CHAPTER 438: CHAPTER 432: THE SCHOLAR GOVERNS THE WORLD_1

"Run! Run fast!" The Ghost Cat Tribe’s Clan Leader regained his senses. He bellowed loudly, urging the panicked tribe members to steady themselves and flee towards the rear.

Soon after, a disheveled elder, covered in blood, stumbled back. With terror etched across his face, he reported, "Clan Leader, we are doomed! The Qin army has cut off all routes of retreat!"

The Ghost Cat Tribe’s Clan Leader faltered at the news, his mind going blank. They were surrounded!

"Damn that Qin Dynasty!" The Ghost Cat Tribe’s Clan Leader unleashed a cry of wrath, a bone-deep hatred glinting in his eyes. A dark sword, wreathed in black light, materialized in his hands, and he thrust it forward.

Endless fury overwhelmed his senses. Overwhelming killing intent surged like a blood-red tide, coursing through the world. Unparalleled Sword Qi tore through everything in its path!

Despite the incoming assault, Bai Qi remained unflustered. He even found it somewhat amusing that a peak Semi-Emperor Martial Artist would dare to attack an Emperor-level Martial Artist. Who gave him such courage?

"Die!" The blood-red sword in Bai Qi’s grasp quivered lightly as it unleashed a wave of Sword Qi.

This strike contained boundless killing intent, engulfing the entire Changkong!

The Void grew chill as the wild wind howled, as if countless wraiths shrieked within it, a bloodcurdling, macabre scene.

The Ghost Cat Tribe’s Clan Leader’s Sword Qi was instantly obliterated.

Even the war sword in his hand disintegrated!

And he had only borne the aftershock of Bai Qi’s Sword Qi; the true horror had yet to descend.

"No..." The Ghost Cat Tribe’s Clan Leader’s pupils dilated, his eyes wide with terror. In the next instant, the Sword Qi engulfed him, and he exploded into a mist of blood, leaving not even a trace behind.

"Annihilate the clan!" Bai Qi hovered in midair, issuing the cold command.

The majestic might of an Emperor washed over the Ghost Cat Tribe soldiers like the weight of countless God Mountains, rendering them immobile.

"Kill!" The clamor of slaughter erupted from all directions.

After rescuing the enslaved humans, the warriors of the Vermilion Bird Army turned their blades towards Stone City.

They slaughtered every alien race they encountered!

Columns of blood-red smoke, like signals of carnage, streaked across the sky. They stretched for thousands of miles, dwarfing everything beneath them.

The slaughter continued within the flame-engulfed city! Screams of terror, wails of despair, pleas for mercy, and curses echoed incessantly.

But no one showed mercy. Upon witnessing the imprisoned humans, the Vermilion Bird soldiers transformed into gods of slaughter, their massacre plunging the land into darkness.

"General, over 130,000,000 humans have been rescued. However, due to prolonged imprisonment, most are in poor condition, their expressions numb," a Deputy General stepped forward and reported mournfully.

"I have avenged them. Whether they can recover from this ordeal depends on the Imperial Court." Bai Qi sighed, yet the killing intent within him only grew stronger.

Race warfare. It was just this brutal.

The only thing he could do was conquer the alien races and do his utmost to protect the human race.

「Four hours later, the Ghost Cat Tribe was declared annihilated.」

Bai Qi personally shattered the Ghost Cat Tribe’s ancestral legacy with a single sword strike. The Qin army pressed deeper, advancing towards the next alien race, their blades held high.

The news of the Ghost Cat Tribe’s annihilation quickly spread throughout the Thousand Demon Saint’s Court, causing widespread panic among the alien races. Those near the border, in particular, resolved to migrate overnight.

Due to the hasty migration, many captive humans managed to escape.

Of course, many humans were also killed during the chaos; this was unavoidable.

「Meanwhile, proposals on how to settle the rescued humans reached the imperial court, presenting the ministers with a troubling dilemma.」

To address this issue, Qin Wudao convened a court assembly for discussion.

"Your Majesty," Zhuge Liang stepped forward and suggested, "most of the rescued humans have lost their loved ones and their spirits have been crushed. We must encourage them and help them regain their confidence in life!"

"Well said." Qin Wudao nodded slightly. He then asked loudly, "Which of my esteemed ministers is willing to go west to educate these people and rekindle their spirits?"

The officials in the hall were tempted. Educating millions of people is an act of immense virtue! A chance to be recorded in history! To attain supreme merit!

However, considering the arduous nature of the task, many officials shook their heads. To educate the masses, one would need to be at least an Emperor-level scholar, proficient in the Literary Dao.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!"

"Your Majesty, I too am willing to undertake this task!"

Two resounding voices echoed through the grand hall almost simultaneously as Dong Zhongshu and Wang Yangming stepped forward, offering a respectful salute.

A vast literary aura gathered above their heads, shimmering like a galaxy, exuding an endless profundity capable of enlightening all beings and awakening their minds.

Both Dong Zhongshu and Wang Yangming were men of exceptional talent.

Dong Zhongshu, from the early Western Han Dynasty, absorbed theories from various schools. He advocated for "rejecting all other schools of thought to exclusively revere Confucianism" and proposed important theories such as "the mutual resonance between Heaven and Man" and the "Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues." He was a great synthesizer of Confucianism.

Wang Yangming, who lived in the Ming Dynasty, founded the "Yin-Yang Mind Study" based on Confucianism, and was revered by many as a "Saint"!

"Approved!" Reflecting on their accomplishments, Qin Wudao commanded authoritatively, "You two, my esteemed ministers, shall each assemble a team of five hundred and journey to the territory of the Thousand Demon Saint’s Court to help our people overcome this crisis!"

"We obey Your Majesty’s command!" the two replied with a respectful salute.

「That day, Dong Zhongshu and Wang Yangming, accompanied by their respective students, headed west.」

This journey would embody the aspiration of Huaxia scholars: "To establish a moral core for Heaven and Earth, to secure a righteous destiny for all life, to revive the lost teachings of past Sages, and to bring peace to all future generations."

「Five days later, at the former encampment of the Ghost Cat Tribe, Dong Zhongshu hovered in midair. His scholarly aura surged like a vast ocean, pulsating between heaven and earth.」

On the ground below, densely packed humans were gathered—some standing, some lying down, their expressions numb and vacant.

"From the primordial era to the present day, the human race has risen from hardship to strength. Tempered by blood and fire, they have expanded their lands and forged the prosperity we see today!"

"The humans of old were devoted to their lands and people, their aspirations rivaled the heavens! Unflinching before adversity, with righteous valor they stood proud before the world, achieving extraordinary deeds! Even in old age, they never spoke of defeat, their indomitable spirit inspiring all!"

"Today, all of you have suffered calamity, endured the humiliation of alien races, and witnessed the murder of your families. This is a sorrow for millennia! Yet, the dead cannot be revived, and the living must look forward!"

"The Great Qin Saint’s Court will rebuild your homes alongside you!"

"You shall all become citizens of Great Qin..."

Dong Zhongshu’s gentle voice echoed in the ears of the multitude. Golden lotus flowers drifted down, settling among the rescued humans.

Many dazed humans began to weep, their eyes filled with sorrow. Some wailed loudly, while others screamed towards the heavens, as if to vent all their pain and grief.

Witnessing this, Dong Zhongshu, still hovering above, allowed a slight smile to touch his lips. This is a good sign.

「Many thousands of miles away, on a plain, Wang Yangming stood upon a raised platform, the principles of the Literary Dao enveloping him.」

Before him, 100,000,000 humans were finding new life!