The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS-Chapter 1187 - 212: The Southern Campaign Begins

On the seventh day of the seventh month, the Northern Zhou army launched an invasion into Xuanzhou, capturing one city in a day, ultimately taking twelve cities and occupying most of Xuanzhou, with their military might directed straight at Shu Province and Ji Province.

Fifteen days later, on July 22nd, the entire Xuanzhou had fallen to Northern Zhou, capturing nearly a hundred thousand prisoners.

"With so many prisoners, it's a problem to guard them. We must quickly think of a solution."

In the former Hou Qian Capital, now the Desire Realm headquarters, a group of strong men leading the army were discussing the issue of the prisoners.

After the invasion into the Central Plains, the Peacock remnant, who had suffered in the Western Regions, flocked in, numbering at least several hundred thousand.

The number of Peacock remnant captured in Xuanzhou is relatively small; more of them fled to the borders of Shu Province before the army arrived.

"Killing these Peacock remnant will surely incite a determination for a deadly struggle among those in Shu Province and the Western Regions. At that time, I fear we might have to slaughter the entire population, barely less than a million Peacock remnant.

Such slaughter is something that even we in the Divinity Realm might not withstand without developing Heart Demons, let alone the ordinary soldiers.

After such carnage, at least half of them may end up mentally unstable.

Not to mention, there are many Central Plains people among these Desire Realm believers," said Yun Wuyue, somewhat distressed.

The Young Master Yun can no longer merely be responsible for her beauty; as she gradually takes charge of various affairs, she now exudes less coolness and more decisiveness and authority.

Consequently, she speaks more frequently.

And at this moment, the dilemma she faced even made the lovely face behind the veil show a tint of misery.

Harming those of the same race, killing people was no big deal for Yun Wuyue and others, but to order the slaughter of a hundred thousand, and then to continue with a massacre of nearly a million Peacock remnant, unless being truly heartless or having a supreme Mental State, one could easily develop Heart Demons.

Yun Wuyue and the others are relatively better off, given that they are in the Divinity Realm, not so fragile.

But the group of officers and soldiers below doesn't have such a strong Mental State. If they really participated in this massacre, they might only have two outcomes: either being crushed with strong guilt brought by killing, or being overwhelmed by Killing Intent, turning into a bloodthirsty maniac.

You can't expect those soldiers to be like Qing Yu, who could remain expressionless after annihilating millions of lives.

Both outcomes are not good. The former would completely break the soldiers' spirit, and the latter would brew a considerable hidden danger. After all, no one would know when these killing maniacs might turn against their own people.

"Can't we just brainwash them directly? I remember the Azure Dragon Association was quite good at this, wasn't it, Young Master Yun?" Mo Guming asked helplessly.

It is no secret that Yun Wuyue had been involved with the Azure Dragon Association, and currently, she commands this organization, which serves as a significant node of interaction between Qing Yu and the Demon Sect.

Hence, Mo Guming asked this question.

"The brainwashing of the Demon Buddha is too thorough. Even the Soul Swapping Technique and Ghost Control Pill left by Lord Qingyu can't completely erase the influence of the Demon Buddha. Do you want your subordinates to suddenly turn traitor?" Yun Wuyue countered.

Traitors are more dangerous than enemies. Rather than keeping subordinates with hidden dangers, Yun Wuyue actually prefers to kill them all. If that fails, turning them into Water Corpses is better than leaving hidden dangers.

"So what should we do?" Mo Guming looked around, hoping to get some suggestions.

To this, Seven Extremes Elder, a heartless person, only gave a single-word answer: "Kill," which was no different than not saying anything at all.

Ye Lingshuang also couldn't come up with any good suggestions. She actually preferred to turn these captives into assassins, but the hidden dangers of assassins made this proposal entirely impractical.

In the end, it was Lan Cang, who was somewhat out of place with the crowd, that came up with a good suggestion.

"I think, we can drive these captives into the Daqian Realm. If Daqian kills them, we save our effort. If Daqian takes in these captives... hehehe!" Lan Cang laughed maliciously a few times.

If Daqian takes in these captives, they can't truly be turned into combat power, after all, these are Desire Realm believers, brainwashed thoroughly by the Demon Buddha, a hidden danger that even the Soul Swapping Technique and Ghost Control Pill of the Azure Dragon Association can't resolve.

If Daqian indeed takes them, Northern Zhou will surely seize the chance to send warmth to the enemy, sending all future captured Desire Realm believers to Daqian.

No, regardless of what Daqian does, Northern Zhou should always send Desire Realm captives to Daqian, letting them take over this burden.

"Among these Desire Realm believers, though there are Central Plains civilians, they are essentially no different from the invading Alien Clan. Even if Daqian only takes in a portion, they're inviting a wolf into their house, and will inevitably suffer the consequences they brewed themselves. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

If all captives are killed, it solves our problem too. Daoist Lan, you truly have superior wisdom," Ye Lingshuang laughed, covering her face with a folding fan.

Indeed, as expected of someone from the Taoist sect, just so insidious.

The crowd recalled another Daoist known for scheming; one that indeed steered the image of Taoists toward a bizarre direction.

"Let's go with this method," Yun Wuyue concluded, "If Daqian accepts these captives, that would be ideal. If they kill them all, then let them bear the bitter fruit. By the way, we can also give Daqian the reputation of being a prisoner killer."

"Daqian's power is no longer as it used to be. We can even bribe one or two of their ministers, promise them future prosperity and wealth, and have them persuade others to accept these Desire Realm captives," Lan Cang added with a sneer.

"Leave it to me," Ye Lingshuang said with a smile, opening her folding fan, "The Yin Demon Sect has leverage over the Minister of Personnel, Yang Yong, of Daqian, it's about time to let this Lord Yang play his part."

"Yes, after utilising this person, kill him. Our sect shouldn't bear the notorious reputation of the past; the reputation that needs building should still be built," Yun Wuyue nodded.

With that, the group settled on a plan.

The next day, a large group of Desire Realm believers was released into the territory of Central Province. These fanatics, with their minds filled with the Demon Buddha's advocated faith of the Desire Realm, caused quite a commotion upon entering Central Province, delaying the completion of the Divine Martial Army's frontline defense constructions.

In the end, the commander of the Divine Martial Army, Luo Feng, issued an Absolute Kill order, slaughtering these hundred thousand believers completely, thus resolving the trouble.

Luo Feng acted with exceptional decisiveness, rendering Lord Yang's efforts entirely useless.

However, Luo Feng's actions still resolved Northern Zhou Army's problem. Afterward, whenever Northern Zhou captured Desire Realm believers, they sent them all to Daqian, creating quite a headache for them while capturing Shu Province.

On the fourteenth day of the eighth month, Northern Zhou completely occupied Shu Province and Xuanzhou, fortifying defenses against the Peacock remnant in the Western Regions. The army started their final campaign of Southern conquest.

Next, it's the war that belongs to Daqian and Northern Zhou, the two dynasties intertwined with conflict.