Chapter 707 - 521: Relocation (Part 2)

Lu Qian was certainly very tempted, but he felt powerless.

Junle County was too far from his own territory, separated by the lands of the Liyuan Sect and the Desolate Desert. Occupying it now would make it an isolated outpost. It would require a considerable effort to defend, and assistance might be beyond reach, leading to potential attrition here.

On the surface, it expanded the territory, but in reality, it diminished strength.

Even if blessed by the ancestors and favored by the Celestial Mandate, that both he and Wu Yan could smoothly pass the subsequent Celestial Tribulation and achieve the Golden Core, this place would still be a troublesome region.

Yet, to simply abandon it was also unrealistic. The Huanggen Sect was waiting for the spoils gained from the battlefield of Junle to make up for huge losses, and now you're telling me that the Yunshan Sect merely went to Junle County to burn and kill, then left without gaining any real benefit?

Wait, the Huanggen Sect!

Lu Qian's eyes lit up.

In August of the 405th year of Jia Shen, the Yunshan Sect, Mingyu Sword Sect, and Huanggen Sect held long-distance consultations, reaching an agreement on the distribution of spoils from this expedition to Junle County.

If the land of ten million people to be occupied were considered as spoils, then based on the contributions of the three sects throughout the battle, the Yunshan Sect should receive five million people, the Mingyu Sword Sect three million, and the Huanggen Sect two million.

Now, both the Yunshan Sect and Mingyu Sword Sect are willing to trade their share of people and corresponding territory to the Huanggen Sect.

This way, the Huanggen Sect obtained the northwest and southwest land of Junle County, with a population of ten million, containing seven Spirit Veins, the highest of which was third-level mid-tier. This will become the new Mountain Gate of the Huanggen Sect!

Indeed, the Huanggen Sect is planning a massive relocation, moving entirely from the impoverished Tieyuan County, surrounded by two major enemies, Qingyuan and Huaiyou, into Junle County!

The geopolitical situation of the Huanggen Sect will greatly improve, not only elevating their Mountain Gate one tier but also successfully forming alliances with the Yunshan Sect and Mingyu Sword Sect, supported by Beichui County, which is much better than facing the four Golden Cores of Huaiyou and Qingyuan.

With the support, Ye Xiao directly stationed in Junle, making it difficult for anyone to reclaim this land, allowing the Yunshan Sect to reasonably liquidate their spoils, while significantly weakening the strength of the Shaoyin Sect.

From now on, the external environment of the Yunshan Sect will further improve, with two allies beside them, leaving only the Liyuan Sect, which has a peace treaty with them for the next eighteen years, as the enemy among their neighbors.

This strategy was truly a masterstroke, leaving Lu Qian, Ye Xiao, and Master Cangfeng very satisfied.

Firstly, to exchange for Mingyu Sword Sect's share of the population, territory, and Spirit Veins, and as a thank you for Master Cangfeng's assistance, Ye Xiao directly returned the two Spirit Veins and the land of five million people in Liangxiang County that originally belonged to them back to Mingyu Sword Sect. As a result, Mingyu Sword Sect regained full control of Liangxiang County.

Secondly, to exchange for Yunshan Sect's share of the population, territory, and Spirit Veins, the Huanggen Sect will offer the following benefits to the Yunshan Sect.

First is shares in Nocturnal City. Originally, thirty percent belonged to the Xuanwei Sect, twenty percent to the Spirit Beast Sect, and the remaining fifty percent was split between the Huanggen Sect with twenty-five percent, Yunshan Sect fifteen percent, and Mingyu Sword Sect ten percent.

Now, the Huanggen Sect transfers ten percent of its shares to the Yunshan Sect, resulting in Yunshan Sect owning twenty-five percent, Huanggen Sect fifteen percent, and Mingyu Sword Sect ten percent.

The second point is regarding Spirit Seeds. Although the Huanggen Sect is relocating to Junle County, their territory in Tieyuan County cannot be abandoned. Despite its impoverishment, it has a population of close to ten million, with four Spirit Veins (one of which was used to establish Nocturnal City).

In the future, Nocturnal City will directly serve as the governing center of Tieyuan County, while the other three Spirit Veins will serve as defensive outposts and radiation points for screening Spirit Seeds.

Henceforth, the screening of Spirit Seeds in Tieyuan County will be jointly conducted by the Yunshan Sect and Huanggen Sect, with the Yunshan Sect taking half of the screened Spirit Seeds at each selection. Normally, this would average out to about thirteen or fourteen Spirit Seeds per year.

However, because of the Huanggen Sect's direct relocation, the control over Tieyuan County will greatly diminish. While Nocturnal City remains impregnable, bold encroachments on the other three Spirit Veins are possible, and both Huaiyou County and Qingyuan County may attempt to infiltrate to steal Spirit Seeds.

But Lu Qian does not mind and even welcomes it.

With the relocation of the Huanggen Sect, the environment around the Yunshan Sect becomes more peaceful. Though stable development can rapidly strengthen them, it can also foster complacency within the sect, dulling their combat readiness.

The perilous Tieyuan County will serve as the best training ground for the Yunshan Disciples!

The Yunshan Disciples will undergo real combat practice in squad formations here, maintaining constant vigilance, and warding off complacency.

Moreover, with the absolutely secure presence of Nocturnal City, retreating into it ensures even if Huaiyou and Qingyuan's Golden Cores come personally, they are powerless.

Is there any place more suitable for combat training than here?

Once the agreement was established, Ye Xiao acted swiftly. With the Yunshan Sect and Wind and Thunder Gang still besieging the Cold River Beach, he completed the relocation and occupation in just a few days. As for resources, they can be moved slowly.

Therefore, Master Xuanjing was utterly devastated, while the Huaiyou Alliance was left dumbfounded, and the Huanggen Sect formally settled into Junle County!

The news quickly spread throughout Cangzhou, leaving the observing sects in awe.

This kind of maneuvering?!

By September, the relocation of the Huanggen Sect was complete, with the Mingyu Sword Sect returning to garrison Liangxiang and Zhongming, and the military operations in Tieyuan, Huaiyou, and Qingyuan Counties came to a complete halt.

In the final stages of the conflict, as Huaiyou and Qingyuan noticed Tieyuan County's vulnerability, they didn't even bother with surprise attacks this time. Openly and directly, they each occupied a Spirit Vein in Tieyuan County, establishing their own forward outposts.