Blackstone Prefecture Fief, the Purple Moon Yang Household

In Golden Pool City, the jubilant atmosphere that had filled the city due to the great defeat in Jiangbei vanished in an instant, replaced by a solemn silence.

The cultivators stood ready, guarding their posts, fearing that the army of the Great Zhao Imperial Dynasty might suddenly break through the defenses and attack Golden Pool City.

Behind the scenes, countless cultivators were cursing Ji Chengwu. After the great defeat in Jiangbei, the Grand Marshal's prestige plummeted.

On this day, a warship descended from the sky above the city, bearing a yellow dragon emblem at its bow. Upon seeing this, the city's guards quickly activated their Formation Shield to let it pass.

In the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, the Yellow Dragon Army represented the will of the supreme commander. No matter how much they privately criticized this unreliable Grand Marshal, they still had to be respectful on the surface and dare not be negligent in the slightest, even if it was an envoy sent by this Grand Marshal.

In the City Lord's Manor, Muyunzi, Yang Tianyou, and others stood at the lower end of the table, while a general in golden armor solemnly read out the second conferment of titles upon Grand Marshal Ji Chengwu.

Muyunzi was promoted again, Yang Tianyou's title remained unchanged, but he received many more substantial resource rewards, and his fiefdom was quickly implemented. Other cultivators who made contributions in the Jinchi City Campaign were also rewarded with increased rewards.

After the envoy left, the cultivators in the main hall looked at each other, completely bewildered, not understanding what the Grand Marshal was up to.

Only Muyunzi and Yang Tianyou exchanged a glance, both seeing the knowing look in each other's eyes.

Grand Marshal Ji Chengwu intended to use this opportunity to salvage his reputation after the crushing defeat at Jiangbei City, thus offsetting his past mistakes with his achievements.

Although the great victory at Golden Pool City and the crushing defeat at Jiangbei City cannot Dharma Form in terms of strategic significance, if handled properly and with sufficient connections, they can still serve to confuse the public and thus downplay the impact of the battle at Jiangbei City.

As for why he didn't publicize Bianqing City's victory, it's clear that Ji Chengwu wanted to suppress Wen Qun, publicize the great victory at Golden Pool City, and weaken the impact of Bianqing City's victory. His biggest goal was to stabilize his military power.

Muyunzi was quite indignant about this, and Yang Tianyou could see the strong dissatisfaction in his eyes.

However, due to the Grand Marshal's authority and power, they dared not speak openly and were forced to bow their heads.

Yang Tianyou was not surprised by this. If he had also grown up in the Zhou Kingdom, he would have had the same thoughts. But he did not. Yang Tianyou was unmoved by this. Whether Wen Qun was suppressed, Jiangbei City suffered a great defeat, or Bianqing City won, Yang Tianyou did not care at all.

On the contrary, Yang Tianyou was very satisfied that Ji Chengwu was able to quickly implement his rewards. Needless to say, the resource rewards were not the main point, but the key was the fiefdom.

Ji Chengwu was very generous, letting Yang Tianyou choose freely between Long'an Circuit and Longteng Circuit, including the Blackstone Prefecture that Yang Tianyou had been longing for.

Under Muyunzi's astonished gaze, Yang Tianyou chose the Nine Refinement Mountain of Blackstone Prefecture as his fiefdom.

"Brother Great White, shouldn't you reconsider? Blackstone Prefecture is a barren land with scarce resources. Moreover, it's constantly plagued by various Demon Beasts, Fierce Beasts, and Savage Beasts. In the Kuanglong River, Savage Beast tides frequently erupt. Such a treacherous place is avoided by everyone else. Why are you rushing headlong into it? Take my advice and choose another region. Binhe Prefecture in Longteng Circuit and Chengyi Prefecture in Long'an Circuit are both treasure troves with excellent resources. You can still change your mind now. Once this decision is submitted to the Court, it will be too late."

After the great victory at Golden Pool City, Muyunzi was in a position to owe Yang Tianyou a favor. The two had been getting close these past few days, chatting happily and becoming quite familiar with each other. When Mu Yunzi saw that Yang Tianyou had chosen Blackstone Prefecture, she thought he was unaware of the dangers involved, so she hurriedly reminded him.

However, Yang Tianyou was headed for the Blackstone Prefecture; he had been eyeing that Ninth-Tier Spirit Vein for a long time.

But this cannot be said outright.

Yang Tianyou had no choice but to resort to the excuse he had already prepared.

His face was full of sorrow as he said, "Brother, haven't you realized that the great victory at Golden Pool City has become the focus of a power struggle between the Grand Marshal, General Wen Qun, and all the officials in the Court?"

If I were to actually choose a prime location, it would be tantamount to completely siding with the Grand Marshal, inevitably offending General Wen Qun. My frail body is no match for such a storm!

Let's take a step back. Although Blackstone Prefecture is inferior, it is the best choice at this moment.

Besides, there's an Eighth Tier Spirit Vein on Nine Refinement Mountain, enough to support my cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Muyunzi frowned. What Yang Tianyou said deeply moved him. Not to mention the former, even he himself was just a small fry in this storm. If he was not careful, he would be overwhelmed by this monstrous wave.

"Alas, even with cultivation reaching this level, one is still not in control of one's own destiny! Very well, since Brother Great White understands the advantages and disadvantages, I will not say any more and will report this to the Court."

Wanlong City, the capital of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.

To level the rivers and seas, when Wanlong City was built, it is said that the Great Zhou's Grand Ancestor used his extraordinary Greater Divine Ability to uproot thousands of Heroic Peaks and fill many rivers, making the area around Wanlong City, spanning eighty million li, a vast expanse of fertile plains and countless Spirit Fields, supporting countless Cultivators.

At this moment, in Wanlong City, within the imperial palace, and in the Court, the civil and military officials of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty are engaged in a fierce debate, with their main target being the great defeat of Jiangbei City.

This battle was not only a major military defeat, but it also had a significant impact on the political landscape of the Great Zhou. Ji Chengwu's prestige suffered a major blow, and ministers who had long been dissatisfied with him began to launch attacks.

On the throne, the Imperial Lord of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty sat motionless like a Puppet, lost in thought, his face blank, seemingly in a daze.

The courtiers were used to this and didn't care. This emperor was just a figurehead, supported by Ji Chengwu and Li Shentong, and didn't have much real power.

Although Li Shentong and Ji Chengwu were at odds, they were, in a sense, political allies, like two pillars supporting the Court of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.

Although Li Shentong attended the court assembly, he remained calm and composed throughout, refusing to speak and allowing the other court officials to attack each other.

Suddenly, a sharp, high-pitched shout rang out from outside the main hall, "The Grand Marshal has arrived!!"

Upon hearing this, the previously noisy Court suddenly fell silent. A pin drop could be heard. The ministers exchanged bewildered glances, like chickens whose necks had been gripped. Those who had been the most vocal in their criticism quietly slipped into the crowd, their eyes darting around. Ji Chengwu's imposing presence was evident; even after his defeat at Jiangbei City, he still wielded considerable influence within the Great Zhou.

At this moment, Li Shentong slowly opened his eyes, turned around, and looked back. He saw Ji Chengwu, dressed in golden armor, walk in with a gloomy expression.

In just a short period of time, the Grand Marshal's appearance and demeanor underwent a tremendous change.

His once robust and imposing body was now unusually thin, with prominent cheekbones, sunken eye sockets, and hawk-like eyes. He looked like a demon king, sweeping across the entire court. His chilling aura sent shivers down people's spines.

Upon seeing this, a hint of apprehension flashed in Li Shentong's eyes.

He wasn't afraid of the previous Ji Chengwu, but this Ji Chengwu, who had reached the end of his road, even Li Shentong was a little afraid of.

The stubborn fear the ruthless, and the ruthless fear the reckless.

It's hard to predict what a person is thinking when they're about to die, especially a powerful figure like Ji Chengwu. If you provoke him at this moment, you'll face Storm of attacks.

The other ministers clearly noticed this as well, and a hint of fear flashed in some of their eyes.

I heard that Ji Chengwu had been seriously injured, but no one took it seriously. After all, for someone like him, with the resources he controlled, even a serious injury was nothing, and he could be healed quickly.

But right now, this feeling of decay, of life nearing its end, is impossible to hide.

Even a lion king on the verge of death can easily kill a rabbit.

"I overheard someone outside the palace saying that I should resign from my position as Grand Marshal to atone for the disastrous defeat at Jiangbei City? Is that true or not?" Ji Chengwu's gaze shifted, finally settling on several ministers who were cowering like quails.

"Grand Marshal, spare our lives! That's not what we meant..."

Under the oppressive gaze, one of them, clearly timid, knelt down with a thud and immediately begged for mercy.

The others, though not in such a sorry state, also kept their heads down and remained silent.

The other ministers kept their eyes down, their mouths closed, and remained silent.

They knew that Ji Chengwu was going to make an example of someone.

These ministers all had weak backing and were easy to manipulate; no one would plead for them. This is the cruelty of the imperial court.

"Guards, drag them away! These sorcerers are bewitching the people and corrupting the court; they clearly intend to rebel. Killing them is the only way to appease public anger. Exterminate their entire clan!"

Ji Chengwu held a handkerchief to his mouth, coughed slightly, and gave the order.

The palace guards came in and dragged away the ashen-faced men.

Making an example of someone is an old tactic, but it works well no matter when.

After calming the turbulent chaos in the court, Ji Chengwu quickly stabilized the situation. He then began to handle the aftermath, transferring his power to his younger brother Ji Chengzong. The officials naturally saw this, but no one stepped forward to stop it.

Firstly, Ji Chengwu's previous deterrent actions had a significant effect.

Secondly, the power of the imperial clan is almost entirely under Ji Chengwu's control. This is a considerable force, no less than, and perhaps even greater than, that of the Tianshui Li Household.

No one objected, and the transfer of power went smoothly. However, Ji Chengwu's health deteriorated little by little over time, and it was unknown when he would pass away.

Time passed quickly. After conquering a large area of territory, the Great Zhao Imperial Dynasty did not continue its advance. Instead, it paused its operations to build cities, set up Formations, and rebuild its Defense System, demonstrating remarkable composure.

As the situation at the Front Line gradually stabilized, the two sides resumed their military standoff, and Yang Tianyou finally left Golden Pool City and went to Blackstone Prefecture to take up his post.

Nine Refinement Mountain, bordering the Kuanglong River, is a towering mountain, thousands of feet high. Although it is located in a place with abundant water vapor, it is a Volcano, and the Spirit Veins it contains are also of the Fire Attribute. It was an Artifact Refining workshop of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, which was quickly vacated after being granted to Yang Tianyou.

A white cloud drifted by, and Yang Tianyou stood with his hands behind his back. Beside him was a short, stout middle-aged man, an official of the Blackstone Prefecture, who was responsible for explaining the specific situation of Nine Refinement Mountain to Yang Tianyou.

After his explanation, Yang Tianyou basically understood.

Nine Refinement Mountain is rich in Fire Attribute resources, the most famous of which is Three-Leaf Firegold, a high-grade Seventh Tier Spirit Material. It is a universal material for forging Fire Attribute Spirit Treasures, with high versatility and large output, enough to support a sizable force.

Besides that, there's the Eighth Tier Fire Vein of Nine Refinement Mountain. With a little arrangement, it becomes an excellent place for Artifact Refining Alchemy. Even if you don't use it yourself, you can rent it out and earn a large income every year.

Finally, there are the Spirit Fields and fisheries. Because it is Fire Vein, almost all the Spirit Fields on Nine Refinement Mountain are Fire Attribute Spirit Fields, and planting Fire-Attribute Spirit Grains is the most effective.

In terms of fisheries, there are two options: aquaculture and fishing. The former requires a large investment, while the latter only requires a small cost and can yield a substantial harvest. However, it is important to be careful about the Water Tribe in the Kuanglong River and avoid overfishing, otherwise it will lead to trouble.

In short, if Yang Tianyou were to live alone on Nine Refinement Mountain, the resources here would be more than enough to support his cultivation up to the Body Integration Middle Stage Realm.

However, if one wants to expand their influence, they lack the resources, unless they possess a large number of Alchemists or Artifact Refining Master.

After seeing the official off, Yang Tianyou waved his sleeve, and Yunhua stepped out of the Great White Grotto Heaven.

"Well then, Madam, this will be our Lineage's base from now on." Yang Tianyou put his arm around his wife's slender waist, pointed to the majestic mountain range stretching like a dragon in front of them, and said with great pride.

Yunhua surveyed the area for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction. "This place is indeed suitable for the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Burning Furnace to recover."

"Then let's begin the setup. First, install the Formation, then construct buildings, maintain the Spirit Fields, purchase spirit seeds, and recruit mortal disciples..."

As Yang Tianyou pondered, he released Zhiming and the other Spirit Beasts to help with the setup.

Time flies like an arrow; five years have passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the newly renovated Nine Refinement Mountain was filled with dazzling light. Cultivators from all directions, riding their Escape Lights or Law Treasures, arrived at the Nine Refinement Mountain.

Today is the founding ceremony of the Yang family of Purple Moon Yang Household.

Yunhua used Divine Ability to change her appearance, and in public, she referred to herself as Madam Yang, no longer revealing her real name, Yunhua.

The main reason is to guard against the Huchen Sect. The tentacles of the Tribulation Transcendence Sect are very long. If the Huchen Sect finds out about Yunhua's existence, they will definitely come to attack. Even with the Great Zhou as a name to protect them, it is not safe. After all, it is easy to dodge a spear in the open but hard to guard against a hidden arrow.

"Haha, Brother Great White, you've found your wife?"

Muyunzi walked over laughing. Yang Tianyou had mentioned to him that he and his wife Ascension together, but they had not been able to see each other for the time being. This was not uncommon among those who Ascension.

"Thanks to you, my wife heard the news of the great victory at Golden Pool City a few years ago and came here to reunite with me." Yang Tianyou led Yunhua to greet her. Although the latter had changed to an ordinary face, her outstanding and aloof temperament still made Muyunzi take notice.