External annexation and expansion had been swift as thunderbolts, demanding speed and ruthlessness.
Yet to thoroughly digest these gains required a long time—slow, meticulous, and steady.
The eleven forces, great and small, vanished like clouds and smoke from Lingwu City's history. The city regained its former tranquility, but rather than settling down, the Meng Family became even busier.
The various channels belonging to those eleven forces had to be rebuilt, while the connections that had developed minor flaws due to the frenzied expansion also had to be renewed.
This process was destined to be lengthy, but as long as Meng Zhao could maintain his current powerful momentum, he would sooner or later digest those gains, without needing to worry about any so-called unforeseen developments.
Of course, while Meng Zhao and the forces under the Meng Family were doing their utmost to absorb their gains and bolster their foundations and strength, the outside world was far from peaceful. There was even an unsteady sense that the mountain rain was about to come, the wind filling the tower.
First, martial artists from outside streamed endlessly into Lingwu City. There were many experts and few weaklings, resulting in an intense atmosphere of martial fervor and conflict throughout the city. At the slightest disagreement, people would fight furiously, and even clashes between Innates could be seen everywhere, impacting the city's order to a certain degree.
Second, some of Lingwu City's local magnates and wealthy merchants had been making frequent moves lately—not in terms of force, but by mobilizing vast sums of wealth and sending them to unknown destinations, drawing the attention of Meng Zhao and Beitang He.
Rumors claimed that this wealth had been seized by the Rebel Army to recruit troops, purchase horses, and overthrow the Great Yong Dynasty.
However, after investigations by