Chapter 303 - 275: A Sitting Tiger and an Overseas Dragon

Chapter 303: Chapter 275: A Sitting Tiger and an Overseas Dragon

With Shuzhou pacified, Chen Che felt a rare sense of relief, even though plenty of matters still remained. Things like the Mortal World and some minor clans, for example, but none of them required his personal attention anymore. He rode the Little Chick back to Jinyun Valley, arriving late in the night.

He kept for himself whatever Spirit Stones and Materials he could use. Only after taking his share did he plan to deposit the rest into Jinyun Valley’s treasury.

After all.

His original reason for taking over Jinyun Valley was to make his own Cultivation path smoother.

But even what remained was an enormous amount.

’No wonder Chen Yin said we’re the biggest and most ruthless Tribulation Cultivators...’

Chen Che winced at the thought.

Truly, for a single clan to amass such wealth, they would likely fail even if they saved every penny for several hundred years. Yet, the three-way alliance had acquired it all in just a single month.

’With so many Spirit Stones, I can not only start openly acquiring Fire-attribute Materials, but also begin preparing for Core Formation.’

Chen Che was very satisfied.

Although Core Formation Materials were sold on Earth Element Star, most of them weren’t aged enough. Even with superior Alchemy skills, the resulting pills would be weaker.

That’s why he decided to focus his efforts on this world, planning to gather the materials here and perform the refining himself.

As for Jinyun Valley, it naturally had to be maintained.

Without a power base of his own, he’d be vulnerable and adrift.

To put it bluntly, if you were alone, others could move against you without any hesitation. But if your faction had eighty or a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, any opponent without overwhelming power would have to think twice.

In some ways, the principles of the Cultivator World were the same as those of the Mortal World.

If a mortal family had no men, they could only suffer in silence when bullied.

’I should organize the Cultivation Techniques first.’

With this in mind, Chen Che headed straight for the Library Pavilion.

"Library Pavilion, double in size, and add two more floors..."

RUMBLE!

Watching the Library Pavilion rise from the ground, Chen Che nodded in satisfaction. This was the effect of the Array Spirit; simple expansions no longer required manpower.

Stepping inside, with a flick of his hand, several hundred Jade Scrolls flew out.

Countless blank books flew around him, and as True Essence surged, lines of characters were imprinted upon them, turning them into Secret Manuals.

...

...

「The next day.」

As the Jinyun Valley disciples gathered for their morning practice as usual, they couldn’t help but stare in amazement at the Library Building. They were astonished to discover that the entire structure had not only doubled in size, but had also grown from six stories to eight.

"Eight stories? Am I seeing things?"

Many people rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

Although.

It was seemingly just an addition of two floors, the implications were vastly different.

"The first three floors of the Library Pavilion house Qi Refining Techniques. Floors four through six have Foundation Establishment Techniques. In that case, the seventh and eighth floors... could they hold Golden Core Cultivation Techniques?"

A disciple gasped, craning his neck to gaze at the massively transformed Library Building.

Most disciples in the Valley hailed from minor clans, and many were even from the families of Loose Cultivators in the Market. For them, a Foundation Establishment Technique was already something far beyond their reach, yet now they were under the same roof as Golden Core Cultivation Techniques.

"Are they really Golden Core Cultivation Techniques? When will they be available for exchange?"

"A Tier Two technique already costs tens of thousands of Contribution Points. A Tier Three will probably be several times that. If I could just get a single glance, I could die without regrets."

"Where did these cultivation techniques come from? Could it be that we won on the front lines?"

Only a very few people guessed what had happened.

...

"Back to your training."

Arriving at the square, Rong Shisan glanced coldly at the endlessly chattering disciples.

As the disciples bowed their heads, he finally announced loudly:

"The Jin Clan has been annihilated, and the four clans of Shuzhou have surrendered. Jinyun Valley was victorious in this battle. These Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts are all spoils of war, which the Valley Master is currently organizing. All sorts of techniques are available, but as for Tier Three, that is too far beyond your reach!"

"If you want to learn them, reach Foundation Establishment first."

The ordinary disciples had limited access to news, and now that they finally knew what had happened, they burst into an uproar.

Whether it was the annihilated Jin Family or the four clans that had surrendered, both were unimaginable giants in their eyes. The fact that all of them had been dealt with left the disciples utterly shaken.

Moreover.

With the cultivation techniques of the Five Races to anchor its destiny and pass down through generations, Jinyun Valley was certain to grow progressively stronger.

"...I know that some of you did not join the valley for Cultivation willingly. But in the future, you will know that being able to enter Jinyun Valley is your greatest blessing. Remember the grace of the Valley in the days to come, and cultivate well!"

Rong Shisan spoke with a deadpan expression, but inwardly, he swelled with pride.

Back then.

When he first joined, the valley was practically deserted, but in just a few short years, it had grown into a regional giant.

...Now.

Beneath the Golden Core Realm, Jinyun Valley had carved out its own territory.

Who would dare to look down on them now?

...

The excitement wasn’t confined to the valley; it was the same outside.

Disciples who had finished their morning practice carried Copper Gongs and shouted along the streets.

There were disciples on every street making announcements. They were not only showing off Jinyun Valley’s strength, but also reassuring the populace. After all, many vassal families had also fought alongside them, and they naturally wanted to know the outcome of the battle.

Moreover, at the time, many people were not optimistic about this battle.

Some cultivators who were sent to the front lines had even drawn life-or-death lots within their clans.

"A great victory for Jinyun Valley? One clan annihilated, four clans routed!"

"Haha, fantastic! Jinyun Valley has made a name for itself again! We’re not just a Sitting Tiger, we’re an Overseas Fierce Dragon! We’re the Overseas Dragon that devoured the Local Bully!"

"Valley Master Chen killed three patriarchs all by himself! Who still dares to say our Jinyun Valley was just practicing Taiping Fist?"

In the bustling Market, everyone was discussing it.

Some well-informed people could even recount the cause and effect of the battle at Thunder Accumulation Mountain. Many listeners were captivated, wishing they could have witnessed the battle firsthand.

For a time, everyone felt immensely proud.

At this moment, an old man passing through the Market heard this and couldn’t help but sigh heavily.

His name was Xiao Zongrui, and he was the patriarch of a Foundation Establishment Clan in Chi State.

Back when Jinyun Valley attacked Chi State, he was the one who ran between various powers, uniting the clans to resist Jinyun Valley’s advance. He had thought they could secure at least a hundred years of peace, but Jinyun Valley’s great victory completely shattered their delusion.

’Jinyun Valley’s rise is now unstoppable. It’s better to make amends now than to wait for them to settle old scores.’

With this in mind, Xiao Zongrui made his way to the valley’s entrance.

At the entrance of Jinyun Valley stood several solemn disciples. Although they were only in the Qi Refining Realm, he didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect. Instead, he said very respectfully, "I am Xiao Zongrui, Patriarch of the Xiao Family of Chi State. I request an audience with Valley Master Chen. I must trouble the disciples of the Upper Sect to announce me."

After speaking.

He also secretly slipped them a bottle of Pills.

"Senior Xiao, please don’t act like this. Being on guard duty is our responsibility..."

The disciple didn’t even look at it, just cupped his hands and said:

"Please wait a moment."

After speaking, he turned and entered the valley.

Xiao Zongrui watched him go and couldn’t help but sigh again.

Even ordinary disciples were so strictly disciplined. Thinking back on his own family, after just a few decades of stability, an air of decline had already appeared from top to bottom... The two simply could not be compared.

’Once these disciples mature, Jinyun Valley’s strength will see another wave of growth.’

Xiao Zongrui smiled bitterly to himself.

Only now did he understand how laughable his original idea was.

Intricate political maneuvering could buy a hundred years of peace?

He feared it wouldn’t even buy ten years.

The next time Jinyun Valley mobilized its forces, it would be to swallow the whole of Yunzhou. At that time, their momentum would surely be unstoppable.

"The Valley Master is inside. Senior Xiao, please!"

A moment later, the disciple on duty returned.

Led by the disciple, Xiao Zongrui arrived before a Treasure Pavilion.

He walked in, surprised, and the first thing he saw was a dazzling array of Spiritual Artifacts. Clearly, this was an important place where Jinyun Valley stored its Spirit Treasures.

With doubt in his heart, Xiao Zongrui ascended the stairs, making his way to the eighth floor of the Treasure Pavilion. He immediately saw a youth in green robes placing a pitch-black Furnace Cauldron on a huge stone platform. The place was clearly newly built, but there were already six or seven Spiritual Artifacts placed there, and every single one was Tier Three Middle Grade.

Looking at these Spiritual Artifacts, he couldn’t help but feel envious.

The Xiao Family was over two hundred years old, and yet only he, the Patriarch, possessed two Tier Two Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts. And those two Spiritual Artifacts, which he regarded as priceless treasures, would only belong on the fifth floor in this building.

However, what surprised him was the youth.

Because he looked extremely young, almost the same age as the disciples in the valley.

But.

Xiao Zongrui didn’t dare to show the slightest contempt. This was a vital area of Jinyun Valley. Who else could be here besides that Valley Master Chen?

At this thought, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply:

"Greetings, Valley Master Chen. May your immortal path be evergreen, and your Daoist Techniques reach the heavens."

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, there is no need for such ceremony."

After setting down the Emperor Witch Cauldron, Chen Che then patted the Pill Furnace, leaving his Divine Sense Mark on it. It was a Tier Three Spiritual Artifact, after all; some precautions were necessary.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, what business brings you here?"

"Valley Master Chen’s name shakes the Sixteen States, and the cultivators of Shuzhou tremble at the sound of your name. I heard of Jinyun Valley’s great victory, so I came especially to offer congratulations, and also to ask for forgiveness."

Xiao Zongrui lowered his head, took a deep breath, and cut to the chase:

"From this day forward, the Xiao Family is willing to become a vassal family of Jinyun Valley..."

"Do you know what it means to become a vassal family?"

Only then did Chen Che stop what he was doing and turn to look at him.

Just as he expected.

A person’s reputation precedes them. Once word of certain events got out, the clever ones would be the first to make their move.

"I do."

Xiao Zongrui’s body trembled as he said respectfully:

"From now on, we will recognize Jinyun Valley as our master. All our descendants will be sent into the valley for Cultivation. In the future, thirty percent of the clan’s income will be handed over to Jinyun Valley."

In a word, they would be little more than Household Slaves.

Of course.

The status of a vassal family was still much higher than that of a Household Slave.

"Since you understand, go to the External Affairs Hall and find Hall Master Ding Fei to handle the transfer."

Chen Che said flatly.

Xiao Zongrui took a deep breath and bowed one last time:

"As you command."

This was the power of a Sitting Tiger.

A few simple sentences were all it took to decide the fate of an entire clan.