Yefutidaolu

Chapter 286 Independence

After morning, Yang Ling and Gao Jian arrived at Yongning County, two hundred miles away, but did not stop. They spent a little more time before reaching the original border post.

There seems to be a line at the border of the Divine Dynasty.

Once you cross that line, the temperature drops drastically, and the sky seems to have been painted over, turning the entire sky gray and chillingly cold. The road is covered in ice shards, making a crunching sound when you step on them.

This is during spring and summer.
"Liangzhou is called Liangzhou because the temperature is cool. Mr. Gao, what did you see earlier? Why do you seem a little unhappy on the way?" Yang Ling asked with a smile as they walked along the road.

"It's just that we saw the barriers that the Divine Dynasty deliberately set up. Actually, we've seen enough of that, but coming here again and again is getting a bit annoying. But it's alright, let's take a look at the border first. Are your people willing to stay in a place like this?" Gao Jian asked.

The reason for asking this question is that the environment here does indeed have some problems.

Gao Jian and Yang Ling, one at the fifth realm and the other at the sixth realm, were impervious to heat and cold, and these temperatures could not harm them.

However, for ordinary people, the problem is much bigger.

Gao Jian could see a pack of wild dogs not far away.

The pack of stray dogs were also watching Gao Jian. One of the lead dogs came out, looked around, then turned and left, tucking its tail between its legs and hiding back into the pack.

The dogs huddled miserably on the riverbank, enduring the biting wind.

The wind whistled through the layers of fur, and the pack of dogs huddled together like a flock of penguins, keeping warm by each other. They did not attack, but remained wary of Gao Jian and Yang Ling.

This damn cold affects both people and dogs the same. If we establish a border post here, we'll have to deal with these temperatures and build more heating facilities, which will cost more.

"In this place, even testicles can be frozen off. To build a fortress or stronghold here, and to maintain a normal workforce, is really not easy." Yang Ling rubbed his hands together, dispelled the magic around him, and personally felt the temperature.

He could ignore the cold wind with the help of magic, but if he removed the magic and relied solely on his physical body to withstand it, he would feel a bit cold and would need to rub his hands together.

Of course, it was only a little cold. After all, he was at the fifth realm, and his acupoints included the Dazhui point. His physical body was not weak either, at least comparable to a third-realm cultivator who focused on the essence gate.

But in other words... a second-level cultivator can be frozen here, while a first-level cultivator would almost certainly have their fingers and testicles frozen off.

Gao Jian also stood here. He did not use any magic to protect himself because his physical body was quite strong and his blood and qi were abundant. Just by slightly stimulating his blood and qi, Gao Jian felt warm and cozy around him, like a heater.

He looked up at the river in front of him. The stone banks were frozen, and the water flowed ceaselessly year after year. Although the water in the river was not frozen, it was colder than ice. He could feel the cold air constantly invading his hands when he put them in, and there were many ice fragments mixed in, giving it a bone-chilling cold.

The stray dogs were still watching from a short distance away.

Dogs, once they lose their owners, can easily become feral and turn into wolves, even more ferocious than wolves, because they have learned a lot from humans.

Humans are like a force of nature, easily defeated. A pack of wild dogs is more terrifying than a pack of wolves, so if you can see wild dogs in this place, it means there are no wolves.

It is clear that this area must have been inhabited before, but the people all fled, leaving behind a pack of dogs that eventually turned into a pack of wild dogs.

Having observed the area sufficiently, Gao Jian exhaled a puff of white breath: "We need to get an array master to come and set up a grand array in advance, otherwise we won't even be able to complete the construction. What about the old border ruins? We can't just dismantle the foundations and take them away, can we? There must be some trace left."

Yang Ling smiled wryly and said, "They definitely won't dismantle it when they leave, but it's hard to say about the Hu people. Their land is barren and has nothing. They love to come and take things away. This pass has been abandoned for more than ten years. It has probably been completely dismantled and taken away long ago. It will be very difficult to rebuild it."

Gao Jian frowned upon hearing this: "Well... this is a bit difficult. We have to build these things and also guard against attacks from the Hu people. They won't just sit idly by and watch the border be built on such a large scale. We also need experts to oversee it. The aristocratic families can handle it; they have money and manpower and can command many array masters. But what about you? Can you handle it?"

Yang Ling remained silent for a while, his eyes flickering, as if he was thinking.

After a while, he nodded: "It can be done. As long as there's enough money, I can find a way."

"Don't risk human lives," Gao Jian warned.

You can certainly build a fortress by using human lives, but such a fortress is better left undefended. It is impossible to hold unless you use forceful suppression and coerce the soldiers with violence and intimidation. Otherwise, it has no fighting power whatsoever.

In reality, even if forced, combat effectiveness will be significantly reduced.

"Using human lives as a means to an end, are you talking about powerful families? Do I look like I have a lot of lives to lose? Mr. Gao, you need to keep an eye on things over there. You're aware of the situation here, so please help me buy some time and the remaining funds. As for the rest, leave it to me," Yang Ling said.

"Alright, then I won't ask any more questions." Gao Jian nodded, then turned around and pointed at the strange beast: "You're giving this to me? I'm going to ride it back."

"Huh? Aren't you going to take a look?" Yang Ling was taken aback when he suddenly heard this.

No, they traveled all this way, only to take a quick look and then leave?
So what are you here for?

Yang Ling couldn't quite understand it.

Yang Ling had actually prepared a lot behind the scenes this time. That village was just the beginning. In this area, he had already prepared enough results: survey results, material preparation, personnel introductions, and he was determined to convince Gao Jian in one go, so that Gao Jian would be willing to give him enough freedom to complete these tasks.

After all, Gao Jian had to deal with the Jin family and the Taotie tribe in Liangzhou City, so he couldn't just come here anytime. He needed enough freedom so that he wouldn't be monitored all the time, and this freedom required Gao Jian's approval.

After all, he's waving the banner of profound insight; if he goes back on his word, the consequences could be dire.

“I’ve already looked at it and have a pretty good understanding of the situation here.” Gao Jian smiled. “There’s no need to look at it anymore. I suppose you’ve prepared a foolproof plan to persuade me, but… it’s not necessary. Although we have many disagreements, I still trust you in this kind of place.”

Yang Ling looked Gao Jian up and down.

Indeed, all the insightful people he encountered on the road acted this way. This person truly had the capacity to tolerate others, dared to invest first, and dared to trust others.

Putting everything else aside, this sudden, unconditional trust is indeed quite overwhelming.

So Yang Ling extended his hand: "I admire Mr. Gao's magnanimity. Since you trust me so much, then... let's make a vow with a high five."

Gao Jian nodded, then reached out his hand, and the two clapped hands.

With a snap, the alliance was officially formed.

Then, Gao Jian led the strange beast, climbed onto it, and sped away, leaving Yang Ling behind.

To be honest, Yang Ling was confident. He wasn't afraid of Gao Jian testing or scrutinizing him; it was just that the feeling of being trusted like this was really good.

What he didn't know was that Gao Jian had already seen the information carried by his divine will and knew what he was thinking.

Gao Jian does trust others, and unconditionally at that, but he is by no means a fool. Treating Gao Jian as a fool, or even... treating him as someone with average intelligence, will come at a heavy price, as seen with the Zuo family and Helunsabao.

Soon after seeing Gao Jian completely leave, Yang Ling whistled.

Behind them, the pack of wild dogs actually transformed into human form.

A stray dog ​​isn't necessarily a stray dog; it's actually... a streamside area.

There is a beast that looks like a dog, named Xibian. Those who wear its skin will not be harmed.

Along with the wild dogs, many other animals followed.

All sorts of strange beasts.

Deep animal footprints filled the road with rainwater. A strange beast with the aura of a Qilin led many other animals through the rolling hills, over thorns and tangled bushes, deep into the bottom of narrow ravines. Heavy branches, laden with damp leaves, lashed their faces again and again. Countless wild beasts, like gray shadows, raced wildly through the night—

The border post is nearing completion.

----------

Meanwhile, Gao Jian returned to Liangzhou City after a period of travel.

However, Liangzhou City is currently facing a storm.

A sudden storm swept through the city, the clouds were as black as spilled ink, the rain poured down like a torrential downpour, lightning flashed and thunder roared across the sky, the wind broke bamboo and trees, and boats capsized on the river.

A discerning eye could tell something was amiss at a glance.

Obviously, there is no such thing as natural wind and rain in this world. How could there be such strong wind and rain in Liangzhou City?
Furthermore, this is Liangzhou.

Liangzhou has little natural moisture, making it difficult to summon wind and rain. Such a super storm... it's not so easy to summon.

Gao Jian then opened his eyes and looked around carefully, trying to see where the eye of the storm was and who was summoning this storm.
Looking over there, he saw several people on the horizon flying towards his direction.

Upon seeing this, Gao Jian immediately dismounted from the beast and landed on the ground, waiting for the other party to come over.

Before long, Jin Dafu, along with his family members, men and women, flew in from the horizon and landed hurriedly beside Gao Jian.

As soon as he landed, Jin Dafu hurriedly asked, "Lord Gao, where have you been?"

"Oh, I went to Yongning to check on the situation there."

"Oh dear, what are you going to Yongning for? What's so great about that remote and impoverished place? Just leave the matter to us, why bother? I was so worried when I suddenly couldn't find you that night!" Jin Dafu said anxiously.

Are you getting anxious?
Only a wise person wouldn't believe such nonsense.

Can't find anyone? Don't be ridiculous. Given how much they've been monitoring me, they definitely knew what was going on from the beginning. They're just asking a couple of questions to test me.

Ugh.

To be honest, Gao Jian was even a little annoyed. The constant probing was too unpleasant.

But he also knew that there was nothing he could do about it.

What can you do? It's like facing a bottomless cave; would you dare to go straight down?

We should at least throw a stone down there, after all... do you dare bet that this cave isn't hostile?
The deceit and treachery among people make trust an extremely precious commodity. Mutual fraud makes communication incredibly costly and hypocrisy extremely frequent.

It seems that everyone must be responsible for themselves and must wage a life-or-death war with others, a war that takes place not only between different social classes but also between individuals.

The powerful families are fighting with each other, and members of the powerful families are also fighting with other members. Zhou Hemiao, whom Gao Jian saw in Yongning area before who desperately married into the county town, was also engaged in such a struggle.

One person is blocking another's way, so everyone tries to squeeze out the rest and take their place.

Farmers compete with each other, scions of noble families compete with each other, students of the Imperial Academy compete with heads of noble families, and different practitioners compete with each other. Everyone tries to squeeze out others in order to seize the resources of others.

For ordinary people, this kind of competition means they can only maintain a basic level of survival and barely afford daily life, never having a chance to rise in social class. Of course, it is very easy for them to fall into a lower social class.

Once they slip down, they will naturally become spiritual materials, and they have to work very hard to avoid becoming spiritual materials.

On the other hand, the same applies to aristocratic families and immortal sects.

They can afford to lose, but if they lose too many times, they will lose their positions.

Everyone was trembling with fear, everyone was cautious and timid, everyone was extremely careful.

Trust is more precious and rarer than anything else in this environment. This is why Gao Jian felt flattered and bewildered when he trusted Dan Sha, Shu Jian, and Yang Ling.

What kind of cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win?

Without sufficient trust, cooperation is virtually impossible. The Divine Dynasty itself does not adequately manage the use of force and double-crossing, or rather... this is something they do intentionally.

Can't the Divine Dynasty establish a mechanism of mutual trust? Putting aside everything else, as long as notarization is enabled, and the Divine Dynasty's almost invincible high-level cultivators are used to suppress others with absolute force, a mechanism of mutual trust can be easily established, allowing everyone to put aside their wariness and tests, and cooperate properly.

Gao Jian's mind raced. Considering Jin Dafu's current state and the situation in Liangzhou, he continuously analyzed the current situation.

Cooperation is certainly a good thing, but the Divine Dynasty is unwilling to do so. It even supports various forces to use their own military force as a means of negotiation.

What are the foundations of aristocratic families and immortal sects?
They are actually their high-level cultivators.

High-level cultivators represent both advanced productivity and extremely powerful martial arts, which dramatically increases their independence.

This is the current state of the Divine Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)