"The two brothers Yang Zhun, it’s unlikely they’d use the lives of five direct descendants just to throw mud at us, so the murder of Yang Fan and his thirteen people indeed happened, if Yuan Cheng didn’t kill them, then it must be people from other towns who deliberately tried to smear us."
Yuan Cheng saw that Xia Hong didn’t even question him and directly concluded that he wasn’t the killer, which moved him deeply.
Xia Hong didn’t pay attention to Yuan Cheng, but continued on his own, "No, it might not necessarily be other towns, it could also be that Cai Qiu Feudal Town, or some infiltrating Outer Realm force within the Nine Towns!"
Upon hearing this speculation, the expressions of Xia Chuan and the other four became much more grave.
Yuan Cheng hesitated for a moment, finally standing up slowly and speaking in a deep voice, "Lord, if four towns unite, our Great Xia..."
"Alright, it’s none of your concern. Do you think handing you over would solve the problem? If I did hand you over, the reputation of Great Xia, painstakingly accumulated from April until now, would be lost entirely. Having a first promise would quickly lead to a second, and the second time wouldn’t be as simple as handing someone over."
Interaction between towns is quite pragmatic.
If one side shows any weakness, the other side will surely take the advantage.
Since the Hongmen Banquet at the end of April, Xia Hong has been tirelessly shaping Great Xia into an immensely powerful entity, capable of outweighing the Moao Eight Towns. That’s why the conflict for Bashang City from Chui Mountain, the fight for Jiuchu Camp from Beishuo, and subsequent establishment of a port in Hongmen City, as well as trade with the Eight Towns, went so smoothly.
Essentially, including Muyin and Jiangxia, the Moao Eight Towns now fear Great Xia, especially the Northern Three Towns, where fear is mixed with deep concern. After all, these past four months, Great Xia has virtually transformed the ecological landscape of the Nine Towns, relegating them from their previous lofty positions to mere supporting roles.
Especially the two matters of port establishment and trade, which dug into the foundation of their town territories. With so many people from village-level camps flocking to Hongmen City, what prestige remains for their town cities? How can they effectively manage those below?
Moreover, among these people, who knows how many have been bought by Great Xia?
As more people e to Hongmen, the Eight Towns bee increasingly transparent in front of Great Xia, which would terrify any Ice Abyss camp.
Now they are basically held in place by Great Xia.
Even opening the town’s cultivation resources to village-level camps is too late; people would only appreciate Great Xia’s merit.
Attempting to ban locals from ing to Hongmen City to buy goods wouldn’t work, as they’re already trading with Great Xia. Trying to revert to inter-town trade and mark up resources to sell below again would only push more people to buy from Hongmen City.
But just leaving things unchecked is even worse!
Clever people surely exist in the Eight Towns, and Great Xia using trade as a front while secretly infiltrating and recruiting isn’t sophisticated enough to escape detection.
The villagers from these camps in the Eight Towns Territory, once accustomed to purchasing cultivation resources and various supplies from Great Xia in Hongmen City, over time, whom do they truly belong to, the Eight Towns or Great Xia?
During this period, the Northern Three Towns are surely devising strategies to break free, and Xia Hong has been well aware of it. However, happening upon the murder of Yang Fan and his group was indeed unexpected.
"If the four towns want to unite, let them! At least Yang Zhun knows to issue external proclamations first; as long as rules are followed, everything can be negotiated!"
A direct confrontation, Xia Hong isn’t truly worried, the real fear is when the rules are ignored, like someone with Xianyang Level strength causing chaos; that would be troublesome, since Great Xia currently only has him at Xianyang Level.
"Have Yuwen Dao lead the Dragon Martial Army back to Hongmen first, then gather all dispersed troops from the territory, I’m headed back to Xia City once more, before the eighteenth, arm Hongmen to the teeth. If it’s mere posturing, let’s make some noise, forcing Great Xia to submit won’t be too simple."
"As you mand!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Chuan’s expression brightened, promptly bowing in agreement.
After speaking, Xia Hong’s eyes revealed a hint of coldness, continuing, "Regardless of who killed Yang Fan and those thirteen, since Yang Zhun dared to stir public alarm and make such a fuss, he must be confident enough to convince others it was Yuan Cheng who did it. If that’s the case, arguing probably won’t help much; just wait till they arrive on the eighteenth, and I’ll see for myself what the true strength of the Northern Three Town Lords is!"
Recollecting the brief encounter at Bashang City last time, Xia Hong’s eyes slightly flickered with battle intent; he had a rough estimation of those three’s strength, and given the chance, engaging and challenging them wouldn’t be impossible.
"Let’s hope Murong Chui and Xiahou Zhang don’t disappoint me."
Internalizing a thought, Xia Hong shook his head, cursing himself for being foolish, placing hope on others.
"I must return to Xia City first, Martial Arts Pavilion, Artifact Refining Pavilion, Alchemy Pavilion are about to undergo major changes."
Upon hearing Xia Hong’s words, Xia Chuan and the other four’s expressions suddenly filled with excitement.
The camp constructions in Xia City, with each change, have brought overwhelming transformations; they are well aware of this.
The cultivation quotas in the Martial Arts Pavilion, the casting technology and efficiency in the Artifact Refining Pavilion, the alchemy and appraisal efficiency in the Alchemy Pavilion... Once these facilities undergo major changes, Great Xia’s overall strength will likely experience a dramatic leap.
Xia Hong waved a slight goodbye to the group, not staying any longer, exited the meeting hall, and flew towards the direction of Xia City to the west.
"We bid farewell to the Lord!"
Once Xia Hong was far enough away, Xia Chuan and the four exchanged excited gazes.
"The Martial Arts Pavilion’s quota should increase a lot again, what’s missing for Great Xia now is time; with limited time, we can only pensate with this. As long as more people can simultaneously cultivate, the number of breakthroughs to Cold Resistance Level will continue to grow, and our current Cold Resistance Level count already surpasses the Northern Three Towns. If this round’s quota increases sufficiently, I estimate that surpassing the bined total of the Eight Towns won’t take long either!"
The cultivation quotas in the Martial Arts Pavilion are allocated by the Camp Supply Department, and Qiu Peng, the Camp Supply Department Director, is well aware.
Upon hearing this, Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, and Lin Kai’s expressions showed slight excitement.
Should Great Xia surpass the Eight Towns bined total in Cold Resistance Level numbers, what a spectacle that will be in the future!
"The Moao South Slope will surely bee part of Great Xia’s territory!"
Saying this, determination filled Xia Chuan’s expression.
At these words, Yuan Cheng, Qiu Peng, and Lin Kai all nodded in agreement, their eyes full of unwavering belief.
...........
The eighth year of Da Xia, September 11
When Xia Hong returned to Xia City, it was already daylight.
He went straight to the Alchemy Pavilion and found Cheng Feng who was busy with alchemy.
"Who... Lord, Cheng Feng pays respects to the Lord!"
Cheng Feng was deeply immersed in alchemy; it was only when Xia Hong approached that he realized, quickly attempting to rise and offer his salute.
"Focus on your medicine first!"
Seeing the pill about to take shape in the pill furnace, Xia Hong immediately held him down, signaling to continue his alchemical process, then asked, "Regarding Xiang Fuhai’s injuries, do you have the confidence to heal him?"
Hearing this question, Cheng Feng’s face instantly showed excitement, first retrieving the formed pill from the pill furnace, then bowing to respond:
"Lord, Xiang Fuhai’s injuries are primarily in the meridians; I’ve identified the cause. This batch of Holy Vein Pill is specially refined targeting his injuries. I can’t confirm the specific effects without him trying it first. I actually refined a batch two days ago, but didn’t dare to privately give it to him; now it’s just right for the Lord’s presentation."
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