263: Chapter 263 People from the Shangqing Sect arrive, to reap the rewards!

The four regions of the Evil Water Marsh have been pacified.

News of the Poison Flood Dragon King's fall spread throughout the Qingcang Kingdom cultivation world within a few days.

A Level 7 Great Yao Beast was torn apart alive, the Dragon Python Clan in the Southern Region fell apart, and the entire poisonous swamp underwent a complete transformation.

Although many details of this battle were deliberately blurred and erased by everyone at White Cloud Temple, Shi Jian still became famous after one battle, his reputation skyrocketing!

One month later.

Two streaks of light, one cyan and one white, flew in from the horizon with a rainbow-like Aura.

The streaks of light landed directly into Fengshui City without any concealment, their Golden Core Stage pressure causing the tens of thousands of Cultivators in the city to cast glances.

Clearly, the Evil Water Marsh had been pacified, and people from the Shangqing Sect had arrived.

Fengshui City, City Lord's Mansion, assembly hall.

Sun Chengzhu sat on the left side of the main seat, his thirty-six Flying Swords retracted into his body.

Shi Jian, transformed into a bear body of ordinary size, lay on the large jade couch on the right, eyes closed to rest, his presence weak...

Two people sat opposite them.

On the left was an old man in white robes with a refined face, sporting a three-stranded long beard and a smiling expression; this was the Golden Core Master of the Bai lineage of the Shangqing Sect, Bai Xiuyuan.

On the right was a middle-aged man wearing black dharma robes with a cold, stern face, his brows revealing an arrogant air of superiority.

This was the Golden Core Master of the Li lineage of the Shangqing Sect, Li Zhongyue.

White Cloud Temple had fought and died for thirty years, and now the people from the Shangqing Sect had finally arrived to "pick the peaches"; the moment you pacified the place, they arrived to negotiate benefits.

Bai Xiuyuan picked up his Spirit Tea and took a sip:

"Fellow Daoist Sun Chengzhu, White Cloud Temple has made great contributions in opening up the Evil Water Marsh this time. The Sect sees it and is very gratified."

Sun Chengzhu remained expressionless: "Fellow Daoist Bai, you exaggerate. White Cloud Temple only achieved today's success by relying on the prestige of the Shangqing Sect."

"For such exploration, I certainly dare not take credit or be arrogant."

Li Zhongyue snorted coldly and slammed his teacup onto the table:

"Fellow Daoist, let's skip the pleasantries. We have come today under the Sect's decree to take over this Evil Water Marsh."

Sun Chengzhu's eyes narrowed.

Shi Jian didn't even lift his eyelids.

Bai Xiuyuan smiled to smooth things over: "Junior Brother Li has a blunt personality, Fellow Daoist Sun Chengzhu, please don't take offense. The Sect's intention is that since the Evil Water Marsh has been pacified, it can no longer be called by such a filthy name."

"From now on, this place will be renamed 'Fengshui Swamp', designated as the Ninth State of Qingcang Kingdom, and named 'Fengzhou'."

Sun Chengzhu nodded: "Changing the name and establishing a state is only appropriate."

Bai Xiuyuan took out a scroll and slowly unfurled it in the air.

On the map, the four regions of the Fengshui Swamp were clearly marked.

"Fengzhou has a vast territory, and the Sect has decided to divide it into two parts, North and South."

Bai Xiuyuan pointed to one side of the map: "The Northern Territory, including the original Northern Region and Western Region, will continue to be governed by White Cloud Temple."

"The Southern Territory, including the original Eastern Region and Southern Region, will be taken over directly by the Sect."

Sun Chengzhu looked at the map, his brows furrowed.

The Northern Region was the first place White Cloud Temple opened up, and its Foundation was already stable.

However, it was relatively barren and lacked valuable resources.

The Western Region was the territory of turtle-type Yao Beasts; although it was also a key area managed by White Cloud Temple, it was, after all, a place for herding beasts.

And the resources were mediocre, which could only be considered a decent blessed land.

And what about the Southern Territory?

The Eastern Region had a large insect nest, and a Level 3 Zhuyin Stone vein was hidden underground, making resources extremely abundant. The Southern Region had well-developed water systems and the best geographical advantage, serving as a throat thoroughfare connecting to the Boundless Sea.

The Shangqing Sect made this cut and directly took away the two fattest pieces of meat.

Li Zhongyue leaned back in his chair, his tone unquestionable: "From now on, the Southern Territory will be jointly guarded by my Li family and Senior Brother Bai's Bai family."

"The large Spirit Stone vein deep in the Southern Territory will also be mined by my Li family. The tribute that White Cloud Temple pays annually, as previously agreed, remains unchanged at forty percent and will come from the Northern Territory."

Sun Chengzhu sighed; this wasn't just picking peaches, this was taking the whole pot.

White Cloud Temple had lost thousands of Cultivators to conquer the four regions, but in the end, they only received the two most barren pieces of land and still had to bear a huge tribute.

"Two Fellow Daoists."

Sun Chengzhu said in a slightly heavy voice: "The remaining Yao Beasts in the Eastern and Southern Regions have not been cleared out yet. If the Sect takes over directly, I fear there will be insufficient manpower."

"My White Cloud Temple is willing to assist..."

"No need."

Li Zhongyue interrupted: "My Li family and the Bai family will mobilize the elites of our clans to come. White Cloud Temple just needs to guard the Northern Territory well. If your hand reaches too far, it's easy to get it broken."

The atmosphere in the assembly hall instantly dropped to freezing point with this sentence.

Just as Sun Chengzhu was about to speak, Shi Jian, who had been lying on the jade couch, opened his eyes.

Thunder Pupils swept over Bai Xiuyuan and Li Zhongyue.

The two Golden Core Masters of the Shangqing Sect suddenly felt a chill run up their spines, and their breathing hitched; they had heard that this bear had just torn apart that Level 7 Poison Flood Dragon King.

This strength was not to be trifled with!

Shi Jian had no interest in entangling with these pawns, so he said: "The Sect's arrangement is quite good, let's settle it like this."

Sun Chengzhu turned to look at Shi Jian, a flash of confusion in his eyes.

Shi Jian didn't look at him, but stared fixedly at Li Zhongyue: "The waters in the Southern Region are deep; Immortal Master Li must be careful not to drown."

"There are many insects in the Eastern Region; Immortal Master Bai also needs to be careful and vigilant."

"If one day you are attacked by some Yao insect and poisoned by some strange toxin, resulting in your death and the dissipation of your Dao, that would be unfortunate."

Hearing this, Li Zhongyue's expression turned ugly. How could a Golden Core Cultivator drown or be poisoned to death by Yao insects? This was clearly Shi Jian threatening them!

But due to his strength, the two of them dared not act out. Bai Xiuyuan even gave two dry laughs and said politely: "Thank you, Senior Shi, for the reminder."

"Our Li and Bai families will remember this. Junior Brother Li was quite offensive just now, and we hope Senior Shi will not hold it against us."

"All of this is ultimately for the Sect, don't you agree, Senior?"

The song was sung, and the meeting ended hastily.

Bai Xiuyuan and Li Zhongyue, taking a group of Shangqing Sect Disciples, impatiently headed to the Southern Territory to take over the territory...

Inside the assembly hall, only Sun Chengzhu and Shi Jian remained.

"Old Ancestor."

Sun Chengzhu stood up, his tone filled with suppressed anger: "The Shangqing Sect is truly bullying us too much. The Zhuyin Stone vein in the Eastern Region was paid for with the lives of our Sect's Disciples."

"How can we just hand it over? It's truly stifling!"

Shi Jian listened, his expression indifferent, but he said dismissively: "Chengzhu, sometimes you need to look at the long term."

"What does Old Ancestor mean?"

"What they took away is nothing more than an empty shell and a few mineral veins."

"Perhaps we lost quite a few resources, but we also avoided falling out with the Shangqing Sect. We have gained a huge amount this time, so we should be content..."

"Temporary success or failure is never anything of significance. Let them be."

Hearing this, Sun Chengzhu was silent for a moment, then sighed slightly.

White Cloud Temple could not break with the Shangqing Sect right now.

Lacking strength, lacking heritage.

The Shangqing Sect had a Nascent Soul Old Ancestor sitting in charge; if they really fell out, White Cloud Temple would be destroyed in an instant. When weak, one must still know how to shrink back.

Acting on impulse will never last long.

"Old Ancestor is right, I should have understood."

Sun Chengzhu nodded in agreement: "I will stay in the Northern Territory of Fengzhou, establish a branch of White Cloud Temple, and stabilize the footing here."

"To ensure, as much as possible, our Sect's remaining interests here."

"Hmm, it is good that you can understand."

"Let them fight. The meat of the Fengshui Swamp is too big; although the Bai family and the Li family can swallow it, they might not be able to digest it."

"For everything, just observe the changes quietly and wait for the right time..."