Chapter 4469: On Rewarding Merits

“Dao artifact!”

Wang Qingshan and the others were filled with shock.

“Senior Nangong, has that Dao artifact not been found yet?” Cao Yuanxing asked curiously.

“Not yet. It might not even be a Dao artifact; it could be something else. Both sides are already enraged and won't stop easily,” Nangong Dezhi said.

The Golden Worm King Tribe lost several Grand Unity Golden Immortals, so they couldn't stop easily. The same applied to Sky Witch City. The Dao artifact was merely the fuse; both sides were now thoroughly enraged and wouldn't cease fighting so readily.

“Something else?” Chu Yiqian asked, surprised.

“It could be a mutated Grandmist spirit treasure, or a high-level immortal artifact refined with a Grandmist spirit treasure,” Nangong Dezhi explained.

“By the way, Senior Nangong, weren't we only supposed to destroy three tribes? Why are there two more?” Cao Yuanxing asked, puzzled.

“The rear of the Chaos Beast territory was empty, so we sent elites to launch a surprise attack on the Timur Tribe, successfully taking them down. Junior Friend Wang also sent elites to deal with the Karluk Tribe, successfully wiping them out. Our three ground cities in the rear were also attacked. All in all, we won this battle,” Nangong Dezhi said, smiling broadly. The last time the Nangong Immortal Clan engaged in full-scale war with the Chahar Tribe, they suffered a crushing defeat. This minor victory avenged that humiliation.

“This is all due to Senior Nangong's excellent command; otherwise, we wouldn't have achieved such significant results,” Wang Qingcheng flattered.

“Exactly. Thanks to Senior Nangong's strategic planning, our losses would have been substantial otherwise,” Cao Yuanxing echoed.

All the Grand Unity Golden Immortals agreed. Without the Grand Unity Golden Immortals from the Nangong Immortal Clan, the bat creatures could have wiped them out.

Nangong Dezhi's gaze swept over Wang Qingshan, Wang Qingbai, Master Miaode, Fairy Liuyun, and others, praising, “Miaode, Junior Friend Wang, Junior Friend Ye, you all performed exceptionally well. Especially the two Junior Friends Wang; you've cultivated immortal bodies and your strength has increased significantly. I didn't expect the Wang family to have two more such talents besides the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple.”

“It's all thanks to Senior Nangong's care. If we hadn't exchanged for some Nine-Revolving Ginseng Pills refined with eight-color core crystals from Daoist Friend Nangong, it would have been difficult for us to cultivate immortal bodies,” Wang Qingshan humbly replied.

Nangong Dezhi clearly understood that merely relying on Nine-Revolving Ginseng Pills refined with eight-color core crystals wouldn't naturally allow one to cultivate an immortal body. Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingbai must have had other fortunate encounters, but he chose not to expose them.

“Regardless, your contributions this time are significant. The territories of the Khada Tribe and the Karluk Tribe will be handed over to your management, and the territory of the Zhalanding Tribe will be managed by Junior Friend Ye. The number of ground cities you establish is entirely your own business; our Nangong Immortal Clan will not interfere. However, you must regularly submit a portion of cultivation resources. Miaode, Junior Friend Cao, Junior Friend Chu, you also contributed and will not be treated unfairly,” Nangong Dezhi stated.

“Thank you, Senior Nangong!” Wang Qingshan and the others exclaimed in unison, their expressions excited.

Nangong Yuefei walked in and said, “Old Ancestor, the battle casualty statistics are ready.”

“Report them!” Nangong Dezhi commanded.

“In this battle, we seized the territories of five Chaos Beast tribes in total. We eliminated fifty-five Grand Unity Golden Immortal-stage Chaos Beasts, killed two hundred eighty-three thousand four hundred thirty-five Golden Immortal-stage Chaos Beasts. Fourteen Grand Unity Golden Immortals perished, and eighty-seven thousand three hundred thirty-five Golden Immortal cultivators died. The Immortal Armored Army suffered over one hundred seventy thousand casualties. Fifty-five Grand Unity Golden Immortal-stage puppet beasts were destroyed, and twenty-eight Grand Unity Golden Immortal-stage bean soldiers were rendered useless. We expended twenty-five high-grade Immortal Slaying Arrows and five high-grade Immortal Slaying Cannons were damaged. Three thousand three hundred forty-five medium-grade Immortal Slaying Arrows and twenty-five thousand four hundred thirty-five low-grade Immortal Slaying Arrows were used. Some data is still being compiled,” Nangong Yuefei slowly reported.

Before the Nangong Immortal Clan handed over the Grand Unity Creation Cauldron, they purified a batch of core crystals and purchased cultivation resources, including a large quantity of Immortal Slaying Arrows, from the Myriad Immortals Merchant Alliance. After this battle, the Nangong Immortal Clan had nearly exhausted their supply of Immortal Slaying Arrows.

To be honest, this casualty ratio was excellent. Previous ratios weren't as favorable, primarily due to an insufficient supply of Chaos Armor and Immortal Slaying Arrows. The Wang family's sudden rise solved this problem. The Nangong Immortal Clan exchanged cultivation resources with the Wang family for Chaos Armor and Immortal Slaying Arrows, significantly boosting their strength and resulting in much smaller losses when dealing with the Chahar Tribe.

“Handle the aftermath properly, treat the wounded, provide a compensatory payment to the families of the fallen immortals, and strengthen our defenses. Although the probability of the Chahar Tribe counterattacking is low, we must still be prepared,” Nangong Dezhi instructed.

“Yes, Old Ancestor,” Nangong Yuefei replied. She took out a golden, shimmering formation plate, activated a spell, and a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

“What happened?” Nangong Yueshuo asked.

“In the Barghut Tribe, a Grand Unity Golden Immortal named Xiao has appeared. He mutated four times, meaning he is a King Beast! Senior Du Jun, the Vice Sect Master of Myriad Treasures Sect, was killed by Xiao. The Sky Pill Sect also suffered a significant setback, losing dozens of Grand Unity Golden Immortals, including one who had cultivated an immortal body,” Nangong Yuefei reported.

The Nangong Immortal Clan proactively attacked the Chahar Tribe's territory, achieving considerable results. The Myriad Treasures Sect and Sky Pill Sect, unable to remain idle, also took action against other tribes and achieved some success. Xiao from the Barghut Tribe mutated four times and also advanced to Grand Unity Golden Immortal, killing Du Jun. Furthermore, the Myriad Treasures Sect lost over seventy Grand Unity Golden Immortals, suffering heavy casualties. The Sky Pill Sect also lost a number of immortals, but fortunately, no Grand Unity Golden Immortals perished.

“A four-times mutated Chaos Beast! The Barghut Tribe is set to rise, and the Myriad Treasures Sect will face difficulties from now on,” Nangong Yueshuo said, frowning.

In Chaos Beast tribes like Chahar, Barghut, and Tianga, which have Grand Unity Golden Immortals presiding over them, there are still quite a few three-times mutated Chaos Beasts, but four-times mutated ones are rare. These tribes become major tribes primarily because their leaders have mastered supreme laws. The Ogedei Tribe has a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, but he only wields ordinary laws and still has to obey the Chahar Tribe. Four-times mutated Chaos Beasts usually appear in the twelve major tribes. Major tribes with Dao Ancestors presiding have more sacrificial quotas, making it easier for four-times mutated clansmen to emerge. It is indeed quite rare for Xiao of the Barghut Tribe to have mutated four times.

“Xiao hasn't mastered a supreme law, has he?” Nangong Changqing pressed.

If Xiao had only mutated four times, that would be one thing. But if he had also mastered a supreme law, he would be even harder to deal with. For immortals, cultivating an immortal body, mastering a supreme law, or wielding Dao arts—even achieving just one of these makes them formidable, classifying them as elites among immortals. Achieving two makes one a Heavenly Prodigy, and achieving all three makes one a Supreme.

“None has been detected so far, but we can't guarantee for the future,” Nangong Yuefei said, her expression grave.

The appearance of a four-times mutated Grand Unity Golden Immortal in the Barghut Tribe meant the Myriad Treasures Sect was the first to suffer misfortune, and this was not good news for immortals in general.

“Issue orders to clean up the battlefield as quickly as possible, build cities, and strengthen our defenses!” Nangong Dezhi commanded.

“Yes, Old Ancestor,” Nangong Yuefei replied, accepting the order and departing.

Nangong Dezhi gave a few more instructions, then dismissed Wang Qingshan and the others to rest.