55: A swordsman descends the mountain, becoming the Grand Tutor of the Zhao Kingdom!

Chu Xuanjin lay on the rocking chair, swaying gently, the teacup in his hand emitting wisps of steam.

He knew that sending Su Linger would not solve the "demon" that had undergone Possession.

Let alone Su Linger, even if he were to take action personally, facing the remnant soul of a former Immortal King, he might not be able to easily secure a victory.

Such an old monster—who knows how many mutual-destruction trump cards it has hidden.

He never thought about being a savior.

"The Medicine King's remnant soul, filled with towering resentment, its ultimate goal must be to slaughter its way back to the Immortal Realm to seek revenge."

His thoughts flowed.

"This tiny Eastern Wasteland cannot hold him. He will head east, slaughtering living beings to restore his strength, and will inevitably step into the Central Continent Sacred Domain."

By then, the ancient Holy Lands and Imperial Dynasties of the Central Continent would naturally be the ones with a headache.

What he needed to do was not to clash head-on.

Instead, he would go with the flow and lead this muddy water to where it ought to go.

Su Linger's trip was ostensibly to provide assistance, but in reality, it was for Cultivate.

Cultivate the Dao of governing a country, Cultivate the Dao of order.

That "Nine Palaces Heavenly River Formation" was not meant for killing the enemy.

It was meant to draw a circle on the ground as a prison, to protect the billions of innocent lives in Zhao Kingdom, leaving them a way out.

As long as that demon could not continue to obtain blood food within Zhao Kingdom, it would naturally go elsewhere.

When that time came, with just a little guidance, it could be driven toward the Central Continent.

In this game of chess, he was playing an open scheme.

"As for my Named Disciple..."

The corner of Chu Xuanjin's mouth curled into an arc.

"Whether he can protect this mortal Dynasty depends on his own fortune."

Just then, the token at his waist transmitted a slight fluctuation.

It was Ye Chenfeng.

Chu Xuanjin's mind stirred, and he connected the "call."

"Revered Master."

Ye Chenfeng's voice came from the Divine Mountain, more composed and sharper than before.

"Disciple has finished Cultivate, and does not know... where I should go?"

Chu Xuanjin smiled.

He could feel that Ye Chenfeng's sword had been sharpened enough.

Staying on the Divine Mountain any longer would only blunt his edge.

"Chenfeng, what do you think a sword is?" Chu Xuanjin asked.

"A sword is a tool of slaughter." Ye Chenfeng answered without hesitation.

"Then what is a hero?" Chu Xuanjin asked again.

Ye Chenfeng fell silent.

"Descend the mountain." Chu Xuanjin's voice drifted over.

"Go to this Eastern Wasteland, walk around, and take a look."

"If you see injustice and want to intervene, draw your sword and intervene. If you see someone you dislike and want to kill, draw your sword and kill."

"You don't need to ask me about right or wrong, and you don't need to worry about the consequences."

Chu Xuanjin's voice carried an indisputable dominance.

"You only need to rely on your own heart to distinguish."

"Go walk a path that belongs only to you, Ye Chenfeng, the path of a sword hero."

"The sky will not collapse."

"Even if it does collapse, the Myriad Dao Divine Sect will carry it for you."

On the other end of the "call" was a long silence.

After a long while.

Ye Chenfeng's voice sounded again.

That voice carried a trace of unprecedented relief and release.

"Disciple... understands."

One month later, Zhao Kingdom, Tianjing City.

Within the Imperial Palace, the atmosphere was oppressive.

The new Emperor, Zhao Wuji, wore a nine-clawed dragon robe and sat on the dragon throne, his face haggard.

The Imperial Jade Seal in his hand emitted a warm Dragon Qi, constantly nourishing his body, but it could not dispel the gloom between his brows.

In just one month, the demon had wreaked havoc, breaking through thirteen frontier cities in succession.

Wherever it passed, the land was charred for thousands of miles, and living beings were extinct.

The army he sent to guard the country was like paper in front of the opponent, collapsing at the first touch.

He had thought about seeking help from his Sect.

But he did not dare.

He was just a Named Disciple; what qualifications did he have to disturb such an existence as his Revered Master?

The Immortal Artifact and divine techniques bestowed by Revered Master were already a tremendous favor.

If he couldn't even handle this small matter, what face would he have to call himself a member of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect?

"Your Majesty, urgent report from the Eastern Border!"

An attendant scrambled into the great hall, his voice filled with fear.

"That... that demon has broken through Black Water Pass! It is killing its way in the direction of Tianjing!"

Boom!

The court officials were in an uproar.

Zhao Wuji's body trembled violently, and the memorials in his hand scattered all over the floor.

Black Water Pass was the final barrier of Tianjing City.

If the pass fell, the capital would be in danger.

Just as his spirit was agitated and he was nearly desperate.

A cold, clear voice sounded from outside the hall without warning.

"A mere demon, nothing worth mentioning."

The voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

That voice, like an ice spring in the dead of winter, instantly extinguished the panic and heat of the entire court.

Everyone looked toward the outside of the hall in unison.

They saw a young girl wearing an ice-blue long dress, with a peerless face and a cold, immortal-like temperament, walking slowly into the great hall.

With every step she took, it seemed as though formless ice lotuses bloomed beneath her feet.

The temperature of the entire hall dropped by several degrees.

"Senior... Senior Sister!"

Zhao Wuji looked at that figure, his dispirited eyes instantly replaced by indescribable ecstasy!

He scrambled down from the dragon throne and arrived before the young girl, disregarding imperial dignity, directly performing a Disciple's salute.

"Disciple Zhao Wuji, greets Senior Sister Su!"

Su Linger looked at his disheveled appearance and nodded slightly.

"Junior Brother, no need for formalities."

Her gaze swept over the dumbfounded officials below.

"Revered Master ordered me to come and assist you in quelling this chaos."

Zhao Wuji's eyes turned red instantly.

Revered Master... Revered Master had not forgotten him!

A huge warm current flowed through his heart, dispelling all the fear and helplessness of the past few days.

"Senior Sister, you've come at the perfect time!"

He was so excited he was incoherent.

"That demon..."

"I already know." Su Linger interrupted him.

From that day on.

In the court of Zhao Kingdom, there was an additional beautiful and cold piece of scenery.

Every day when Zhao Wuji held court, by his side, there would be an extra chair made of ten-thousand-year cold jade.

Sitting on the chair was the ice Fairy whom he respectfully addressed as "National Preceptor."

She never interfered in state affairs, nor did she speak much.

Most of the time, she just sat quietly, listening to those ministers arguing until their faces were red over some trivial matters.

She found it very novel.

So, governing a country was so tedious.

So, between people, besides killing and fighting, there were so many calculations and compromises.

Zhao Wuji respected her like a god.

Every day after court, he would personally send all the memorials he couldn't decide on to Su Linger and ask for her advice.

"Senior Sister, the thirteen cities of the Eastern Border are completely destroyed, with millions of refugees. Now that the national treasury is empty, how should they be resettled?"

Su Linger looked at the map, her fingertips pointing lightly upon it.

"Relocate them to the Western Border."

"The Western Border?" Zhao Wuji was stunned. "The Western Border is bitterly cold, and the land is barren. How can it support these millions of refugees?"

"If the land is barren, then reclaim it. If there is insufficient water, then divert it."

Su Linger's voice remained flat.

"I observe that beneath the terrain of your Western Border, there is abundant water vapor. You only need to set up a 'Dragon-Drawing Formation' to mobilize the underground water dragons and turn them into sweet springs to irrigate thousands of miles."

"As for reclaiming the land..."

She paused.

"Those idle troops of yours, what is the use of keeping them?"

Zhao Wuji felt as if he had been struck by lightning, suddenly enlightened.

He asked again: "Senior Sister, the demon's whereabouts are uncertain, and our army has been defeated repeatedly, with morale low. What should we do?"

Su Linger raised her eyes and looked outside the Imperial City, in the direction where the demon was wreaking havoc.

"If he wants to kill, let him kill."

"What?" Zhao Wuji couldn't believe his ears.

"What he wants is blood food, is resentment." Su Linger explained, "No matter how many troops you send, it is just delivering food to him."

"From today on, gather all forces and hold Tianjing firmly."

"At the same time, with Tianjing as the center, set up that 'Nine Palaces Heavenly River Formation'."

She handed the Formation Plate bestowed by Revered Master to Zhao Wuji.

"Tell your people that within the Formation, it is absolutely safe."

"Outside the Formation, it is a forbidden zone of death."

"Use all your strength to guard this last piece of pure land."

Zhao Wuji looked at the Formation Plate in his hand, then at Su Linger's calm eyes, and for the first time, a feeling called "awe" arose in his heart.

This Senior Sister was younger than him.

Yet her vision, her perspective, and that calmness of treating thousands of troops as nothing were far above him, a mortal Emperor.