One month later.
[Special Event—Support Qi Region: Complete]
[After years of planning and employing various methods, your family successfully brought back the Jiang family of Qi Region. Qi cultivators have returned to their homeland and now occupy half of the Region's territory. Your family's surprise attack cut off the Wu Clan's retreat routes, leaving large numbers of Wu Clan forces trapped like cornered beasts within Qi Region.]
Currently, within a courtyard in the outer city of Merit City, Azure Cloud region, experts from three great regions were gathered.
Although the forces of the Qi Region had begun reoccupying their homeland, the region itself was vast. Fully reclaiming it, even with the Azure Cloud region's assistance, would likely require several decades to drive out all Wu Clan presence. Merit City, being centrally located relative to the three regions, had become the designated gathering point for these experts, allowing for swift mutual support between the three parties as needed.
"Congratulations to the Jiang Region Prince on beginning the reclamation of your homeland."
Within the crowd, Region Prince Mi Zhunqi offered these congratulations to Jiang Chenghuan. His expression held not the slightest trace of dissatisfaction; instead, it showed discernible joy.
He recalled when Li Tianyue had led the Azure Cloud Region Army, ostensibly to help the Mi family reclaim their own lost lands; that event had brought great joy to Mi Zhunqi and the six Starfall Region factions at the time. However, that joy had quickly proven to be misplaced. Who could have predicted that Li Tianyue would abruptly turn tail, withdraw her forces, and declare it had only been a feint? At that moment, every cultivator in Starfall Region had been utterly dumbfounded.
It wasn't just the Starfall Region forces; even the Wu Clan, who had already laid their trap and stood ready to wipe out the Azure Cloud region contingent at a moment's notice, were left completely baffled by Li Tianyue's withdrawal. It wasn't until the great battle erupted over in the Qi Region that they finally began to understand the whole picture.
Initially, Mi Zhunqi had been furious. Later, however, his perspective shifted. The fellow realized: If the Li family couldn't even keep their own allies in the dark, how could they possibly hope to deceive the Wu Clan, let alone those 'jackals and tigers' lurking back in Eternal Sun Prefecture? Besides, everyone was now in the same boat; close cooperation was essential.
So Mi Zhunqi made a decision: he would stop caring. He offloaded his responsibilities, left the strategizing to others, and adopted a carefree, go-with-the-flow attitude. The moment he let it all go, a strange peace settled over him.
From that day, Mi Zhunqi—the once-burdened Region Prince—became known for his easygoing smile and unfailing cheer.
"Hahaha, good!"
Jiang Chenghuan directed a hearty laugh towards Mi Zhunqi. "This time, my Jiang family has returned and begun reclaiming our homeland!" he declared. "And it's thanks in no small part to your Mi family for drawing the enemy's attention. Once we have driven the Wu Clan completely out of Qi Region, we will immediately help clear them out of your Starfall Region!"
As he spoke, the resounding victory in the Qi Region made it the perfect moment for Region Prince Jiang Chenghuan to bask in triumph. His eyes swept across the crowd gathered in the spacious courtyard, all reveling in the hard-won success. With a faint but confident smile, he raised a hand and signaled to his clansmen standing nearby.
A map was spread open on the table, depicting the current battle situation. Jiang Chenghuan cleared his throat. "Esteemed colleagues," he began, "This Prince and the Li family started planning this counter-offensive many years ago. For the past five years, this Prince has been ceaselessly preparing for this moment. If you would please observe..."
Pointing to the map, Jiang Chenghuan used his spiritual power to sketch the layout of the three regions in mid-air, explaining the situation clearly and logically.
He carried the distinct air of someone directing affairs of state. Occasionally, he glanced towards the Li family contingent – Li Dalong, Li Yunbing, Li Tianyue, and Li Kuangren – but seeing not a single flicker of unusual reaction on their faces, he frowned slightly. He then addressed the crowd with a smile. "Ah, yes, that reminds me. Previously, this Prince reached an agreement with the Li family: they would assist my Jiang family in returning to our homeland, and in return, Qi Region would be renamed under Azure Cloud region."
"Therefore, this Prince has a proposal: Henceforth, let the three regions be collectively named the Azure Cloud region. We can divide the territory into Eastern and Western Regions, with the original Azure Cloud region serving as the Central Land. What do you all say?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the Li family members remained impassive, merely nodding repeatedly in apparent agreement. However, the representatives from Azure Cloud region's various major factions all furrowed their brows, as did those from Starfall Region's six factions and Region Prince Mi Zhunqi himself.
In the past, after major campaigns, it had always been the Li family who directed the subsequent arrangements. Now, however, although the Azure Cloud region had clearly been instrumental in the Jiang family's victory, why was Jiang Chenghuan disregarding the Li family's leading role and stepping up to dictate policy himself?
This was particularly galling to Ye Xiu of the Myriad Arts Sect; this fellow possessed an explosive temper easily rivaling Li Yaotie's. Seeing that, astonishingly, none of the Li family spoke up, and witnessing Jiang Chenghuan's presumptuous air of directing affairs, Ye Xiu instantly glared. "Region Prince Jiang," he demanded, "what is the meaning of this? I've never even laid eyes on you before! What gives you the right to stand here barking orders?!"
Jiang Chenghuan seemed to have anticipated this outburst. He smiled and said, "Your Excellency must be Ye Xiu, from the Western Region's Myriad Arts Sect? Ranked thirty-ninth on the Nascent Divinity List, I believe."
"Damn right, that's me!"
Ye Xiu glared angrily at Jiang Chenghuan. Though it was their first meeting, he felt an instant dislike for the man for reasons he couldn't quite pinpoint. Unlike the Li family, Li members tended to speak their minds directly. And while they sometimes acted outrageously, at least towards their friends, they were generally candid and sincere. But look at this Jiang Chenghuan – showing up and immediately asserting his status both overtly and covertly, with such a damn fake smile.
Jiang Chenghuan ignored Ye Xiu's crudeness. "Daoist friend Ye Xiu," he said smoothly, "if you felt this Prince was overstepping by issuing commands, it must merely have been due to my own impatience. However," Jiang Chenghuan continued, "this Prince did advance eastward alongside the esteemed Grand Tutor Lin Jiu years ago, so I possess a rudimentary understanding of battlefield affairs. I was merely offering opinions, that is all."
He glanced around at the assembled experts, bowed slightly, and said, "If this Prince has acted inappropriately in any way, I sincerely ask for everyone's generous forbearance."
Upon hearing this, Li Dalong let out a hearty laugh, easing the strange tension in the air. "Region Prince Jiang, what need is there for such words?" he said jovially. "We are all friends in the same boat here. Whatever plans Your Majesty has, my Li family will naturally lend our full support."
"I..."
Ye Xiu glared again, about to speak, but was stopped by a light kick to his foot from Li Kuanghua. This made Ye Xiu gnash his teeth as he transmitted his voice directly to her, "Disciple, what was that for?! Can't you tell that Jiang Chenghuan is up to no good? I was about to give him a piece of my mind!"
Li Kuanghua simply shook her head again; besides, her voice transmission likely wouldn't escape the notice of the various 'big shots' present here.
"Hmph!"
Thus, Ye Xiu could only let out a cold snort in frustration.
This meeting lasted for a full four hours. For the most part, Jiang Chenghuan dictated the arrangements while everyone else listened, creating an exceedingly strange atmosphere.
After everyone else had departed to carry out their assigned tasks, Jiang Chenghuan watched their retreating figures, his brow furrowed in thought. A Jiang Clan Elder standing beside him remarked in a grave tone, "Chenghuan, from the looks of things, the Li family's roots in this place run very deep indeed."
"Yes, Great-Great-Grandfather."
Jiang Chenghuan's eyes narrowed slightly. "But time changes all things," he murmured. "I have fulfilled my promise to the Li family, and they stand to gain considerable benefits from this venture as well. My Jiang family has Divinity Transformation stage cultivators; our overall strength far surpasses the Azure Cloud region's, and our foundation runs much deeper. This... this is an opportunity for the Jiang family."
"I only hope," Jiang Chenghuan concluded, "that the Li family recognizes their own position and understands the principle of 'seeking shade under a large tree'."
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