Chapter 262: Calm and calm? Clouds and waves are treacherous (Part 2)
Chapter 262: Calm and calm? Clouds and waves are treacherous (Part 2)
However, no matter which sect or individuals, including Zhao Kuangyin, Han'e Fairy Tai Yanren and others, could not find Yunlong. Regarding this situation, everyone could only secretly lament that Yunlong's whereabouts were elusive, and that the dragon had disappeared without a trace.
Due to heavy losses and temporary changes in plans, the various forces affiliated with the Demonic Path became more and more low-key and did not continue to make any major moves. The various sects of the Righteous Path also closed their doors tightly again after recruiting a large number of disciples, even three years later.
I have retrieved all the returning masters stationed abroad and I don’t know what to do.
The entire world of cultivation was filled with panic and tension. A storm was threatening to come. Even Zhao Kuangyin couldn't help but asked the disciples of the major sects among the Heavenly Masters for the protection of the country for the reason many times, but received the same answer.
They are all "normal transfers within the sect and have no special meaning."
This answer is not satisfactory. Moreover, according to some cultivators who have passed through the mountain gates of the major sects, during this period, almost every month the locations of the major sects' mountain gates will emit dazzling rays of light. The rays of light are mostly golden and crystal white.
Even the mountain-protecting formation cannot completely cover it; accompanied by these strange lights, the growth rate of plants within a hundred miles of the mountain gate has accelerated significantly, and minor earthquakes occur from time to time.
Various strange phenomena have caused panic among many weak sects. They are either afraid or guessing that the sects of the righteous path have been holding back for a long time. Seeing that the demonic path is now weak, they want to practice spells and prepare for war? When they think of these other cultivators,
I can't help but feel horrified. Every huge battle between good and evil is a catastrophe in the world of cultivation. Almost half of the cultivators in the world of cultivation are involved. The weaker the cultivators, the faster they fall. The abnormal behavior of the major sects of the righteous path cannot help but make them stop.
Think of the worst aspects.
However, after three years of tension, the major sects of the righteous way have no other abnormal behavior, and people's hearts have gradually calmed down. After all, compared to the demons and ghosts that make people talk about it, the major sects of the righteous way are somewhat domineering and arrogant, but they have not done anything that everyone knows.
Over time, other people who were originally nervous will become accustomed to the harmful and unreasonable things.
The devil's path is low-key and the righteous path is hidden. Without the constraints of these two behemoths, the atmosphere in the world of cultivation seems to be much more lively. In addition, in recent years, mortals' enthusiasm for cultivating immortals has not diminished. Almost all sects that have gained a reputation have aggressively recruited disciples and established branches.
In order to win over these cultivators, Zhao Kuangyin also generously rewarded the cultivators who made contributions to the Song Dynasty with cultivation materials, elixirs refined in the dedication courtyard, medium and low-level magic weapons, and even some sparsely visited places with dangerous terrain but rich spiritual energy.
or sect. And if someone can complete tasks in the name of the Song Dynasty court, they can also get the various rewards mentioned above according to the difficulty of their tasks.
This has intensified the enthusiasm of these sects to participate in human affairs. They also know that the resources of the Song Dynasty are limited after all. Those cultivation materials and elixirs are just that, but the land is limited and the spiritual land will one day be given away. If Zhao Kuangyin is not generous,
If you acquire more territory during the period, I’m afraid there won’t be so many opportunities in the future.
Driven by profit, those small and medium-sized sects even sent out their only masters in the spirit transformation and return to void stage to participate in human affairs and receive tasks issued by the Song Dynasty court. In this way, the strength of the Song Dynasty court increased dramatically. Not only did various actions go smoothly, but also
The cultivators belonging to various forces collaborated vertically and horizontally, and the efforts to win over and suppress not only made most of the cultivators feel awed and convinced by the court and established prestige, but also recruited a group of unsuccessful cultivators who were beneficial to the world.
Rich military and political talents enriched the power of the Enshrined Court and the imperial court.
Under the wise leadership of the imperial court, the national power of the Song Dynasty was increasing day by day. The land continued to expand in all directions, including the Liao Kingdom in the north, the barbarians in the south, and the foreign tribes in the west. The territory expanded thousands of miles in the wars with more victories than defeats. The domestic security was good, the people were prosperous and stable, and they were proficient in heaven and earth, and they could call the wind and rain.
Cultivators and officials participated in politics, the weather was favorable, the food was harvested year after year, the population increased sharply, and it was like a prosperous age.
However, these are just appearances that can be seen by small people and uninformed people. The truth hidden under the appearance will always be known to only a few people.
In the 40th year of Jianlong's reign, in Yangzhou, since the imperial court vigorously developed coastal trade ten years ago, navigation in coastal areas has also followed the fire. More and more businessmen have gone to sea to make money, and the huge benefits of shipping have also attracted more people to participate, thus providing Yangzhou with
This coastal state capital attracted a large number of people and tax revenue. When the court had money, it expanded it on the basis of the town. With the donations from the maritime merchants, the reconstructed Yangzhou City has now become a giant city that can accommodate a million people.
If we include the villages, towns, manors and floating population outside the city, Yangzhou alone has a population of more than two million.
Because it is located in the south with a mild climate and a high grain maturity rate, and most Yangzhou people are involved in shipping-related businesses, there is never a shortage of food and money. Every day, morning and evening, there will be merchant ships unloading their goods at the docks outside the city, setting sail, and waiting on the shore.
The porters nearby will rush to pick up the goods and make money with their own efforts.
Along the pier, there is a twenty-meter-wide giant official road built of gravel, cinders, and rammed earth that is twenty miles long and leads directly to Yangzhou City. Along the way, there are tea sheds, restaurants, and inns specially designed to serve travelers.
Even villages. According to local people, this road is called "Ming Road" and was built since the Tang Dynasty. Later, it was temporarily interrupted due to wars and was rebuilt after the situation stabilized. It continued to be built intermittently and it took a hundred years to be repaired.
What is strange is that no matter which force occupies Yangzhou, they will not deliberately destroy Mingdao, but will send people to maintain it. Even in the chaotic era, no one broke this practice, so even though Mingdao has gone through hundreds of ups and downs, it still remains the same.
It has remained almost intact and has become an important commercial road connecting Yangzhou City and the seaside wharf.