King of Creation Chapter 1789 - 1774: Deploying Troops to Dongxi

South of Qing State, within the Great Zhou Dynasty, lies Ping State. Under Ping State's jurisdiction is Changshi County, which governs eight sub-counties. Among these, Dongxi County stands out as the most renowned.

Dongxi County boasts Da Chang Mountain at its back and a sprawling plain before it. At the heart of this plain rests a massive lake, covering an impressive three hundred li.

Blessed with a favorable climate, Dongxi County is a region of abundance, often called a land of fish and rice, and enjoys considerable prosperity.

The Da Chang Mountain range behind the county is rich in various ores, featuring over thirty officially recognized mining veins. Rumor has it that more than a hundred more are being secretly exploited.

Such extensive mining operations necessitate a substantial labor force, contributing to the massive population of Dongxi County.

When accounting for slaves and common laborers, Dongxi County's population surpasses ten million.

This sheer number of inhabitants already exceeds that of a lower-grade county within the Great Zhou Dynasty.

For instance, North Sea County, which Ye Zhen initially took charge of, did not even approach a population of ten million.

Yet, this relatively small Dongxi County harbors over ten million people. Merchants constantly stream in and out, and apart from the trade in daily necessities and slaves, the ore business is exceptionally flourishing.

It is truly deserving of its reputation as the ore capital, not just of Ping State, but its surrounding regions as well.

The thriving commerce and agriculture have led to Dongxi County's immense scale, so much so that its county city dwarfs that of Changshi County.

Furthermore, the city walls are a third taller than those of Changshi County City.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, such a construction is a clear breach of regulations. The Great Zhou's laws expressly stipulate limits on the height of walls for states, counties, and cities; exceeding these limits constitutes a transgression.

However, Dongxi County has surpassed these regulations without facing any repercussions.

Not only the prefectural governor of Changshi County, but even the governor of Ping State, dares not address this matter.

The reason is straightforward.

It stems from the fact that the Xio Family of Dongxi County is merely a branch of the Xio Family lineage under Xio Qiangu, who commands the West Patrol.

Typically, any established family, over time, expands its reach.

After approximately five generations, they establish branches for more effective management and development.

The circumstances of these branches vary greatly; some strive for complete independence, others find themselves lacking status within the main family, and some are even disowned by the main family.

Most branches, however, are created to enhance the family's management capabilities and overall strength. This is particularly true when the main family is exceptionally powerful. These offshoots, after their establishment, remain dependent on the main family, adhering strictly to their directives.

The Dongxi Clan operates as a branch of the Xio Family of the West Patrol and continues to rely on the main Xio Family to this day, standing as one of their most cherished branches.

Information acquired by Ye Zhen from Director Ma Yuanjin of the Inner Affairs Bureau reveals that within the West Patrol, those most favored by Xio Qiangu are indeed his own family members.

Consequently, despite Ma Yuanjin holding a high-ranking position within the West Patrol Office, there are certain matters he is excluded from participating in.

Moreover, the most skilled operatives and elite 'death soldiers' under the West Patrol are drawn from the various branches of the Xio Family and from subordinate clans allied with these branches.

Additionally, more than half of the Xio Family's wealth operating under the West Patrol originates from the contributions of these diverse branches.

Similar to its situation before Ye Zhen's arrival, Dongxi County City annually channels immense wealth to Xio Qiangu of the West Patrol.

It is said that the revenue generated from production and trade within Dongxi County surpasses the entire annual tax income of Ping State.

In light of this, the governor of Ping State refrains from interfering with Dongxi County's affairs, let alone imposing heavy taxes upon it.

Should he attempt such a move, Xio Qiangu of the West Patrol would swiftly deliver a harsh lesson.

In essence, Dongxi County City, prior to Ye Zhen's intervention, served as a crucial strategic stronghold under Xio Qiangu's command.

It was not merely a source of manpower but also a significant wellspring of financial resources.

Ye Zhen is currently navigating the underground network of Dongxi County City, meticulously assessing the layout of its treasure vaults.

The underlying reason for Ye Zhen's presence here is the individual who resides within Dongxi County City and serves as the primary target of his vengeance.

Ye Zhen's methods starkly contrast with Xio Qiangu's ruthlessness, which disregards the lives of ordinary citizens in the pursuit of his objectives.

Such actions, involving the mass murder of innocent civilians, are deeds Ye Zhen cannot and will not commit.

However, the Xio Clan branch that supports Xio Qiangu's Xio Family is of no concern to Ye Zhen.

If Ye Zhen fails to impart a significant lesson to Xio Qiangu this time, Xio Qiangu will undoubtedly continue to push Ye Zhen to the brink.

Ye Zhen's objective this time is to inflict profound pain upon Xio Qiangu.

He aims to make this a pain that will never be forgotten!

Dongxi County City thrives as a commercial hub, its nightlife vibrant and only gradually subsiding into quietude well after midnight.

Ye Zhen materializes silently on a main thoroughfare, located approximately one kilometer away from the Xio Mansion in Dongxi County.

The Xio Mansion in Dongxi County sprawls across an enormous area, measuring thirty li in length and twenty-five li in width, consuming an astonishing one-third of the entire county city's space.

The Xio Mansion also functions as a crucial nexus for the Xio Family within Dongxi County. Within its walls, the majority of their commercial dealings transpire, and immense quantities of ore, spirit stones, and various trading commodities are housed.

Furthermore, this Dongxi County Xio Mansion serves a clandestine purpose as a training ground for Xio Qiangu of the West Patrol. Over ten thousand elite disciples of the Dongxi Clan hone their skills here.

Following periods of rigorous training and cultivation, spanning five to twenty years, these disciples are dispatched to serve under Xio Qiangu.

Annually, Xio Qiangu's West Patrol receives a vital influx of reinforcements: at least one hundred qualified Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters, five hundred Ghost Scouts, and more than a thousand late-stage Divine Communication Martial Artists.

As seasoned batches are deployed, new recruits from the Xio Clan, its affiliated families, and even the children of household slaves are brought in to undergo their formative training.

The ranks of Xio Qiangu's Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters and Martial Artists are largely populated by individuals originating from these very branches of the Xio Family.

"I wonder if Xio Qiangu will feel a pang of sorrow over the annihilation of the Dongxi Clan branch?"

With a frigid gaze, Ye Zhen surveyed the Xio Mansion, a dark edifice reminiscent of a castle, before vanishing from sight through a manipulation of his Divine Sense.

Ye Zhen subsequently materialized within an subterranean warehouse.

This repository spanned a league in area initially, but thanks to an ingeniously constructed spatial formation, the underground space was dramatically expanded to a colossal fifteen miles in length, fifteen miles in width, and one mile in height.

Within, stockpiles of raw ore awaited their refinement.

Given that only unprocessed ores were stored here, security measures were comparatively lax. Coupled with Ye Zhen’s Innate Five Elements Divine Escape, enabling him to traverse even Luoyi undetected, infiltration of this immense underground vault was as seamless as a phantom's passage.

Moving with ethereal grace, Ye Zhen swiftly depleted the raw ores within the warehouse, causing more than half of the materials to vanish in moments.

However, Ye Zhen's objective was not the acquisition of these common ores, which held little intrinsic value.

His actions were solely driven by the need to create spatial capacity.

After this initial sweep, Ye Zhen halted his pillaging once sufficient space had been secured.

The instant he ceased his activity, Ye Zhen's Divine Sense pulsed, summoning forth a towering general, well over two meters tall, radiating an oppressive aura, and clad in a High Grade Demon Suppression Device. The apparition was undeniably bold.

Yet, Ye Zhen's brow furrowed.

"Suppress your presence."

"Understood, sir!" In an instant, the palpable wave of Evil Qi emanating from Hei Jiu dissipated.

Not just Hei Jiu, but the countless Demon Soul Soldiers manifesting behind him also frantically masked their auras.

Indeed, it was Hei Jiu.

To exact retribution upon Xio Qiangu, Ye Zhen was precluded from employing personnel recognizable to the public eye.

The Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy's strength was not insignificant. The Heavenly Patrol Divine General Feng Jiumo and Spirit Scout Niu Er had already detected clandestine surveillance.

Without a doubt, the perpetrator was evident.

Consequently, Ye Zhen’s overt forces, including even the three hundred Sacrificial Guards, were rendered unusable for this act of vengeance.

Ye Zhen's strategy for revenge was starkly simple: an equal measure for an equal measure.

He intended to force Xio Qiangu into a state of utter desperation.

While Ye Zhen had announced his intention to enter seclusion, he had, in fact, returned to the Demon Soul Realm, accompanied by the War Soul Blood Flag.

During his sojourn in the Demon Soul Realm on this occasion, Ye Zhen accomplished a single, crucial task.

He brought forth Hei Jiu, one of the three Corps Leaders, along with a select contingent of elite warriors drawn from the legions of the three Demon Soul Legions.

If one were to engage in conflict, it ought to be on a grand scale!

The aim was to create such insurmountable difficulties for Xio Qiangu that he would be incapacitated from attending to any other matters for years to come.

As Ye Zhen's Divine Sense shifted, fifty thousand Demon Soul Soldiers, their Cultivation reaching the Middle Late Stage of Divine Communication, marshaled in precise formation within the confines of the underground warehouse.

Among this formidable host were two thousand Dark Palace Realm Demon Soul Officers and twenty Realm King Realm Demon Soul Legion Ten Thousand Man Generals, all emanating potent Killing Qi.

This represented a significant portion, precisely half, of the Demon Soul Realm's elite fighting force.

"Where shall we strike, honored Grand Marshal? Please issue your command!" Witnessing the ordered ranks, Hei Jiu keenly understood that Ye Zhen was poised to initiate an assault and inquired with palpable eagerness.

"Fifteen minutes after my departure, commence your assault on the Xio Mansion situated directly opposite. With the sole exception of women, children, and infants, eliminate all males. Any who dare to resist will also be slain!

Concurrently, secure the Spirit Stone warehouse and plunder all manner of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures from within this mansion. Take as much as you possibly can!"

As he spoke, Ye Zhen produced three thousand storage rings, representing his entire available stock.

These rings varied considerably in size, ranging from a modest ten square meters to an expansive kilometer square.

Storage rings, unfortunately, carry a significant drawback: their storage capacity is directly proportional to their rarity and the difficulty of obtaining them.

Ordinarily, Ye Zhen possesses the Mirage Dragon Pearl, a treasure that bestows upon him an incredibly vast storage dimension.

However, with Ye Zhen absent, this situation has become slightly problematic.

Still, Ye Zhen considered plundering to be a secondary objective in this particular battle.

"Yes, we shall follow the Grand Marshal's orders!" Hei Jiu responded crisply.

Nodding, Ye Zhen's form flickered, and the Demon Marshal's Avatar, wielding the War Soul Blood Flag, materialized abruptly. Pointing at his Avatar, Ye Zhen commanded, "My Avatar will accompany you in the assault on Xio Mansion. Should my Avatar order a retreat, you are to comply without hesitation; this is a direct military order!" Ye Zhen laid out his instructions with utmost care.

"Understood, we will obey," Hei Jiu offered another salute.

Ye Zhen gave a slow nod. "Then, commencing the count from now, the operation begins in fifteen minutes!"

"Yes!"

The instant Hei Jiu acknowledged, Ye Zhen's figure vanished from the raw material warehouse as if dissolving into thin air.

Mere moments later, a colossal shadow emerged to the south of Dongxi County City. This shadow, exuding a monstrous and ferocious aura, surged towards Dongxi County like an unstoppable tidal wave.

Abruptly, Dongxi County seemed to stir from slumber, with countless horned horses, dragon horses, and various beasts of burden emitting terrified cries that reverberated throughout the area.

Simultaneously, an immense Dao Realm aura erupted from within Xio Mansion, located in the heart of Dongxi County.