Chapter 285: Chapter 287: I, the Grand Nation... You Got Hit by a Bug


    Several days later, Wang Cheng ecstatically presented the 0.21 version of the Crimson weapons blueprint as if offering a treasure, which immensely satisfied Emperor Shen You. Although he couldn''t comprehend the specifics of the content, the dense annotations and drawings signified the weapon''s extraordinary nature.


    He had witnessed its power himself and naturally had a measure of its capabilities.


    For those in the Third Realm, a hit to their vital points meant certain death, and even those in the Upper Three Realms faced a significant threat.


    With adequate weaponry, it would be possible to suppress the numbers of the Demon Worms from the Exotic Realm.


    He hadn''t anticipated that Wang Cheng could actually acquire them, though the absence of the Secret Technique was somewhat awkward.


    As for the less-than-honorable means of acquisition, Emperor Shen You simply turned a blind eye. As long as it was beneficial, he wasn''t concerned with Wang Cheng''s methods.


    "With this batch of arms, Great Nether will certainly sweep across the world," Emperor Shen You declared, feeling a rare burst of joy. As for the possibility of not being able to produce them? Then it would be the fault of the Ministry of Industry.


    "Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch from the Western Regions..." a eunuch hurriedly approached, holding a report.


    This turned Emperor Shen You''s previously good mood sour, as such urgent dispatches were never good news, typically not associated with major victories or triumphs.


    He hurriedly took it and opened it, nearly causing a stroke.


    "These merchants, they are absolute scoundrels, scoundrels indeed!!!" The fury of Emperor Shen You caused his overwhelming Divine Thought to surge through the palace like thunder, making all the serving maids, eunuchs, and guards too terrified to make any significant movements, even their breathing cautious.


    It didn''t take long for Emperor Shen You to calm down, knowing that anger served no purpose, a brief outburst being sufficient.


    "Summon the Cabinet ministers," Emperor Shen You said, reigning in his anger.


    Immediately, a eunuch, who was actually a Ninth Realm Magician, left at a speed invisible to the naked eye.


    Soon, a group of Cabinet ministers, all at least from the Eighth Realm and thus not ordinary humans, arrived swiftly.


    "My lords, take a look at this urgent dispatch just received from the Western Regions," Emperor Shen You said, then threw the dispatch to them.


    After the ministers passed the report among themselves, each one of them looked significantly disturbed, completely taken aback.


    "Husheng Pass has been breached by the Demon Worms from the Exotic Realm, and although we have retaken it, a swarm has charged in, scattering throughout all of Great Nether. Such an incident has not occurred for a full ten thousand years. What say you?" Emperor Shen You was truly incensed.


    Everyone''s gaze turned to Wang Cheng, the Grand Secretary, knowing that Emperor Shen You wanted to ask why the Demon Worms had access to military equipment produced by the Lord of Demon Soil.


    With his scalp tingling under their stares, Wang Cheng steeled himself and said, "Your Majesty, this must be clandestinely funded by the Lord of Demon Soil. The Crimson military equipment can only be produced by Demon Soil. We need to send a letter demanding to know why he has committed such an act of treachery and bring it before the whole world."


    The words sounded eloquent but were essentially hollow.


    He realized that this youngster had no sense of coercion at all. To have the Lord of Demon Soil come for an audience and then place him under house arrest?


    Why didn''t you go and bring the Demon Insect Dominator and Spirit Realm Three Demons for an audience and then put them under house arrest?


    If any of them actually came, the Great Nether Dynasty would likely be reduced to ruins.


    "My Great Nether Dynasty is a grand state, richly situated in the Central Plains, while Demon Soil is merely a land of Barbarians. Although slightly prosperous, how could it compare to the might of Great Nether?" Wang Cheng arrogantly said.


    For a moment, Emperor Shen You didn''t know whether to be happy or angry. He was happy that the Grand Secretary actually lacked vision, but angry because, after all, he was actually praising him.


    He sighed inwardly. The stability and prosperity of these years had led everyone in the Great Nether Dynasty to develop a mindset of supreme arrogance.


    They felt invincible, with no force able to rival them.


    This arrogant attitude needed to be curbed quickly, as there were already proposals to annihilate external threats.


    Did they really think these three major threats were due to their insufficient strength? They were merely being suppressed by him.


    "Your Majesty, we must not heed Wang Cheng''s words. There are strong warriors in Demon Soil. Oficial humiliation might bring endless troubles," Bai Lv, who had actually witnessed the strength of Qin Muye''s territory, spoke up desperately. Such actions could provoke a disastrous rebellion.


    "Scholar Bai, are you enhancing someone else''s stature? Could it be that you''ve taken some advantage?" Wang Cheng could hold his own in scolding others.


    The two were about to start arguing heatedly when Emperor Shen You finally spoke up to stop them.


    "Enough, I will handle this matter. Grand Secretary Wang, you are getting on in years, and these matters are taxing. You should go and rest for a while," Emperor Shen You said.


    It looked like he was breaking up a fight, but anyone perceptive could see that he was siding with Bai Lv.


    It was quite severe, actually kicking Wang Cheng out of the Cabinet.


    Hearing this, Wang Cheng froze as if he had never anticipated the situation would escalate to this extent.


    "Your servant, thanks Your Majesty''s immense grace!" Wang Cheng''s voice was somewhat hoarse. He didn''t understand why his choices, which were evidently the best, had led him to such an outcome.


    He might have had great Talent in internal scheming, but he utterly disregarded everyone else externally.


    Just after saying these words, Wang Cheng seemed to age ten years, his once vibrant demeanor turning decrepit.


    "Since there''s nothing else, you may all disperse. Make haste to eliminate the demon insects that have infiltrated our territory, lest they brew more troubles," Emperor Shen You declared.


    As for resistance, who could resist? All the powers of the entire Great Nether Court were in his hands.


    ''It seems I have protected them too well; I need to make them understand the stakes, or else each one of them will become arrogantly self-important,'' Emperor Shen You thought, then prepared to gradually change the administrative policies.