Chapter 2286: The State of Mankind Establishes New Regulations

The territory of Cangyan State is so vast, with countless cities; taking just three cities' output, which is neither painful nor itchy, would be enough to secure cooperation with an ancient great sect—from any angle, this is an extremely profitable deal.

After Liu Qingdao finished speaking, he smiled warmly: "Any other requests, Sect Leader Yuan? Just lay them all out. Do you want Wei'an City to help Xian Sect renovate its mountain gate? Your sect has also been in seclusion for over a hundred years—your buildings and facilities must be weathered and aged, right?"

Yuan Sect Leader listened to his concern, his brow secretly furrowing: "That's unnecessary, Elder Liu, you mean well. But our agreement must bear the blood contract signature of the Cangyan monarch to guarantee its enforceability."

Are they from the Bingyuan Si trying to send someone into Xian Sect's territory? Hah.

He also said thoughtfully: "This matter is of great importance; Elder Liu can report it to the Cangyan monarch, letting them discuss it slowly between ruler and minister. We're not in a hurry."

Xian Sect has also sent disciples into the world to serve as officials, knowing how slow court deliberations can be.

Anyway, the ones truly anxious are the people of Wei'an City, facing imminent water cutoff—over a million suffering from thirst, so the pressure naturally falls on Cangyan State. What does Xian Sect have to rush about?

His attitude made Liu Qingdao feel somewhat strange.

Logically speaking, for Xian Sect to maintain such a large mountain range's existence consumes enormous energy, and ensuring the mountain isn't dug and collapsed means opposing Cangyan's power, further intensifying the drain.

Xian Sect has only just emerged from seclusion—by rights, its xuanjing reserves should be insufficient; how could it sustain such consumption?

Could it be that there's another financial backer behind it?

The first thing Liu Qingdao thought of was Ling Mountain.

Is it that Ling Mountain has secretly contacted them, encouraging them to oppose Cangyan?

Having lived in Cangyan for ten years and being responsible for the Bingyuan Si, Liu Qingdao clearly understands the relationship between Cangyan and Ling Mountain.

Over these past years, as various immortals and demons have entered the world, Ling Mountain's power has actually grown greater than before. Yet Cangyan's attitude toward Ling Mountain has always been polite but distant, and they usually deal more with Mou State, bypassing Ling Mountain entirely.

How vast is Cangyan's territory? How many resources, xuanjing, and spiritual energy does it hold? Unfortunately, most cannot be used by Ling Mountain, and Ling Mountain truly has no good way to deal with Cangyan. Their interests occasionally clash—for example, when a great demon or immortal sect emerges from the mountains, in the past their only options for allegiance or closeness were either Beijia or Ling Mountain; but now, besides those two, there's also Mou State and Cangyan to choose from—Cangyan's spiritual energy is also extremely abundant, and emerging nations often have a fresh atmosphere and are more welcoming to newcomers.

So Ling Mountain occasionally still trips up Cangyan, and the latter has investigated it before.

This time, is it Ling Mountain stirring up trouble again?

Liu Qingdao's thoughts raced like lightning, and on the surface he shook his head: "That's unnecessary."

"Then can Elder Liu make the decision himself?"

Liu Qingdao smiled: "In recent years, as immortals and demons have entered the world one after another, many have tried to negotiate terms and set rules with Cangyan, but their methods are nowhere near as refined as Sect Leader Yuan's. Thus, Cangyan has long had contingency plans for this—also an imperial edict personally issued by the Emperor—"

"Newly entered immortal sects and demon tribes, if they wish to dwell among humans, must abide by the law, refrain from slaughter, plunder, or oppressing civilians, and certainly must not enslave ordinary people as slaves or beasts of burden; otherwise, they may retreat to the forests and live self-sufficiently, but must simultaneously obey Cangyan's laws. Those unwilling to accept any of the above should simply leave Cangyan's territory!"

This is the threefold path Cangyan State offers to immortal sects and demon tribes:

Those wishing to live in human society must not, as in ancient times, treat civilians as slaves and recklessly extract their fat and ointment;

Those unwilling to live in human society should return to the deep mountains and marshes, competing with new and old demons and other immortal sects, just like the Zhenyuan Hall does. After all, Cangyan's territory is vast, and areas outside human settlements are free for them to develop.

Those who refuse both paths above can only be expelled from Cangyan State.

The state has its laws, the family its rules.

Actually, put even more simply: immortal sects cannot demand tribute from civilians in Cangyan!

Those who wish to engage in commerce and development, or to annex other immortal sects and demon tribes, are free to do so—after all, each relies on their own abilities;

But those who wish to gain without labor, to enjoy civilian incense offerings without effort? Hah, Cangyan does not permit it.

Sect Leader Yuan also caught the subtext in Liu Qingdao's words:

Don't say Xian Sect wants the profits from three cities—it couldn't even take a single township or half a county!

This matter has long been settled in Cangyan; there's nothing to discuss.

So this meeting between the two sides isn't a negotiation, but rather a unilateral ultimatum from Cangyan to Xian Sect? Sect Leader Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly: "Good, good. It seems Elder Liu already has a solution to Wei'an City's water crisis—I hope Cangyan will also let me look at you with new eyes."

"You and I once both dwelled in Ling Mountain, Sect Leader Yuan—please hear me out on this:" Liu Qingdao said solemnly, "Sect Leader Yuan's ability to devise Wei'an City's water cutoff shows you've sent people to gather outside intelligence—then you should know that earth-shaking changes have occurred in the mortal realm, and the laws of elemental power have greatly changed; immortal sects' divine powers are no longer as dominant before the might of a great nation. Alas, it's not easy for Xian Sect to maintain its three-thousand-year Dao lineage—Sect Leader Yuan, you must think thrice before acting."

His expression was sincere, but to Sect Leader Yuan, these words sounded like threats, sentence after sentence.

"A great nation?" Sect Leader Yuan laughed, "If so, then let me first see the strength of this great nation before we speak further."

In this world, the strong reign supreme—the status of a "great nation" is not certified by mere words.

As he spoke these words, his figure gradually faded from the stone in the river's heart.

This round, we can consider the talk concluded.

Inside Xian Sect's territory.

Sect Leader Yuan withdrew his divine power, gazing long at the water mirror showing Wei'an City.

At this moment, a disciple came to report:

"Sect Leader Ancestor, earlier someone approached the entrance of Guye Mountain, seemingly guided by a Tianwu, descending to the pit's bottom and circling twice."

Elder Chu, standing nearby, snorted: "This thing that can't withstand a blow—just turn around and it gives away the sect's location."

Fortunately, Xian Sect's minor cave heaven has two entrances, while the Tianwu knows only one.

Tang Jingye had just returned with news of the captured Tianwu, and Xian Sect immediately sealed the entrance to Guye Mountain to eliminate future risks.

This move was decisive and effective—otherwise, officials might have already sent people to sneak in silently.

"These foolish lackeys of Cangyan trying to probe our mountain gate? Hahaha, maybe in the next life!" Elder Chu burst into laughter again, "Wei'an City is about to cut off water—I want to enjoy watching them jump about in anxiety!"

Sect Leader Yuan said nothing.

The laws of elemental power?

In the mid-Middle Ages, human states discovered and began to utilize elemental power.

Yet during the era of rising spiritual energy, elemental power was of little use.

Now Liu Qingdao says the mortal realm has undergone great transformation, and the laws of elemental power have greatly changed—what does this mean?

……

After concluding his talk with Sect Leader Yuan, Liu Qingdao returned once more to Bingjiang, where the city guard of Zhou City immediately stepped forward to pay respects: "Elder Liu!"

"Where are my two subordinates?"

Before negotiating with Xian Sect, he had sent two demon beasts to infiltrate underground, to examine the substratum beneath the mountain, seeking to clarify the cause of the so-called "Flying Peak's" continuous growth.

Zhou City Guard opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly saw among the people behind Liu Qingdao a face that was exceptionally familiar.