Keep a Low Profile, Lower It, and Lower It Again!
After listening to the report--
A hint of worry appeared on Qin Lu, and images involuntarily surfaced in his mind...
"I see..."
"Has Brother Zhang fallen...?"
He merely murmured a few words, and that slight emotional fluctuation was completely erased by Qin Lu; such is the way of cultivation...
As one's cultivation level increases, one lives longer.
What he would lose would only increase, even to the point that his own children would die before him. The Great Dao is merciless, and Qin Lu had long been prepared...
A person who can use self-harm as a way to hone their spiritual practice.
His resolve was already as firm as iron!
Then, Qin Lu stroked his chin, deep in thought, considering his next move...
In any case, the Daliang has now been completely destroyed, and the Da Zhou has annexed both the Daliang and Chiyuan kingdoms. For a long time to come, the focus will be on internal development.
It's possible that there won't be much change for the next few decades, or even a century...
However, the Frost Demons clan still exists in the north.
However, it's highly likely that in the short term, the Da Zhou doesn't want to wage war against other nations. Even if they destroy the Daliang and Chiyuan, at most it will just be internal strife within the Human Race...
But if we were to harm the Frost Demons clan, the problem would be far more serious!
It might even involve the Ice and Snow Demon Domain in the far north of the continent, which isn't just a single race, but several Demon Race...
A gathering place for ice and snow demons formed by a coalition!
The Ice and Snow Demon Domain, the Nine Nations Alliance.
They are the two largest forces in the northern part of the continent, and each has Nascent Soul cultivator in charge, with more than double-digit numbers of Golden Core!
These two forces represent the power dynamics between humans and demons in the northern part of the continent...
Bipolar Multipolar!
The Da Zhou is now located in the northeast of the continent. Although its territory has nearly doubled in size, it cannot be considered a truly powerful nation; it can only be said to have the foundations of one.
Just like the Qi Condensation Immortal Clan, it takes three Golden Core cultivators to be considered to have reached the threshold of becoming a powerful nation.
Thinking of this--
Qin Lu then instructed the three men, "Su and Gan, your families continue to expand, and then spread the news that I have returned severely injured..."
"Just say that my foundation has been damaged, and I will never have the chance to break through to the Qi Condensation Seventh Layer in this lifetime."
"As for Qiao Mei, you will lead the Jade Maiden Sect to the forefront and formally submit to my Beichuan Qin Family. The sect's headquarters will be located at the Wuzhi Mountains in Yingchuan County..."
"I decree that you shall make Yingchuan City your place of origin."
"Their primary objectives are twofold: first, to develop the Yingchuan region; and second, to consolidate more power and, as far as possible, manage the Yingchuan geomantic system..."
"Overall, I want the outside world to know that the Qin Clan is stronger, and at the same time, I want the outside world to look down on the Qin Clan!"
"We need to let the outside world know that the Beichuan Qin Family is not to be trifled with, but also poses no major threat..."
"If anyone harbors any ill intentions, note them down one by one. Once the situation stabilizes, I will settle accounts with them one by one!"
Upon hearing this—
The three exchanged a glance, bowed, and agreed.
Clearly, Qin Lu wanted to temporarily avoid the limelight and secretly accumulate strength. Considering Qin Lu's current cultivation level, the others understood...
This indicates an intention to comprehend the Dao Rhyme and begin preparations for breaking through to the Dao Foundation!
A flicker of excitement crossed the three men's eyes, and they became even more attentive to Qin Lu's orders, even if they ultimately failed to establish their Dao Foundation...
Based on the current momentum, the Qin Clan will sooner or later become a regional hegemon, or even a local lord!
Follow the Qin Clan--
In the future, no matter what, none of these three families will fare too badly...
In the blink of an eye--
Another six months passed, and although the news of Qin Lu's return caused a stir, things quickly returned to calm...
The fact that someone's Dao Path has been cut off has brought a sigh of relief to many!
Although the Beichuan Qin Family openly boasts seven Qi Condensation cultivators: Qin Lu, Qin Hui, Qin Wu, Qing Centipede, Qiao Mei, Su Wanchang, and Gan Ling...
However, four of them were only at the Qi Condensation Lower Layers.
Qin Lu's Dao Path enlightenment is severed. In everyone's eyes, Qiao Mei is nothing more than a vixen with no substance, plus a worm demon...
By any measure, it seems like things have reached their end!
Without Qi Condensation Upper Layers cultivators, it's equivalent to lacking decisive combat power, turning them into mere floor tiles in the ranks of powerful clans.
Seeing that all parties had abandoned their plans regarding the Qin Clan, they also refrained from excessive appeasement...
Qin Lu was extremely satisfied with this!
After that, the Qin Clan developed step by step, occasionally engaging in the trading of elixirs, holding Auction, and releasing a few Qi Condensation Pill...
They could then rest easy, as various forces would naturally not make things difficult for the Qin Clan.
This is the situation Qin Lu wanted to see. All that's left is to slowly digest what he's gained this time, without making a fuss...
Even in Longchuan Prefecture—
The Qin Clan didn't expand too much, only symbolically taking a portion of the Zhang Clan's territory, although it was nominally Qin Clan land...
But the actual controllers are still the Zhang Clan clan members.
Although Zhang Xuan has passed away, like a fallen leaf, decaying and fading, the memories and affections of the past still burn like a raging fire...
The flames still burn in Qin Lu's chest!
same--
The Huang Clan only symbolically occupied some territory, and like the Qin Clan, they treated the Zhang Clan with utmost leniency, which could be considered more than enough...
Spring and autumn are sentimental, but time is merciless.
Spring comes and autumn goes, cold comes and heat goes; time flies like an arrow, like a fleeting glimpse of a wild goose. Three breaths have passed, and three years have gone by...
Yingchuan – Twenty-Four Peaks.
Now, all Twenty-Four Peaks are covered with concealment arrays, and each peak is planted with one or more types of Second-Tier Spirit Plant...
Some mountain peaks are even planted with Third-Tier Spirit Plant!
Naturally, they could no longer be easily shown to others; they were all sealed off by arrays to prevent outsiders from probing, and strict laws were established to monitor them...
All Twenty-Four Peaks have been given names and assigned affiliations.
Centered on Muxuan Mountain.
The twelve peaks on the left are: the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, the Attendant Hall, the Welcoming Guests Peak Law Enforcement Hall, the Broad Spirit Peak, the Heavenly Talisman Peak Cavern Profound Peak, the Cave Mystery Peak, the Five Grains Peak, the Spirit Tea Peak, the Spirit Medicine Peak, the Spirit Fruit Peak, the Pill Profound Peak...
Of these twelve peaks, the first seven were under the jurisdiction of Qin Xiao.
The newly added Heavenly Talisman Peak will serve as the place for the clan's inheritance of talismanic arts!
The latter five peaks were managed by Qin Hui, with the newly added Pill Profound Peak serving as the clan's place for inheriting the art of alchemy.
The twelve peaks on the right are: Military Martial Peak, Golden Sharpness Peak, Heaven-Refining Peak, Wenge Peak, Dao Learning Peak Confucian Learning Peak, Black Dragon Peak, Dao-Seeking Peak, Eternal Sleep Peak, Spirit Deer Peak, Spirit Beast Peak, Formation Origin Peak.
The first three peaks are under Qin Wu's control, and the newly added Heaven-Refining Peak serves as a place for the inheritance of the art of weapon crafting.
Peaks four through six are under Qin Wen's control. A new Confucian Learning Peak has been added, which inherits a Second-Tier Confucian Dao Cultivation Method. It can cultivate a Righteous Qi and forge a Literary Courage!
This method doesn't rely on aptitude, but rather on comprehension; it's also Qin Wen's only path with the potential to Qi Condensation...
The seventh to ninth peaks are under the control of Qin Zhao. Although he is no longer in the clan, he still has a peak under his control, named: Eternal Sleep Peak.
As its name suggests, the descendants of the Qin Clan would be buried on this peak after their deaths, hence the name: Eternal Sleep!
How forgiving is the earth! Humans eat soil their whole lives, and the soil eats humans only once. How pitiful that the yellow earth is so gentle and kind...
The last three peaks are under the jurisdiction of Qin Zhuang, with the newly added Formation Origin Peak being the place where the clan's Dao of Formations tradition is passed down!
This is it--
All Twenty-Four Peaks have been assigned a home!