Just as Gu Lan tucked away plate number 295 and headed home.
Far away, in the extreme western lands!
The Holy Demon Palace of the Demon Realm!
Inside a hall forged from the skull of a colossal dragon, three great demons were seated in a circle at this moment, and all of their auras had reached the Demon Sovereign realm.
At the center, within a blood pool, a hazy phantom was projected there!
Although that phantom was clearly not its true body, its aura faintly overpowered the three Demon Sovereigns, making them all faintly show signs of submission!
The phantom of the Demon Emperor!
On the platform beside the blood pool also lay a shattered red jade tablet, which represented none other than the fire fox demon king killed by Gu Lan a few days ago.
At this moment.
The Demon Emperor’s phantom slowly opened its vertical pupils, swept a deep gaze around, and said, “Everyone, a member of my fox clan cannot die in Jing Kingdom territory without explanation. I have already issued a war letter to them and will soon gather a great army to launch a frontal assault… Do any of you have objections?”
When he said that, the three Demon Sovereigns each reacted differently.
A very ferocious-looking Demon Sovereign with a human body and a bear’s head spoke first, his giant eyes revealing a fierce eagerness for battle and bloodshed.
“Your Majesty, our Furious Bear Tribe has no objection. As long as it is fighting humans, we are willing to go!”
Immediately after that.
Another female Demon Sovereign with a human face and a spider’s body thought for a moment, then also spoke with a coquettish smile and a seductive air. “As long as Brother Bear Sovereign leads the charge, this little sister is also willing to serve Your Majesty.”
The Demon Emperor’s phantom nodded, and his majestic gaze fell on the last Demon Sovereign.
This Demon Sovereign was none other than the fire fox demon king’s master, the master of this Holy Demon Palace, the Crimson Flame Wolf Sovereign.
However, at this moment, the Wolf Sovereign looked hesitant!
Because he had read the war letter issued by the Demon Emperor. It was being raised in the name of avenging the Holy Demon Palace, and once war began, the Holy Demon Palace would inevitably have to serve as the vanguard of the punitive campaign!
In a long and massive national war, the vanguard was usually equivalent to cannon fodder.
To ruin the future of the Holy Demon Palace because of some so-called personal disciple, he was not as stupid as the Bear Sovereign!
Demon Emperor City does not move a single soldier, yet wants us to send out our entire force. This old fox is clearly using us as a spear… The Crimson Flame Wolf Sovereign glanced at the Demon Emperor and said hesitantly, “Your Majesty, I feel this war may be somewhat too hasty. After all, the cause of my disciple’s death has not yet been investigated clearly…”
“Informants in Yunzhou have already sent word. It was nothing more than a human Sword Immortal. You do not need to be so afraid.”
The Demon Emperor said, “I guarantee to all of you that if that Sword Immortal takes action in the future, my Demon Emperor City will certainly not stand idly by!”
“Now… you should have no objections, correct?”
The Demon Emperor’s phantom’s gaze seemed to carry immense weight.
The Wolf Sovereign cursed inwardly, but on the surface he could only submit. “Yes, Your Majesty. Our Holy Demon Palace… will send out troops immediately.”
The Demon Emperor smiled faintly, his gaze deep as he swept his eyes over the three Demon Sovereigns and said, “This national war is mainly a probe. If I have not guessed wrong, something has gone wrong in Jing Kingdom… The productive foundations their humans have always been proud of, hehe, may perhaps no longer even be as great as ours in the Demon Realm…
“In short, for this battle… the opportunity must not be missed!”
…
Langzhou City.
Gu Lan returned to the residence under cover of night.
“Wife?”
“Young Master, Madam is not here. She went out at noon to buy flowers, saying she wanted to place some in the residence and in the teahouse.” Old Yang’s bright voice came from the gatehouse.
“Got it!”
Gu Lan then entered the study.
If his wife did not return, the Gu Residence would not start dinner, so he still had some time to improve his cultivation.
“There is only one chapter left in the Journey to the West storybook. I might as well finish writing it tonight.”
Gu Lan stretched lazily, picked up a wolf-hair brush, and under the glow of the candlelight, began writing earnestly on the writing slips.
However.
As a transmigrator, aside from copying storybooks to coax his wife, he had not forgotten some proper plagiarist business.
For example, what he had just started today…
『You write the first chapter of “Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases.” Medical skill +200, and you obtain x10 Revival Pills』
『You write the first chapter of “Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People.” You obtain x100 previous-life grain seeds and x1 Great Life Technique mental art』
『…』
Fortunately, in his previous life, Gu Lan had learned a little of everything, so relying on his memory, he brought these two great ancient classics into this life.
Although they were only the first chapters, the rewards given by the scholar System made his eyes light up!
An immortal-grade pill, the Revival Pill!
It was a legendary divine medicine said to bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh on bone!
Taken alone, it might only be immortal grade, but if paired with the Soul-Restoring Pill he had obtained before, its medicinal effect could even reach saint grade!
With these two medicines and the support of his medical memories, Gu Lan felt that even if someone had only half a breath left, he could still pull that person back from the gates of hell!
This was far stronger than receiving several decades of cultivation!
Then he looked at the grain seeds.
With a thought from Gu Lan, a heavy little cloth pouch appeared in his hand. He untied the cord and poured it into his palm, and a faint fragrance of rice drifted up.
“How familiar…”
“It really is the miracle rice from Huaxia in my previous life!”
Gu Lan rubbed the rice seeds, nostalgia showing in his eyes.
Miracle rice was very common in his previous life, but in an ancient dynasty like this, where “frozen corpses lined the roads and every year brought suffering from droughts and locusts,” it was undoubtedly a treasure that could drive countless people mad!
One had to know that even in Jing Kingdom, where the land was relatively fertile, grain yield per mu was only one shi, not even one-fortieth of miracle rice’s yield!
There was even less need to mention other barren small countries!
“I just do not know whether the soil and water of another world are suitable… This is perfect for testing my Great Life Technique!”
Gu Lan held a few grain seeds and immediately left the study, heading toward the flower field behind the residence.
…
Meanwhile.
After Mu Yuyan arranged the flowers and plants in the teahouse, she took a carriage back to the Gu Residence.
On the road, a graceful figure suddenly emerged from the shadows. Before the coachman even noticed, she silently slipped into the carriage.
“Your Majesty, Young Master has already collected the number 295 plate given by the prefect. There is no need to worry about the autumn provincial examinations anymore.”
Liu Yexi had already handled the matter and spoke softly.
She had spent the entire day secretly following him using a Xuantian Bureau secret technique, so she naturally knew about the incident at the authorities’ entrance as well.
Liu Yexi was just about to tell the Empress about it.
But just then.
She suddenly noticed that the Empress seemed to be lost in thought, and her beautiful eyes actually revealed a faint trace of… anger?
Having served the Empress since childhood, her sense would naturally not be wrong.
Ever since Your Majesty married Young Master Gu, you have rarely shown such emotions… Liu Yexi asked with concern, “Your Majesty, you seem to have something troubling you?”
“Mm… See for yourself.”
Mu Yuyan came back to her senses and handed the crumpled secret letter in her hand to Liu Yexi. Her expression was silent, but it was very obvious that a nameless fury was churning in her eyes!
Liu Yexi took the secret letter, and only then did she see that there was also a gilt war letter inside, with the image of a nine-tailed celestial fox coiled upon it!
“A war letter from the Demon Realm?!”
Liu Yexi was shocked!
The current Demon Emperor was a nine-tailed celestial fox who governed the entire Demon Realm, but why would he suddenly go mad and issue a war letter to Jing Kingdom?!
Humans and the Demon Realm had not gone to war for several thousand years!
“Could it be because of that demon king from a while ago?” Liu Yexi was puzzled.
“Of course not.”
Mu Yuyan shook her head lightly and said in a cold voice, “The Holy Demon Palace’s inner sect disciple was only the fuse. In truth, the Demon Realm has long had plans to invade my Great Jing!”
The Demon Realm was in the west and bordered Jing Kingdom.
Although the Demon Clan possessed formidable combat strength, their productivity was extremely low, so they had always coveted Jing Kingdom’s population!
Moreover, Jing Kingdom’s national fortune was waning. The Demon Realm was not without clever people, and they had long suspected it. This opportunity was perfect for testing us!
Liu Yexi’s delicate brows furrowed tightly, and she felt somewhat panicked. “Then… should I go relay the order to the Ministry of War and have them prepare early?”
“I have already issued the order.”
“Then should we contact other dynasties and borrow troops to resist together?”
“No need. Those profit-chasing fellows cannot be relied upon!”
Mu Yuyan waved her hand and said coldly, “Actually, I am not afraid of war. After all, that old fox the Demon Emperor is not a fool. He still has to suppress the other forces in the Demon Realm, so he certainly will not act personally with ease…”
In the Demon Realm, the only one whose strength could match the Empress was the Demon Emperor himself.
As long as he did not act, Jing Kingdom would not be in too much danger.
Hearing her say this, Liu Yexi let out a soft breath of relief. “Then what is Your Majesty worried about?”
“I worry… that Great Jing cannot afford the cost.”
Mu Yuyan’s tone carried a little more melancholy and helplessness. “A national war with the Demon Realm will inevitably drag on for a long time, but our national fortune is already weakening day by day, and we only just carried out grain distribution for disaster relief some time ago. By then… even if we truly endure the national war against the Demon Realm, I fear Great Jing’s foundations will have little left!”
Hearing this, Liu Yexi’s heart, which had only just settled, tightened again!
That was right. War required money, and it also required grain. With Great Jing’s current national fortune and people’s livelihood, how could it withstand such consumption?
And right now it was spring, precisely when the people were sowing seeds. If grain were requisitioned at this time, what they obtained would all be grain seeds meant to be planted!
But once there were no grain seeds, how would the people survive next year?
Difficult!
Food is the people’s heaven. Since ancient times, the civilian matter emperors worry about most is none other than this!
The atmosphere in the carriage was heavy!
At this moment.
The coachman’s aged voice sounded. “Madam, the Gu Residence is here. The fare is 1 qian.”
Gu Residence… Gu Lan…
Hearing his words, Mu Yuyan subconsciously thought of her husband’s name. Amid her helpless worries, a certain heartstring seemed to be touched!
A flash of inspiration suddenly appeared!
She suddenly remembered that the last time she had been so troubled seemed to be during the Southern Frontier drought before New Year?
And at that time, the one who helped her overcome the crisis was none other than Gu Lan, who had casually revealed heavenly secrets at the dinner table!
“Little Xi, do you think… dear husband might have a solution?”
Mu Yuyan’s beautiful eyes flickered. Her gaze fixed on the Gu Residence’s main gate, and gradually regained its light!
After this reminder, Liu Yexi was stunned for a moment as well. “That is right. Young Master understands the past and present and has read extensively… perhaps he also knows quite a bit about this incident!”
“Come on, let’s go home!”
Mu Yuyan could not wait to go find Gu Lan and talk with him!
The current situation was extremely terrible, and Gu Lan was the only person who could give her hope!
Liu Yexi hurriedly jumped down from the carriage, tossed down an ingot of silver under the coachman’s stunned gaze, and followed Mu Yuyan into the Gu Residence.
“Old Yang, has my husband returned?”
Mu Yuyan asked in a clear, melodious voice.
“Ah, Madam. Young Master came back long ago, but he is not in the study right now. He is in the flower field in the rear courtyard. No idea what he is fiddling with…”
Old Yang spoke slowly as he walked out from the gatehouse, preparing to call Gu Lan to eat.
“Well… you can rest. Little Xi and I were just about to plant the flowers we bought, so we will call him on the way.”
Mu Yuyan smiled, then moved with graceful lotus steps toward the flower field in the rear courtyard.