Volume II: Snow over Qinchuan Chapter 30: Visitors from Northern Yan (Part Three)

Yun Changqing did not go into detail about what had happened back then, but his words struck a chord deep within Feng Qi's heart.

After all, that was also his land, his friends, and his family.

His understanding of warfare came mostly from military treatises, and in actual combat, he was not even as capable as Feng Yang. Yet, he had been to Wuyang and had witnessed the horrific aftermath of battle.

If that was the fate of the victors, then Yanbei's end must have been far more tragic.

As the Crown Prince of Yanbei, Feng Qi was unqualified, seeing as he spent every day seeking the Great Dao and striving to ascend to immortality.

However, this did not mean he lacked affection for Yanbei.

At the very least, what he had said to Feng Muyun in the prince's study back then was entirely sincere.

A general could guard a city, a king could guard a domain, but if one attained the realm of Dao Integration, he could protect the entire human race.

The changing nature of warfare destined military forces to have inherent limitations in defense.

Feng Qi had read extensively, and those books had taught him a single truth.

Dignity existed only on the edge of a sword, and truth was confined within the boundaries of power and realm.

People feared the Demon race simply because the Demon race was too formidable.

Likewise, the Demon race would inevitably tremble if the Human race became sufficiently powerful.

Dugu Feiyun was the prime example. Before his ascension, who among the Xuhai and the barbarian tribes had dared to act out of line?

In the end, one's fists had to be hard before anyone would listen to what one had to say.

"A bright and clear world?" He suddenly chuckled, a laugh that sent a chill through Yun Changqing's bones.

"Your Highness, why do you laugh?"

"I laugh at how ignorant you all are, speaking your minds without knowing a thing."

No matter what, Yun Changqing was the most outstanding youth of the Yun family in this generation; how could he fail to catch Feng Qi's implication?

"Was it truly Lord Li?"

Feng Qi replied, "Aside from him, who else in this world could have orchestrated this layout?"

Yun Changqing said, "Even if it truly was Lord Li, it has little to do with the likes of us."

Feng Qi countered, "It wasn't entirely him, but he deserves the utmost credit."

Yun Changqing fell silent for a moment before asking, "What on earth happened?"

Feng Qi spent the better part of an hour reconstructing the situation in Yanbei for him.

He and Feng Yang headed south, while Murong Xue traveled north.

The Fourth Prince was assassinated, his head severed from his body.

The Prince of Yanbei was ordered by imperial decree to return to the capital, while the Crown Prince traveled north at the same time.

They converged at Jizhou. The Blood-Weeping Pavilion made its first probe—not requiring complete success, but merely the elimination of their divine guardians.

Regardless of whether it was out of paternal duty or loyalty as a vassal, the Prince of Yanbei would inevitably dispatch reinforcements.

At that point, the grand scheme split into two prongs.

First, the barbarian tribes pressed south, the Bohai forces mobilized, and Xuhai advanced eastward, instantly turning Yanbei into a battlefield surrounded on all sides.

Second, the Blood-Weeping Pavilion dispatched mighty beings of the Dao Realm to assassinate the two youths of highest status in the Divine Dynasty, thereby forcing out the head of the Divine Guards—Mo Gu.

Without the Three-Life Stone of the Wind Divine Guards, the sealing power of the Underworld-Locking Pagoda was reduced by nearly a third.

The Underworld grew restless, and the five pavilions of the Azure-Robed Tower gathered in Wuyang, trapping the Divine Emperor with the Myriad Phenomena Star Formation.

Feng Qi turned the tide by shattering the Myriad Phenomena array, which simultaneously broke the Dragon-Ascension Array, releasing a millennium's worth of imperial dragon Qi stored within Wuyang City.

Losing the suppression of the dragon Qi, the Underworld-Locking Pagoda was further weakened. The three supreme treasures of the Underworld manifested, and after a thousand years, the Nether race finally saw the light of day once again.

All of the Divine Dynasty's military might rushed to Wuyang, leaving them completely incapable of sending reinforcements north. Holding out against various factions for over a month with the territory of a single province, Yanbei saw several cities reduced to jade rubble, several others massacred, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers spilling their blood across the yellow sands before its defenses finally and helplessly collapsed.

The last emperor of the previous dynasty appeared, stepping into the Heaven-Reaching realm with the collective will of the world. He annihilated nearly half of the Underworld's upper echelon, driving them back into the depths of the earth and abruptly halting the southward momentum of the rebel coalition.

The affairs of Wuyang had concluded, but Yanbei, Xuhai, and Bohai still lay outside their control.

That mattered little; it was treated as though Yanbei had merely been lent out for a time.

However, the defeat in the war required a scapegoat, or the spittle of the common folk could drown Zhaohui Hall.

Shortly after the Battle of Wuyang concluded, the Second Prince was thrown into prison on multiple grave charges, including colluding with heretical cults, inciting rebellion, and leaking military secrets. With a heartbroken expression, the Divine Emperor penned a memorial of self-blame detailing how an imperial prince had turned his back on Yanbei's loyalty and righteousness, and how he himself had failed in his discipline. He then selected an auspicious day to pray for Yanbei's blessings amidst the gaze of the multitudes, before arranging for the Carefree Pavilion to guide public sentiment among the populace.

With an imperial prince taking the fall, the people's fury would naturally subside within a month.

No, the people's fury would not vanish; rather, it would be redirected toward the heretical cults, the barbarian tribes, and Bohai.

With the Divine Dynasty united as one, the barbarians would inevitably grow timid and turn to retreat.

With the death of the Second Prince, the suspicious nature of the Prince of Bohai would certainly breed internal doubts.

As for the Blood-Weeping Pavilion, they were even easier to handle. When all was said and done, they were merely a sect; territory brought them no benefit whatsoever, serving only to provoke wars.

Feng Zhangkong seized the advantages of heaven's timing, geographical convenience, and human harmony to launch the war of restoration, sweeping through the remaining forces like withered weeds and smashing dead wood to reclaim the majority of Yanbei's territory.

As recompense for Tianxiang's northward campaign, the Divine Dynasty would arrange for the White Elephant Gate to replace Kunlun Mountain in guarding Xuhai, occupying the Twelve Passage Mountains of Xuhai.

Firstly, the master of the White Elephant Gate was also a being of Dao Integration, which could, at least on the surface, curb Xuhai's eastward expansion. Secondly, it would prevent the tragic scenario of two tigers fighting in Dongyue, accumulating strength for the great war a century later.

At this point, Feng Qi stopped speaking.

He took a sip of tea and frowned.

The tea had already grown cold.

Much like Yun Changqing's heart.

"I don't understand."

There were far too many things he failed to comprehend.

For instance, why the Crown Prince had chosen to travel north at that exact moment.

For instance, why the Myriad Phenomena Star Formation had been linked to the Dragon-Ascension Array.

For instance, why Emperor Zhaozong of the previous Tang dynasty had become the grand eunuch of the current court.

For instance, why Feng Qi had appeared in Wuyang City at that specific juncture.

"Uncle Luohe taught us the principles of deduction back then. Could it be that you've forgotten?"

"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

"Then you should know why I am unwilling to return to Yanbei."

Without the tacit approval of the Divine Emperor, this entire scheme could never have proceeded.

Now that the events had transpired, nearly half of Yanbei's four hundred million citizens had perished, the Yanbei army's organizational structure had been shattered, and the prince's personal army was reduced to a mere few hundred men. Both out of public duty and personal grievance, Feng Qi had ample reason never to return to Yanbei.

Yun Changqing had no idea how to persuade him, nor did he even know whether he himself should still return to Yanbei.

Those who dwell in the high imperial court worry for its people.

Did the imperial court of today truly hold the lives of the common folk in its heart?

Looking at Yun Changqing, Feng Qi said earnestly, "I cannot control what others think, but my adoptive father loved me for many years. I must obtain justice for him; only then can I rest in peace."

A flash of inspiration struck Yun Changqing, as if he had grasped a clue, and he hurriedly said, "But after all, this is merely a deduction!"

When you have eliminated all which is impossible, whatever remains must be the truth.

What if not all impossibilities had been eliminated?

What if the so-called truth they had just discussed was itself an impossibility?

Feng Qi shook his head. "Out of a sense of guilt, the Divine Emperor himself told me of the truth behind this matter."

Yun Changqing hung his jaw, stunned into silence for a long while.

He felt like a complete fool.

Feng Qi patted him on the shoulder, helping him up to sit on a stool.

"Discard any disappointment or other such sentiments. Doing so would be an insult to the soldiers of Yanbei who gave their lives."

Yun Changqing remained silent.

Feng Qi continued, "Do not speak of this to anyone else, either. Never foolishly attempt to contest public opinion with the Divine Dynasty; it will only yield the opposite effect. At the very least, for now, they died for their country."

Still, Yun Changqing said nothing.

Feng Qi sighed and said, "I know this matter is not easy to accept, but the dead are gone, and the living still have unfinished business."

With reddened eyes and fighting back a sob, Yun Changqing asked, "Why?"

Before Feng Qi could reply, he growled in a low roar, "Yanbei is the great gateway of the northern frontier! Even setting aside its strategic importance, what about the citizens of Yanbei? What about the soldiers? What possible benefit could sacrificing them bring to the Divine Dynasty?"

Feng Qi was silent for a moment before answering, "A hundred harms, not a single benefit."

Yun Changqing froze, muttering in a daze, "Then why?"

Feng Qi stated, "Because the damage inflicted upon our enemies was far greater."

To Yanbei, this was a profound catastrophe, but to the human race as a whole, it was not.

The Underworld had suffered a crippling blow, and Wuyang would be secure for a century without worry. The various sects and schools no longer needed to expend massive amounts of resources annually to maintain Wuyang's teleportation arrays. Most importantly, the Divine Dynasty's two divine beasts and four divine guards no longer needed to be permanently stationed in Wuyang and could instead patrol the realm on behalf of the Emperor.

The barbarian tribes and the grassland demon clans had lost at least thirty percent of their soldiers in this battle, with countless powerhouses perishing. If not for the presence of the Great Ming Duke, and if not for the Divine Dynasty's need for the grasslands as a buffer zone against the Demon race, the barbarian tribes would have been utterly exterminated in this conflict.

Xuhai had lost several vice-pavilions and the Master of the Soul-Seizing Pavilion. Even though the Master of the Blood-Weeping Pavilion had mastered the Blood-Weeping Scripture, it would take time for such mighty figures to reappear, making it difficult for Xuhai to make any major moves in the near future.

As for Bohai... the Moving Flower Palace had lost Zisang Buzhou and might seize a sliver of survival through the fall of a Dao Integration master, but the Bohai Prince's Estate had zero chance of survival. The Divine Dynasty could take this opportunity to reclaim the Prince of Bohai's fiefdom and further curtail the power of the nobility.

Yun Changqing took a deep, shuddering breath and slowly exhaled. "Didn't you say the mastermind was Li Jingxing? I refuse to believe he suffered any losses."

Having learned the truth, he could no longer bring himself to use the respectful title of "Lord Li."

Feng Qi shook his head once more. "He suffered losses where everyone else is concerned, but Li Jingxing is the greatest victor of this war, without a single exception."

At the very least, all of Li Jingxing's motivations for waging this war had been realized.

Several masters of Dao Integration had fallen.

Millions of soldiers had been smashed to jade fragments.

Hundreds of millions of common folk had perished.

Though the primordial Qi these people fed back into the Dao Abyss Continent was still limited, a crucial step had nonetheless been taken.

Yun Changqing did not understand, so Feng Qi patiently explained Li Jingxing's core philosophy to him once more.

With a complexion as pale as earth, Yun Changqing thought to himself that Li... Jingxing was nothing short of a demon, yet the Divine Dynasty had lauded him as a hero among the common people for all these years.

"What should we do next?" Yun Changqing asked.

"What else can we do? Live our lives well and cultivate diligently," Feng Qi replied.

"Ah?" Yun Changqing was extremely taken aback, thinking to himself that shouldn't their first priority be seeking revenge?

"Revenge for what?" Feng Qi sighed. "Are you capable of defeating Li Jingxing, or can you defeat the Divine Emperor?"

Yun Changqing was left speechless.

Feng Qi continued, "Vengeance is a necessity, but life must go on. All we can do is live properly, do whatever is within our power, and ponder these matters once the right opportunity arises."

For him, raising his realm was the primary task, whereas for Yun Changqing, the battlefield remained his ultimate destination.

Both individuals inside the room knew this clearly in their hearts.

Yun Changqing closed his eyes, keeping them shut for a long time before finally opening them. "Since that is the case, this subordinate will take his leave."

Feng Qi nodded.

Yun Changqing asked, "Does Your Highness not wish to see the soldiers of the Prince's Army?"

Feng Qi did not respond.

Yun Changqing understood the shame he felt.

After a long while, Yun Changqing executed a respectful military salute and turned to walk out.