Chapter 724: Departure

An execution order arrow landed on the ground. A burly executioner, with muscles rippling, picked up a bowl of strong liquor, took a mouthful, and spat it onto the blade of his saber with a "poof," then took a small sip himself.

"It's our Emperor who wants to kill you; it has nothing to do with me. May you have a good journey!"

As was customary, the executioner whispered these words to the Emperor of Zuyue before the execution, but the emperor's face was devoid of expression, showing no reaction to the outside world.

The executioner raised his great saber, his muscles tensing. He paused for a breath with the blade held high, then, with a grim expression, swung it down. After a flash of the blade, a spurt of blood shot forth, and a large head rolled onto the platform.

"Oh my..." "Ah..."

All the common people, nobles, and royalty watching below felt their hearts skip a beat. Some instinctively took a step back, gazing at the former emperor's head as it fell. Fear and confusion filled people's minds, along with an undeniable sense of anticipation.

Behind the high platform, the old marshal nodded to a civil official standing nearby. The latter composed himself and stood up, carefully taking a roll of yellow silk imperial edict from the table in front of him. He then walked step by step forward until he reached the still-bleeding corpse, where he steadily and slowly unrolled the edict with both hands, facing the thousands of Zuyue citizens and nobles below.

Though referred to as a civil official, this Dazhen official was in fact also skilled in martial arts. He took a deep breath, circulated his true qi, and then spoke, his resonant voice spreading throughout the imperial palace plaza and beyond.

"By imperial decree, from this day forward, wherever the Dazhen army's vanguard reaches, it shall not harm the common people in the slightest. Any needed items shall be purchased at fair price. No fields shall be destroyed, no indiscriminate killing shall occur, no forceful looting, no coercion of women... All Dazhen military units are ordered to suppress bandits. Military scholars shall establish 'Government Affairs Halls' in various places. Any grievances of the common people, any worries of the common people, may be reported there without the need for written petitions or litigation fees... All who support our Dazhen military and people, regardless of their status, shall have their property protected according to Dazhen laws. All who support our Dazhen military and people shall have their safety guaranteed according to Dazhen laws..."

First establishing authority, then bestowing favor, the official's voice was extremely powerful as he recited the imperial edict. His breathing was so imperceptible that it sounded as if he recited the entire text in a single breath. The edict, carried by the official's voice, resonated deep within the hearts of all who heard it.

Yin Zhong and the generals also stood up when the recitation of the imperial edict began. After hearing only a few lines, Yin Zhong already understood the edict's brilliance.

Once this imperial edict from the Metropolitan Prefecture was issued, it promised to protect the people and their property, but only on the premise of supporting the Dazhen military and people, and in accordance with Dazhen laws.

If this premise were upheld, then it would mean supporting Dazhen's people and abiding by Dazhen's laws. Subtly, over time, a Dazhen-centric identity would form, especially once public opinion ripened and popular support emerged, leading to significant progress in assimilation.

The common people are simple. Having suffered enough from Zuyue's corruption, they would subtly lean towards whoever treated them well, whoever offered them a path to vitality, and whoever gave them hope for a better life. Although there was still more fear of Dazhen at the moment, the seeds of anticipation had long been sown. This was due to the Dazhen soldiers' strict adherence to military discipline during their prolonged campaigns, and the imperial edict at this moment served as a significant reassurance.

After the entire imperial edict was recited, and the long concluding "By Imperial Command" fell silent, the hearts of the assembled populace were far from calm. The official remained standing in place for a long time, anticipating if anyone would step forward with questions, but no one dared to speak. Only then did he slowly turn and depart, and immediately after, soldiers began to clear the execution ground.

In fact, almost all of Zuyue, with the exception of some remote corners and a few central areas still resisting, had already been completely occupied by Dazhen. Today was merely the chosen opportune moment before winter set in.

"Most of the tough battles were in the first half of the year. In the latter half, too many cities opened their gates and surrendered. Many times, it was practically just a march, hey!"

Hearing a general beside him say this, Yin Zhong smiled.

"There are plenty of bandits in Zuyue, so there are still opportunities to stretch your muscles. Also, various Celestial Masters accompany the army to deeply suppress evil spirits and demons; those are also tough battles."

"Ah, I don't want to get involved in those sinister matters!"

"Hahahahaha..." "Oh, you... hahahaha..."

"Lord Liu, let's return to the camp with us to rest. Roast lamb has been prepared!"

"Hahaha, very well. I'm still not used to sleeping in the inns of Zuyue's capital."

As Yin Zhong and the others joked and headed back to camp, the contents of the imperial edict had already begun to be implemented in various places. Large numbers of ambitious and learned scholars from Dazhen's heartland, after examination, were successively dispatched from the army to "open halls" in various parts of Zuyue.

Although these scholars were not officials, they performed official duties to a certain extent. Areas of Zuyue that had long suffered from the nation's corruption and hardship were the first to feel the benefits. These "scholar-officials" were not only guarded by Dazhen soldiers but could also request assistance from the main army as needed, with banditry often being suppressed within a few days.

Bandits who had terrorized local villages with impunity were simply no match for the highly morale Dazhen elite soldiers, hardened by battle. Even if some bandits tried to make a final stand, relying on geographical advantages and natural barriers, the Dazhen army might just deploy a Celestial Master...

"Boom... boom..."

In many parts of Zuyue, thunder rumbled in the sky, yet no heavy rain fell. This was a celestial omen foretelling terrestrial change.

At the peak of Tingqiu Mountain near Yongding Pass, the Mountain God Hong Shengting gazed remotely towards Zuyue, watching the hidden thunder in the sky, and sighed with a shake of his head.

"I didn't expect Zuyue to collapse so quickly..."

The Mountain God lowered his gaze towards Yongding Pass again. Even at this moment, large numbers of Dazhen troops were still departing from the pass, heading towards the former territory of Zuyue. Many of these soldiers had never seen battle, yet they were well-trained and their morale was high. Among them were also some sword-wielding scholars, some on horseback and others on foot, traveling with the army, their expressions resolute, their hearts afire with enthusiasm at the sight of the prevailing atmosphere.

The Mountain God Hong Shengting sighed once more.

"It is only right that Dazhen prospers."

On Yuling Peak, deep within Yucui Mountain, Ji Yuan withdrew his gaze while standing outside the Lingbao Pavilion. Lian Baiping was only a step slower than Ji Yuan, while the others were still observing the distant scene, some even calculating with their fingers.

"Mr. Ji, when would be a suitable time for us to depart?"

Lian Baiping, noting Mr. Ji's recent gaze, had a vague sense that Mr. Ji harbored some slight concern. He asked this question only after seeing that the general situation between the two nations had stabilized.

Ji Yuan smiled and said, "These two days would be fine. It seems Fellow Daoist Ju is also planning to come along this time?"

Ji Yuan's latter remark was directed at Ju Yuanzi, who had also returned to his senses. The latter showed no embarrassment, speaking with an open smile.

"If you don't mind, Sir."

"We are old acquaintances; there's no need to be so polite."

They had once together refined the Immortal-Binding Rope, and Ji Yuan also understood Ju Yuanzi's character. Ji Yuan thus counted Ju Yuanzi as one of only two friends he had in Yuhuai Mountain; his other friend in Yuhuai Mountain was Qiu Feng, who was much junior to Ju Yuanzi.

Hearing Ji Yuan's words, Ju Yuanzi felt joy in his heart, his expression natural. After a nod, there was no need for further words, as friends naturally need not be overly cautious. Of course, his admiration for Ji Yuan had not diminished but had only grown stronger.

"Sir, how about we travel together to the Yuhuai Holy Land this time?"

Ju Yuanzi extended the invitation at an opportune moment. Yuhuai Mountain had long hoped for Ji Yuan's visit, and this time, Ji Yuan was already quite close by; it was indeed time for him to visit.

"Very well. If I bring some people to tour with me, Yuhuai Mountain wouldn't object, would it?"

"Hahaha, please rest assured, Sir. Not to mention people, even mountain spirits and ghosts, you may bring them all to visit Yuhuai."

And so, Hu Yun and the others, who had gleefully purchased some treasures from the Lingbao Pavilion, had just emerged from it. They had thought that visiting Xian Port was already quite interesting, but unexpectedly, by virtue of Ji Yuan's presence, they now had the opportunity to visit the Yuhuai Holy Land.

To be honest, even Ji Yuan was slightly awestruck during his first visit to the Yuhuai Holy Land, let alone Hu Yun and Sun Yaya.

Although the Yuhuai Holy Land was not a true 'Heaven Beyond Cave-Heaven,' it was absolutely a well-deserved blessed land for immortal cultivators. It contained the essence of the four seasons, gathered stars at night and colorful clouds by day, harbored spiritual winds, and embraced immortal charm, fulfilling everyone's fantasies of an immortal realm.

Ji Yuan silently bestowed upon Yuhuai Mountain the title of "Dazhen's Famous Immortal Dao Scenic Area" in his mind.

Lian Baiping, naturally, stayed by Ji Yuan's side throughout, just like Ju Yuanzi, and patiently chatted with the more lively Hu Yun and Sun Yaya.

However, Ju Yuanzi was often somewhat distracted because Wei Wuwei had privately told True Man Ju about his earlier hosting of Ji Yuan and others on Yuling Peak. Among the details was Hu Yun's casual mention of, "In the northern darkness there is a fish; its name is Kun. The Kun's size is unknown, for it spans thousands of miles..."

Ju Yuanzi recalled that when Ji Yuan first saw the Devouring Beast years ago, he had indeed mentioned "Kun." At the time, when Ju Yuanzi pressed for more details, Ji Yuan had only described it as a large fish. He never expected that a casual line from "The Grand and Unfettered Wandering" spoken by a small fox spirit would imply that the Kun's size might be "unknown, for it spans thousands of miles," which was truly astounding.

Three days later, at the highest point of Yuling Peak, enveloped in mist and clouds, the Devouring Beast appeared and disappeared. Ji Yuan and his companions, accompanied by cultivators from Weimei Sect, ascended the Devouring Beast via a cloud bridge. Meanwhile, Zaoniang, Hu Yun, and Sun Yaya stood below, bidding farewell to Ji Yuan along with the Wei family father and son.