Feng Taiji and Zhao Yanran, their faces grim and tinged with confusion, fixed their gaze upon Zong Shou. Previously, they had deferred to him out of respect, unwilling to let the people of the Yuanlian Realm witness any division among them. Thus, neither had spoken up to interrupt or question Zong Shou’s words. Now that outsiders were gone, it was surely time to settle accounts.

“My Lord shows such generosity, cutting the national tax by a full thirty percent in one go!” Even though his temperament had mellowed considerably since the battle in the subterranean deep lake several years ago, Feng Taiji’s tone carried an undeniable edge of sarcasm. As for the matter of the voluntary contributions from the various states, he couldn't even be bothered to mention it.

“Furthermore, the state rulers chosen by Your Lord—are they not all ambitious, outstanding individuals from the Yuanlian Realm? People of this caliber, once in power, will certainly not be content to be manipulated!” A hint of worry softened his words. With wolves encircling them, Zong Shou seemed intent on inviting even more trouble.

Zong Shou merely laughed without a care: “Brother Feng, what use is the collected national tax to us right now? In the current situation, can it even be utilized?” Feng Taiji raised an eyebrow. The tax collected by Hermit Jiujing was for maintaining the army. Without a massive military force, it was impossible to withstand the invasions of surrounding nations. He paused, then a thought struck him—this tax revenue was indeed of little use to them. They commanded only three hundred thousand soldiers, and even if they conscripted troops temporarily in the Yuanlian Realm, those soldiers, having been exploited for centuries under dire conditions, would remain loyal. It was similar to how Hermit Jiujing had drawn soldiers from his original Minor Thousand World, most of whom had already been taken away by the escaping Spirit Realm cultivators.

“I observe that the Seven Kingdoms genuinely require time to rest and recover, to catch their breath. Moreover, the hearts of the people in these Seven Kingdoms are currently fearful. How else, without such heroic figures, can the situation be stabilized within a month? They are too mediocre. While being meek and compliant might seem preferable, our current predicament is fraught with peril—”

Knowing Feng Taiji to be an exceptionally sharp individual, Zong Shou only hinted at the matter, saying no more. Feng Taiji, deep in thought, showed a flicker of comprehension in his eyes almost immediately. It was indeed so! Besides talent, the individuals Zong Shou selected shared one characteristic: they wielded significant authority and possessed sufficient resources and connections. Indeed, they could seize control of the overall situation, consolidate the people’s hearts, and defend against foreign threats in the shortest possible time. Therefore, this two-tenths tax held a rather profound meaning—

“This approach is sound, but it will only address the immediate crisis. There will still be hidden dangers in the future. How will we control these Seven Kingdoms later?” “Why control them? It is enough that they willingly serve us.” Zong Shou chuckled, “That is not up to them!”

Feng Taiji understood perfectly. The two-tenths tax would allow the hearts of the Seven Kingdoms’ people to mend, but it would also force the new rulers of these Seven Kingdoms to exert every ounce of effort. Now that they were monarchs, their status was noble, but they had utterly lost any room to maneuver. If Great Qian were to withdraw from the Yuanlian Realm, their subjects might survive, but the seven kings, led by He Daoren, would certainly not. For the sake of their own lives, they had no choice but to cooperate fully with Great Qian. As for the future, if the Yuanlian Realm were fully secured, the fate of these seven individuals would no longer matter—

He mused that this was likely the difference between himself and Zong Shou. Though this man claimed to be unskilled in strategy, he possessed magnanimity and an ability to manipulate the grand tide, compelling others to serve him whether willing or not. Compared to this Lord, he, Feng, was undoubtedly too narrow-minded. No wonder this man had built such a foundation in just a few short years. Shaking his head slightly, Feng Taiji felt some of the knots in his chest begin to unravel.

However, one matter still required careful consideration. “These issues aside, I, Feng Taiji, genuinely do not understand why our Sword Sect must establish a mountain here in the Yuanlian Realm and begin recruiting disciples?” Zhao Yanran also scoffed, “And my Cangsheng Dao—when did it become Your Lord’s prerogative to make these decisions?” In truth, given Zong Shou’s status, he certainly could make these decisions. But recruiting disciples from the Yuanlian Realm felt entirely outlandish.

He saw Zong Shou blink in confusion, looking back at them with considerable surprise. “Do the two of you not know? That scoundrel Ci Fang has already selected locations in the Yuanlian Realm and is preparing to open ten monasteries at once?” Feng Taiji raised an eyebrow; he had heard rumors of this, but what did it have to do with them recruiting disciples?

Zong Shou continued with a smile, “Then let me ask you both: why did you come here in the first place? When conquering another realm, is the goal purely to plunder resources, or is it to strengthen the foundation of your sects? After taking this realm, how do you plan to defend it? Does the Sword Sect have no intention of expanding beyond the Yuanlian Realm?” The population of the Cloud Realm was quite limited. If they truly intended to control eight hundred worlds, like the Lu family, they would require countless cultivators and an immense army. The power of the Cloud Realm alone could not provide that.

Feng Taiji started, clearly having realized the implications. He hadn't seriously considered continuous external expansion. But if they could consistently reap rewards like those from the Yuanlian Realm, it wouldn't be a bad thing. The combined strength of the Seven Branches of the Sword Sect could certainly look after one Yuanlian Realm. However, establishing a foundation within this realm would undoubtedly ease the pressure on the sect. Disciples selected from this world could also be chosen on merit—

It was the same for the Buddhist sect, come to think of it. Considering this, he still frowned, “The physical constitutions of the people in the Yuanlian Realm differ from those in our Cloud Realm.” “Largely the same!” Zong Shou shook his head. He had always suspected that the people of the Cloud Realm might also have migrated from an outer domain, given the striking similarity in their racial makeup. The Lu family, for instance, showed virtually no difference from the people of the Cloud Realm.

“With your ability, Brother Feng, you shouldn't be stumped by matters of cultivation methods?” Feng Taiji’s face cycled through shades of green and white, a sourness rising in his throat before he finally gritted his teeth, “I must consult Qiongjing and the elders of the sect before making a decision on this matter.” If the Cloud Realm truly agreed, the cultivation methods would require the Saint Realm and Divine Realm great experts of the sect to wrestle with the details. He inwardly felt something was amiss. This venture with Zong Shou was supposed to be a minor trial for the Sword Sect, merely seeing if they could plunder some resources from an outer domain to benefit the sect. How was it that the situation seemed to have morphed into something else entirely by now?

Zong Shou smiled. Most experts above the Spirit Realm in the Sword Sect had traveled the outer domains and possessed far broader experience than Feng Taiji. He then looked at Zhao Yanran: “There are no Daoist or Confucian sects in the Yuanlian Realm. The opportunities for the Cangsheng Dao to spread its teachings are scarce here. Isn't this environment perfectly suited for your sect’s expansion? If we fully control the Yuanlian Realm, I can assign one province for the Cangsheng Dao to govern.”

Zhao Yanran looked conflicted. She personally held little interest in the doctrines of the Cangsheng Dao. However, she knew that if her fellow sect members learned of these words, they would undoubtedly be ecstatic and immensely energized. Even the elders would be pleased, likely feeling profoundly comforted and growing increasingly fond of this fellow Zong Shou. After pondering for a long while and finding no justifiable reason to object, Zhao Yanran finally shook her head with a strange expression.

“First tax reduction, then recruiting disciples, and now this exchange of spiritual items. Why does it feel like we weren't here to strip the Yuanlian World bare, but rather to do good deeds?” It was a shame, considering she had been prepared a month ago to engage in a wholesale massacre within the Yuanlian Realm if necessary. She, Zhao Yanran, was never short of ruthlessness.

“What nonsense are you speaking? My Great Qian has always cherished its people as its own children and established the nation upon benevolence and filial piety. Since the Seven Kingdoms of Yuanlian are now vassal states, their people must be regarded by me as my subjects. How could we engage in plunder?” Zong Shou’s expression stiffened, his tone ringing with conviction, as if genuinely angered by Zhao Yanran’s words. He looked righteous and severe. “Yanran, you must remember, it is because Great Qian cannot bear to see the people of the Yuanlian Realm suffer that we have traveled so far—to save the human race of the Yuanlian Realm from the sea of misery. What was the term? Ah, liberation! Even collecting a two-tenths tax and taking some spirit stones is a necessary requirement for driving out the demonic forces.”

Feng Taiji couldn't help but laugh, “So, Your Lord is preparing to open a marketplace beneath the Yuanying Palace?” For the first time, he found this ruler of Great Qian genuinely fascinating. He was clearly here for plunder, yet he spoke with an air of lofty righteousness. Having somewhat grasped Zong Shou’s intent, he realized that to maintain the moral high ground, they could only act in this manner. At this point, he no longer felt the need to object. Previously, Jiujing’s approach was to demand regular tribute from the Seven Kingdoms. Zong Shou’s method was undoubtedly superior: barter, described as an exchange of equivalent value. But ultimately, they determined the pricing. Moreover, items scarce to him were commonplace in the Yuanlian Realm, while the Cloud Realm possessed many things absent here. By facilitating mutual exchange, merely profiting from the difference in value could lead to staggering wealth. He began to realize that Zong Shou’s method, while perhaps gentler and unable to achieve the complete subjugation Jiujing managed, was far more subtle. The final yield might not necessarily be less than Jiujing’s haul. His mind settled; acting this way seemed quite satisfactory.

“Indeed!” Zong Shou nodded slightly with satisfaction, wearing an expression as if instructing a promising pupil. If one could acquire wealth through gentle means, why must it always end in bloodshed and mutually assured destruction? He laughed again, “The way I act is also for the sake of your three sects. Since you are participating, I naturally must look after you! If you cannot win the hearts of the Yuanlian people, how can your doctrines be spread widely?” His words carried an undertone suggesting they ought to be grateful. Zhao Yanran was speechless, and just then, Ci Fang stepped into the hall from outside, offering a solemn bow: “Your Lord’s benevolence is deeply appreciated by the Buddhist faith!” He looked at Zong Shou with complex emotion. When he first arrived, he had been filled with worry. Now, he was certain that Buddhism would flourish greatly in the Yuanlian Realm. Meeting such a monarch was a great fortune for the Buddhist sect.

At that very same moment, within the Cloud Realm. Kong Rui emerged from his room in astonishment, looking up at the sky. There, a colossal silver dragon coiled and soared, its head held high, its roars echoing across the four directions. Beside the dragon floated the shadow of a Phoenix—

“The Dragon Qi is surging intensely? This seems wrong—” Kong Rui picked up the Wen Wang divination coin and observed it carefully, his expression growing stranger. “What exactly has the Lord done in that outer domain to provoke the meeting of the Dragon and the Phoenix?” (To be continued)RQ