375: Warlords

Inside the council hall, isolated by layers of Restrictions.

The Great Family Head, wearing a black cloak, sat down with the Third Family Head.

Before them was Iron Mask, the Marshal of the Enforcement Battalion of the Tiance Military Prefecture.

Recently, many things have been happening within the Tiance Military Prefecture.

The new Marshal Xuan Hu had fallen, and the Xuan Hu Battalion no longer had a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator to oversee it; without reaching this Realm, one could not firmly hold this position.

Left with no choice, Iron Mask had to temporarily take charge of the Xuan Hu Battalion to stabilize the situation.

However, Iron Mask discovered something.

The morale of the entire Tiance Military Prefecture was not high, especially that of the Xuan Hu Battalion.

Previously, Jiang Ning was known as the “Commander Killer”; whenever a commander from the Tiance Military Prefecture encountered Jiang Ning, most could not escape the fate of being slain.

Now, Jiang Ning had successively slain two Marshals Xuan Hu.

The entire Tiance Military Prefecture had only gone through four Marshals Xuan Hu!

Only four!

Jiang Ning alone had slain two!

This meant that half of the Marshals Xuan Hu were overshadowed by Jiang Ning.

Within the Xuan Hu Battalion, rumors even circulated, saying, “Jiang Ning is back, the Tiance Military Prefecture is going to lose.”

For this, Iron Mask directly killed the instigators and distributed some resources to appease the Xuan Hu Battalion, which only temporarily curbed the low morale.

Currently, the entire Tiance Military Prefecture was eagerly awaiting the Grand Marshal's early emergence from seclusion.

To turn the tide of the battle.

The Tiance Military Prefecture had won too much, causing the soldiers and generals to have long forgotten the taste of defeat.

They could not afford to lose.

They also needed a great victory to boost morale!

Dark Feather is a chatterbox, always hiding in dark corners, making him difficult to find.

The burden of the Tiance Military Prefecture currently rested on Iron Mask's shoulders.

Iron Mask knew that the seizure of the Tianshan Cold Pool was not the end, but the beginning.

Currently, he was consolidating his forces, avoiding unnecessary sacrifices.

But the missing Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator always left a fatal flaw.

Just as Iron Mask was about to patch this hole.

The Third Family Head of the Yingtong Merchant Guild arrived.

After understanding the situation, Iron Mask felt much relieved and immediately arranged to meet with the Great Family Head of the Yingtong Merchant Guild to discuss cooperation.

Today, they finally met.

Entering the room.

The Great Family Head lifted his hood, revealing a slightly plump face, always with a smile.

The Great Family Head saw Iron Mask and cupped his hands in greeting.

“Marshal Iron Mask, it's been a while since we last met.”

The Third Family Head also lifted his hat and stepped forward, saying, “Marshal Iron Mask, I've brought the Great Family Head. Regarding the conditions we discussed earlier, have you made up your mind?”

“Please sit first.”

Iron Mask was expressionless.

He was not very suited for this kind of “diplomatic” work.

After the Great Family Head and the Third Family Head sat down, Iron Mask seriously said, “What you said last time, that the Yingtong Merchant Guild would retain complete independent operating rights, is not a problem.

Furthermore, since we are allies, after our future victory, the Grand Marshal will certainly not make things difficult for you.”

The Great Family Head smiled after hearing this.

These were all things he deserved.

“Marshal Iron Mask, saying this is meaningless. I only ask one question: can you represent your Grand Marshal and give me this promise?”

“Yes.”

Iron Mask answered decisively, “Before the Grand Marshal went into seclusion, he instructed me to temporarily take charge of the Tiance Military Prefecture. This is the Grand Marshal's token, do you still wish to see it?”

As he spoke, Iron Mask pulled out a black token, upon which were carved a swimming Dragon and a fierce tiger. Just one glance, and it felt as if the roar of a tiger and the cry of a Dragon would echo in one's ears, shaking one's heart and spirit.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

It was good that Iron Mask could make decisions on behalf of the Grand Marshal.

Subsequently, his smile grew even brighter, “That's good, but our Yingtong Merchant Guild values harmony in business and believes that in this world, most things are transactions of interests.

If the Yingtong Merchant Guild allies with the Tiance Military Prefecture, what can the Tiance Military Prefecture offer the Yingtong Merchant Guild?”

Iron Mask frowned, “If I remember correctly, it was the Third Family Head who contacted me, expressing the desire to form an Alliance, right? Is it not the Yingtong Merchant Guild asking the Tiance Military Prefecture for an Alliance?

It's already good that we haven't asked the Yingtong Merchant Guild for a pledge of allegiance, isn't it?”

“Not so, not so.”

The Great Family Head said with a smile, “Old Third coming over was merely a scout to inquire about the Tiance Military Prefecture's intention to form an Alliance, just like buying and selling resources.

You want to buy, I want to sell, but someone has to speak first, right?

Could it be that if I, the seller, speak first, the item can only be sold at a low price? That wouldn't be appropriate, would it?”

Iron Mask frowned.

He really hated talking with these merchants.

“What do you want?”

The Great Family Head said, “It's wartime now, and our Yingtong Merchant Guild doesn't demand anything immediately. What I mean is, after the war ends, the spoils of war need to be split fifty-fifty.”

“Impossible.”

Iron Mask directly refused, “In this war, our Tiance Military Prefecture has suffered immense losses, and furthermore, it is our Tiance Military Prefecture's Grand Marshal who can secure victory.

Why should we split the spoils of war fifty-fifty with you?

Your Yingtong Merchant Guild can take at most twenty percent, and that's only if you contribute significantly in the upcoming war. Otherwise, we can only let you fend for yourselves; the Tiance Military Prefecture not annexing you would already be considered good.”

The Great Family Head was playing with a new luminous pearl. With the Grand Marshal in seclusion, his entry and exit in the Tiance Military Prefecture were as if no one was there.

“That's wrong. Currently, the Alliance has Jiang Ning back. Do you believe he has no trump cards, daring to return at this time?

Moreover, the combat power Jiang Ning has displayed can be considered that of a formidable Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator.

Adding to that, from the Yaoguang Immortal Palace, there are the two Palace Mistresses, Listening to Rain and Guan Xue, and also Old Second, who recently joined the Yaoguang Immortal Palace.

A total of four Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivators.

Your Tiance Military Prefecture has two Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivators. How will you fight next?

The high-end combat power gap is too severe.

And I haven't even counted the sisters from Zhi Shui Palace, who can fight a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator with their combined attack!”

The Great Family Head paused, observing Iron Mask's expression. Seeing that the other party still had a bottom line, he continued:

“To put it bluntly, if the Alliance recuperates well and launches a full-scale attack, by the time your Grand Marshal emerges, the Tiance Military Prefecture will be left with just him as a bare commander.

May I ask, what meaning would that victory have then?

But if you ally with our Yingtong Merchant Guild.

You will make up for the Nascent Soul Middle Stage combat power and gain an additional Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.

It can be said that with an Alliance with the Yingtong Merchant Guild, even if the Grand Marshal needs to remain in seclusion, he can do so with peace of mind.

With me here, even if the Great Palace Master comes, the Tiance Military Prefecture won't be afraid!”

Iron Mask lowered his gaze.

He had to admit that what the Great Family Head of the Yingtong Merchant Guild said made a lot of sense.

The Grand Marshal was in seclusion, and Marshal Xuan Hu had been slain.

The situation had reversed.

Now, it was the Tiance Military Prefecture that lacked high-end combat power.

If they had the Yingtong Merchant Guild, the situation would once again be balanced, and even if it became a stalemate, they could wait for the Grand Marshal to emerge from seclusion.

But to agree to this so easily would be too beneficial for this merchant.

It was truly difficult.

Iron Mask hesitated for a moment and said, “I can only agree to give you thirty percent of the profit. This is the biggest concession within my scope of duty. If this is not acceptable, then there is nothing more to discuss.

The Tiance Military Prefecture can still persevere.”

“Alright.”

The Great Family Head intended to proceed slowly.

Iron Mask sneered, “My Tiance Military Prefecture has given you profit, what about your Yingtong Merchant Guild? Didn't you say harmony in business? It's only harmony in business when there's give and take.”

The Great Family Head smiled, “What I am giving to the Tiance Military Prefecture, which is also the Yingtong Merchant Guild's pledge of allegiance, is Jieyi City, and all the forces within Jieyi City, including the Linghuang Pavilion!”