Chapter 883
Infiltration of the Eastern Heaven
"This old servant greets the young master."
The moment he entered, Old Ghost Crimson Fire immediately performed a grand salute and knelt down.
Even though he was the patriarch of the family and the guardian of a region, he always had a very clear understanding of his own identity.
Being a "servant" is not something to be ashamed of; on the contrary, it is a special identity and bond, an advantage that others do not have.
Whether it's Zi Jun or Zhang Ming, no matter how high their current status is, they can never gain Song Changsheng's absolute trust.
But he was different. He was a henchman whom Song Changsheng had personally promoted. His life and death were in Song Changsheng's hands. If he had even the slightest disloyal intention, it would be detected. There was no possibility of him rebelling.
He only needs to act properly and show his face occasionally to express his master-servant relationship; whatever benefits he may receive, they will not be shortchanged.
Because Song Changsheng is a person who cherishes the past.
Therefore, the identity of "servant" should not only not be discarded, but should also be publicized so that everyone knows it!
Of course, he is a smart man.
He knew that if he promoted it too deliberately, it would only provoke Song Changsheng's resentment. He never lowered his posture in public because he was an elder of the Song family from another clan, a garrison commander, and represented the face of the Song family.
A private meeting without outsiders is different; lowering one's stance can actually improve the relationship between the two parties.
Song Changsheng was genuinely pleased. He smiled and helped him up, then feigned displeasure and said, "We're all from the same generation, why bother with all this?"
"Young Master will always be Young Master. No matter how many identities this old servant has now, it will not change. After all, all of this was given to me by Young Master." Old Ghost Crimson Fire bowed and said with a fawning expression.
“You are now a regional governor, and it’s not appropriate for you to continue like this. I plan to erase the divine soul mark on you and give you your freedom. What do you say?” Song Changsheng said solemnly.
Upon hearing this, Old Ghost Chi Huo felt a surge of emotion, but still shook his head and said, "No need, young master. Over the years, this old servant has long since gotten used to it."
Besides, the young master has never treated this old servant as a slave over the years, so keeping this item as a memento is fine.”
Song Changsheng's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, and finally he nodded slightly and said, "Since you are unwilling, then so be it."
He sat down directly next to the old ghost of the Crimson Fire and asked in a testing tone, "Do you know why I've kept you here this time?"
"Could it be... because of this restructuring?"
Song Changsheng nodded and said, "That's part of the reason, but it's not the main one."
This time, I expanded the [Blazing Sun Guard] to five thousand men, far exceeding the actual needs of Yangzhou. The reason for this is not only to deal with the possible beast tide that may come at any time, but also to bring the elites of the major families in Yangzhou under the control of the Garrison Command.
Of these five thousand people, at least half must be cultivators from the major Foundation Establishment families of Yangzhou; this is a strict requirement.
The remaining ones will be selected from other smaller factions and independent cultivators.
Do not be stingy with Foundation Establishment Pills. As long as they have enough merit, support them in establishing their foundations, thereby breaking the existing pattern in Yangzhou and further dividing them.
A united Yangzhou is not in the family's interest; you should understand that.
I don't trust anyone else to handle this, so I'm entrusting it to you.
"Once this is accomplished, and the three prefectures of Yangzhou are all garrisoned, you will become the governor of Yangzhou, and the Chi clan will forever be stationed in Yangzhou!"
When the last two words were uttered, even the old ghost of the Crimson Fire couldn't help but feel his heart race.
The Song dynasty only controlled three and a half prefectures, and Yangzhou was undoubtedly the most populous and prosperous.
However, Song Changsheng bypassed Song Qingxia, who was also a garrison commander, and promised him the position of governor.
The governor has a high degree of autonomy and holds great power, far surpassing the garrison commander.
The first governor was of great significance, with immense potential for development.
If we can take it down, the Akashi clan will have a guarantee for the next few hundred years.
As for the side tasks, he ignored them completely. These were things he had always been doing, only this time he was being a bit more ruthless.
To put it bluntly, it's because the major families in Yangzhou have become too close over the years, and their loyalty is insufficient.
While it might not shake the Song family's rule, it could still be a major headache in critical moments if they were to join forces with some unscrupulous external forces.
Song Changsheng's strategy was to introduce fresh blood, disrupt the existing structure, and then control their elite forces, thus ensuring his peace of mind.
This group of people can serve as both thugs and hostages, truly killing two birds with one stone.
Old Ghost Chi Huo was well aware of his scheme, and patted his chest to assure him: "Please rest assured, young master, even if they are a united front, this old servant will definitely be able to tear them apart and leave no hidden dangers that may threaten the stability of the family."
“I am aware of your abilities. Apart from this matter, as soon as possible, select a group of eligible cultivators with spiritual roots from the Blazing Fire Hall and send them to the Whispering Wind Hall. They will be of great use to the clan.”
The fewer people who know about this, the better.
Every year, the Song family selects people from the Blazing Fire Hall to supplement the Wind Whisper Hall's intelligence network. Therefore, Old Ghost Chi Huo didn't ask any questions and agreed directly. Little did he know that this was actually Song Changsheng's main purpose in meeting him.
He didn't bring Chen Lingxiu back from so far away just to make her look like a decoration.
This is a sharp dagger, a sword of revenge. If used properly, it can bring enormous benefits to the Song family.
His target was none other than the Eastern Heaven Alliance, which had destroyed the Chen family.
It's really crazy to say that he's just a minor Golden Core cultivator, yet he's plotting against a Nascent Soul power. He's incredibly audacious.
Before a Nascent Soul True Monarch, the Song family is nothing more than a slightly larger ant, which can be crushed at will.
But this was not an idea that Song Changsheng came up with on a whim.
If the Song clan wants to truly rise to power, it cannot remain confined to this remote corner of the border. The resources here are far too scarce. If it wants to develop, it will either have to compete with the demon race or vie with the sea race.
Even the greatest potential can only be exhausted in endless struggles.
The dozens of cultivation worlds on the border only managed to provide for one Myriad Manifestations Palace.
For thousands of years, the power of the Vientiane Palace has hardly seen any significant growth, remaining below an invisible line.
Song Changsheng usually refers to this line as the "bottleneck".
There is no doubt that the development of Vientiane Palace has reached a bottleneck.
Because on this barren land, there is simply no way to move upwards.
Having witnessed the grandeur of the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty and even the Array Dao Academy, Song Changsheng's horizons were broadened considerably, and he now harbors great ambitions.
He himself was not satisfied with this, and neither was Song.
If he doesn't want to follow the same path as Vientiane Palace, he must break free from this cage.
The Chaotic Ancient Domain can only serve as a fulcrum; it is far from becoming a springboard.
However, he already had a good goal: the Eastern Heaven Cultivation World.
There are many reasons.
Its geographical location, situated between the western and southern continents, offers convenient access in all directions and abundant resources.
The Eastern Heaven Alliance has only been established for a short time and has not yet fully gotten on track. The lack of unity among its members presents the best opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
First, plant the seeds of conflict. When the Song family's power surpasses that of the Eastern Heaven Alliance, they can then overthrow the already destroyed Eastern Heaven Chen family in their name.
Don't underestimate this title.
Those who act with righteousness always seek a just cause. Chen Lingxiu is of the Chen bloodline, so revenge is a matter of course.
If we don't wear this skin, the pressure from the outside world will be immense.
Of course, her strength was definitely not enough, so she needed to borrow the name of the Reincarnation True Lord.
As long as they can overthrow the Eastern Heaven Alliance and occupy the Eastern Heaven cultivation world, the Song family's reach can extend beyond the Tianshan Mountains, venturing into a wider world and escaping the prison of the frontier.
The only difficulty in this plan is that Song Changsheng's cultivation speed must be fast.
His opponent is a true lord, and the other party will not stand still and wait for him.
This is where talent comes into play, and fortunately, he has some confidence in this area.
The purpose of obtaining this group of people from Old Ghost Chi Huo is to hand them over to Chen Lingxiu, so that she can be responsible for infiltrating the Eastern Heaven Alliance. Driven by family blood feud, she will definitely be more dedicated than anyone else when carrying out the mission.
Of course, no wall is completely airtight, and since it is an infiltration, there is a risk of failure or exposure.
The selection of personnel is very important. According to the Song family's consistent principle, these spies will only be given code names and will not know anything about the Song family. As long as Chen Lingxiu, the source, is not captured alive, the Song family will not be exposed.
The reason he specifically instructed Old Ghost Chi Huo to pay attention to secrecy was to avoid the spies from the Golden Crow Sect or the Heavenly Vein Sect discovering anything.
Just as the Song family had been building an intelligence network, these two families had never given up their efforts to infiltrate the Song family.
The Wind Whisper Palace has identified several suspicious individuals and placed them all under surveillance.
These are just some of the small fry who have been discovered; there are definitely more who haven't been discovered yet, and some of them may even hold certain positions.
These are all unavoidable.
These spies are always able to find clues from the smallest, most inconspicuous traces, so it's important to avoid risks as much as possible.
Of course, there's no need to tell Old Ghost Chi Huo all the ins and outs, since too much talk leads to mistakes, and there are definitely more spies in Yangzhou than in Lingzhou.
He immediately changed the subject, saying, "By the way, there's some news you might not know. Li'er has recently gone into seclusion to prepare for breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage."
"Is that so? It's all thanks to the young master's guidance."
Although excitement appeared on Old Ghost Chi Huo's face, his heart was filled with complex emotions.
Chi Li was a son whom he did not value from childhood; he valued Chi Ming more than him.
But now, this son whom he didn't value has unknowingly moved ahead of Chi Ming.
If he can successfully break through, the Chi clan will be a family with two Purple Mansions.
He was so young, and there was still a teacher-student relationship between him and Song Changsheng.
If he succeeds as the head of the Chi clan, the Chi clan can prosper for at least several hundred more years.
But if we do that, wouldn't we have to give up the Crimson Sea?
"No matter what, I must get a [Breakthrough Pill] for Ming'er!" Old Ghost Crimson Fire secretly strengthened his resolve.
Song Changsheng noticed his emotional changes and roughly understood the reasons behind them.
He simply couldn't understand Chi Huo's obsession. They were both his sons, so why did he have to differentiate between them based on their closeness? Why did the scales always have to tip towards one person?
He didn't deny Chi Ming's excellence, but how could the disciple he, Song, have been any less outstanding?
Even if we don't insist on changing the heir, at least he should be given the same level of "love," right?
However, although he felt somewhat sorry for Chi Li, it was ultimately their family matter, and he couldn't overstep his bounds and interfere.
However, he quietly put away the [Barrier Breaking Pill] that he originally intended to give to Chi Huo.
"Chi Ming should be breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage soon, right?" Song Changsheng asked, seemingly concerned.
A smile immediately bloomed on the face of the old ghost of the red fire, and he said with pride, "Ming'er broke through to the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment a few years ago. Once she is completely stable, she can consider breaking through again."
This old servant plans to use contribution points to exchange for a [Breakthrough Pill] for him; it all depends on his luck.
"Hmm, not bad, I'm looking forward to attending his Purple Mansion Ceremony."
"How could we trouble the young master with such a ceremony for a junior? It would be too much of an honor for him."
He verbally refused, but his face was beaming with joy, a stark contrast to how he treated Chi Li.
Song Changsheng immediately felt a bit bored and lost the will to continue the conversation. He offered a few words of encouragement and then dismissed the boy, calling in Song Yulong, who had been waiting for a long time.
"How has your adjustment been going, brother?"
He gestured for him to sit down and went straight to the point.
"Thank you for your concern, Clan Chief. Everything is quite good. I plan to use my contribution points to exchange for a [Breakthrough Pill] first, and then go into seclusion."
Song Yulong no longer needs to compete with Chi Huo and the others for those five [Breakthrough Pills]. The Song family can now freely exchange them using contribution points, and he has enough contribution points for himself.
"That's great. If you encounter any difficulties, please raise them promptly."
"At least we have experience now, so there are no major difficulties. I'm just worried that I might disappoint the clan leader."
Song Changsheng said with displeasure, "Why are you so short of breath? You've lost your confidence. How can you overcome your inner demons and reach a higher level?"
Don't hesitate, just boldly move forward. After breaking through, the last garrison commander position in Jiangzhou will be yours.
Upon hearing this, Song Yulong immediately perked up and said in a deep voice, "Yulong will never let the clan leader down!"
After making his bold statement, his expression shifted, and he seemed hesitant to speak.
Song Changsheng couldn't help but find it amusing, and stood up to ask, "What made you hesitate so much?"
"Clan leader, compared to the position of garrison commander, I actually prefer to go to the East Sea." After hesitating for a long time, Song Yulong finally mustered up the courage to say it.
"For the [Splendid Banner]?"
Song Yulong nodded heavily.
“I understand your feelings. Sooner or later, the clan will take action against the Embroidered Banner to seek justice for Uncle Lu Ke. But we cannot act at the wrong time, as that will only cause more bloodshed among our clansmen. That is not what you want to see, is it?”
"Now focus on your breakthrough, then go to Jiangzhou to take over Elder Yuan's command of the Demon Suppression Guard. When the time is right, I will let you and Yu Shi lead the troops to avenge the blood feud of that year. I mean what I say." Song Changsheng reached out and placed his hand on Song Yulong's shoulder, speaking earnestly.
He knew very well that this matter was Song Yulong's inner demon, and the reason for his previous failure to break through was most likely because of this. Therefore, he had to give a definite answer to calm his mind, otherwise he would repeat the same mistake.
"Jade Dragon obeys!"
After Song Yulong left, the only person left to meet was Yu Xueqian. There was really nothing special about meeting her; he was only doing so out of consideration for their past friendship.
“Yu Xueqian of the Yu family of Jiangzhou pays respects to the True Man Zixu.”
"No need for formalities. The Yu family has developed very rapidly in recent years, enough to rank among the top three. Clan Chief Yu has set a good example for Jiangzhou."
“It is all thanks to the protection of our family that we have such a good environment for development. If the beast tide comes, the Yu family will definitely be the first to respond to the family’s call.” Yu Xueqian said while carefully observing Song Changsheng’s expression.
She was filled with doubt, wondering why Song Changsheng had suddenly summoned her.
"Chief Yu has been developing Jiangzhou for so many years, could you please tell me where Jiangzhou's shortcomings lie now?"
Yu Xueqian carefully considered her words and said, "In my humble opinion, Jiangzhou's biggest weakness is that it has a short development period, its overall strength is relatively weak, and its ability to withstand risks is poor."
If the demon race were to bypass Qixia Fortress and penetrate deep into the heartland with a small elite force, they would be virtually unable to resist and would have no choice but to passively wait for reinforcements from their clans…
"The overall weakness is indeed a big problem, so the family has taken out five [Breakthrough Pills] to strengthen the strength of each state. Do you think this might improve things?"
Don't hold back, there's no one else here, feel free to speak your mind.
After a fierce internal struggle, Yu Xueqian took a deep breath and said, "Forgive my bluntness, but the five [Breakthrough Pills] will not have any real effect. Apart from the Zi Clan, where the Zi Town Guardian is located, who have a chance to obtain one, the rest will probably fall into the hands of the other states."
Jiangzhou needs at least four Purple Mansion cultivators to improve its current situation, but the Purple Clan currently has no suitable candidates for a breakthrough..."
She actually wanted to say that the allocation method of "auctioning" contribution points was unfair, and those who truly needed the points had no right to compete, but in the end she didn't have the courage.
Even if she didn't say these words directly, how could Song Changsheng not understand the underlying meaning?
"Clan Chief Yu is now a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator. Hasn't he thought about competing for it? The Yu Clan should have accumulated a lot of resources over the years, so it's not impossible for them to win."
Yu Xueqian couldn't help but smile bitterly: "If I exhaust all my resources to compete, I will naturally have a chance, but if I fail to break through, the family will not have any development for the next hundred years, and may even regress. How can I let the entire Yu family suffer the consequences for my own selfish reasons?"
"Fellow Daoist Yu has been the clan leader for so many years, but in the end, he still lacks a bit of courage."
It should be understood that you may lose if you fight, but you will never win if you don't fight.
However, you are right about one thing: the distribution method this time was indeed somewhat unfair. Therefore, the rule of the highest bidder will not be adopted this time, and the Wang family will not participate.
You can try to fight for it!
……
P.S.: I only managed to write 5,000 words despite my best efforts. I'll try to leave work early tomorrow; I still owe 7,000 words. (End of Chapter)