I Can Strengthen Infinitely

Chapter 427 - 278: One Against Thousands (Part 2)

Swallowing the Inner Strength Pill, Qin Yuesheng immediately felt his Dantian fill up with energy; though there was still a gap to cross before another breakthrough.

He glanced at Liu Xian, who was kneeling in the corridor, then put away all of Pu Ren’s belongings and strode toward Liu Xian.

"Lord Liu, you’re quite hospitable—this time you actually managed to bring over such a powerful master for me to spar with." Qin Yuesheng said with a half-smile.

Liu Xian trembled inside and hurriedly explained, "This wasn’t my intention at all, Lord Qin. That man is the Jiangnan commander of the Yellow Turban Immortal Sect. A few days ago he insisted on staying in my residence. How could I oppose him? I had no choice but to agree."

Qin Yuesheng raised his brows. "No choice?"

Liu Xian nodded rapidly like a pecking chick, "Y-yes, no choice, no choice. I absolutely meant no harm to you, my lord."

"Enough. Seeing as you’ve battled Cao Mengda all this time and proved your merit, I’ll let you off this time. But I’ve come to Yangzhou Prefecture to entrust you with a task."

"Please instruct me, my lord. I will do my utmost."

"It’s nothing especially difficult. Now that Wu Bao has fallen to Cao Mengda, among those in Jiangnan with the strength to stand against him, only you, Lord Liu, remain. I require you to take all your troops and surrender to the force now holding Fengchu City."

"Ah?" Liu Xian was taken aback.

Fengchu City, being a town near Yangzhou Prefecture, had been sacked—of course Liu Xian knew the news. But previously, obeying Qin Yuesheng’s orders, he hadn’t spread his troops out to vanquish this force and reclaim Fengchu City.

Now, hearing Qin Yuesheng suddenly mention this force—and wanting him, a Jiangnan magnate, to surrender—Liu Xian, a seasoned official, immediately deduced that this faction must be controlled by Qin Yuesheng, hence his special treatment.

"Do you have an objection?" Qin Yuesheng retorted.

"N-no, none at all! I’ll go surrender at once, right away!" Liu Xian answered anxiously.

At this moment he was utterly terrified that Qin Yuesheng might slap him down without warning, just as he had done to Pu Ren—blasting open his skull in a heartbeat.

Under Qin Yuesheng’s coercion, Liu Xian dispatched people at the fastest speed to Fengchu City to invite Sanhuang and his men, then opened the city gates wide, allowing Sanhuang’s army to enter freely.

In this way, Yangzhou Prefecture—the foremost city of Jiangnan—formally fell into Sanhuang’s hands. Absorbing Liu Xian’s resources, Sanhuang’s power would soar by more than a notch.

Of course, while in others’ eyes this marked an earthshaking transition from old to new factions, in Qin Yuesheng’s view, it was all rather ordinary—boring to the extreme.

His attention had long shifted elsewhere; to be precise, the land of Jiangnan could no longer hold Qin Yuesheng’s interest. His gaze had already moved to the most prosperous place in the world.

The Central Plains of Jiuzhou!

And before heading there, Qin Yuesheng still had one thing to accomplish: unifying all of Jiangnan, wiping out rebels and bandits, and helping Sanhuang ascend as King of Jiangnan in one stroke.

The greatest obstacle to this goal was none other than Cao Mengda.

Qin Yuesheng hailed from the Qin family; having benefited from the Qin family, he naturally intended to repay their kindness. He himself had no desire to be emperor, nor did anyone in the Qin family seem fated for the throne. When Qin Yuesheng truly helped Sanhuang to kingship, the Qin family could leverage that momentum to become another Gold and Silver Pavilion.

Then, they’d rule both black and white, courtroom and martial arts circles alike, enjoying gold and silver’s good fortune—Qin Yuesheng’s way of repaying the Qin family.

Once Sanhuang took control of Yangzhou Prefecture, he immediately consolidated Liu Xian’s army at the highest speed, in the shortest time. With Liu Xian’s full cooperation, everything proceeded smoothly.

Yet everyone knew that Jiangnan had now entered the calm before the storm. When Cao Mengda finished his arrangements, he would march forth like a torrent, conquering Jiangnan. Having swallowed Liu Xian’s forces, Sanhuang would become the land’s final bastion.

...

Atop the White Lotus silver statue, the White Saintess wore a five-Buddha crown of pale white, her eyes closed, her face serene and holy.

Cao Mengda knelt before the silver statue, not daring to lift his eyes and behold the Saintess’s visage.

Despite having conquered two-thirds of Jiangnan as Grand General, in the eyes of the White Lotus Saint Sect, destroying him would take but a lift of the hand.

If he wanted to enter the Central Plains and seize the throne, Cao Mengda still needed the White Lotus Saint Sect’s support; so he dared not anger the White Saintess before him in the slightest.

She was the White Lotus Saint Sect’s chief commander in Jiangnan. It was she who sought out Cao Mengda, giving him the confidence to rebel, and paving the way for his current achievements.

"Saintess, only Liu Xian in Yangzhou Prefecture remains obstinate. Once I claim that final piece, Jiangnan will be unified, your guidance will not be squandered." Cao Mengda pressed his forehead to the ground and spoke respectfully.

"Liu Xian is backed by the Yellow Turban Immortal Sect; do not be overconfident." The White Saintess suddenly opened her eyes—her pupils, strangely unlike ordinary people, were a pink blossom, marking her as truly extraordinary.

"From what I know, the Jiangnan-based Pu Ren is a disciple of the Celestial Lord, having learned much of his skill. His strength is considerable; the Yellow Turban branch values both martial and Daoist ways—far above common Martial Artists."

The White Saintess continued, "Send someone to dismantle this secret chamber, forge a great palanquin to carry my White Lotus; at that time, I will go with you to Yangzhou Prefecture."