Chapter 181: Expansion in Numbers, the Able-Bodied Set Out
Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Expansion in Numbers, the Able-Bodied Set Out
The Great Realm?!
Everyone was stunned by his words.
Zhao Dehou fell silent.
The two men at the door fell silent as well.
Inside the largest brick-and-tile house in all of Qingshi Village, the only sound was the soft CRACKLE of a burning candle.
"He can even contend with the Great Realm..."
Zhao Dehou muttered the phrase, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his wooden staff, his eyes filled with shock.
Liu Jianjian, on the other hand, lifted her head with a hint of smugness, her eyes brimming with pride.
"Palace Master Zhu." Zhao Dehou took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "If this old one may be so bold as to ask, how many Third Realm experts does the Six Paths Palace have?"
Zhu Ge lifted his teacup, took another sip of the coarse tea, and said nonchalantly, "Three at the moment."
"Three?" Zhao Dehou’s voice trembled.
"One is a Sword and Axe Mantis, an old Third Realm from outside Jianshui City. You’ve probably heard of it."
"One is a Strong Monkey King, a Yunnan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey that became a demon. It’s at the Mid-Essence Devouring Realm. There’s also a Profound Tiger, but it’s not at the palace right now. It went south."
Zhu Ge spoke casually, as if he were just talking about what he had for dinner.
As for the Profound Tiger?
’It was lucky it ran fast. Otherwise, I would’ve captured it long ago.’
"Three of them..." But Zhao Dehou felt his heart skip a beat.
Three Third Realm Demon Beasts!
In the entire Red River Prefecture, aside from Yuan Yang City, the City Lords of the other twelve cities were only at the Third Realm of Cultivation.
And yet the Six Paths Palace had three Third Realm Demon Beasts?
Not to mention Palace Master Zhu himself, who was already at the Mid-Mountain Shattering Realm at such a young age and could even fight across realms against the Third Realm.
Zhao Dehou reckoned you’d be hard-pressed to find more than a few prodigies like him in all of Yunjiang, let alone Red River Prefecture.
"Village Chief..." the sturdy man at the door couldn’t help but speak up. "I think... we can negotiate."
The wiry man nodded as well. "The benefits Palace Master Zhu is offering... we in Qingshi Village couldn’t earn that in several lifetimes."
Zhao Dehou shot them a glare, signaling them to shut up.
But he knew in his heart that these two blockheads were right.
A monthly stipend of one silver coin, room and board included, and a chance to learn cultivation techniques and martial arts for free.
Even the martial arts halls in Jianshui City couldn’t offer terms like these, to say nothing of Qingshi Village.
What’s more, Zhu Ge had also said he could let their entire village relocate and settle near the Six Paths Palace.
What did that mean?
It meant the Six Paths Palace would protect them.
It meant their wives, children, and elders would no longer have to live in constant fear.
It meant their children would have the chance to cultivate, the chance to leave this impoverished mountain valley.
"Palace Master Zhu, please wait a moment. This old one will go gather everyone right away!"
...
In less than an hour, all the able-bodied men of Qingshi Village had been gathered in the open space at the village entrance.
Torches illuminated the clearing, where more than three hundred young and able-bodied men stood, whispering to each other and buzzing with discussion.
"What’s the Village Chief want with us in the middle of the night?"
"Heard some big shot is here, recruiting soldiers."
"Recruiting? Do they pay?"
"In your dreams. Since when do you get paid to be a soldier?"
Zhao Dehou stood on a large, flat green rock and struck a bronze gong three times.
"Everyone, quiet down!"
His booming voice cut through the clamor of the crowd.
"This is Palace Master Zhu of the Six Paths Palace, a Mountain Shattering Realm Martial Artist! Even Third Realm Demon Beasts are no match for him!"
As soon as he said this, gasps of astonishment erupted from the crowd.
"Mountain Shattering Realm? Isn’t that even stronger than our Village Chief?"
"No match for even a Third Realm Demon Beast? Is that for real?"
"The Village Chief wouldn’t lie to us."
"What’s the Six Paths Palace? Sounds super powerful!"
Zhao Dehou struck the gong again. "Quiet! Palace Master Zhu is going to speak to you. Now all of you, listen up!"
Zhu Ge walked to Zhao Dehou’s side, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
More than three hundred pairs of eyes turned to him in unison, filled with curiosity, doubt, and also expectation.
"Everyone..." Zhu Ge began, his voice not loud, but carrying clearly to each person’s ears. "My name is Zhu Ge, Master of the Six Paths Palace."
"I have come to Qingshi Village tonight for one purpose only—to recruit."
"Come with me, and you will receive a monthly stipend of one silver coin. Room and board are included, and there will be a pension for those who fall in battle."
"For those willing to practice martial arts, my Six Paths Palace will teach you cultivation techniques and martial arts for free!"
"For those willing to farm, my Six Paths Palace will provide Spirit Seeds and Spirit Soil!"
"For those willing to learn a trade, my Six Paths Palace has teachings in tailoring, cooking, forging, and various other skills!"
"In short, as long as you are willing to come, the Six Paths Palace can offer you a way to live—a life ten times better than farming in this village!"
When his voice fell, the crowd was silent for a moment before erupting into a deafening cheer.
"One silver coin a month? Did I hear that right?"
"Learn cultivation techniques for free? Am I dreaming?"
"I’ll go! I’ll go!"
"Count me in!"
"But I still have to take care of my mother..."
Some were eager, while others hesitated.
Zhao Dehou stood to the side, watching this scene with a flood of emotions in his heart.
Zhu Ge didn’t know what Zhao Dehou was so emotional about; he simply started organizing the able-bodied men into groups.
Among them were some who had practiced farm-work martial arts for a few years, some who were skilled hunters, and some who were simple farmers.
Zhao Dehou also decided to go with Zhu Ge.
"I may be old, but I am still at the Mid-Fury Realm. I can still fight for a few more years."
He leaned on his wooden staff, his gaze resolute. "Besides, if I don’t go, the young people from the village won’t feel at ease."
Zhu Ge did not refuse.
A Mid-Fury Realm Martial Artist was still a considerable asset on the battlefield.
"Village Chief Zhao, please make arrangements for Qingshi Village’s relocation," Zhu Ge said. "There is plenty of open land around Six Paths Valley. You can choose a site and build your houses. Just tell me what materials you need."
"Thank you, Palace Master Zhu." Zhao Dehou bowed deeply.
...
By the time they left Qingshi Village, the sky was already showing the first light of dawn.
Mazhu carried Zhu Ge at the head of the column. Behind them, a procession of over one hundred and eighty people snaked through the morning light like a long, winding dragon.
Liu Jianjian, perched on Zhu Ge’s shoulder, yawned. "Master, where are we going next?"
"Slaughtering Village," Zhu Ge said.
"Slaughtering Village?" Liu Jianjian perked up instantly. "That place is strange. The people there aren’t normal."
"How are they not normal?"
"I heard that the people of Slaughtering Village have been butchering cattle for generations. From killing so much, they all carry a kind of murderous aura."
"A murderous aura? That’s good stuff! Then it’s settled, we’re going to Slaughtering Village!"
And so, Zhu Ge was even more certain of his next destination.
This time, Zhu Ge recruited a full hundred men.
Along the way, the Demon Qi was so thick it blotted out the sun. Liu Jianjian summoned six Second Realm Demon Beast guards to lead the old, weak, sick, and young from the two villages to the Six Paths Palace.
As for the remaining nearly three hundred able-bodied men, they all followed behind him, heading toward the next village.
He had taken almost all of the able-bodied men from Qingshi Village and Slaughtering Village.
Looking at the vast procession, Liu Jianjian couldn’t help but exclaim, "Master, at this rate, you’re going to empty out every village in the entire Red River Prefecture."
"Empty them out?" Zhu Ge shook his head. "This is only the beginning."
He swung himself onto Mazhu’s back, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"Next stop, Dog Street."