“That’s right. Zhou Bao has two significant weaknesses. His rise was too fast and he’s also very young. Therefore, he has many blood relatives, including your daughter and the recently born child. Even without the restrictions of the Golden Book of Fate, he has much to weigh in his considerations. This is his first weakness. The second weakness is that he virtually has no subordinates. Zhou Bao’s rise was over the span of about ten years. He now has owns a large portion of the riches of the world, a vast plot of land and even some talents. However, he doesn’t have any strong subordinates. Out of all his subordinates, there’s only a man with the last name Zhu that is of a Level Seven Expert Realm. The rest are all at best Level Six. With this kind of capabilities, it is possible to conquer the mundane world but he stands no chance at all when confronting the Four Eastern Regions and the five biggest sects. As long as we take advantage of these two weaknesses, it will be easy to trap Zhou Bao. So you see, my technique may be pathetic but it works!”
Yan Yuntian slowly closed his eyes. He was not a stupid man. He lost his composure for a bit just now only because of the shock of receiving the news. After listening to Zhi IX’s analysis, he thought for a bit and understood. He slowly began to nod his head in agreement and decided to move on from the topic of Zhou Bao. “Then, how confident is the Divine Wind Palace this time?”
“Confident? Hehe, they don’t stand much chance in this. The four biggest sects and we have been established for so many years and fought for equally long. The biggest problem among us was just the question of where power lay. Now that White Tiger has made his move so furiously, it seems like he will not rest until he gets what he wants. But he’s only putting up a show to scare others. Let me tell you, as long as you announce your abdication of the throne, he has no more reason to be furious. Haha, the world will then achieve peace in the fastest way possible. Sadly, you won’t do that!”
“Of course I won’t do that. Those rebels, villains and evil ones really think that they can overthrow me by forming a coalition? That they can make me succumb to them? Dream on!” A trace of indignation flashed across Yan Yuntian’s face. This sparked an interest in Zhi IX.
“Oh, it seems like you have other plans. What’s up? Are you going to turn the situation around?!”
“Turn the situation around? Hmph, of course, I can’t turn the situation around by myself. However, with your Divine Wind Palace’s help, there might be a chance of doing so!”
“To be honest, you don’t have much practical value to me now. I’m sure you understand the reason why the Divine Wind Palace is helping you. We’re not exactly the most cohesive internally. All these years there have been people who were willing to help you, but they were also people who were your enemies. Now you’re really in a tight situation. You can’t even exit the Royal Capital. Is there any use that we can make out of you?!”
“Infinite Star Sea, Half a Void Map. How’s that?!” Yan Yuntian glared at Zhi IX and bared his teeth.
“What? Infinite Star Sea Void Map? How audacious!” Zhi IX’s expression changed immediately after hearing the two words of Void Map. The steadfastness and calmness in his tone previously were lost.
“Audacious, haha, nothing audacious about that. It’s only half a Void Map. Seems like Your Excellency is interested?!”
“Good, very good, excellent! Half a Void Map!” Zhi IX almost seemed to be grinding his teeth in disbelief. “This matter is significant. It’s no longer inside my purview. I will return and report to my lord and he will decide with the elders. But let me warn you first. If you don’t have the Void Map…!”
“If I don’t have the Void Map, will there be any meaning in this conversation?!” Yan Yuntian laughed coldly. “As long as all of you help me regain the throne and rein in the nine well-known families, I will offer half a Void Map to you. However, I have one more condition!”
“What condition?!”
“Three months. This has to be done within three months. If the situation doesn’t change after three months, I will destroy the Void Map and we shall all go our separate ways!”
“Deal!’ Zhi IX decided after considering for a while. “Within three months, everything will be settled!” After speaking, he did not stay for long. He transformed into a gust of grey mist and disappeared from the face of Yan Yuntian.
“Hmph, what fairy nonsense and what superhuman masters? They’re all just a bunch of average Joes. Except that they live two years longer than regular humans and have slightly stronger powers. One day, one day I will get back all I lost and more! Just wait!” Yan Yuntian steeled his face and stood there mumbling to himself murderously.
…
“Damn it, what’s the problem? Have you played house before? It’s not played like that!”
Two months later, Zhou Bao oddly sat in the hall analyzing the intelligence report. Below him stood Jiang Xiao and Wang Cheng who had already attained Level Seven. Both of them stood respectfully, wishing to speak but yet suppressing the desire to do so.
“Your Excellency, this matter is indeed rather weird. But ultimately, it’s just an agreement between two parties. It’s nothing big!”
“Reach an agreement? Do you think it’s easy to reach an agreement here? To reach an agreement there must be a huge benefit during both sides. Do you understand why both of them are starting a war?” “Do you know how significant the benefits are?” Zhou Bao laughed coldly. “However, this situation is good too. Since they’ve already reached an agreement, then I don’t have to worry as much as I do now!”
“Your Excellency means?”
Zhou Bao did not speak. With a wave of his hand, two rays of cyan light projected from his hand and landed in both of his subordinates’ hands.
“This is the Yin and Yang Dust Formation. Grabbing any one of these pieces will immediately activate it and protect you. With your current abilities, you are able to operate this Yin and Yang Dust Formation. I’ve also passed the instructions for operating this Yin and Yang Dust Formation to you. So, even if I’m not here, I know nothing can harm Wuyang Region.”
“Your Excellency, where are you going?!”
“Going where? Hmph, I’m not letting a member of my Zhou family die in vain! Were the rules I set on Wuyang Road for naught?!”
“But Your Excellency, didn’t you say you want to take a long-term view?!”
“That was the past. Now I have no time to discuss a long-term strategy with them!” Zhou Bao laughed coldly. “I didn’t make a move initially because I was scared that something would happen in the Wuyang Region. Now that both of you can operate the Yin and Yang Dust Formation, I have nothing to fear! Both of you better remember this. After I leave, as long as there is trouble, activate the Yin and Yang Dust Formation. This dust formation has been linked to me and the earth, it has an endless supply of pneuma to operate itself. Defense shouldn’t be a problem. As for attacking other formations, you guys know what to do right!”
“Yes, Your Excellency, we know what to do!!”
“Good. Please leave then!” Zhou Bao waved his hand to signal his dismissal of the two men. A ray of cyan light flashed across their body and they disappeared into the clouds while Zhou Bao also disappeared from the hall.
…
South Mountains
Was a place that covers a whole lot of land. It was not specific at all. It meant the Jin Dynasty’s southern region, Yuntian Mountains. As for Tianyun Mountains, they belonged to the Misty Mountains in the north. They were similar in size to the central Heavenly Dragon Mountains and also occupied a large boundary of land that extended up to five continents of the Jin Dynasty. As for the South Mountains, it referred to two continents.
Minzhou and Leizhou!
Tianyun Mountains in the Jin Dynasty was closer to the east with connections to the Sea Area. However, its land was extremely poor. A lot of them were saturated with salt and no plants grew in these soils. They were close to the sea, so Minzhou and Leizhou both had a gigantic salt field. Eighty percent of these salt fields belonged to the Qin Family, who was one of the nine well-known families in the Jin Dynasty. The Qin Family monopolized at least forty percent of the salt routes in the Jin Dynasty.
Therefore, based on combat capability alone, the Qin Family may not be ranked first. But in terms of wealth, they were superior to everyone.
The Qin Family had done business in the South Mountains for more than three thousand years. It could be said that they have strong roots here. Most importantly, the Qin Family had great foresight and maturity. The other well-known families often got into squabbles over profits. But for the Qin Family, who had the Yuntian Mountains as a barrier to smooth trade and an abundant supply of salt, they never had to fight with the other countries for anything significant. Therefore, they had always managed the two continents as solidly as steel. No matter who sat on these Mountains in Jiang, they all showed face to the Qin Family. As for the governance of the two continents, they were all members of the Qin Family from the governors to the elders in the village. If not, they were people of very close ties with the Qin Family. The imperial court was like a symbol of the monopoly. The court was merely just a process.
The Head of the Qin Family was called Qin Zheng. He could not be considered a man of great foresight. Yet, he was a protector of the place. Five years ago, he made full use of the fall of the Northern Yuan.
In that battle, the Qin Family had expended much energy. A few expert Elders had all shown themselves. At Yunzhou, they posed a threat to the people in the northern plains. It was only because they promised their win of the Qinlingjun City. Thereafter, Yan Yuntian also offered a piece of land in the northern plains to the Qin Family. However, the Qin Family was not moved by this act of graciousness. They dismissed this gift and used it in exchange for other benefits. It was precisely these benefits that, within a span of five years, allowed the Qin Family’s status to rise up another notch. It was only then that they vaguely had the aura of being the first well-known family.
As for Qin Family’s head Qin Zheng, it seemed like because of the rise in his family’s power that he had sprouted a few new ideas. In the recent political drama, he had involved himself in it and who would have thought that in the most crucial moment, he actually facilitated an agreement and understanding between the Divine Wind Palace and the four great sects. This left them feeling unprepared and at the same time, completely messed up their plans.
“How could this be? The four great sects are too cowardly! With such a big obstacle posed by the Divine Wind Palace, they actually could strike an agreement and understanding with them. Don’t they have any aggressiveness in them?!”
“Hmph, aggressiveness. What damn aggressiveness! It must be because the Divine Wind Palace promised an even bigger reward. It’s just that we don’t know!”
At this point, at the Qin Family’s Elder home in the mountain city of the ambitious Qin Family, the six great elders of the Qin Family had convened with the Family Head. Everyone did not look good. The sudden peacemaking between the Divine Wind Palace and the four great sects had completely caught them off guard. Plus, their understanding and agreement also signaled the disruption of their long-term plan. Although there are some benefits in this current circumstance, it was not enough to compensate for the losses.