The most secure job in Dajin

Chapter 477, Stunned by a Pie in the Sky

Hua Changxi used the 'Buddha's Hand' technique to transport Song Weimin and his group to Lingguang Palace. Along the way, he neither deliberately concealed his whereabouts nor hid his aura. As a result, all the forces in Nanxiang County received the news immediately.

Inside the main hall of the Nanxiang County government office, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

One after another, cultivators filed in, their spiritual pressure subtle yet powerful—the lowest cultivation level among those seated was the Nascent Soul stage, with several Spirit Platform stage cultivators also seated among them.

Prince Fu sat high in the main seat, his face ashen and brooding. His gaze swept over his subordinates and finally landed on the royal decree that had just been delivered to his palm.

The vermilion characters were particularly glaring, containing only five words: "Withdraw from Nanxiang County".

Since the Lingguang Palace was built, Prince Fu has taken over Nanxiang County and has worked hard to manage it for so many years. Now that he is being asked to leave, he is extremely unwilling.

However, he dared not fail to evacuate.

There was no other reason than that he didn't want to follow in the footsteps of Prince Shou.

Prince Shou was burned alive by the Lord of Lingguang Palace!

"There's nothing important that I've called everyone here today."

Prince Fu was reluctant to announce the royal decree, but he also knew that the group of cultivators under his command had been cultivated at great cost by the royal family, and if they were to perish in Nanxiang County, the royal family would suffer a great loss.

"The Vermilion Bird Army is becoming increasingly powerful. Everyone should be prepared to evacuate Nanxiang County at any time." Even though he was unwilling, Prince Fu gritted his teeth and said these words.

The cultivators didn't react much upon hearing this.

These undercover agents were actually the ones who knew the situation in Nanxiang County best.

The Lord of Lingguang Palace is too powerful; he won't allow someone like them to cause trouble under his nose.

The reason they weren't driven away before might simply be because they didn't have the time to intervene.

The several Spirit Platform Realm cultivators present secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that they were to evacuate Nanxiang County.

Since the phantom of a nine-story prison tower appeared in the southeast of Nanxiang County some time ago, many cultivators who are sensitive to danger have felt a sense of unease and fear.

A clear voice told them that the days of running rampant in Nanxiang County were over.

If they continue to act recklessly because of their high cultivation level, perhaps spending the rest of their lives in a prison tower will be their final fate.

"Your Highness."

One of the Nascent Soul cultivators spoke up: "Should we continue searching for traces of blessed lands and grotto-heavens?"

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Fu's eyes grew even more somber.

Wutong Forest, Ghost Fire Well, Zhurong Tomb

The royal family discovered these three blessed lands long ago and secretly made many arrangements for them.

But what was the outcome?

The royal family didn't even get a single blessed land!

"Continue the search, but shift from the open to the shadows, and reduce the number of people accordingly."

Since Nanxiang County was in the hands of the royal family, even if the royal family openly searched for blessed lands everywhere, no one else could say anything.

However, if the Vermilion Bird Army takes full control of Nanxiang County, then doing so would be a provocation against the Vermilion Bird Army.

After announcing the decision to evacuate Nanxiang County, Prince Fu dismissed everyone, but then summoned several groups of people separately.

The first person the Prince of Fu met was Ji Huaice, the current magistrate of Nanxiang County.

"I will be leaving the county town in the next few days. With the Palace Master of Lingguang Palace taking over the Ghost Fire Well, the many things the royal family did there will definitely come to light."

Prince Fu looked at Ji Huaice, his brother-in-law, and said that he had not kept many things from him: "Although the royal family has given up Nanxiang County, we cannot give it to the Vermilion Bird Army for nothing. Arrange for a group of people to infiltrate the area."

Ji Huaice understood what the Prince of Fu meant: "Your Highness, rest assured, I know what to do."

Prince Fu patted Ji Huaice on the shoulder: "You are knowledgeable and a capable official. When we selected you to be the magistrate of Nanxiang County, we originally wanted to lead you to accomplish great things. But we never expected that you would have to leave with your tail between your legs now."

Ji Huaice also expressed his regret: "Brother-in-law, things change. Today's defeat does not mean that there is no chance to make a comeback tomorrow."

Prince Fu did not respond to this, but said, "The Vermilion Bird Army has developed too fast. In many cases, they have to make temporary fixes when problems arise. When they take over Nanxiang County, there will likely be many loopholes. This is our opportunity."

Ji Huaice nodded. The county officials and the people of the county town were all loopholes they had planted.

After meeting Ji Huaice, Prince Fu met with all the cultivators at the Spirit Platform Realm.

Prince Fu was much more polite to the cultivators at the Spirit Platform Realm: "Gentlemen, the search ordered by the City Lord cannot be interrupted."

The cultivator with the highest cultivation level, the Spirit Platform Realm cultivator, frowned: "If we continue searching, and are discovered by the Lord of Lingguang Palace, we may all lose our lives." Prince Fu looked over: "The Emperor Emeritus and the Emperor both know the danger posed by the Lord of Lingguang Palace, so they specifically instructed that if you sense any danger while searching for the City Lord's token, you should immediately evacuate."

Seeing that no one spoke, Prince Fu sighed: "Are you all really willing to go back empty-handed? The land we are standing on is Nanxiang City, one of the top ten powers in the Central Continent!"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the expressions of several Spirit Platform Realm cultivators changed.

Prince Fu continued, "The royal family's promise remains unchanged. As long as you discover any trace of the City Lord's Decree, once the royal family takes over Nanxiang City, you may choose any blessed land within Nanxiang City as your training ground."

The same Spirit Platform Realm cultivator said, "We understand Your Highness's meaning. We will do our utmost."

Upon hearing this, Prince Fu smiled and said, "In this great struggle, everyone has to compete. I wish you all the best in finding your own preferred place of practice."

After watching the cultivator at the Spirit Platform Realm leave, Prince Fu let out a long sigh of relief.

The royal family's ambitions for Nanxiang City have a 90% failure rate; the remaining 10% chance of success depends on whether fate will smile upon them.

If even the royal family, the largest power, is preparing to leave, then the other powers are even more so.

As a result, many places in the county town where cultivators gathered gradually became deserted.

Lihuo Cliff.

Out of respect for the master craftsman, and also out of consideration for the gift of the 'robes and mask', Hua Changxi took Gongshu Xingyan for a walk around Li Huo Cliff.

After visiting the Li Huo Cliff, Gongshu Xingyan no longer had any reservations about forging weapons for the Vermilion Bird Army. He even felt a dizzying sensation, as if he had been hit by a pie falling from the sky.

"Palace Master Hua, can I subdue the Ancient Flame of Nanming in the sea of ​​fire at the bottom of the cliff?"

In addition to possessing exceptional talent in weapon crafting, Gongshu Xingyan also has remarkably high aptitude for cultivation—not only does he have a single fire spiritual root, but he also possesses a fire spiritual body.

For cultivators with fire elemental roots, the Southern Bright Fire is an absolutely fatal temptation.

Hua Changxi smiled at him and said, "You can give it a try as long as it doesn't affect your weapon crafting."

She was able to subdue the Southern Bright Fire because she refined the Vermilion Bird's essence blood. She didn't know if this was a necessary condition, but she was certain that the Southern Bright Fire, as the Vermilion Bird's natal spirit fire, was definitely not something that just anyone could control.

When Gongshu Xingyan saw that she had agreed, he immediately grinned.

Even though he knew it wouldn't be easy to subdue the Southern Bright Fire, at least he had the opportunity to do so.

Even if he ultimately fails to subdue the Southern Ming Fire, the complete weapon-refining tradition of the Vermilion Bird Army is still an unparalleled opportunity for a weapon refiner.

"From now on, you will be in charge of forging the Vermilion Bird Armor, and I will assign a group of weapon refiners to your command."

"I hope you and your men can forge the 100,000 Vermilion Bird Armor as soon as possible."

"Let's go, I'll take you to meet the people in charge of managing Li Huo Cliff."

When the weapon refiners of the Vermilion Bird Army, along with Yuan Xing, Duan Yue, Tang Yuyuan, and their group, learned that the person standing beside Hua Changxi was the legendary weapon refiner Gongshu Xingyan, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Yuan Xing was the one who reacted the most strongly.

When he was captured and brought to Li Huo Cliff, Yuan Xingcai mentioned Gongshu Xingyan's name in front of Hua Changxi in order to gain her attention. Unexpectedly, Hua Changxi actually rescued him from the Nine Nether Ghost Realm Fortress.

Seeing the admiration in everyone's eyes, Gongshu Xingyan proudly raised his chin.

However, considering that Song Weimin had over three hundred men from the beginning, and that Hua Changxi had no intention of making him the leader of Li Huo Cliff, he was somewhat unhappy.

"My weapon-refining skills are far superior to these people's."

"These people should all obey my orders completely."

Hua Changxi looked at him and said, "Having excellent weapon-forging skills does not mean you have the ability to control people. If you want everyone to listen to you, it depends on whether you have the ability to make them willingly submit to you."

Is this letting him act on his own?

Having heard what he wanted to hear, Gongshu Xingyan immediately shut up.

Whether it was handing over the Ghostfire Token to Jing Sheng or directly delegating power to Song Weimin to manage Nanxiang County, it's clear that Hua Changxi is not someone who clings to power.

If he truly had the ability to win the hearts and minds of the people of Li Huo Cliff, Hua Changxi would have no reason not to let him take charge of Li Huo Cliff.

The thought of this excited Gongshu Xingyan. He also thought that Hua Changxi had given up the Ghost Fire Well so easily. Maybe, perhaps, he could become the master of Li Huo Cliff one day.

The 100,000 Vermilion Bird Armor, right?

He was determined to show off his skills and demonstrate to Hua Changxi what a true genius weapon-refining master was! (End of Chapter)