552 Restrained and constrained
The statue of the evil god also requires a certain amount of energy, the exact amount of which is difficult to ascertain, but a faint, eerie energy aura can always be sensed.
Crimson Flame Demon God, Serpent Demon God, and other bizarre creatures that resemble immortal beings.
So many appeared, and so quickly.
Moreover, they had only just besieged Hezhou, yet they had already suffered numerous casualties. Whether it was due to carelessness or a lack of skill, the pressure on the two of them had increased dramatically.
He sighed silently in his heart. The higher he climbed, the more thoughts arose in his mind. He had done his best, and he felt more and more that the world was difficult to navigate. The Holy Emperor was truly incredibly powerful.
It was astonishing that such a dynasty, regardless of the size of the sects or families, could abide by the rules and not make excessive demands, thus leaving them with a sliver of opportunity.
However, it seems that nothing has changed, nor can it be changed. The strong set the rules. It is difficult for this dynasty to hide wealth among the people, but hiding soldiers in powerful families is something that has not been faked at all.
Lin Yi, unable to conceal his complex emotions, whispered, "If the Holy Emperor were here, I wonder if he would have been more restrained, or perhaps even more discreet."
He shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with sadness.
Ren Pingsheng said softly, "Since we have some ability, we should naturally do something. This matter will ultimately need to be done step by step. Following you, sir, is surely a blessing for the people."
The two remained silent, but looking at Hezhou, the Yao family, the Hong family, and some smaller families had gathered together to form a powerful force. The elders of these families were even practicing evil magic in their pursuit of immortality.
The Serpent Demon Cult, in particular, has spread far and wide, offering immortality and bliss that surpasses even the gods.
It was only a short period of time that the Holy Emperor was away, yet things had descended into such chaos.
Those who couldn't wait any longer and whose time was near began to hastily sacrifice their villages, leaving no one able to escape, and they arrived at just the right moment.
At a time when the power of the royal city in suppressing various regions was weakening, even if villages disappeared, no one cared or paid attention, so many messages simply could not be transmitted.
Even if they are discovered, it will probably be very, very late, and by then, it will be a completely different world.
The emperor's co-rule with powerful local clans and families has revealed numerous drawbacks. A new successor without the power to command respect across the nation is simply unable to win the people's hearts.
The two remained silent. Lin Yi, his face grim and tinged with worry, spoke first, slowly and softly, "In recent times, the Eternal Life Evil Sect, the Serpent Demon Sect, and the Crimson Flame Demon Sect have been expanding rapidly."
Those evil god statues came from nowhere; they were made of clay, stone, and, it is said, even jade.
This ancestor of the Yao family is truly audacious and ruthless. He sacrificed an entire village, yet he actually succeeded and broke through to a higher level.
Although the foundation is unstable and this was unexpected, if there are more breakthroughs elsewhere, the news probably won't be kept secret.
A deep worry lingered in his eyes. It was now uncertain whether the other prefectures and counties had received the intelligence or whether it was accurate. He wondered if they should continue with the strategy of splitting their forces into several groups.
Or perhaps things have changed.
A figure rushed in, moving like a hurricane, stirring the surrounding grass and trees. His subordinate, covered in sweat, bowed and reported, "Greetings, Your Excellencies. The family forces and their direct henchmen in the vicinity of Hezhou have been basically all taken down."
Despite some unexpected incidents, all those involved have been captured, and those who resisted were either killed or wounded.
He added with a somber and complex tone, "We have also suffered losses. Four brothers died on the spot from their injuries, and ten others are seriously wounded and probably can no longer wield swords. We have already made arrangements to send them away for treatment."
Dozens sustained minor injuries and will likely need several days to recover.
Lin Yi and Ren Pingsheng nodded slightly, feeling a pang of discomfort in their hearts. They thought to themselves, "We were careless. The Battle of Changzhou made us arrogant."
Your strength is truly beyond our comprehension.
I wonder what the Holy Emperor would do, for example.
As this thought crossed my mind, an overwhelming excitement surged within me. It was like a raging storm, every pulse pounding, every cell boiling, as if I had a powerful feeling of earth-shattering change and a change of dynasty.
Seeing Lin Yi's agitated state, Ren Pingsheng assumed it was due to the losses inflicted in this battle, and felt deeply distressed and unable to calm down.
Lin Yi gently comforted them, "You've worked hard. The deceased demon slayer should be given a proper burial, and the compensation should be delivered in accordance with his last wishes."
If their children are young, they should be raised to adulthood, and arrangements should be made for their education, literacy, and livelihood.
No one may embezzle funds for personal gain. Anyone who dares to embezzle or oppress the widow will be executed without mercy.
The subordinate, his eyes filled with emotion, bowed deeply and solemnly expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, sir. I thank you on their behalf for your kindness and compassion. If they could know this in the afterlife, they would surely be eternally grateful."
Lin Yi shook his head and said softly, "Do our best to treat those who are seriously injured. You all should rest for a day and avoid acting alone for now."
'yes. '
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a chill that seeped to the bone. Ren Pingsheng sighed softly, muttering to himself in self-reproach, "Having just broken through, I thought the world was in my grasp. Victory was assured."
I was too arrogant and reckless, and I apologize to the adults for this.
We still need to focus our efforts on this.
Furthermore, we will need to seek help from our superiors. Otherwise, once we've traversed the remaining eight prefectures and counties, we anticipate suffering heavy losses.
A sense of helplessness washed over him. Even after becoming King Wu, he still couldn't easily conquer a single city and establish his achievements. It was truly a difficult task.
Lin Yi felt the same way, feeling powerless and frustrated. He had originally thought that they would win the battle quickly and achieve great feats, but he found that reality was much more difficult than he had expected.
The challenges and difficulties faced seemed to be greater than expected. Despite their high morale, the casualties were too great, and the victory was ultimately a Pyrrhic one. Moreover, the handling of the situation in Hezhou was not decisive, which could lead to more unpredictable changes later on.
If you stir up trouble, the defenses will be tightened even more.
She gently agreed, "Let's join forces and take them city by city; that way, we'll minimize our losses."
In addition, this matter also needs to be reported to the adults.
Alas, we are incompetent and have become a burden to our elders.
Ren Pingsheng opened his mouth, but for a moment he couldn't speak. King Wu, King Wu, it was truly hard to accept this, but there was nothing he could do.
If they manage to capture a city, they can be arrogant, or it might not be difficult. However, there are other states with unpredictable strength, and many powerful factions are involved. If the two of them do not back down at all, they will probably find it difficult to move forward.
Even subsequent attacks were inevitable.
The He family, Xie Yanyan, Shang Qingxuan, Shi Wanwan, and Shi Feixuan arrived together.
The exquisite long dress exudes youthful elegance and grace, its hem swaying gently, revealing a figure as beautiful and captivating as a fairy.
With light makeup, her skin was as white as jade, and her eyes held a captivating charm. The light eyeshadow and lip color complemented each other, highlighting her exquisite figure.
The women on both sides of the stage were more beautiful than flowers, outshining all others.
Jie Yanyan and the other girls showed a hint of shyness and joy.
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