My Cultivation Starting from Archery-Chapter 729 - 227: Divine Weapon Descends_3

He pointed to Yunzhou and said: "Even if the Chen family heads to Yunzhou and manages to repel the Qing army within a short time, they’ll ultimately still face our blockade. As long as Spring and Autumn Manor exists, their southern grain route will remain a major issue, akin to a blade hanging constantly behind them."

"Could it be..."

"Chen Sansi’s venture south to the Central Plains is merely a front, and capturing the entire Northern Territory is his true aim?"

"Seizing the whole Northern Territory, then recruiting soldiers and accumulating power?"

"Hehe~"

Li He listened to his analysis and sneered: "So, it seems this child wants to compete with your Emperor in cultivation speed?"

He had reviewed the records of this person’s life, naturally aware of White Robe’s astonishing cultivation speed.

In just five or six years, from a hunter to his current Early Stage True Martial Artist, such martial prowess naturally demands top resources regardless of which Martial Arts sect or family in the Cultivation World one belongs to.

But this struggle for the Ancestor Veins is not that simple!

Dragging it out.

This kid has only one path left: death.

"Brother Cao."

Ling Yun asked, "What should our next steps be?"

"Report—"

Cao Rong was lost in thought.

Another soldier came to report.

He presented a secret letter with both hands: "A message from Mu Fengchun in the Capital City, requesting His Highness’s utmost attention!"

"Him?"

Cao Rong took the letter.

Poisonous Scholar Mu Fengchun, known worldwide for his "poison" and "ruthlessness" in strategy.

Many victories achieved by Sun Xiangzong back then were inseparable from this man’s shadow, though later they inexplicably parted ways and stopped interacting.

If one were to name the top military strategist within the current Great Sheng Court.

Mu Fengchun stands unrivaled.

Cao Rong opened the secret letter.

The contents were simple, only four words — Beware the Grain Route!

...

Hongdu Prefecture.

This city is fortified but not large, spanning the official road leading from the Central Plains to the Northern Territory, used to transfer troops and provisions, effectively holding the fate of Spring and Autumn Manor.

But its geographical position is exceedingly secure, surrounded by the court’s strongholds and towering mountains, with the only threat being potentially from Beiliang in the north, yet Spring and Autumn Manor stands as a shield, allowing for complete peace of mind.

Thus.

Stationed here for defense were only one Loose Cultivator at the Late Stage of Qi Refining and another at the Middle Stage.

The two were brothers by blood, one named Xu Fu and the other Xu Shou.

The elder brother, in the Late Stage of Qi Refining, had average qualifications, with no hope of Foundation Establishment.

The younger brother, only twenty-three years of age, was already at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, with decent qualification but lacking resources.

Hence, the elder brother took the risk to accept the Shengyun Sect’s bounty task, arriving at Eastern Continent to participate in the conflict, aiming to secure cultivation resources for his younger brother.

If someday, the younger brother successfully establishes a Foundation.

The Xu family might also lease a low-grade spirit vein in Sky Water Continent, establish a Cultivation Family, and no longer live the fearful, precarious life of a Loose Cultivator.

"Xu Shou!"

The elder brother Xu Fu came to the city wall, looking at his yawning younger brother sitting on the parapet, he said: "You shouldn’t have come; you haven’t signed the Blood Covenant, you still have time to return."

Ever since Guan Du.

The bounty order raised the realm requirements for cultivators notably, especially for Loose Cultivators, mostly hiring those at the Late Stage of Qi Refining and above. Moreover, since the Mang Mountain Ancestor Veins had been secured, the rewards were not as generous as before.

His younger brother Xu Shou had come by himself, unable to gain any rewards.

"It’s too late."

Xu Shou said: "Near the Transmission Array are Shengyun Sect’s supervisors; before the Ancestor Veins strife ends, without the sect’s permission, no one can leave. I say, brother, why are you anxious? We’ve stayed in this broken place for several months, except for the miasmic Desolate Mountain nearby, not even a trace of anything threatening, what’s there to fear?"

"That’s true."

Xu Fu did not deny.

Before arriving, he had thought it would be a life-and-death battle of extreme peril, yet he found himself assigned such an easy task, merely guarding provisions, nowhere near any fighting.

Plus, the city he was responsible for boasted an exceptionally advantageous position, with Spring and Autumn Manor ahead, all allies behind, even protection above; it was under multiple layers of protection, making an enemy attack nearly impossible.

If things remain this way, just stay here for a few more months, then return to claim bounty rewards, an effortless task.

With this thought.

Xu Fu sat beside his younger brother, patting his shoulder meaningfully, he said: "As your brother, I understand your desire to help; let this be a one-time occurrence, don’t act this way in the future; our Xu family is counting on you to take root and grow in Sky Water Continent."

While they were talking.

Under the beautiful sunset with its glowing clouds, a cultivator hurriedly approached, asking solemnly: "Has there been anything unusual around here recently?"

"Ah, it’s Daoist Zhao."

Xu Fu rose and cupped his fists: "Everything is normal; the next batch of provisions should arrive here in about a month and will absolutely not delay Spring and Autumn Manor’s supply."

Upon hearing this, the arriving cultivator somewhat relaxed but still said with seriousness: "Spring and Autumn Manor received news that someone might attack the grain route, so I’ve been dispatched to inspect."

"No worries."

Xu Fu thumped his chest and said: "I take time every day to patrol the skies, thoroughly familiar with the situation within a hundred miles; definitely no sign of enemy army."

"Good."

The cultivator surnamed Zhao nodded slightly.