Chapter 118: Migrating Southward
Yuan Zhuang had been in the southern region, aiding Jue Panshi in cleansing the sects in the South Immortal Province. However, the tension arising from the massacre of the Heavensword Mountain Vi hadnt fully calmed down yet.
Jue Panshi had announced that the culprit behind the massacre had been killed, but the sects maintain a skeptical attitude regarding the matter.
To make things worse, the Valiant Defenders suddenly began purging the smaller sects, raiding their den, arresting their disciples, killing their elders, and exiling the others. This caused a huge stir in the pugilistic world.
This prompted one of the southern regions Four Great Sects, Greatsword Gate, to step forward and rally the other sects together to demand an exnation from the Profound Saber Sect.
As a result, the Profound Saber Sect had been encircled, and Jue Panshi and his subordinates were trapped inside. Yuan Zhuang was able to slip out, and he immediately rushed to the capital to inform Fang Chen of the matter.
What about Carefree Pce? Fang Chen asked.
Carefree Pce was one of the Four Great Sects, but they were an elusive group as their disciples appeared in public. Little was known about them.
They havent made an appearance yet, Yuan Zhuang said with a suppressed voice.
What are the other Valiant Defenders and local magistrates doing? One of the imperial courts officials is trapped in the Profound Saber Sect, but no one is stepping up? Fang Chen asked.
Yes, all of them are lying low, Yuan Zhuang replied with a frown. They appear to have implicitly permitted Greatsword Gates doing. I suspect that the southern regions politics might be even moreplicated than we expected.
I thought they would keep it down for now, but they jumped out faster than I anticipated. The minor sects we are dealing with must have infringed on their interests, prompting them to make a move, Fang Chen sneered. The southern region iscking in resources, and strong-arming is amon practice there. Its inevitable that officials dispatched there would have ties with the local sects. It looks like that ce has be rotten to the core.
Young master, you knew this might happen? Yuan Zhuang was startled
Fang Chen turned to Xu Ge and said, It has been a while since our Fang Manor went on a trip. Tell the Old Master and everyone else that well be heading to the southern region.
Xu Ge was taken aback. <em>The entire manor? Does the young master n on migrating out of the capital?</em>
Young master, we arent leaving some servants around to maintain the manor? Xu Ge asked.
Its fine. You can call <em>them</em> over to help out, Fang Chen instructed.
Xu Ges eyes narrowed as he caught Fang Chens drift. Thetter was nning to disguise the Great Xia Shadow Guards as the Fang Manors servants and maids.
On the other hand, Li Daoye saw Fang Chens actions as preparation against the Blood Spirit Cults Foundation Establishment cultivator. Thetter was nning to first evacuate the Fang Manor from the capital lest they be taken as hostage.
Young master Fang, this is for the best. Li Daoye nodded with a smile.
Youll be staying in the Fang Manor, Fang Chen replied.
What?! Li Daoye was startled.
Four hourster, the Fang Army marched out of the capital as an army. Those living in the capital were taken aback by the sight, and they couldnt help but specte what was going on.
The Fang n had let out word that they were going on a trip, but it was unthinkable that all of them would travel together. The nobles of the capital naturally reserved their doubts regarding the matter. However, they had no right to question the Fang n, and they dared not do so.
Lad, the problems scourging the southern region were umted over a long period of time. I couldnt find a solution for it back then. What are your ns? Are you going to cleanse them in a single sweep? Fang Zhentian asked.
Many soldiers in the capital were born in the southern region, and some of them were even disciples in the Four Great Sects in their younger years. Thisplicated web of rtionships made the southern region hard to deal with.
Often, the capital would issue an order, only for it to take another meaning once it reached the southern region. However, there was nothing the capital could do about it. If they sent soldiers to suppress the southern region, they would risk a civil war.
The bacsh would be severe.
To put it inly, the capitals influence over the southern region paled inparison to the Four Great Sects. Officials who wanted to change the southern region often died in mysterious ways, their murderers never found. There was no way to find the culprits, as they could be anyone in the pugilistic world!
Fang Zhentian had wanted to rein in the southern region in his younger years, but he had no choice but to give up due to the pressure from the imperial court and the southern region.
The problem of the southern region lies with those sects. They have the advantage in their turf, so they dont fear even Ki Manifestation martial artists, Fang Chen replied. But the enemy they are up against now isnt just a Ki Manifestation martial artist. The best way to curb chaos is to move decisively, so that they dont have any chance to react.
Many people in the military have intimate ties with the southern region. There will be chaos in the military if you touch the southern region. But again you just defeated Chillwater and raised Great Xia to a grade-8 state. With the prestige you have rued, those people will have to think twice before making a move, Fang Zhentian replied contemtively.
He added, Those people are still in shock over what happened, so this is the ideal opportunity to make a move. If we give them some time to recover, their fear will lessen. Some of them are obstinate fools. They might choose to rather go down than to surrender to us.
Fang Chen nodded with a smile. I have another thought in mind too. The chilled spirit spring water I brought back a few days agoes from the southern region. Most sects in the world of cultivation have a spirit mountain or a spirit spring as their foundation. We might not be able to move the spirit spring to us, but we can head there ourselves to build a manor there.
He didnt know when the Blood Spirit Cultists would get to the capital. On the one hand, he wanted to evacuate the Fang n elsewhere lest they be caught in the crossfire. At the same time, this spirit spring could be the foundation for the Fang n to thrive as cultivators.
The Fang n didnt have any officials anymore, so there was no reason for them to remain fixated on the capital either.
Oh? Fang Zhentians eyes lit up.
Ever since he became a cultivator, he had be certain that this was the path they had to take for the Fang n tost through the generations. If Fang nsmen could consume the spirit spring water everyday, that should at least squeeze out some cultivation talent in them.
Besides, cultivators also needed resources to cultivate. While a spirit spring might not be as effectivepared to ki stones, it had the superiority in terms of quantity!
Zhixue is starting to sense spirit ki. It wont be long before she forges her first immortal vein and bes a cultivator. Once that happens, the burden on your shoulders will be lessened. Youll eventually be able to freely explore therger world out there, Fang Zhentian said.
Thats good news. Fang Chen nodded with a smile.
Fang Zhixue hadnt been hanging out with the other martial artists in recent days. She spent most of her time trying toprehend the Purple Aura Form. Clearly, the path of immortality held greater allure to her than martial cultivation.
Fang Canghai and Fang Cangyou had also made some progress. Their talent was mediocre, but it should be enough for them to reach third stage or fourth stage Ki Refinement.
Immortal cultivation was not an easy feat. Fang Chen dared not dream that the Fang n could be a huge cultivation n, but it shouldnt be difficult for them to nurture tens of cultivators.