Chapter 302 - 274: We Are the Biggest and Most Ruthless Tribulation Cultivators!

Chapter 302: Chapter 274: We Are the Biggest and Most Ruthless Tribulation Cultivators!

The day after the Jin Family fell.

The current patriarchs of the Yuan, Lu, Gu, and Wu clans immediately rushed to Thunder Accumulation Mountain with their men. They didn’t come to condemn anyone, but to beg for mercy.

The clean sweep that had flattened Thunder Accumulation Mountain hadn’t just destroyed the Jin Clan; it had also broken the backbones of the other four clans.

Only two paths lay before them:

First, beg for forgiveness and a chance to survive.

Second, be utterly annihilated, just like the Jin Clan.

Of course.

Wanting to live naturally came at a price.

The four clans not only had to withdraw completely from Shuzhou, but also had to hand over 1,500,000 Spirit Stones and their clan’s Cultivation Techniques as payment for their lives. This number of Spirit Stones was decided upon by Chen Che, Meng Qianxun, and Chen Yin after discussing what they had plundered from Thunder Accumulation Mountain.

For the four clans, producing this many Spirit Stones meant giving up everything they had.

However.

Moving forward meant annihilation, while stepping back offered a sliver of hope for survival. No matter who it was, they could only choose the latter.

Of course, if they couldn’t produce the amount, they could also use Pills, Magical Artifacts, and Materials to cover the difference. Desperate to survive, the four clans obediently delivered everything the trio demanded within just seven short days.

"Thank you all for your generous contributions. From this day forward, all debts between us are settled."

After counting everything, Meng Qianxun smiled amiably. Then, his tone turned cold as he added:

"Of course, if any of you are still thinking of revenge, we will be ready and waiting."

The four patriarchs hastily assured him they wouldn’t dare.

This time, they were more than just deeply wounded; nearly seventy percent of their clans’ foundations had been wiped out. Combined with the loss of their territory, it would take them at least a century to recover. They might even fall into a terminal decline from the lack of resources and never recover.

As for their opponents, all they needed to do was steadily digest these gains, and their strength would immediately surge once more.

"Withdraw from Shuzhou within one month, or else..."

Chen Yin added, tapping his fingers:

"You’ll face the consequences."

"We will, we will."

The four patriarchs obediently agreed. After leaving the main hall, they rushed back to their clans without stopping.

One month wasn’t much time, but the biggest problem they now faced was how to preserve their clan’s core strength to the greatest extent possible. The four clans hadn’t survived this long by being saints; they had connections, but they also had enemies.

There might not be many willing to help them in their time of need, but there would certainly be no shortage of those eager to kick them while they were down.

「Half a day later.」

The repaired main hall was now piled high with Spirit Stones, Pills, Magical Artifacts, and all sorts of Materials.

Without the Five Races at the forefront, how could the other minor clans possibly withstand Hunzhou’s assault? After learning the outcome of the battle, many of the smaller clans had already tucked their tails and retreated from Shuzhou before the victors even came knocking.

With that, seventy percent of Shuzhou had effectively been taken.

Conquering the remaining Mortal World was just a matter of time. After all, what Thousand Eyes True Master truly wanted was the mortals; that vast population was the source of his Power of Faith.

And now, what lay before them was the division of the spoils.

"Spirit Stones!"

"Mines, forests, rivers, Spirit Fields..."

"Cultivation Techniques."

The trio had already been discussing this for the past few days.

The number of Spirit Stones was clear, making them the easiest to divide.

As for the mines, forests, Spirit Rivers, and the like, they were far from Yunzhou and scattered across various locations, making them inconvenient to manage.

Furthermore, since Shuzhou would be managed by the Great Chen Royal Family in the future, Meng Qianxun and Chen Che had a brief discussion and both agreed to lease their shares to Chen Yin, collecting thirty percent of the income as rent. Nominally, however, the territories still belonged to them.

"All the various Cultivation Techniques of the Five Races have been copied. Everyone gets a set."

With a wave of his hand, Meng Qianxun sent hundreds of Jade Scrolls flying out.

"Excellent."

Chen Che accepted them with satisfaction.

The Five Races possessed numerous Cultivation Techniques, especially the Jin Clan. After a thousand years of accumulation, they had collected quite a few, including about a dozen Tier Three techniques alone. The Jin Clan’s most famous "Nine Heavens Divine Sound Array" and even the "Formless Tribulation Thunder Array" were recorded among them.

The Gu Family’s "Jade Sea Tide Wave Technique," the Lu Family’s "Vast Heaven-Circling Saber," the Yuan Family’s "Fire Cloud Heaven-Burning Seal," and the Wu Family’s Beast Taming Technique—all of these were the renowned techniques of their respective clans, and all were now recorded.

In addition, there were also many books on the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.

Whether or not he could use them all, their intrinsic value was undeniable. They were the foundation that supported a major power, and no one would ever complain about having too many.

However.

After returning to Jinyun Valley, he would have to sort and organize these Cultivation Techniques before giving them to his disciples to practice.

Then, on the other side, Chen Yin also raised a hand and, with a clatter, laid out the Pills that had already been divided:

"These Pills have all been counted. Let’s divide them equally among us."

Chen Che swept his Divine Sense over them and found that the least valuable among them were Foundation Establishment Pills. Besides those, there were also many Taihe Qianyuan Pills and Ziwei Infinite Pills.

Foundation Establishment Pills were a strategic resource, and these major clans had collected a great many of them.

The Taihe Qianyuan Pill was a Tier Two High Grade Elixir that could increase a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s True Essence. A single pill was equivalent to a month of arduous meditation and Cultivation.

The Ziwei Infinite Pill was a Tier Three Lower Grade Elixir.

When taken by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it could increase the chance of a Realm Breakthrough by seventy percent. Even for a Late-stage Great Cultivator, it still offered a thirty percent chance.

They were all high-quality Pills!

In addition to these, there were over fifty Tier Three Magical Artifacts:

The Emperor Witch Cauldron, the Black Dragon Armor, the Moon-Hunting Bow, the Cold Wind Sword... Each one was a treasure rarely seen in the outside world, often unobtainable even with enough Spirit Stones. But because of their different functions and effects, this category of items was somewhat difficult to divide.

"Tributor Chen, you pick one first. Then Fellow Daoist Meng will pick one, and then I will. Let’s divide these Spiritual Artifacts this way."

Chen Yin said with a smile.

He didn’t mention a word about the Magical Artifacts taken from the three patriarchs, Jin Chaoheng, Gu Xingkong, and Wu Qianhai. Those weren’t just personal spoils. It was also because of Chen Che’s intervention that they had been spared from total annihilation.

By speaking up now, he was also repaying a personal favor to Chen Che.

"I have no objections."

Meng Qianxun naturally wouldn’t object. Instead, he even reminded him, "Grandson-in-law, that Emperor Witch Cauldron is quite good. It was once used by True Master Chixia, and it’s much better than your Sacrificial Cauldron. Since you’re a Pill Master, you could pick it first."

"Your Pure Jun Sword is also getting a bit worn out. If you want to switch Weapons, you could choose a Spirit Sword-type Magical Artifact. In my opinion, you could pick that Wind and Thunder Ruyi Sword from the Wu Family."

All the treasures present had detailed records.

The Emperor Witch Cauldron belonged to the Jin Family. An ancestor from two generations ago had unexpectedly found it in one of True Master Chixia’s Cave Mansions, and it had once been used by a Tier Three Alchemist.

During those two hundred years, the Jin Family experienced its most glorious era, with two cultivators reaching Foundation Establishment Great Perfection in the same generation.

Unfortunately.

After that Tier Three Alchemist passed away, no other Pill Master could take his place.

The Wind and Thunder Ruyi Sword was one of only three Tier Three Middle Grade Flying Swords present. Wu Qianhai had spent several decades collecting Exotic Copper and Iron, then sought out seven Master Blacksmiths, who spent three years Forging the Spirit Sword.

He had originally intended to use it after reaching Core Formation.

He never imagined he would be crushed to dust before he could form his core.

The Wind and Thunder Ruyi Sword was about half an inch shorter than the Pure Jun Sword, but it was several times heavier, weighing at least several hundred thousand pounds. Even someone who didn’t know Swordsmanship could easily shatter the Protective True Essence of a Same Tier Major Cultivator with a crude slash.

The blade was a brilliant silver-white, its design simple and majestic.

When True Essence was injected into it, a CRACKLE, like the clap of thunder, resounded. Arcs of electricity erupted from the blade, and a spiritual wind swirled around it. In less than a breath, the entire sword was shrouded in wind and lightning.

"Excellent. I’ll take this one!"

Chen Che stroked the Wind and Thunder Ruyi Sword, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.

Seeing how Chen Che couldn’t seem to put it down, Meng Qianxun chose the Black Dragon Armor. This armor was crafted from the Scale Armor of a thousand-year-old flood dragon and was worn by the Gu Family Patriarch, who had relied on it to successfully escape.

The Gu Family only offered up the Black Dragon Armor because they were short on Spirit Stones.

As for Chen Yin, he chose a white skull. This skull was taken from a Core Formation Great Demon and refined with a Secret Technique, preserving its Divine Soul within. It could not only defend against Divine Sense attacks but also, if the Divine Soul was awakened, unleash a sonic killing strike.

It was the third Tier Three Middle Grade Magical Artifact.

Next, the three of them continued to select Magical Artifacts in this manner. It took them the better part of a day to finally divide the fifty-odd Magical Artifacts. Including the previously divided supplies, each person filled a full five Storage Rings.

At this point, the division of spoils was complete, and the three of them exchanged an unconscious smile.

Not even counting the Magical Artifacts, Cultivation Techniques, Pills, and Materials, their haul of Spirit Stones alone had reached over two million. Such a massive sum was more than enough for two Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators to attempt Core Formation.

This was the allure of a great opportunity.

In addition, dozens of cultivators from the Jin Clan’s vassal families who had mastered the Hundred Skills of Cultivation were also divided up among the three. These cultivators belonged to "Slave Households" and could only hope to shed that status by performing meritorious deeds in the future.

"After this battle, will you be preparing for Core Formation, Fellow Daoist Meng?"

After putting away his Storage Ring, Chen Yin suddenly let out a long sigh.

"It’s about time to put it on the agenda."

Meng Qianxun didn’t hide it. He had been preparing for Core Formation for some time, but due to his clan being strapped for cash, he had made very little progress.

"That’s good, very good."

Chen Yin nodded slightly. "If you run into any difficulties with Core Formation, Fellow Daoist Meng, just let me know. I still have some influence in Primordial City..."

This wasn’t an empty boast.

Although he was a Household Slave, he was backed by Thousand Eyes True Master, so most of the powers in Primordial City would give him some face.

"Much appreciated."

Meng Qianxun was naturally aware of Chen Yin’s situation and didn’t want to dwell on the topic. After a perfunctory reply, he changed the subject directly. "Grandson-in-law, are you preparing to head back to the valley?"

"I’ve been away long enough," Chen Che replied.

Meng Qianxun’s brow furrowed slightly. "You’re carrying so many treasures. Be careful on the road, lest you run into some audacious Tribulation Cultivators."

"Tribulation Cultivators?"

Chen Yin sneered. "Right now, we’re the biggest and most ruthless group of Tribulation Cultivators in the Sixteen States besides the Golden Core masters. Who would dare to mess with us?"

Chen Che couldn’t help but laugh. He had a point.

Ordinary Tribulation Cultivators only dared to pick on the weak.

The more daring ones, like Tang Youliang, would scheme to trap and kill their ’friends’.

But they had already transcended the ranks of ordinary Tribulation Cultivators. Common ones naturally wouldn’t have that kind of courage.