After subduing Zhao Tianyi and Shadow Kill, Zhang Yu was not blinded by victory. Instead, he made a decisive decision and issued an order to suspend the continued advance into the former territory of the Sacred Dragon Divine Dynasty.
He knew that rapid territorial expansion was like a balloon that was expanding too quickly; if the interior was not properly consolidated in time, it would burst at the slightest carelessness.
The newly conquered land is now vast and populous, a mixed bag of people, including soldiers who have surrendered to the Holy Dragon, powerful figures from various regions who have submitted to him, bandits who have seized the opportunity to cause trouble, and even more hidden loyalists of the Holy Dragon.
If internal affairs are not promptly addressed, official corruption is not rectified, the people's hearts are not appeased, and an effective rule is not established.
The territory captured on the front lines may not only fail to provide assistance, but could also become a hindrance, or even cause trouble at home.
Moreover, if they advance any further, they will inevitably come into contact with Xiang Yu's "Great Chu" forces, which are sweeping in from the northwest.
Although Xiang Yu might not actively make things difficult for them because of his connection to the "Rebellious Dao Seed," Xiang Yu is unlikely to do so.
However, when two strong forces meet, friction is inevitable.
Before his internal situation is stable and his strength reaches its peak, Zhang Yu is unwilling to get into unnecessary entanglements with a peerless and ferocious god like Xiang Yu.
The best course of action is to take a temporary break, consolidate existing gains, process the spoils of war, and enhance one's own strength.
Therefore, Zhang Yu ordered Li Yuansheng, Zhao Tianyi, and others to take Forest Moon City as the new frontline core, steadily advance, and digest the newly occupied areas.
At the same time, a ruling order was established, the army was trained and integrated, and movements in the west and north were closely monitored.
He himself, along with Shadow Kill who had just recovered from serious injuries and was now under a restriction, and some of the core forces, returned to the Li Family Ancestral Land to oversee the overall situation.
The Li Family Ancestral Land became the nerve center of the entire power structure for a time.
Ahead, the three Old Ancestor, Li Tian, Li Di, and Li Ren, led their elite forces to continue the strategic mission of opening up a passage between themselves and the Soul Refining Sect.
The forces encountered along the way, large and small, were either subdued or destroyed by the formidable reputation and swift methods of the three Late Heavenly Immortal, and the progress was quite smooth.
Occasionally, when encountering a tough opponent or a difficult target skilled in stealth and escape, the newly recruited Shadow Kill comes in handy.
This former leader of the Sacred Dragon Shadow Guard was intimately familiar with all the forces, habits of the strong, secret strongholds, and even weaknesses of the various Earth Province, and was also an expert in stealth and assassination techniques.
Often, before Li Tian and his group even arrive, Shadow Kill have already infiltrated the core of the target area, either to gather intelligence, assassinate key figures, or create chaos to clear obstacles for the main army.
With this sharp blade in the darkness, the resistance to opening up the passage was greatly reduced, and the efficiency was greatly increased. Many troubles disappeared without Li Tian and the others having to take action themselves.
Behind them, the Li Family Ancestral Land became unusually busy.
Every day, a continuous stream of transport teams arrives from the newly occupied Forest Moon City area and the territories connected by the passage opened by the three Old Ancestor, continuously transporting massive amounts of resources, Spirit Stone, Spirit Material, Pills, Law Treasure treasures to the Ancestral Land.
Next came Zhang Yu's perplexing, old-fashioned tactics.
All arriving resources, before being stored, sealed, and registered, must first be delivered to the heavily guarded "Inspection Hall" designated by Zhang Yu.
Then he personally conducted the inspection and supervision.
This monitoring process is extremely swift, often involving only one intermediary.
However, in this short process, the vast majority of those mountains of Spirit Stone, boxes of Pills, and precious materials would "mysteriously" disappear.
Only a pitiful ten percent remained, which was then resealed and marked "Inspected and without error" before being allowed to be sent to the actual treasury.
Following that, Zhang Yu would generously donate his vast collection of resources and Spirit Stone, in his personal capacity, to the treasury.
Li Yuansheng, Li Tian and others who later learned of this, as well as the elders in charge of the warehouse management, were all completely baffled and couldn't figure it out.
"What exactly does Your Excellency mean by this?"
In from the left pocket, out from the right pocket?
"And it wastes manpower and resources to monitor it for nothing?"
Li Yuansheng privately discussed the matter with several core elders, his brows furrowed.
"Or perhaps it was to... demonstrate authority?"
Does this mean that all resources ultimately flow through his hands?
An elder said in a low voice.
"But this is too troublesome." The more Li Yuansheng thought about it, the more confused he became.
But none of them dared to ask Zhang Yu.
Firstly, Zhang Yu's power and influence grew daily, and his methods became unpredictable. Even Longqie treated him with utmost respect, inspiring awe in them.
Secondly, although Zhang Yu went through such a seemingly "fussy" process, the resources in the treasury did indeed steadily increase, and all affairs were supported by sufficient financial and material resources, without any deficits or operational malfunctions.
Since the outcome wasn't bad, and the patriarch offered no explanation, they could only suppress their doubts and obediently carry out the orders.
Anyway, they can't control it.
This time, due to rapid expansion and the vast territory occupied, the spoils of war and tributes from various vassal states reached an astonishing figure.
After that monitoring process, the final calculation showed that a total of 130 million standard High-Grade Spirit Stone flowed into Zhang Yu's private account.
In the stillness of the night, in Secret Chamber.
Zhang Yu sat cross-legged, with nothing in front of him, but his mind was already immersed in his Sea of Consciousness.
"System,"
He silently said to himself, "Settle the accounts."
The cold, mechanical, and emotionless system notification immediately resounded deep within his soul:
"Bite!
Host embezzlement detected. Successfully transferred Spirit Stone: 135,678,421.
Available days of cultivation points: 135,678,421.
"Redeem now?"
Even though Zhang Yu was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but be slightly shocked when he heard this number.
Over 130 million days!
That translates to over 370,000 years of effective Cultivation.
Although the power of Heavenly Dao was fragmented and its quality greatly reduced due to the theft, it was still a massive amount of Cultivation, enough to bring about a qualitative leap in his strength!
"Exchange!" Zhang Yu said without hesitation.
Command confirmed.
"Beginning the Cultivation... Please note that the energy is immense, and the process may be accompanied by slight discomfort."
The system voice had just finished speaking --
Boom!!!
It was as if the Nine Heavens Way had burst its banks, or as if Primordial World power had been unleashed!
An indescribable, vast, pure, yet somewhat ethereal energy surged forth from the Unseen, frantically pouring into Zhang Yu's limbs, meridians, acupoints, Sea of Consciousness Dantian!
This energy is far greater than ever before!
Zhang Yu's clothes fluttered and rustled even without wind, making the air in the Secret Chamber seem to freeze and distort.
A layer of golden Golden Light emanated from his body, and countless tiny Runes seemed to be moving and flashing beneath his skin. His bones emitted a slight crackling sound, which was a sign that his Cultivation was being frantically washed, tempered, and strengthened.
His aura began to surge wildly at a visible speed!
The barrier of the Early Heavenly Immortal realm was easily breached, like a piece of paper!
Mid Heavenly Immortal - Broken!
His Cultivation did not stop; he continued to strive upwards!
Late Heavenly Immortal -- Break!
Finally, the aura at the Late Heavenly Immortal level gradually stabilized, like a surging tide finding a new shore.
The entire process lasted only about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Just then, the system suddenly spoke, "The time for the Ten-Thousand-Year Gathering has arrived. The connection channels between Earth and the various Rebellious Dao Seed have been opened."