Immortal Fairies Always Have Designs on Me-Chapter 857 - 366: Zhiyu Wants to Learn, Dongfang Xinglan_3

A scout had just left when another one came galloping in: "Report—Hui Feng City has been burned to ashes, the people are fleeing south!"

"Report—"

Listening to the reports from the scouts, the General's face turned ashen: "A group of lowly folk, why run anywhere else but the Southwest..."

"Kill them, kill them all!" he growled, but immediately realized his loss of decorum and coughed lightly: "As usual, catch up with these people, let them rest in place, if anyone dares to defy, treat them the same as rebels!"

'This number of people from so many cities is not a small amount, cannot be forced directly, has to be dealt with slowly like boiling a frog in lukewarm water...'

The General exhaled lightly: "Convey my military orders, the entire army march urgently!"

······

Eastern Dynasty, Southwest Jianyuan State, Jiangde City.

The Southern Guardian Prefecture is now both the residence of King Qin, Dongfang Xinglan, and the command center for her army.

In the courtyard, a number of female officials are each performing their duties, not long after, an adjutant clad in armor enters the main hall, removing his helmet.

"Greetings to King Qin!"

"Hong Ying, how is it?" Dongfang Xinglan looked up at her maid turned adjutant, who grew up with her.

"Indeed, West Huang City, Hui Feng City, and other cities have been burned to the ground, the local populace fled south, but many have already been intercepted by the border army heading south and forced into the army."

Hong Ying spoke truthfully: "According to the Hawk's message, the person responsible for the city destructions is the same person, their strength is at the level of a Martial Saint, but it's unclear which Martial Saint."

"Martial Saint..."

Dongfang Xinglan narrowed her eyes, pondering which Martial Saint could brush past the garrisoned strongmen in these cities, setting dozens ablaze within a short period and retreating unscathed?

When she was in charge of the Jinyi Guard, Dongfang Xinglan was well aware of the strength of all the Martial Saints within the Dynasty, as their dossiers were well recorded by the Jinyi Guard. Yet she was confident that even the Chief Commander of the Five Armies Commander's Mansion, ranked first among the Eighteen Martial Saints, did not possess the strength to burn so many cities in such a short time.

The city garrison, strongmen, coupled with the exhaustion from traveling... There simply wasn't the time to burn each city so cleanly.

So... either this person's true strength is that of a Martial God, or this Martial Saint has many skilled experts under their command.

Dongfang Xinglan leaned towards the latter, because upon her return from outside the border and visiting the Divine Temple to pay respects to Emperor Tedi, she knew clearly that it was impossible for the Dynasty to produce a sixth Martial God.

Unless... a seventh Martial God were to emerge.

But the probability of that was too low.

Dongfang Xinglan gently tapped the armrest, then asked: "What of Red Maple State?"

"The entire Gu Family has been executed." Hong Ying grinned: "The Southwest Nineteen States are now entirely under Your Highness's control!"

Dongfang Xinglan nodded slightly, her next target was the whole world.

She stood up, turned to look at the map hanging on the wall, her eyelids slightly drooping, memories of scenes from outside the border filled her mind.

Since returning inside the border, Dongfang Xinglan had scoffed at herself more than once, realizing that she, who proclaimed herself the rightful ruler of the realm, was actually the unrefined 'barbarian'.

And this fact... had been kept hidden by the three gods she had believed in since birth.

Father, the State Preceptor, and others were accomplices!

Not only them, but certain individuals outside the border were too.

Having witnessed the might of cultivators outside the border, she knew clearly that if the outside truly wanted to attack, the combined force of the Three Great Dynasties would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, bringing about their own ruin.

So this matter that mustn't come to light definitely has outside involvement, and the Buddhist Sect is one of the parties!

But recently, she learned during her outing from the border that the Buddhist Sect was moved away by Wandao Sect...

Reflecting on this, Dongfang Xinglan slightly clenched her hands, the Eastern Dynasty facing the dire threat of the Buddhist Sect, which was relocated with just a word from Wandao Sect...

"West Jing Pass is manned, right?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, it's been arranged."

"Hmm." Dongfang Xinglan turned and looked at Hong Ying: "Not a single bird is allowed to escape to outside the border and contact the barbarians!"

"Yes, my lady!"

Dongfang Xinglan placed her hand on the desk, murmuring softly: "Only now..."

She had to ensure her strength in this contest, and also ensure negotiating power after seizing the throne.

If she revealed the truth at West Jing Pass now, not only would people flee outside the border, but the gods of the Divine Temple and the State Preceptor of the Imperial City might act prematurely.

She needed to guarantee her strength in the struggle for the world, and ensure she didn't expose the fact that she had memories of outside the border.

At present, she didn't have the full strength needed to completely break with the Imperial City.

But this strength, she could possess very soon.

'The changes brought by Crossing Tribulation are surprisingly vast...'

Dongfang Xinglan tightened her grip, lifted her gaze and looked at Hong Ying again: "You and Luo Xian lead the troops north, bring over the refugees fleeing south, if there's a clash with the border army, seize the people directly, try your best to rescue them!"

"Yes, my lady."

Dongfang Xinglan asked again: "Has Song Zhong sent any messages recently?"

After handing over the Jinyi Guard and taking the title of King Qin, she specially arranged for Song Zhong to become the Jinyi Guard Commander to be her source of intelligence; naturally, he was an indispensable key piece in her game.

Because to quickly unify the realm and negotiate with Lu Jin'an, Song Zhong, ranked among the Eighteen Martial Saints, must complete certain tasks for her.

"Not yet." Hong Ying shook her head: "Commander Song has not sent a message for more than half a month, Your Highness, do you think he might have been exposed?"

And recently, many Jinyi Guard members have been publicly executed in Shengjing...

Hearing this, Dongfang Xinglan's heart sank slightly, if Song Zhong was exposed...

In her contemplation, a female official with a hawk perched on her shoulder hastily entered from outside: "Your Highness, there is news from Commander Song."