Soul-Slaying Maiden: Master Of Ancient Divine Weapons

"Changsheng Corporation attempted to attack a city in the southern part of Beijun yesterday."

"They conducted a surprise raid via a detour, and due to our insufficient manpower, we didn't detect it in time."

"Fortunately, the ancient Turtle Origin Formation helped us fend off this attack."

Listening to the report from his subordinates, Lin Jingxuan's brows remained tightly furrowed on the first day of the new year.

Since they began holding their ground in Beijun, adopting a defensive strategy to recuperate, Changsheng Corporation's probing attacks had not ceased.

Compared to other major powers that had laid low, Changsheng Corporation gave off a "cornered dog" kind of vibe.

"If this continues, it's not sustainable. All ancient formations rely on formation cores, and once the energy within the cores is depleted, we, who don't know how to replenish it, will be left helplessly watching them stop functioning."

"Although the teacher left us more than ten thousand formations, these are treasures he spent a century carefully amassing."

"If we squander them, we won't have another century to rebuild such reserves."

"Moreover, those relics originally belonging to Daxia are now under the control of Changsheng Corporation and the Empire, making further exploration impossible."

Ancient formations, once used, are gone forever.

Changsheng Corporation seemed to have realized this and persisted with its harassment.

For them, the cost was merely some easily manufactured biochemical soldiers. Using them to drain the ancient formations' energy was a bargain.

This was one problem.

Soon, a second report was delivered.

This time, it concerned urban energy supplies.

Those who chose to move northward with the main forces were undoubtedly loyal to Daxia.

When the people support you, you must show your gratitude with action.

For instance, now, complaints about urban energy shortages were pouring in.

Without the energy provided by Changsheng Corporation, urban energy had been exhausted. To maintain essential public services, energy distribution was strictly controlled, cutting off power to most cities.

For a highly urbanized city, this caused significant inconvenience.

It was also a pressing issue for Lin Jingxuan and his team.

"Changsheng Corporation did make an offer. The Shang family head proposed that if we hand over Han Zhan, they would provide free energy to all of Beijun."

"Hmph, just another slice of their salami tactics."

Lin Jingxuan immediately saw through their ploy.

Or rather, he knew them too well.

Han Zhan represented the future. His divine awakening ability could grant new life to contract spirits. Such power was terrifying. With Changsheng Corporation's technology aiding him, Han Zhan's future achievements would be immeasurable.

But if that happened, Daxia would lose its new spiritual pillar, and its hope for the future would crumble.

The losses would far outweigh the gains.

This was an open scheme—Changsheng Corporation's open scheme, and Lin Jingxuan had no intention of engaging.

At this moment, a subordinate hurried in with a third problem.

"The Awakening Stones of Daxia are being destroyed in large quantities by various organizations."

The third problem deepened Lin Jingxuan's frown and even caught Wei Qing's attention, pulling him out of his usual apathy.

Even someone as straightforward as Wei Qing understood the significance of Awakening Stones.

They were the foundation of Daxia's contract spirit masters. Without them, Daxia's lineage couldn't awaken upon reaching adulthood at 18, becoming either contract masters or spirits.

This was striking at the very root of Daxia.

Lin Jingxuan furrowed his brows even tighter.

Faced with these three issues, even someone as capable as him struggled to provide immediate solutions.

Yawning, Han Zhan entered from outside. Helping Gongyang Jin boost her cultivation last night had drained him. With more enchantresses to deal with now, the teacher who used to prepare him four nourishing soups daily was gone.

Suppressing a fleeting pang of sadness, Han Zhan greeted Lin Jingxuan and Wei Qing.

"Why the long faces? Did something happen?"

Han Zhan asked, prompting Lin Jingxuan to recount the three issues he had just learned about.

Hearing these problems, Han Zhan wasn't surprised.

It was almost exactly as he had anticipated.

"I have solutions for all three problems," Han Zhan suddenly said.

As soon as he spoke, everyone in the room froze, turning their gaze to him.

"This isn't a joke," Lin Jingxuan instinctively reminded him, pausing before cautiously asking, "You really have solutions?"

"Of course."

Han Zhan had spent a long time contemplating on the balcony last night, and it wasn't without results.

"For these three problems, I think we should prioritize them based on urgency."

"In my view, urban energy, which affects public welfare, is the most urgent. Ancient formations, which concern safety, come second. Awakening Stones are the least pressing."

"The solution to the urban energy issue is simple: plunder!" Han Zhan pointed to the areas on the map that were originally part of Daxia's territory. "We can seize the energy resources from these regions for Beijun's use."

"Better yet, if we locate Changsheng Corporation's energy production facilities, we can take over the entire operation, providing Beijun with energy for a long time."

Han Zhan's words made Lin Jingxuan and the others ponder.

Indeed, they had been trapped in old thinking, viewing these cities as part of Daxia and their inhabitants as compatriots, never considering raiding them for resources.

Han Zhan's suggestion opened up a new perspective.

"And the other two issues?"

"For the ancient formations and their cores, while we can't explore more relics, don't forget—I have the Bodhi Treasure Tree."

"Within the Bodhi Sacred Tree, we might find a way to solve the formation problem. It might even provide a solution for the Awakening Stones."

Han Zhan didn't make any guarantees but was 90% confident that the Bodhi Treasure Tree's fruit, [Harmonious Strings], represented the world of Fuxi's zither.

Why was it called Fuxi's zither? Because the creator was Fuxi.

Just as Shennong excelled in medicine, Fuxi specialized in the Eight Trigrams.

The trigrams formed the foundation of formations. Could ancient formations possibly stump Fuxi?

As for the Awakening Stones, resolving that wasn't critical. Beijun was already in turmoil, with most of its population being surviving contract spirit masters and spirits. Ordinary civilians were few, and even if awakened, they wouldn't form combat forces anytime soon.

Han Zhan explained this to Lin Jingxuan and concluded decisively:

"Therefore, I've decided that our first move is to raid Changsheng Corporation's controlled cities for energy."

"This will mark our first 'southern expedition'." Han Zhan slammed his hand on the map, radiating confidence and determination.

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