240: After Chapter 241, you'll have to come and see what's going on in this mess.

The dust storms subsided slightly, and night fell.

Inside the large tent, priceless Persian carpets covered the ground, with intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

Several people lay scattered about in various poses, yet all exuded a sense of laziness.

Lu Chen rested his head on his arms. The skylight of the tent was wide open, revealing an ink-blue, velvet-like night sky where stars twinkled like crushed diamonds.

Yin Susu lay on her side next to him, twirling a strand of hair with her finger as she gazed at the starry sky. "This godforsaken place is hot enough to roast a camel during the day, but it's actually quite cool at night."

Yin Susu rolled over and lay prone on the carpet, propping her chin on her elbows, indifferent to the fact that her charms were already exposed.

She curiously poked the patterns on the carpet. "This carpet is quite nice. The stitching is fine, no worse than the tributes in the palace. I didn't expect this desolate place to have such good things."

Lu Chen was completely captivated by the sight of Yin Susu rolling over, his Divine Soul in a daze.

Suppressing his impulses, he said, "When the Ilkhanate was first established and Hulagu went on his western campaign, he abducted many skilled craftsmen from the Central Plains."

"Much of the craftsmanship of these Persian carpets was passed down from that time."

"To this day, they still possess this level of skill."

Fang Yanqing sat up, hugging her knees with her arms, and remarked with feeling, "No matter how good the skill, it cannot save a crumbling empire."

Ji Xiaofu pulled her thin clothes closer and said softly, "It's a pity for those craftsmen from Huaxia who were abducted and brought here."

"Forced away from their homes, despite their exceptional skills, they ultimately buried their bones in a foreign land." Her tone carried a hint of regret.

Having bared it all and gradually integrated into this small circle, Dai Qisi's eyes flickered when she heard them discussing terms like 'Ilkhanate' and 'craftsmen', but she did not speak.

Persia was once the place where her ancestors lived, and it was once the land where Persian Manichaeism held its glory.

However, it was later conquered by the scimitars of the Mongols.

Later, Persia itself was gone, and Persian Manichaeism could no longer hold its head high.

Lu Chen curled his lip, seemingly with a bit of disdain. "In fact, the Mongol nobles of this Ilkhanate have long forgotten their ancestor, Tengri, casting him to the back of their minds. One by one, they've shamelessly run off to believe in the Allah of Islam."

Lu Chen paused. "The Golden Horde we took down a few days ago was also built by Mongols, right? The Mongols there have long stopped believing in Tengri as well!"

"Over in the Golden Horde, influenced by the Rus' Principalities and close contact with places like Byzantium and Genoa, a large portion of the Mongol nobles believe in Eastern Orthodoxy, while some believe in Catholicism."

"Pfft—" Yin Susu couldn't help but laugh. "These Mongols are really interesting! Believing in Allah on one hand and that Catholicism you mentioned on the other, they have no backbone of their own at all! They're truly like grass on a wall, swaying whichever way the wind blows!"

Yang Huangyi had exerted the most effort during their earlier sparring and seemed a bit tired. She sat up rubbing her eyes, just in time to hear Yin Susu's words, and chimed in groggily, "Weren't their ancestors quite good at fighting? Why have they become so incompetent?"

"What's the use of being good at fighting?" Lu Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable certainty. "Conquering the world depends on bravery, but governing it depends on brains, culture, and the roots of faith."

"If you lose your soul, no matter how large an area you occupy or how strong a country you build, you'll eventually just be making a wedding dress for someone else."

"We are the orthodox lineage of the Daoist Jiejiao; this point cannot be ambiguous at all!"

He scanned the group, his gaze finally landing on Dai Qisi. "Look at the current Ilkhanate, plagued by constant internal strife and divided rule."

"The Mongols themselves are nearly being assimilated by pagans. What talk is there of dominating a region? What talk of lasting for ten thousand generations?"

The tent fell silent for a moment.

Fang Yanqing said calmly, "Husband is right. Since ancient times, the righteous and the evil cannot coexist."

"If we don't clear the source and lose our roots, no matter how powerful our military force, it's just a tower built on shifting sands, scattering as soon as the wind blows."

Lu Chen's gaze turned to Dai Qisi again. "Dai Qisi."

Dai Qisi's body trembled slightly as she raised her head to meet Lu Chen's gaze.

"Look at this place," Lu Chen gestured casually with his chin toward the land outside the tent shrouded in darkness.

"Nowadays, Islam is the sole dominant force, and their voice drowns out all other sects. It seems the days of Persian Manichaeism are very difficult!"

Dai Qisi's lips moved, but in the end, she only nodded, a flash of gloom crossing the depths of her eyes.

It was more than just difficult; looking at the Ming Cult along the way, it was simply precarious, liable to be completely wiped out at any moment.

A meaningful curve curled at the corner of Lu Chen's mouth. "I don't like a single power dominating. After all, this land will definitely belong to the Great Ming Dynasty."

Looking at Dai Qisi, his gaze sharpened. "You have now obtained a divine technique to cleanse your marrow and refine your bones, and your Internal Energy Foundation is extraordinary. You've even practiced the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth to the seventh level..."

He paused, his voice carrying an unquestionable command, yet also a hint of playfulness.

"In the future, you will tread this muddy water of Persia."

"Stir it up; the messier, the better."

"Let those followers of Allah, who only know how to chant scriptures, see what is meant by 'The holy fire shines brightly, illuminating the world'!"

Dai Qisi raised her head, a captivating brilliance erupting in her eyes. It was excitement, joy, and a hint of bashfulness.

She took a deep breath, suppressing her churning emotions, and solemnly bowed, her forehead touching the ground.

"Dai Qisi... obeys the decree of the Cult Leader, Your Majesty!"

Lu Chen helped Dai Qisi up. Her skin felt like congealed fat, warm and cool to the touch—truly a rare beauty. "Rice must be eaten bite by bite, and the road must be walked step by step."

"In this game of the Ilkhanate, you go and place the first stone."

"Once I've dealt with those Mongols who converted to God and integrated the power of the grasslands, this place will surely be the territory of the Great Ming."

There was a moment of silence in the tent.

"Oh," Yin Susu stretched, breaking the brief silence. "Husband, it seems you have a plan all figured out. Let's rest a bit longer."

"Anyway, we're in no hurry to travel tomorrow. That 'Ice and Fire Dual Heavens' you invented is actually quite fun..."

Lu Chen looked at the blushing Yin Susu. "Haha, I like the Ice and Fire Dual Heavens very much as well. This time, you teach Dai Qisi; she isn't very proficient yet."

The atmosphere in the tent instantly became subtle.

Dai Qisi, kneeling on the ground, stiffened almost imperceptibly.

She slowly raised her head. On that peerless face that once captivated all living beings, there was no longer any of the aloofness and pride of the Persian Holy Maidens.

In its place was a nearly pious obedience, and in the movement of her eyes, there was even a hint of... being overwhelmed by the favor.

Such an expression appearing on Dai Qisi's face was more unbelievable than seeing a camel climb a tree.

Yin Susu propped up her chin, watching this scene with great interest, a smile on her lips as if she were enjoying a spectacular show, her gaze darting back and forth between Lu Chen and Dai Qisi.