Chapter 733 - 368: Wiping Out All Conflicts With War

Chapter 733: Chapter 368: Wiping Out All Conflicts With War

"Update complete. Ten thousand Points deducted," the Ring Spirit reminded him.

He paid no mind to the ten thousand Points, his eyes on the map that now completely covered the entire realm.

The complete map had appeared.

"Ring Spirit, does this mean I have complete control now?" Cheng Zongyang asked.

"Correct," the Ring Spirit responded.

"Where are the other passages? Have you found anything left behind by the previous master?" Cheng Zongyang pressed.

"There are five passages. One is in the Yu Sea, one is in Territory Two, one is in the north, one is in the west, and one is in the Central Region. However, aside from Territory Two’s, the other passages are sealed. You can deploy a passage at any time."

"For free?" Cheng Zongyang’s eyes lit up.

"The three-million-Point fee remains unchanged," the Ring Spirit replied.

Cheng Zongyang: "..."

Just then, the Ring Spirit added a reminder, "According to information left by the previous master, these five passages have different target demographics."

Cheng Zongyang was confused. A moment later, a thought struck him, and he asked in shock, "Don’t tell me they distinguish between groups like Elves, Beastmen, Demon Beasts, and even separate human practitioners of Cultivation Immortality from those who practice general Cultivation?"

He based this guess on the items he had obtained before.

’It’s just too much of a mess.’

The Ring Spirit responded, "Correct. There are traces of five Barriers having existed in this world. As long as one cultivates to a certain level of strength, they can walk out of their Barrier."

Cheng Zongyang was speechless.

But when he considered the sheer size of the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, it started to make sense.

’A diameter of five hundred thousand kilometers—what did that even mean?’

’If you compared its volume to Blue Star’s, it would be equivalent to about thirty-nine Blue Stars!’

’The fact that it was merely divided into five worlds by Barriers, with some empty zones in between, seemed plausible enough now.’

But Cheng Zongyang had no intention of dividing it up himself.

There were no Beastmen or Elves here, but there would be Demon Beasts, and in the future, the Demon Race and the Human Race.

’People from the Cultivation Immortality Realm will enter the Realm of Ten Thousand Races to seek adventure, providing resources for me and the Ring Spirit. That’s the best way to do it.’

Cheng Zongyang set the matter aside for now.

The Cultivation Immortality Realm wasn’t at its breaking point yet, but the Martial Arts Realm needed a passage.

Thus, he left the Realm of Ten Thousand Races and returned to Zi’an County, preparing to speak with Li Yihuo.

However, when he returned to Zi’an County and met with Li Yihuo, after chatting for a bit, he heard the man say:

"Boss, the price of goods has risen shockingly high recently. Even common staples like rice and flour for the ordinary folk have gone up a lot. With conflicts breaking out everywhere, I’m afraid this price surge won’t stop anytime soon. Perhaps we could start selling the Wilderness Rice."

Cheng Zongyang frowned. "Conflicts between factions have started in Zi’an County as well?"

Li Yihuo nodded with a grave expression. "Something happened that has led this subordinate to some unsettling speculations. This morning, Steward Baili paid a visit. He said the Cyan Dragon Commerce Association in the County Town will be scaling back its operations here. Most of their personnel and resources will be pulled back to the Main City, leaving only a Basic crew. He also reminded me to ensure my own safety and consider developing in the Main City."

Cheng Zongyang was puzzled. "He told you to develop in the Main City?"

Li Yihuo nodded slightly. "Correct. At first, this subordinate simply thought the Cyan Dragon Commerce Association was facing a supply shortage and was reallocating resources back to headquarters. That would have been understandable. But for him to suddenly remind me to protect myself and suggest going to the Main City... that means something is wrong."

"He wasn’t telling you to go develop in the Main City; he was telling you to leave the County Town." Cheng Zongyang understood immediately. He looked at Li Yihuo. "This means the County Town is about to descend into chaos."

Having experienced the turmoil in the Martial Arts Realm, he knew exactly what this kind of situation entailed.

Whenever chaos was about to erupt, those with powerful backgrounds and influence would get advance notice and relocate. It was just like with Zheng Yan, the Steward from the Celestial Fragrance Tower, who was the first to evacuate when he learned the County Town was about to fall into disarray.

Li Yihuo agreed. "Boss, that is what this subordinate speculated as well. Baili Xi couldn’t speak plainly. He clearly knows something, but is bound by the Commerce Association’s rules and can’t say it. He feels a sense of friendship toward us, so he gave a kind, veiled warning. In response, this subordinate has already sent Li Cungang to investigate a few places."

"Where?" Cheng Zongyang asked.

"The branches of major powers in the surrounding county towns, as well as the sub-branches of the top families in our own County Town," Li Yihuo analyzed. "If they seal their Grand Arrays and hole up inside, or if they relocate and pull out, it will all point to one thing."

"Massive turmoil in the Cultivation Immortality Realm!"

"War!"

Li Yihuo and Cheng Zongyang said at the same time, their expressions grim.

Li Yihuo had also experienced war and chaos, so he understood just as well what this kind of behavior signified.

"I understand," Cheng Zongyang said. An idea immediately formed in his mind.

He said no more, instead returning to the Cheng Mansion first, then entering the Realm of Ten Thousand Races and heading to the area of Passage Two.

He began to examine the situation inside the entire passage from his controller’s perspective.

Large numbers of Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already begun to enter. This was within his expectations and not worth paying much attention to.

He focused on the disciples of the Five Major Sects and personnel from Seven-Star Level powers and above. After listening in on various conversations, his expression grew increasingly grim.

The truth was just as he and Li Yihuo had predicted.

The Five Great Immortal Sects had already planned to start a war, a fact known only to their core members.

Through the intercepted information, he noticed that many of the people coming in were actually entire families. There were men and women, old and young, teenagers and small children.

After entering, they began to build settlements near the entrance to the Realm of Ten Thousand Races.

Cheng Zongyang hadn’t paid them any mind at first, never imagining that these people were the families of core members and those from major powers, sent in to take refuge!

’Those Five Great Immortal Sects are truly something else. They’ve decided to start a war that will engulf the entire Cultivation Immortality Realm just like that. This not only solves the passage problem and the resource redistribution problem, but also resolves the recent violent conflicts caused by the Spirit Veins.’

’All these issues were challenging the dominant position of the Five Great Immortal Sects. Now, by instigating a war, all their problems will be solved. Even if it means countless people will die.’

As Cheng Zongyang grew into his role as the Lord of an Immortal City and the Controller of the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, he found himself understanding the motives behind the Five Great Immortal Sects’ actions more and more.

’Didn’t he himself establish all sorts of rules in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races for the sake of his own plans?’

’The only difference was that his own methods were gentler; he hadn’t resorted to mass casualties to achieve his goals.’

’But all roads led to the same destination. In the end, it was all for the sake of profit.’

Cheng Zongyang pulled back from his surveillance and began to ponder on the eighth layer.

’The large population of the Cultivation Immortality Realm was very important to him. To put it cruelly, even if they had to die, they had to die inside the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, becoming "nutrients" to facilitate its complete recovery.’

’His Ten Thousand Races Spirit Seal was created precisely for this purpose.’

’This meant one thing—the war could happen, but people couldn’t be allowed to die meaninglessly outside.’

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Cheng Zongyang suddenly said to the Ring Spirit, "Ring Spirit, cancel the original regional barrier for Territory Two. Lift the restrictions."

The Ring Spirit asked, "Are you sure?"

It was Cheng Zongyang’s decision, so it wouldn’t ask any more questions.

"I’m sure. I want to let everyone take refuge in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races. In that case, there’s no need for territorial restrictions. Also, modify the entry and exit rules."

Cheng Zongyang’s expression was stern as he declared, "I want to let all Cultivators in, but not let them out!"

The war suddenly instigated by the Five Great Immortal Sects had disrupted his plan to collect Spirit Veins. Since these people were acting as puppet masters, casually deciding the fate of hundreds of millions, then there was nothing more to be said.

Cheng Zongyang continued, "Also, add an Immortal Dao Auction in the safe zone! I want to lure in all the Nascent Soul and Golden Core Cultivators, and anyone stronger. Lure in as many as possible."

From Cheng Zongyang’s brief statements, the Ring Spirit understood his intentions and said, "How shall the rules be formulated?"

Cheng Zongyang’s mind raced. Soon, a fully-formed idea had taken shape.

"First, add a ’Resident of the Realm of Ten Thousand Races’ identity mark to the Ten Thousand Races Spirit Seal. Anyone bound to a Spirit Seal can apply for resident status. Upon completion of registration, they will receive a resident gift package. The package will include one hundred Points, a choice between one Basic Martial Arts Technique or one Basic Qi Cultivation Method, and a corresponding bottle of Basic Elixirs."

"Second, modify the entry and exit rules. No longer place a limit on the Cultivation level of those who can enter. But add a new rule: for all cultivators who enter the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, find a reason to restrict them from leaving. Announce this reason publicly so people know why they can’t leave, rather than feeling they’ve been detained without cause. This will prevent unrest. The goal is to let them in, but not let them out! The power of interpretation is ours."

"Third, add the Immortal Dao Auction. In the name of the Immortal, auction off dojos in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races that factions can occupy and develop freely under the protection of the Immortal’s rules. Auction resources to Promote to the Divinity Transformation and Nascent Soul realms; auction opportunities for longevity."

"Fourth, create the position of Immortal Envoy. Screen and select personnel to become Immortal Envoys to manage the Realm of Ten Thousand Races on behalf of the Immortal. Announce that becoming an Immortal Envoy grants one the same lifespan as an Immortal and an undying, indestructible body."

As he laid out these four spontaneously conceived plans, the Ring Spirit created and displayed them as a template.