Chapter 490: Chapter 223: Battle of the Western Wilderness (Part 6)

Riding the Snow Wolf King back to Hidden Dragon Mountain, Shen Wen’an found Shen Chongming, who was lurking in the mountain, and informed him that it was time to take action. Afterward, Shen Wen’an rushed to the vicinity of the grand residence in the Western Wilderness to take up his post.

Lan Jue’s strength is formidable, and although he is confident he can kill him at the Half-Step Golden Core Realm,

considering that even if Lan Jue were killed, the forces from the Great Witch Mountain would likely send other Great Demons.

That would not only fail to solve the problem once and for all but would also completely infuriate the Demon Cave of the Great Witch Mountain, which would be unfavorable for the Shen Family’s future plans to occupy the Flame Lake Ridge and other schemes.

This time, severely weakening the forces of the Great Witch Mountain in the Western Wilderness is equivalent to sending a message to Lan Jue.

The entire southern part of the Western Wilderness belongs to the Shen Family.

If they don’t want to tear faces completely, both sides should maintain the current status quo.

The cultivators under the Shen Family, according to the previous agreement, split into three routes and charged past Hidden Dragon Mountain.

Lan Jue also sensed the presence of Shen Wen’an and the Snow Wolf King, and despite his anger, he knew that acting now wouldn’t change anything.

The immediate task is to quickly notify the Celestial Fox Demon King to send more Demon Generals to stabilize the forces in hand.

…

The battle in the Western Wilderness was fierce.

Mysterious figures and caravans suddenly appeared in the villages and towns on the borders of Xingyang and Anyang, which were under the control of the Shen Family.

These people were not cultivators but rather ordinary monks and commoners under the Jianan Temple.

They carried large amounts of grain and meat, spreading teachings and charity in the villages and towns along the way.

For a time, they attracted many onlookers from the common people.

This event quickly reached the ears of the Anyang Zhao Family and the Xingyang Liu Family.

City Lord’s Mansion of Anyang City.

Zhao Tuan, who was in his middle years, sat cross-legged on a bamboo bed.

Beside him stood a young man who looked very similar to him in his youth.

This young man was his youngest son, Zhao Tianqiu.

Zhao Tuan had four sons, but unfortunately, only the youngest, Zhao Tianqiu, possesses a Spirit Root; the eldest was a commoner, while the second and third are now body cultivators.

Zhao Tuan originally intended to leave the position of patriarch to his eldest son, Zhao Tianshu.

However, because Shen Chongming once remarked, “Tianqiu has good talent, he should be well nurtured,” Zhao Tuan didn’t hesitate to start grooming his youngest son, Zhao Tianqiu, as the future patriarch.

Now, Zhao Tianqiu had come of age and had married a direct daughter from the Chungui Liu Family last year.

Zhao Tuan always kept him by his side, gradually letting him take over family affairs.

“Tianqiu, what do you think of this matter?”

The father and son heard the Zhao family members’ report, and after some contemplation, Zhao Tuan turned to look at Zhao Tianqiu.

Zhao Tianqiu considered for a moment and then replied respectfully, “This matter undoubtedly must be an intrigue from the Zhili Jianan Temple.”

“Father, I believe we should immediately send people to drive those monks and merchants out!”

Although the Shen Family and Jianan Temple haven’t had a direct confrontation, several major Golden Core influences in the Southern Border consider them adversaries.

Jianan Temple sends people into the territories of Anyang City to distribute grain and meat, spreading teachings. Surely, no good intentions lie within.

“Back in those days, Jianan Temple approached the main household, seeking to establish temples and spread teachings in our four cities.”

“The patriarch refused outright without even a thought.”

Zhao Tuan sighed slightly and continued in a solemn tone, “But this situation isn’t as simple as you perceive.”

“Currently, most of our forces and the main family’s strength are embroiled in the Western Wilderness campaign.”

“If we provoke Jianan Temple to invade now, starting a two-front war could ruin the main family’s plans.”

Hearing this, Zhao Tianqiu frowned deeply.

“So are we just going to let them misbehave right in front of us?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tuan suddenly smiled and said, “It’s not exactly misbehavior on their part.”

“After all, they have provided a considerable amount of grain and meat to the common people under our rule, and rumors say they’ve even distributed money.”

“Father!” Seeing this, Zhao Tianqiu expressed his dissatisfaction and said, “They’re bullying us to our faces, and you aren’t the least bit anxious?”

Zhao Tuan gave him a glance and said, “I’ve told you before, you should remain calm when facing problems and avoid haste.”

Zhao Tianqiu clenched his fists, then suppressed his impatience and responded respectfully, “Father, how do you plan to handle this?”

Zhao Tuan pondered for a moment, then looked at the Zhao family member standing before him and asked, “How is the Liu Family in Xingyang responding to this?”

The Zhao family member replied respectfully, “Patriarch, the Liu Family hasn’t taken any action; rather, they seem to have even sent a direct family member to assist.”

“Oh?” Zhao Tuan was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

Zhao Tianqiu frowned and said, “Is Liu Jing senile?”

“Do not be disrespectful, Patriarch Liu is of an even higher generation than your father.”

Zhao Tianqiu snorted coldly, “I’m telling the truth, this is clearly a conspiracy, yet he still thinks it’s a good thing.”

“This move either shows senility or disloyalty…”

“Enough, let us just mind our own family’s matters, do not underestimate the Clan Court of the main family.”

Zhao Tuan slowly raised his hand to stop him and then thought for a moment:

“Next, take some people and secretly relocate the villagers of Huangfeng Town to the nearby villages around Xiaohe Village.”

“Move all the common people originally living in those villages away.”

“Be careful not to alarm the monks and merchants of Xiaohe Village.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tianqiu got a little anxious.

“The people of Huangfeng Town are all loyal to the main family since the Immortal Sect first descended; relocating them to be under the Jianan Temple’s mercy, isn’t it inappropriate?”

Zhao Tuan glanced at him and said, “When did I ever say to let them go and be at Jianan Temple’s mercy?”

“With the monks of Jianan Temple sending grain and meat, isn’t that a good thing for the common people of Huangfeng Town?”

“But…” Zhao Tianqiu wanted to say more, but was directly interrupted by Zhao Tuan raising his hand.

“Go do it first, and then you will understand my intention.”

Zhao Tianqiu did not argue further, helplessly cupped his hands and said, “Yes.”

After he left, Zhao Tuan looked at the Zhao family member in front of him, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and he said in a deep voice, “Immediately bring out the Fish Scale Register of all the common people in Xiaohe Village.”

“Send trustworthy clan members to monitor those common people closely.”

“As soon as those people from Jianan Temple leave Xiaohe Village, secretly detain all the common people of the village.”

“Remember, no mistreatment, just temporary detention until my further orders.”

That Zhao family member quickly cupped his hands: “Yes, Patriarch!”

…

Time passed quickly, and over a month had gone by.

In the Western Wilderness, the cultivators under the jurisdiction of the Shen Family had made repeated advances, and had already opened up the road to Flame Lake Ridge.

All the demon beasts along the way, whether from Great Witch Mountain or local to Yangnao Land, were cleared out.

Under the leadership of Mu Chang, many cultivators of the Shen Family also followed orders to find out all the Spirit Fields and Spirit Ores, marking them on the map.

Not far from the grand courtyard on the grassland.

Shen Wen’an had been guarding here for over a month, during which he saw many demon beasts rushing from the direction of the Void Combination Corridor Array.

He did not interfere with this.

On this day, a figure walked over from the grand courtyard in the distance.

“Snow Wolf King, you should know the consequences of betraying Granny.”

Lan Jue came to a hundred feet away, glanced at the Snow Wolf King lying beside Shen Wen’an, and spoke coldly.

The Snow Wolf King rolled its eyes at him, indifferently pawing at a dogtail grass in front of it, completely unwilling to engage.

Seeing this, Lan Jue’s eyes turned to Shen Wen’an, and after thinking for a moment he said, “I can see clearly now, the Shen Family’s move is to take half of this Western Wilderness’s territory?”

Shen Wen’an slightly nodded, “If Great Witch Mountain agrees, this battle can end.”

“Otherwise, continuing to fight will be bad for both sides.”

“The Celestial Fox Demon King wants a blood feast, if Great Witch Mountain exhausts all its resources fighting us, they may prematurely be out of the big game in Yangnao Land.”

Lan Jue’s eyes slightly narrowed, then he sneered, “Fellow Daoist Shen really sees things clearly.”

“Granny indeed does not want to be prematurely out.”

“If the Shen Family wants this territory, I can agree, but…”

He glanced at the Snow Wolf King beside Shen Wen’an and said in a deep voice, “Granny said, that traitor must be taken back for her to deal with.”

“If Fellow Daoist Shen agrees, I will immediately order the young warriors to withdraw, and from now on, our two families will rule by demarcating the boundary.”

Upon hearing this, the Snow Wolf King beside Shen Wen’an suddenly stood up, its eyes full of worry as it looked at him.

“Master…”

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