Deep within the Annihilation God Clan's main hall, Qin Yu's gaze slowly swept across the hall as he stepped through the entrance.
The entire hall is several times more magnificent than the main hall where the Ancient God Clan once held their council. Hundreds of silver-white giant pillars rise from the ground, reaching from the bottom of the hall to the towering sky. Each pillar is wrapped with the Source Dao patterns that the Annihilation God Clan has reconstituted over the generations, neither fiery nor intense, but long and heavy.
Suspended deep within the dome is a slowly rotating miniature starry sea, with countless starlight flowing along the palace walls and eventually merging into the crisscrossing patterns of the Great Dao on the ground. The entire palace is a unified whole, coexisting and blending with the Daoist principles of heaven and earth.
At the highest point directly in front of the main hall, there were no elaborate or luxurious carvings, only a wide jade throne resting on the layers of stone steps. When Yuan Zhanxiao arrived at this point, he naturally stopped, not ascending the seat that usually belonged to him as the clan leader, but turning to the side and bowing his head respectfully to invite Qin Yu to sit down.
Qin Yu did not refuse. After he sat down Anran, Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu took their places on either side of the main hall, standing respectfully with their hands at their sides.
Qin Yu surveyed the hall, recalling the vastness of the clan's territory he had witnessed along the way, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes, "Three years have passed, it seems you two really haven't been putting in your best efforts."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhanxiao's face lit up with genuine joy, yet he remained dutiful and respectfully replied, "Our master entrusted the remnants of the Ancient God Clan race to us, granting us permission to rebuild the 'Annihilation God Clan.' I have naturally devoted myself wholeheartedly to this task and dare not slacken in the slightest."
Yuan Xuangu bowed slightly and echoed in a deep voice, "In these three years, the clan has undergone tremendous changes and transformations." Qin Yu nodded slightly and said calmly, "Tell me about it."
Yuan Zhanxiao's expression turned solemn, and he formally reported, "Yes. After Master went into seclusion, the first thing I did with Yuan Xuangu was to fully integrate the territories, clansmen, affiliated forces, and resource strongholds left behind by the Ancient God Clan. After three years of dedicated work, the Annihilation God Clan's foundation is now solid, and there is no longer any sign of disarray."
Speaking of the current state of the clan, a hint of calm pride, typical of someone in charge of a great clan, surfaced in his eyes. "Currently, the main territory of the Annihilation God Clan extends outwards from the central ancestral land, stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles. Layers of directly controlled resource areas, cultivation realms, and border defense garrisons are arranged around it, with sturdy ancient roads and communication arrays connecting all regions, ensuring unimpeded movement and coordination."
Qin Yu listened silently, not uttering a word. "The number of officially registered members of the clan has already exceeded twenty million," Yuan Zhanxiao continued, "If we include the peripheral cultivators who have voluntarily submitted over the years and Fate Soul Core legitimate inclusion, our clan now has a combat force that can be directly mobilized exceeding fifty million."
Upon hearing this, a clear look of surprise finally flashed across Qin Yu's eyes. In just three years, from scratch to a population of fifty million, such growth rate and foundation far exceeded expectations.
Yuan Zhanxiao knew that scale was only a facade, so he reported in more detail, "The fifty million clansmen are not concentrated in the main territory. The core clan has more than twenty million elite cultivators stationed there, and the rest have been distributed to resource-rich territories, border garrisons, and key patrol routes in all directions, each performing their duties without overlap."
"The clan has now established twelve main palaces, thirty-six cultivation domains, and seventy-two inheritance training grounds. A single cultivation domain can independently support hundreds of thousands of clan members in year-round seclusion for cultivation. The twelve main palaces are responsible for various clan affairs, including refining, trading, external affairs, border defense, inheritance of the lineage, and resource allocation. The system is well-defined and operates in an orderly manner."
Yuan Xuangu then took over the conversation, supplementing the territorial structure. "The central clan city that the master sees from the outside is only the surface core territory of our clan. Now the clan's territory has expanded in both directions, opening up nine layers of earthly space downwards and building six layers of suspended territory upwards."
The nine layers of the land are dedicated to storing rare resources, ancient inheritances, and special secret cultivation grounds; the six layers of the suspended territory are divided according to cultivation levels, providing a space for high-level cultivators of the clan to engage in long-term seclusion and enlightenment.
Qin Yu lightly tapped the armrest of the chair with his fingertips, his eyes filled with understanding.
No wonder the seemingly vast territory could not match the profound foundation of a great clan. It turns out that the true foundation has long since penetrated the heavens and the earth, connecting the top and the bottom. This kind of scale has long surpassed the shallow scale of ordinary sects that establish themselves on mountains and occupy land to dominate. It is the aura of a top clan that truly encompasses a region.
"As for the strength of the clan's powerful members," Yuan Zhanxiao said with increasing solemnity, "After the re-establishment of the Annihilation God Clan, we have fully organized the resources left behind by the Ancient God Clan, and given priority to supplying the rare and precious materials obtained from beyond the realm to our clansmen who are exceptionally talented and pure in heart."
"Currently, the clan has a substantial reserve of cultivators at the Realm Breaking Realm, enough cultivators at the Profound Mystic Void Realm to govern the twelve main branches, and cultivators at the True Annihilation Realm are already a backbone of combat power capable of standing alone."
He paused briefly before stating the most crucial breakthrough. "And now, cultivators at the Eternal Silence Realm no longer have only one subordinate."
Qin Yu's eyes brightened slightly, and a relieved smile spread across Yuan Xuangu's aged face. He added softly, "Several elders of the clan who had been trapped in the True Annihilation Realm · Supreme many years took advantage of the clan's re-establishment and the revival of Daoist principles to break free from their shackles and ascend to the Eternal Silence Realm."
Although most of them are still in the Eternal Silence Realm Initial Stage, consolidating their foundations, they are already able to guard a territory and support the high-end combat power of their clans."Qin Yu nodded slowly, quite approving in his heart.
A great clan never relies solely on the strength of its leader. Only with a well-established hierarchy, a robust team, and a constant stream of powerful individuals can a clan thrive and endure. The Annihilation God Clan has now moved beyond the model of a single powerful figure and has truly established a foundation for countless generations.
Yuan Zhanxiao continued, "Regarding resource reserves, my subordinates have never stopped expanding them for the past three years. Nine giant resource vaults have been built within the main clan, where cultivation energy crystals, resonance divine crystals, refining divine materials, and Daoist artifacts are all classified and sealed according to their grade and purpose. The spoils of war and mining proceeds from the outer resource areas are regularly transported back to the main clan's treasury."
"At the same time, our clan's external trade channels have connected several top-tier main cities. The resources acquired over the past three years, after deducting daily expenses and the needs for disciple training, have all been sealed and stored in the treasury to enrich the clan's resources."
"We have also specifically designated three completely sealed-off war reserve treasuries," Yuan Xuangu added in a deep voice. "They will not be used in the slightest except in cases of the survival of our race or life-or-death battles, but will be reserved as a last resort."
Upon hearing this, a genuine smile finally appeared on Qin Yu's lips.
With 50 million controllable members, a complete system of twelve main branches, a dual-layered territory of heaven and earth, tiered combat power, nine major storage treasuries, and three private war reserve vaults, Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu have, in just three years, rebuilt the devastated and destroyed Ancient God Clan into a top-tier clan with a complete system and profound foundation.
Ordinary sects can dominate a region by controlling a few mountains and establishing a few halls. Compared with the current Annihilation God Clan, their scale and spirit are clearly inferior.
Qin Yu's gaze slowly swept over the two men, and he spoke approvingly, "Not bad. You've done very well these past three years." Yuan Zhanxiao and Yuan Xuangu bowed simultaneously, "Thank you for your praise, Master."
As he straightened up, Yuan Zhanxiao's eyes flickered slightly, as if he remembered an important matter that had been buried for three years. His expression suddenly became solemn. "Master, I have one more item that I have kept for you for three years. Today, I must return it all."
Qin Yu looked up.
Yuan Zhanxiao raised his hand and concentrated his power, and a warm and ancient storage crystal core floated in his palm. He slowly poured the power of his Fate Soul into the depths of the crystal core, and a wisp of vast, obscure, and ancient aura slowly spread out, enveloping the entire hall.
The next instant, an antique wooden box with silver and black stripes landed quietly in his palm.
The box body is surrounded by layers of ancient patterns. The patterns are intertwined but do not touch or interfere with each other. They form a cycle of their own. There is no need to push it, just by letting it sit still, it will cause the surrounding heaven and earth avenues to tremble slightly, and a sense of simplicity and weight will come to your face.
Qin Yu's gaze fell on the ancient box, but he didn't rush to reach for it. He asked calmly, "What is this?"
Yuan Zhanxiao held up the ancient box with both hands and slowly recounted the past. "Master, do you still remember three years ago, when you participated in the martial arts competition of the Lineage, I dispatched the elites of my clan to venture deep into various parts of the Fourth Multidimensional Universe to train, search for treasures, and acquire resources?"
Qin Yu nodded slightly, and the joy in Yuan Zhanxiao's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression. "This ancient box was obtained back then. The first person to discover it was our clansman Chen Yong."
Upon hearing the name, he fell silent for a moment, a pang of sorrow crossing his heart, before continuing to recount the events, "Back then, our elder sent Chen Yong to lead five clansmen deep into the 'Nine Nether Cold Pool' of the Fourth Multidimensional Universe, the Void Dharma Realm Nine Nether Cold Pool, where they encountered a 'Nine Nether Dark Ruins Demon Dragon.' That demon dragon's cultivation had already reached the True Annihilation Realm · Supreme."
Qin Yu's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
"At that time, Chen Yong was only at the True Annihilation Realm · Peak, while the other five were all at the True Annihilation Realm · Initial Stage," Yuan Zhanxiao said in a deep voice. "In a normal duel, the six of them would have no chance of winning. Fortunately, they carried the Primordial Supreme Treasure 'Primordial Mirror' with them, which allowed them to rely on its power to fight the Demonic Dragon to the death."
After a fierce battle, the six, aided by the power of the "Primordial Mirror," finally slayed the Nine Nether Dark Ruins Demon Dragon. The instant the demon dragon perished, the center of the Nine Nether Cold Pool suddenly cracked open, revealing an ancient, sealed palace from the depths of the pool, named "Dark Ruins Return Hall."
Chen Yong six companions then entered the hall to investigate and eventually found the mysterious ancient box inside.
"At the time, no one knew the origin and wondrous uses of the ancient box." Yuan Zhanxiao's gaze was fixed on the ancient box in his palm, and he slowly traced back, "They only realized that the Nine Nether Dark Ruins Demon Dragon, the Dark Ruins Return Hall and this ancient box Source Extremity."
Later, the 'Primordial Mirror' triggered the illusory image of the demonic dragon's remnant soul. A vast dragon's roar poured into the ancient box, and all the ancient patterns on the box unfolded, merging with the remaining soul shadows on the palace wall. After a moment, all the illusory soul shadows vanished without a trace.
Qin Yu's gaze deepened, and a thought began to linger in his mind.
"Chen Yong knew this object was extraordinary and mysterious, so he dared not linger in the secret realm," Yuan Zhanxiao continued. "He sealed the ancient box in a storage crystal core and led his group back. Unexpectedly, when they passed through the 'Ten Thousand Swords Golden Ruins,' they were ambushed by three True Annihilation Realm · Peak cultivators from the Primordial Dao Clan."
"The Primordial Dao Clan?" Qin Yu's eyes suddenly narrowed, and a cold glint flashed in his usually calm eyes.