Implementing this policy isn’t only limited to Spirit Sword Valley and Heavenly Saber City, even King Yong Nian, who rarely interfered in local affairs, had also been involved.
Originally, due to the pressure from Spirit Sword Valley and Heavenly Saber City, King Yong Nian hardly had time to manage local affairs, but now things had changed.
The balance among the three powers had stabilized, and major conflicts were unlikely in the short term, allowing time to manage local issues.
The good days for the local powers were over, as stronger forces were now able to intervene.
In just a few days, everyone noticed that times had changed.
Of course, not all areas were like this—an exception was Jiangyuan City.
As a gateway between Shuzhou and the outside world, the control of Jiangyuan City by any of the three powers would not sit well with the other two.
Thus, they decided to leave it alone and let it evolve naturally.
Their power was strong enough to rank among the top in the Great Zhou, and as long as not confronted by powers of a similar level, no one dared to offend them or pose any influence on Jiangyuan City.
The same treatment was given to the area within a thousand miles of Jiangyuan City.
This region had become a no-man’s land.
This area was not where spiritual medicines appeared most frequently; even if relinquished, it was insignificant.
Coincidentally, the three counties were within this area, meaning they were left completely unchecked.
Don’t think this was a good thing.
Due to the oppression of the three major powers in other regions, many powers fled, yet unwilling to leave the abundant spiritual medicines of Shuzhou, they directly came to Jiangyuan City’s region.
These powers significantly impacted the area around Jiangyuan City; small powers were annihilated, and new ones emerged almost every day.
For a while, this entire area was in extreme chaos.
The three counties were also affected.
In Dishui County, a group of people charged toward the city gate on horseback.
Leading them was a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist, who had come to the three counties from another area.
He had heard some rumors about the three counties but didn’t take them seriously, dismissing them as exaggerations propagated by ignorant commoners.
“Brothers, charge, let’s take over Dishui County!”
“Ooh!”
This group comprised about thirty Martial Artists.
They charged directly toward the city gate of Dishui County.
To them, occupying a small county city seemed effortless.
The civilians planning to enter the city were very worried; could it be that they were about to fall back into old chaos?
But—
Before they got within five hundred meters of the city, a group of people came out from within.
“Attack, kill them!”
Those who came out belonged to the Three Great Families.
Having anticipated this situation, they were prepared.
This group was merely small fry, utterly powerless, and was almost instantly slaughtered.
After killing these people, the leader of the three families stepped forward and said, “Everyone, we are people from the Three Great Families of Dishui County, also under the protection of that person, and it is our duty to act in such situations. Don’t worry, continue with your lives as usual, we will ensure the safety of the three counties!”
The Jiang, Zheng, and Zhao families had long since discussed this.
Without revealing that Grandmaster, they fully committed to protecting the three counties and Yongfeng County.
Even if they couldn’t earn that person’s favor, at least they wouldn’t be resented.
They had long finished their discussions, and two of the Grandmasters from the families had already taken some people to Lushui and Yi’an counties.
One family was protecting each county.
The three Grandmasters could manage that.
As for Yongfeng County, they could only send some Ninth Grade Martial Artists for reinforcement.
After all, covering the region of the three counties was the top priority.
The actions of the Three Great Families proved correct; the three superpowers’ agreement had made the three counties more chaotic than expected.
The culprits weren’t mighty figures, but rather some not-so-strong individuals.
A perfect illustration of ignorance breeding recklessness.
Due to their weakness and limited access to insider information, they didn’t believe in the existence of the mysterious Grandmaster of the three counties, thus they acted without restraint.
Fortunately, the response from the Three Great Families was swift, stabilizing the situation within half a month.
And it wasn’t just the three counties; Yongfeng County was also secured.
Primarily because when the old ancestor of the Zhao family arrived in Lushui County, there happened to be people causing chaos there.
A Grandmaster appeared inside the city and swiftly killed those disruptors, restoring peace in the county city.
The old Zhao family ancestor had witnessed the Grandmaster’s combat and knew he was no match for him.
“The three counties truly hide dragons and crouching tigers!”
The Three Great Families had been lying low under the guise of wealthy merchants, not expecting even more unassuming figures.
The old Zhao family ancestor directly approached and met with the man.
This person was actually Wu Yuancheng, persuaded by the Valley Master of Stargazing Valley to hide his prowess initially, but had come forward due to these circumstances, dealing with the invaders.
The old Zhao family ancestor had seen him by chance.
Being a top Grandmaster, Wu Yuancheng had also noticed the old Zhao family ancestor.
However, sensing no malice, he merely watched cautiously.
“There’s no need for this, I am…”
The old Zhao family ancestor explained the situation and requested Wu Yuancheng’s protection of Lushui County.
In light of this, he could be liberated and then go to Yongfeng County.
Wu Yuancheng had not expected such a situation, but being able to reach the position of Minister in the Great Zhou Dynasty, he was naturally very clever.
He keenly realized that the Three Great Families so resolutely protecting the three counties likely meant that the mysterious Grandmaster truly existed and that they might even have met him.
Of course, he did not openly mention this, but pondered for a while.
The Valley Master of Stargazing Valley had sent him here because he believed he could find refuge.
That mysterious Grandmaster must be extraordinary… especially with the rumors of a Great Grandmaster he had heard.
Wu Yuancheng decided in his heart.
“Very well, leave Lushui County to me!”
Wanting protection himself, he knew he had to offer something in return.
The Zhao Family patriarch laughed out loud.
“Then I’ll leave it to…”
“My name is Wu Yuancheng!”
“Then I’ll leave it to Brother Wu!”
Because of Wu Yuancheng’s arrival, the so-called three counties, which actually comprised four counties, were now inhabited by four Grandmasters and peace was immediately restored.
Outsiders had no idea that the three counties were protected by four Grandmasters.
In the absence of a Great Grandmaster, Grandmaster-level Martial Artists were the strongest.
Thus, outsiders gave up on the three counties and contested other places.
Even the forces with Grandmaster-level Martial Artists did the same.
Rather than compete with Grandmaster-level Martial Artists, they sought opportunities elsewhere.
Thus, the three counties, without Wang Sheng’s involvement, strangely regained a deceitful balance and were mostly untroubled.
The three counties remained as they were, unchanged.
Four Grandmasters protecting such a small area was indeed an overqualification.
Upon learning the news, Yi An, the County Magistrate of Yongfeng County, relaxed, initially fearing he’d be in danger in this situation if that great person did not act.
But then a Grandmaster surnamed Zhao suddenly took charge of Yongfeng County and asked for nothing in return, a windfall from heaven.
“Grandmaster Zhao, why do you help Yongfeng County without any conditions?”
The Zhao Family patriarch glanced at Yi An and said, “You should know.”
The Three Great Families protected Yongfeng County, naturally, because they had uncovered certain things.
Yi An of course suspected certain matters, and now it was just confirmation.
“Yi An understands!”
After speaking, Yi An promptly left, not wanting to impose further.
Once he left the Zhao Family patriarch’s residence, he instructed his people, “Show more respect to this family from now on!”
“Yes, sir!”
Upon returning to the county office, a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist and an adviser greeted him.
“How is it?”
“It’s as we guessed, and indeed, there is no such thing as a free lunch.”
Yi An was somewhat emotional.
“Is this the influence of the powerful? Even without saying or doing anything, merely with a reputation, they can protect a vast area!”
He had witnessed the strength of that great person once again.
But this time, it was not a demonstration of power.
He had already heard about the situation in the triple counties.
Whether it was the Grandmaster from Lushui County or the people from the Three Great Families, they were all unexpected but surged forth as soon as problems arose in those counties.
Influence, too, was a form of power.
Luckily, he too was a man of the counties.
“With the current situation, Jiangyuan City will likely soon crown a king and reconnect with the outer world. Prepare people to buy ore from outside, the rarer the better.”
Their only connection to that great person was through the ores they must prepare.
“Sir, what will we use for buying? Right now, such ores are probably controlled by many powers.”
Those rare ores were indispensable materials for forging Martial Artists’ weapons; under these circumstances, few would sell them outside.
“Fool, we are in Shuzhou, let’s exchange Spiritual Medicine for it. That great person isn’t interested in Spiritual Medicine either, just leave some for our usage.”
Compared to weapons, Martial Artists were more interested in improving their own strength.
Exchanging Spiritual Medicine for ore was an absolutely viable plan.
“Yes, sir!”
…
After some time of chaos, peace was restored to the three counties again.
Faced with four Grandmasters, no one dared to cause trouble.
Wang Sheng also heard about this from the village head.
The Three Great Families had never stopped communicating with Qingshan Village, always sharing many external affairs.
This also served one of the sources of the village head’s information.
Wang Sheng felt indifferent about this because even without him, the people from the Three Great Families would still protect the three counties for their own benefits; his presence only made them more united.
However, he was somewhat surprised by that Wu Yuancheng.
While the people from the Three Great Families reaped his blessings, what about Wu Yuancheng himself?
Out of curiosity, Wang Sheng immediately sought Yue for a calculation.
After Yue concluded the calculation, he planned to directly seek out Wu Yuancheng…