Chapter 181: Luo Feng Takes Action

"Brother Luo He, when can you make your move?" the Lord of Yu Water asked.

After all, this was a sudden visit, and once Luo Feng made a move, he would face the pressure of the entire Shi Kingdom. Usually, preparations were required in advance.

"Anytime," Luo Feng said with a slight smile.

"Good," the Lord of Yu Water exclaimed, delighted.

This was so straightforward! Luo He was incredibly decisive!

If all God-Kings in the Origin Continent acted so decisively, he, the Lord of Yu Water, would have long since made a large circle of friends.

"Wait one day first," the Lord of Yu Water said. "I need a day to reclaim these ten Chaos States. They are currently owned, and once Brother Luo He repels the Shi Kingdom, reclaiming them will become much more troublesome."

These ten Chaos States were closest to Huyang City and belonged to the border region. The current grim situation made their enfeoffed Marquises willing to sell them.

However, once the situation improved, these were, after all, fiefdoms managed for a long time. If the Lord wanted to reclaim them, even if the enfeoffed Marquises agreed, their conditions would undoubtedly be very high.

"Very well, I await the Lord's news," Luo Feng replied.

"I'll go make arrangements now." The furry Lord of Yu Water rose and looked at Luo Feng with sincere eyes. "Brother Luo He, I will certainly repay this favor you're doing for me."

Luo Feng smiled as he stood up. "Should I ever need assistance from the Lord of Yu Water in the future, I will certainly ask."

The Lord of Yu Water immediately bid farewell, taking his six relaxed attendants who were eating and drinking in Huyang City with him, and returned directly to the Yu Kingdom's capital.

"I'm about to engage the Lord of Sky鲲," Luo Feng said, his eyes cold as he stood on the city lord's manor pavilion.

His swift agreement and even voluntary price reduction were, on one hand, due to his gratitude for the illusory mother tree leaf the Lord of Yu Water had given him when he was weaker. On the other hand, it was a natural opportunity to confront several Lords of the Shi Kingdom and personally assess the detailed strength of the 'Lord of Sky鲲'.

"After all, the opponent is a God-King of the Second Realm, also cultivating the Primordial bloodline. I should prepare carefully." Luo Feng sat cross-legged on the pavilion, calmly awaiting his imminent action.

***

Within Jiu Jiang City.

"The Shi Kingdom has launched a full-scale invasion, and many border Chaos States have been overrun and occupied. Only my Jiu Jiang Chaos State remains untouched." Marquis Jiu Jiang frowned, feeling both a degree of relief and unease.

As the surrounding Chaos States all fell, Jiu Jiang Chaos State's neighbors became part of the Shi Kingdom's territory.

His Chaos State was completely surrounded.

"The Shi Kingdom didn't attack my Jiu Jiang Chaos State; it's certainly not because of me, but because of God-King Luo He." Marquis Jiu Jiang also had a long-standing subscription to Luo He's intelligence, though he only ordered 'basic intelligence' as higher-level information was too expensive.

"It's rumored that God-King Luo He... after becoming a God-King, should possess the strength of a regional overlord. But these are all legends, never verified."

"Moreover, even if he became a regional overlord, God-King Luo He is a direct disciple of the Emperor. The Shi Kingdom's Lord of Sky鲲 also has an excellent relationship with the Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom's royal family. God-King Luo He might even side with the Shi Kingdom." Marquis Jiu Jiang was very uneasy.

In this chaotic situation, he had no means of resistance.

His fate depended on the two great kingdoms, and on Luo He's stance.

"No matter what, God-King Luo He values loyalty and friendship." Marquis Jiu Jiang had watched Luo Feng grow from Huyang City.

"Jiu Jiang," the Lord suddenly contacted him.

Marquis Jiu Jiang was startled and replied with utmost respect, "Lord."

"I intend to reclaim your Jiu Jiang Chaos State," the Lord of Yu Water said. "I can exchange it for a Chaos State in the heartland of the Yu Kingdom. Are you willing?"

Marquis Jiu Jiang was taken aback, then quickly responded, "Of course, I am willing, but the large city of 'Huyang City' within my Jiu Jiang Chaos State belongs to God-King Luo He. I only control part of the Jiu Jiang Chaos State."

"I know," the Lord of Yu Water said. "I plan to exchange the 'Shijiang Chaos State' with you."

"Shijiang Chaos State? This... this is quite a bit larger than my Jiu Jiang Chaos State, and its resources are richer," Marquis Jiu Jiang said. "However, in this exchange, I have no right to exchange 'Huyang City'."

"This exchange is also Brother Luo He's intention," the Lord of Yu Water said.

Marquis Jiu Jiang's heart pounded.

Brother Luo He's intention? God-King Luo He is siding with the Lord?

"If it is the will of the Lord and God-King Luo He, then I naturally agree," Marquis Jiu Jiang said.

"Good," the Lord of Yu Water said, then immediately ended the communication and continued to contact the next Chaos Realm expert.

"I intend to reclaim the Tianshui Chaos State under your name. I can compensate you with 300 billion cosmos sands and a large city in the heartland of the Yu Kingdom. Are you willing?" The Lord of Yu Kingdom contacted Marquis Tianshui. "Of course, you can also choose to leave the Yu Kingdom, in which case these compensations will be forfeited."

Chaos Realm experts received fiefdoms on the premise of serving the Yu Kingdom forever.

Once they left the Yu Kingdom, they automatically lost ownership of their fiefdoms.

"I am naturally willing to serve the Yu Kingdom, and I am willing to exchange my fiefdom for 300 billion cosmos sands and a large city," Marquis Tianshui said. Although leaving the Yu Kingdom would grant freedom and significantly reduce danger, it would also mean losing these resources.

"Good," the Lord of Yu Kingdom said, then immediately contacted the next Chaos Realm expert.

While 300 billion cosmos sands seemed like a large sum, the output of a single Chaos State was very high each era. Residence fees and numerous rare treasures meant that over 100 million cosmos sands could be acquired every era.

A Chaos Master typically commanded a large clan, so they were usually granted at least one large city. Otherwise, it would be difficult to continuously support their family.

"With the Shi Kingdom's full-scale invasion, I should at least acquire a substantial amount of resources first," Marquis Tianshui pondered. "In the future, one large city will barely suffice to support my clan and subordinates. I fear I won't get any for myself. These 300 billion cosmos sands... will be the entirety of my cultivation resources for a long time to come."

"If I were to leave the Yu Kingdom in the future, half of these 300 billion cosmos sands would have to be returned according to the rules."

Marquis Tianshui mused.

Not every Marquis had a complete Chaos State as their fiefdom; some could choose a portion of resources and a large city instead.

Joining a kingdom brought great benefits.

Leaving also came with a price.

Given the dire circumstances, the Lord of Yu Water very smoothly reclaimed the ten Chaos States. Apart from Marquis Jiu Jiang, who exchanged his for a larger and richer Chaos State in the heartland of the Yu Kingdom, the other Marquises were only given the option to exchange theirs for '300 billion cosmos sands plus a large city', or to choose to leave.

Of the other nine Marquises, six chose to exchange for resources, and three chose to leave.

The fiefdoms of those three Chaos Realm experts had been completely occupied by the Shi Kingdom, and they had been forced to relocate their entire families. Not optimistic about the Yu Kingdom's future, they chose to take the opportunity to completely depart.

As for resources? They could obtain resources by joining other kingdoms as well.

"They're gone. The Shi Kingdom is clearly stronger, and the Lord of Sky鲲 has more friends. Even if Yu Kingdom resists this time, it will still decline in the future."

"These 300 billion cosmos sands aren't easy to get! One has to risk their life for them, and if you want to withdraw in the future, you have to return half... It's better to choose a safe place."

The three Chaos Realm experts, along with their families, thus left.

The Lord of Yu Kingdom naturally offered no obstruction, as the terms for departure had been clearly stated when the Chaos Realm experts were recruited. God-Kings would not easily go back on such public promises.

"Brother Luo He, the ten Chaos States have all been reclaimed. You may make your move now," the Lord of Yu Kingdom transmitted via karmic sound.

"That was quite fast." Luo Feng, sitting cross-legged on the pavilion of the Huyang City Lord's manor, opened his eyes. "Next, leave it to me."

***

The Shi Kingdom was advancing comprehensively along the border between the two nations.

Fuzhen Chaos State, Fuzhen City.

"Boom!" The vast army of Eternal True Gods had arrived above Fuzhen City, their might filling countless beings within the city with fear and unease.

Three terrifying figures also stood outside the city.

One figure was as towering as a mountain, slightly larger than the entire great city of 'Fuzhen City.' His breath alone formed terrifying storms. Merely glimpsing such a colossal existence from afar sent chills down the spines of the city's inhabitants.

Another figure was slightly smaller but still as tall as Fuzhen City's walls, with lightning swirling around him as he stood.

The last figure was the most diminutive, yet the fiery red light he emanated obscured the entire sky, his might the most terrifying of all.

"Marquis Fuzhen, do you intend to stop our great army by yourself?" The towering figure laughed heartily, his laughter shaking all of Fuzhen City. The city's guard legions had no will to fight.

On one hand, the opposing combined army was larger; on the other, the three Chaos Realm experts could strike at any moment.

"Marquis Fuzhen, if you dare, make your move."

"Haha, we've been slaughtering our way here, and your Yu Kingdom has just kept retreating. It's too boring."

The voices of the three Chaos Realm experts from the Shi Kingdom echoed through the heavens and earth.

Inside the Marquis's manor.

Marquis Fuzhen, clad in a gray robe, watched this scene, filled with anger and powerlessness. His 'Fuzhen Chaos State' was not among the ten Chaos States Luo Feng had chosen, and even now, he was reluctant to part with the fiefdom where he had been rooted for so long.

"The Lord has issued no commands, and the four God-Kings remain silent," Marquis Fuzhen sighed. "Never mind, it cannot be stopped."

Suddenly—

Hum!!!

An invisible World Power spread everywhere.

"What?" Marquis Fuzhen was greatly astonished.

"Who is this?" The three Chaos Realm experts of the Shi Kingdom also changed countenance. This enveloping World Power was undisguised, overbearingly terrifying, and even the weakest beings felt its oppressive force everywhere.

The entire world darkened.

At this moment, it wasn't just Fuzhen City; an area billions of times vaster was enveloped.

The Shi Kingdom was currently invading a total of twelve Chaos States, and Luo Feng's World Power enveloped them all! These twelve Chaos States were quite far apart in a straight line, exceeding the range of Luo Feng's World Lifeform true body.

But Luo Feng had dispatched two clones.

Even with only one-thousandth of his energy reserves, each clone's internal World Power was immensely rich, far surpassing that of a Chaos Realm expert. They had naturally opened their inner worlds, allowing their World Projection range to reach up to eight Chaos States.

A World Lifeform: one true body, two clones.

The World Projection was sufficient to cover all invaded territories.

"Hum—"

All invading legions of the Shi Kingdom, including the thirty-five Chaos Realm experts involved, were completely enveloped by the World Power.

"What is that?" Countless beings looked up, seeing the sky suddenly transform into a chaotic expanse.

"This..."

Only the Chaos Realm experts could clearly discern it: an impossibly enormous face.

This face was too vast, so large it exceeded the visual limits of Eternal True Gods; only Chaos Realm experts could truly make out its actual features.

It was Luo Feng's face!

Luo Feng overlooked the twelve Chaos States, his face so colossal that even some Chaos Realm experts within the Shi Kingdom's territory, beyond the twelve Chaos States, witnessed this immense countenance.

Mere sight of it sent shivers down the spines of these Chaos Realm experts!

"I am Luo He."

The colossal face, enveloping the sky above the twelve Chaos States, spoke, its voice calm, "I have come at the invitation of the Lord of Yu Kingdom to address the Shi Kingdom's invasion of the Yu Kingdom."

The voice resonated majestically throughout the heavens and earth of the twelve Chaos States.

"This, this..." All invading legions and Chaos Realm experts of the Shi Kingdom watched the scene in terror. They felt that at this moment, God-King Luo He was the true master of the twelve Chaos States!

"Rumble—"

With a single thought from Luo Feng, it was as if heaven and earth roared in anger.

All invading legions and Chaos Realm experts were swept up by the World Power, directly expelled from the great cities, and dropped into the wilderness outside the city walls.

"Little ones who invaded the Shi Kingdom, you have one day to flee the Yu Kingdom. Those who have not left within one day will never need to leave," the colossal face of Luo He said calmly, looking down upon these weaker beings.