Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Traces of Immortals

Zheng Yi thought for a moment and spoke directly, “Xu Qing, several months ago Yang Xuansu rebelled and once invited an immortal cultivator named Fire Spirit. This person…”

“Your Majesty!”

Xu Mujun said, “This person was repelled by the military formations along with me. He has suffered great losses and will not dare to enter our Great Yu Dynasty for a while.”

“My point is, does our Great Yu Dynasty have any immortal cultivators?” Zheng Yi asked, “If so, we can fully incorporate them into the Imperial Court for our use, the Sacrificial Institute…”

“None.”

Xu Mujun shook his head and said, “In the Great Yu, there cannot be cultivators.”

Zheng Yi asked in surprise, “Why?”

Xu Mujun’s expression was peculiar as he softly said, “Because the continent where our Great Yu is located is a Spiritless Land, devoid of any spiritual qi. Cultivators cannot stay here for long.”

Zheng Yi’s heart moved, Spiritless Land?

“Then where are there cultivators?”

“I do not know either.”

Xu Mujun said, “Your Majesty, the matter of immortal cultivation is elusive, and in all my years, I’ve only seen the Fire Spirit.”

“It is rumored that a millennium ago, drastic changes occurred in heaven and earth, causing the retreat of the most important spiritual qi for cultivation, leading to the fall of countless cultivators.”

“Even if there are any now, they mostly hide in secret places barely surviving, so why bother seeking them, Your Majesty?”

“Moreover, Your Majesty.”

Xu Mujun said sternly, “The rule of the Great Yu Country states, no descendant of the Zheng Family in Great Yu is allowed to cultivate immortality!”

“I hope Your Majesty will strictly adhere to the edicts of the ancestors of Great Yu!”

Seeing Xu Mujun’s earnest face, Zheng Yi knew he could not get any more information from him and could only respond perfunctorily, “I understand, Xu Qing, rest assured.”

“My concern is that the Fire Spirit was heavily injured by Xu Qing and retreated but did not die.”

“Before he left, he said he would return for revenge. What if we cannot resist when he returns?”

“That is why I was thinking of recruiting other cultivators to defend against the Fire Spirit!”

Xu Mujun said, “Your Majesty, rest assured, the Fire Spirit was severely injured by me and cannot recover in a short time.”

“In my estimation, he will need at least three to five years to heal.”

“Three to five years…” Zheng Yi frowned, “And after three to five years?”

“After three to five years?”

Xu Mujun coldly said, “Then I will continue to muster the troops and surround him for the kill!”

“Your Majesty, to my knowledge, competition among cultivators is brutal, with frequent occurrences of ambushes and betrayals.”

“The Fire Spirit was enticed by Yang Xuansu to participate in the rebellion and was then heavily injured by me. News of this is bound to leak.”

“There are many who covet the opportunity and texts for cultivation; perhaps he has already perished at the hands of others!”

Zheng Yi frowned, disliking the feeling of having his fate in the hands of others.

Maybe?

Or perhaps?

Too vague.

What he wanted was to resolve the matter once and for all, to eliminate the root of the problem!

Yet at this moment, he could only say as Xu Mujun suggested, “What Xu Qing said is very true, I understand.”

“So, I take my leave now.”

As Xu Mujun took his leave, Zheng Yi murmured to himself, “Spiritless Land? I’ve only seen the Fire Spirit, so what?”

“No one should think of disturbing my cultivation!”

“And as for the Fire Spirit’s threat, three to five years, I must come up with a complete solution!”

“Quick, call for Consort Shuu!”

Shortly after, Consort Shuu Yang Huan entered with two little girls.

One was just over two years old, wearing specially made clothing, with two ponytails, exquisitely adorable.

She was clutching the corner of her clothes, curiously looking around.

Two months of imprisonment meant little memory of it for her.

The other was merely an infant, sleeping in Yang Huan’s arms.

Yang Huan had obviously cried, her eyes red, looking very pitiful.

“Your Majesty…”

Yang Huan gracefully knelt to the ground, the little girl nearby obediently kneeling beside her.

“Sigh…”

He let out a long sigh, if it were possible, he didn’t want to have to execute so many people.

Especially when there were children.

Yet, the law of the land is merciless.

The power of the throne, even more so.

Since Yang Xuansu dared to rebel, he must bear the consequences of failure.

“Rise.”

“Yes.”

Yang Huan pulled the little girl up and said, “Your Majesty, these two are my younger sisters; the one two years and a month old is called Yang Xueqing, the nine-month-old is called Yang Xuening.”

“Both were born to… my concubine mother.”

Born to a concubine?

So they are not legitimate daughters.

“You are very clever.”

“Rise, you are with child, do not kneel for long, take a seat.”

Zheng Yi gestured and summoned the palace maid to take the two little girls away.

“Now, speak of what I wish to know.”

“Yes.”

Yang Huan sat in a chair and said, “Your Majesty, indeed I have received a lot of intelligence about immortal cultivators from my father.”

Zheng Yi concisely said, “Speak.”

“That Fire Spirit, is the Vice Tower Master of Mayfly Tower.”

“His cultivation seems to be at the ninth-layer Qi cultivation.”

Yang Huan said, “The main altar of Mayfly Tower is located within Yur Country, southwest of our Great Yu, a full ten thousand miles away.”

“He too contacted the main altar of Mayfly Tower through its subsidiary altar in our Great Yu, expending significant effort just to invite that Fire Spirit.”

“Is there any way to contact Mayfly Tower?”

“Yes. But Father said, Mayfly Tower seems very unwilling to cooperate with the Imperial Court.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

“I’ve heard from Father that it seems the Imperial Courts of a dozen or so surrounding countries have offended Mayfly Tower. The specific circumstances, I do not know.”

“Are there any cultivation techniques?”

“No.”

“Any news about other cultivators?”

“No.”

“Do you know of any places within our Great Yu where there might be the appearance of cultivators or places where cultivators gather?”

“This…”

Yang Huan thought for a moment and said, “Father mentioned that during the late emperor’s campaign in Nanyue, the Nanyue mountain people allegedly drove poisonous insects and fog to attack the army, suspected to be the work of cultivators.”

“I see, once again it’s Nanyue County.”

Zheng Yi said, “Is there anything else?”

“Yes.”

“Explain in detail.”

“According to Father, aside from Nanyue County, there are rumors of cultivators overseas. But overseas is really too far away…”

Several hours later, Yang Huan left with two little girls.

From now on, the entire Yang Family relied on just the three of them.

Yet Zheng Yi silently watched Yang Huan’s departing figure, speechless.

From Yang Xuansu, no definitive news about the Cultivation Realm was obtained.

But without a doubt, three directions were pointed out.

First, Mayfly Tower.

That is the place where Fire Spirit hails from, far away in the Yur Country.

The Yur Country is an island nation, with thousands of varying sized islands within its borders.

Finding the main altar of Mayfly Tower in Yur Country is like searching for a needle in a haystack.

However, this is a possible avenue.

With tension with the Imperial Court, unwilling to serve the Court? Well, simple, I will send other people to approach.

Second, Nanyue County.

This place is newly subdued by the Great Yu Court, for gaining control of this place, Great Yu Court had over a hundred thousand soldiers perish in battle.

During the fierce battle, the Nanyue people of Nanyue County drove poisonous insects and fog to harm people, causing considerable trouble for the army.

Even now, a part of the Dragon-soaring Army is stationed in Nanyue County.

“Nanyue County is also possible, send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate first.”

“Right, I have the ’Dongyun Spirit Insect Blood Sacrifice Technique,’ need to find spirit insects for blood sacrifice. Gu insects… should also be considered spirit insects.”

Zheng Yi thought, “Could have the officials of Nanyue County, and the local noble families offer up excellent Gu insects, attempting to cultivate them.”

“For myself, I should obediently remain in the Imperial Palace.”

And third, overseas.

Thinking of this, Zheng Yi slowly shook his head.

The extent of overseas is vast, who knows how big this world is?

Moreover, Great Yu Court has maritime prohibitions, there are few large ships journeying afar.

Want to explore overseas, need to construct large ships, constantly dispatching Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate over the seas.

“Overseas, overseas… besides ships, need also… cannons!”

“Cannons…!”

Zheng Yi’s eyes suddenly brightened, “If I have cannons, could fire make a difference? Didn’t I learn in middle school?”

“Saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal?”

“Need to find people to research…”

“If there are a large number of cannons or explosives, perhaps they can also be a significant magical treasure to resist the Fire Spirit!”

“After all, even Xu Mujun could severely injure Fire Spirit with the aid of the army formation, then large-scale, high-power explosives can also achieve the same!”

“Three ways… no, there’s a fourth way!”

Zheng Yi suddenly said, “Neither Xu Mujun nor Yang Xuansu can absolutely guarantee the non-existence of cultivators within the Great Yu Court or other countries.”

“As long as I issue a call for talents, exhaust the wealth of the Great Yu to search, or unify the entire continent, I refuse to believe I can’t find traces of cultivators!”

“Both Dongyun Feng and Yang Xuansu have mentioned other countries, other imperial courts.”

“Great Yu Court has Dongyun Feng’s ancestral magical artifact, other countries’ imperial families inevitably have similar things.”

“As long as they exist, there will surely be traces left behind!”

“This… is my opportunity.”

“Even if it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack, I will fish them all out!!!”

“Liu Cheng’en!”

“Your servant is here.”

“Follow me to the underground palace.”

“Yes!”

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