Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting from Immortal Martial Arts

"Other officials involved..."

Minister of Personnel Su Xichen replied, "Dismiss him from his post, investigate him, and never employ him again."

Cabinet Minister Liang Pei nodded slightly and echoed in a deep voice, "Yes, that's fair."

Grand Secretary He Xinyi had a different opinion: "Liu Hua's cultivation will be abolished, and he will be exiled to the Liaodong prison camp. Wu Xun will make the decision regarding the rest."

A group of people looked over in surprise, and Liang Pei seemed to be reminding them: "Prime Minister, many people have already died."

"This is a bad start. He's on the list; he can't escape."

The Grand Secretary retorted, "You think this is the end of it?"

"Isn't that enough? Do you want another vice minister to be executed on trumped-up charges? The students of Lianghuai Linlang Academy are all over Jiangnan. I'm afraid this will cause trouble."

He Xinyi's eyes turned cold, and she said sternly, "If the soldiers and civilians in the north find out that the merchants in the south colluded with rebels to storm the residences of high-ranking officials and assassinate noble ladies, and if the people behind it are not brought to justice, then not only will Jiangnan be in turmoil, but the entire dynasty will be thrown into chaos. This cannot be allowed to fall into the mud."

"Anyone who dares to open it, I'll take their head!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent.

Niu Jizong chuckled and comforted He Xinyi, saying, "Why are you worrying so much? Once the lid is open, Wu Xun can put it back on."

Zhai Zhengge nodded expressionlessly in agreement: "Kill until chaos subsides."

Niu Jizong continued, "We will also settle accounts with the clan behind Liu Hua. Right now, we need to drag out a second-tier cultivator to commit suicide, otherwise we will definitely wipe out his clan."

Liang Pei was stunned, then abruptly stood up and angrily questioned, "Only a second-tier cultivator can compare to the Jia family's daughter? Are you trying to start a cultivator war?"

Those nearby were shocked upon hearing this: "Shut up!"

"Lord Liang, be careful with your words."

Niu Jizong's large eyes were devoid of any emotion as he stared at Liang Peisen and said coldly, "She is Wu Xun's daughter. The children of our Wu Xun family are of noble birth. If the Liu family of Jiangnan does not hand her over, then you will see what it means for a warrior's wrath to cause rivers to sink."

Zhai Zhengge smiled and said the longest sentence he had uttered that day: "Then let's start the war, until Jiangnan is shattered and all cultivators are wiped out."

The people around were utterly shocked and remained silent.

The Grand Secretary sighed softly, "This is just the beginning. Someone has made a mistake in the game in the South."

Sheng Yuxiao, Su Xichen, and Zhao Enxi all came from a century-old family in the cultivation world and understood what the chief minister meant.

The founding lineage is not only the largest military force in the dynasty, but also the pinnacle of the cultivation world in the north, known as the Eight Prefectures of the Immortal Capital. Even a single prefecture in the south would be considered a top-tier family.

These eight families have always centered around the Jia family. In the last one or two decades, due to the Jia family's misfortunes, they have not been active in the south, which led to the forced poisoning of the married daughters inside and outside the family.

Now, a bloodthirsty and tyrannical tiger has emerged in the Jia family. With its ultimate cultivation and the power of thunderous roar, it is feared that no one can restrain it.

The cultivation world is about to descend into chaos!

A moment later, an imperial edict was issued from the palace, dismissing Liu Hua, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, from his post, ordering him to be shaved, and exiled to a prison camp in Liaodong.

All the civil and military officials in Xianjing were shocked and suspicious. They were exiled to Liaodong and forced to shave their heads and tattoo their faces.

As Jia Yucun prepared to leave the city, he was dumbfounded, which strengthened his resolve to cling to the Jia family's coattails.

Three days later, the eight prefectures of Xianjing dispatched four second-tier martial arts cultivators, leading their respective elders southward together.

When the group arrived at Weishan Lake in Jining Prefecture, Liu Hua, the second-ranking elder of the Liu clan in Songjiang Prefecture, blocked their way and committed suicide by the lake. The group finished him off and headed straight for Zhuyu Bay in Yangzhou.

...

February 27th, past midnight, Lin Mansion, Yangzhou.

At this moment, dinner was being served in the flower hall. Each of the three had a small square table in front of them, and Jia Tang was devouring his meal in a flash.

"Pfft."

Lin Daiyu, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh as she watched Jia Tang eat. When she saw her father and his gaze looking over, she glared at him with embarrassment and anger, then lowered her head and began to eat, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Yu Yin, eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

Lin Ruhai said with a smile, "Watching you eat always makes me feel like you have a good appetite."

"They're all our closest family members, so of course we'll eat however we feel comfortable."

Jia Tang spoke rapidly: "I can't do that kind of meticulous work that requires slow and careful preparation."

When she heard the name of someone close to her, Lin Daiyu's big eyes couldn't help but crinkle, and a blush rose on her face, making her smile as radiant as a peach blossom.

Before Jia Tang could finish his meal, Jia He walked in and said, "My lord, the secret realm is about to open."

The secret of Zhuyu Bay has been open for 45 days since the twelfth day of the first lunar month, which coincides with the number five and nine.

After Jia Tang finished eating, he called a maid to wash his hands and rinse his mouth, and then said to the Lin family father and daughter, "Uncle, sister, I'll go and get back to work."

"Go."

"Brother, be careful."

Jia Tang nodded with a smile, thanks to their time together, which had allowed the little girl to occasionally drop the courtesy name.

I must say, it felt pretty good.

At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun at Zhuyu Bay should have been exceptionally beautiful, but the void cracks, like shattered mirrors, tore apart the crimson clouds, making it awe-inspiring.

A fleet of warships sailed in from outside the bay and entered the river. Jia Tang disembarked and stood on Zhuyu Island, gazing at the sky above, surrounded by Tiger Guards and personal guards on patrol.

Above, the starting point reappeared, causing space to tremble violently. The cracks seemed to come alive, rippling through the void.

In the surrounding mountains and forests outside the bay, exploration teams, lone travelers, and outlaws from various factions watched the island's movements with longing, and whispers could be heard from time to time:

"What an overbearing member of the Jia family, monopolizing an entire secret realm."

"With so many of us representing various forces, do we have anything to fear from a mere child?"

"There are five second-tier cultivators and numerous first-tier cultivators on the island. What gives you the right to be afraid?"

"The people from the eight prefectures of Xianjing will be arriving soon."

A moment later, the space stopped shaking, the cracks gradually disappeared, and the original light spots turned into a vortex emitting white light, attracting everyone's attention.

Just as everyone was getting restless, Jia He soared into the sky and shouted, "This secret realm belongs exclusively to the Jia family of Xianjing. Anyone who does not belong to our faction and dares to step into the river will die!"

"Don't say you weren't warned!"

The sound shook the surrounding area, causing the river in the bay to surge with waves.

The people in the mountains and forests reacted differently upon hearing this, but none of them left.

On the island, Jia Tang stood before the vortex light gate with his Tiger Guards and personal guards, and instructed, "Jia Ping, Jia Kang, you two take twenty Tiger Guards and fifty personal guards to guard this place and coordinate the follow-up matters. The rest of you, come in with me."

"only!"

Jia Tang strode into the whirlpool, followed by Jia and Jia An leading their respective teams.

After a dizzying spin, the view suddenly opened up, and the family guards and personal guards instantly dispersed to scout the surroundings, leaving Jia Tang alone standing beside a pool of clear, blue water, exuding wisps of frosty mist.

In front of the icy pool was a bottomless cliff, like an abyss, in which a towering bronze sword was stuck, secured to the blade by several chains that shot up from the abyss.

Jia Tang looked around and saw that the surrounding mountains stretched out in undulating waves, with peaks vying for prominence, covered in snow and shrouded in mist.

Suddenly, Jia He's voice, filled with inexplicable joy, rang out from afar:

"My lord!"