not treat you unfairly."
The captain bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, we feel relieved with your words."
"Just take a rest recently. There is a lot of unused silver in the cabin. Give each person ten taels first." Xi Heng waved his hand.
She had originally intended to use the gold and silver she brought aboard when setting sail to exchange for resources or information about immortals if she could really cross the Chonghai Sea and reach the legendary place for cultivating immortals.
Now, in this short moment, it is probably impossible to find a place to cultivate immortality, so it is better to disperse them first and use them as rewards.
Not long after, the sailors carried out boxes of varying sizes from the cabin and placed them in front of the crew who were gathering around the campfire to get food.
Then he started shouting: The Saint Lady has given a reward, a silver ingot for each person.
The box was opened in full view of everyone, and people were asked to line up on the left side of the campfire to receive it, and those who had received it stood on the right side.
When everyone heard this, their eyes lit up and they quickly drank up the porridge in their bowls, gathered in front of the treasure chest, and claimed their own share of gold ingots.
Before joining the Jingming Sect or the Dark Sky Sect, most of them were just sailors and porters busy working in the port. They had only touched some broken silver and silver cakes, and had only heard of silver ingots but had never actually seen them, let alone held them in their hands.
Moreover, the gold ingots in the boxes on the ship were all official goods. They were clear and complete in appearance, with neatly printed words on them, stating the year and month when they were produced and where they were produced. Most of them were exquisite in appearance.
After receiving them, the crew members kept grasping the ingots like playing with walnuts, looking at them curiously and comparing them with others. For a moment, their already positive emotions of returning to land became even more excited.
The dead silence that once filled the boat was swept away, and everyone gathered around the bonfire, with an atmosphere that felt like Chinese New Year.
When the sun gradually sank into the sea, Xi Heng stepped forward and arranged the next tasks for the crew.
The members of the Dark Sky Sect who came with her on the sea were dispersed and went to various places to spread the news that the Holy Maiden of Mercy would soon return to Pearl City.
The boatmen and sailors continued to repair the damaged ship, and once it was repaired, they set sail back by sea.
After giving a few simple orders, Xi Heng handed the fleet over to Chen Fenghuo in front of everyone, saying that he had a mission as the Great Dark Mother of Heaven and needed to leave temporarily.
"I'll leave the affairs of the sect to you." She shook hands with Chen Fenghuo.
After the transfer of power, Xi Heng, who had saved the fleet many times at sea, walked slowly away under the dark sky while stepping on the water with his lightness skills amid the respectful gazes of everyone.
The Goddess of Red Sky in a white robe stood on the coastline, looking at Xi Heng's back from afar, with a hint of reluctance in her lingering gaze.
"See you later." Chen Fenghuo whispered.
During this voyage, for some reason, she developed a different feeling towards Xi Heng that was more than just an ordinary friend or companion.
She couldn't figure out what this was, maybe it was longing, envy, or...
"In the face of danger, frustration and disappointment, they will stand up again without hesitation and continue to strive for their goals... Why can there be such people in this world?"
"Is it really because Xi Heng is a demon? But she once said that she is not a demon, is it true or false?" The Goddess Chi Tian couldn't figure it out.
……
Three days later, Xi Heng left the area of Qiongya and Cangcheng, riding sideways on a tall brown-red horse, wearing a bamboo hat commonly seen on martial arts heroes, and carrying a rough long sword on his back, walking on the official road.
"There are many more bandits here than in the inland area of Xiujiang..."
I don't know if it's because the government lacks control over the Qiongya and Qiongzhou areas, or because this place is close to the last group of Tianliang rebels, but on this wet and muddy road that's difficult to walk on, Xi Heng can see traces of horse bandits every few miles.
