Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 290 - 257: Crafty and Everchanging, Dispelling the Fog

Chapter 290: Chapter 257: Crafty and Everchanging, Dispelling the Fog

"Shida, these days, you’ve neglected your wife and children at home for the sake of public affairs, which is truly inexcusable.

You see, you’ve become so thin; if you ruin your health, how will you serve the common people?"

Zhou Ping’an approached and looked at Li Shida, the "Iron-faced Scholar," with a trace of pity flashing in his eyes, mixed with a hint of helplessness, and advised, "The matters of Qingyang City cannot be settled overnight. In the future, as the population under your governance increases, we will still need to trouble you, but you must not overwork yourself."

"Your subordinate understands."

Li Shida’s eyes were filled with gratitude. "Being able to do something tangible for the general and the people, Shida feels like I have boundless energy. As for my wife and children at home, with the general’s care, they will not suffer from hunger, what is there to be dissatisfied with?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ping’an was momentarily speechless.

He gently patted Li Shida’s shoulder and nodded his head.

Then, he turned to look at Luo Hao.

He didn’t intend to do anything in particular, just to talk and communicate with each one.

Under the bright light of the surrounding torches, everyone’s faces flickered with light and shadow, but Zhou Ping’an’s face was smiling, chatting with his capable subordinates.

What was supposed to be a harmonious and warm scene became extraordinarily eerie because of him.

But this was a necessary tactic.

Through some mystical sense of the soul, he knew that Li Yuankang was among these ninety-six people, but he could not easily pinpoint exactly who the target was.

The "Five Desires Demonic Scripture" derives from the "Suppression Prison Subduing Demon Scripture," focusing on emotions and supplementing physical strength.

The toughness of the body goes without saying—it’s an evolution at the cellular level, imperceptible on the surface. One could say it’s as convincing as a god when pretending to be a god, and as a devil when pretending to be a devil.

If the supplementary is this potent.

Then the primary focus on emotions is even more remarkable.

It not only hides one’s true emotions but can also create various needed emotional states, whether joy or sorrow, or anger boiling over...

To replace another’s emotions with one’s own, silently altering another’s thoughts.

This is the essence of Demonic Cultivation.

And it is indeed a very high-end classic of the Demonic Sect.

Truly speaking, when compared to ordinary Martial Arts, it’s not even in the same category.

Therefore, when facing Li Yuankang who had a certain level of proficiency in the "Five Desires Demonic Scripture."

Zhou Ping’an’s usual soul sensing abilities were rendered useless.

He could only, like an average person, start with the details, use verbal tactics to probe, and gradually peel away the disguise of the impostor layer by layer.

"Mouse, your Root Bone is naturally perfect, you can gain strength simply by eating, and you can even master the essence of moves directly with little effort, such as the Gentle Water Steps and Chasing Wave Sword.

In this period, focus all your energy on the Breath Control Technique. Once your potential is fully stimulated, you can start practicing the Explosive Technique."

Yes, Zhou Ping’an was preparing to pass on the "Purifying Lotus Body" to Luo Hao as well, to create an extraordinary divine general for the Ping’an Army.

Based on this, he had already dispatched a Herb Gathering Team of more than five hundred people deep into Black Mountain.

One reason was to search for the main ingredients of the "Sunflame Pill," which is related to the swift mastery of the "Purifying World Lotus" Cultivation Technique. Not only did he require it, but so did Tang Lin’er and Luo Hao.

If it were possible to find another suitable candidate for a divine general.

He was prepared to spread the technique widely.

Zhou Ping’an, who came from the modern world, was educated in an open system.

This meant that as long as it didn’t affect his own safety, he wouldn’t consider any Cultivation Technique too precious.

If he encountered the right person, especially among his own subordinates, he wouldn’t hesitate to pass it on.

As for what consequences might arise from spreading the technique?

Who cares?

He certainly did not.

The other important reason for sending people up the mountain to gather herbs was to obtain the "Yellow Sprout Pill," an Elixir essential for cultivating True Qi. This pill could aid in the generation of True Qi, indicating just how precious it was.

Since the main ingredients of the Elixir were also hard to find, even the Cloud Water Heavenly Sect did not have much in reserve.

Zhou Ping’an’s plan was to find one or two main ingredients, maintain their activity, and cultivate them in his own space.

This would solve the scarcity of main ingredients. In time, his own forces could experience a surge in advancement.

Putting aside Tang Lin’er and Luo Hao for the moment, as they had not yet reached the True Qi Realm and didn’t immediately require it—

Lin Huaiyu, the Green Lady, including himself.

All needed the Yellow Sprout Pill.

If they could have a constant supply of this Precious Medicine, consuming it like food.

He was confident.

They could accumulate True Qi at the speed of a jet airplane...

And with the fastest pace, break through the Mortal Rank Seventh Refinement True Qi Minor Circulation, Grand Circulation.

It might even greatly shorten the cultivation time required for the Eighth Refinement of the Internal and External Strength Qi.

Not having to waste ten or twenty years like his teacher Su Lianxue and others did, honing and enhancing True Qi.

By the time one’s Cultivation reaches Great Achievement, prime years are passing, and there aren’t many decades left to live.

The shortage of remaining lifespan is not the biggest problem.

The biggest issue is.

After the age of thirty, if one hasn’t opened their Divine Aperture, the body’s inherent potential begins to plummet sharply.

The chance of breaking through to True Martial later on becomes smaller and smaller.

This is recorded in some classical texts and historical documents. Whether it is true or not is unknown.

However, Zhou Ping’an tends to believe it is true.

Because, in modern society, there is a saying.

Prior to thirty, a person’s bodily functions are on the rise...

Peaking in the twenties, maintaining the pinnacle for seven or eight years, then beginning to decline.

This descent is not just physical but also spiritual—

The result was physical weakness, reduced immunity, and a greater susceptibility to sickness.

At the same time, during work, it was easy to feel sleepy and neither coffee nor tea could stave off the exhaustion.

Memory also began to decline gradually.

Therefore, fame must be secured early.

And so must cultivation.

At this moment, Zhou Ping’an thought about walking the road of accumulation in the shortest time possible,

striving to expand his territory, win the people’s hearts, gather momentum, and break through barriers.

Only then could he stay one step ahead, always leading the way.

Competing with fate, until he stood at the pinnacle of the world.

Only then would he have the chance to glimpse the path to longevity...

Luo Hao listened to Zhou Ping’an’s instructions, stroked his neck, and chuckled, "I just like fist techniques and weapons; I don’t have the patience for the slow Breath Control Technique. Rather than doing that, I might as well eat more meat.

Speaking of meat, can I take home my share of the rations distributed in the barracks to let my mother have a taste too...?"

"That’s your business. Once you’ve received your share, it doesn’t matter whether you give it to your mother or if you fancy someone and want to treat her to a meal, that’s up to you."

Zhou Ping’an sighed and touched his forehead.

If you sneak some food home, who would dare to gossip about it? You’re the Head of Martial Capital, in charge of many men.

You have privileges, my brother.

He felt that Luo Hao hadn’t quite grasped his own status and position.

Although Zhou Ping’an had proclaimed "food for everyone, clothing for all," he hadn’t aspired to complete equality.

He had merely guaranteed a minimum.

The maximum each person could achieve actually depended on their own efforts.

In this regard, the treatment of soldiers was clearly better than that of farmers.

Then, would a general receive the same treatment as a soldier?

Obviously not.

If everyone were truly equal, what would there be to strive for?

You’d just be making life difficult for yourself.

After a few exchanges with Luo Hao, Zhou Ping’an moved past him, looking at the third person: "Director Qiu, you are known in Jianghu as ’Golden Eagle with Fiery Eyes’, famed for never missing a detail, for seeing everyone’s strengths and weaknesses clearly.

However, in Qingyang City, we don’t need the same kind of worldly wisdom that exists in Jianghu; what we need is fairness.

The capable rise, the mediocre fall. If you can achieve this, your contributions will not be overlooked when it’s time to reward achievements."

This was like promising a pie in the sky.

But not really.

Because Zhou Ping’an knew that simply promising wouldn’t work with someone who had been rolling in Jianghu for decades and had seen all its warmth and coldness.

Only by truly showing him the prosperity and potential of his own power could he ignite his unmatched work enthusiasm.

Fame was insignificant; the true importance lay in benefits.

What he ultimately sought was a bright future.

"Your subordinate understands, I shall dedicate myself to my duties and not dare to slack off," replied Qiu Huaishan, nodding heavily and saluting with fists.

"Master Ming, we need to hurry with the assembly and testing of the waterwheel. The weather is gradually getting hotter, and there’s a good chance this year might see a continued drought...

The fields opened up here need irrigation, which is a major issue.

The reconstruction of the water channels and planning for the waterwheel locations should be carefully considered and drafted before reporting to the workshop—I will make preparations in advance."

"Yes, my lord."

The Director of the workshop was a middle-aged man with slightly dark skin and a distressing look, his face marked by the trials of life.

Upon hearing the words, he quickly bowed respectfully.

If one looked closely, they could see a spark of excitement in the unassuming middle man’s eyes.

This was the openness and anticipation of finally being able to put a lifetime of knowledge to great use.

And so the questions went on, one by one.

With ninety-six individuals, a few words with each hardly took less than half a shichen.

Zhou Ping’an stood before everyone once again.

He took a deep breath, and his smiling face slowly sank into solemnity.

"You all know why I called everyone here overnight, don’t you? That’s right, there’s a Devil Head among us. If we don’t find him, he could spoil things, seriously spoil things."

"Perhaps some of you think that simply asking around a bit wouldn’t be enough to catch the real Devil Head. But I’m telling you, it’s actually useful."

"If it was among four hundred thousand people, I might not be capable of finding someone who can disguise and conceal their identity, but among just ninety-six people, it’s much simpler. Here, I must first thank Miss Qing for providing this list."

As Zhou Ping’an spoke,

he handed the paper in his hand to the Director of Household Affairs Li Shida standing beside him.

Instructor Li reached out his right hand to receive it.

His expression was somewhat blank.

Was this for him to read the list?

Zhou Ping’an, however, seemed oblivious to his perplexity, walking slowly forward. He moved to the right, passed by Luo Hao, then suddenly turned and launched a punch.

"The Devil Head is you."

Just moments ago, he was relaxed and natural, without any indication of an attack,

When he turned and struck, a fierce gale rose abruptly around him, the force of his punch roaring and thundering like an explosion,

striking Luo Hao squarely in the chest with the force of thunder, too fast for the ear to catch.