One month later.
Phoenix Mountain, Bai Lianhua's former cave abode.
"Senior Brother Liu, the area five hundred li south of Golden Gate Market Ward has now been largely pacified."
"Apart from the factions that submitted to us or went into hiding, all those who stubbornly resisted have been reduced to dust and ashes!"
Yan Kai and Cui Liang stood before the desk, cupping their hands as they reported.
A month had passed, and under that "proclamation of punitive conquest," every faction and cultivator of any standing had made a choice.
Those who submitted prospered; those who resisted perished.
After a month of turmoil and bloody storms, virtually every faction and cultivator of any standing had declared their position, choosing between the Alliance and the Yan Kingdom.
Of course, the region was so vast that one month could not possibly cover every corner.
Some insignificant factions, along with many cultivators of low cultivation, had no need to declare a position and could enjoy a temporary peace.
As long as they did not cause trouble or openly voice opposition, Liu Yu's force would not go out of its way to trouble them.
After all, the force had only so many cultivators and no time to deal with these insignificant factions and individuals.
More importantly, these cultivators posed no threat.
"Mm, good."
"You've both done very well, junior brothers. Sit."
Liu Yu personally poured each of them a cup of spirit tea and praised them.
After a pause, he continued:
"After all, we are newcomers here, and our numbers are extremely limited."
"We must still employ local cultivators to govern this region-'use the outsiders to control the outsiders.'"
"We must throw our doors wide open to cultivators who come to us of their own accord and grant them certain benefits."
"Magnify their 'contributions'