Inside the palace.
The visitors, who had been full of anticipation, froze at Li Ping's words.
Cheng Yao assumed Li Ping simply found it troublesome and hurriedly said, "Eldest Brother, our families will also visit Fifth Younger Brother and ask for his help. As long as you put in a few words for us, we're very confident we can secure the Nine Chariots Kingdom. Your annual tribute certainly won't be small."
Once Cheng Yao finished, Gu Musheng hastily added, "Eldest Brother, I've already made inquiries. Apart from the Qi Kingdom, the Academy has no intention of ruling any other countries. This grand ceremony at Donghua Mountain is both a celebration of victory and an occasion to select the sects that will oversee the Nine Chariots Kingdom, Featherflame, and the other two countries.
"The Heavenly Profound Sect was originally the sect overseeing the Nine Chariots Kingdom. Returning to our former home and rebuilding our sect's legacy would be entirely legitimate.
"Besides, with Fifth Younger Brother's connections, the Academy should feel quite comfortable letting the Heavenly Profound Sect continue overseeing the Nine Chariots Kingdom as a buffer for the Qi Kingdom.
"As long as you endorse us, Eldest Brother, everything will fall into place like water flowing into a channel."
Li Ping swept his gaze over them. He knew they must have discussed everything before coming to see him.
They were brimming with confidence about returning to the Nine Chariots Kingdom.
From their perspective-
First of all.
It was the Academy's cultivators who had reclaimed the territories of the Yuan Kingdom and the other four countries. Those countries' third-tier spirit lands were still under the Academy's control.
The Academy's cultivators, however, were noble and magnanimous. Rather than ruling the five countries directly or incorporating them into the Qi Kingdom, they intended to