8mi Chapter 551 Locust Plague
Chapter 551 Locust Plague
Chapter 551 Locust Plague
The royal city, which was in a state of panic just the day before, has started a nationwide arithmetic competition today.
Outside the royal palace, many others were gathered, each one deep in thought with furrowed brows.
Some people were busy calculating with abacuses, some were scribbling on paper, some were muttering and counting on their fingers, and some were scratching their heads and steaming with worry... a hundred people, a hundred different behaviors.
Someone's face was contorted, their eyes vacant, as they said, "Was this a question even created by a human? Who could possibly solve this..."
"Don't talk if you can't figure it out, you're bothering me!"
"The Shu generals calculated for three days and three nights and still couldn't figure it out, this is nothing compared to what they've achieved so far."
"These spirit stones and pills are indeed hard to come by..."
"Stop arguing! I was just counting which square I was on, and now I have to start all over again."
……
When Deputy General Luo Chong learned of the situation, he couldn't help but marvel.
Luo Chong said with slight surprise, "The people of this royal city are actually willing to use their brains!"
He thought the barbarians wouldn't care about such a bounty, but he didn't expect it to cause such a big reaction.
Standing not far away, Qingwan tucked her hands into her pockets, looked at the people outside the palace, and murmured, "This is the charm of mathematics!"
Upon hearing this, the nearby officials and soldiers all wore strange expressions.
They saw no charm in it, only a group of people suffering terribly in their struggle to calculate the correct answer.
Just then, Lu Zheng walked lightly over from a distance.
Lu Zheng approached Luo Chong and handed him a booklet. "This is a booklet I compiled overnight. The questions inside cover many topics and are enough for five years. General Luo can also use these questions to test the soldiers..."
The nearby soldiers all turned to look at them, their eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions, as if to say, "Are you a devil?"
They participated in the arrangement and setup of the bounty last night, and even curiously tried to solve the problem. As a result, they all feel their heads are buzzing now.
Upon hearing this, Luo Chong put away the booklet and said with a smile, "Oh dear, Young Master Lu, you've really worked hard."
Lu Zheng smiled slightly and said, "Education and nurturing people is something that sages advocate. I am just doing what I can, hoping it can really help you in some way."
Luo Chong couldn't help but say, "Young Master Lu is truly a benevolent and virtuous gentleman... I have already given orders that once the case of the royal family's rebellion is resolved, we will have someone set up an official school in this city to educate the people."
Lu Zheng nodded and said, "That's excellent."
At this moment, an official came over and reported, "General, we did not find the kind of Gu worm you mentioned in the confiscated property, but we did find some information about the Burial Mountain."
Upon hearing this, Luo Chong said, "Speak frankly."
The official then said, "The Burial Mountain is located in the mountains more than ten thousand miles south of the southern border. It is said that it was once the sacrificial site of a fierce ancient barbarian tribe, and also a forbidden place..."
"It is said that this place is where divine beasts fell, and ordinary cultivators cannot enter or leave, but this information is from a long time ago."
"Since the southern border came under the control of our Great Shu, we have had less contact with the barbarians further south. We still do not know what the Burial Mountain looks like now."
Luo Chong frowned slightly. He felt embarrassed that he hadn't even handled such a small matter properly.
He pondered whether he should issue a proper bounty for that kind of Gu worm.
Seeing this, Yun Xiao chuckled and said, "In that case, there's no need to trouble yourself. Let's go directly there and see what this Burial Mountain is all about. It's a rare trip to the Southern Frontier, so it wouldn't hurt to enjoy the scenery here..."
Yun Xiao turned to look at Lu Zheng, "Lu Zheng, what do you think?"
Lu Zheng smiled and said, "I'll listen to you, Daoist. We can set off whenever we like."
Yun Xiao glanced at the sky and said, "The weather is nice today, let's set off immediately."
Seeing this, Lu Zheng and his companions bid farewell to Luo Chong and his soldiers. Since a true master like Yun Xiao wanted to leave, Luo Chong couldn't insist on keeping him, and respectfully saw them off.
After everyone had left, Luo Chong looked at the people gathered outside the palace, his eyes filled with contemplation.
An aide whispered, "Should we drive them away? With so many people gathered outside, it might cause trouble..."
Currently, some important criminals are still being held in the palace prisons, and their cases can only be handled after a reply from the court.
They also have to guard against people causing trouble in the capital and rescue the prisoners.
Luo Chong thought for a moment and said, "No need. Some people will think it over and back down. There are many people now, but I estimate there will be fewer people in a while."
"If anyone deliberately refuses to leave, take the guards outside for some drills."
"Those who are really working on the problem will definitely not be able to stand it and will leave. As for those who insist on staying outside, then let's investigate them."
The aide quickly replied, "General, you are wise!"
……
Lu Zheng and the others boarded the flying boat and headed south.
Before they had flown very far, Qingyi raised her hand and tugged at Lu Zheng's sleeve, then pointed in a direction.
Lu Zheng and the other two looked in the direction Qingyi pointed.
In the distance, a vast expanse of dark fog could be seen moving slowly, covering dozens of miles and reaching a height of hundreds of feet.
Qingwan narrowed her eyes and took out another object to examine it closely.
She exclaimed in surprise, "That's not fog, it looks like insects!"
Lu Zheng frowned slightly as he looked at the direction the huge swarm of insects was moving; it was heading towards the royal city.
Yun Xiao couldn't help but say, "Heh, something's definitely fishy here!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Zheng steered the spirit boat to turn and fly towards the location of the insect swarm.
As they got a little closer, Lu Zheng and the others finally saw what the swarm of insects looked like: locusts swarming together in a plague.
Qingyi made a grasping motion with her small hand, and in an instant, she caught the nearest locust in her hand.
The yellowish-green insect was about the size of a child's fist, and Qingyi could barely grasp it with her small hands.
The locusts that had been acquired opened their mouths full of sharp teeth and lunged at Qingyi, but they couldn't break through her defenses at all.
Qingyi handed the large, fluttering locust in her hand to Lu Zheng for inspection.
Lu Zheng held the insect in his hand and felt that the locust had a hint of demonic energy. It could no longer be called an ordinary insect. Not only was it large, but its shell was also hard.
A gentle tap on the insect's back can even produce a crisp, metallic sound.
With the strength of an ordinary person, it would probably be impossible to kill such locusts in one go.
Lu Zheng looked down at the earth below. Wherever the dark swarm of locusts passed, all kinds of grass and trees were devoured clean. Even the wild beasts that fled in panic were quickly overwhelmed by the swarm, leaving not even bone fragments in the blink of an eye. This shows how terrifying these locusts are.
Yun Xiao glanced at Lu Zheng's locusts, even using his divine sense to investigate them, and clicked his tongue, saying, "These things must have been raised by someone."
He had seen locust plagues before, but never locusts this big. This southern region couldn't be so special that it could naturally breed such locusts.
Lu Zheng's gaze turned slightly cold. "The one who started this, will he have no descendants?"
(End of this chapter)