"Brother Chen’s noble spirit, I will rember deeply. Rest assured, the conditions Great Xia previously promised you will not be lacking."
"Shangguan Yang will surely visit Chen Cang in the future to express gratitude to Lord Landgrave. You are welco to rest in Jinshan City for a few days, so I can fulfill my duty as a host."
The three individuals from Chen Cang, bearing the surna Chen, seed pleased by Yang Zhun’s words. However, they were aware that their impact was limited, so they remained silent for a mont before the middle-aged man among them spoke.
"There’s no need for courtesy. Resting for a few days is impossible; we must return to Chen Cang and report the news about the Demon Dragon to Lord Landgrave. As for the conditions previously agreed upon by the Three Towns, you can bring them next ti you co to Chen Cang for business. We shall take our leave now."
"This... Very well, then we bid you farewell, Brother Chen!"
"Farewell to you three."
Seeing Yang Zhun, Qin Feng, and Shangguan Yang’s respectful deanor toward the three from Chen Cang, the remaining nine Xianyang Level locals from Moao dared not be slow, and they also bowed to bid them goodbye.
After the Chen Cang trio had departed, the twelve began formally discussing the division of Bashang’s territories.
Within monts, they were arguing above Bashang City.
This negotiation was clearly not going to proceed smoothly.
.........
"Are you hurt?"
North of Bashang, thirty kiloters in the sky, Xia Hong held his wife Li Xuanling with his left hand while carrying a long spear with his right, the tip supporting the unconscious Xiang Fuhai, and sped toward Hongguan.
"It’s nothing. Those twelve Xianyang Levels were likely from Qinghepu, and were close to discovering . What a narrow escape!"
Though Xia Hong claid he was fine, Li Xuanling still tore her white sleeve to bandage him mid-air.
Seeing the large piece of flesh on Xia Hong’s back brutally gouged out, with bones visible, Li Xuanling’s face was full of distress.
She had set out from Baiping Village before dawn, arriving at Bashang City, but since she didn’t know Xia Hong’s exact location, she could only observe from a distance. She witnessed Xia Hong’s surprise attack on Master Wusheng and his successive slayings of two Great Masters until Yang Zhun and others combined forces against him.
Realizing Xia Hong would choose to flee, she left Bashang City first, having seen the battle with the Three Great Masters and Yang Zhun’s capability, she knew staying put would not help Xia Hong but beco a hindrance.
Xia Hong soon caught up to her, first taking her to hide in the Snow Forest, avoiding the Xianyang Levels rushing from the north, then heading again toward Hongguan.
"How long until dark?"
Li Xuanling promptly replied to Xia Hong’s question, "About an hour and a half. The Five Great Masters are dead, Dajue Temple is gone, once back, Xia Chuan can be inford to advance east with the Cloud Dragon Army."
Xia Hong’s slaying of the Three Great Masters and the appearance of Yang Zhun and others took less than half an hour in total, not much ti.
Li Xuanling clearly knew Xia Hong’s next plan and directly ntioned advancing east with the Cloud Dragon Army.
Hearing this, Xia Hong was slightly invigorated and nodded, "An hour and a half, from Qinghepu to Hongguan, roughly fifty kiloters in total. Dayti marching won’t affect the Cloud Dragon Army, and an hour and a half should suffice to take Hongguan before dark!"
Since the sixth year of Great Xia, the Cloud Dragon Army focused on improving normal snowfield marching speed, achieving fifteen kiloters per hour last year. Now, with everyone at the Cold Resistance Level, the overall speed has increased three to four tis, fifty kiloters would take at most an hour.
"Is your only plan to seize Hongguan?"
Li Xuanling was slightly surprised upon hearing Xia Hong’s plan.
With Dajue Temple gone, too much territory was now vacant.
Besides Hongguan, within Jiangxia, Peak Mountain, Longzhou, and Xuyang’s three Camps along with thirty village-level camps nearby, and Bashang’s Zouyang, Qing Valley, Jiuqu, and Baisong’s four Camps surrounded by thirty-nine village-level camps are all empty now. Bashang City itself is vacant.
Moreover, Lord of Bashang, Xiang Fuhai is now carried by Xia Hong on the tip of his spear.
Clearly, Xia Hong only intends to seize fifty kiloters north of Xing River and the Hongguan Camp, leaving Li Xuanling puzzled.
Xia Hong slightly shook his head and eyes glinted sharply, "Don’t rush things. Dajue Temple has just fallen; if we show strong eastward intentions, the Eight Towns might mistake us for the second Dajue Temple.
Besides, the territories Dajue Temple left behind are deserted, occupying them now serves little purpose, better to let the Eight Towns waste effort fighting for it."
He paused, glanced at Xiang Fuhai behind, his expression flickering, "Just Bashang Town alone is enough for them to fight head-to-head. We’ll hold Hongguan and watch the show."
Li Xuanling, intelligent as she was, understood Xia Hong’s intention quickly, after so thought, admiration showed in her eyes toward her husband.
"If Yuwen Dao can successfully keep Muyin Town, then counting Jiangxia, we have two friends in Nine Towns. If Xiang Fuhai can be saved, he counts too, no matter the Northern Three Towns’ actions, Great Xia is firmly seen by Nine Towns. Future plans will be easier."
Nine Towns had many fractures caused by Dajue Temple’s chaos, but with two staunch allies for Great Xia makes town alliances fear-free, securing ground is the first step, further expansion and conquest follow.
Given Great Xia’s developnt pace, Xia Hong expressed no doubt regarding future expansions.
"Five-headed Mysterious-faced Maitreya, Lingyin Mountain, Dark Realm, Qishan Demon Lord... This world is far larger than I imagined, those powerful entities’ abilities are more terrifying than anticipated; it must proceed step by step!"
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