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Chapter 117: Chapter 114 Submitting to Allegiance
Heavenly Monarch.
An existence on par with a Primordial Spirit True Monarch Level.
A hundred years ago, during the period when Demon Spirits ran rampant, the status of a Heavenly Monarch was even higher than that of a Primordial Spirit True Monarch.
Moreover, compared to Heavenly Masters, Heavenly Monarchs, through True Spirit Possession, could force a Co-spirit, having certain combat capabilities.
Although not strong, still not on par with the sword control assassination of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, an existence at this realm had both the combat power and the status.
Most suitable for Gu Jinlai’s identity at this moment.
In addition, during this period, he had brought out many strange objects of the Heavenly Masters, including the Short Range Defense Cannon that intercepts the flying swords of Divinity Transformation Cultivators.
With the identity of a Heavenly Monarch, the origins of these items could all be explained.
In such a situation, after clearing up from Zhou Mingshi what the arrival of a newly-promoted Heavenly Monarch meant to the nearly despairing Heavenly Masters, Gu Jinlai did not hold back in spreading the news and swiftly disseminated it throughout Star State.
...
Ten days later.
City Lord Zhao Yuhua of Changjun City, along with a group of people, arrived at Lingxiao City.
In the reception hall.
This time, the City Lord presented himself very humbly, "Heavenly Monarch Gu, the safety of millions of people in Changjun City and the jurisdiction of six hundred miles around completely depend on Heavenly Monarch Gu."
"City Lord Zhao is being modest. Over the years, Changjun City has remained orderly under your governance. I completely trust your capabilities and also plan to continue entrusting Changjun City to your charge."
Gu Jinlai declared.
This statement made Zhao Yuhua’s expression tremble, "Heavenly Monarch Gu..."
"However, I hope City Lord Zhao can cooperate on some matters."
Gu Jinlai spoke, pausing briefly, "For instance, the Lingxiao City workshop needs craftsmen, and I also need to select a batch of elite to act as my trusted aides."
"Of course, whatever Heavenly Monarch Gu needs, just let us know. We will fully cooperate."
Zhao Yuhua hurriedly ensured with a pledge.
"Very well."
Gu Jinlai nodded, "I have stayed in Changjun City for a while and know the situation there is somewhat complex, and the complexity is not because City Lord Zhao lacks the ability to control, but knowing that even if some forces are cleared out, more will infiltrate in, so you might as well let them maintain to a certain degree, ignoring them as long as they do not involve innocent civilians. But now... it’s different."
"I understand."
Zhao Yuhua nodded, "I will remove those lurking threats in Changjun City. Besides, I will send people to learn from Heavenly Monarch Gu’s governance strategy, to establish academies, publicly teaching literature and martial arts, striving to meet the basic requirements of Heavenly Monarch Gu that everyone can read and everyone can practice martial arts."
"It’s the deeds, not the intentions, that count. I’ll be waiting for your actions."
Gu Jinlai declared.
Zhao Yuhua bowed respectfully and took his leave.
Once he had left, Gu Jinlai stood up, "Luo Chen."
"Patriarch."
Gu Luochen entered from outside, "During this time you’ve gotten to know Jiang Chongshan too. From now on, I’m assigning him to your team, take him with you to hunt Devil Spirits."
"Jiang Chongshan."
Although Gu Luochen was reluctant to have an outsider in his team, a Refining God Peak was still a significant force for them.
But...
He was somewhat confused.
"Patriarch, why would you accept this Star King? After all... getting too close to this one could easily bring us into Emperor Qian’s sight, and with our current scale... Emperor Qian is still an insurmountable giant for us." 𝔫𝔬𝖛𝖕𝔲𝖇.𝖈𝖔𝖒
Gu Luochen inquired.
"Why."
Gu Jinlai thought back to before his Crossing.
His real age was only a twenty-something young man.
"Although I am over seventy, my heart is filled with the surging passion and lofty aspirations a young man should have. If there’s someone who shares a similar or near-identical dream to mine, how could I simply stand by and stifle it?"
He muttered to himself, "I still dream of changing this world, of shining bright and making a difference here, so having more people like him isn’t such a bad thing."
...
Within Star State, war raged on ceaselessly.
While Changjun City and Sunset City were designated under the name of Gu Jinlai, Purgatory Sect, Cold Moon Sect, Netherworld Sect, Yellow Sky Sect, including forces such as Cold Moon Sect, launched their expansions, dividing Star State’s cities among themselves.
Several forces, including Dragon Sparrow Manor which had previously cooperated with Star State Mansion, consciously steered clear of their own Sects first, compressing the living space of Star State Mansion. In a short month, the number of cities controlled by Star State Mansion had dropped from twelve to four.
A total of twenty-two cities had slipped from their control.
As a result, Taiping Monarch Zhang Taiping of Yellow Sky Sect and Meteor Star Lord Xin Tianqi had a major battle.
Because the Yellow Sky Sect had several Divinity Transformation Cultivators supporting with sword control assassination, Xin Tianqi was overpowered and retreated to Starlight City.
And Star State Mansion, with only four cities left, included one Primordial Spirit True Monarch and five Divinity Transformation Cultivators, coupled with numerous Refining Gods. Such a scale was more than enough to secure four cities.
Moreover, the Five Great Sects’ attacks on Star State Mansion were fraught with friction and continual conflicts. Even with suppression from above, the situation had become urgent.
It’s said that getting through ninety steps of the journey is half the challenge.
Following an intense conflict between Purgatory Sect and Netherworld Sect that resulted in the death of a Refining God Elder...
The tacit agreement among the Five Great Sects to first eliminate Star State Mansion was shattered.
They began to shift from seizing main cities to strategizing county cities, solidifying their territories.
And they took the opportunity to encroach upon surrounding county cities, even main cities.
Star State was in complete chaos, entering into the middle and later stages.
...
"What a move to advance by retreating."
Gu Jinlai looked at the intelligence report detailing the battle between Xin Tianqi and Taiping Monarch, and sincerely lamented, "There are capable people within the Star State Mansion indeed."
"This is also a plan borne of necessity!"
Gu Chaoyang was analyzing the intelligence, "With one Primordial Spirit True Monarch, five Divinity Transformation Cultivators, dozens of Refining God Cultivators, plus an army of one hundred thousand, defending four cities should be more than sufficient. Any sect wishing to chisel away at this tough nut would have to pay a heavy price. No one would rashly go to such lengths before the situation in Star State becomes clear."
Gu Jinlai nodded his head.
"Although the State Lord Mansion only has four cities left, the Capital Starlight City, in addition to Qingyuan City... The other two, one is a mining metropolis, the other a major agricultural city... I even suspect that the Star State Mansion already had contingency plans for the event of a technique failure when they convened the Star State grand assembly."
As he spoke, he glanced over the map filled with flags marking each main city and county, "The only thing they didn’t anticipate was that the situation would deteriorate to such an extent."
Gu Chaoyang took a furtive glance at his family’s patriarch.
He knew all too well why the situation in Star State had become so dire.
Wasn’t it because the patriarch had revealed all information to the side of the Five Great Sects?
It is said that the reason Dragon Sparrow Manor and the State Lord Mansion fell out and ceased cooperation was also due to mutual accusations of lax confidentiality, leading to the collapse of the situation.
"How is the training of the new batch of soldiers?"
"Currently, our military forces have expanded to thirty thousand. If we add the defenders from Changjun City and Sunset City, the total strength exceeds forty thousand. Among these forty thousand, fifteen thousand are elite, while the rest may not last long in a protracted battle. However, in defending the city, they can exert considerable power."
Gu Chaoyang said with a spirit lifted.
"How about the reserves of bullets, gunpowder, and other materials?"
"Enough to support three major battles."
"And the mood of the people?"
"In fact, without the need for our propaganda, those merchants and cultivators have already brought news of chaos throughout Star State."
Speaking of this matter, Gu Chaoyang’s face bore a slight smile, "Therefore, the citizens of Lingxiao City are very supportive of our Gu family’s rule, and even local martial artists have chosen to join our Gu family. Among them, there are no lack of accomplished Qi Refinement individuals. Indeed, we have thoroughly established our foothold in Lingxiao City and Yuanhua City."
"Good."
Gu Jinlai nodded his head.
Occupying a city was one thing, but winning over the hearts of its citizens was another.
Without comparison, there would be no sense of harm.
Gu Jinlai previously had deliberately let his men publicize that Lingxiao City and Yuanhua City were thriving in peace and prosperity, while the other cities within Star State were suffering, with their citizens leading hard lives.
This was done to ensure the convenience of the Gu family’s rule.
And now...
There was no need for propaganda, because the outside world was already the very image he had described.
"Prepare yourself, I feel that the peace in Lingxiao City won’t last much longer."
Gu Jinlai said.
If he were to only rule Lingxiao City and Yuanhua City, he might barely manage to keep them secure.
After all, both were small cities.
But if he had to take on Changjun City and Sunset City as well...
The scale would exceed the limits of his control.
In such a situation, it was inevitable that someone would shift their focus towards him, or rather...
Changjun City.
And facing Changjun City, which had been handed over to him, he couldn’t easily let it go.
"Heavenly Monarch."
At this moment, Nian Buwang approached from outside, "Zhou Mingshi requests an audience, and accompanying him are two others... one is Zong Heng of the Celestial Master Sect, an expert in casting Spiritual Artifacts, and the other, the former Heavenly Grass Pavilion worshipper and Spirit Plant master Qiu Shuiyue."
"A Celestial Master has finally arrived? Please, show them in."
Gu Jinlai said directly.
Soon, he reached the parlor.
In the hall, Zhou Mingshi was conversing with a man and a woman.
Upon seeing Gu Jinlai enter, the three of them greeted in unison, "Heavenly Monarch Gu."
"Welcome both of you to Lingxiao City. Once you are within Lingxiao City, any requests from you two, I shall strive to fulfill."
Gu Jinlai said with a smile.
"Many thanks, Heavenly Monarch Gu."
Zong Heng responded with a salute.
After some pleasantries, the Celestial Master handed over a formula, "We have heard that the ’Thunder’ chain fire guns that Heavenly Monarch Gu crafts may melt due to high temperatures after prolonged use. I have a metal formula here named Black Gold, which is both strong and flexible, and also has excellent heat resistance. It’s my welcome gift to the Heavenly Monarch."
Each material, Spiritual Artifact formula, and design diagram was the exclusive True Inheritor of a Celestial Master.
Zong Heng giving such a gift upon their first meeting...
Was indeed precious.
"Celestial Master Zong has been kind."
Gu Jinlai remarked.
After Zong Heng demurred a bit, he cautiously broached, "Ever since I had the fortune of seeing the true form and mysterious True Spirit Power of Heavenly Lord Yu in the Imperial Capital thirty years ago, I haven’t seen any other Heavenly Monarchs, let alone heard of any Great Heavenly Master making a breakthrough... I know this request may seem presumptuous, but... May I ask if Heavenly Monarch Gu would demonstrate a bit of your True Spirit Power?"
