Chapter 706: Relocation

Chapter 706 -521: Relocation

Unfortunately, the scene Master Xuan Jing hoped for did not occur.

With Master Cangfeng rescuing Tieyuan and Master Haoran launching a surprise attack on Huaiyou, the four Golden Cores of Huaiyou County and Qingyuan County had to halt their assault on Tieyuan County. They certainly wished to shift to Zhongming, but both Master Cangfeng and Ye Xiao received Lu Qian’s communication. Particularly Ye Xiao, who suffered a significant loss, hoped the Yunshan Sect could achieve some results in Junle County to compensate for the losses.

The Golden Cores of Huaiyou and Qingyuan faced considerable obstruction from the Mingyu Sword Sect and Huanggen Sect. Even if they wished to exploit their mobility for a solo advance, they had to consider that after they moved, their own homeland would be vulnerable to attacks from the two sects.

After some entanglement, indeed one Golden Core Master from Qingyuan County briefly shook off the Mingyu Sword Sect and Huanggen Sect, attempting to raid the Yunshan Sect’s mountain gate and force Yunshan Sect to retreat from Junle.

Unfortunately, Yunshan Sect’s Lingsha City and Minglong Mountain had Golden Core Level Grand Array defenses and left ample defensive forces behind. The enemy Golden Core found himself alone, unable to gain any advantage. Trying to disturb the two marketplaces, whether Shuangye Square or Exotic Treasures Workshop, was futile as both now had Golden Core visitors, likely inciting public outrage.

The Foundation Establishment Sects under Yunshan Sect had already, under Wang Yu’s coordination, hidden their elites and wealth within Lingsha City and Minglong Mountain, leaving the enemy empty-handed. Moreover, the southern situation changed thrice a moment, rendering him unable to linger, angrily demolishing the now deserted New Castle, then reluctantly returning south to Qingyuan County.

The news caused a morale drop among the Cold River Beach garrison, yet regardless, there were two Golden Core Masters here, backed by the Mountain Protection Grand Array. Yunshan Sect and Beichui County couldn’t invade unless they prepared for mutual destruction.

Both sides silently confronted each other here for several days, finding themselves unable to handle the opponent. Yunshan Sect and Beichui County couldn’t advance, and Junle County and Dongping County couldn’t break out.

Master Yaoming naturally couldn’t stay long at Cold River Beach, needing to return to Dongping County. But how could Lu Qian remain long in Junle County? His Golden Core Celestial Tribulation drew ever closer, demanding he end the war early and return to Minglong Mountain.

Master Cangfeng was indeed inclined to attack Dongping County to force Master Yaoming into defense, but once he left, Huaiyou and Qingyuan would become restless again.

Thus, the situation evolved into mutual deterrence between the alliances, with no party able to easily mobilize. Unless one side was willing to abandon their home base and risk a life-and-death struggle, which clearly wasn’t the case, nor was anyone eager to be the first to step out.

A few more days passed, and Lu Qian, Cloud-Riding Elder, and Master Xuan Jing and Master Yaoming began negotiations across the array. Unfortunately, in such circumstances, both sides still retained their strength, neither considered a failure. The negotiation terms were completely mismatched and got nowhere.

Moreover, both were just individual pieces of their alliances and could not represent the entirety’s intentions.

In this scenario, Cloud-Riding Elder from Beichui County was the first to act.

The sect dominating Beichui County was the Wind and Thunder Gang, controlled by Cloud-Riding Elder. The Wind and Thunder Gang, in turn, was a subordinate sect of Qinglian Sect. Although Qinglian Sect had lost its Nascent Soul Spirit Monarch, its overall power declined insignificantly, firmly holding its position as an Upper Sect.

Plus, as a Golden Core influence like the Wind and Thunder Gang, even as a subordinate sect, it maintained a certain independence. Militarily, as long as they reported in advance to the Upper Sect and gained consent, they could independently open up battlefields. Their internal affairs were entirely independent, with basic economic independence, only needing to follow the Upper Sect’s diplomatic guidance.

Currently, Qinglian Sect’s interests were under siege from all sides; although outwardly protected by the Xuanwei Sect, their actual business and influence were being squeezed by Spirit Beast Sect and Sikong Family. In such conditions, facing the Wind and Thunder Gang’s request for territorial expansion, Qinglian Sect agreed after brief consideration.

After all, the Shaoyin Sect in Junle County was originally an independent Golden Core Sect, attacking it wouldn’t cause any repercussions. Even if cooperating with Yunshan Sect, it wouldn’t matter much.

But the Wind and Thunder Gang couldn’t truly join the Three Sects Alliance, which Lu Qian didn’t mind. The cooperation with Wind and Thunder Gang was initially opportunistic, just directing them according to the circumstances later.

While still besieging Cold River Beach and both sides remained deadlocked, the Wind and Thunder Gang acted first, beginning to annex Junle County’s land.

Starting from the junction between Beichui and Junle Counties, they continuously pushed towards Cold River Beach, claiming all spirit veins for themselves, transforming the frontline into strongholds, and giving the inner areas as rewards to subordinate sects or using them, putting on the appearance of a long-term occupation.

The Wind and Thunder Gang’s idea was straightforward: first seize your spirit veins and territories to maximize benefits and get the upper hand. Then even if you try to contest, I’ll be defending and have huge advantages.

Cloud-Riding Elder also incited Yunshan Sect to mimic their actions and occupy vast lands of Junle County, allowing the two to aid each other and secure their positions firmly in Junle County.

He even presented a map of Junle County to Lu Qian, painting a delightful picture. Generally divided by Cold River Beach as the boundary, the Wind and Thunder Gang would occupy the northeastern lands of Junle County, while Yunshan Sect would occupy the northwestern and southwestern lands, leaving only the southeastern territory, which bordered Dongping County, making it unfit for establishing roots, thus having to be temporarily abandoned.

On the whole, the Wind and Thunder Gang’s new territory housed ten million people, Yunshan Sect also held ten million, leaving only the southeastern corner with six million to Shaoyin Sect.