The announcement was issued by the City Lord's Mansion of Sky Sword City, but the signature was Holy Martial Enforcement. Some matters and principles needed to be clarified; a black pot couldn't just be thrown around.
Holy Martial Enforcement is the absolute authority of the Holy Martial Continent. If Holy Martial Enforcement said it wasn't a rebellion, then it wasn't a rebellion, and Cultivators recognized the rulings made by Holy Martial Enforcement.
The Blazing Thunder Holy Clan and the Black Tortoise Holy Clan failed to trap Qin Chu, but the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan didn't let it go at that. The Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's forces attacked again, directly slaughtering the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan's forces until they didn't dare show their faces, losing a lot of territory.
Qin Longhan led his people to the foot of Blazing Thunder Holy Mountain, beating the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan's forces until they didn't dare leave their mountain gate.
The Vermilion Bird Holy Clan retreated only because the Blazing Thunder Holy Mountain's defensive Formation was difficult to break, but they left a message: if the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan acted provocatively once, the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan would strike them hard once.
After the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan was beaten, the Black Tortoise Holy Clan also fell into dire straits. They abandoned all their strongholds; they couldn't help but abandon them, as the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan was truly out to kill.
The Vermilion Bird Holy Clan is currently strong. Putting aside everything else, the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan and the Black Tortoise Holy Clan simply cannot contend with a Qin Longhan at the Half-Step Venerable Realm.
Qin Longhan's Half-Step Venerable Realm made the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan's opponents extremely uncomfortable. If Qin Longhan were at the Sixth Rank, they wouldn't be afraid; they could fight. If Qin Longhan were at the Seventh Rank Venerable Realm, then he couldn't participate in factional struggles. Of course, he could still passively counterattack but not actively attack.
But the current situation is that Qin Longhan is a Half-Step Venerable. A Half-Step Venerable Realm is not subject to any restrictions, which made the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan and the Black Tortoise Holy Clan extremely passive, beaten to the point of being unable to breathe.
Only after the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan and the Black Tortoise Holy Clan both retreated did the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan cease fighting.
When the battle ended, the Loose Cultivators and various small factions did not reject the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan, because the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan and the Black Tortoise Holy Clan had provoked first; they were asking for a beating.
Qin Chu was unaware of these events. Every day, he happily refined Medicinal Pills, earning Materials and goodwill.
Those belonging to the North Sword Forest greatly admired Qin Chu. They would often seek him out for a drink, and Qin Chu never refused. When drinking, they used wine cups the size of human heads, which excited the Yao Beast Cultivators. Qin Chu was the only human Cultivator who drank with them in such a manner.
Qin Chu's Materials filled one Storage Ring after another. He felt that the current situation was excellent: the Yao Beast Cultivators of the North Sword Forest obtained Medicinal Pills, and he obtained Materials, all of which were rare Materials.
The Spirit Medicine within the North Sword Forest had never flowed out. Even if human Loose Cultivators entered to collect, they only gathered a small amount; the vast majority remained in the hands of the North Sword Forest's Yao Beast Cultivators. Even if they didn't recognize them, they knew that Spiritual Plants containing energy were good things.
After refining Medicinal Pills for half a month, Qin Chu planned to leave. If he didn't return, Qingyi and Qin Lingxi would worry.
Qin Chu wanted to leave, but Great Ape King was unwilling. He said that the first batch of Spirit Stones had already been sent to the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan, and he had instructed Elder Xiong, who was going to the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan, to tell the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan that Qin Chu was a distinguished guest of the North Sword Forest, so they should rest assured.
In this situation, Qin Chu couldn't leave. After some thought, Qin Chu decided to stay for a while, Cultivating and helping the North Sword Forest make some Medicinal Pills. Great Ape King was a man of rules and acted with integrity, so he also had to see things through.
Having decided to settle down, Qin Chu asked Zilu for a relatively spacious courtyard, as he needed to Cultivate.
Zilu directly arranged a private courtyard, which made it much easier for Qin Chu to Cultivate his sword techniques, fist techniques, and Vermilion Bird Holy Fire. The only thing that Qin Chu felt was lacking was being unable to find ancient texts to understand why his Ink Spirit Flame had changed.
Qin Chu's decision to stay made both Great Ape King and Zilu very happy. Zilu goes without saying, but Great Ape King highly approved of Qin Chu.
After Qin Longhan received the Spirit Stones escorted by Elder Xiong, he was very surprised. Only after Elder Xiong explained the details did Qin Longhan understand what was happening. He then warmly received Elder Xiong, hoping that the North Sword Forest would be more tolerant and take better care of Qin Chu.
"Haha! Clan Chief Qin is too polite. Qin Chu is our distinguished guest in the North Sword Forest. He has helped our North Sword Forest a lot, and all of us in the North Sword Forest remember this favor!" Elder Xiong said with a smile.
Elder Xiong stayed in the Vermilion Bird Holy Land for a day before leaving, saying he would send more Spirit Stones later.
When Qingyi and Qin Lingxi returned from an external battle, Elder Xiong had already left.
Upon learning the situation, Qin Lingxi and Qingyi understood that Qin Chu had reached an agreement with the kings of the North Sword Forest, and the Spirit Stone mine had begun to be exploited.
"I didn't expect Qin Chu to have acquaintances in the North Sword Forest. This made it much smoother for him to turn danger into safety. However, even without acquaintances, I think Qin Chu would still manage well," Qin Lingxi said. She knew her nephew was resourceful; as long as he wasn't immediately annihilated by those in the North Sword Forest, he would be fine.
"Since he is safe within the North Sword Forest, let him stay there for a while; it can be considered a period of tempering. I just didn't expect him to be the only one to benefit from the Forbidden Zone, and even bring a large amount of Spirit Stones to our Vermilion Bird Holy Clan," Qin Longhan said with some emotion. There were some things he hadn't anticipated.
"This is his Opportunity. I didn't expect the Vermilion Bird Holy Fire could withstand the Soul attacks within the Forbidden Zone," Qin Lingxi said. Some things she also found strange and could only describe as Opportunity.
"Mm, we should still hurry and investigate the whereabouts of the White Tiger Holy Clan. We need to determine where they are hiding," Qin Longhan said.
"Father, it can now be confirmed that they are within the territory of the Black Tortoise Holy Clan. Our forces are investigating, and the forces of other factions are also investigating. Additionally, the Black Tortoise Holy Clan members who have a good relationship with us—or rather, with my sister-in-law—are also investigating. Once they are found, that will be their day of misfortune," Qin Lingxi said.
"The situation is constantly changing. There's no way the Nether Martial Continent won't react. When their forces arrive, that's when the great battle will begin, the start of a Peak battle," Qin Longhan said.
"Holy Martial Enforcement will be prepared. When they come, there will be people to deal with them," Qin Lingxi said.
Qin Longhan sighed, "I truly want to study and then Breakthrough, preparing for the upcoming great battle, but once I Breakthrough, our Vermilion Bird Holy Clan will lose its ability for external warfare."
"Father, you have an Opportunity now?" Qin Lingxi looked at Qin Longhan in surprise.
Qin Longhan nodded, "Perhaps it's the nearly twenty years of tempering! My insights are quite profound. After Qin Chu solved my physical problems, some Opportunities came. However, I don't plan to Breakthrough for now. Perhaps when Qin Chu enters the King Realm, it will be possible."
Qin Linghan nodded. He knew that Qin Longhan was worried about the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan, because after his Breakthrough, he would no longer be able to actively participate in factional struggles. His current state was to escort and protect the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan.
"Young Lord won't make Clan Chief wait too long," Qingyi said.
Qin Longhan nodded to Qingyi, "Qingyi, you are a meritorious minister of my Vermilion Bird Holy Clan. No matter what happens to the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan, all those belonging to the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan will remember your contributions. Qin Chu still needs your care."
"Clan Chief, rest assured, until Young Clan Chief and Young Madam return, your subordinate will look after Young Lord," Qingyi said.