275: Incorporate overseas regions into the Great Qian's subordinate territories!

The cleansing of Xuanqiong Immortal Island, with the cooperation of absolute force and despair, proceeded swiftly and thoroughly.

For the faint hope of preserving the sect's lineage, Island Master Yun Ting practically dug three feet deep, identifying every elder, deacon, and even disciple who had the slightest connection to the Demonic Cult.

Naturally, this included his personal grievances and an opportunity for a purge, but under Li Shengyuan’s icy gaze, no one dared to question, and no one could resist.

Sword light flashed, and blood stained the clear waves.

As a swath of heads rolled, it declared the end of the old era of Xuanqiong Immortal Island overseas and the beginning of Great Qian’s absolute rule over the area.

The remaining disciples trembled, looking at the Black-Clothed Marquis, who was like a demon god, with only endless fear and submission in their eyes.

Li Shengyuan watched all this with indifference. After the last scream subsided, he flicked his finger, and a faint glow entered Island Master Yun Ting’s body.

“This is a restriction. It temporarily preserves your life. Atone for your sins and assist the imperial court in taking over this island. If you harbor any dissent, your spirit and form will be annihilated.”

Island Master Yun Ting’s face was pale. Feeling the terrifying restriction within his body that could instantly obliterate his soul, he prostrated himself on the ground and repeatedly said:

“This junior would not dare! I will dedicate my heart and strength to serving the imperial court, serving the Empress, and serving the Marquis!”

After handling the affairs there, Li Shengyuan and Ye Hangzhou had no more lingering attachments.

Ye Hangzhou set up a teleportation array on the spot. With a flash of light, their figures disappeared from Xuanqiong Immortal Island, and the next moment, they appeared directly above Hangzhou in Jiangnan.

No matter how fast flying was, it was still far inferior to spatial teleportation.

Luo Qingwan, Shen Xinrong, Yue Xiyan, and the other women, who had received the news, were already waiting there.

Seeing their return, they all breathed a sigh of relief and came forward to greet them.

“Shengyuan, are you two alright?” Luo Qingwan asked with concern, her gaze carefully examining Li Shengyuan.

Although she knew they were strong, she couldn't help but ask out of concern.

“Nothing.”

Li Shengyuan shook his head slightly, his tone softening a little. “Xuanqiong Immortal Island has surrendered, and those who stubbornly resisted have been purged. It’s just that Venerable Xuanji ran away early.”

Coal Ball on Ye Hangzhou’s shoulder proudly raised its head and concisely added:

“The island protection array has been controlled.”

Li Shengyuan’s gaze fell on Zixuan and Xue Yao, who were silent by his side, and he instructed:

“Zixuan, Xue Yao...”

“Your subordinates are here!” The two stepped forward with serious expressions.

Now that the affairs of Jiangnan were settled, they naturally no longer needed to hide their tracks.

“The core of Xuanqiong Immortal Island’s array has been controlled by Addressing Ye Xingzhou, and the remaining power is nothing to worry about,” Li Shengyuan instructed.

“You two will immediately lead a squad of Xuanyi Guard elites to the overseas islands to fully take over Xuanqiong Immortal Island. Investigate the treasury, reorganize personnel, establish an imperial court administration, and officially incorporate this place as a Great Qian dependency.”

“We obey your Lord’s command!” The two women accepted the order, a flicker of excitement and solemnity in their eyes.

This was a great merit for expanding the territory of the imperial court, and also a heavy responsibility.

However, the minds of the people on the overseas islands had been corrupted by Xuanqiong Immortal Island and the Demonic Cult for many years. To transform them, their ideology needed to be corrected, which was much harder than killing people... They would need the great Confucian scholars from the capital to do it.

Only after Zixuan and Xue Yao left to carry out their orders did Luo Qingwan slightly frown and ask:

“Did that Venerable Xuanji really run away?”

“Yes.” Li Shengyuan nodded. “That villain was quite decisive and had already prepared an escape route. He likely had the intention to leave when Cangming was executed. However, a stray dog is nothing to worry about. If he dares to show himself again in the future, we will just kill him.”

Shen Xinrong gently fanned herself and laughed, “It’s good that he ran. It saved us some trouble. It just benefited him; he probably took away a lot of treasures, didn’t he?”

Yue Xiyan was more concerned about the aftermath: “The various overseas island nations must now be thoroughly intimidated.”

As she said, the news of Xuanqiong Immortal Island being suppressed and purged with lightning speed swept across the overseas regions like a hurricane.

Those island nation envoys who originally had some small ambitions completely extinguished their last shred of hope.

The tribute sent to Hangzhou, intended for the Empress, which was already of the highest standard, suddenly escalated. Each island nation brought out its true national treasures.

All sorts of rare overseas treasures, spiritual medicines, ore materials, and even rare spiritual beast cubs were continuously presented, their attitudes extremely humble.

The affairs of Jiangnan, with the submission of Xuanqiong Immortal Island, the allegiance of the overseas nations, and the initial implementation of reforms in river transport and salt administration, had already established the overall situation.

Previously, Prince Wei Mu Weiran’s many overt and covert pawns and forces had all been eradicated.

The imperial court’s newly appointed officials were already on their way and would arrive soon to take over subsequent governance.

Li Shengyuan’s return to the capital was also approaching.

On this day, outside Hangzhou, at a dedicated airship port.

A massive, streamlined vessel silently hovered, its metal hull glinting with a cold luster in the sunlight.

At the bow, two boldly written characters, “sky abyss,” revealed boundless dominance and majesty.

It was Li Shengyuan’s super flying ship battleship:

sky abyss!

Li Shengyuan, accompanied by his parents and a host of beauties including Luo Qingwan, Shen Xinrong, and Yue Xiyan, boarded the flying ship.

The diplomatic missions from the various overseas nations, who had been waiting there, also boarded this flagship, which they regarded as a miracle, with excitement and reverence after receiving permission.

“Set sail!”

With Li Shengyuan’s command, sky abyss vibrated slightly. Under the control of the experienced Ye Hangzhou, the massive vessel silently ascended.

It then transformed into a streak of light, tearing through the clouds, and sped towards the heart of the Great Qian Dynasty—the capital.

This time, there was no rush to return, and with the tribute-bearing envoys, he naturally wanted them to experience the prosperity of Great Qian, so Ye Hangzhou was not asked to use the teleportation array.

Inside the flying ship, the overseas envoys looked through the portholes at the rapidly passing mountains and rivers below, gaining a more intuitive understanding of Great Qian’s strength.

Their reverence for the unfathomable Black-Clothed Marquis and the Empress, who resided in the capital, deepened even further.

The misty rains of Jiangnan were gradually fading into the distance... Empress Mu Qingning, in the capital, seemed to sense it and was already excitedly waiting, unable to sit still, for her beloved junior brother’s return.