To receive the lands conquered by the people of Azure Cloud.
On that day, the cultivators of the Azure Cloud Region had left their homeland, fully aware that they were marching into an encirclement. Yet, without a trace of hesitation, they charged into the unfamiliar territory of the Duravia Trade Prefecture—all for this very purpose.
The leaders of the major powers of the Azure Cloud Region departed from the Skyveil Hall.
They had discussed many things during this meeting. Li Dalong had told them that for hundreds of years, the people of Azure Cloud had remained in their own small region, but from this day forward, they would obtain much more.
The members of the Li family boarded their spirit ark and returned to Merit City.
At the same time, a memorial and letters bearing Li Dalong's seal as Prefecture Lord were sent to the Imperial Capital to be presented to the Human Emperor, and were also delivered to Imperial Preceptor Min Youguo.
...
The Imperial Capital of today was still as prosperous as it had been years ago, but anyone could see that the high and mighty nobles and authorities who now frequented it were, without exception, all filled with anxiety.
If one were to speak of the busiest person in the Imperial Capital, it would be none other than Min Youguo.
A few years ago, after a divine decree, His Majesty the Human Emperor ceased to manage the major affairs of the Azure Dynasty.
Even during court assemblies, he now only issues a few commands, deferring mostly to the Imperial Preceptor.
These days, his Imperial Preceptor's Mansion has become a small court of its own, where hundreds of officials handle all matters of the state, both large and small.
Prince Yu has declared himself king, and six prefectures have already pledged their allegiance to him.
Of the Azure Dynasty's thirty-six prefectures, as many as thirty percent are in open rebellion.
Among the remaining seventy percent, the majority are wavering and uncertain. Even those with the most distant imperial bloodlines are now seeking to proclaim themselves king.
Then there was the Wu Clan, who, seeing the chaos, were now stirring up trouble on the border.
Fortunately, that old bastard Lin Jiu was in the Northern Border and still able to firmly suppress the Demon Clan, preventing any major disasters from erupting there.
This allowed Min Youguo to breathe a small sigh of relief. After feuding with him for so many years, it was the first time he felt that son of a bitch Lin Jiu was actually quite farsighted for having continuously suppressed the Demon Clan.
But the empty national treasury, the rampaging fiends and demons, and the endless natural and man-made disasters... these complicated domestic affairs still gave Min Youguo a splitting headache.
"Lord Imperial Preceptor, a letter has arrived from Prefecture Lord Li of Eternal Sun Prefecture," an attendant announced, knocking on Min Youguo's door.
"Come in."
In the midst of his hectic work, Min Youguo raised an eyebrow slightly.
As the door to his private room opened, one could see countless officials outside, bustling about as they handled various tasks.
Min Youguo took the letter from the attendant. Among all the matters of the state, both large and small, only those concerning nobles of the rank of Earl and officials of the second rank or higher were qualified to land on his desk.
Min Youguo had often found himself muttering about the Li family of Eternal Sun Prefecture in recent years.
Gazing at the Prefecture Lord's seal from the Li family on the letter, Min Youguo called out, "Has the Li family finished dealing with the matter of the Duravia Trade Prefecture?"
As his voice faded, a black mist materialized at his side, from which a shadowy figure emerged.
It was the Emberwing Guard who was always by his side for protection.
The tall, masked figure replied, "Reporting to my lord, it has been resolved. A month ago, the Li family led a million cultivators from Azure Cloud into the Duravia Trade Prefecture…"
Before the Emberwing Guard could finish, Min Youguo interrupted, somewhat surprised. "A million cultivators?"
As far as he knew, the twelve regions of the Duravia Trade Prefecture, combined with the Three Great Powers, constituted a considerable force.
On top of that, Prince Qian himself was an insidious and ruthless man with a cunning nature skilled at disguise, and he had been preparing in the Duravia Trade Prefecture for many years.
Charging into the Duravia Trade Prefecture with just a million cultivators?
Never mind a million cultivators; even if the people of the Azure Cloud Region fought nearly to the last man, it was unlikely they could have conquered it.
"Yes." The Emberwing Guard nodded slightly.
"It was also thanks to you, my lord. Our Emberwing Guard was able to command some of the aristocratic Immortal Clans in the Duravia Trade Prefecture, so they did not take part in this great war.
Furthermore, you facilitated things for Li Xinghuo, allowing him to obtain Skynet's intelligence, and you also permitted the Li family to take Consort Shu. That is how this outcome was achieved."
"Little Black, oh Little Black," he teased, "you only ever say what I like to hear."
Min Youguo chuckled. "If these small matters were truly the key to killing Prince Qian, wouldn't it have been far easier for me to simply send my own men to assassinate him?"
The Emberwing Guard gave an awkward smile before recounting the events in the Duravia Trade Prefecture in great detail.
He spoke of everything, from the million cultivators of Azure Cloud who fearlessly charged into Duravia, to the Li family fighting alongside their many allies against the Three Great Powers, leaving out not a single detail.
As Min Youguo listened, his expression would shift, his brow sometimes furrowed in thought, and at other times, relaxed.
Especially when the guard mentioned that the Li family had brought in the White Qilin, a murderous aura flashed in Min Youguo's eyes. But when he heard that the White Qilin had been ordered to come and avenge the God of War, his face lit up with joy.
"Hahaha, excellent!" he exclaimed. "It seems that fellow Li Dalong, now that he has become a man of power and influence, will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Truly, this is excellent!"
The Emberwing Guard responded, "You guessed correctly, my lord. Our agents investigated and discovered something strange about the God of War's capture. Someone from the Li family leaked the information; we believe it was a scheme orchestrated by Li Yaowen, or perhaps Li Changsheng."
Min Youguo showed no particular reaction, even when the guard spoke of the great war and how the Li family had brought in sea demons and the Wu Clan.
However, when he heard how the Li family members had fought a desperate, life-or-death battle in the Duravia Trade Prefecture, and how of the million warriors from Azure Cloud who entered, only ten thousand returned to their homeland, a flicker of emotion crossed his face.