Embers of Sword

Chapter 732 Infighting
"Leave the country!"

"The final destination of this demonic tide... will most likely be 'Li Kingdom'!"

Xie Xuanyi stared at the vast map laid out with gold threads, his suspicions beginning to materialize. During this period, Da Chu had been engaged in a bitter war with the Demon Kingdom, experiencing 131 waves of demonic attacks. In contrast, the borders of Li Kingdom seemed much more "peaceful." Chen Chong, one of the newly appointed Ten Heroes, personally guarded the northern front, with the iron cavalry under his command from Yuanzhou, Wuzhou, Yuzhou, and Chongzhou ready to be deployed at any time. In the past six months, they had repeatedly achieved great merit.

Judging from the situation alone, it can be described as very promising.

But in fact.

The "Zili" forces deployed by the Li Kingdom on the border were far inferior to those of Da Chu.

“That’s right, it should be ‘Leaving the Country’…”

Chen Jingxuan held a wisp of golden light in his hands and slowly moved it across the map of Li Kingdom.

He murmured, “Da Chu occupies the north, which is easy to attack but difficult to defend. Therefore, it was forced to build the Great Wall to resist the demon kingdom for a long time. In contrast, the terrain of Li Kingdom is much more favorable. The northern border ‘Chongzhou’ only has a thousand-mile gap, which is difficult for the demon kingdom’s tide to break through. Even if only one or two Yang Gods are left to guard it, it is enough to give people a headache.”

This is why the Great Venerable Mo Zhen chose to travel south from Jiayong Pass back then.

Chongzhou, far from the capital, is extremely difficult to conquer.

"Currently, Chongzhou is garrisoned by Chen Chong..."

Xie Xuanyi crossed his arms and suddenly laughed, "This guy clearly commands the iron cavalry of four states, yet he's been given the title of 'Lord of Three States'..."

Chen Jingxuan chuckled softly.

Upon closer examination, this matter does indeed have some interesting aspects.

The young imperial advisor stroked the golden thread with his fingertips, sweeping across the three prefectures and counties.

“Yuanzhou, Wuzhou, Yuzhou…”

Several years ago, Chen Chong was granted the title of Grand Pillar of State and the title of Commander of the Iron Cavalry of the Three Prefectures, and received these three barren prefectures in the northern part of the western part of the Li Kingdom as a reward. This seemed like a great reward, but in fact, for the Li royal family, these three prefectures were barren and suffered from famine year after year, making them a real burden.

Such a generous reward.

The royal family of the departed kingdom, however, insisted on retaining "Chongzhou"—

the reason is simple.

Chen Chong had been fighting in the northern border for many years and had long been popular in Chongzhou.

Therefore... Yuanzhou, Wuzhou, and Yuzhou are worthy of reward!
But Chongzhou is something that cannot be given to Chen Chong under any circumstances!
"In the northern border of Chongzhou, a new cavalry general named Han Li was parachuted in half a year ago."

Chen Jingxuan lowered his eyes and said, "At that time, before the demon tide broke out, there were already rumors that 'Han Li' and 'Chen Chong' were not on good terms, and there was a hidden conflict between them..."

Now, with the demonic tide heading south, Chen Chong has returned to Chongzhou once again to fight his way north.

This conflict will only grow, not be resolved.

"Those guys from the foreign country really haven't changed at all."

Xie Xuanyi couldn't help but sneer.

"how?"

Chen Jingxuan raised an eyebrow.

"During those five years of my spiritual journey, I spent most of my time traveling abroad."

Xie Xuanyi calmly said, "I know Han Li. He is a servant under the Crown Prince... If it weren't for this sudden 'demon tide,' Han Li would have been appointed as the leader of the Chongzhou Iron Cavalry in two years."

"Checks and balances?"

Chen Jingxuan had already understood Xie Xuanyi's meaning.

Chen Chong is under the Crown Prince's command, and Han Li... is also under the Crown Prince's command!
Logically speaking, those in the same camp should not be enemies, and even if there are some conflicts, the "Crown Prince" should mediate between them.

However, judging from the current situation in Chongzhou, the Crown Prince shows no intention of making a move.

The rise of "Han Li" to power was clearly intentional!

"Chen Chong wields too much power, which makes someone feel wary."

Xie Xuanyi calmly said, "Therefore... Han Li came into being." Xie Xuanyi had encountered Han Li several times in his spiritual travels. He had to admit that while the martial arts fortune of the Li Kingdom wasn't as great as that of the Great Chu Kingdom, it was still "full of talent." This Yin Shen Realm martial artist, without any sect or school, had cultivated to the Great Perfection of the Yin Shen Realm solely through personal training. This guy was very secretive. If Chen Chong was deliberately hiding his brilliance to avoid him, then Han Li was deliberately hiding his brilliance to avoid Chen Chong.

In this way, the possibility of premature death is avoided.

But this also puts them at a disadvantage.

Chen Chong is progressing slower than me, and Han Li is progressing slower than Chen Chong.

This ruler of Chongzhou is currently only at the nineteenth level of the Yin God realm, and it will take him three years to advance to the "Great Perfection" realm.

As for the Yang God... it's unknown when that happened.

In comparison, Chen Chong, who is now ranked among the "Ten Heroes," is definitely a whole level above Han Li.

However, if the Crown Prince wants to check and balance the power, this is the best candidate, without exception.

"What kind of time is this, and the country is still fighting amongst itself?"

Chen Jingxuan understood why Xie Xuanyi had mocked him earlier, and he also found it ironic and absurd.

The king of the country is seriously ill.

The Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince have been locked in a fierce battle for many years, with neither side gaining the upper hand.

Now that the demon tide has arrived, even if the two really have a conflict, they should put it aside... The Crown Prince is quite "shrewd." Before resolving his grudges with the Ninth Prince, he has already begun to send people to suppress Chen Chong, who is trying to divide his own camp.

"The Crown Prince of Li was suspicious by nature and also jealous."

Xie Xuanyi calmly said, "He cannot accept defeat, nor can he accept that someone under his command has a better reputation than him. Therefore... if the Ninth Prince dies, Chen Chong will most likely die as well."

"He is, after all, the crown prince of a country..."

Chen Jingxuan shook his head and sighed, "How could you be so narrow-minded?"

"When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; when the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away."

Xie Xuanyi said, "The Crown Prince of Li Kingdom... is just that kind of person."

Success is also like this.

Defeat is the same.

As Xie Xuanyi left the world of divine travel, the Ninth Prince and the Brahma Temple had already launched a counterattack. The outcome of this great battle would probably be exactly the same even in a different world.

The crown prince will lose.

The Ninth Prince will win.

However, this sudden surge of demons has twisted and changed this already predetermined cause and effect.

"On the eve of the upheaval in the southern border, I was trapped in the Buddha's Light and Spiritual Aura Formation by the Crown Prince of Li Kingdom."

Xie Xuanyi suddenly said, "He has connections with the Paper Doll Cult and has reached a deal..."

"I know."

Chen Jingxuan calmly said, "The reason why the three major sects betrayed us is because they found a powerful backer."

They were able to face Da Chu's powerful backer without fear.

Naturally... only the royal family of the foreign country.

"In the long river of fate, Lu Yuzhen was constantly being hunted down by the 'Zen Master'."

Xie Xuanyi said slowly and deliberately, "After destroying such an important world of cause and effect, Lu Yuzhen will definitely find a way to help the Crown Prince complete the 'destruction of Buddhism' here. I guess the Paper Doll Path will take advantage of the demon tide to complete its infiltration of the Li Kingdom."

Xie Xuanyi knew...

The Zen master did not truly die; he merely entered a state of spiritual wandering.

In the long river of destiny, the Zen master relentlessly pursues Lu Yuzhen, constantly shattering the causal petals cultivated by the Paper Doll Path.

But if Buddhism is destroyed and the Brahma Temple is demolished, the figure of the monk who has been relentlessly pursuing Lu Yuzhen in the river of fate will also be destroyed!
(End of this chapter)