Tidying the Battered Camp and Planning for the Future

"Marquis of Fengcheng, do not worry, there is nothing to be done."

Seeing that Kuang Liuting spoke calmly Fei Tianqin, who had secretly thought that the former had taken some kind of potent drug, at ease.

Just as it was about to speak, Kuang Liuting pointed out again, and the two cultivators who had previously blocked Kang Dabao instantly lost their lives and turned into dust.

At this moment, Kuang Liuting could even joke, "Don't worry, Marquis of Fengcheng, I am now also Golden Core cultivator. Even if I kill every single Golden Core within the jurisdiction of the Star-Picking Pavilion, it doesn't seem like I'm breaking the rules."

His joke had barely faded when the weak soldiers in front of Sect Leader Kang Da were thrown into disarray; the phrase "like wolves running and boars charging" was quite apt here.

This disheveled scene seemed to have affected the Dao soldiers of the Two Instruments Sect. Even though Pu Honggu, the core of the sect, had fled, it was still a major sect that dominated several states, and its disciples could always withstand some storms.

However, this charge by the fleeing soldiers still allowed Yuan Jin, who had been watching with predatory eyes, to find an opening.

The Third Tier spirit puppet used the ox-slaying wrist knife, and the cultivators within the Double Brightness Alliance's jurisdiction plunged it into the bleeding wound of the sick ox. Fei Nanying and Fei Donggu also led a group of Golden Core cultivators to charge over.

At this point, anyone in the Two Instruments Sect formation who doesn't lose heart is considered a hero.

Yuan Jin personally held up the great banner and waved it incessantly. Although his cultivators were exhausted, they knew that it was easy to gain credit when things were going well. The Two Instruments Sect, which had almost no will to fight, was ignored and generously gave up a large area of their backs to these enemies on the front lines to make a name for themselves.

Having grasped the situation, Kang Dabao felt somewhat relieved. He quickly straightened his clothes and picked up the two Storage Bag from the ground. Then, using his running technique, he rushed to Kuang Liuting and bowed, saying, "This humble official greets Your Excellency!"

"Marquis of Martial Peace has once again rendered great service; he is truly loyal and brave."

Kuang Liuting's words were full of praise, but his tone was neither warm nor friendly; in fact, it was even colder than usual.

"Serving one's country with utmost loyalty is one's duty."

However, the words spoken by the Sect Leader Kang Da were the same clichés that Kuang Liuting liked to hear. His tone remained respectful, but his posture straightened slightly.

The Duke of Qin clearly noticed the unusual situation, but he wasn't annoyed. Instead, he chuckled. He didn't pay attention to the man and bird in front of him, but instead looked at the brave soldiers in front of him, and his face showed some satisfaction.

However, when he spoke again, Kuang Liuting sighed with regret, "It's a pity, Marquis of Fengcheng, Marquis of Martial Peace, I will not be able to drink your celebratory wine this time."

These words couldn't be left unsaid, so Kang Dabao seized the opportunity and asked softly, "May I ask what important matter you have to discuss, sir?"

"The barrier around Cold Crow Mountain isn't limited to one location. Ye Prefecture has fallen, Yang Yongcheng of the Yang Household has died, and several elders of the Five Old Mothers Mountain Battle Hall have also perished. The Yang Household still has over a thousand survivors, who were led back to the Mountain North Circuit with Five Old Mothers Mountain. I need to go there and take a look."

Kuang Liuting's few words encapsulated the many misfortunes of cultivators. Kang Dabao also felt a pang of sorrow, recalling that when the former first arrived in Mountain South, the Ye Prefecture Yang Household, though experiencing conflict between legitimate and illegitimate children, was still relatively prosperous.

However, the Qin Office of the Duke of Qin is no longer what it used to be. The Yang Household family's direct line had managed to eliminate the collateral branches with the help of people from the capital, but they still ended up with their family destroyed and their people killed. There was no one to reason with.

Seeing that the person and the bird before him fell silent for a moment, Kuang Liuting seemed to understand their thoughts, and when he spoke again, his voice was a little louder:

"I have ordered the Mountain North Army to bestow upon the current head of the Yang Household Yang Wuwei, two Golden Core Formation Pills, and send him to the capital to cultivate under the tutelage of the Left Imperial Clan Master. He will have a bright future ahead of him. For the next sixty years, all matters concerning the Ye Prefecture Yang Household will be managed by Yang Wudi. All necessities will be provided by the government and distributed according to the standards of the Imperial Guard."

"I imagine the Ye Prefecture Yang Household, having received such a great favor, will be even more diligent in their work in the future," Fei Tianqin replied casually, then asked, "But I wonder about the Ding Prefecture Kuang Household, Xianyu Household?"

"Xu Canjun, Gui Qinwei, Buried Spring Mound Sha Shan each gathered their servants and disciples, along with Gada, to protect the Ding Prefecture Kuang Household. Although they suffered a minor setback, they are still unharmed for the time being."

Kuang Liuting's words were even more concise, and Kang Dabao recalled figures such as Xu Lingzhi of the Dai County Xu Household, Gui Baifu of the Liaoyuan Gui Household, Sha Shan, the contemporary Daozi of Buried Spring Mound.

Back when he accompanied Fei Nanying to the Dharma assembly held by Guhongzi and High Person Three Words, he had met these people once. They were all well-known young talents in the capital region, but even though they gathered in Ding Prefecture, they didn't seem to have made a name for themselves.

It should be noted that although the number of Golden Core Two Instruments Sect is small, the four individuals who have achieved this level are all advanced cultivators in the later stages: Pu Honggu, Qiu Yunsheng, Li Yun, Wei Guze.

Needless to say, Pu Honggu, though old, still possesses considerable skill. Even Xiang Tianxing, the general affairs manager of the Star-Picking Pavilion is widely recognized as having the potential to reach the Nascent Xiang Tianxing, might not be able to secure a victory against him in a straightforward battle.

In the historically remote and desolate Three Southwest Circuits, he was truly a first-rate figure, second only to True Person master.

Over the years, Qiu Yunsheng Yixin to cultivation, and his reputation has gradually faded, but he is still a figure who can be compared with Niu Yanqing, the sect leader of the Cloud Water Sect, Xianyu Household, the head of Xianyu Daye family.

Furthermore, the Duke of Qin had never forgotten what happened back then, which may be one of the reasons why, even though Ye Prefecture and Cloud Horn Prefecture had fallen at the same time, he still rushed to Cloud Horn Prefecture first.

As for Li and Wei, even if they were placed in places like the Cloud Water Sect or the Xianyu Household, they would not be out of place as second-in-commands.

Therefore, even though the Two Instruments Sect has not cultivated many cultivators, it is still the undisputed leader among the Three Administrations. Otherwise, Kuang Liuting would not have transferred the Ying Prefecture Fei Household, with Fei Tianqin in charge, to this place.

However, the former clearly underestimated the resources of the Two Instruments Sect. If he had known beforehand that Pu Honggu could produce so many Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, he wouldn't have been so stingy in assigning even a few idle upper-level cultivators to the Fei Household.

Star-Picking Pavilion has far more cards to play than Kuang Liuting, and it's also more generous. The Golden Core cultivators from the Two Instruments Sect who came together at the same level caused Fei Tianqin, that old bird, quite a bit of trouble.

However, Kuang Liuting felt that it was not too late to mend his ways, since in his opinion, once the Ying Prefecture Fei Household and Chongming Sect had rested and recuperated, they would still be able to fight.

"The Ying Prefecture Fei Household is truly loyal!"

Kuang Liuting's mind was as clear as a mirror. Don't be fooled by those prestigious families with True Person individuals in their homes, who may be high-ranking officials, holding their tablets in court, and being devoted to their country with unwavering loyalty. But when it comes to real work, would they be as dedicated and risk their lives as the Fei Household?

Judging from the performance of these high-born scions like Xu Lingzhi, Gui Baifu, and Sha Shan, even the Duke of Qin was uncertain.

"But after I make my move this time, they'll know they need to invest more, won't they?" Kuang Liuting asked himself, enduring the stinging pain in his fingertips, and then silently muttered, "As long as the Cold Crow Mountain barrier remains stable."

Kuang Liuting came and went without a trace, Sect Leader Kang Da had a rare moment of leisure, as he still had many things to take care of.

Although we won this time, it was a Pyrrhic victory.

Leaving aside everything else, one can tell from the fact that the Nine Heavens Mountain-Suppressing Grand Formation, whose spiritual light has gradually dimmed, that Pingrong County, which has been managed for a long time and is now even better than before by Kang Dabao and his generation of Double Brightness disciples, has almost become a place devoid of spirit.

All those spiritual fields Spirit Plant that took countless efforts to cultivate, the spiritual mountains and mines that were developed, the cave abode and palaces that were built, and even the more than four hundred immortal families who had been carefully nurtured to establish themselves on the edge of Cold Crow Mountain, were all...

Kang Dabao stood beside the high platform at the Nine Heavens Mountain-Suppressing Grand Formation, his gaze sweeping across the direction of Pingrong County, and he felt a heaviness in his heart.

The wind swept by, carrying dust with it, and the air, which should have been filled with a sense of tranquility, was now filled only with the stench of burnt blood and the smell of withered grass and trees.

Not far from Little Ring Mountain, the Great Divine Sense Sect Leader Kang Da could immediately see the cracked and miserable state of the spirit fields that had been cultivated by three generations of the Double Brightness Alliance with all their efforts.

The once vibrant rice paddies, which used to reflect the glow of the sunset, have all withered and turned black. A gust of wind can shatter them into dust, leaving no trace of life scattered across the ground.

The entrance to the spirit mine not far away was in complete disarray.

The faint glow of spirit crystals that should have seeped from the cracks in the mine is now just the dark rock walls. Several Chongming Sect disciples who were responsible for guarding the mine squatted at the entrance, holding a few broken pieces of low-grade spirit crystals in their hands, their eyes red.

This spiritual mine, which could provide for Foundation Establishment cultivators' daily cultivation, was completely drained, leaving it hollow even at its foundation.

"If my Junior Brother Zhou sees this, he'll probably cry again."

However, Sect Leader Kang Da was more open-minded than he had expected. He no longer lingered on the tragic scene before him, only hearing intermittent painful groans in his ears, which made him frown and feel a pang of pain in his heart.

"Little Sanzi."

"What are you doing here, kid?!"

Kang Dabao quickly dismissed his thoughts, turned around at the sound, and saw Fei Tianqin flapping his wings and landing beside him. There were still some bloodstains on his sharp beak, but the fierce look in his eyes was gone, replaced by a more relaxed expression.

Even though this old bird ordered the Nine Heavens Mountain-Suppressing Grand Formation to drain the Spirit Vein of Pingrong County, not a trace of apology could be seen in his sharp eyes. Instead, he jokingly said:

"Don't bother looking anymore. With this little capital, as long as we can help the Duke quell the Star-Picking Pavilion, even if it slips through our fingers, it will be enough to make up for it."

Following Fei Tianqin's gaze to the distant ruins, he gave a self-deprecating laugh:

"What the ancestor said is true, but these spiritual fields and mines are the foundation that I and three generations have built up with hoes and picks. It still hurts to see them destroyed."

"You're too short-sighted! Even if you and your descendants manage this impoverished place for another thousand years, what great things can you possibly achieve?!"

The old bird first scoffed, then pointed out:

"Go and manage Xuanwei City well. It has a prosperous foundation and is quite close to Xian Prefecture. Since the Two Instruments Sect has been defeated and Pu Honggu will not survive for many more years, it is a good place to settle down."

"Xian Prefecture?!"

Kang Dabao naturally remembered that when the Cloud Marsh Shaman Venerable Hall was destroyed, he had the idea of settling permanently in Xian Prefecture. After all, Third Tier Spirit Vein were still rare in this area, and the Ghost Sword Sect's mountain gate was readily available, enough for the Chongming Sect to manage both Xianzhou and Yunzhou.

However, at that time Fei Nanying told him to give up the idea, saying that Two Instruments Sect's actions were not small and that there would be setbacks in Xian Prefecture in the future.

However, Sect Leader Kang Da, perhaps not foreseen that in such a short Boyue, the Two Instruments Sect would be on the verge of collapse. It would not be surprising if, after Pu Honggu's death, Kang Dabao and his disciples destroyed the sect.

Therefore, it seems that Xian Prefecture is now a very good place for Daoist practice, if Star-Picking Pavilion can really be suppressed by the Office of the Duke of Qin.

"Actually, if you had listened to me, you would have been better off returning to Ying Prefecture with Nanying to cultivate after the great battle," Fei Tianqin said, his tone unusually serious. Seeing that Sect Leader Kang Da's expression remained unchanged, he added fuel to the fire.

"Although my Ying Prefecture Fei Household may not be comparable to famous families, once you go there, you only need to focus Yixin cultivation and not worry about how to teach disciples or manage the sect. All the necessary resources will be provided in a way that is no less than those of the direct descendants of a family."

"I, your ancestor, have a keen eye for people, and you, lad, are quite lucky. I imagine that once you abandon worldly affairs and dedicate yourself to cultivation for two or three hundred years, you might even be able to achieve the Nascent Xiang Tianxing, just like Xiang Tianxing."

Fei Tianqin, caught up in the moment, even went so far as to say, "If you can't let go of this idea of claiming ancestry, we'll allocate a sacred plot of land for you in Ying Prefecture. You can become the founding ancestor of your sect. Why bother bowing to a few Foundation Establishment or Qi Refinement in the ancestral hall? Once you go to Ying Prefecture, you'll realize how vast the world is. Not to mention, it will at least increase your chances of becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator by half."

This old bird was indeed incorrigible; his words showed absolutely no respect for the teachings of etiquette. Kang Dabao wasn't annoyed by this, but he was even less moved.

He had poured his heart and soul into building the old man's business to such an extent; how could he possibly abandon his disciples and followers to become a grand patron himself?!

Furthermore, he has many secrets about him, which he tries his best to conceal, and it's possible that he has already been noticed by some people with ulterior motives.

In the remote and impoverished areas of the Three Southwest Circuits, True Person preoccupied with trivial matters, or perhaps they simply don't care. But if they were to reside permanently in the bustling capital region, it would be a different story.

Fortunately, the old bird was only acting on a whim. Seeing that Kang Dabao had a faint smile but did not make any move, Fei Tianqin also gave up the idea of persuading him.

It thought that Fei Ye Shui was getting old, and after the Ying Prefecture Fei Household lost this pillar of strength and Fei Nanying took over, they would not only need someone like itself to protect them, but also their right and left arms.

Fei Dongwen and Fei Donggu have mediocre futures, and in Fei Tianqin's view, they have little hope of reaching the Nascent Soul stage. However, if they could join the Sect Leader Kang Da, it would be the icing on the cake.

Fei Tianqin squinted at Kang Dabao and saw that although he had refused the invitation, he was not arrogant at all. Instead, he showed a gentle warmth that protected his disciples. Fei Tianqin's regret faded and was replaced by more appreciation.

But he couldn't hold out for long, and then said coldly, "Fine, since you care about these disciples, I, your ancestor, won't force you."

As it flapped its wings, it left a message: "Alright, pack up carefully. Since Bai Canhong dared to open the Cold Crow Mountain barrier, his methods won't stop there. It's not a bad thing to be more prepared. Your cautious nature is also a good thing; it will always reduce mistakes."

"Thank you, Ancestor!"

"Um,"

Seeing Fei Tianqin transform into a rainbow and disappear, Kang Dabao withdrew his gaze.

Ye Zhengwen, who was practically useless in such a great battle, pursed his lips and limped over, still holding a Jade Slip covered in mottled bloodstains in his hand.

Sect Leader Kang Da knew what was inside, but he had no interest in watching. He stopped Ye Zhengwen from speaking, but gave him further instructions:

"Quickly select a group of disciples to clean this place up. Judging from Elder Tianqin's tone, take as much as you can this time. If the Fei Household has anything to say, let them come find me. If anyone dares to lay a hand on me, unless they are one of the three elders, I will return them to me."

My Chongming Sect has shed as much blood as any other family, so there's no reason for us to be inferior.

Don't rush to sell these beast materials. Myriad Treasures Trading Company has been offering quite low prices lately. If all else fails, keep them for future use in construction.

With bloodshot eyes, Ye Zhengwen listened attentively and took careful notes. When he wrote with his pen, jade dust flew everywhere, bathed in warm sunlight, making for a beautiful sight.

Kang Dabao spoke for quite a while before stopping. Just as he was about to bid farewell to Ye Zhengwen and go to discuss the gains and losses of this military campaign with Yuan Jin, a spirit boat sped towards Little Ring Mountain, causing him to pause briefly.

A man disembarked from the spirit boat; it was Han Xundao. He ran about, tears streaming down his face, shouting, "Sect Leader, Elder Ye, Elder Jiang have been found!!"