Chapter 909: Sharpening Weapons and Preparing Horses

When the North Wind Lord returned to Shenmu City, he found it had changed dramatically—order within the city had become strict, and experts of Mountain Lord rank guarded every corner.

Anyone daring to cause trouble inside Shenmu City would be killed instantly, and above the Lord’s Mansion, a thunderous aura gathered without dispersal—indicating that Chi Jin Mountain’s Lord Da Yi, who had crossed the Tribulation Crossing, was now here.

Even the North Wind Lord dared not defy the city’s rules.

After all, he had come to appease this regional god’s wrath; if his own mistakes angered Da Yi, his death here as Hundred Mountains Lord would be meaningless.

“Lord, do not worry. You are the Hundred Mountains Lord of Youfeng Nation. Even if Da Yi is furious, he will not act rashly—he became a regional god too recently to wish to provoke Youfeng Nation. This is the perfect moment to resolve past misunderstandings.”

Beside him, an old man spoke—he was Yang Xi, a sage of the North Wind Region.

“Even Youfeng Nation’s regional god would not wish to anger a new god because of my presence.”

The North Wind Lord said: “A regional god’s rule lasts thousands, even tens of thousands of years. Even Youfeng Nation’s regional god will one day age and die. For Youfeng Nation’s future, resolving grievances is inevitable—yet I hope all proceeds smoothly.”

He remained uneasy.

After all, he had once allied with Shenmu Lord and Dahuang Lord to obstruct Chi Jin Mountain Lord’s ascension. Though he did not join the battle, he had cut down part of the Divine Tree upon arriving in Shenmu City.

Now that Da Yi had become a god, he naturally bore the brunt of that wrath.

Soon.

The North Wind Lord arrived at the Lord’s Mansion with the sage Yang Xi.

Yet he noticed the golden sunlight within Shenmu City was no longer as brilliant—it was because many branches of the Divine Tree had been felled. The Divine Tree lineage, nurtured for years, could not escape this calamity.

“North Wind Lord, how dare you come to Shenmu City? Do you not know your actions insulted me? Or do you think I won’t kill you because of Youfeng Nation?”

A cold, majestic voice, like thunder, rang from within the Lord’s Mansion—its roar shook the heavens and struck fear into all who heard it.

The North Wind Lord had just entered the hall and saw Da Yi, now a regional god.

Da Yi did not sit in the former Shenmu Lord’s chair—he sat atop a white, radiant cloud, within which silver lightning wove like a true dragon gliding.

A suffocating divine aura radiated from him—even the Hundred Mountains Lord struggled to bear it.

“Youfeng Nation’s North Wind Lord Shuo Chong pays homage to the God of Chi Mountain.”

He spoke with deep reverence: “I have come to Shenmu City to appease your wrath and to secure peace between Youfeng Nation and the future Chi Jin Nation.”

“Peace cannot be achieved by your words alone—even with Youfeng Nation behind you.” Li Yi’s voice echoed through the hall like wild lightning scattering everywhere.

The North Wind Lord’s expression hardened; he felt the power and trembled with dread.

The gap between a regional god and a Hundred Mountains Lord was truly immense. He had once believed he could fight Da Yi—but now he knew one strike would kill him.

Li Yi continued: “Return the Divine Tree branch you seized recently to Shenmu City. Otherwise, Youfeng Nation is provoking me—and war will inevitably follow.”

He demanded outright the Divine Tree branch the North Wind Lord had taken.

“God of Chi Mountain, Youfeng Nation became a regional god a thousand years ago—its power far exceeds yours.” The North Wind Lord, unwilling to be humiliated, shouted: “If war breaks out, you are the one who will perish.”

“Even if I die, I will shatter Youfeng Nation before my death and drag every last Youfeng blood warrior to join me in the grave.” Li Yi said: “And you had better pray your Youfeng God kills me outright—otherwise, all of you will suffer the wrath of a regional god.”

At these words,

the North Wind Lord’s eyes narrowed—he had not expected Da Yi to be so violent, willing to drag the entire Youfeng Nation into ruin with him. But he knew this was no empty threat; Da Yi could truly do it.

A god’s war could reduce a thousand-li kingdom to ruins.

At once, the sage Yang Xi stepped forward: “Respected God of Chi Mountain, Youfeng Nation comes with sincerity, seeking to end hatred and establish eternal peace. The Divine Tree branch my lord took was granted by Shenmu Lord as a reward—he never intended to offend you. On the contrary, upon learning you had crossed the Tribulation and become a regional god, my lord voluntarily withdrew from Shenmu City—this alone proves his sincerity.”

“You twist truth into falsehood. I have already sent men to take control of Shenmu City. North Wind Lord, you seized the Divine Tree by force, relying on your Hundred Mountains Lord status. Now I demand its return. If you cannot decide, go inform the Youfeng God: choose peace, or war. Decide for yourselves.”

Li Yi said coldly: “I have been exceedingly tolerant today. Otherwise, you would already be a corpse.”

“Time is up. Leave now. Next time, I hope to hear good news from you.”

He said no more, ordering them away.

The North Wind Lord was furious—but reason told him he must not show anger before a regional god, or he would die here today.

Seeing this, the sage Yang Xi hurriedly asked: “Respected God of Chi Mountain, if we return the Divine Tree, will Youfeng Nation and Chi Jin Nation achieve eternal peace?”

“Of course. I give you my word: if your Youfeng God returns the Divine Tree, as long as I live, I will never invade Youfeng Nation.” Li Yi said: “I have been merciful. Remember, North Wind Lord, you allied with Shenmu Lord and Dahuang Lord to block my path to godhood—I still remember that grudge.”

“But I am a man of rules. You came with gifts to appease my wrath—I grant you this chance. Nothing more. Now leave. I will not repeat myself.”

Hearing this, the sage Yang Xi dared not stay—he immediately pulled the North Wind Lord away. They left behind all the gifts they had brought and prepared to send word back to Youfeng Nation.

Yet as soon as the North Wind Lord left Shenmu City, he could no longer suppress his rage—he roared, and a violent storm erupted across heaven and earth, winds powerful enough to sweep away mountains and overturn seas.

“Lord, please calm your fury. We are still near Shenmu City—Da Yi may still sense this energy.” Sage Yang Xi urged.

The North Wind Lord roared: “I am a Hundred Mountains Lord, a blood warrior on the verge of becoming a regional god. Da Yi has no right to humiliate me.”

“But you are not yet a regional god. Before becoming one, Da Yi already defeated Shenmu Lord and Dahuang Lord. You must respect the strong—it is also respecting yourself.” Sage Yang Xi said.

Hearing this, the North Wind Lord’s rage subsided. He said: “You are right. Da Yi is now a regional god—he has the right to humiliate me. I have no reply. But returning the Divine Tree—I cannot accept it. It was promised to me by Shenmu Lord.”

“Perhaps you should follow the will of the Youfeng God. The Divine Tree, however precious, cannot outweigh eternal peace between two nations. As Da Yi said, if war begins, Youfeng Nation will be utterly destroyed—no one will survive, not even you.” Sage Yang Xi shook his head slightly: “Besides, the Divine Tree still stands in Shenmu City. If you become Youfeng Nation’s second god, you may return and take it yourself.”

“No—by then, Da Yi himself will offer the Divine Tree to maintain peace.”

The sage’s words opened the North Wind Lord’s mind—he nodded: “You are right. Only when I become a regional god can I wash away this shame and take the Divine Tree myself. Then, Da Yi cannot stop me.”

“For peace and the future, the Divine Tree must be returned.”

Sage Yang Xi smiled: “That is the correct path. The future of the North Region lies not in the Divine Tree, but in you, the Hundred Mountains Lord.”

The North Wind Lord said nothing more. Once resolved, he glanced back at Shenmu City, then rode his beast away swiftly.

At this moment,

inside the Lord’s Mansion,

“Tai Yi, was that not too risky? We never planned to fight Youfeng Nation—if our intimidation failed, it would be disastrous.” A mature, beautiful Daoist nun entered the hall, visibly tense over what had just transpired.

“Xian Gu, that’s unlike you. You’ve grown timid.”

Li Yi laughed: “They came because they knew they wouldn’t clash with us. We haven’t even established Chi Jin Nation yet, while they are the prosperous Youfeng Nation. As the wealthier side, they won’t risk war over a single Divine Tree branch.”

“And if we don’t show strength, how can we claim sufficient status? If they truly attack, I’m not afraid—I’ll simply leave the Wildlands. But then they’ll have reason to fear: a regional god’s intimidation is no small thing.”

Xiang Xiangzi gave him a look: “Do you think I want to worry about this? The Wildlands are too powerful. I don’t want you provoking enemies and drawing danger—you know I can’t protect you anymore. I can’t resolve your threats, so naturally, I’m anxious.”

“No matter. When Xian Gu is in trouble, I will protect you—I won’t let you suffer.” Li Yi said: “So use this rare peace to sharpen weapons and strengthen our strength.”

Xiang Xiangzi’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she smiled: “I never thought Tai Yi would have such a protective heart. Now we may rest easy.”

“Of course. But now that the North Wind Lord has left, I must go to Chi Jin Mountain to settle these trivial matters. While I’m gone, Xian Gu, I leave Shenmu City in your care.” With that, Li Yi rode his cloud out of the hall and vanished into the distance.

Soon after Li Yi departed,

in a corner of Shenmu City, a scorching aura surged, followed by golden flames shooting skyward—a new Divine Tree Chi Jin Cauldron was forged.

With two treasure cauldrons, smelting efficiency would double.

Yet Tian Gong Dao Ren was not satisfied—he intended to forge a third Divine Tree Chi Jin Cauldron, for he had ample materials and could afford such waste.