Zhongshan Shenzhu Chi

Chapter 82 Decline

Xia'an City, City Lord's Mansion.

The number of soldiers guarding this place today has doubled.

All the faces were unfamiliar.

His face was resolute, and his eyes gleamed with a stern light.

The child walked by, made eye contact with them for only one glance, and then froze on the spot, as if nailed to the spot.

"Run, you idiot!" The old farmer slapped his grandson on the head, bringing him back to his senses.

Their piercing, knife-like gaze remained fixed on them until they were a hundred meters away.

"Zhengming, I'll get straight to the point." Li Zhengyuan, the city lord of Chuncheng, turned to look at his younger brother, Li Zhengming.

"People from the main city came to me. Their idea is that Yongning Continent should first form a coalition to eliminate the scourge left by the Four Dharma Gates."

"Has the battle been decided in the main city?" Li Zhengming paused in his tea-drinking motion.

With gods above, at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain, almost no one dared to cause trouble.

In addition, the imperial court's retainers withdrew from Yongning Prefecture, while the main city was engaged in a battle of magic with the Four Dharma Gates, and the Crimson Immortal Sect was also purged.

All of Xia'an City's output belongs to the City Lord's Mansion.

With manpower, food, and money, and no external enemies, the city lord's mansion was operating at full capacity, focusing wholeheartedly on constructing water conservancy projects and repairing roads.

With work to do and food to eat, there are fewer people causing trouble.

Xia'an City is now a place of political stability and social harmony, and is in a state of prosperity.

In just two or three years, the city lord's once gaunt face regained its shape and he even looked more prosperous.

"It's been separated, yet it hasn't been separated."

"In the end, the Four Dharma Gates and the Crimson Immortal Gate are the same; they are both organizations created by the sect leaders for their own advancement."

"Now that a Zhongshan God has appeared above us, a deity who doesn't need incense offerings at all, the path of the Mountain and Water God is no longer viable—so we might as well make a quick buck and run away."

Li Zhengyuan sighed, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

"What do you think of that mist demon who wreaks havoc throughout the city and drains people's lifespans?"

"If I say I don't want to get involved, brother, will you beat me to death?" Li Zhengming put down his teacup reluctantly and said cautiously.

"You've already said it," Li Zhengyuan said weakly, putting down his teacup as well. "Actually, I don't want to get involved either, but the thought of the Fog Demons causing trouble makes me feel guilty."

"But there's nothing we can do about it, isn't there?"

"The Emperor has already transferred all the retainers back to Zhongzhou. Now, even if our two cities are bound together, we only have a little over 50,000 soldiers."

Seeing his elder brother looking distressed, Li Zhengming offered words of comfort.

"Even if we can persuade Zhao Ying to become commander, they'll need some time to gel. Besides, brother, if we want to get things done, we also need to—"

"Aren't we alive?"

"Sigh, let's discuss it again, let's discuss it again." Li Zhengyuan sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

Li Zhengming hadn't caught his breath yet.

He then asked, "Zhengming, what do you think of that Zhongshan God?"

"What's there to say about this? The Red Serpent God is the successor to the Black Serpent God, isn't he?" Li Zhengming said, embarrassed.

"We are two abandoned and lonely souls, what do you have to hide? You and I both know the real reason why the dynasty summoned all the retainers back to Zhongzhou." Li Zhengyuan glanced at him.

"To be honest, this is my true feeling."

"—An unknown dragon myth. All the fortune of Zhongshan, and even Yongning Continent, has converged on that one."

"From my perspective—from the perspective of the emperor—that the Zhongshan God has pried open a corner of the dynasty's destiny."

Under his elder brother's piercing gaze, Li Zhengming finished speaking with difficulty, word by word.

The dynasty was in decline; this was a reality that everyone knew.

But He is still here, and has not yet been overthrown.

Even the East Sea Dragons only dared to attack Yunmeng Marsh, waging a war between demons.

The current god of Zhongshan has taken control of the two dragon veins, Luoshui and Zhongshan.

I went down the mountain twice.

More than half of the creatures on Yongning Island have their identity and faith centered on it.

Moreover, unlike the imperial dynasty, it does not need to rely on numerous cultivators and magical treasures to suppress the fortune layer by layer.

The Luo River and Zhong Mountain, together with themselves, are the most powerful magic weapons in the world. They don't even need to do anything; their own fortune will naturally come to them.

"Sigh—Strong, but born at the worst possible time," Li Zhengming sighed.

If we wait until those dragons in the East China Sea can't hold back and take the lead in rebelling, then Zhongshan won't be the one to dare to be the first to step forward.

The image of the red serpent fighting the evil dragon that day has spread throughout the north and south of the country.

Everyone knows that Zhongshan Xiantian's next step gave birth to a legend.

Everyone was waiting for the dynasty's reaction.

If we ignore it...

Leaving aside other places for now, the East Sea Dragon Clan will surely make its mark on Yunxi Continent. When a fire breaks out, it will inevitably spread throughout the entire region, with people from all directions gathering to respond, and the great edifice will crumble.

I've taken care of it.

The current situation in Yongning Prefecture, where everyone is focused on fighting the drought, will definitely be disrupted.

The lives of people on the continent will be ravaged by drought.

Such a dynasty—even if it can suppress its fortune and prevent it from dissipating, it is not far from collapse.

Speaking of cooperation—

Judging from the agreement reached between the government and the Four Schools of Buddhism to remove all offerings and leave the two brothers to guard the empty city—

Totally impossible.

They still dream of ruling the land for ten thousand years, how could they possibly tolerate someone who is at least on par with them?

"It all depends on human effort, it all depends on human effort, why don't you understand that, Your Majesty?" Li Zhengyuan slammed his fist on the table.

So angry that water droplets splashed out, scalding his hand without him even noticing.

"They all understand."

"It's just that due to various constraints, we can't do anything to restore the country."

Li Zhengming quickly changed the subject.

"Brother, look at the letter Tu Die sent us—"

"All the water conservancy projects in Chuncheng are now nearing completion. I plan to send all the craftsmen and officials to Qiucheng and Dongcheng to provide support after the New Year."

After calming down, Li Zhengyuan raised his hand and blew on his burned skin.

"Have the sixteen officials who went up the mountain with Qingyan not come down yet?"

"It's been seven days since I left. I'll be back tonight or tomorrow morning," Li Zhengming replied.

"Well, I'll see them before I leave."

Li Zhengyuan stood up.

Full of ambition, but unlucky in his time, he was born into this chaotic world and could do nothing.

He felt suffocated and extremely uncomfortable.

"Big brother————"

"I'm going out for a stroll to see what this so-called 'harmonious and peaceful' city you described in your letter is really like," Li Zhengyuan waved his hand, refusing the guards' offer, and went to the commercial street alone.

I went out into the street.

It was clear that Xia'an City had many more people than Chunhua City.

The faces of the people coming and going were mostly rosy, with few showing signs of hunger, cold, or sallow complexion.

There are many shops, and almost none of them are closed along the street.

There were many restaurants, and they were all full during mealtime.

People sat on the doorstep, sipping meat soup and eating steamed buns.

This was a blessing bestowed upon the dynasty during its prosperous period.

The founding emperor rectified the world and established laws and regulations; his successors allowed the people to recuperate and thrive; and those who came after him brought peace and security to the people.

Improve grain varieties, agricultural tools, and build water conservancy and roads —

"Sigh." Li Zhengyuan sighed.

He entered a restaurant and, luckily, there were seats available. The owner helped him sit down.

I was just about to order a bowl of vegetarian noodles when I turned around and saw...

A woman with an extremely beautiful face and a neat high ponytail came into view.

She was holding a large chicken leg in a very unseemly manner, her lips were greasy from eating it, and her eyes were wide open.

"Zhao Ying?" Li Zhengyuan exclaimed in surprise.

"How did you manage to follow me all the way here?" the woman asked, her face contorted with grief.

"I don't want to go back to eat fish—"