Li Qingxian checked on the Child Immortal-Seeking Bees outside the Ministry of Justice Office and continued to mark the Demon Cultivators lying in ambush.
"Some people are hidden here. Their auras don’t seem like those of Demon Cultivators."
"Demon Cultivators are hidden here, around twenty of them."
"And here..."
In the end, Li Qingxian calculated that, to his surprise, the Demon Sect had over five hundred Lower Grade cultivators ambushing them outside the Ministry of Justice.
Soon, the Developing Paper updated. Some of the locations he had marked as containing hidden people were relabeled as "friendlies."
A moment later, Lur Yunyan’s text appeared again.
"This intel is crucial. We knew they might have an ambush waiting outside, but we never expected this many. Excellent work."
Squad Commander Fuu Mingcheng picked up the Developing Paper and carefully read the new information.
A short while later, several Literature Cultivator teams split off to join the other hidden Literature Cultivator teams.
Literature Cultivator Assault Teams rushed through the streets near the Ministry of Justice.
Fuu Mingcheng said in a low voice, "Our squad holds this position. Don’t make any rash moves. Be ready for a Demon Cultivator assault."
Suddenly, a building several hundred meters from the Ministry of Justice flared with the light of a Battle Poem. This was followed by a series of deafening roars, then the sounds of shouting and signals.
Li Qingxian looked over. That was one of the Demon Sect’s ambush points.
Under the cover of night, flashes of light and explosions erupted from nearby locations as the Literature Cultivators engaged the ambushing Demon Cultivators.
The Demon Cultivators on the Ministry of Justice walls looked at each other, momentarily unable to decide. This was not only beyond their expectations—it was unprecedented.
Their positions had been compromised before, but never so completely.
If they didn’t act now, they could only watch as those Demon Sect Disciples either surrendered and vowed to never fight again, were critically wounded, or were killed.
But if they charged out now, all their plans would be ruined, and no one knew if this was just a ploy by the Literature Cultivators to lure the snake from its hole.
After about ten minutes, the flashes of light and sounds from the skirmishes gradually died down.
A moment later, Squad Commander Fuu Mingcheng and Li Qingxian received messages simultaneously.
Fuu Mingcheng said excitedly, "A great victory in the initial engagement! We’ve eliminated over two hundred Demon Sect Disciples, and more than three hundred surrendered. What’s more, given the sheer number of Demon Sect members involved, reserve teams from the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, Taichang Temple, Honglu Temple, the Hanlin Academy, and the Imperial College are on their way. I’m afraid this is about to turn into a major battle! I also heard that some of the private Academies are preparing to mobilize."
Li Qingxian and Songg Baige exchanged a look, a mixture of worry and excitement on their faces.
The Imperial College was the nation’s premier institution of higher learning, and every one of its students had at least Entered Grade. Their involvement would significantly bolster the Literature Cultivators’ numbers, but if the conflict escalated, the consequences would be impossible to predict.
The Divine Capital was also a gathering place for scholars from all under heaven. In a few more months, the Cyan Cloud Examinations for various Grades would be held one after another, so a great number of students were already congregated in the capital’s many Academies.
If students from those Academies were to get involved as well, the situation would become even more difficult to contain.
Songg Baige whispered, "Let’s not worry about all that. We fight first and talk later! I, Songg Baige, am going to smash down the Ministry of Justice’s gates and tear down their plaque today!"
Li Qingxian nodded, white mist swirling in his eyes as he observed the situation within the Ministry of Justice.
Middle Grade Ministry of Justice officials were moving about frequently; they were clearly mobilizing their forces.
Before long, the teams that had swept the areas outside the Ministry of Justice began to return. Along with the reinforcements, the total number of the Assault Teams swelled to over eight hundred.
Outside the West Gate of the Ministry of Justice, a dense mass of scholars stood, their faces covered with pristine white cloths.
On the low ramparts of the West Gate, the Demon Cultivators wore jet-black masks.
It was as if a clear line was drawn between the black and the white.
"Attack!"
A series of commands came down through the Developing Paper.
"Defenses up!" Squad Commander Fuu Mingcheng pressed the Developing Paper to his chest and recited a Protective Battle Poem.
Luminous barriers of all shapes and colors enveloped the crowd.
Afterward, the radiant light of countless Battle Poems rained down, coalescing into one Battle Poem Soldier and General after another, all charging toward the wall.
The Martial Cultivators followed behind the Battle Poem Soldiers and Generals, looking for an opening.
Finally, a barrage of Battle Poems transformed into wave after wave of rainbow-hued light, crashing against the wall.
The Demon Sect’s Magic Cultivators retaliated. Swarms of Demon Heads took flight. They resembled black-faced human heads with long, flowing hair, and they opened their massive, blood-red maws to intercept the Battle Poems filling the sky.
Suddenly, Li Qingxian heard a familiar voice reciting a familiar, yet different, poem. He turned to look at Songg Baige.
"High above, the azure sky illuminates the peaks, as three white waves flow from the Snow Mountain. The great river comes from the west, splitting heaven from earth, its furious dragon body crashing into the celestial river!"
It was an adaptation of "Touching Dragon Gate," the poem by Songg Yunjing and Li Qingxian.
As the poem concluded, three water dragons soared up to the wall. They roared amidst the Demon Cultivators, swiping with their claws, spewing torrents of water, and snapping their jaws to bite and tear.
Although Songg Baige was only a Seventh Grade cultivator, this poem was a perfect match for him, its power reaching the level of the Sixth Grade.
On the wall, only the Seventh and Eighth Grade Demon Cultivators barely managed to evade the attack. Any Ninth or Tenth Grade Demon Cultivators caught by the three water dragons were either killed or maimed.
Li Qingxian looked at Songg Baige.
Songg Baige said proudly, "There’s no shame in a son using his dad’s Battle Poem."
Li Qingxian nodded, a benevolent, fatherly smile spreading across his face.
"You’re taking advantage of me! I’ll settle this with you after the battle!" Songg Baige yelled before throwing himself back into the fight.
With his Spiritual Eye active, Li Qingxian slowly scanned his surroundings.
After a moment, he asked Squad Commander Fuu Mingcheng in a low voice.
"Captain Fuu, why isn’t the Demon Sect using sneak attacks? I remember them being very good at ambushing with Demon Poison or Demon Heads."
"The use of Demon Poison is forbidden anywhere near the Divine Capital. As for their Demon Heads, if they get too close, our Vast Righteous Qi allows us to not only detect them but also easily dispel them. However, they can still coat their weapons and Magical Artifacts with ordinary poisons, and that’s a huge problem. It’s a shame. Even though our Vast Righteous Qi counters Demon Heads, the Demon Sect has always been rich, with a vast number of Magical Artifacts. Most Lower Grade Literature Cultivators aren’t wealthy; not even one in ten possesses a Cultural Treasure or Magical Artifact. Only older Literature Cultivators have had the time to forge a Cultural Treasure of their own. The young ones are all just scraping by."
Li Qingxian nodded. ’Poor scholars, rich warriors, as the saying goes.’ Literature Cultivators required far fewer resources and silver coins than Martial Cultivators, and they didn’t personally need much money. On top of that, Scholars were generally a proud lot who looked down on commerce and wealth. This resulted in Literature Cultivators being the poorest of all Cultivators, sometimes even mocked as "pauper cultivators."
A moment later, Li Qingxian tapped his Developing Paper while simultaneously calling out, "Everyone, be careful! The Demon Cultivators behind the wall are starting to hand out Magical Artifacts. They look like Poison Rain Quivers, and they’re laced with poison."
Then, Li Qingxian began pulling various Magical Artifacts and Cultural Treasures from his Qiankun Bracelet, shouting, "Use my artifacts, but remember to return them after the battle! Hold on to them for now. Wait for them to use their Poison Rain Arrows, then seize the opportunity to take them and their Poison Rain Quivers out at the same time."
Li Qingxian handed out the Magical Artifacts and Cultural Treasures as he yelled.
In just a few moments, over a hundred Magical Artifacts and Cultural Treasures had been distributed.
The entire company was now fully armed.
The leaders of the Literature Cultivator Assault Teams were stunned. Where did Gangfeng’s son get so many Magical Artifacts and Cultural Treasures? Just how wealthy was he?
The Assault Teams now had nearly a thousand Lower Grade members. Excluding Li Qingxian’s contribution, could they even find one hundred Cultural Treasures among all of them?
Company Commander Lur Yunyan couldn’t help but ask, "Where did you get all these Magical Artifacts?"
"It has to do with my good brother, Ye Han. He gave me a Treasure Map." Li Qingxian had already prepared this excuse and conveyed it mentally through the Developing Paper.
He had just sent the message when thirty Seventh Grade Demon Cultivators charged onto the wall, each one swinging a large cylinder from their back to set it down in front of them.
The cylinders were about four feet tall and a foot in diameter, aimed diagonally at the Literature Cultivators below.
The Demon Cultivators reached out and gripped the cylinders, pouring their Magical Power into both sides.
Dense runes on the Poison Rain Quivers lit up. An instant later, each quiver erupted, spewing forth hundreds of pitch-black, poison-laced arrows of magical power that descended upon the cultivators like a swarm of locusts.
Those Demon Cultivators continued to pour in their Magical Power, and the Poison Rain Quivers began to brew a second volley.