A magnificent flying boat cut across the sky and touched down beside a city on the border of Zhao.
The flying boat was deep cyan in color. Though the insignia along its hull was veiled, deep cyan was the imperial color of Great Tang. Looking closely at the vessel's build and the dragon patterning carved into its prow, anyone with half an eye could tell it belonged to the imperial house of Great Tang.
Dozens of people disembarked, crowding around a young nobleman in luxurious attire. Though dressed in commoner-style garb, the fabric itself was extraordinarily opulent. He was none other than Zhou Houli, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments of Great Tang, who had departed the capital on secret imperial orders.
He surveyed his surroundings and smiled faintly. "This time I left the capital by imperial decree and kept a low profile throughout the journey. All has gone smoothly, at least. We shall leave the boat here, mount carriages, and proceed overland to Qingming!"
Beside him, an attendant immediately chimed in, "Lord Zhou travels in plain clothes so discreetly that neither god nor ghost could notice! Your humble subordinate is truly awestruck!"
The young nobleman laughed aloud and stepped into the prearranged carriage. The convoy parted the welcoming crowd of local officials and rolled onward toward Qingming. The city garrison commander led the officials lining both sides to see them off, keeping their waists deeply bowed until the convoy was far in the distance before daring to straighten up.
Within a few days, the convoy reached the border of Qingming, only to be stopped at a checkpoint.
Inside the carriage, the young nobleman opened his eyes slightly and asked, "Why have we stopped?"
An escort officer reported, "Milord, there is a border checkpoint ahead. The guards demand that we show identification and subject the convoy to a thorough inspection."
The nobleman immediately frowned in displeasure. "Did you not tell them we are secret envoys of Great Tang? Just a few lowly foot soldiers! If they delay matters of state, do they have enough heads on their shoulders to lose?"
The officer took his orders and hurried back to the front. Moments later, however, a sudden clamor broke out ahead. Disturbed from his leisure, the nobleman grew all the more annoyed. Poking his head out, he snapped, "What is going on? Why haven't we moved?!"
The officer rushed back, his face flush with rage. "Your humble officer merely reasoned with them a bit, but that insolent punk guarding the gate—a mere Dao Foundation cultivator—actually wants to detain our convoy! He demands that everyone dismount and submit to detention, and then... and then..."
"And what else?!"
"He wants us to shut down all the convoy's formations and conduct a thorough search of every vehicle! Milord, that rear carriage... it cannot be inspected!"
The nobleman snapped irritably, "Of course I know that! Hmph, a pack of dogs acting tough on borrowed authority! Intolerable!"
Within the convoy was a dedicated carriage carrying playthings for Zhou Houli's amusement. Several of these 'playthings' had been freshly 'picked up' along the way; naturally, they could not be seen by outsiders, lest his reputation be ruined.
At the checkpoint ahead, seeing that the convoy's guards refused to cooperate, the border officer's expression darkened. He barked, "You refuse inspection and utter arrogant insults against the garrison forces. In accordance with Article Ninety, Clause Eleven of the Qingming Border Code, all personnel are hereby detained pending further processing! Men, seize their weapons!"
Several Qingming guards stepped forward, preparing to disarm them.
However, the convoy's escorts were in fact Imperial Guards of Great Tang, accustomed to throwing their weight around wherever they went. How could they stomach such humiliation? A commander immediately drew his saber, pointed it right at the Qingming soldier's nose, and roared, "A bunch of country bumpkins! Look at what you are and what little cultivation you have—how dare you touch my blade? Take another step forward and see if I don't slaughter you useless trash!"
With that, the guards released their auras one after another; remarkably, several were in the late Dao Foundation realm. By contrast, the checkpoint commander of Qingming was merely a Dao Foundation template cultivator, their realms worlds apart.
Yet the commander showed no panic. With a wave of his hand, the soldiers on the watchtowers to both sides chambered rounds, aiming their autocannons squarely at the convoy. At the same time, an orb of light formed in the commander's palm as he transmitted a report of the situation through the Splendor of the Many Realms.
High cultivators naturally lurked within the convoy, and Zhou Houli himself was at the dharma idol realm. The moment the autocannons locked on, he sensed the danger, and his face instantly darkened. Right at that moment, an oddly shaped flying boat arrived from afar, sailing straight into Qingming and disappearing into the distance without facing the slightest hindrance. Where it hailed from was anyone's guess, but it certainly lacked Qingming livery.
The young nobleman's expression turned even darker. He sneered, "Splendid! So much for strict border defenses—they're singling me out! Level this checkpoint for me!"
The clash ignited in an instant. Qingming soldiers surged forward to make arrests, but the Imperial Guard commanders, long used to acting with impunity and possessing Dao Foundation cultivation, lashed out with their palms. Amid a flurry of dull thuds, the Qingming soldiers were sent flying backward, spitting blood.
The checkpoint commander took fright. Leaping forward, he caught one of his fallen men, only to find the soldier's breastplate deeply caved in—he clearly would not survive.
Overcome with grief and fury, the commander was about to order a counterattack when a cluster of blinding light struck him in a flash, caving in half his helmet.
Hovering above the convoy stood a dignified elder. With a single strike, he brought down all the soldiers at the checkpoint, after which the Dao Foundation commanders moved in unison to demolish the post, leveling it to the ground.
The elder glanced at the officer but said nothing. Just now, the officer had settled a personal grudge under cover of duty, killing the checkpoint commander with a Dao art. But he was merely a minor border officer; killing him was no great matter, at worst requiring a bit of silver in compensation.
Surveying the flattened checkpoint, Young Master Zhou remained unsatisfied. "Once I see Wei Yuan, I'll have to ask him how he trains his troops—they have no sense of decorum whatsoever! This matter isn't over. I'll make sure he dismisses the general commanding this sector! Otherwise, he can forget about receiving imperial favor!"
Meanwhile, the oddly shaped flying boat had encountered no obstacles along the way and had already arrived at the immortal city.
Tianyu stepped out from within the flying boat, stretched his limbs, and cursed, "Damn it all! For such a short trip, the grand array swept over me more than forty times. Tired me to death having to release my aura constantly."
Beside him, a Nether Shaman quickly piped up, "It's all thanks to Lord Tianyu's great standing! Your aura is registered in the Great Array of the Heavenly Constellations, so as long as you reveal it, the array opens immediately. But... what would happen if one tried to force their way through?"
Tianyu chuckled. "If you force your way through, the first wave of attacks comes from the array. Not particularly strong—each strike is merely equivalent to the peak of the dharma idol realm. Right after that comes domain attacks, which aren't much either, just at the Scenery Command level. The only slight bother is that the array strikes thrice per breath, the domain strikes once per breath, and every hit carries karmic luck."
The Nether Shaman was instantly shocked. "It carries karmic luck too?"
Tianyu nodded. "We Strength Shamans have it a bit easier, but you Nether Shamans fear this the most. You probably wouldn't survive ten strikes."
The Nether Shaman gave a bitter smile. "This old man is already at the end of his lifespan. How could I endure ten strikes? I'd thank the heavens if I survived three."
Tianyu laughed heartily. "Don't talk so dispiritedly! You'll be of great use this time! In short, do a good job following me. Lifespan? Isn't that just a matter of eating a few extra bites?"
Though the Nether Shaman possessed higher cultivation than Tianyu, he still smiled obsequiously and flattered, "Won't that still depend on Lord Tianyu's patronage?"
Tianyu laughed. "Easy enough! Let's go. The Realm Lord is already waiting for us."
Led by Qingming cultivators, Tianyu and the Nether Shaman were brought to the guest hall. Moments later, Wei Yuan walked out from the rear hall and took the head seat.
After ordering tea served, Wei Yuan glanced at the Nether Shaman and asked, "Why the sudden visit? Has something happened?"
Tianyu said, "The sacrificial offerings are all ready, and that's only the first batch; subsequent batches are already reserved. But an extremely important issue suddenly occurred to me, so I came to see you."
Tianyu spoke this entire passage in the human tongue, his pronunciation crisp and formal, carrying the distinct cadence of a court minister delivering a solemn memorial.
Wei Yuan smiled. "Oh? As it happens, I have matters to discuss with you as well. Go on, speak first."
Tianyu said solemnly, "It goes like this: as you instructed, I purchased 1.2 million sacrificial slaves. But what you need is neither sacrificial power nor karmic luck—it is flesh, blood, and vital essence. That raises a question: who is going to slaughter them?
"I have completed the transaction; they belong to you now. If you were one of those decadent, tyrannical rulers recorded in history, you naturally wouldn't hesitate. But you are different. It is not suitable for you to strike. You are debauched with principles."
Hearing this delivered in crisp, impeccably articulated human speech, Wei Yuan nearly spat out his mouthful of tea. What in the world did "debauched with principles" mean? Of course he had principles, but where was he debauched?
Besides, you, Tianyu, are hiding a pretty little shaman under your robes right this moment, yet you dare call someone else debauched?
Tianyu did not think there was anything wrong with his human phrasing, but this was indeed something Wei Yuan had been contemplating recently. On the battlefield, Wei Yuan never shied away from slaughter; back then, a single wave of karmic fire had incinerated eight hundred thousand shamans. But that had been in war. These slaves were now bound and helpless; executing them like this would be outright butchery.
Wei Yuan did not mind battlefield casualties, but he could not accept butchery. It was only after purchasing vast numbers of non-human slaves that he had realized the dilemma.
Tianyu then said, "But don't worry, I've already figured it out for you!"
Tianyu had a solution? Wei Yuan perked up.
Tianyu pointed to the Nether Shaman beside him and said, "This is Nether Shaman Xue Hai, who now works under me. He can slaughter all these slaves on our behalf and process them into flesh, blood, and vital essence. His craftsmanship is exceptional. That way, you won't bear the burden, and karmic debt won't find its way to you. This is what you call... what you call... borrowing a knife to kill!"
Chapter 1345