299: Chapter 299: Marching into the Northern Territory

City Lord's Mansion, Main Hall.

At 11:45 AM, sunlight filtered through the glazed tiles of the main hall, bathing the floor in a golden glow.

Dozens of banquet tables were set up in the hall, each covered with red silk and laden with spiritual fruits, spiritual wine, and spiritual dishes.

Red lanterns hung from the pillars in the hall, creating a festive atmosphere, much like the New Year.

The leaders of the major factions arrived one after another.

Patriarch Zhao Tianyu arrived first.

He wore a black brocade robe, his face gloomy as if his own father had died.

In fact, his own uncle had indeed died.

He held a gift box in his hands containing a Heaven Rank Medium Grade Magic Treasure, one of the few items left in the Zhao family's treasury.

He took his seat under the guidance of an attendant, remaining silent.

Acting Sect Master Jian Wuming arrived second.

He wore white Daoist robes, his face pale as if he had been through a serious illness.

He held a long, rectangular brocade box in his hands containing the Heaven Rank High Grade Frost Moon Sword.

He sat down next to Patriarch Zhao Tianyu, and the two exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in the other's eyes.

Sect Master Zhou Tianxing arrived third.

He wore a green robe and a smile on his face, looking like a relative attending a wedding.

He held a jade bottle in his hands containing ten-thousand-year spiritual liquid.

He sat down next to Acting Sect Master Jian Wuming and cupped his hands, saying: "Sect Master Jian, long time no see."

Acting Sect Master Jian Wuming gave a bitter smile.

"Sect Master Zhou, don't mock me. I'm no Sect Master now; I'm just a doorman."

Sect Master Zhou Tianxing laughed: "Sect Master Jian is too humble."

"The Sword Sect has a thousand-year foundation; with you here, it won't fall."

Acting Sect Master Jian Wuming sighed and said nothing more.

President Qian Sihai arrived last.

He wore a golden brocade robe and was all smiles, looking like an upstart.

He held a large gift box in his hands containing the Heaven Rank High Grade armor.

He found a seat and sat down, looking around as if searching for someone.

"Has City Lord Xiao not arrived yet?" President Qian Sihai asked Sect Master Zhou Tianxing beside him.

Sect Master Zhou Tianxing shook his head.

"Not yet, he should be here soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps echoed from deep within the main hall.

Everyone turned their heads at the same time to look in the direction of the sound.

Xiao Ran walked out from the back hall.

He had changed into a brand-new black robe embroidered with golden dragon patterns, a white jade belt tied around his waist, and a purple-gold crown on his head.

Behind him followed a shrunken version of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor's carcass.

Its five heads hung low, and its vertical pupils were hollow.

However, the Peak Body Integration aura radiating from its body made everyone present struggle to breathe.

Xiao Ran walked to the main seat and turned to sit down.

His gaze swept across the main hall, lingering on each person's face for a moment.

"Everyone, please sit." Xiao Ran raised a hand.

The crowd took their seats one after another.

Xiao Ran picked up his wine glass and stood up.

"I have set this banquet today for two reasons."

"First, to thank everyone for the support and trust you gave me when I first took office as City Lord."

"Second, to announce a few things."

The crowd held their breath, waiting for him to continue.

Xiao Ran looked at Patriarch Zhao Tianyu and said indifferently.

"Starting from today, the Zhao family's fief will be halved, and the annual Spirit Stone tribute will be doubled."

"Patriarch Zhao Tianyu, do you have any objections?"

Patriarch Zhao Tianyu's face flushed red, and his fists clenched, making a creaking sound.

But looking into Xiao Ran's calm eyes, his fists loosened.

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "The Zhao family, obeys."

Xiao Ran nodded with satisfaction and looked at Acting Sect Master Jian Wuming.

"Starting from today, the Sword Sect's sword Dao resources will be unified and allocated by the City Lord's Mansion. Acting Sect Master Jian Wuming, do you have any objections?"

Acting Sect Master Jian Wuming's face turned even paler, and he lowered his head.

"The Sword Sect, obeys."

Xiao Ran looked at the leaders of the other factions.

"Everything remains the same for the other factions."

"But there is one point: from today onwards, all affairs of the Sword Qi Great Wall will be decided by the City Lord's Mansion. Anyone who is dissatisfied can come and find me."

There was dead silence in the main hall.

No one spoke, no one dared to speak.

Xiao Ran smiled, a very relaxed smile.

"Everyone, drink."

He raised his wine glass and drained it in one gulp.

The crowd also raised their wine glasses; some drank readily, some bitterly, some numbly, but they all drank.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.

Xiao Ran put down his wine glass and stood up.

"That's all for today. Everyone, please return."

The crowd felt as if they had been granted amnesty and stood up to leave one after another.

Patriarch Zhao Tianyu left the fastest, afraid he wouldn't be able to stop himself from cursing.

Acting Sect Master Jian Wuming also left in a hurry, afraid Xiao Ran would make any more excessive demands.

Sect Master Zhou Tianxing left at a leisurely pace; he was in a good mood.

President Qian Sihai left very slowly; he wanted to say a few more words to Xiao Ran, but was stopped by Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing.

"President Qian, the City Lord is tired today; let's talk another day."

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing said with a smile.

President Qian Sihai nodded quickly: "Alright, alright, let's talk another day."

"Domestic Manager Liu, please tell the City Lord that the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce will always support him."

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing nodded: "I will certainly pass that on."

President Qian Sihai left with satisfaction.

In the main hall, only Xiao Ran and Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing remained.

Xiao Ran leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.

"Exhausting."

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing smiled: "My Lord, you were very impressive today."

Xiao Ran also smiled: "Impressive? Was I not impressive before?"

Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing blinked.

"You have always been the most impressive, My Lord."

Xiao Ran stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the Sword Qi Great Wall outside.

"Next, it's time to deal with the Yao Race."

Deep in the wilderness, the Ten Thousand Demon Plains.

Six figures knelt before a huge altar.

They were the representatives temporarily selected by the six major Yao Race clans.

Lion Yuntian of the Golden Lion Clan, Elder She Gu of the Nine-Headed Snake Clan, Feng Ming of the Five-Colored Phoenix Clan, Lei Zhen of the Thunder Qilin Clan, Chi Feng of the Mystic Ice Flood Dragon Clan, and Que Ying of the Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow Clan.

Between their brows, purple-gold runes flickered in and out of existence; that was the curse Xiao Ran had left in their Divine Soul.

On the altar, a phantom of Xiao Ran appeared.

He stood with his hands behind his back, looking down condescendingly at the kneeling Yao Race representatives.

"From today on, the Ten Thousand Demon Plains is under my management. Do you have any objections?"

Lion Yuntian lowered his head and gritted his teeth: "The Golden Lion Clan, obeys."

Elder She Gu hissed: "The Nine-Headed Snake Clan, obeys."

Feng Ming, Lei Zhen, Chi Feng, and Que Ying also bowed their heads one after another.

Xiao Ran nodded with satisfaction.

"Very good. From today on, all affairs of the Ten Thousand Demon Plains will be discussed collectively by your six clans."

"Major decisions must be reported to me for approval."

"Every year, each of the six clans will tribute fifty percent of your resources to me."

"Anyone who is dissatisfied can come and find me."

The six Yao Race representatives were bleeding internally; fifty percent of their resources.

That was half of their clan's annual income.

But they dared not say no.

"We obey."

Xiao Ran's phantom dissipated.

Lion Yuntian stood up and sighed.

"From now on, the Human Race runs the Far North Land."

Elder She Gu hissed: "Not just the Human Race, it's him alone who runs it."

Feng Ming shook her head: "Stop talking, just being alive is enough."

The six Yao Race representatives, filled with unwillingness and helplessness, returned to their respective clans to convey Xiao Ran's orders.

Sword Qi Great Wall, City Lord's Mansion.

Xiao Ran sat behind his desk, with a huge map spread out in front of him.

The full map of the Northern Territory.

His finger moved slowly across the map, from the Far North Land to the Sword Qi Great Wall, from the Sword Qi Great Wall to the Eternal Night Demon Sect, from the Eternal Night Demon Sect to the Supreme Dao Palace, and from the Supreme Dao Palace to the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Next, it's time to return to the Northern Territory." Xiao Ran said softly.

In the Soul Link, Li Changsheng's voice came through: "Xiao Ran, I have broken through to the Body Integration Stage."

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up: "So fast?"

Li Changsheng laughed: "The energy in the law seed was too abundant. I barely had to Cultivate; my cultivation base just kept shooting up."

"I am already at the Early Stage of Body Integration, just like you."

Xiao Ran laughed loudly: "Good! That's great! Come out, and we brothers will join forces to kill our way back to the Northern Territory."

Li Changsheng asked: "Kill our way back to the Northern Territory? Who should we kill first?"

Xiao Ran thought for a moment: "Kill the Third Supreme Elder of the Eternal Night Demon Sect first."

"That old thing wanted to attempt Possession on me, so I have to strike first."

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment: "That's an old monster who has been immersed in the Integration Stage for many years. Can the two of us at the Early Stage of Body Integration beat him?"

Xiao Ran laughed: "We can beat him easily, don't worry!"

Li Changsheng also laughed: "Alright. Then let's do it."

The two cut the connection.

Xiao Ran stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the Sword Qi Great Wall outside.

The sun was setting, and twilight was gathering.

The golden Sword Intent on the Great Wall flowed endlessly in the twilight, like a lamp that never went out.

"Northern Territory, I'm back."

Northern Territory, tremble.