A simple truth: the more spiritual artifacts the Kongqi Sect refines, the more disciples they can train.

Yet, the number of talismans and spiritual artifacts crafted across the Eastern Lin Continent annually is finite. Moreover, a significant portion is already divided among the various sects. Unlike the Danquan Sect, where the major powers must petition them for medicinal pills.

With this great surge of spiritual energy, cultivating disciples has become even more urgent. This issue touches upon the very foundation of the sects, a contradiction that not even the Lingyun Sect, as the overlord of the Cloud Realm's East, can easily suppress.

However, Zong Shou still hesitated for a moment. The forging of military armaments is a critical matter of state; how could it be entrusted to outsiders? A million-order contract would certainly bring him an interested ally, but it would inevitably affect the forging industry and the growth of spirit-forgers within Qiantian Mountain City.

After a moment of contemplation, Zongshou had an idea and chuckled, "Qiantian Mountain currently has no need for military spiritual artifacts totaling one million Beast Crystals. How about three hundred thousand annually for the first five years? To cultivate sixty additional Fourth-Tier Spirit Forgers for Qiantian Mountain, all expenses will naturally be borne by Qiantian Mountain. They will be considered outer disciples of your esteemed sect, but they must obey the orders of Qiantian Mountain! Furthermore, I request your sect redesign the armor and weaponry for my Xuanhu Iron Cavalry. All must meet the standard of near-Fourth-Tier spiritual artifacts, similar to the Blood Cloud Cavalry. Once completed, I, Zongshou, will personally place an order for five thousand sets."

Qiaohan immediately inhaled sharply with a hiss. Reducing the number to three hundred thousand and cultivating sixty Fourth-Tier Spirit Forgers had already scraped against his bottom line. He felt a slight displeasure; this young Demon King had truly devised a brilliant scheme.

But when he finally heard the promise of five thousand sets of near-Fourth-Tier spiritual artifacts, Qiaohan was inwardly shaken. This was different from those already crippled Blood Cloud Armors; these were genuine near-Fourth-Tier spiritual artifacts. Calculating based on market value—a Fourth-Tier artifact equaling three hundred Fourth-Tier Beast Crystals, with near-Fourth-Tier priced at half—and including design fees, this business was worth at least two million.

Frowning in deep thought, Qiaohan was caught in indecision. Just then, Zongyuan returned upstairs to report. "My Lord! The City Lords of Xuanshui, Yuyi, Rengong, and Lieshan have also been waiting downstairs for quite some time. They claim to have urgent matters to discuss with Your Lordship!"

Zongshou blinked, slightly confused. Among the dozens of city-state rulers who followed him beneath the Sea of Clouds, these four city lords were the most astute and cunning. However, he had already spoken with each of them individually. Their respective rewards had long been decreed. He wondered what business they had seeking him out now.

Seeing Zongyuan clearly wanting to speak but holding back, Zongshou extended his spiritual sense downwards toward the floor below. In just a moment, he understood the reason. It wasn't just Lin Ji down there; it seemed envoys from the Blazing Flame City and Cloud Glaze City had also arrived. "A battle is inevitable after all. What use is it seeing those fellows? Just send them away."

Zongyuan frowned, "This one agrees, My Lord, but these people seem to have brought other support." He then said nothing more, merely placing three gilded calling cards before Zongshou.

Zongshou picked them up, glanced briefly, and let out a soft laugh. Good heavens! A Spirit Prefecture Sect and two great noble families—what significant backing! The three cities of Yuntao, Blazing Flame, and Cloud Glaze truly had the support of various sect forces behind them, just as he had guessed. Their pawns were soundly defeated, so now they intended to enter the fray themselves?

Yet, he had already forcefully expelled the Xuan and Su Sects, and even powers like the Celestial Fox Xue Clan, from Qiantian Mountain. He had executed all the elite disciples sent by them. How could he possibly fear these three forces, which were clearly inferior? If they did not directly interfere, fine. But if he detected any trace of these three powers meddling in this affair, he would certainly make them pay dearly. He also had backing now. Although Wei Xu demanded self-reliance, if a truly unmanageable crisis arose, he hardly believed the Cang Sheng Dao would stand idly by.

Indifferently tossing the cards aside, Zongshou first narrowed his eyes, then returned to his normal expression. "Let them come up and speak. It will be good to see what trickery they are attempting—"

The chief envoy from Taoyun City was still Lin Ji. The envoys from the other two cities, however, were all unfamiliar faces. They were clearly very tactful and humble, each bringing only one or two deputies.

Zongshou glanced at them and paid them little mind. Apart from the one surnamed Lin, whose martial cultivation was decent, the others were merely at the Martial Ancestor realm, accompanied by a Spirit Master of a lower rank—nothing noteworthy. He paid more attention to the vassal City Lords of the four appended cities. Upon entering, they immediately bowed in the manner of subordinates. Zongshou nodded slightly, curiously asking, "You four have come to see me for what purpose?"

His feelings toward these four were extremely complex. When he first entered beneath the Sea of Clouds and occasionally encountered large hordes of beasts, these four always did everything possible to evade them, seemingly intending to conserve their strength. But once they reached the Beast Tomb, their attitudes shifted; every time they encountered an enemy, they charged to the front, afraid of falling behind.

The City Lord of Xuanshui City, named Luoshui, spoke first after the four exchanged glances: "The four of us have discussed it and are willing to place our four cities under Your Lordship's command!"

Zongshou’s expression remained blank; he was momentarily confused. Weren't these people already his vassals? It took a long moment before he understood. These four cities wished to become cities directly under the jurisdiction of Qiantian Mountain! But now, he was even more bewildered. Were these four mad? Vassal cities, while affiliated with Qiantian Mountain, managed all their political and military affairs autonomously, and their city lords essentially held hereditary rights—they were akin to tributary states with vast power. Direct-jurisdiction cities, however, surrendered all political and military authority to Qiantian Mountain. Were these four trying to trade their status as feudal lords for that of his mere subjects? Furthermore, as far as he knew, these four cities were considered major cities within the five provinces under his control, each commanding fifteen thousand elite troops.

He couldn't help but look doubtfully at Xuanyuan Yiren, his eyes seeming to ask: "Do I, Zongshou, truly possess the aura of a hegemon? Can a simple exertion of will make people kneel in submission?" Xuanyuan Yiren merely looked helpless and gave him a sharp glare, her meaning clear: I am certain you do not possess that!

Completely unable to grasp the situation, Zongshou temporarily set aside the matter of the four men and turned to Lin Ji and the others, asking, "Why have the three of you come?"

Lin Ji had completely lost the arrogant demeanor from their first meeting and was about to speak when Hu Zhongyuan, sitting nearby, let out a cold snort: "My Lord dislikes others speaking to him while standing!"

Lin Ji's face immediately contorted, anger flashing wildly. But after a moment of internal struggle, he finally knelt down. The situation had completely reversed. The three cities of Taoyun were severely weakened, while Qiantian Mountain was ascendant. The relative strength of the two powers had thoroughly inverted; there was no room for him not to yield. Who could have predicted such a dramatic change in just twenty days? This Zongshou before him could truly turn clouds into rain and rain into clouds, playing the three city powers in the palm of his hand! Hu Zhongyuan felt immensely satisfied. Recalling how arrogant this man had been just a few dozen days ago, forcing Qiantian Mountain to cede half a province, he felt an inexpressible surge of delight.

Zongshou glared fiercely at him but did not speak to stop him. Lin Ji suppressed his anger and spoke, "This outsider is sent by my City Lord, Yue Guanyun, to inquire of Your Highness: what exactly would it take for Your Highness to cease hostilities? Warfare is ruthless; should a major war erupt again between our two cities, it would surely result in devastation and heavy casualties. The fault this time indeed lies with Taoyun City. Taoyun City is willing to cede half of the Huanlong Province to appease Your Highness's wrath—"

Upon hearing this, Zongshou couldn't help but chuckle. Yue Guanyun was proving even more shameless than he had imagined. He neither confirmed nor denied the offer, merely asking, "Do you think that is possible?" Lin Ji’s gaze flickered slightly: "If I were Your Highness, I would agree!"

Zongshou shook his head. He had no idea where Lin Ji derived such confidence. This time, Tan Tao spoke on Zongshou's behalf: "It is possible for Qiantian Mountain to halt its attack! However, everything you took or received from Qiantian Mountain in the past must be returned. Furthermore, you must cede the entire Tianfang Province!" "Is this Your Highness's will?" Lin Ji’s expression remained unchanged as he glanced at the expressionless Zongshou above. "What if my Taoyun City refuses to yield?" At that moment, Hu Zhongyuan immediately sneered: "Then why would Qiantian Mountain hesitate to take it ourselves?" Yet Lin Ji still showed no sign of panic; instead, a strange, sinister smile curled the corner of his mouth: "Indeed?"

Just as Zongshou felt a jolt in his heart, sensing something amiss, the black-robed Spirit Master behind Lin Ji—one of the envoys from Blazing Flame City—suddenly flung his sleeve, unleashing more than a dozen spiritual talismans simultaneously. The seventh-story pavilion of the Kongqi Tower was instantly enveloped in a cloud of black mist. Several figures surged outwards, their auras skyrocketing, charging directly toward Zongshou. Zongyuan, standing nearby, instantly erupted in fury. The Purple Thunder Spear in his hand stabbed back abruptly. The Fierce Thunder Spear Intent pierced through the person behind him in a single strike!

This slightly startled everyone present. No one expected Zongyuan’s combat strength to be this formidable! He had killed a Black Tortoise Grandmaster on the spot with a single blow! However, that man was also fiercely spirited. Even as he died, his fighting will had not subsided. His body suddenly exploded, transforming into a mass of bloody mist that continued to surge forward, completely enveloping Zongyuan. Although the thunderous light around Zongyuan crackled, firmly resisting, he was momentarily trapped by the residual force of the man’s post-mortem explosion, unable to move.

Seeing this, Zongshou’s eyes narrowed slightly. These people had truly chosen an excellent moment. The two great experts, Gu Liekong and Zhu Junhou, were currently busy organizing the fleet and were not by his side. Ling Fakuang, being a criminal, was also not kept close. There was only Zongyuan and Yi Luo who could truly fight. This was precisely the moment when the strength around him was weakest.

Simultaneously, cold snorts came from Zong Ling and Shi Er. A fierce wind was summoned, sweeping away all the black mist on the upper floor. They then pointed together, and two spiritual beast phantoms materialized in the void, pouncing toward the location of the black-robed Spirit Master. (To be continued)