https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-701-The-Sacrifice-Eliminating-the-Threat/12852748/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-703-Barely-Surviving-After-Just-Showing-Up/12852750/
Chapter 702: Seemingly Loyal, but Actually a Traitor
Chapter 702: Seemingly Loyal, but Actually a Traitor
"Shexi has been tortured into becoming Cao Cao by you guys."
Qin Muye looked at the intelligence report, his face full of disbelief. He hadn't expected Shexi to be so paranoid.
While he knew that Shexi would use the war preparations to purge potential threats, the problem was that the snake people he was purging were actually his own people, not remnants or spies at all.
As for the spirits? They had all infiltrated his group of loyalists, or more straightforwardly, the loyalists Shexi relied on were actually all spirits in disguise. This was indeed awkward; the enemies he suspected were all his own people, and the supposedly loyal loyalists were actually traitors.
Because of the influence of these loyalists, Shexi saw everyone as a potential threat, thinking they wanted to harm him.
The so-called propaganda campaign was even more ridiculous, as it was simply the snake people's unwillingness to go to war that formed the mainstream opinion, and it had nothing to do with the spirits.
And the snake people's knowledge of this was simple: Shexi himself had announced it. He said he would notify all snake people to participate in the sacrificial ceremony, and the reason for the ceremony was the upcoming war. This announcement was made at the same time as the notification, and the snake people who came to participate in the ceremony naturally spread the word among themselves before it began.
"This situation, a batch of snake people will die even before the war starts. What a mess," Qin Muye couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. The list already had over 1,300 snake people, and the number was still rising.
For the snake people, 1,300 was already a significant number, and with Shexi's character, it was better to kill a thousand innocents than to let one guilty person go. Once someone was on the list, it was almost a death sentence.
Before they died, they would be tortured, and then fabricated charges would be used to execute them.
"But we can't ignore this; we need to send someone to catch him off guard."
Given the current situation, Shexi would need at least half a month to a month to complete the full mobilization of his army. Not only did he need to "purge dissidents," but he also had to prepare various supplies. Snake people weren't spirits; they couldn't be as efficient. Moreover, Shexi's actions would definitely affect the entire snake people clan.
This time was enough for Qin Muye to prepare for the snake people's attack. He didn't plan to take action himself; he would leave it to the Iron Blood Army.
The Iron Blood Army was now quite formidable. Chen Liuhuan, though still stuck at the fourth realm of martial arts, had become quite powerful through numerous battles. With the blessings of national fortune, he could hold his own against Shexi, who was also suppressed by national fortune.
The lowest rank of his soldiers was at the first and third realms of martial arts, and most of the higher ranks were at the second realm.
Therefore, the 100,000-strong Iron Blood Army was more than capable of handling the snake people. While they might not crush them, they could certainly hold them off for a few years.
It would be a good training opportunity. The Iron Blood Army had fought many battles, but most of their opponents were easily crushed. The martial arts system hadn't been fully developed, and even if it had, it was more like gymnastics, incapable of withstanding a full-scale martial arts army.
However, the military expenses were the largest expenditure of the Great Gan Dynasty. Supporting 100,000 martial artists, even if each one required few resources, still added up to a significant cost.
But the gains were substantial. Chen Liuhuan had expanded a vast territory, and the gains far outweighed the costs.
One could only say that the Great Gan Dynasty was thriving!
"Five days ago, I already informed Chen Liuhuan. He can arrive within ten days. The spirits will impersonate remnants to delay Shexi as much as possible," the spirit beside him said.
This had already been arranged, so Qin Muye didn't need to worry.
"That's good. What progress has been made in the investigation of the Snake Father?" Qin Muye asked another key question.
"Somewhat. We, oh, they suspect that the Yousi Land is the Snake Father," the spirit instinctively read from the script, then realized it wasn't him but other spirits, so he changed the pronoun.
"Why do they think so? What evidence do they have?" Qin Muye could accept a guess, but it had to be based on logical reasoning, not just random speculation.
"There is evidence, but the data is extensive. I've already sent it to you, Master. This conclusion was just reached. The spirits hadn't experienced such a large-scale Snake Father's blessing before, so they couldn't detect it. It was only through Shexi's actions that they gathered enough data to form this hypothesis."
The Gospel Spirit immediately sent the data to Qin Muye. If Qin Muye hadn't asked, such unverified speculations wouldn't have reached him.
Since it was just a guess, anyone could make it, but without sufficient evidence, what if it was wrong?
"The spirits believe that Yousi is the physical manifestation of the Snake Father, who hasn't completely died but is merely suppressed, by that unnamed national fortune entity."
"And since the main body of the unnamed national fortune entity is the Great Gan Dynasty, it makes sense that it wants to overthrow the Great Gan Dynasty, forming a closed loop. The probability is around 70%, which is not low."
Qin Muye found this fairly reasonable. With data support and research results, it was just that it involved two 9th-rank beings, making it hard to judge.
Judging two 9th-ranks by ordinary standards would certainly shock people.
For example, if an 8th-rank tried to assess Qin Muye, the first thing they would do is ensure they didn't go insane while perceiving Qin Muye, before proceeding to the next step.
Most 8th-ranks would stop at that first step, as not everyone could sense Qin Muye without incident.
So, when a group of 8th-rank spirits tried to estimate two 9th-rank beings, there would inevitably be a lot of deviation.
"The Snake Father is dead but not completely, which is why there are limitations. As for the snake people, they are most likely a special race that spontaneously emerged from his dead body."
"It's also possible that they were brought here by him, but that probability is not high."
Previously, Qin Muye thought the alien races came from another world, but analyzing the current situation, it was more likely that the 9th-rank beings came from another world, and only the Snake Father remained.
Qin Muye didn't want to be too definitive, as he didn't know the true situation.
"Have them continue their covert investigation. When the snake people all leave, won't Yousi be left unattended?" Qin Muye thought about this.
"Yes, Master. After they leave, the Black Hand will arrange another expedition team to enter and further analyze and study the Snake Temple," the Gospel Spirit said.
In this regard, the Black Hand had already considered everything.
They had been secretly researching and had obtained a lot of data, but due to the tight schedule and heavy tasks, their gains were limited.
"Very good. Have Chen Liuhuan hold off the snake people. Also, notify Bai Xu to bring the Mirror Order for support. As for the Astronomical Bureau and the Rootless Sect, don't move them," Qin Muye said immediately.
The Mirror Order's reputation had grown significantly over the past two years. The various outlaw groups had been thoroughly integrated, forming a new organization that patrolled the martial world and the wilderness.
However, they were inevitably labeled as the government's henchmen. After all, helping the government suppress bandits and thieves would naturally upset the wandering knights, who had extensive connections. Except for those who were absorbed, many harbored significant resentment, but they dared not speak out due to the Mirror Order's strength.
Thinking about how the wandering knights used to be treated with hospitality by the outlaws, eating meat and drinking wine, and occasionally dividing gold and silver, but after the Mirror Order's sweeps, these treatments were gone, it's no wonder the wandering knights were unhappy.
"Yes, Master, but the Mirror Order might be a bit difficult to move. How about sending Wang Kai instead? He is in the fifth realm of martial arts, enough to hold the fort, and he is much stronger than the Mirror Order," the Gospel Spirit suggested.
"Did the Black Hand say that? Then let Wang Kai go and help." Qin Muye agreed. Given the Gospel Spirit's brain, it was definitely just relaying the message, impossible for him to think of it himself.
"Yes, the Black Hand said that. He will go and arrange it." The Gospel Spirit confirmed. For spirits, this wasn't a matter of shame; specialization was the way things were arranged.
The Black Hand was responsible for management, while the Gospel Spirit was responsible for security, and being able to fight was enough.
"Go ahead." Qin Muye said, then continued to immerse himself in the experiment of analyzing the entire national fortune of the Great Gan Dynasty using the Primordial Dragon.
As for using the Primordial Dragon against the snake people, that would be too wasteful. Who would use a nuclear bomb for a regional conflict? This ultimate weapon was reserved for Qin Muye to use against the Snake Father, not just for a mere She Xi to mobilize the Primordial Dragon.
(End of Chapter)
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