Seven Sects Alliance Headquarters, in the main hall.
"Greetings, Elder Qingxu!"
True Yang Ancestor, Du Guyan, and others entered the hall, all bowing respectfully, looking deferential.
"No need for formalities, fellow Daoists."
Zhang Yao sat upright at the main seat, smiling as he gestured with his hand.
After everyone was seated, he looked around at the crowd with slight curiosity and said:
"Why hasn't Fellow Daoist Dugu Tianyi come?"
Du Guyan stood up and said softly:
"Reporting to the Ancestor, the patriarch reached the end of his lifespan and meditated into eternity seven years ago."
"Ah, I see."
Zhang Yao showed a look of realization and nodded:
"Fellow Daoist Tianyi indeed had deep blessings, with worthy successors."
"With Fellow Daoist Du Guyan at the helm of the Dugu Clan, I'm sure it will prosper even more, living up to Fellow Daoist Tianyi's expectations."
"I am grateful for your blessings, Ancestor."
After respectfully saluting, Du Guyan took his seat again.
Zhang Yao chatted with True Yang Ancestor, Three Mountains Ancestor, and others for a while, before asking about the experiences of Black Abyss Ascendant, Jiuhua Ancestor, and Chen Xianhe in recent years.
Upon learning that it was the Dugu Clan that sheltered these three:
"Fellow Daoist Qingxu..."
Zhang Yao exchanged a glance with Nether Abyss Ancestor, and the latter telepathically communicated.
After a brief discussion, they quickly reached an agreement. Zhang Yao looked at Du Guyan and said:
"Fellow Daoist Mingyuan and I are deeply grateful to the Dugu Clan for helping us in a time of crisis."
"A drop of water shall be rewarded with a flood of returns."
"For the next century, half of the profits from Mo Yuan will be allocated to the Dugu Clan. Is Fellow Daoist Du Guyan satisfied with this gift?"
Hearing this, Du Guyan was immediately overjoyed. After a few polite refusals, he gladly accepted the gift.
The five percent share of Mo Yuan's output over a century was far more generous than he initially expected!
Though it was just five percent, the profits from this portion were several times more than all the Spirit Veins, mines, and Spirit Fields currently owned by the Dugu Clan!
If not for such immense profits, why would the Seven Sects Alliance go to such lengths to relocate here?
"The Dugu Clan is truly fortunate..."
True Yang Ancestor, Three Mountains Ancestor, and others looked at Du Guyan with envy.
However, such a reward was obtained by the Dugu Clan at the risk of offending the Seven Sects Alliance and facing potential annihilation. So, besides envy, there was also a hint of admiration.
"Nether Abyss Ancestor is indeed generous."
Zhang Yao's thoughts flickered slightly.
According to his agreement with Nether Abyss Ancestor, the profits from Mo Yuan would be split evenly, half for him and half for Nether Abyss Ancestor.
This distribution was generally fair.
After all, the guarding, development, maintenance, and management of Mo Yuan, and the ensuing series of trivial matters, would all be handled by Nether Abyss Ancestor, while Zhang Yao only needed to enjoy the benefits.
And that half belonging to Nether Abyss Ancestor wasn't solely for him either; it also included the rebuilt Li Yuan Sect and the local forces affiliated with Da Mo.
The portion allocated to the Dugu Clan was deducted from Nether Abyss Ancestor's share, not affecting Zhang Yao's interests.
"By the way."
Zhang Yao finally looked at an unfamiliar Golden Core Cultivator:
"Is this Daoist from Da Li as well?"
Celestial Brilliance Ancestor dared not be negligent, immediately standing up to introduce himself.
Over the past decade:
The Seven Sects Alliance's strong entry into the southwest caused considerable chaos and disturbance, and chaos is a ladder, full of opportunities.
Celestial Brilliance Ancestor is a representative figure among them, originally from an ordinary Immortal Dao Family in Da Li, but with extraordinary talent and a Celestial Spirit Root, he bided his time, waiting for the right chance.
Upon feeling the opportunity when the Seven Sects Alliance stirred up the situation, he maneuvered skillfully between the Seven Sects Alliance and the major forces in Da Li, exploiting the opportunities.
Through this, he achieved several critical opportunities, thus reaching the Golden Core Realm, becoming a significant force in the Da Li Cultivation Realm.
"In fact, achieving the Golden Core Realm was mostly a stroke of luck for me."
Celestial Brilliance Ancestor said humbly, with implied meaning:
"I hear that the Da Yu Cultivation Realm has been tempestuous in recent years, not only with the rise of local prodigies but also with outsiders getting involved, making it quite lively."
"Just in the recent decade, two Golden Core Cultivators emerged there, sometimes friends, sometimes foes, and they are called Da Yu's Twin Stars."
"Oh?"
Zhang Yao raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly:
"Then I really need to witness this myself."
The turmoil in the Da Yu Cultivation Realm was something he had foreseen.
After the battle at Jade Divine Palace, nearly all Golden Core Cultivators in the Da Yu Cultivation Realm perished, leaving only 'Three Evils Daoist' standing alone.
Dominance by one is not always beneficial; the sudden collapse of several Golden Core influences in Da Yu, with a large number of disciples fleeing, was not something the Celestial Demon Sect could swallow alone.
This indicated that many monopolized cultivation techniques, secret techniques, pill formulas, along with controlled resources like Foundation Establishment Pills, would inevitably flow out, creating opportunities for chaos.
The disturbances within Da Yu were likely to not only offer opportunities for local cultivators but also attract external covetous eyes.
Under normal circumstances, the strong in the Central Plains wouldn't covet the Southwest Land, but some newly advanced Golden Core Cultivators from ordinary backgrounds, struggling to gain a foothold at home, might choose to retreat as a second option for the sake of their sects or families.
The chaos in Da Yu undoubtedly provided opportunities for such individuals, and one Three Evils Daoist alone clearly couldn't control the situation.
"Da Yu's chaos is just settling down, yet I wonder what kind of situation is in Dachang..."
Zhang Yao's thoughts were secretly turning in his mind.
Among the four great powers of the southwest, only Dachang was a place he had never been, nor had he interacted with any strong individuals from Dachang, so he knew little about its situation.
But for him today, these things no longer mattered.
In the current Southwest Land, he was the one giving orders, not the one following them.
......
Almost at the same time.
Just as Zhang Yao was receiving many Golden Core Cultivators at the Seven Sects Alliance Headquarters.
Celestial Continent, Mingliang Mansion.
The majestic and towering mountains were covered in lush greenery, with a light mist drifting among the forest and wild fields, and towering ancient trees could be seen everywhere in the primeval forest.
"La la la..."
The hem of the white robe danced in the wind, and the carefree youth hummed a tune, fiddling with two Treasure Beads in his hand, stepping effortlessly over the heavy mountains.
His figure flickered again, and he arrived before a towering ancient tree, his gaze swept over the layers of branches and leaves that shaded the sunlight, observing very carefully.
He watched for half an hour before revealing a faint smile:
"Nothing more than this."
The youth in the white robe took a step forward, and his figure suddenly shrunk by tens of thousands of times, transforming into a speck of dust that was barely visible to the naked eye, and landed on an inconspicuous green leaf.
The moment the speck of dust touched the leaf surface, a strand of vein shimmered slightly, and the speck disappeared instantly.
A moment later.
"Knock knock knock!"
In the ancient hall, the youth in the white robe knocked on the old and mottled counter, complaining:
"Hey, you lazy bum, why are you always sleeping every time I see you?"
"Huh?"
Behind the counter, a sleepy little monk raised his head, yawned, and lazily said:
"Oh, it's you, Sword Monarch."
The youth in the white robe, Sword Monarch, raised an eyebrow and said:
"Half a month ago, you sent a message saying that the old guy 'Chenxing Celestial King' wanted to invite two Golden Core Limit experts to the Southwest to help him, with a substantial reward."
"Is that job still available? I just finished what I was working on and plan to take a trip to the Southwest. I've never been to such a remote place."
"Oh, too bad, you're too late."
The little monk spread his hands and blinked:
"The job has been canceled."
"Canceled?"
Sword Monarch was taken aback:
"That old guy doesn't need help anymore? The situation in the Southwest has been resolved?"
"Not exactly."
The little monk shrugged:
"He's already dead."
"Not only him, but it seems most of his disciples and supporters are dead too, so with no client, the job got canceled."
"Dead?!"
This time, Sword Monarch was truly shocked:
"When did this happen? Who killed him?"
"In such a remote place, who could possibly kill Murong Xiao?"
The little monk thought for a moment before answering:
"A few days after the job was posted, a spy from the Celestial Palace reported that Murong Xiao was dead, and the Seven Sects Alliance he formed was finished as well."
"As for who killed him... it seems to be a peripheral member from Zhiyao's side, said to be a 'Celestial Master,' and quite young as well."
"Celestial Master?"
Sword Monarch nodded slightly and said:
"That's not surprising."
"To think that such a remote and desolate place can produce a prodigious individual who walks the path of the Celestial Master, it's truly rare."
At this point, he revealed an interested expression on his face, chuckling as he said:
"A person like that wouldn't be content to be stuck in the Southwest; it's only a matter of time before they come to the Celestial Continent."
"In the nine Mansions of Celestial Continent over hundreds of years, only the renowned 'Mirror Lake Dragon King' has walked the path of the Celestial Master, and now finally there is a second one. It's truly exciting..."
The little monk rolled his eyes and said irritably:
"You really fear not chaos under heaven, whereas I'd rather the Celestial Continent Nine Mansions have a bit less conflict."
"What's so good about fighting all the time? Not everyone is a born battle maniac like you, hoping to attain 'Spiritual Mechanism' insight in intense magical battles."
"Tch, you're really boring."
Sword Monarch pouted, flicked his sleeves, and left:
"Since the job is gone, I'm leaving. Go back to sleep."
......
Southwest Land.
In just a few days, strong cultivators from Dayu and Dachang came one after another to meet Zhang Yao at the Seven Sects Alliance Headquarters.
In the Da Yu Cultivation Realm, there were a total of four Golden Core Cultivators. Besides the old acquaintance Three Evils Daoist, there was also a newcomer from the Gui Kingdom and two newly promoted Golden Core Cultivators known as 'Da Yu's Twin Stars.'
The Dachang Cultivation Realm was even more prosperous, having not suffered much turmoil over the past thousand years and being less affected by the Seven Sects Alliance. Therefore, there were a total of six Golden Core Cultivators, making it the strongest among nations.
Although the Dachang Cultivation Realm had considerable strength, they clearly didn't have the capital to be arrogant in front of Zhang Yao and Nether Abyss Ancestor, and their attitude was the most respectful.
After a few symbolic discussions, Zhang Yao directly issued new rules.
This set of rules was modified from the legal rules of the Seven Sects Alliance and was relatively more relaxed. Each region and country adopted a laissez-faire autonomy policy and wouldn't interfere easily.
Zhang Yao's only strict requirement was that each country must regularly pay tribute to Qingxu Palace, effectively serving as a disguised tax.
Besides that, the provisions for opening trade routes, mutual exchange, and strengthening communication were all beneficial to uniting the Southwest Land and promoting the prosperity and development of the cultivation realm in each country.
The only obstacle was likely the existence of the Desolate Zone, but neither the Seven Sects Alliance nor Zhang Yao had a good solution to this and could only try to minimize its impact.
Faced with such relaxed provisions, the numerous Golden Core Cultivators certainly had no objections, and a unanimous consensus was quickly reached, with everyone delighted.
And after this meeting, which represented the highest standard in the Southwest Land, it signified that the Seven Sects Alliance was officially designated as a public enemy by the nations, and the Southwest Land welcomed a new ruler.
Elder Qingxu Zhang Yao formally ascended to the throne as Lord of the Southwest.