Unify the Jiang Continent? Wu Yuan and Bu Yu exchanged a glance. Chu Jun was no fool. Indeed, the thought had crossed their minds.
When the Chu-Jiang Empire fell, its territories were plunged into chaos. The Cloudstride Sect, lacking the strength to maintain control over such a large area, allowed the rise of the Baijiang Kingdom and Yuanhu Villa. However, the breakthroughs of Huan Jian and Wu Yuan, coupled with the sudden demise of Chu Ping, had set the stage for new possibilities.
Wu Yuan had yet to think too deeply about it, but Bu Yu’s ambitions had already taken root, thriving like wild weeds. Nevertheless, they were aware of the numerous eyes and ears within the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm and refrained from discussing these matters openly. Expanding their territory would inevitably attract more martial artists and solidify the sect’s foundations. It was an appealing prospect.
“Senior, I greatly admire you,” Chu Jun remarked sincerely. “You are also a native of the Jiang Continent. When you enter the Heavenly Rankings, assume leadership over the Four Provinces of Baijiang, and become the master of the Cloudstride Sect, the entire region, including the Guangping, Dalong, Eastdream, Westdream, and Yuanhu Provinces, will submit to you.”
“At that time, unifying the Jiang Continent and reclaiming its sovereignty will be within your grasp,” Chu Jun continued passionately. “The Jiang Continent should not be a pawn of the four coastal continents. It belongs to the people of the Jiang Continent. And who knows, as your strength grows, you may one day surpass Imperator Jin, rebuild the Chu-Jiang Empire, and shake the world.”
Wu Yuan fell silent, his thoughts momentarily paralyzed by Chu Jun’s grand vision. The man’s tough exterior concealed a surprisingly insightful mind, capable of painting a grandiose picture of the future. However, this vision was not an easy one to accomplish.
“Shadow Blade,” Bu Yu interjected with a chuckle. “Grandmaster Chu’s words hold merit. If you were to become the ruler of Baijiang, our sect would undoubtedly support your endeavor to unify the Jiang Continent.”
Wu Yuan chuckled inwardly. Unify the Jiang Continent? Even if he were to establish a kingdom in name, it would inevitably be handed over to the sect for management. After all, the vast expanse of mountains and rivers required soldiers for defense and administrators for organization. Wu Yuan himself had no interest in dealing with such mundane affairs. As for the Wu Clan, the number of members they had hardly warranted their control over such a vast territory.
The Jin royal family, despite producing numerous Grandmasters across generations, still continued to rally foreign Grandmasters to their cause and allowed them to occupy various sections of the empire’s territory to ensure stability.
In a world of martial arts, a single individual could wield extraordinary strength. Without unparalleled martial strength, it was impossible to establish a stable dynasty. Although powerful individuals like the Land Rankers and Heavenly Rankers might be loyal to their nation, clan, or sect, few were willing to submit to a weak ruler.
“Grandmaster Chu,” Wu Yuan began lightly. “Do you believe I have what it takes to be the ruler of Baijiang, capable of subduing the various internal factions under the Baijiang Kingdom?”
The four provinces spanned an area of thousands of li, with a population in the tens of millions. Subjugating them all to under one person was not something that could be accomplished with a few words.
“I do!” Chu Jun nodded, a determined look in his eyes. “I will convince Wu Hongxuan. With His Highness’ demise, as long as we unite our forces and have Senior Shadow Blade hold the fort, we can eliminate those who refuse to submit.”
Wu Yuan gave a mild nod. According to his knowledge, Chu Jun commanded the elite Baijiang Army under the king’s reign. With Wu Hongxuan as the prime minister, the two of them together could indeed gain control over the Baijiang Imperial Court.
“Very well,” Wu Yuan agreed. “But let me make this clear, I have no intention of founding a nation or establishing a royal dynasty. The one who will unite the Jiang Continent is the Cloudstride Sect!”
Chu Jun blinked, taken aback by this unexpected proclamation. Bu Yu, on the other hand, couldn’t hide the glimmer of joy in her eyes. Though she outwardly supported Wu Yuan, she couldn’t help but worry inwardly.
A nation or a sect—these were the two choices available to the peak powerhouses in the Middle Land. Some preferred to establish grand kingdoms, while others opted for the path of erecting sects. Both had their advantages and disadvantages.
“In the future, would you and Wu Hongxuan be willing to join the ranks of the Cloudstride Sect?” Wu Yuan asked casually.
Chu Jun hesitated for a moment, then chuckled, “As long as it is your wish, Senior, I am willing!”
Once an arrow was released, it could not be retracted. As the one who brought the matter up, Chu Jun knew that refusing Wu Yuan now would only offend him, which was something he couldn’t afford. Moreover, the emergence of a Heavenly Ranker in the Cloudstride Sect and their ability to resist the forces of Great Jin indicated that the unification of the Jiang Continent was inevitable. The internal politics of the Four Provinces of Baijiang had no say in this.
I am but a fish on the chopping block. Your Highness, please don’t blame me. Uncle Wu and I are not capable of handling such a vast territory. Once news of your demise spreads, it will only attract covetous gazes. Chu Jun sighed inwardly.
Since he couldn’t hold on to it forever, it was better to sell it now while he was still ‘comrades in life and death’ with Wu Yuan and Bu Yu. Perhaps it could even fetch a good price. At the very least, from Chu Jun’s perspective, Wu Yuan wouldn’t put him in the worst-case scenario.
Bu Yu and Wu Yuan exchanged a glance. After a moment, Bu Yu asked, “Chu Jun, what are your conditions?”
“Firstly, conduct a funeral with royal honors for the deceased king, and bestow his descendants the title of first-class marquis. Pay homage to the deceased king annually, observing the customary rites and rituals, to bring solace to the hearts of the four provinces,” Chu Jun declared.
“Secondly, maintain the existing order of both military and political affairs within the four provinces for as long as feasibly possible. Thirdly, the civil and military officials of the four provinces should hold the same status as members of the Cloudstride Sect.”
“Finally, in the future, the people of the four provinces should not face any discrimination if they wish to join the Cloudstride Sect, ensuring their loyalty,” Chu Jun laid out all four demands in one breath.
Clearly, these conditions were all carefully crafted.
“Chu Ping was a self-proclaimed ruler of the Baijiang Kingdom. By right, he does not deserve a burial with royal honors.
Chu Jun’s heart sank.
“…However, we acknowledge his significant achievement in pacifying the four provinces and bringing about a period of peace. For this reason, he shall be granted the privilege of a burial with royal honors. As for his heirs, they shall be bestowed the title of first-class marquis with hereditary succession of the title,” Bu Yu said.
Wu Yuan nodded approvingly. In ordinary circumstances, no sect would bestow the title of prince, making first-class duke the highest attainable rank, with all others falling beneath it. Even the Grandmaster families within the Cloudstride Sect were typically only granted the title of first-class marquis, which could be succeeded by their heirs.
“All military and political matters pertaining to the four provinces shall be under the control of Cloudhill. All officials in key positions, including county mayors, generals of defense, and martial academy headmasters, must undergo examination by the sect before their appointments are confirmed.” Bu Yu asserted.
“Similarly, civil and military officials within the four provinces shall also be required to pass this examination. Bu Yu added, “Furthermore, I assure you, Grandmaster Chu, that the sect shall treat all four provinces equally, without favoritism. The positions of both yourself and Grandmaster Wu shall remain unaltered.”
These final words gave Chu Jun pause. But ultimately, he relented. He understood that the independence of the Four Provinces of Baijiang was an unattainable dream. The terms presented by the Cloudstride Sect were far better than he had hoped for and much more preferable to being subjugated by the Great Jin Empire. Most importantly, Chu Jun had secured a promising future for himself.
The Cloudstride Sect currently boasts only two Grandmasters. Shadow Blade is on the cusp of a breakthrough. With the addition of a new Heavenly Ranker, my own status will undoubtedly rise once the kingdom is integrated.
As for the Baijiang Kingdom? From the bottom of his heart, Chu Jun believed he had done everything within his power to ensure a prosperous future for its descendants.
“Agreed,” Chu Jun nodded firmly. “Senior Shadow Blade, Grandmaster Bu Yu, I accept all of your conditions. Upon my return to Ninecaves Province, I shall consult with Prime Minister Wu without delay and provide a definitive response in twenty days.”
Twenty days was neither excessively long nor unreasonably short.
“Very well.”
…
The negotiations had gone well, and as a result, the bond between Wu Yuan, Bu Yu, and Chu Jun had grown stronger without them even realizing it. Chu Jun had started to think of himself as a subordinate of Wu Yuan, while the way Wu Yuan and Bu Yu spoke to him grew warmer. However, it took time to build trust, and they could not completely let their guard down yet.
As for Song Guang, Li Yan, and the others, they were unaware of the negotiations that just took place. Since the last attack by the redsoil assassins, there had been no further ambushes, and the two teams had not met since then.
They were all feeling slightly frustrated, as none of them had spotted a single spirit fruit thus far.
Finally, after venturing over 500 li into the inner region and crossing a small mountain range over 100 zhangs high, they reached the summit of a mountain. Both teams came to a halt, and the seven Grandmasters stood in awe, gazing out into the distance.
“It’s enormous!”
“Truly massive!”
“Could that be the Eldritch Chamber?” In the distance, a faint silhouette of a majestic bronze temple rose from the ground. The temple stood about a hundred li away, radiating an ancient aura that shook their spirits. Even Wu Yuan couldn’t hide his shock.
“If we can see it so clearly from 100 li away, it must be 500 to 600 zhangs in height.” Chu Jun couldn’t contain his amazement.
“Sounds about right,” Wu Yuan murmured, “And in terms of width, it spans over a dozen li.”
By measuring the distance between themselves and the temple, and then examining its size within their field of vision, they could roughly estimate the height and width of this towering bronze temple.
“Eldritch Chamber?” Sprinting over, Li Yan shook his head. “How is this a chamber? It is clearly a colossal temple! I cannot begin to fathom how it was constructed.”
The group of Grandmasters resonated with his sentiments. Even with their immense power, they found this architectural spectacle to be beyond the bounds of their imagination. It was a feat that could barely be accomplished by mortal hands.
“This is the might of the ancient qi refiners!” A look of yearning appeared in Song Guang’s eyes. “Legends speak of ancient qi refiners who could pluck stars and traverse the sky. Constructing a temple of this magnitude would pose no challenge to them.”
“Let’s proceed. If such a massive temple had appeared before, the records of the Chu-Jiang Empire would have surely mentioned it. But there were none,” Song Guang stated solemnly. “This means that this must be its debut appearance.”
Every heart skipped a beat. As Grandmasters, even the least accomplished among them, Chang Dong, possessed knowledge of numerous secrets. They understood all too well what a newly appearing immortal relic signified.
Immortal treasures! Divine weapons! Cultivation techniques! Mystical objects!