Chapter 173: Chapter 172: Finally Securing a Foothold in Changping Prefecture

"Hmm..." The group couldn’t help but look at Li Qingshuang.

Li Qingshuang gave a faint smile. "The Spirit Court patrols the world, but it does not meddle in political affairs. However, Yuan Wenrui’s evil was boundless. Since the Court has not made a new appointment, it is only natural that the Prefectural Minister takes his place."

Hearing this, the group all smiled. The matter was thus settled.

The Prefectural Minister—no, the new Prefectural Magistrate—immediately summoned the Changping Prefecture Constables and took action overnight, taking control of government affairs and reassuring the public.

The next morning, the people of Changping Prefecture discovered that the Golden Wind Divine Sect was a thing of the past. The Golden Wind Hall was temporarily closed for construction, with the new Prefectural Magistrate personally organizing craftsmen to renovate it into a new temple, the Daluo Temple, which would open on a future date.

...

After arranging for the Silk Embroideress to look after the resting Li Qingshuang, the group gathered in the main hall of the Daluo Temple. First, they congratulated the inaugural Observatory Master of Changping Prefecture’s Daluo Temple: Taoist Yi Hong.

Now that Daluo Palace had taken over the Golden Wind Sect’s territory, they naturally had to maintain peace in the region. As one of the Jiangzhou Eight Prefectures, Changping Prefecture certainly needed a master to oversee it.

And with his five hundred years of Dao Practice and profound Magical Power, Taoist Yi Hong was the best choice to preside over Changping Prefecture.

"Changping Prefecture consists of one prefecture city and eight counties. Now that we’ve uprooted the Golden Wind Divine Sect’s headquarters, we must also eliminate their branch halls in the other counties as quickly as possible, before they have a chance to react," said Taoist Yi Hong.

"In last night’s battle, we eliminated all the Mages and Ghost Gods with heavy Evil Qi. However, we spared the lives of two who had no Evil Qi and four whose Evil Qi was faint."

Taoist Yan Song added, "These people can be used for now. We can have them start Doing Good Deeds and Accumulating Virtue to dissipate their Evil Qi."

Taoist Ming Yu nodded. "We do need to keep some usable hands. The Golden Wind Halls in the other counties must also be converted into Daluo Temples. Changping Prefecture has eight counties, so we’ll barely have enough people if we split up."

The group had already decided on the naming convention. Their main base on Cuiluo Mountain would be called Daluo Palace. The temples they established in prefecture cities would be called Daluo Temples, and the ones in county seats would also be called Daluo Temples.

Once the Taoist Sect established a firm foothold in this world, they could consider changing the names based on the situation. After all, a hundred flowers in bloom are what truly make it spring.

"At dawn, we’ll need to split up."

Gu Zhao laid out the plan. "Martial Uncle Yi Hong will stay in Changping Prefecture to deter any troublemakers in the city. Martial Uncle Yan Song will go north to Linping County and Zhen Nan County. Martial Uncle Ming Yu will head west to Qinglu County and Changye County. Martial Uncle Jing Feng will go south to Wuhe County and Shanglin County. And Martial Brother Yunyang will go west to Chongguang County and Xiuyue County.

We’ve actually already cleaned up several of the counties once before, killing many Demons and Ghosts that carried Evil Qi. This time, we’re just wiping out the Golden Wind Halls, so it probably won’t cause too much chaos in the counties.

Each of you will take two counties. Annihilate the Golden Wind Halls, collect the Evil Qi, and then, with the order from Changping Prefecture, find the County Magistrate and have the Golden Wind Halls converted into Daluo Temples."

The old Daoists cupped their hands and agreed.

After arranging the follow-up matters, the group finally started discussing the spoils from the previous night.

Taoist Yan Song took out a bracelet. "This is the Golden Wind Divine King’s storage artifact. Inside, besides his twin swords, there’s also a piece of material for refining a Storage Magical Treasure."

"We can refine more Storage Gourds?" Gu Zhao asked with a smile.

Taoist Yan Song nodded. "We’ll strive to give one to every person in the future, just like the weapons old Taoist Yi Hong prepared. It will be standard issue for new members."

Taoist Yi Hong couldn’t help but laugh. "That would be quite the luxury."

"Besides that, this lamp is also a treasure." Taoist Ming Yu took out the lamp that the Golden Wind Divine King had once hovered above his head. "He also knew how to use the Power of Incense and Candlelight for Artifact Refining, but it’s mixed with remnant souls and Yin Qi, making it impure."

Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Take it back to Daluo Palace?"

Taoist Ming Yu nodded. "The one thousand three hundred and twenty remnant souls and vengeful spirits have already been purified. But we can use the Power of Incense and Candlelight to condense new spirits. When the time comes, we can set up three hundred and sixty-five lamps around Daluo Palace, using this lamp as the core to gather three hundred and sixty-five Fragrant Fire Star Soldiers.

Every night from now on, Daluo Palace will be lit by three hundred and sixty-five lights, with a Fragrant Fire Star Soldier floating above each lamp. How does that sound to you all?"

"HISS—" Everyone drew in a sharp breath.

"An Immortal Cave Mansion."

"An Earthly Divine Country."

Gu Zhao couldn’t help but be startled. "Condense so many? Can they even be controlled?"

Taoist Ming Yu chuckled. "Of course I can’t control that many myself. But if it’s just a matter of condensing them, guiding some simple actions, and using this magical artifact for control, it should be manageable."

"Excellent, excellent." Gu Zhao nodded repeatedly. "Then I’ll leave this task to you, Martial Uncle."

Yunyang said with feeling, "First Star Official Guardians, now All Heaven Star Soldiers... Our Daluo Palace is becoming more and more promising."

Aside from the storage material and the lamp, which were of the highest quality, there were also some other Magical Weapons, but they were of ordinary quality. With Gu Zhao’s current Dao Practice Magical Power, he no longer had much use for them.

"Logically, this matter should be concluded, but I didn’t expect we’d end up rescuing a Spirit Monarch from the Spirit Court yesterday." Gu Zhao clapped his hands. "Our contact with the Spirit Court has come a little earlier than we anticipated."

"It’s not a big deal. The Xuanwei Divine Sect and the Spirit Court can’t come to Jiangnan, and we’ve now established a foothold in Changping Prefecture," said Taoist Yi Hong, stroking his beard.

"Besides, we’re benevolent. In the places the Jiangnan Court can’t reach, they might even need our help," said Taoist Ming Yu, his eyes glinting with wisdom.

Taoist Jing Feng rubbed his chin and frowned. "As their ’white glove’?"

Taoist Yan Song said with a smile, "Look on the bright side. Even if the Court decides to make a move on Jiangnan, we won’t be their first target."

Taoist Jing Feng understood. "We pay our respects to the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother, The Three Pristine and the Four Imperial Lords. The powers in Jiangnan won’t suspect us of having ties to the Court."

Yunyang clapped his hands. "And the Spirit Court isn’t the Xuanwei Divine Sect."

The Daoists turned their gazes to Gu Zhao. "As for how to win Miss Li’s goodwill, that will be up to you, Sect Leader."

Gu Zhao: "..."

"What do you take me for?" Gu Zhao said angrily. "Counting the progress from Stone King Cave, I’ve managed to condense two more Thunder Seeds this time. Once you all take care of the Evil Ghosts in the Golden Wind Halls of the other eight counties, I might even have a third."

"I’m going back to the modern world to recruit people!" Gu Zhao declared, slamming his hand on the table.

...

Back at the Prefecture Yamen, Li Qingshuang was in the garden chatting with the Silk Embroideress and Zhuo Qingyan.

Seeing Gu Zhao return, the Silk Embroideress hurried forward. "Sir, it turns out the enemy Miss Li came to Jiangnan to hunt down is Xu Kongting!"

"Hm?" Gu Zhao was taken aback for a moment before he finally remembered who Xu Kongting was.

"This fan... it actually belonged to Miss Li’s older sister."

The Silk Embroideress took out her Cyan Feather Fan and recounted the gossip she had just heard. "Her sister and Xu Kongting were both originally from the Spirit Court, but later, Xu Kongting obtained an Evil Technique, murdered Miss Li’s sister, and then fled to Wanling Jiangnan to live in seclusion."

"It seems Miss Li is recovering well." Gu Zhao nodded and asked Li Qingshuang, "Miss Li, do you plan to recuperate here in Changping Prefecture, or would you like to return with us to Cuiluo Mountain and tour Daluo Palace?"

Li Qingshuang looked at Gu Zhao and gave a graceful bow. "It is rather inconvenient in Changping Prefecture. If you would have me, Sir, I would like to visit Daluo Palace."