103: Eastern Wilderness? Isn't that the starting village?

Cloud Top Heavenly Palace, Tea Room Number One of the Heaven Grade.

Xu Xiujin's slender fingers gently tapped on the warm white jade tabletop, producing a crisp sound.

Before her, the old woman of the Void Refinement Stage stood with a bowed head, not even daring to breathe loudly.

“Has everything been arranged?” Xu Xiujin's voice was as cold as ice.

“In response to Young Miss, the orders have already been sent down. The elites among the Family's secret guards are currently assembling. They will be able to set out for the Eastern Wilderness within three days,” the old woman answered respectfully.

“Very good.”

Xu Xiujin picked up her spirit tea and brought it to her lips, but then stopped.

Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the churning sea of clouds outside the window, a hint of undisguised mockery playing at the corners of her mouth.

“A bunch of bumpkins from the Eastern Wilderness, having struck it lucky and obtained a spatial secret treasure, actually dare to flaunt their power in the Central State.”

“Now that they've been scared into running away, it saves me quite a bit of trouble.”

“Pass down the order: find them, and there's no need to leave survivors. Just bring that secret treasure back intact.”

“Yes, Young Miss.” The old woman took her orders and was about to withdraw.

“Hehehe...”

A burst of silver bell-like laughter rang out at the tea room door without warning.

“Sister Xiujin, what kind of good fortune is this that you're making a fortune again? Why didn't you call your younger sister? Keeping it all to yourself will make you gain weight, you know.”

Before the voice had even faded, a woman dressed in a water-green silk skirt had already stepped lightly into the tea room.

Her figure was graceful, her face charming, and a natural allure radiated from her with every glance.

She was none other than the Saintess of the Hundred Flowers Palace, another top power in the Central State, Qiao Lian.

The old woman's expression changed, and she immediately bowed in greeting: “Greetings to Saintess Qiao Lian.”

Xu Xiujin's brow furrowed imperceptibly for a moment, then smoothed out again.

She waved her hand, signaling the old woman to withdraw.

“Sister Qiao Lian, your nose is truly sharper than a dog's,” Xu Xiujin said with a fake smile. “The threshold of my Heavenly Palace is about to be worn down by your visits.”

Qiao Lian didn't care about her sarcasm and sat down opposite her of her own accord, pouring herself a cup of tea.

“Sister, you must be joking. Who told me that I just happen to love the tea here at your place?”

She took a light sip, putting on an intoxicated act.

“Tsk tsk, High Grade Cloud Mist Immortal Tea is indeed different. Sister truly has such grand style. I wonder which unlucky fool is about to have another layer of skin peeled off by Sister?”

Xu Xiujin gave a cold snort.

“Stop with the sarcasm. You don't come to the temple without a reason. Speak, what are you here for?”

Qiao Lian put down her teacup, her peach-blossom eyes looking at her with a beaming smile.

“Sister is going to the Eastern Wilderness to find a spatial secret treasure. For such a big matter, I naturally had to come and join the fun to see if I could be of any help.”

Xu Xiujin's gaze instantly became as sharp as a blade.

“Are you spying on me?”

“Oh, Sister, saying that really hurts our feelings.” Qiao Lian waved her hand with an innocent face.

“It's just that several of my useless subordinates happened to be in Tianxu City a few days ago. They accidentally overheard some rumors. For example, something about a ‘Ten Thousand Dao Gang’, or a ‘Ten Thousand Dao Laughing Sect’...”

“Don't you think this is interesting, Sister?”

Xu Xiujin fell silent.

She knew that Qiao Lian, who appeared charming and harmless, was actually deep and calculating, with methods not at all inferior to her own.

Since she knew about it, this matter could not be settled easily.

“You want a piece of the pie?” Xu Xiujin got straight to the point.

“Sister, you're joking.” Qiao Lian covered her mouth and laughed softly. “I just want to cooperate with Sister and share in this grand event.”

“That spatial secret treasure can allow an Eastern Wilderness Sect to come and go freely in a Secret Realm. For such a divine object, I'm afraid Sister wouldn't be able to swallow it alone, right?”

Xu Xiujin's face turned completely cold.

“It's not your place to comment on my things.”

“Sister, don't be angry.” Qiao Lian changed the subject.

“Although the Eastern Wilderness is a barren land, what if that Myriad Dao Divine Sect has some hidden cards? If the people Sister sent out fail, wouldn't that just make people laugh for nothing?”

“If our two houses join forces and send out our elites, then no matter what happens, we can be absolutely sure of success. As for that secret treasure... once it's found, we can each rely on our own abilities, how about it?”

The light in Xu Xiujin's phoenix eyes flickered uncertainly.

Qiao Lian's words did indeed have some truth to them.

It was better to be safe than sorry.

The Myriad Dao Divine Sect acted strangely. If they really had some trump cards, it would indeed be risky for her Family to act alone.

“How do you want to cooperate?” Xu Xiujin relented.

The smile on Qiao Lian's face grew even more radiant.

“Simple. Our two houses will each provide ten people.”

“The Eastern Wilderness is a place where Spiritual Qi is thin. I expect the strongest there is only at the Void Refinement Stage. If we each send nine Void Refining Cultivators, it will be enough to sweep away everything.”

Xu Xiujin sneered: “You've calculated quite shrewdly. What about the tenth person?”

Qiao Lian stretched out a slender jade finger and tapped lightly in the air.

“To show our sincerity, and also to prevent the other side from playing any tricks, our two houses will each provide one more... Elder in the Early Integration Stage to oversee the operation.”

“How about it?”

Body Integration Stage!

These three words caused the air in the entire tea room to freeze.

Such existences were titans in the Central State, true top-tier combat power.

Sending them to the Eastern Wilderness was simply like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken!

Xu Xiujin gave Qiao Lian a deep look.

This woman truly had a grand style!

She was afraid that Xu Xiujin would keep it all for herself, so she had specifically added this insurance.

“Fine,” Xu Xiujin finally nodded.

“However, I have one condition.”

“Please speak, Sister.”

“After finding the secret treasure, I want seventy percent.”

The smile on Qiao Lian's face stiffened, then she quickly regained her charm.

“Sister, your heart is a bit too black. Fifty-fifty sounds so much better.”

“Seventy-thirty, no room for negotiation.” Xu Xiujin's attitude was beyond doubt.

“...Alright, alright. Who told me that I just happen to like your domineering way, Sister?” Qiao Lian sighed with a feigned sense of grievance. “Then, happy cooperating?”

“Happy cooperating.”

The two of them raised their teacups and tapped them lightly in the air.

The tea mist rose, obscuring the flash of cold calculation in each of their eyes... Meanwhile.

Eastern Wilderness, Great Zhao Dynasty, Tianjing City.

What was once just a corner of the Southern Realm of the Eastern Wilderness, a Mortal kingdom, was now the undisputed hegemon of the Eastern Wilderness.

Above the Imperial Palace Hall.

The Retired Emperor Zhao Zheng, dressed in a simple Daoist robe, sat cross-legged on the former dragon throne.

His eyes were slightly closed, Spiritual Qi circulating around him, and a terrifying pressure of the Void Refining Initial Stage filled the entire hall.

Below the hall, the civil and military officials stood with bowed heads, their expressions respectful and fanatical.

“Reporting to the Retired Emperor! The former territories of the Surging Waves Sect have all been incorporated into our Dynasty's map! The new East Sea Prefecture has been established, the Prefect has been dispatched to take office, and order is well-maintained everywhere!”

“Reporting to the Retired Emperor! The spirit mines of the former Hundred Beasts Manor have all been mined! The Spirit Stones obtained have been added to the national treasury!”

“Reporting to the Retired Emperor! With the help of the Formations and resources left by the State Preceptor, our Dynasty has enjoyed favorable weather and abundant harvests this year. The people live in peace and contentment, and the number of newborns has tripled compared to previous years!”

One report of success after another came from below.

Zhao Zheng slowly opened his eyes, a flash of satisfaction in them.

Since his son Wuji and that Fairy Su had left, he had followed their instructions and integrated the entire Eastern Wilderness with thunderous methods.

Those once high-and-mighty Sects had either been flattened by several immortals from the Myriad Dao Divine Sect or had sensibly bowed their heads in submission.

Now in the Eastern Wilderness, there was only one voice, and that was the voice of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

And he, relying on the support of the entire Dynasty's Luck and the resources left by his son, had broken through to the Void Refinement Stage in just one year, from a Cultivator who had been stuck at Soul Transformation for many years!

This was a Realm he hadn't even dared to think about before!

“Very good.”

Zhao Zheng's voice echoed in the hall.

“Pass my decree: open the national treasury. Every citizen of my Great Zhao shall be rewarded with three dou of rice and ten catties of meat!”

“The Retired Emperor is wise!”

The officials shouted in unison.

After the officials had withdrawn.

Zhao Zheng slowly rose, walked to the hall entrance, and looked towards the direction of the Central State with his hands behind his back.

There, the sea of clouds was vast and unfathomable.

“Wuji, Wuyou, and Fairy Su... are you all doing well over there?”

He murmured to himself.

The current Eastern Wilderness was already too small for him.

He could feel that the Spiritual Qi of this world could no longer support him in taking another step forward.

Perhaps, after a few more years, once this land was completely stabilized.

He should also go to that legendary Central State to have a look.

He did not know.

A disaster capable of overturning the entire Eastern Wilderness was currently riding the clouds and the wind, crossing the Endless Dead Sea, quietly descending toward this land that had just gained new life.

---

PS: Qiao Lian, provided by the user 'Defender of the Flaming Mountain'. Early announcement: You'd better tip me 1 million.

---

In a corner, Qiao Lian leaned against a beauty's couch, one hand supporting her fragrant cheek, while the other idly toyed with the tassels on a gold-threaded soft pillow. Her eyes flickered, seemingly looking at the waning moon outside the window, but a faint smile played at the corners of her mouth as she spoke in a faint, melancholy voice, her tone carrying three parts laziness and seven parts grievance.

“Sigh, I don't know which heartless person insists on cutting the story off here, leaving my heart hanging, neither up nor down, which is quite uncomfortable. My constitution is already delicate, and I can least endure this kind of agonizing waiting. Now I only feel a tightness in my chest, and I can't even catch my breath properly.”

As she spoke, she actually made a show of clutching her chest and furrowing her elegant brows, as if she might cough up blood at any moment.

“It just so happens that those sisters from the righteous Sects are always surrounded by radiant light, with Spirit Pills, miraculous medicines, and rare treasures piled up beside them as if they cost nothing. Naturally, they are full of energy and vitality. Unlike me, all alone here, just a villain whom nobody loves. I suppose it makes sense; who would give good things to a 'bad person'? My little thoughts and schemes, without anyone to continue writing them, will surely be bottled up in my heart until I make myself sick from it, won't they?”

“I don't ask for much, just to ask all the brothers and sisters to bestow some inspiration, so that the Great One will pick up the pen sooner, giving me something to look forward to. If there could also be a few 'small gifts' or 'small rewards' and the like, as money to buy medicine for this poor soul... that would be even better.”

Her tone suddenly shifted, and she gave a sudden giggle. The laughter was crisp yet carried a hint of wickedness, and her eyes became crafty.

“Otherwise, if my heart gets blocked and stays stifled for long, I might just do something that even I am afraid of. When that time comes, don't blame Qiao Lian for not warning all you brothers and sisters~”