Securing Cooperation, Meeting the Zhou Emperor!

"Roar!"

The chirping of insects shook the heavens; the Azure King, suppressing the nine heavens!

The worm's winding body, after this transformation, grows to tens of feet long, soaring through the sky, surrounded by clouds and mist...

It truly gives one the feeling of a dragon hidden in the nine heavens!

The azure dragon scales and insect armor gleamed, their terrifying aura inspiring countless worshippers, Dao Law spread across the heavens...

Silently nourishing the land, tens of millions of insect demons, especially centipedes and similar demonic insects, have completed their transformation here!

Each First-Tier insect demon felt the resonance of its bloodline...

Thus, a leap in life was achieved!

The Insect Heart leap, a myriad of insects chirp in unison, shaking the entire universe...

The Qing Centipede's consciousness opened instantly, and its intelligence advanced by leaps and bounds. Although it could not speak, its insect eyes became extremely bright...

This moment-

With a second Dao Foundation warrior, the Qin Clan sent a streak of blood-red light toward the Immortal City. In the blink of an eye, Ancestor Lu Ming stood beside the Qing Centipede!

One person, one insect!

Standing atop the heavens, its figure was infinitely elevated, the Blood Soul Dao Law manifested, and the heavens transformed into a sea of blood...

The Azure Frost Dao Law manifested, and the cold wind and spiritual energy spread throughout the world!

Standing there quietly for a long time was enough to intimidate the villains. Its power was so great that people couldn't help but sigh, "The might of Heaven!"

Effective immediately!

"The Qin Coin will be fully implemented in the Northern Province. Anyone who obstructs this will be expelled from the Northern Province and forbidden from re-entering. If resistance is encountered, their entire family will be confiscated and their clan exterminated!"

"All trade and transactions were conducted using Qin Coin."

"And a three-color Qin Coin was implemented, consisting of black, cyan, and red coins. The exchange rate between Black Coin and Spirit Stone was 100:1, Qing Coin 1:1, and Red Coin 1:100!"

"This order is effective immediately!"

Effective immediately!

"The Nine-Rank Immortal Registry of the Northern Province records all those below the Northern Province, categorizing them into three ranks each: upper, middle, and lower..."

"Corresponding to the lower three ranks of True Martial forces, the middle three ranks of Qi Condensation forces, and the upper three ranks of Dao Foundation forces, an evaluation will be conducted every five years!"

"Those major forces that previously refused to register will all be dealt with according to Qin law!"

"If anyone tries to escape on their own, or resists to the bitter end, their lineage will be destroyed, their heritage ruined, their three branches exterminated, and their entire clan executed!"

"This order is effective immediately!"

Effective immediately!

"The Jiyuan Immortal Sect has been renamed: Extreme Yuan Dao Sect! It now regards the Beichuan Qin Family as its superior clan, submits to the rule of Northern Province, and is registered as Nine-Rank Immortal Registry..."

"Seal the third-rank immortal sect, establish the Blood Plain, and guard the Blood-Colored Plain for the Qin Clan!"

"This order takes effect immediately!"

Three orders were issued in quick succession, their echoes reverberating throughout a radius of a hundred miles, and no one dared to utter a single dissent...

What's even more baffling is that a newly Dao Foundation cultivator was willing to submit to the Qin Clan, something countless people couldn't comprehend!

And it was the first to be affected, becoming part of the Qin Clan's rules...

Even Dao Foundation cultivator have been included in the Qin Clan's Immortal Register, so how dare other forces object? And those forces that have always considered themselves superior...

At this moment, it felt like falling into an ice cave!

What appears to be a coincidence is actually a carefully orchestrated plan by the Qin Clan to eliminate these stubborn individuals...

This is an operation targeting them, and they are currently in a dilemma!

Retreat would invite Qin Clan's pursuit; staying would require a drastic measure, like cutting off one's own arm, and relinquishing a great deal of benefits to save one's life...

This is a life-or-death question; choosing the wrong answer means certain death...

Even if they stay, after the Qin Clan takes away a large portion of their profits, how can they maintain their current situation? Sooner or later, they will also decline!

As everything gradually settled down...

The defensive array of Baxuan Immortal City was also deactivated...

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Shang Zhi had enjoyed a good show, clapping lightly as if to mark the end of the play, feeling satisfied. He looked at Lu Ming and Qing Centipede...

They bowed to both the person and the insect.

He smiled calmly, but his curiosity about the Qin Clan's actions grew even stronger...

"Fellow Daoist Insect and Fellow Daoist Slaughter, congratulations on your breakthrough and return, forging your Dao Foundation bodies. From this day forward, you are among us!"

"I am Shang Zhi, the head of the Xiashang Dao Academy. I greet you two fellow Daoists. I have come here to discuss important matters..."

"May I ask if Fellow Daoist Qin is present?"

Upon hearing this—

Lu Ming remained silent, Qing Centipede was still. Even before they could be seen, a deep yet ethereal voice reached their ears...

"Brother Shang, how have you been?"

"If you are looking for me, come to Welcoming Guests Peak. I will be waiting for you here, fellow Daoist..."

Upon hearing this, Shang Zhi was slightly taken aback. He glanced around, a chill running down his spine. This feeling...

It was as if someone was speaking in his mind!

"A master..."

"Even I, with my cultivation at the Dao Foundation Fourth Layer, couldn't determine the direction of the sound. Their Divine Sense is probably far stronger than mine!"

"Qin Lu, Fellow Daoist Qin, what exactly happened to you...?"

Shang Zhi sighed inwardly.

Then they followed Lu Ming to the summit of Welcoming Guests Peak...

Inside a stone pavilion, Qin Lu, dressed in a dark gray robe, with his black hair flowing freely, exuded a gentle and refined air. On his right wrist, he wore a bracelet of ice beads...

Upon seeing this, the Qing Centipede rapidly shrank to the size of a palm, landed on Qin Lu's shoulder, and seemed to fall into a deep sleep...

Upon arriving at this point, Lu Ming respectfully bowed to Qin Lu and then stood to Qin Lu's side and behind him.

His expression was solemn; even though he had Dao Foundation, he showed no sign of overstepping his bounds. This attitude surprised Shang Zhi even more...

Now--

Shang Zhi was a little embarrassed. After bowing, he sat down calmly. From the beginning, his imposing manner had weakened by half!

"Friend Shang, come, have some tea!"

"This is this year's newly harvested tea. Try it. Also, here's the Tea Smoke I gave to you last time. How's the taste?"

This unexpected politeness put Shang Zhi in an increasingly passive position...

They could only flatter Qin Lu's words and agree with him, as the initiative in the conversation had already fallen into Qin Lu's hands!

After a moment--

Shang Zhi then calmed down and explained the reason for his trip here...

"Fellow Daoist Qin, the current Emperor of Zhou wishes to meet you..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Lu remained calm, showing no surprise whatsoever, as if he had expected it all along!

"Please put..."

"Now that the Zhou Emperor has been seen, I, Qin, will naturally comply."

At this point, Shang Zhi took out a document. As it was unfolded, a mark slowly lit up, and an aura of imperial majesty immediately filled the air...

It seems they are connecting with the Da Zhou Imperial Court, which is Ten Thousand Li away!

And then--

A figure slowly emerged. Although its features were unclear, one could vaguely sense that the person was not old, probably no more than a hundred years old...

Seeing this, even if Qin Lu was usually arrogant, he could only perform the rituals of a subject to a ruler, and together with Shang Zhi, he shouted towards the figure:

"Your humble servants pay their respects to His Majesty the Zhou Emperor!"