“The first point is mutual benefit and shared interests. Let’s start with my Kangzhou. It is located on the mainland. While it boasts numerous rare heavenly treasures, it certainly has far fewer compared to the Endless Sea over which Elder Zana presides.” Lei Dong paused in thought before laying his cards on the table: “However, Kangzhou is not without its advantages. Behind us lies the Hengduan Mountain Range, and beyond that, a vast, boundless Great Wilderness. The rare beasts and heavenly treasures within that desert are countless, so Kangzhou is not without substantial resources.”

“Heh, Brother Lei, you actually count Kangzhou as yours. That truly surprises this King,” the Yaksha King glared at Lei Dong, clearly displeased.

“Elder, don’t you find it too chaotic that such a minor place as Kangzhou supports so many warring sects, constantly fighting amongst themselves?” Lei Dong’s eyes betrayed no attempt to hide his ambition. “Like this time, every sect and faction is locked in strife over their own interests, easily incited by an outside enemy until they fracture completely. Are such unreliable allies truly what you desire? Perhaps you believe a disunited ally offers a greater sense of security and is more controllable. But don’t forget, a disunited ally will only drag your noble clans down, unable to provide strong support when it matters most.”

“Lei Dong, are you planning to unify all of Kangzhou? Do you crave war that intensely?” Tantai Bingyun was genuinely startled by Lei Dong’s terrifying ambition. Her beautiful eyes held an expression of profound shock. The mere thought of unification brought war to her mind, and war would inevitably sweep up the Heavenly Sound Palace. Tantai Bingyun desperately did not want Lei Dong and her sect to become enemies.

At the same time, the Yaksha King fixed Lei Dong with a similarly scrutinizing gaze. Indeed, Lei Dong’s personal strength might not be supreme, but backed by the Underworld Ghost Emperor, he certainly possessed the qualifications to stir up considerable turbulence in Kangzhou. At that point, the Yaksha race would find it impossible to remain uninvolved.

“Bingyun, I fear you have misunderstood me,” Lei Dong sighed. “As for war, when has our Kangzhou ever known a cessation of it over these many years? Every year, every day, cultivators die because of conflict. How long has this state persisted? Once unified, Kangzhou can become a true whole. Even powerful sects like the Supreme Sect would no longer dare to look down on our humble Kangzhou. Moreover, we have the Great Wilderness at our backs—such a prime source of natural resources waiting to be exploited! Yet we waste our strength on internal conflict, which is truly lamentable! And then there is the prejudice between factions. Bingyun, do you know how many couples have been torn apart and suffered a lifetime of heartache simply because of differing sect affiliations?”

That final sentence struck a chord with Tantai Bingyun. If she hadn't achieved her current level of strength, she wouldn’t have dared to speak so openly. At the Foundation Establishment or Golden Core stages, she wouldn't have even a shred of authority; she would have been instantly annihilated.

This was especially true for the Heavenly Sound Palace, an all-female sect. Since ancient times, countless such tragedies had occurred. Tantai Bingyun had even vaguely heard whispers that her own Master, Ji Qingtong, might have experienced a similar entanglement of affections, leading to a lifetime of sorrow. She often heard her Master playing sorrowful melodies, punctuated by deep sighs.

“Lei Dong, must eliminating factional prejudice require war?” Tantai Bingyun’s expression clouded with pain.

“Employing force and means will likely be unavoidable,” Lei Dong admitted with a sigh. “However, since both you and I hold positions within our respective sects, we can contribute to the effort. Furthermore, my primary intention is not absolute military rule over Kangzhou, but rather the establishment of a communal alliance based on mutual benefit. Each sect can still develop independently.”

Tantai Bingyun’s eyes brightened; she was beginning to accept Lei Dong’s proposal.

“However, I must be upfront about one thing: for the benefit of myself and those close to me, I will certainly hold the reins of power within this alliance tightly,” Lei Dong stated without hesitation or pretense.

This candid admission only increased Tantai Bingyun’s trust in him. After a moment of consideration, she nodded slowly. “I have only one small request: minimize unnecessary bloodshed throughout the entire process.”

“That is only natural. Every cultivator is Kangzhou’s most precious asset. If it is not absolutely necessary, I, Lei Dong, will certainly not slaughter them and dismantle our own foundation,” Lei Dong agreed readily, then turned to the Yaksha King. “Elder, perhaps my decision to unify Kangzhou and establish an alliance seems perilous to you. But the world is vast; how could my ambitions be confined merely to this small expanse of the Yaksha Sea? The Great Wilderness alone is enough for me to develop for thousands, even tens of thousands of years. By then, you and I will have long turned to dust. However, the Yaksha race could collaborate with the newly formed Qihang Ghost Clan to develop the Great Wilderness, gaining endless advantages. Pills, talismans, spirit treasures, and armaments—these are enough to launch the Yaksha race into an era of rapid development.”

Securing the cooperation of the Yaksha King to jointly develop the Great Wilderness was indeed part of Lei Dong’s plan. Binding the powerful Yaksha race firmly to his chariot would undoubtedly cause his own strength to surge. The Yaksha were not only formidable in water; their combat prowess on land and in the air was equally impressive.

Hearing this, even the Yaksha elders began to nod secretly. Being confined to the Yaksha Sea allowed for self-sufficiency, but further advancement was a significant hurdle. In this light, there seemed to be no reason for hostility, only endless potential for mutually beneficial cooperation. While the human race might not be inherently superior in cultivation prowess, they increasingly demonstrated talent in techniques like alchemy and artifact refinement—areas where the Yaksha, for instance, were less adept.

“In principle, such an alliance holds no issue, but Lei Dong, you still haven't explained how you intend to persuade the Underworld Ghost Emperor without using your token,” the Yaksha King mused before adding.

“Profit, naturally—immense profit. Both in our Kangzhou Great Wilderness and within your sea territories, there are large quantities of rare treasures absent from the Underworld Ghost Domain. Based on mutual benefit, the three races could vastly increase the strength of each simply by exchanging resources. Beyond that, it’s a pact of offense and defense. As I understand it, the Underworld Ghost Domain has not been entirely peaceful lately. While the Ghost Emperor possesses absolute power, unifying the domain remains extremely difficult. If our two races could dispatch forces to assist the Ghost Emperor on this basis, I believe the venerable elder would be moved.” Lei Dong secretly thought that perhaps the Underworld Ghost Emperor wouldn't have cared for outside help before, but now he certainly would. He was in a weakened state; handling even one of the internal factions could be problematic, let alone facing three simultaneously. The emergence of a powerful ally like the Yaksha King would certainly offer the Ghost Emperor considerable relief.

Now, with each race facing its own crisis, if Lei Dong’s plan succeeded, it wouldn't just resolve their predicaments but usher in a period of highly effective development.

The Yaksha King deliberated for a long time before stating gravely, “Very well, Lei Dong. If you can persuade Elder Youming, then my entire clan entrusts itself to you. Tell me what to do, and I will follow.” The reason for his swift agreement was the immense debt the Yaksha race already owed Lei Dong. Furthermore, the Yaksha King found Lei Dong’s manner of conduct highly agreeable; he wasn't someone who sought small gains but was, in fact, rather generous.

“Rest assured, Elder. No matter how powerful the Ghost Emperor is, he still requires reliable allies,” Lei Dong said seriously, not speaking idly. Having suffered such a severe setback once, the Underworld Ghost Emperor would surely grasp the concept that two fists cannot defeat four hands.

“Good. Then our alliance is established,” the Yaksha King declared solemnly. “Lei Dong, the prosperity and survival of my clan now rests with you. Tell me, what is our next move?”

Lei Dong immediately outlined some of his plans. The Yaksha King hesitated not at all, issuing a series of swift commands. The Eastern Sea Yaksha clan, though quiet, possessed truly formidable strength. Under the Yaksha King commanded dozens of Nascent Soul Yaksha, over two thousand Golden Core stage Yaksha, and as for Foundation Establishment cultivators, their numbers numbered well over one hundred thousand. The Yaksha race had decent innate talent; an adult Yaksha possessed at least Foundation Establishment strength.

Above the Yaksha Sea, a Sky City was under construction. Winged figures, each possessing at least Golden Core strength, were rapidly assembling the floating fortress. The dense crowd of figures numbered in the hundreds. Any sea beast witnessed this and fled far away, daring not even to surface.

But just then, countless dark, tall, and grotesquely featured figures armed with steel tridents burst from the sea. A densely packed throng of tens of thousands instantly surrounded the Sky City. Leading them, the Yaksha King, clad in golden armor and radiating immense power, roared, “Light King Ajana, roll out here! Who authorized you to construct a Sky City on my territory?”

From the unfinished Sky City, a slender, curvaceous Winged person clad in magnificent battle armor flashed out, shouting angrily, “Zana, are you insane? You dare lead forces to besiege my Sky City? Are you unafraid of provoking my Winged God Clan?”

“Nonsense! If I marched into your Bright Domain and brazenly built a fortress, what would you, Ajana, think?” The Yaksha King bellowed fiercely. “Tear it down immediately, or I will level your fortress and slaughter your entire army!”

Ajana’s imposing aura faltered slightly. Although she had a powerful race backing her, she had only brought a thousand Winged people. Even though these thousand possessed at least Golden Core strength, they were far outnumbered by the Yaksha King’s army. Initiating a fight now would place Ajana in an extremely unfavorable position.