Chapter 2387: War Ends, Recuperation and Recovery

Five years passed quickly, as spring turned to autumn.

On Qinglian Island, at Qinglian Peak, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were sitting in a cyan stone pavilion, talking. After the Golden Roc Clan's defeat, Zhenhai Palace and Cold Flame Sect jointly cleared out the factions that had supported the Golden Roc Clan. They occupied over 70,000 islands, expanding their influence by more than three billion li.

The East Green Realm is only a few tens of billions of li wide. During the race war, this single sea region expanded by over three billion li. While it seemed like a lot, it was actually quite small; the human territory spans hundreds of trillions of li, so three billion li is less than one ten-thousandth of it.

Wang Changsheng led the team that eradicated Qingyu Island. He used the Nine Python Drum to help break formations. With the support of the Ascension Faction, the Wang family acquired over 2,000 islands. Including the islands they previously occupied, the Wang family now controls a total of over 6,000 islands. This was also thanks to the Wang family's previous development of desolate islands. Although they abandoned these islands when the war broke out, Wang family cultivators had lived on them for centuries, so these islands were naturally considered theirs.

Rumor had it that Liu Yunlan killed Jin Shuo. However, no cultivators submitted the spirit of the Mermaid Pearl, nor did anyone turn in the treasures found on Jin Shuo. Liu Qingfeng naturally refused to acknowledge this credit. After negotiations, Zhenhai Palace took 40% of the newly occupied islands, Cold Flame Sect took 55%, and the remaining 5% was given to Taiyang Sect.

Cold Flame Sect's ability to occupy so much territory was due to several reasons. First, they had managed this sea region for many years and exerted considerable effort in clearing out the remnants of the Golden Roc Clan. Second, they had contributed significantly in the early stages of the conflict against the Golden Roc Clan, even injuring Peng Zhai and a seventh-tier demonic beast. Third, Zhenhai Palace had acquired substantial territory in other areas.

After this war, humanity suffered heavy losses and needed ample time to recuperate and recover. Major sects and cultivation families began recruiting new members and absorbing fresh blood to replenish their losses. Humans encouraged inland cultivators to develop in the sea regions, introducing several preferential policies, such as assistance with setting up large formations and providing a certain number of mortals.

As large numbers of inland cultivators moved to develop in this sea region, the Wang family exchanged over 300 islands for five territories inland. Strictly speaking, these territories belonged to Zhenhai Palace; it was merely a transfer of assets within the same sphere of influence. Of the five territories, two had sixth-tier spirit veins and three had fifth-tier spirit veins, covering a considerable area.

Having acquired nearly 30,000 islands, Zhenhai Palace naturally lacked enough disciples to garrison them all. They rewarded most of these islands to cultivation families who had distinguished themselves. Some disciples, whose prospects for breakthrough were dim, applied to establish their own families, and many were dispatched to develop in this sea region. Of course, most of these cultivation families belonged to the local factions, including the Song family, which also received some islands. Responding to Zhenhai Palace's call, the Song family dispatched four Void Refinement cultivators to develop in this sea region.

Due to the expansion of territory by over three billion li, it was no longer suitable for Snow Goose Market to remain on Snow Goose Island. It was relocated to Heavenly Roc Island, where Zhenhai Palace and Cold Flame Sect jointly managed it, renaming it Heavenly Sea Market. Cold Flame Sect took the larger share, while Zhenhai Palace took the smaller one. Overall, both sects benefited. The difference was that Cold Flame Sect previously held a dominant position, but Zhenhai Palace now had a foothold, having deployed many cultivation families to develop here, thereby contending with Cold Flame Sect as equals.

After this war, the Liu family suffered heavy losses, no longer possessing its former prestige. Although they received many islands, they lacked enough high-level cultivators to garrison them, so most were leased out while the family recuperated. The newly occupied 70,000-plus islands formed a large strategic buffer zone, providing excellent protection for Qinglian Island.

Wang Qingshan and others also returned from the front lines, having suffered heavy casualties and significant losses. In this war, the Wang family had three Soul Transformation cultivators killed in battle, and three Soul Transformation cultivators had their physical bodies destroyed. Nearly a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators perished. This loss was considered small compared to that of smaller families or sects conscripted to fight foreign races in frontier cities, where the casualty rate was around 80%, with some families or sects seeing their entire force wiped out. The Wang family's puppet beasts shone brightly, earning them considerable renown. Many forces now knew that most Wang family members were skilled in controlling puppet beasts in combat.

Wang Changsheng had already given the Blazing Fire Divine Thunder, Geng Metal Divine Thunder, and Yi Wood Divine Thunder to Wang Mengbin for refinement. He still lacked the Xu Earth Divine Thunder, and planned a trip to Misty Cloud Island to exchange for it using merit points. Wang Yingjie had acquired many cultivation resources during this war and was now in secluded cultivation, attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage. As for Wang Xiao, Wang Changsheng gave him the 'Heavenly Roc Great Law' to cultivate, assigning him to guard an island and cultivate in peace. Wang Qingxiao had suffered serious injuries and was recuperating; he would not appear in public for the time being. Wang Changsheng's clone, Wang Xiangrong, was already at the late Soul Transformation stage, possessing considerable strength and excelling in wind-element divine abilities. As the Wang family had acquired many territories this time, they needed a large number of Soul Transformation cultivators to guard them.

“I’m going to Misty Cloud Island,” he instructed. “I hope to exchange for the Xu Earth Divine Thunder. I’ll be back soon.” Wang Changsheng conjured the Azure Luan Boat and stepped onto it. With a flick of his incantation, the Azure Luan Boat immediately shone with a brilliant blue light, transforming into a long azure rainbow that streaked through the air and vanished into the horizon.

Wang Ruyan entered a secret chamber, took out her talisman-making tools, and began crafting talismans. In just over a thousand years, Wang Changsheng would face his Great Heavenly Tribulation. Wang Ruyan planned to craft Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talismans, having coincidentally obtained the hide of a sixth-tier Thunder Ray this time. Generally, it was relatively easier for Void Refinement cultivators to pass their first Great Heavenly Tribulation. However, the tribulation's power varied from person to person; some cultivators with stronger cultivation would attract more powerful Great Heavenly Tribulations. With the aid of the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman, Wang Changsheng would also have an easier time. Once the Heavenly Thunder Spirit Transformation Talisman was successfully crafted, the entire family would benefit.

***

At Xuanyun Mountain, at the Deng family.

In the assembly hall, Deng Tianyang sat on the main seat, his expression serious. Deng Tianqi stood to the side, looking calm. Deng Tianyang was the highest-cultivated member of the Deng family, at the mid-Void Refinement stage. Due to some special circumstances, his seniority was the same as Deng Tianqi's.

“Tianqi, wasn’t the last lesson enough?” Deng Tianyang reprimanded harshly. “Look at what you’ve done. Senior Li of Zhenhai Palace specifically mentioned you by name. Because of you, our Deng family members died in vain.” Deng Tianyang scolded him without reservation. The Deng family had suffered significant losses, with several Soul Transformation cultivators killed or injured, and even Deng Tianxue perished during the counterattack. By rights, even if the Deng family hadn’t earned merit, they had certainly endured hardship. Yet, simply because Deng Tianqi tried to use the foreign races to eliminate Wang Qingfeng, Li Yan singled him out for criticism, leading to most of the Deng family’s gains being given to other forces.

“What’s wrong with me helping my second uncle?” Deng Tianqi retorted, resentment filling his voice. “Is this also my fault? So many people were chasing foreign races at the time. What’s wrong with me helping my own kin? Am I supposed to help him instead of my second uncle?” Deng Tianqi argued back, his heart full of grievances. Such matters were murky, and it was hard to say who was right or wrong. However, with Li Yan's involvement, it was naturally different.

“I’ve told you countless times,” Deng Tianyang said coldly, “we cannot afford to offend Zhenhai Palace. Why won’t you listen? You will be the death of this family sooner or later. From today onwards, you are not allowed to leave your residence a single step.” Deng Tianyang spoke coldly. As several of Deng Tianqi's direct kin had died for the family, he found it difficult to kill Deng Tianqi. Instead, he could only confine him, making it clear that Deng Tianqi would not be released unless he reached the Void Refinement stage.

“Understood,” Deng Tianqi replied. He then turned and left.

Deng Tianyang took out a gleaming magical disc, inserted a spell, and instructed, “Cold Flame Sect will open its gates wide to accept disciples in twenty years. Select a group of our clan members and see if they can gain entry into the Cold Flame Sect.” After this war, all major sects were opening their gates to accept disciples. He knew the Wang family had the backing of an Integration cultivator, and Cold Flame Sect's requirements for disciples were relatively more lenient than those of major sects like Xuanqing Sect. If any clan members could join Cold Flame Sect, it would be highly beneficial.

The rivalry between Deng Tianqi and Wang Qingfeng had already become widely known, significantly impacting the Deng family. The attitudes of some allied forces had become ambiguous. If Deng Tianyang were not a Void Refinement cultivator, some forces would likely have already severed ties with the Deng family. The Wang family had Zhenhai Palace's backing, and Zhenhai Palace's overall strength was second only to Xuanqing Sect. In this recent war, Zhenhai Palace's Integration cultivators had slain several Integration-stage foreign race members. The thought of Deng Tianqi having antagonized the youngest son of True Monarch Taihao gave Deng Tianyang a headache. Thus, he hoped to secure the patronage of a powerful force to protect the Deng family.