Chapter 463 – The Son of Heaven’s Aura Observation, the Battle Begins (1/2)
Ye Liusu and the others were all confused. They were on the brink of battle, so how could he not participate as the force they relied on the most?
“I’ve agreed to a battle with Fu Qingjin. We’re fighting on the fifth of the fifth month. Before this, I won’t partake in any battles in order to condition myself. Fu Qingjin will do the same. You’ll have to rely on yourselves for this battle. The spoils you receive will obviously all go to you.”
Only then did everyone understand the reason. They were filled with both joy and worry as they became uncertain as for how to react.
Large-scale, open conflict was different from ambushes and assassinations. Facing human cultivators in a direct confrontation obviously came with extremely great risk. However, the benefits they would receive from each human cultivator they killed was just as tempting.
After telling them that, Li Qingshan turned his back on the night roamers and returned to his dwelling, only to see Milliped curled up on the stone bed. Winter had clearly passed already, yet this guy was still hibernating. He was having the time of his life by sleeping every day.
Li Qingshan’s tense mind eased up. He smiled. “Even if you cultivate for another few centuries, it won’t make a difference if you continue like this. No wonder you’re so simple.” He patted Milliped’s tough carapace on his head as he thought to himself, I have to find a suitable daemon core for you this time.
Before long, Ye Liusu and Ye Liubo arrived together. Li Qingshan asked, “You’re done discussing?”
“Yes. We’re still going to focus on attacking spiritual stone mines. Killing regular people and becoming enemies with the Great Xia empire brings no benefit at all.”
“As long as you understand that.” Li Qingshan smiled. He did not want to run into his subordinates on the battlefield either.
“However, I’m just afraid they won’t submit to me.” A sliver of worry appeared on Ye Liusu’s delicate face. She paled in comparison to them when it came to both strength and seniority. If he were present, then even the matriarchs would not act up, but if he were not there, it would be difficult to say.
“That’ll be up to you then.”
Li Qingshan was indifferent. The only people he was somewhat attached to among the night roamers were the two standing right before him, or more accurately, it was just Ye Liubo alone.
Ye Liusu was a very impressive subordinate, but her loyalty to him would never surpass her loyalty to her ideals. As a matter of fact, Li Qingshan even suspected her to be Fu Qingjin’s informer.
If Ye Liusu died, Li Qingshan would feel pity and a little sadness, but he would not be too sorrowful. He would just be losing a capable subordinate. However, Ye Liubo was different.
“Liubo, if you don’t want to go, you can just stay back!” Li Qingshan looked at Ye Liubo, and his gaze became much softer.
Both Ye Liubo’s strength and brains were nowhere close to her elder sister’s, but her loyalty towards him was unmatched. She had even tried sacrificing herself for him in the past. As a result, he spoilt her very much. Even if he would be questioned, he would still want her to remain somewhere safe.
“Thank you, master, but I want to lend my elder sister a hand.” Ye Liubo was extremely touched, but after a moment of hesitation, that was still what she decided on.
“As you wish, but do be careful. Take these talismans to protect yourself. They aren’t for fighting, so don’t use them without good reason.” Li Qingshan took out a few scarlet talismans and handed them to Ye Liubo.
“Master,” Ye Liubo murmured before directly throwing herself into Li Qingshan’s arms.
“Liusu, take good care of her.” Li Qingshan patted Ye Liubo’s plump bottom.
“I will.” Ye Liusu replied. She actually felt slightly envious of this affection he showed, and she even felt a hint of jealousy that she refused to admit.
With the Spider Queen’s order, the cold, desolate underground seemed to become the churning lava. It gradually began to rise up and surge.
Under Bloodshadow and Dragonsnail’s lead, basically every daemon joined in on this operation. They were prepared for a massacre above ground.
At the same time, in Clear River city.
The moon demon had paid a visit, but the meeting still came to a proper end.
The first order they issued together was not directed towards daemons. Instead, it was directed to the handful of clans and sects that had not even joined the alliance. Some of these Foundation Establishment cultivators had constantly been maneuvering around between the two sides, remaining uninvolved with the entire matter.
“These orders cannot be disobeyed. You have one day to report to the prefectural city, or your sects and clans will be destroyed! The world will no longer tolerate your existence!”
The machines of war assembled by all the cultivators in the Clear River prefecture sprang alive, ready to enter battle.
Liu Zhangqing returned to his government office. He washed up and changed his clothes, changing out of the confucian robes he often wore into his robes as an official that he rarely wore. He took out his official’s seal bestowed to him by the empire.
On a large square in front of the office, the mohist disciples busied about, taking out various machines and constructing a tower as quickly as possible.
When Liu Zhangqing emerged from his office, the tower had already reached over three hundred meters tall, plunging into the clouds. Raising his head and looking up, it seemed to tilt, as if it could collapse at any time.
He took in a deep breath and made his way towards the tower. Step by step, he climbed to the platform on the very top. The entire prefectural city sat below his feet as a group of birds flew past him.
Liu Zhangqing cast his gaze to a place even further away. The Divine Talisman of Great Virtue within him suddenly shone with resplendent light. He seemed to become a burning torch as his eyes suddenly erupted with light.
The landscape vanished, turning into blurry mist. The city below his feet vanished, turning into wisp-like smoke and rising straight up into the air like a beacon.