Chapter 190: Settling in the Gushan Mansion

"The imperial court will send an envoy delegation to your hometown, to the Meng family residence, to officially announce your noble title and bestow the seal," Elder Yi said with a smile. "You can return to your hometown and wait to personally accept the conferral, or you can choose not to, and have your family patriarch accept it on your behalf. Many Godfiends opt for their patriarch to accept it."

"Have them accept it on my behalf," Meng Chuan nodded.

He would return to his hometown for a visit, but he wouldn't foolishly wait there. Who knew when the imperial court's envoys would arrive?

Moreover, Godfiends generally didn't place too much importance on these so-called titles – Count, Marquis, or King. The real power of Godfiends stemmed from their own strength!

When one became a Darkstar Godfiend, the imperial court would automatically confer the title of Marquis. When one became a Seamless Godfiend, the imperial court would automatically confer the title of King. After all, noble titles were merely adjuncts that came with strength. The respect shown to Marquises and Kings was reverence for their formidable power!

On the fifth day after Meng Chuan returned to Archean Mountain, he attended a banquet with his wife.

Zhang Yunfeng stood there, raising his cup and smiling as he looked at the gathered Godfiend guests: "I've battled demons my entire life, and I don't know how many times I've used forbidden Godfiend techniques. To still be alive at one hundred and eighty-nine years old, it's truly thanks to this Indestructible Godfiend Body. Haha, at least it's the best for healing injuries."

All the Godfiends laughed.

Indeed, in this era, it was extremely rare for a Great Solar Godfiend to live to one hundred and eighty-nine.

"I have about one more year of life left, and no more missions," Zhang Yunfeng said with a smile. "Tomorrow, I'll descend the mountain and take a good look at this world. I'll eat all the delicacies, see all the beautiful sights, and perhaps kill some demons along the way. When death is near, I'll return to my roots and lie down in my old home. There won't be any need to trouble my old friends then."

Meng Chuan, Yang Fang, and the other Godfiends all felt a complex mix of emotions.

Zhang Yunfeng was too close to the end of his lifespan; even during times of urgent need, Archean Mountain had assigned him no further missions.

"To be honest, I've never properly explored the world in my life. I'm really looking forward to it," Zhang Yunfeng said with emotion, then raised his cup. "Many of those present today are my comrades in life and death. This banquet today is a farewell feast. Afterward, we'll scatter to the far corners of the world. Come, let's all raise our cups."

All the Godfiends raised their cups.

The group drank their wine.

Meng Chuan and Zhang Yunfeng had spent more than half a year together, entrusting their lives to each other, forming a friendship that transcended age. Some of the Godfiends present had much deeper bonds with Zhang Yunfeng.

As the banquet dispersed, Zhang Yunfeng declared loudly: "There's no feast that doesn't end; let us part ways here. This old man will go lazily seek out delicacies in various places, while the task of resisting the demons... I'll leave it to all of you."

"Senior Brother Zhang, rest assured, we will show no mercy when killing demons."

"Senior Brother Zhang, rest assured, we will win the war against the demons."

The Godfiends said one after another.

As the gathering ended, the Godfiends gradually departed one by one. The next day, before dawn, Zhang Yunfeng descended the mountain alone, beginning his journey to truly see the magnificent rivers and mountains. There were too many places he had never seen in his lifetime.

On Archean Mountain, Godfiends received transfer orders batch by batch, descending the mountain.

In the evening.

Meng Chuan was painting in his study, and Liu Qiyue was also drawing there.

"My lord, Elder Yi is visiting," came Steward Liu's voice from outside the study.

"Elder Yi?" Meng Chuan's heart trembled. He stopped painting and exchanged a glance with his wife, Liu Qiyue, who was beside him.

"The transfer order must have arrived," Liu Qiyue said.

Meng Chuan nodded slightly, then he and his wife immediately went to the entrance of their residence to personally welcome Elder Yi.

Elder Yi arrived, treading on the accumulated snow, and said with a smile, "Are you painting and writing? I can even smell a wisp of ink fragrance."

"Just doodling, Elder. Please come in," Meng Chuan and his wife welcomed the Elder into the hall.

Inside the hall, maidservants had already prepared tea.

The three sat down, and the maidservants naturally withdrew, leaving only the three of them in the hall.

"Your transfer orders have arrived," Elder Yi said with a smile.

Meng Chuan and his wife were invigorated.

Elder Yi took out two square white jade tokens, each with the character 'Patrol' on the front, and handed them to Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue respectively.

"Patrol?" Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue took the tokens. On the reverse side, they saw the same map carved, depicting roughly the region of Wu State and Qian State.

"Currently, all small and medium-sized city garrisons have been abandoned, and the seven major city garrisons require very few Godfiends," Elder Yi explained. "The vast majority of our Archean Mountain Godfiends have become part of the 'Earth Net,' forming a layered, extensive network across all parts of the human world! They can eliminate gathered demons at any time."

"Furthermore, military service has changed. All mortals reaching twenty years old must serve three years of military service. During these three years, they aren't required to fight on battlefields but are responsible for patrolling various areas," Elder Yi continued. "By mobilizing countless soldiers across the land, this 'net' becomes even more impenetrable. All villages and fortified strongholds in the world will become important intelligence outposts."

Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue both nodded.

This vast network was indeed very robust.

With countless mortal soldiers acting as eyes, numerous strongholds as outposts, and cities as deployment centers, large groups of Godfiends could be mobilized at any time.

"Ordinary demons and weaker demon monarchs... the Earth Net can easily eliminate them," Elder Yi stated. "However, when a powerful demon monarch poses a significant threat, that's when the patrol Godfiends need to act."

"Besides Marquises and Kings, a few peak Great Solar Godfiends also serve as patrol Godfiends, because too many demons are entering our human world, and even Marquises are too busy to handle everything."

"The two of you will form a small team. You'll advance and retreat together."

Elder Yi looked at them both and smiled, "The area you two are responsible for is a thousand-li radius centered around Gushan Prefecture in Wu State. If your assistance is needed, your patrol tokens will generate a signal."

"Understood," Meng Chuan and his wife nodded.

"Normally, you two will reside in Gushan Prefecture. As for which residence? You can choose it yourselves. Remember to conceal your Godfiend identities; do not let the outside world know," Elder Yi instructed. "From now on, the vast majority of our Archean Mountain Godfiends must remain hidden throughout the human world. If you openly expose yourselves, you could easily be assassinated by demon monarchs."

"Yes," Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue understood.

"Disguise yourselves as mortals and live reclusively in Gushan Prefecture. Lead normal lives, just like ordinary people," Elder Yi said. "When a mission arises, you'll then rush to provide support."

"Of course, the missions that require both of you are probably not many. Demon monarchs that are too powerful will be handled by Marquises, while weaker ones can be resolved directly by the Earth Net. You'll likely only act a few times in a year."

"Furthermore... your residence in Gushan Prefecture is also a secret! On Archean Mountain, only I, the Archean Mountain Lord, and the Venerables know about it. Do not disclose it to your family or friends. If it leaks, the demons and the Heavenly Demon Gate might discover it. They might even send Fourth-Heaven Demon Monarchs specifically to Gushan Prefecture to hunt you two down."

"Also, as patrol Godfiends, you don't need to handle any trivial matters normally, nor can any other Godfiend order you around. You two are directly dispatched by Archean Mountain," Elder Yi stated.

Meanwhile.

In Dongning Prefecture, the imperial court's envoy delegation arrived before the Meng family ancestral home. Meng Dajiang led the family members in a respectful welcome.

The imperial envoy publicly read the document conferring the noble title! This astonished the large crowd of onlookers.

Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, no one from Dongning Prefecture had ever been granted a noble title!

"Dongning Count Meng Chuan?"

"Young Master Meng is truly formidable. I knew he was extraordinary back then, and in just over a decade, he's already been made a Count."

"In a few more years, he might even become a Marquis."

"Dongning has produced a powerful Godfiend now!"

"I wonder if Young Master Meng Chuan can become a King Godfiend."

The people of Dongning Prefecture felt immensely honored and proud.

Meanwhile, the other Godfiend families in Dongning Prefecture were filled with emotion. They had watched as Immortal Meng gradually succumbed to her severe injuries, only for Meng Chuan to suddenly emerge. And he had risen with astonishing speed, ranking first in Archean Mountain's entrance examination. How long had it been, and he was already a Count? Among Great Solar Godfiends, only a very small number could become Counts, and it usually required a long time to accumulate merits.

So young, and already a Count? He would likely become a Marquis in the future!

"Meng Chuan, he's already a Count?" Yun Fuan sat in his study, looking much older and wearier.

His father, Yun Wanhai, had died in battle. The Yun family had many accumulated treasures and merits left by Yun Wanhai, but if no new Godfiends were born, the family would gradually decline.

Watching Meng Chuan soar to prominence, Yun Fuan was filled with regret.

He was originally a shrewd and adaptable person, adept at praising the powerful and belittling the weak, and very good at slapping his own face. But alas, no matter how much he regretted now, Meng Chuan was a Great Solar Godfiend, and it was no longer possible for his Yun family to form a marital alliance with him.

"It was just one daughter, wasn't it? Why was I in such a hurry to break off the engagement? How could I have been so foolish?" Yun Fuan lamented in his study.

An opportunity had once been before him, and he had missed it, forever.

Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue arrived at Gushan Prefecture by flying creature.

"From today on, this is our home," Meng Chuan said to Liu Qiyue as they stood inside a residence. They had personally visited a real estate agency and looked at several places before choosing this one.

The duty of a patrol Godfiend had no time limit.

They would likely reside here for a long time.

"Mhm," Liu Qiyue also looked at the residence with satisfaction. A small, sparrow-like grey bird flew overhead and landed on Liu Qiyue's shoulder. It was a Third-Heaven Demon Monarch level flying creature that Meng Chuan and his wife had exchanged for 1.5 million merits. Since demon monarchs had begun entering on a large scale, the cost of flying creatures from Archean Mountain had significantly decreased, now half of what they used to be.

This flying creature could change its size, becoming large or small. Normally, it could disguise itself as palm-sized, and it also had a secret art granted by Archean Mountain that allowed it to completely conceal its aura, appearing as an ordinary bird.

"Now, all we're missing is a child," Meng Chuan said, looking at the residence and smiling at his wife.

Liu Qiyue smiled too.

Living a stable, reclusive life here, it was indeed time to have a child.

End of this chapter.