I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts

Chapter 455: Chapter 354: Unrest Beyond the World

Blue Star, Great Xia Ancient Land.

It is now under the jurisdiction of the Imperial.

For Zeng Jiaoyang, his life hasn’t changed much.

It’s just that the employer has changed, but he is still in the position of the exploited.

That day, Ding Yu from next door knocked on his door.

”Jiaoyang, are you up?”

Zeng Jiaoyang opened the door, and he saw a young, lively girl.

She had big eyes, slightly curled eyelashes, and long, shiny black hair that was smooth and lustrous. Her simple white blouse and light blue jeans tightly hugged her youthful figure.

”What’s up?” Zeng Jiaoyang ignored her beauty and asked indifferent.

Ding Yu pouted angrily.

She was used to Zeng Jiaoyang’s indifference.

”You’ve been working for the Imperial so much that you’ve gone dumb, haven’t you? Yesterday, all the streets received a notice to assemble at the street corner at 10 this morning. Didn’t you know that?”

”I know.”

Zeng Jiaoyang adjusted his glasses, his face still expressionless, ”It’s now 9:50, and I will leave at 9:55. Walking from home to the street corner at my normal pace would only take four minutes.”

”There’s even a one-minute buffer time, just in case of any possible traffic jams.”

Ding Yu was amused and annoyed by Zeng Jiaoyang’s answer, ”Traffic jam while walking? Zeng Jiaoyang, are you kidding me?”

Zeng Jiaoyang ignored her and closed the door.

It’s obvious even to a fool that Ding Yu had feelings for him. However, Zeng Jiaoyang had no intention of dating anyone.

Under Imperial rule, the once Great Xia People were at the lowest social level, struggling even for basic needs. There was no room for thoughts of love, and even if there were, they would have been snuffed out early.

Zeng Jiaoyang was an absolute rationalist; since he couldn’t make any promises, he wouldn’t start anything.

He washed, had breakfast, and got dressed.

At exactly 9:55, he opened the door and walked towards the street corner.

By that time, a dense crowd had already gathered at the street corner, all of them Great Xia People without exception.

Only a few Imperial Knights were riding tall warhorses, staring at the crowd like they were livestock.

After a while, the Imperial Knights cleared a path, and a Knight wearing pure silver armor with gold inlay approached from a distance.

His arrival sparked a buzz among the crowd.

After more than a year under Imperial rule, they’ve roughly learned that different armor represents different ranks among the Imperial Knights.

Below Tier Five Knights don’t wear armor,

Tier Six Justice Knights wear deep blue armor, Tier Seven Punishment Knights wear silver-white armor, and Tier Eight Judgment Knights wear silver armor with gold inlays!

The Imperial Knight in front of them was actually an Imperial Tier Eight Judgment Knight!

Even the Tier Eight Judgment Knight was deployed; was the Imperial planning something big?

”Silence.”

The Tier Eight Judgment Knight stopped and remained on his horse. When he spoke, an aura spread from his feet, covering the entire street corner square.

The whispering Great Xia People suddenly found that their mouths were open, yet they couldn’t make a sound.

The entire square instantly became silent.

Only then did the Judgment Knight continue:

”Now, the Imperial has a task for you to complete.”

”The reward for this task is a thousand daily wages, calculated from the date of registration regardless of completion.”

”If someone shows particularly outstanding performance, the Imperial would bestow them with the title of Knight, freeing them from their low status.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd stirred again.

They may not have made a sound, but it was as if they did, as a wave of commotion swept through.

The offer of a daily wage of a thousand caused Zeng Jiaoyang’s eyes to narrow slightly. After all, he worked hard every day and only earned a daily wage of a hundred. A tenfold difference in pay was nothing short of generous.

What kind of task would make the Imperial offer such a generous reward?

And what did it mean to perform outstandingly and be bestowed a Knight title to escape low status?

”The Imperial needs you to disguise as refugees and, as Great Xia refugees, infiltrate North County.”

Zeng Jiaoyang froze upon hearing this.

Not only him, but many others had the same reaction.

Why disguise as refugees and why infiltrate North County? The Judgment Knight did not explain.

”Those willing can step forward now.”

On the square, many people looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Choosing between a daily wage of a thousand and betraying Great Xia, which one should they pick?

Soon, someone gave the answer.

The first to step forward was a middle-aged man over fifty, with a weary look and white hair at his temples, indicating a hard life from his attire.

With the first one, there was a second, a third...

More and more Old Great Xia People stepped forward, walking to the front of the square.

Seeing this, the Judgment Knight nodded with satisfaction.

Of course, not everyone would do this for money. Many kept their heads lowered, standing still, with clenched fists or hidden emotions.

Zeng Jiaoyang was among them.

He wasn’t particularly angry nor resentful; he just felt that his current life was bearable and there was no need to do something he despised.

At this moment, a graceful figure moved.

Ding Yu was seen walking towards the front of the crowd.

As she left, she even winked at Zeng Jiaoyang.

Ding Yu chose to accept the Imperial’s task.

Zeng Jiaoyang’s face remained expressionless—it was Ding Yu’s choice and had nothing to do with him.

After a while, the crowd quieted down again.

Because of the task, the crowd was divided into two groups, with over half stepping forward to the opposite side of the square.

The boundary was clear.

The two groups were separated by Imperial Knights, with some glaring angrily at the other group, while others remained indifferent and unmoved.

”Very well.”

The Judgment Knight’s voice echoed in everyone’s ears once more.

”Next, we will discuss the second matter.”

”Li Yang City is the closest city to Julu Pass in North County.”

”According to Imperial intelligence, many among you are aiding the enemy and helping refugees from various places to reach North County, an act of betrayal against the Imperial.”

”Therefore, before this task departs, I will act to weed out the rats among you.”

As he spoke, the Judgment Knight’s Knight’s Greatsword smashed heavily onto the square’s ground, easily shattering the marble beneath.

His voice resounded across the entire square.

—”Judgment!”