Within the Shouzhou Ancient City, the opposing forces vanished into thin air overnight; the whole city came under Chu Fengmian’s control.
"You five now submit to me, although guilty of high treason, this time, I will write off your crimes. Your sects will also escape calamity; go back and continue as your respective Sect Leaders."
Chu Fengmian looked at the five saints and spoke calmly.
"Thank you, young master, for your grace."
"We will forever follow the young master."
The five saints immediately knelt down and fervently kowtowed.
Chu Fengmian did not remember their transgressions, which surely was a huge favor for them.
Now, all five were marked by Chu Fengmian with the seal of life and death, their lives completely controlled by Chu Fengmian, leaving them no room to resist.
Even if Chu Fengmian made them the most abject slaves, they could not resist, yet their transgressions were forgiven—an immense grace, as they knelt and ferociously kowtowed.
"As for the other sects, since they are part of the Shouzhou Alliance, all their disciples are demoted to slaves!"
Chu Fengmian turned his head to Ao Zhenyuan and spoke.
"Ao Zhenyuan, take people and demote all their disciples to slaves for the army, seize all their wealth, and kill anyone who dares to resist on the spot!"
Upon hearing the order, Ao Zhenyuan, accompanied by several strong men of the Devastation Legion, left, and soon, countless screams echoed throughout Shouzhou Ancient City.
Most of the sects in Shouzhou Ancient City, having resisted, are now destroyed, their disciples all demoted to slavery.
Meanwhile, Chu Fengmian was resting in the palace until, after a day, Ao Zhenyuan came back.
Ao Zhenyuan arrived covered in endless blood, apparently having killed countless people.
"Young master, all the rebellious sects in Shouzhou Ancient City have been destroyed! All their disciples have been demoted to slaves for the army, and as for their wealth, it is all here in this spatial ring, please review it."
Now marked with the seal of life and death, Ao Zhenyuan’s loyalty was unmatched.
Chu Fengmian took it, opened the spatial ring, and saw it contained a hundred billion Nine Tripods Pills.
It was even more than the wealth of the Devastation Legion.
"No wonder the Shouzhou Alliance could compete with the Devastation Legion; indeed, their wealth is substantial."
Chu Fengmian took the spatial ring and immediately claimed it.
This wealth was rightfully Chu Fengmian’s.
"Ao Zhenyuan, I will soon leave Shouzhou Ancient City; all matters here will be entrusted to you."
Chu Fengmian looked at Ao Zhenyuan and spoke.
Now that Shouzhou Ancient City was unified and requiring restoration, it made sense to leave Ao Zhenyuan in charge as its wealth could continuously benefit Chu Fengmian.
A single Shouzhou Ancient City was perhaps richer than the entire martial state, and now that Chu Fengmian had taken it, he no longer had to worry about wealth.
Ao Zhenyuan respectfully responded, then left to start organizing and setting up Shouzhou Ancient City.
And following Ao Zhenyuan’s departure, a figure suddenly appeared in the palace, none other than Prince Xue Sha.
At last, Xue Sha’s heart was brimming with endless astonishment. He had not imagined that Chu Fengmian would possess such iron-blooded tactics and not only subdue the Doom Legion but even the Shouzhou Alliance, making the entire Shouzhou Ancient City submit.
"Congratulations to Master Chu, having now reclaimed Shouzhou Ancient City. When you report back to the Emperor, a Duke’s position will surely be reserved for Master Chu," Xue Sha said with a smile as he looked at Chu Fengmian.
To reclaim Shouzhou Ancient City was indeed a great achievement in the royal family, with promotion and nobility awaited.
"A Duke’s position, I hardly care for. I did this merely for cooperation with Princess Tian Yin. As for others, even with the royal family, there is no relation whatsoever," Chu Fengmian stated coldly.
The position of a Duke in the Kingdom of Qin was indeed coveted by many, but Chu Fengmian did not care at all.
If he wished, within a few years, the whole Kingdom of Qin would belong to him; he was just not interested.
His sole purpose now was to deal with the Zhao family and eliminate Zhao Wudi, his major threat. As for the rest, none were in Chu Fengmian’s considerations.
As for the royal family of the Kingdom of Qin, if they were wise enough not to provoke Chu Fengmian, he would not engage with them.
But attempting to ally with Chu Fengmian, or even trying to bind him to their ship, that indeed would be courting death.
Hearing Chu Fengmian’s cold words, Xue Sha also couldn’t help but be alarmed.
His words were also probing, attempting to tie the eminent Chu Fengmian to the grand ship of the Kingdom of Qin’s royal family.
After all, although Xue Sha followed Princess Tian Yin, he was naturally considering for the royal family.
But his probe was seen through by Chu Fengmian in an instant, who responded directly.
Such a clear response made Xue Sha sigh, yet he also understood that a person like Chu Fengmian was not one to be coerced.
Rather than angering Chu Fengmian, it was best to leave things be.
"However, Master Chu, the matter of recapturing Shouzhou Ancient City indeed still needs to be reported to the Emperor, as it is of great significance. But it is merely a report without other implications, please be assured," Xue Sha spoke.
"Princess Tian Yin has already sent me a message, asking me to invite you to the royal city."
"Good, I also have some thoughts and plan to discuss them with Princess Tian Yin. Let’s head to the royal city then," Chu Fengmian said after pondering for a moment.
It seemed that his existence could not be ignored by the royal family of the Kingdom of Qin, especially now that Chu Fengmian had subdued the Doom Legion and occupied Shouzhou Ancient City, holding the position of the Great Commander of the Qin Imperial Legion.
This status already made him one of the most powerful and prestigious people in the Kingdom of Qin, comparable to the Grand Marshal Zhao Wudi.
Now, sending him to the royal city also implied the intention for him to enter the court.
"Then let us depart immediately," Xue Sha said, relieved as Chu Fengmian agreed readily; he had feared that if Chu Fengmian truly refused, he would have been in a difficult position.
He could do nothing about Chu Fengmian.
Without further ado, Chu Fengmian suddenly grabbed Xue Sha, moved, and traversed through space.
Chu Fengmian’s speed was extremely fast, and in just a few hours, they crossed most of the territory of the Kingdom of Qin and suddenly arrived before an immensely huge city.
This city, compared to Shouzhou Ancient City or the Nine Tripods City, was much stronger and grandly built, exuding a majestic authority.
This was the royal city of the Kingdom of Qin.