Meng Jizu naturally could not compare to Meng Zhao, but his record was there for all to see, and his deterrent power was more than sufficient.
Now, with Meng Zhao advancing into Grandmaster martial arts and capturing Heartless Path Grandmaster Wu Huaien alive, the two effects stacked together, bolstered further by the Meng Family's century-long foundation of sharing the nation's fortunes.
Many believed that the Meng Family could perhaps already be called the foremost power beneath the Nine Surnames. Do not underestimate this "foremost beneath the Nine Surnames"—it could be considered among the absolute pinnacle powers of the age, with boundless reserves.
Some more extreme people even believed that the Meng Family might rival the weakest tier among the Nine Surnames.
Of course, these were merely Jianghu rumors and could not be taken as truth. But so long as such claims spread, they would greatly benefit both the Meng Family and Meng Zhao.
One benefit was that, in a short time, the number of martial artists pledging themselves to the Meng Family surged once more. Though their quality was uneven, there was indeed no shortage of powerful, high-caliber martial experts, including several top-tier masters.
Beyond martial artists, some scholars also seemed drawn by the Meng Family's bright prospects and came voluntarily to offer their allegiance.
Who knew whether Meng Shentong's shameless old claim that his family descended from the Lesser Sage Mencius had played any role, or whether they had come purely for Meng Zhao.
Meng Zhao's prestige had already reached its peak, and his overwhelming martial strength suppressed every unstable element in the city.
After deliberation, in order to further expand the influence of Meng Zhao and Beitang He, the two decided that the City Lord's Mansion and the Yangwu Army would jointly establish a military administration office to