Yefutidaolu

Chapter 317 Manifesto
Yang Ling took a deep breath.

A hint of fear finally crept into his eyes as he looked at Gao Jian.

The brilliant solution to this predicament... is to exterminate an entire generation! Slaughter an entire generation of cultivators and start cultivating from the next generation!
What a ruthless person! What a ruthless method! His bloodthirstiness is unbelievable!
At first, when Yang Ling met Gao Jian, Yang Ling thought he was very capable.

Indeed, Yang Ling is very capable. His views, opinions, and actions all demonstrate that he is a remarkable person.

But all of this seemed so... ridiculous in front of Gao Jian.

Without a doubt, this is like inviting a wolf into the house, or driving a tiger to devour a wolf!

Gao Jian intends to use the Qilin tribe as a "murderous blade" to fight to the death with the Jin family and the "evil tigers" of Youming Land! He wants these two powerful forces of cultivators to consume each other and tear each other apart in the trap until they bleed to death!

Not only do we need to borrow the sword from the Kirin tribe, but we also need to ensure that the sword is completely dulled and broken after the battle, so that it poses no further threat!

Then, and then, wipe them all out!
Slaughter the Jin family and wipe out the "evil tiger" who has seized power and resources in this generation of Youmingdi!
Slaughter the powerful and threatening "fierce wolves" of the Qilin tribe!
Yang Ling instantly understood everything, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

Extermination! Not just repulsion, not just weakening, but a complete, utter annihilation of the high-end combat capabilities of both sides, leaving no survivors!
Moreover, Takami did not conceal his purpose, and even revealed it to the Kirin tribe.

The construction of the border fortifications is a trap!
The Divine Dynasty wants to seize the border, and so does the Qilin Tribe.

Both sides will be strangled in the atmosphere of a 'life-or-death struggle' created by Gao Jian at the border, until Gao Jian and Yang Ling's own strength is enough to annihilate both sides, and then they will re-intervene in the ecology of Liangzhou!
“Lord Gao, the Jin family and Youming are tigers, the tribes of the grasslands are wolves, and you…” Yang Ling opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to express his profound insight, but once he opened his mouth, he found that he could not say it.

What is a brilliant insight?

It's hard to describe; he seems to have all the qualities. He's cold and ruthless, yet full of humanity; he's warm-hearted and kind, yet also shockingly ruthless.

He was clever enough to thrive in the officialdom of the Divine Dynasty, yet he was foolish enough to make an enemy of the entire Divine Dynasty.

Good, bad, clever, foolish, seeing through the rules yet still choosing to defy them, possessing power yet refusing to accept it, achieving status yet discarding it like trash.

What exactly is this thing? A jackal? A phoenix?

However, Gao Jian, facing Yang Ling's question, smiled and gave a thumbs up, saying naturally, "What wolves or tigers? I'm a human."

This answer left Yang Ling speechless.

Unexpected, yet... so fitting.

It is neither a wolf, nor a tiger, nor a jackal, nor a phoenix.

are people.

Is this just human nature?

Thinking of this, Yang Ling's heart churned with a complex mix of emotions, a mixture of shock, realization, fear, and even... a tinge of absurd identification. He looked at Gao Jian's smiling face, as if all his heavy masks had been removed, and then, recalling the terrifying plan he carried, he couldn't help but take a long, deep breath of the cold, metallic air of Ridgefield, thick with the stench of rust and death, letting out a sigh tinged with endless感慨 and bitterness.
Yang Ling couldn't help but sigh, "He's a human being... Haha, this statement is truly undeniable. In this bustling world, among all these officials, only Lord Gao is a human being."

This contradictory entity before us, this seemingly arrogant individual who plans a monstrous massacre yet brazenly calls himself "human"...

On the other side, Gao Jian heard Yang Ling's sigh, but simply shrugged indifferently, his smiling expression fading and returning to his usual calm.

He said, "Alright, let's stop chatting about those things and speed things up. I need to get to the Jin family and Youming Land as soon as possible to gather information there. I'll send it to you later."

After saying that, Gao Jian said no more, closed his eyes, and waited for the strange beast to fly away quickly, as if the earth-shattering conversation and plan just now were nothing more than idle talk over tea.

Yang Ling calmed down.

Regardless, the border affairs must be addressed. In this matter, there is one point that he and Gao Jian absolutely must achieve, and that is... the Jin family and Youmingdi must die.

The upper-level cultivators in Liangzhou need to be replaced, their lineage needs to be changed.

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Seven days later.

Gao Jian sat inside the Jin family mansion and could see Huang Chengshi and Jin Dafu, who were mustering troops.

There are fourteen people here.

All members are at least at the eighth level, with ten at the eighth level and four at the ninth level, including Jin Dafu and Huang Chengshi themselves.

There was not a sound, only a deathly silence, like the impending storm, weighing heavily on the carved beams and painted rafters. The air was filled with the lingering scent of sandalwood and fine tea, as well as something sharper—fourteen powerful auras, condensed to the point of being almost tangible, pressing down on the surrounding ground.

There's no hiding, nor is there any need to hide; this is a show of force.

Jin Dafu, the head of the Jin family, wore a black brocade robe embroidered with intricate Pixiu patterns in gold thread, which gleamed with a heavy metallic luster in the slightly gloomy afternoon light streaming through the high window.

He did not sit down, but stood with his hands behind his back in front of the main seat in the hall. His figure was as burly as a mountain. His round face, which usually had a slight smile, was now as taut as iron. The usually kind and amiable fat man now showed the eyes of a hawk, slowly sweeping across the hall.

Each glance felt like a crushing weight, an invisible aura honed from long-standing positions of power and the authority to decide life and death, and a chilling pressure deliberately released by a true ninth-realm expert.

In Gao Jian's eyes, Jin Dafu was a very easy-going, chubby man who often joked around and occasionally made a fool of himself because of his size. But at this moment, he didn't seem like a chubby fat man, but rather a raging beast.

Half a step to his side was Elder Huang Chengshi of the Netherworld.

Huang Chengshi did not reveal any overt ferocity. He stood quietly in place, wearing an ordinary robe. His body was strong and capable, and he looked very young. However, no one dared to underestimate him in the slightest because of this.

His eyelids were slightly lowered, as if he were dozing off, his hands were tucked into his sleeves, and his breath was barely perceptible. He let Jin Dafu give orders in front of him, while he himself was right beside him, as if he had spread out an invisible net, covering the entire area.

Below the hall, twelve people stood solemnly in two rows. None of these twelve were mediocre; ten were at the eighth level of martial arts on each side!

They were dressed in the Jin family's distinctive close-fitting attire, embroidered with gold-edged cloud patterns, the fabric of exquisite brocade, the hilts of their swords inlaid with warm, lustrous jade or gleaming gemstones; or in various styles of martial arts attire, all equally valuable, the jade pendants, thumb rings, and inner armor casually revealed on their bodies all rare treasures that ordinary martial artists could only dream of acquiring in a lifetime. An air of wealth and status had seeped into their very being, becoming an integral part of their strength.

Yet at this moment, all this wealth and splendor was suppressed by something far more powerful—a sharp, almost tangible aura emanating from them, intertwined and colliding. It was sometimes as fierce as a raging fire, sometimes as cold as a chilling spring, sometimes as weighty as the earth, sometimes as ethereal as a flowing breeze.

The aura of ten experts at the eighth realm was like ten peerless, deadly weapons drawn half an inch from their sheaths; though their sharpness was concealed, their killing intent filled the room. Their mere presence made the air thick and viscous, and even breathing felt stinging.

What's even more unsettling is that two people are silently standing behind Jin Dafu and Huang Chengshi.

Their auras were even more restrained, as if they had blended into the shadows, but when they occasionally raised their eyes, their sharp eyes flashed like lightning, and the pressure they exuded was clearly that of the ninth realm! These two, like Huang Chengshi, stood at the back, waiting for Jin Dafu's arrangements.

One of them was an elder from the Jin family, whose lineage was the most profound, and he was summoned at this moment.

Another elder from the Netherworld was summoned to come and lend a hand.

There were fourteen people in total, ten of whom were from the Jin family and were at the eighth level of martial arts.

There are also four people at the Ninth Realm, including Jin Dafu and Huang Chengshi, as well as another Jin family elder and Youmingdi elder.

They are gathered here to muster their troops.

There were no shouts, no drumbeats. Jin Dafu's gaze was the command, and the subtle fluctuations in his breath were the directing.

Whoever his gaze fell upon would nod slightly or display a unique weapon in their hand.

Each confirmation is like placing a heavy chess piece on an invisible sand table.

Fourteen top experts, each at least at the eighth realm, have gathered together. This force is enough to overthrow a large immortal sect. With such a lineup, one can imagine the danger and scale of the impending "battle." Just imagining it is enough to make one's palms sweat and one's heart feel clenched by an invisible hand.

Outside the window, the sky had turned completely overcast at some point, with thick, leaden clouds hanging low, making it hard to breathe. There wasn't a breath of wind, and the exotic flowers and plants in the courtyard stood stiff and motionless.

Throughout the hall, the candlelight was suppressed by an invisible aura, causing the flames to rise straight upwards without moving, casting fourteen silent and powerful figures onto the gilded and painted walls.

The storm is at the door. A single command is all it takes for a devastating thunderstorm and a bloodbath to rage.

Gao Jian sat to the side, like an outsider.

However, he is actually an outsider, and this kind of thing basically has nothing to do with him.

Jin Dafu had just finished giving his orders when he looked at Gao Jian, his tone softening as he sighed, "I didn't want to trouble you with these things, but as you know, it's a very important matter, a business worth tens of millions of gold coins. Everyone should definitely plan it out carefully."

"Patriarch Jin, you flatter me!" Upon hearing this, Gao Jian immediately stood up, his smile growing even brighter. Without hesitation, he cupped his hands and said loudly, "It is our duty to share the burdens of the Divine Dynasty and alleviate the difficulties of the local area. Patriarch Jin and Elder Huang, if you have any instructions, I, Gao, will do my utmost without hesitation! Rest assured, just give the order!" His tone was enthusiastic, and his expression was sincere. His beaming smile seemed to say, "I will cooperate fully and I am absolutely reliable. Just tell me what you need."

Every subtle expression and movement exudes enthusiasm, as if he were busy with his own affairs.

Seeing Gao Jian's quick wit and understanding, Jin Dafu and Huang Chengshi exchanged a glance, a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashing in their eyes. Jin Dafu's gentle smile deepened. He stepped forward and said, "Lord Gao is a man of great wisdom and righteousness, a true role model for us all! In that case, please, Lord Gao, personally write a pre-battle proclamation for our campaign against the rebels! And please, as an imperial envoy, leave behind this divinely ordained proclamation, and we will immediately break camp."

Everyone in the hall understood Jin Dafu's intentions. With Gao Jian, the imperial envoy, personally writing and imprinting the "divine will" representing his identity and will, the Jin family and Youmingdi's military campaign would no longer be a feud between martial arts masters or a struggle for personal gain, but would instead be cloaked in the glorious guise of "being ordered by the Divine Dynasty" and "punishing the disloyal on behalf of the court"!

This will be a "national war" backed by the official will of the Divine Dynasty!
Of course, this also means that Gao Jian, the imperial envoy, will be completely bound to the war chariot of the Jin family and the Netherworld, with no way out. Once his official seal and divine will fall, there will be no turning back.

However, Gao Jian seemed completely oblivious to this, or rather, utterly unconcerned. He immediately nodded, his smile unchanged, even carrying a hint of "duty-bound" cheerfulness: "Alright! That's only right!"

As he spoke, he calmly rose and smiled with a touch of self-deprecating humility: "Then please prepare pen and ink. I will make a fool of myself in front of you esteemed gentlemen. After all, I am but a crude and uncouth warrior. I may be good at wielding swords and spears, but as for literary matters, I am afraid my writing is clumsy and unworthy of being presented in a refined manner. I hope you will not make fun of me."

His joke immediately eased the tense atmosphere in the hall. The eighth and ninth realm experts who were standing solemnly showed some understanding and even a relaxed smile on their faces.

A faint smile appeared on Huang Chengshi's withered face. He moved swiftly and stepped forward himself. With a slight movement of his sleeves, a sheet of high-quality Xuan paper, covered with subtle snow-wave patterns and shimmering with spiritual energy, was neatly laid out on the prepared sandalwood table.

A master of the ninth realm personally prepared ink for your insightful opinion, a truly precious and courteous gesture.

Gao Jian then picked up a pen and began to write.

It is said that Heaven bestows its mandate, and the earth bears its virtue. The divine court governs all directions, and all living beings, with blood and breath, revere the king's rule and fear Heaven's might, following the established order and guarding the borders. However, there are now tribes of the northern grasslands, remote and uncivilized, who have long enjoyed Heaven's grace. They should be benevolent and righteous, loyal and obedient. Yet, their chieftain is arrogant and rebellious, harboring the ambitions of wolves! Relying on their remoteness and strategic location for self-defense, they disregard Heaven's laws and regulations; they allow their fierce and wicked to plunder merchants, and gather evil spirits to wreak havoc on the borders! Their actions are perverse, their crimes heinous!

The Jin family has been blessed by the nation for generations, their loyalty shining as bright as the sun and moon. They inherit the virtuous rule of the Holy Emperor and bear the heavy responsibility of protecting the land and ensuring the safety of the people. They assist the divine dynasty in both the living and the dead, upholding the righteous path.

The tribes of the grasslands are now rampant with malice, invading the border and destroying the very foundation of the people's livelihoods! Millions of taels of gold have been reduced to ashes; the blood and sweat of countless people have been turned to ash! How can this be tolerated?!

This envoy, acting on imperial orders to inspect the borders and govern the people on behalf of Heaven, has heard of their actions and is deeply pained! How can we allow this scoundrel to seize the border, defile our sacred land, poison our lives, and tear our rivers and mountains apart? Now, in accordance with the overwhelming will of the people, I hereby issue this proclamation to expose their crimes and to gather a righteous army to punish this traitor!

The Jin family patriarch, Dafu Gong, was renowned for his loyalty and bravery; Elder Youming, Chengshi Gong, possessed divine magical abilities.

He commands twelve skilled warriors, who are proficient in using golden scales, wield celestial steeds, are adept at using cloud shuttles, and possess thunderous voices.

The six demon kings of the netherworld are: one-horned, scorched-faced, red-haired, powerful, poisonous, and insatiable.

Such divine power shatters hearts and trembles wherever it points! All those who aid and abet evil shall be punished as accomplices!

Finally, Gao Jian threw down his pen, tore off the paper, and handed it to Huang Chengshi.

"Elder Huang, Patriarch Jin, send out the troops!"

(End of this chapter)