The Young Wanderer 09

"Oppressed, killed at will, forced to hand over spirit herbs—are you willing to be lowly commoners your whole lives? Even if you are, what about your children? Should they live the same way?"

After a moment of silence, as the first person roared and rushed forward to take a weapon, a second and a third followed.

Fang Zhiyi watched the seething crowd below and said to Little Hei, "You see, once they witness that the 'immortals' in their eyes can also bleed, they dare to slay gods."

Little Hei nodded repeatedly. "After all, their health bars are showing."

The commoners' uprising spread like wildfire, engulfing over half of Xuanzhou in just a few days.

The formerly low-profile business establishments of the Wanbao Pavilion transformed into rebel strongholds. Weapons capable of harming cultivators were delivered in a steady stream. These weapons were simple to operate; even frail commoners could use them after minimal training. The Wanbao Pavilion representatives pounded their chests, guaranteeing a continuous supply.

Cities with weak local defenses fell almost within a day. Those cultivators who once held themselves high above either fled or were shot dead in the chaos, their heads hung by the commoners on the city gates.

If someone had told them to rebel to become emperor, they would have laughed. But now, the Wanbao Pavilion was telling them to rise up and be their own masters. They believed it. After all, in this world, only the Wanbao Pavilion was willing to give these lowly commoners a piece of clothing or a bowl of thin porridge.

Especially after hearing that news—the rumor that Prince Xuan, who supposedly cared for them, had been imprisoned by Emperor Tianyan. This news fueled the commoners' fury.

So, they raised Prince Xuan's banner.

Far away in Tiancheng, Prince Xuan was nearly furious to death. First, they used him as a shield, and now he was the last to know about an uprising launched in his name! And since when was he imprisoned?

Seeing the palace attendant before him summoning him to the palace, Prince Xuan almost cried. Wasn't this about to become a real imprisonment?

He refused to go. He wouldn't go even if beaten to death.

Because of this, Emperor Tianyan finally bared his fangs at his younger brother. Naturally, Prince Xuan wouldn't wait idly for death either. He activated all his hidden cards, praying in his heart that Fang Zhiyi would be the variable he needed.

The internal strife in Tiancheng also began. Other cities that had relied on Tiancheng's command were left isolated and without support.

The once-powerful cultivators couldn't understand why those contraptions in the commoners' hands could hurt them.

Cultivators who figured out the pattern began dodging the attacks from those artifacts. But you might dodge one, but what about two, or three? The commoners outnumbered the cultivators by dozens. Not everyone had an artifact, but there were enough to shoot them down in a hail of fire.

Against higher-level cultivators, Wanbao Pavilion operatives would mingle within the rebel armies. Their weapons were somewhat different, requiring spirit stones to be inserted as firing energy. The bullets shot this way could easily pierce the protective spiritual energy of high-level cultivators.

Under such firepower, city after city gradually fell.

The imperial court's cultivators also devised countermeasures. Since a head-on fight was difficult, they would implement a decapitation strategy!

But then something even more absurd happened. The rebel soldiers simply didn't know who their supreme leader was. They only knew their immediate superior, but not their superior's superior. Further up the chain? Prince Xuan!

However, all the sects, noble families, and court officials knew one thing: there was an experienced commander behind the rebel army, but he was hidden extremely deep.

Thinking it over later, for a decapitation strike, wouldn't killing Prince Xuan suffice?

Thus, the situation in Tiancheng grew even more chaotic. Prince Xuan scurried around the city, hitting and running, cursing Fang Zhiyi to the depths of his heart in his mind.

Since breaking through the encirclement last time, the Nine of Qingyun had been acting separately. Faced with the sudden chaos, they were only briefly shocked before feeling excitement.

Heroes emerge in times of turmoil!

They still hadn't forgotten their dreams and adventures.

"Stop the Wanbao Pavilion, obtain the imperial family's pardon, save our entire clans." Almost every young man thought this and made nearly the same choice.

Fang Zhiyi frowned, staring at the pieces before him. After a long while, he picked one up. "A narrow path."

"Sir, you are..." Golden Abacus's lips trembled slightly, as if holding something back.

"Sapper. The sapper can dig up landmines," Fang Zhiyi said very naturally, with a hint of a confident smile, as if everything was going according to his plan.

"Sir, don't go too far... Didn't you say we were playing chess?"

Fang Zhiyi struggled to maintain his confident smile, though his eyes involuntarily darted to the side.

Among the Nine of Qingyun, Shi Jian was known for his defense. His contribution was primary in allowing the others to escape last time during the encirclement.

Hearing news of trouble at home, he was very anxious, desperate to find Li Wenyan and return together to check. He didn't find Li Wenyan, but he found Zhao Jinglei.

The strongest shield and the strongest spear of the nine formed a temporary partnership. Both were large-framed, and their cultivation techniques complemented each other, making them quite compatible. Zhao Jinglei had some brains; he deduced that their other siblings must be trying to return to Tiancheng. If they just reached Tiancheng, they would surely meet them.

Shi Jian nodded in agreement.

But halfway there, a familiar voice caught their attention.

Creeping closer, they saw Liu Yueya surrounded by a group of people. The location seemed like a mine pit, but the smell emanating from it was unpleasant.

Faced with the two large figures dropping from the sky, Liu Yueya showed excitement, her earlier panic already forgotten.

"You came just in time! This is a black-market mine! Those people were captured and forced to work here for free!" Liu Yueya pointed not far away. Shi Jian and the other turned to see figures covered in black filth staring at them, a truly pitiful sight.

However, the people surrounding them were clearly growing impatient. "I find you people just don't understand plain language, do you? Get lost!" He was displeased. This girl was like a lunatic—first sneaking into the mine pit (how dangerous was that?), then shouting and making a scene after being discovered, alarming everyone.

Shi Jian was taken aback. It seemed the situation wasn't as he initially perceived. Logically, they should turn and leave now. But before he could formulate a plan, Liu Yueya, emboldened by their arrival, shouted loudly, "This lady isn't leaving! We, the Nine of Qingyun, specialize in righting such injustices!"

The people surrounding the three looked at each other. Someone caught on. "Oh, oh, the Nine of Qingyun. I remember now. Those kids who keep getting wanted."

"I remember too. Seems they even smashed up one of our operations."

As they were talking animatedly, a sudden scream was heard. Everyone turned to look toward the mine shaft.

They saw several miners scrambling out, rolling and crawling.

"Bad news! Bad news, foreman! The support pillars suddenly collapsed!"