Master of Strange Dao

Emperor Zhen has been feeling overwhelmed recently; he has neither the mood nor the energy to focus on Dadui, which doesn't border Dazhen.

Spending a lot of time and energy to weaken the vassals was actually out of necessity.

The territory of Dazhen suitable for survival, or rather, the livable areas, has been continuously compressed over the past two hundred years, while the Sealed Kings occupy the warmest and most fertile land.

The accumulated conflicts have completely erupted under such circumstances, forcing Emperor Zhen to make a firm decision to deal with the Sealed Kings, whose power has become too entrenched to be removed easily.

This is a crisis, but also an opportunity; in the end, Emperor Zhen indeed succeeded.

It was precisely after reducing the vassals that a large amount of land was freed, alleviating most of the internal tensions within Dazhen and strengthening centralization.

Previously, the Faceless Man didn't expand outward, always concentrating on internal matters in Dazhen, including the court's authority and control, similar to the other two Divine Dynasties, which was also a major reason.

However, now, Old Emperor Qian, while undergoing tribulation in the Extremely Cold Forbidden Land, directly caused a tendency of losing control there.

Normally, the southeast quarter of Dazhen, after entering March, would have mostly thawed completely.

At that time, even in northeast Dazhen, some areas would have started thawing.

In the recent two hundred years, the southeast of Dazhen would begin to thaw before the end of March.

Yet this year, it's already April, with no sign of thawing.

This spring cannot begin, and there is even a trend of continued cooling.

The cultivators can still manage; they can endure.

Even with prior accumulation, ordinary people can withstand for two years without major issues.

But the current problem is, the cold wave has already crossed the Hengduan Mountains, the ice line continues to move south, this clearly isn't something that will improve in one or two years.

Population and land are the cornerstones of the Divine Dynasty.

When both are absent, the family forces of the cultivators, at worst, gritting their teeth, would abandon their foundation here, relocate entirely to other places, and start anew.

As long as people have lineage, though tougher than before, they won't face complete annihilation.

If it truly develops to this stage, the Divine Dynasty will irretrievably enter the process of extinction.

Li Xingchen has been quite busy recently, catching a courtier today.

Because this guy was preparing to publicly propose at the court meeting to reclaim the other half of the former land taken by Dali years ago.

This time, Emperor Zhen didn't even give the opponent a chance to speak.

Once proposed, there would inevitably be people who would echo and agree.

By then, when the conflicts brewing become increasingly intense, it will inevitably lead to external venting, reigniting warfare.

Emperor Zhen put down the confession, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

According to Li Xingchen's investigation, there seemed to be no one behind instructing the courtier who was caught, merely because the family base behind him is now situated in the north, close to the Hengduan Mountains.

The opponent is getting a bit desperate.

On a deeper level, the opponent still wants to preserve his family's foundation in Dazhen.

But the more this is the case, the more it proves the situation is heading towards a severe direction.

Once the disturbances start spreading to the lower levels, by next year, the year after, the results are already foreseeable.

By then, there will only be one path to take, which even Emperor Zhen cannot prevent.

Complaining about Old Emperor Qian now proves futile.

Letters begin to be sent out from Dazhen, dispatched to various places.

In the wilderness of Dadui, Yu Ziqing, who had been slumbering underground for quite a few days, finally awakened.

With the cultivation of Dao Court achieving a qualitative leap, due to Dadui Divine Dynasty itself transitioning from hanging in the air to being grounded, with the earth's energy circulating, life flourishing, the nation's fortune has also thoroughly stabilized, no longer in a state of virtual prosperity.

The first to benefit, naturally, was Yu Ziqing.

Emerging from the ground, Yu Ziqing took a light breath, feeling the slightly moist cold wind blowing from the north.

Without needing to see, Yu Ziqing knew that Old Emperor Qian, this nuisance, had probably caused significant impact in the Extremely Cold Forbidden Land.

Just returned to the palace city, Zhang delivered a heap of documents, along with a letter sent by the deceitful ghost to Yu Ziqing.

There was nothing special in the documents, merely a series of various events that occurred after Dadui's return, most of which fall within the anticipated plans.

In the Cabinet stands six, while Jia Shisi handles the military; everything remains under control.

The only external risk Dadui might face is to the east.

To the north lies the Forbidden Land of Jinlan Mountain, to the south lies the Southern Sea, which won't pose any major issues.

The desolate West Sea on the west can be ignored.

The opening after Dadui's return has been extraordinarily smooth.

Yu Ziqing skimmed through briefly, entrusting professionals to handle it.

He opened the letter sent by the deceitful ghost, saying it was from King Xiang, wanting to procure unlimited basic supplies through the deceitful ghost's channels.

The letter further detailed the current situation in Dazhen, with information incredibly thorough.

With the large channel of the deceitful ghost, the prices of many things are highly sensitive to situations, and information is well-connected.

After a large amount of information, the deceitful ghost also boasted, saying he keeps the teachings of his master in mind, for his master's reputation, he held back a tear while he refrained from seizing the opportunity to profit immensely, only earning half of what he could.

Yu Ziqing rolled his eyes, thinking, if the deceitful ghost believes it to be such a windfall, then it's definitely a situation warranting execution.

Under current circumstances, pushing the wave will eventually lead to being cornered to death.

Later, coordinate the local specialty channels on Dadui's side with the deceitful ghost, this guy can be rather sensible when it counts.