Not far from the clan meeting hall is the Fang family’s banquet hall.
At this time, many people from the Fang family were already sitting in the banquet hall. Most of them were young people, and both men and women had outstanding looks.
But all these people's attention was on a boy about sixteen years old.
It was Li Xiangxue who came out of Chunqiu Hall.
As they drank and chatted, they talked very enthusiastically.
"Brother Li probably doesn't know the history of our Fang family yet, right?"
"I'm not afraid to tell you that my Fang family's heritage has existed longer than Daqing."
"I'm not lying to you. The elders of the clan told us that the founding ancestor of Daqing was able to establish Daqing with the help of our family."
"It's better not to talk about such a capricious villain."
"In short, our family's background is so deep that you can't imagine."
"I heard that Ji Qingzhi is your master?"
"Haha, you definitely don't know that Ji Qingzhi also has to follow the orders of our Fang family."
"Oh no, it should be said that the entire Taiping Dao must obey the orders of our Fang family."
"Why has Daqing failed to wipe out the Taiping Dao for so many years? Is it really that they are unable to wipe out the Taiping Dao?"
"Of course not."
"But Daqing knows that with our Fang family around, the Taiping Dao cannot be destroyed."
“…”
This is the argument of the young men in the Fang family.
He belittled the Taiping Dao sect, ignored the Zheng and Lin families, and praised the Fang family to death.
Of course, in their minds, this is not bragging, but being realistic.
As for young women, they showed a completely different attitude.
Or reserved, or passionate, or pure, or charming...
Each of them is of excellent beauty, and it is a pleasure to look at them.
She has status, power, wealth and beauty.
If a normal boy came here, he would probably fall soon.
Unfortunately, Li Xiangxue is not normal.
"Although he is already sixteen years old, he spent ten of these sixteen years in Chunqiu Hall..."
Fang Manxia frowned slightly, "How could he have such a character?"
In order to allow the young men of the clan to give full play to their abilities and also to allow Li Xiangxue to relax his vigilance, the elders of the clan were seated relatively far away.
However, Li Xiangxue's cheerful and relaxed manner made everyone feel unhappy.
Now, the fact that the Spring and Autumn Tomb is about to collapse is no longer a secret among the elders.
Previous internal struggles suddenly became insignificant in the face of this major external crisis.
Even the most hostile rooms, the sixth and seventh, became much quieter.
"I guess Ji Qingzhi had already told him before he came in, and even trained him in this area."
Fang Lezhong sighed, "I'm afraid there is no hope of tempting him with benefits."
"This is a matter of life and death for the family. If we can't bribe him with external gifts, then we'll use the threat of life and death."
The second-house elder Fang Leshan said coldly, with a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.
"Aunt, is there any news about Wu Xiangyi outside?"
Fang Letian, the seventh clan elder, asked.
As soon as the words fell, everyone looked at Fang Manxia with hope.
"This matter is a bit strange."
Fang Manxia frowned even more deeply. "According to our family's previous intelligence, at least a dozen Wuxiangyi have survived to this day. But since Emperor Yongtai ascended the throne, these Wuxiangyi have gradually disappeared."
"Aunt, what you mean is that the imperial court is collecting Wuxiangyi?"
Fang Leshan was a little puzzled. "If it's one or two, it's possible, but if it's all... what does the court want to do?"
The unique function of the formless clothing makes it extremely difficult for anyone to actively find it.
What is the population of Daqing?
Counting in tens of millions.
Among such a huge base, you can imagine how difficult it is to find a dozen people pretending to be someone else.
Even if the imperial court were to do this, it would cost huge amounts of manpower and material resources.
Furthermore, the Wuxiang Clothes only had this one function of changing appearance. For the imperial court, which possessed vast resources, its value was pitifully low. There was no need to spend so much money looking for it, let alone find all of them.
"Infiltrate the Taiping Dao?"
Fang Letian raised his eyebrows, and then he denied this argument, "The court knows that the foundation of Taiping Dao lies in the three ancient clans. If we can't find the caves of the three ancient clans, it is meaningless to infiltrate Taiping Dao."
"The intention is still unknown at this time."
Fang Manxia shook her head. "The latest news is about Wei Wuxie Wuxiangyi that the water ghost has."
"I know Wei Wuxie."
Fang Lezhong spoke in a deep voice, "He disappeared after seizing the fragments of Changshengtian in Canglong County. He has not been seen since then. He should be hiding to repair the rules of Changsheng."
"Tsk, you are really a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger."
Fang Leshan sneered, "That is the complete rule of longevity, unlike the scattered rules of Huan Zhen Tian. If you want to repair it, I'm afraid you have to drain the whole blessed land... Don't you think about how such a good thing happened to him?"
"Speaking of this, Ji Qingzhi also wanted to get involved in it at first, right?"
The elder of the Ninth House said meaningfully, "He is not a young man like Wei Wuxie. What does he want to do?"
"Don't worry about it."
Fang Manxia waved her hand and said, "After such a long time, even my Fang family was almost wiped out because of Changshengtian. Facts have proved that it is better to destroy such a disaster."
"Too."
Fang Leshan nodded and sneered, "Once someone becomes the Lord of Changshengtian, Changshengtian will announce it to the heaven and earth, and celebrate with the heaven and earth... It's also very weird."
"That water ghost, does anyone know the situation?"
Fang Lezhong brought the topic back on track.
"I know. I was in charge of the side branch affairs at that time."
The elder of the fourth clan spoke up, "But don't count on it. The water ghost was killed by Lu Zhong, and the Wuxiangyi has fallen into the hands of the court."
"This is difficult..."
Everyone's faces didn't look very good.
After a long while, the Eighth Clan Elder suddenly spoke up: "I have something to ask, I don't know if it will be of any use."
Fang Manxia's expression changed slightly, "Just say it directly."
“It was about two years ago.”
The Eighth Clan Elder recalled and said slowly, "When I was on duty, a branch reported to me that the spies stationed in Dingtian Prefecture accidentally discovered something strange that could be used."
"It seems that the prince of Chengguogong has been secretly contacting the Taipingdao secret agents, hoping to kill Chengguogong through Taipingdao."
"In order to gain the trust of the people of Taiping Dao, this Prince of Chengguo claimed that the Wuxie Daoist disciple Wei Wuxie was actually his nephew Duan Wuxie in disguise."
Wei Wuxie, is he Duan Wuxie in disguise?
Everyone looked at each other, and a look of surprise flashed across their faces.
"Our spies felt that there was something fishy going on in this matter, so they reported it to the branch. When the branch heard that it was Wei Wuxie and that it was related to the fragments of the Eternal Heaven, they contacted the Chunqiu Tomb."
The Bafang clan elder shook his head helplessly, "I think even if this is true, it is unlikely to catch Wei Wuxie. In addition, the value of the Changshengtian fragment is relatively low, so it was not mentioned at the clan elders' meeting."
"Is that so..."
Fang Manxia seemed to be thinking about something. "In that case, we can ask the side branch to send someone to contact this so-called Chengguogong prince. If he is valuable, it is not impossible to help him kill Chengguogong."
"I'll take care of this."
Fang Leshan said, "It just so happens that I am in control of the bloodline communication now."
"pay close attention."
Fang Manya nodded, and then looked at Fang Lezhong: "This is a critical moment for our Fang family. As for Fang Xianzong, I hope you can persuade him and make him understand the importance of this matter."
“…”
Fang Lezhong hesitated, then nodded after a moment: "I will do my best."
In fact, this was not the first time Fang Manxia had told him this.
What should I advise Fang Xianzong about?
Of course, the purpose is to persuade Fang Xianzong to sacrifice himself for others and increase the speed of spreading the supernatural power in the Fang family.
Fang Le felt helpless. Just as he was thinking, a figure approaching caught his attention.
It was Fang Xianzong who had just come out of the library.
"Elders of the clan."
Xu Chong saluted with a fist, his face showing an extremely complicated expression.
"He was able to remain calm and had a good character."
Fang Manxia looked at Xu Chong deeply, "However, I didn't expect you to come out early... What did you gain?"
"I have some ideas."
Xu Chong just made up nonsense.
"Um?"
Fang Manxia was slightly stunned.
She had read the Tianxuan Chronicle a long time ago, and did not think that the information contained in it could inspire the practice of magical powers.
“You have to try it to know if it works.”
Xu Chong responded.
Fang Lezhong and Fang Manxia looked at each other, then stood up and left their seats: "Xianzong, come with me."
Xu Chong didn't understand what was going on, so he followed him to a more secluded place.
"There is something I must let you know."
Fang Lezhong sighed, "The Spring and Autumn Tomb will soon collapse."
"What?!"
Xu Chong cooperated and expressed his horror.
Fang Lezhong glanced at the banquet and made sure that the juniors were not paying attention to this side, then he continued: "I only found out about it recently."
"A hundred years ago, there were three heavenly tombs that were a hundred times older than the Chunqiu Hall."
“Those three on the top of the mountain.”
"In addition, there are ten earth-level tombs that are fifty times older."
"There are also Xuan-level and Huang-level... compared to what we have now, they are far beyond what we have now."
"It is said that in the earliest times, all the tombs in the entire Spring and Autumn Tomb were a hundred times older."
"Over thousands of years, the Chunqiu Tomb has gradually weakened until today."
"In two years, the entire Spring and Autumn Tomb will collapse..."
After saying this, Fang Lezhong reminded them, "Only the elders of the tribe know about this matter now. Don't spread it out, or it will cause panic among the tribe members."
Xu Chong pretended to be silent for a moment, then followed up with the topic and asked, "Is there any way to delay the decline of the cave?"
"No."
Fang Lezhong shook his head.
Xu Chong suddenly felt disappointed.
Fang Lezhong suddenly changed the subject: "It's not completely impossible. The clan leader told us that if we want to delay the decline of the cave heaven, we must consume the blood of the same origin as the controller of the cave heaven."
What?!
Xu Chong couldn't control himself for a moment and showed a horrified expression.
"You don't have to worry."
Fang Lezhong waved his hand, seemingly not surprised by Fang Xianzong's reaction, "This method is not applicable to our Fang family. The clan leader has already explained it to us."
"Consuming the blood of the tribe members is just the initiation. In addition to the initiation, we need to slaughter more than ten times the ordinary population."
"Let's not talk about whether we can hide it from Daqing. With the number of people in our Fang family, even if all the direct and side branches died at once, it can only delay the decline for about ten years. It still can't stop the decline, so it's not very meaningful."
"Besides, all our clansmen are dead, what do we need the cave for?"
Fang Lezhong sighed, looking lost in thought: "It would be better to just give up the cave and scatter the people to different places."
"Is that so..."
Xu Chong forced himself to calm down on the surface.
"You really have a good character."
Fang Lezhong nodded appreciatively, and then continued: "The reason why I told you this is that the eldest house hopes that you will make more sacrifices."
"Sacrifice a little more...what do you mean?"
Xu Chong was unable to react.
"It means that after you have mastered the magical power, you can teach it to more people."
Fang Lezhong's tone was somewhat helpless, "At this critical moment for the Fang family, I can't help you stop it."
"The eldest house knew that reading the Tianxuan Chronicle would make you lose your sense of belonging to the family, so why did they agree to let you enter the library?"
"It's a statement, a tough statement."
"so……"
Fang Lezhong seemed to be hesitant to speak, looking a little guilty.
"I see."
Xu Chong thought about it and suddenly laughed, "Uncle, don't worry about it. I agree."
Fang Lezhong was slightly surprised and asked curiously, "I thought you would hesitate."
"If it was before entering the library, I would definitely hesitate."
Xu Chong said calmly, "But I have already read Tianxuan Chronicle..."
During the Tianxuan era, after the three major families separated from Daqing, they reunited with Taiping Dao as the hub.
In order to return to the land, the three companies shared their resources, conducted research together, communicated together, and made progress together for a long time.
However, the three major families at that time did not have absolute control over their clansmen and followers.
Until a cave on the brink of decline was discovered from the deep sea.
No one knows the name of the cave and the name of its rules.
All we know is that when the cave was discovered, it was filled with a large number of intangible, empty beings that were like the ghosts in the legend.
At that time, the new cultivation system had not yet been developed to its full potential, and the highest level of the three major families was only at the ninth level of Tongmai.
As a result, as soon as he entered, these void beings entered his body, causing mental confusion and eventually death from insanity.
Originally, the three major families were ready to give up this evil cave, but not long after, the cave completely collapsed and exploded into countless pieces.
Then, a method of controlling the life and death of others by combining Taoist medicine and the fragments of the cave was born.
In a large area of ​​the seabed where the cave collapsed, some changes had occurred to the plants.
Using it as medicine, one can make a Taoist medicine named Soul-Captivating Pill.
As the name suggests.
The soul-capturing pill can capture a trace of a person's soul.
The fragment of the cave known as the Soul-Locking Seal can hold this wisp of divine soul and use it to control the life and death of the divine soul itself.
Well, if you are unsealed for the third time in the dream, your life and death will be controlled. In fact, the three major families mixed soul-capturing pills into the blood pool of heaven and earth.
There is no need for a third time. As long as the three major families want, they can control life and death the first time the seal is released.
It's simply that Taoist medicine is difficult to refine, and people are just too lazy to waste it on people of lower realms.
However, the direct bloodlines of the three major families are different.
In order to ensure the cohesion of the family, all the direct descendants will have a wisp of their soul extracted by the soul-stealing pill as soon as they are born.
Anyway, this wisp of soul is extremely tiny and has almost no effect on one's aptitude and lifespan.
Be it Fang Lezhong, Fang Manya, or even the clan leader himself, this was the situation before they inherited the position of clan leader.
Therefore, facing the request of the eldest son, Fang Xianzong had no choice at all.
Xu Chong sneered secretly and said, "Don't worry, uncle, I will practice my magical powers as soon as possible."
Seeing this, Fang Lezhong said no more and nodded, "There is no rush. Since you are here, let's go to the banquet and communicate with your peers."
"Speaking of which... is he the one Ji Qingzhi sent?"
Xu Chong looked towards the banquet and said, "When did the direct line of our Fang family fall to the point of fawning on the Taoist master?"
"This is a preparation for the collapse of the cave. You can communicate with him, but don't reveal the decline of the cave or your magical powers."
Fang Lezhong didn't explain too much and turned around and walked towards the banquet.
Xu Chong curled the corners of his mouth and just stood there, sorting out and summarizing the information he had just received.
First, in the former Spring and Autumn Tombs, all the tombs followed the rules of the passage of time and were a hundred times older.
Since the decline of the cave, this rule has also been gradually weakened, and even its scope has shrunk, turning the tombs at the foot of the mountain into ordinary tombs without any rules.
This naturally made Xu Chong think of Emperor Yongtai.
He has been hiding behind the curtain for so many years without appearing. Is it possible that... the back hall of Tianji Palace behind the curtain is also such a cave where the scope of rules has shrunk due to decline?
I have to say, this is very likely.
Second, the only way to delay the decline of the cave heaven is to consume the blood of the same origin as the controller of the cave heaven.
Xu Chong clearly remembered what King Qian said when he first met him.
"Taizu was an unruly person by nature. Today, at least half of the population can be considered his descendants."
If the first point is true, then the second point indirectly proves the first point!
Emperor Yongtai controlled a world in decline. He used natural disasters to kill people. Those he killed were not refugees, but the children of refugees, the common people who had the blood of Emperor Taizu!
"Suppose, suppose this is all true."
Xu Chong's reason overwhelmed his emotions, and he began to calculate quickly based on this.
"The total number of the Fang family's direct and collateral branches is almost 100,000 people."
"Using 100,000 people as a guide, slaughtering a million people can delay the decline of the Spring and Autumn Tomb by ten years."
"And the drought in Bingzhou killed eight million people. If half of them died, that would be four hundred thousand blood descendants."
"According to the delay ratio of the Spring and Autumn Tomb, the 400,000 blood descendants who died in Bingzhou should be able to delay the decline of Emperor Yongtai's cave heaven for forty years."
"But in fact, only eighteen years passed from the drought in Bingzhou to the boiling sea in Binzhou. This doesn't correspond."
"Even if Emperor Yongtai wanted to delay the decline of Dongtian in advance just in case, there is no need to do it more than 20 years in advance..."
Xu Chong frowned deeply.
After a moment, a flash of light flashed through my mind.
"No!"
"Corresponding!"
"If Emperor Yongtai's cave is a top-grade cave, it will be completely compatible!"
Imperial Prison is a lower-grade cave heaven, and the seventh floor produces 2 spiritual sources a day.
Chunqiu Tomb is a mid-grade cave, and Chunqiu Hall produces 4 spiritual sources a day.
A middle-grade cave heaven is twice as big as a lower-grade cave heaven.
If nothing unexpected happens, the top-grade cave heaven is twice as big as the middle-grade cave heaven!
It is very likely that the delay cost of a top-grade cave heaven is twice that of a mid-grade cave heaven.
In other words, those 400,000 descendants can only allow Emperor Yongtai to delay the decline of Dongtian for twenty years!
In addition, the actual figures would definitely not be so accurate, and Emperor Yongtai would certainly calculate some advance amounts...
Eighteen years between natural disasters is just right!
“It still needs to be verified.”
"The interval between the Binzhou flood and the Yongzhou locust plague was more than eleven years but less than twelve years. But I don't know the population changes in Binzhou before and after the flood. I need to check in the capital."
"Once it is verified again, it means..."
"As long as I know the death toll in Yongzhou, I can roughly determine when the next natural disaster will come!"
Before this, whether it was Xu Chong or Dou Tianyuan, they could only judge the location of the next natural disaster by the vacancies of officials.
It is impossible to predict when a natural disaster will occur.
If you can predict the time and place at the same time...
Then natural disasters will not kill people.
what happens?
At this moment, Xu Chong and Lou Youzhi coincidentally thought of the same thing.
However, because of the difference in information, Xu Chong thought of another contradictory point.
The intervals between natural disasters are getting shorter and shorter.
If the natural disasters were completely under the control of Emperor Daqing and were only used to delay the decline of the cave heaven, then this interval should tend to be a fixed value.
"Anyway, I finally got something extra from the Fang family... It's time to deal with Li Xiangxue's matter."
Xu Chong's mood became much brighter and he turned and walked towards the banquet.
Seeing Fang Xianzong approaching, all the Fang family members with the character "Xian" in their names could not help but restrain themselves a little. Only the people from the sixth branch greeted him warmly.
Now , Fang Xianzong is an important figure in the entire Xian generation.
If there was an order from the clan elders that they could not offend Li Xiangxue, then deep down they did not want to offend Fang Xianzong even more.
Supernatural powers are one thing, but the cultivation of the Huangting Dao in one fell swoop made Fang Xianzong instantly become the best of the Xian generation.
Don't forget, there is no crime in killing one's peers.
Xu Chong walked past the tables with an expressionless face.
There was no way. He didn't recognize all of them, even those from the sixth room. It would be better not to respond to them at all.
When he reached Li Xiangxue, someone had already tactfully made way for him.
Xu Chong took a seat without hesitation and looked at Li Xiangxue: "I am Fang Xianzong from the Sixth House. What is your name, little brother?"
“…”
There was a hint of strangeness on Li Xiangxue's young face.
He was sure that this was the first time he had seen the man who called himself Fang Xianzong.
But for some reason, his heart actually began to palpitate when the other party opened his mouth.
I can’t really describe how it feels, it’s just very strange…
Li Xiangxue suppressed his thoughts and politely clasped his fists: "Li Xiangxue greets Brother Fang."
Everyone calls me Brother Fang.
Xu Chong sighed secretly and said with a smile: "When I look at Brother Li's appearance, I feel a sense of familiarity for no reason. How about I take you to visit Chunqiu Mountain after the banquet?"
absurd……
The younger members of the Fang family at the table all looked stunned.
Spring and Autumn Mountain?
What kind of nonsense is this?
Isn't it just a cemetery?
In fact, almost all members of the Fang family dislike this cemetery.
If the appearance of the tomb could not be modified and the area at the foot of the mountain was small, I'm afraid the place would have changed long ago.
Also visit Chunqiu Mountain...
Only a fool would accept such a weird invitation.
The Xian generation remained calm and prepared to watch Fang Xianzong make a fool of himself.
However.
"Okay."
Li Xiangxue nodded and said, "I have always been very curious about the noble land, but I didn't dare to go there without permission because I was afraid of breaking the rules here."
"Since Brother Fang has such an elegant taste, I will certainly follow his lead."