Following the major battle in the Qi Region, the Azure Cloud region itself remained embroiled in conflict. The Azure Cloud Region Army returned once more to the Azure Cloud region border region, gradually consolidating the Spirit Jade lands into the Azure Cloud region's official territory.
That Mi Zhunqi had truly embraced a 'go-with-the-flow attitude', and consequently, so too had the cultivators from the former Starfall Region. Their cultivators had even started enlisting in the Azure Cloud Region Army. This was likely because witnessing the sheer morale of the Azure Cloud region forces that day resonated with them; even among cultivators, not all are solely devoted to personal cultivation – some inevitably aspire to the discipline and camaraderie of military life.
The Jiang family, meanwhile, remained engaged in heavy fighting against the Wu Clan in what was now designated the Azure Cloud Western Region. Atop the very mountain where the Li family's surprise troops had launched their initial assault, the Jiang family had even constructed a palace, the better to command the diverse forces under their direction.
Ambitious though the Jiang family might be, Jiang Chenghuan undeniably possessed real competence. He organized the war effort meticulously, suffering very few defeats. This Jiang Chenghuan was painstaking and conscientious; having witnessed the fearsome power of the Azure Cloud Region Army, the cunning old fox had even dispatched personnel to study under Li Tianyue, subsequently beginning to assemble his own dedicated 'Jiang Family Army'.
Another five years went by. With the Jiang family effectively wielding authority in the Western Region, the Azure Cloud region as a whole flourished.
On this day.
Within the main hall of the Jiang residence, Jiang Chenghuan – now emulating Li Yunbing, clad in black armor with a cloak bearing a black python emblem – sat upon a throne at the top of nine jade steps. Looking down at Li Yunbing, he laughed heartily. "Brother Yunbing," he boomed, "I truly owe you thanks this time! Only with you leading one hundred thousand cultivators in support was this Prince able to inflict grievous losses upon the Eight-Leaf Wu Division, forcing them to flee our Azure Cloud Western Region in utter disarray!"
Li Yunbing smiled. "Rather, it was Region Prince Jiang's effective command."
"By the way, Region Prince Jiang," Li Yunbing continued, "over the years, quite a number of envoys from Eternal Sun Prefecture have come. Seeing that we've acquired substantial amounts of spirit medicines and spirit ores from Wu Clan territories, they've expressed a desire to purchase them. They've contacted various Azure Cloud region factions already, offering only Spirit Stones as payment, unwilling to trade any other resources. I'm uncertain how we should best proceed."
Hearing this, Jiang Chenghuan pondered briefly.
Also present in the main hall were representatives from the various allied factions. Which one of them hadn't suffered extortion at the hands of Eternal Sun Prefecture's major powers before? Indeed, at the mere mention of Eternal Sun Prefecture, looks of anger flickered across the faces of nearly everyone present.
Noting this reaction, Jiang Chenghuan gave a cold snort. "In their dreams!" he declared. "Through all the long years of war, Eternal Sun Prefecture offered absolutely no help! Instead, they imposed blockades against us at every turn, preventing us from procuring necessary resources! And now they expect to just waltz into our Azure Cloud region and reap the benefits? These resources can rot in our storehouses before we give Eternal Sun Prefecture a single shred!"
"Hahaha, good!" The assembled crowd was overjoyed.
Only after the crowd had departed did Jiang Chenghuan wipe the cold sweat from his brow. Five years... who could possibly know how he had endured these past five years? Ever since he had assumed nominal leadership of the greater 'Azure Cloud region', the Wu Clan offensives had only intensified. Yet, they seemed hesitant to strike the Azure Cloud Region Central Land, instead concentrating their attacks specifically on his Western Region. Every day, without fail, he had to lead Jiang family experts and the various allied forces to fend off the Wu Clan; he hadn't known a single moment's peace.
Over these five years, with immense difficulty, constant negotiation, and by currying favor, spending vast resources in the process, he had finally maneuvered the various Azure Cloud region factions into acknowledging his nominal status as 'Ruler'. And what was the result? Region Prince Mi Zhunqi and Myriad Arts Sect's Ye Xiu were clamoring daily for him and his Jiang family to dispatch troops to help them reclaim the Eastern Region! Meanwhile, the offensive on the eastern front was already making steady progress.
There were also the common folk and soldiers of the Azure Cloud region to consider – they needed food supplies. The cities, previously left in ruins by the war, desperately needed rebuilding; resources were required at every turn. But what truly stretched his capabilities to the limit was undoubtedly Eternal Sun Prefecture. Countless eyes from that direction watched the Azure Cloud region intently, like the most avaricious beasts, poised to devour the Azure Cloud region whole at the first opportunity.
"Fortunately, this Prince arrived in time," Jiang Chenghuan thought. "Otherwise, under these pressures, if management were left solely to the Li family, I fear that within a century, the Azure Cloud region would simply become spoils for another power. The Li family has also been quite sensible, which, I admit, satisfies this Prince."
Jiang Chenghuan let out a long breath. Hovering high above, he gazed fixedly towards Eternal Sun Prefecture. "This venture represents a great opportunity for my Jiang family!" he thought fiercely. "To preside over the lands of three regions, brimming with abundant talent! Once this Prince has dealt with the Wu Clan, that will be the day you, Eternal Sun Prefecture, finally regret all your years of bullying our Azure Cloud region!"
At this moment,
Li Wei, finding himself with ample free time, opened his eyes at Daoist Shanchen's place of cultivation.
[Under the nominal leadership of Jiang Chenghuan, your family has begun a period of quiet development, reaching a new level.]
[Your descendant, Li Dalong, has entered secluded cultivation, preparing to break through to the fifth layer of the Heaven-Piercing Coffin.]
[Your descendant, Li Yaotie, has obtained a large quantity of Rank 7 ores, a small amount of Rank 6 materials, and has broken off a segment of Rank 6 wood material from the Primal Blood Tree itself. He is preparing to attempt a breakthrough to the level of Rank 6 Artifact Refiner.]
[Your descendant, Li Yaoqing, has successfully refined two portions of 'Essence Renewal Elixir (Rank 6)'.]
[Your descendants have finished preparing the necessary resources for Li Yunlin to face the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation...]
Li Wei nodded slightly in satisfaction. He gazed towards the main hall atop the mountain peak where Jiang Chenghuan resided, a look of profound gratitude in his eyes, and gave a distinct thumbs-up in that direction.
"Our Li family certainly didn't misjudge you after all,' Li Wei thought with deep irony. 'It truly is fortunate that you are here."
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