NOVPUB
Chapter 200: Chapter 197 Visit
The Qiantian world is divided into thirty-nine states by area.
But if you count by population, there are at most twenty-three states.
These include the states with a population over fifty million: Sun State, Moon State, Star State, and Central State.
And the thirteen states almost entirely occupied by the Ten Great Demon Sects and the Six Great Immortal Sects: Red State, Orange State, Yellow State, Green State, Cyan State, Blue State, Purple State, Black State, White State, Jiangzhou State, River State, Mountain State, and Sea State, each with a population generally exceeding thirty million.
The rest are the twenty Lower States, which are divided according to the Five Elements of Gold, Wood, Cold, Flame, Earth, and then further subdivided into the regions of east, south, west, and north.
There are also the solitary Island State and Lizhou State overseas.
These twenty-two Lower States have populations less than thirty million, with some even under ten million. They are still designated as independent states and named based on their cardinal directions mainly because of their vast areas.
Each state spans thousands of miles.
Without the division into east, south, west, and north, a single state could stretch for ten thousand miles.
Even though within these tens of thousands of miles there may be vast mountains, endless snowfields, or dead swamps with few human traces and lands where commoners cannot survive, they ultimately belong to the Daqian territory, which they will not ignore.
At this moment, Gu Jinlai was standing on a map obtained from the Star State Mansion and looking at the marked Great States.
Among these states, south of Tianhe, from north to south, are Yellow Sky Sect’s Yellow State, Gu Jinlai’s own Star State, Purgatory Sect’s Red State, Netherworld Sect’s White State, Yan State whose four states’ combined population does not exceed forty million, Dragon Sparrow Manor’s Jiangzhou State, local powers’ Lizhou State, Cold Moon Sect’s Blue State, and the Four Great Mu States that have fallen into a Demon Kingdom.
A total of fifteen states.
The population, after reduction, should now be around three hundred million.
That is roughly one-third of Daqian.
If only the area is considered, it’s nearly half of Daqian’s territory.
"Among these states, Dragon Sparrow Manor is rich in mineral deposits, not only with several large metal mines but also including a gold mine. However, if we consider Immortal Essence Gold... the largest gold mine south of Tianhe is in Mu State."
Gu Jinlai looked at the territory that had completely fallen to a Demon Kingdom.
The gold mine in Mu State is second only to the one in Moon State occupied by the Sanqing Holy Temple in the Daqian World.
"The situation in Mu State has completely collapsed. Even if two or three Devas descend, it’s unlikely they could reverse the situation. The only option is to collaborate with local forces and slowly strategize. But in today’s world, apart from the Daqian Royal Family and the Sanqing Holy Temple, which other family can deploy two or three Devas?"
Gu Jinlai stared at the map of Mu State for a moment.
He knew that as time went on, as the gaps to the Demon World in Mu State opened again and again, the number of Demon Spirits rushing out would increase, and the demons born would become more powerful, but he still felt helpless.
In the end, he could only turn his gaze to Dragon Sparrow Manor.
If the gold mines in Mu State could not be captured for the time being, then he had to settle for the next best option.
Just as Gu Jinlai was pondering where to refine the Immortal Essence Gold needed for the first model of his Cheng Ying Mecha, Nian Buwang entered the study with news.
A distinguished guest has arrived.
...
Meanwhile, a procession of carriages appeared outside Lingxiao City.
The number of people in this group was not many, but without exception, they all held high positions and had extraordinary demeanour.
If any of the True Inheritors of Purgatory Sect were present, they would immediately recognize one of the middle-aged men in the group as their Sect Master, Lu Dengxian, a Peak of Divinity Transformation Great Cultivator.
However, at this moment, the team was not led by him, the Sect Master. Instead, he seemed like a junior, accompanying an old man with youthful looks despite his gray hair.
"Lingxiao City, huh? The last time I came here was over forty years ago, wasn’t it? Back then, this was just a small city..."
As the elder spoke, he glanced around.
Lingxiao City no longer had any traces of a small city.
Even without reaching the city walls, manors and buildings already filled the suburban roadsides.
Countless farmers and merchants shuttled back and forth, bustling without rest.
Everyone seemed to have their own tasks and knew what they needed to do.
Their busyness was tinged with fulfillment.
Moreover, even the most ordinary farmer’s clothes were rarely patched, and each person’s spirit seemed full, without hints of numbness or malnourishment.
With such physique, a little training for a few months would be enough to qualify them for military service. If they could study martial arts in a dojo, with one or two years of polishing, they might even enter the Body Tempering Realm and become an elite soldier.
"Vigorous and robust, the people are wealthy and strong. This was the spirit only seen among the Imperial Capital’s citizens in the past."
The elder said.
"Supreme Elder, Venerable Daoist Gu has implemented an unprecedented system in Lingxiao City. This system divides everyone into two classes, a ruling class and a ruled class. Within the ruling class, there are two distinct types. One is the Gu Family, who can only be punished by Gu family law, and the other..."
Lu Dengxian hesitated for a moment and said, "For a Refining God Immortal who breaks the law, the punishment is the same as for commoners."
"Refining God Immortals are punished the same as commoners for their crimes?"
The elder furrowed his brow.
Being addressed as Supreme Elder by Lu Dengxian, his status was self-evident; he was none other than the current Venerable Daoist Liu Jingtiao of Purgatory Sect.
"How can the esteemed status of a Refining God Immortal be taken so lightly as to be equated with ordinary people? This practice must be foolishness."
"Indeed, it is somewhat incomprehensible. Even though the death penalty is rare and most people are sentenced to redeem themselves on the battlefield, equating a Refining God Immortal to the level of a commoner has certainly provoked dissatisfaction among many."
"Even redeeming oneself on the battlefield is unacceptable."
Liu Jingtiao seemed to consider something and finally shook his head: "Too much or too little, if he truly unifies Qiantian and then implements this system, there might be some hope. But doing it now... In the future, when he seeks to expand and develop into the surrounding states, he will likely face staunch opposition from local forces."
"That’s also why so far, very few Refining God Immortals have been willing to serve Lingxiao City."
Lu Dengxian continued and added another remark: "Not long ago, he captured Starlight City, and nearly all families and tribes of Refining God Immortals have relocated. The True Inheritors who chose to serve him as the State Governor did not even reach ten."
"Have the Refining God Elders in our Sect said anything about this?"
"There is indeed some dissatisfaction, but now that Venerable Daoist Gu has become the Supreme Elder of our Purgatory Sect and given that our sect also has strict rules and regulations, coupled with Venerable Daoist Gu’s current eminence, they have not yet revealed their discontent,"
Lu Dengxian explained.
"I’m somewhat better off. However, Venerable Daoist Elder Zhang places great importance on the distinctions between superiors and inferiors, the differences between the higher and lower classes... He always believes that hierarchy is the best tool to govern a territory. Only with clear class distinctions, division of labor, and everyone performing their assigned duties can we maintain an enduring and unyielding power."
Liu Jingtiao spoke, looking ahead.
Before they knew it, they had arrived in front of a massive manor.
The manor seemed like a city, crossing their field of vision, and they could even see figures patrolling and keeping watch all around.
Liu Jingtiao observed for a moment and quickly realized that these people... were devils...
All of them were Demon God Warriors.
For a moment, he couldn’t help but think of something.
Could it be that Gu Jinlai intended to heavily favor the Demon God Warriors, supporting a new class!?
Lu Dengxian noticed the Supreme Elder’s gaze and explained at his side, "It is said that Gu Jinlai’s Demon God Guards have expanded their ranks again; they’ve now grown to three thousand. Of course, of these three thousand, only a little more than one thousand have cultivated the Demon God Body."
"Over a thousand..."
"I remember Lingxiao City has a new type of equipment called Mystic Steel Armor; its defensive capabilities are astonishing. Demon God Warriors clad in this Mystic Steel Armor have fearsome defenses, their combat power comparable to cultivators at the Gang Condensation Realm?" Liu Jingtiao said.
"Indeed, it’s true."
Lu Dengxian said and then suddenly hesitated.
Following that, his face showed surprise.
Over a thousand people at the Gang Condensation Realm!? The strength of...
...was almost not inferior to their Purgatory Sect.
If Gu Jinlai could make all three thousand Demon God Guards cultivate the Demon God Physique, then the mid-tier strength of Lingxiao City would leap to a level surpassing that of the Purgatory Sect!
"I actually overlooked this point... It’s too fast..."
"Demon God Warriors, they are renowned for rapid advancement. Without Demon Blood Essence, Demon God Warriors can match Qi Refinement Gang Condensation in just three to five years. Let alone that Venerable Daoist Gu constantly orders the purging of devils in Star State, almost depleting them completely, it’s not strange to cultivate more than a thousand Demon God Warriors with the Demon God Body," Liu Jingtiao said, making a vague realization.
Rapid advancement!
Gu Jinlai’s goal was quick progression.
Rapid advancement plus a large quantity.
He rallied the commoners and didn’t lack a source for soldiers.
Once he called for them, those grateful commoners wouldn’t hesitate to become candidates for the Demon God Guards.
And with the fast formation of the Demon God Guards, with general improvement in physical quality, it would take about three years to let an ordinary person cultivate the Demon God Body.
The Demon God Body, complemented by Xuan Steel equipment, would mean the combat strength of these guards rivaled those at Gang Condensation.
How long does it take to train a cultivator at the Gang Condensation Realm!? Twenty years? Thirty years? Forty years?
How many resources would be consumed during this time?
When compared this way, the differences between the two became immediately apparent.
"This Venerable Daoist Gu is playing a very big game. If given enough time..."
Liu Jingtiao, staring at the manor before him, actually felt hesitant for a while.
Gu Jinlai’s plan was akin to an open strategy.
Having solved the issue of rampant demonic nature, Demon God Warriors indeed had great advantages over the cultivation system.
The speed of growth was too fast.
Once Gu Jinlai further perfected the way of the Demon God Warriors, what advantage would cultivators have left?
The advantage in combat power at the Divinity Transformation and Primordial Spirit True Monarch stages? The advantage of living twice as long as Demon God Warriors?
Under such momentum, where would the Purgatory Sect’s future lead?
Would they maintain the pride of cultivators, keep their independence, and gradually grow distant from Gu Jinlai, or...
...let go of pride, fully tie their fate with Gu Jinlai, to shake this world and establish a new order?
As the Supreme Elder of the Purgatory Sect, and one of the highest decision-makers, Liu Jingtiao suddenly found it difficult to make this decision.
After a long time, he finally decided that he would wait to meet Gu Jinlai and learn about his true intentions before deciding.
For now, the group arrived at the entrance of the manor.
Hearing the news, Gu Jinlai had already come out to meet them. Seeing Liu Jingtiao, the Primordial Spirit True Monarch Realm Supreme Elder of the Purgatory Sect, he smiled and greeted with clasped hands, "Venerable Daoist Liu gracing us with your presence is an honor. I apologize for not meeting you further away; I hope the Supreme Elder will forgive me."
"Venerable Daoist Gu is too kind. You’ve subdued Lingxiao City... and seized such an extensive foundation in Star State; you must be extremely busy every day. My visit is quite presumptuous, and I just hope Venerable Daoist Gu doesn’t find me troublesome," Liu Jingtiao replied with a smile.
"Not at all. Your arrival, Venerable Daoist Liu, brings glory to my humble abode and Lingxiao City. Please, come inside," Gu Jinlai offered with a gesture.
The atmosphere between the two was amiable and harmonious.
