199: Chapter 199 A Leap Forward! You're Surrounded by Me

"The northern and Northeast Provinces of the Izumo Empire, north of the Tian Yin Mountain Range—nearly four-fifths of the territory of those two provinces—along with the northwest and Northern Provinces of the Luo Yan Empire, now belong to the Maple Leaf Empire."

"The Northeast Province and Eastern Province of the Mu Lan Empire, with the Mulan Mountains as the boundary, all of the eastern part belongs to the Qiu Yue Empire."

"The two empires will send their own troops to capture these areas, but they need to pay a cooperation fee to the Cloud Mist Sect, and it's said the figure is quite high."

"The remaining seven provinces of the Izumo Empire, five and a half provinces of the Luo Yan Empire, and four provinces of the Mu Lan Empire belong to the Jia Ma Empire."

"The Mulan Plain and one province's territory of the Mu Lan Empire belong to the Snake-People Clan."

"..."

That person was clearly an insider, detailing the situation eloquently.

Everyone listened extremely intently. Finally, someone couldn't help but ask, "With the Tian Yin Mountain Range as the boundary in the north and the Mulan Mountains in the east, the Jia Ma Empire only needs to build military fortresses near the mountains to easily defend against the Maple Leaf Empire and the Qiu Yue Empire."

"The west is near the sea, and the south is a plain leading to the Black-Corner Region. As long as the Jia Ma Empire manages it well, its territory and population will more than triple, and defensive military operations will be much easier."

"Are the Qiu Yue Empire and Maple Leaf Empire actually willing to agree to this?"

Once the Jia Ma Empire digested its newly acquired territory, it would surely advance to become a second-rate empire on the continent, and a top-tier one at that.

With the Cloud Mist Sect receiving offerings from the Jia Ma Empire, it might even hope to become a first-rate, top-tier sect in the Northwest Continent.

By then, the Qiu Yue Empire and Maple Leaf Empire would likely become subsidiary empires of the Cloud Mist Sect as well.

"What choice do they have but to be willing?" The middle-aged man who knew so much spoke with a heated tone while drinking, "Sect Leader Yun Yun and the Grand Elder of the Maple Leaf Empire's imperial family had a decisive battle at the peak of Golden Goose Peak. Sect Leader Yun Yun won an absolute victory with a single move of the Wind's Extreme: Sword Spirit."

"Qiu Lanyue, the Sect Leader of the Qiu Yue Empire's strongest power, the Qiu Yue Sect, was no match for Queen Medusa, Colorful Glass."

"The strongest Great Elder of the Qiu Yue Empire's Qiu Yue Pavilion and the Great Elder of the Qiu Yue Sect joined forces, yet they were still no match for the Cloud Mist Sect's Great Elder, Snow Sword Young Master."

"Gu He, the Hall Master of the Cloud Mist Sect's Pill Hall, and Fa Ma, the President of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild, received guidance from a mysterious Alchemist. The former can now refine a few specific types of seventh-grade pills and is already able to refine the Break-Sect Pill, while the latter has also become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist and a Dou Huang."

"It likely won't be long before Jia Xingtian, Hai Bodong, and the others can break through to Dou Zong."

"They can't compete in strength, they can't compete in numbers, and there's also a powerful Alchemist. What do you expect the Qiu Yue Empire and Maple Leaf Empire to do?"

"Besides, they aren't without other enemy empires around them. The Jia Ma Empire only needs to use the strategy of befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones."

"The rise of the Cloud Mist Sect is already unstoppable."

Hearing this, the crowd burst into another round of discussion.

Most people sighed with emotion, thinking that the Cloud Mist Sect and the Jia Ma Empire were truly lucky.

If a top-tier genius like Gu Han had been born into any other power, these two factions wouldn't have had any of this.

Suddenly, someone asked, "Wasn't it said that the Hall of Souls stepped in to help the Izumo Empire and the Mu Lan Empire? That's a top-tier power from the Central Plains. Will any experts take action?"

"Like you said, the Hall of Souls is a power from the Central Plains; it's not their place to run wild in the Northwest Continent."

"Exactly, the various powers of our Northwest Continent can fight each other however we want, but why should an outside power from the Central Plains be so arrogant?"

"..."

In the highest-level VIP private room of the restaurant, Cai Die watched the discussion below with a playful glint in her eyes.

She hoped these people would still have the same luck to be hostile toward the Hall of Souls in a moment.

"Jie jie jie."

Suddenly, a burst of eerie laughter rang out above the restaurant.

Several clouds of black mist appeared, accompanied by a tooth-grinding scraping sound.

A man with red eyes, his body hidden within the mist, spoke indifferently, "The Northwest Continent, a backwater place of stubborn ignorance. How dare you recklessly discuss my Hall of Souls? You all deserve to die."

Become nourishment for my chains!

Several eerie blue chains flew out, shattering the four walls of the restaurant.

Several black-robed men emitting the aura of Dou Wangs entered through the gaps in the restaurant like reapers.

"It's the people from the Hall of Souls!"

"A Dou Zong!"

"It's over, it's all over..."

No one expected that just by gossiping a bit, they would actually offend the most ruthless party involved.

This luck was simply too terrible!

The group of cultivators who had been boasting and sighing used every means at their disposal to flee.

But facing Soul Emissaries at the Dou Wang level, they were only fit to be harvested.

The middle-aged man who knew so much saw this and his expression changed drastically, "My son is going to the Cloud Mist Sect to become a disciple! If you kill me, it will bring the retaliation of the Cloud Mist Sect!"

Hearing this, the speed of the Soul Emissary attacking him did not decrease but instead increased.

"It's over!" The middle-aged man was only a Nine-Star Great Dou Shi. After forming his Dou Qi Armor, he tried to escape, but his speed was completely insufficient before a Dou Wang Expert capable of flight.

Just when he thought he was certain to die today, the Soul Emissary not far away seemed to be hit by a freezing technique, stagnating in mid-air.

Immediately after, a layer of blue-white ice appeared, quickly spreading over the Soul Emissary's entire body.

Only at this moment did the middle-aged man and many others realize that snow had started falling from the sky at some unknown time.

"Iron Protector, you've really become more pathetic as you've aged." A young man's voice, tinged with a bit of amusement and mockery, resounded in all directions, "A dignified Dou Zong, actually leading several Dou Wangs to attack low-level cultivators."

"Aren't you afraid that if word gets out, everyone will laugh at the Hall of Souls?"

A ghostly light flashed in Iron Protector's eyes as his gaze fell toward the top of the restaurant, "Gu Han!"

"Bang."

The window opened, and Gu Han sat leaning against it, raising his head to meet Iron Protector's gaze.

Yun Yun, Colorful Glass, and Cai Die stood up simultaneously and stepped into a rift in the void.

When they reappeared, the three were already in three different directions around Iron Protector, stepping on the void with their auras released.

Iron Protector's heart skipped a beat, and he asked with a hint of disbelief, "You knew long ago that I would come here?"

"I not only knew you were here, I also know that in the Tian Yin Mountain Range, there is a contact point for one of your Hall of Souls' branch halls." Gu Han picked up his teacup and took a slow sip, "Otherwise, did you think you could have escaped that day?"

It was precisely because he knew the location of Iron Protector's lair within the Izumo Empire's borders that Gu Han had told Colorful Glass not to pursue him and let him leave.

First, deal with Xie Bi Yan and obtain the Poison Demon Spot for Xiao Yi Xian.

Then, just kill his way to their door.

Before acting, Gu Han had even used the Xuanwu Shell to perform a divination, confirming that there were no Dou Zun Experts stationed here.

The Hall of Souls branch halls with Dou Zun Experts were very far from the Jia Ma Empire.

Iron Protector didn't have the status or ability to invite an Elder Zun to take action.

"I let you live seven extra days; no need to thank me." Gu Han raised his teacup from afar and toasted Iron Protector.

"Boom!"

Another round of righteous gang-beating erupted.

On the lower floors of the restaurant, Xiao Yi Xian alone 'surrounded' several Soul Emissaries of the Hall of Souls.

"Slay them all!"

Gu Han watched this scene quietly and chose to use up his fortuitous encounter for the day.

After killing the enemies, he would go harvest the benefits.

After collecting the benefits, he prepared to set off for the Black-Corner Region.

On the side of the Jia Ma Empire and the Cloud Mist Sect, they didn't need him to help with anything else in the short term.

"Luck is pretty good today."