Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 676 - 676 0434 County Masters Root and Footing

Chapter 676: Chapter 0434: County Master’s Root and Footing Chapter 676: Chapter 0434: County Master’s Root and Footing Chapter 0434: The Origins of the County Master

What the Prefecture Magistrate didn’t know was that Qi Tian had long been planning to clean up the cultivators of the Great Zhao Nation, especially his plan to depose the Crown Prince and support Prince Zhao to ascend the throne. Creating a cultivation world that leaned towards Prince Zhao was an inevitable path, especially since Prince Zhao practically had no cultivation realm. The first problem to be solved was how Prince Zhao, once he became the Crown Prince and later ascended the throne, would control the royal court lest he be reduced to a puppet.

If Qi Tian stayed in the Great Zhao Nation, there would be no need to worry about this problem. But Qi Tian was bound to leave the Great Zhao Nation eventually, and this time would not be too late. Once Qi Tian left the Great Zhao Nation and his deterrent power was gone, Prince Zhao would surely be unable to protect himself, let alone the throne, even his own life would be a matter of great uncertainty.

Considering the above reasons, Qi Tian planned to use thunderous means to sweep away all potential threats. How many people might die in this process and how heavy a blow it would deal to the cultivators of the Great Zhao Nation was not in Qi Tian’s consideration.

The so-called establishment through destruction, in Qi Tian’s view, all he was doing was breaking the inherent pattern of the Great Zhao Nation, allowing a new pattern that was more in line with the reality of the Great Zhao Nation to form. This process might be painful, but once accomplished, it would certainly be beneficial for the Great Zhao Nation. Of course, the reasons for Qi Tian’s willingness to do this can be divided into three parts. One part is because he felt the suffering of the common people of the Great Zhao Nation and was doing this for them; one part was because he was born in the Great Zhao Nation and was also a part of the Imperial Master Mansion, so it was his responsibility to do so, and the final part was personal grievances. If it wasn’t for the Crown Prince’s plan to sacrifice him to favor his brother and please the Guardian National Master Manor and the National Master Manor, Qi Tian wouldn’t have bothered to stir up so much trouble.

Qi Tian wouldn’t explain these things to anyone, even if Xiao Xiaowu, the Imperial Master Mansion, appeared before him, he wouldn’t pour his heart out to Xiao Xiaowu.

Qi Tian looked at Prefecture Magistrate Han Botao with a smile and said, “Old Sir, I wonder why you came to visit late at night?”

Han Botao had not yet removed himself from the shock of what just happened. He opened his mouth, “Master Qi Tian, don’t you think what you are doing is a bit inappropriate?”

Before Qi Tian could say anything, Gao Jinmei released her aura towards Han Botao. While Han Botao was the Prefecture Magistrate, he was also a cultivator, albeit only in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Gao Jinmei was at the third level of the Gold Core realm, and her aura rolled over him without any cover. Han Botao felt as if he was being suppressed by a mountain, his breath short and his bones creaking.

Qi Tian waved his hand, and Gao Jinmei hurriedly retracted her aura. She glared at Han Botao discontentedly, “Old man, are you qualified to call the County Master?”

Han Botao thought he was going to die just now. He was utterly confused as to how he had offended this powerful female Gold Core cultivator. As far as he knew, he hadn’t been rude, unlike the County Master, who had been sent flying by Gao Jinmei with a slap, showing off in an arrogant attitude. It wasn’t until he heard Gao Jinmei’s words that he realised he had incurred such unwarranted disaster just because of how he addressed Qi Tian.

Han Botao was almost in tears. It was common knowledge that Qi Tian was indeed the County Master of Lubei County. As the magistrate of a prefecture, he had interacted with many a County Master in the past, each time referring to them in this manner, without any issues. But this time, it resulted in disaster.

Han Botao realised that he had made the mistake of being presumptuous, assuming that since he had no issues addressing other County Masters in this manner previously, there should be no problem addressing Qi Tian in the same way now. But he had forgotten, how many County Masters in the Great Zhao Nation had Qi Tian’s cultivation realm? And where else could one find a county master like Qi Tian, who had two Gold Core cultivators by his side, a treatment not even the Emperor received? He had not even considered whether or not he was in a position to address Qi Tian as “County Master,” whether he had the qualifications or the strength to do so.

“Old Sir, are you okay?” Qi Tian asked with a smile.

Han Botao, having learned from his mistake, hurriedly responded with a smile, “Thank you for your concern, Master, I’m fine.”

Qi Tian smiled, “That’s good. Old Sir, I wonder why you came to visit late at night?”

The actual purpose of Han Botao and the County Master’s joint visit was clear, mainly due to the sudden outbreak of war in Baoding Prefecture. Although the fall of Yanming Pass was primarily due to the Crown Prince withdrawing ninety percent of the garrison from Yanming Pass, leaving it under-defended and providing an opportunity for the Bei Rong Kingdom, Han Botao, as the Prefecture Magistrate, still needs to shoulder a significant responsibility. For instance, when Yanming Pass was under-defended, the Prefecture Magistrate could have taken measures to fill the vacancy of the troop by mobilising local military forces from elsewhere, and his failure to do so was negligence on his part. After that, Qi Tian appeared in time and quickly expelled the army of Bei Rong Kingdom, retaking Yanming Pass, even causing the Emperor of Bei Rong to bow his head in apology, offering a huge compensation, and writing a Self-Admonishment Edict to be circulated throughout the country as a result. Each of these deeds were significant achievements, and if he could grab these honors, or even share a part of them, the benefits would be extremely significant. Not only could he avoid punishment for his previous negligence, but he might even earn rewards from the imperial court and possibly even a promotion in his position.