Chapter 181: Luohe Acts

Lord Yu Shui asked, "Brother Luohe, when can you act?"

He was only a temporary visitor; once Luo Feng acted, he would face the entire Shí Nation's pressure, so preparations were usually made in advance.

"Anytime." Luo Feng smiled.

"Good." Lord Yu Shui was overjoyed.

How refreshing! This Brother Luohe is so refreshing!

If the Divine Kings of the Origin Continent acted this swiftly, Lord Yu Shui would already have made a host of friends.

"Wait one day," Lord Yu Shui said. "I need a day to first reclaim these ten Master Master Hun Dun States—they're still owned by others. Once Brother Luohe repels the Shí Nation, reclaiming them later will be far more troublesome."

These ten Master Master Hun Dun States are closest to Hu Yangcheng, all along the border, and with the situation deteriorating, the feudal marquises are willing to sell.

But once the situation improves, these are lands cultivated over countless ages—would the nation's lord really reclaim them? Even if the marquises agree, their demands will be exorbitant.

"Very well. I await your lordship's word." Luo Feng said.

"I'll arrange it immediately." Lord Yu Shui rose, his fur-covered form gazing at Luo Feng with sincere eyes. "Brother Luohe, you've helped me this time—I will repay this debt."

Luo Feng stood and smiled. "If I ever need your lordship's aid, I won't hesitate to ask."

Lord Yu Shui immediately took his leave, taking the six attendants leisurely eating and drinking in Hu Yangcheng with him, returning directly to the Yu Kingdom's capital.

"I'll be facing the Tiankun Lord," Luo Feng said, standing atop the city lord's pavilion, his gaze cold and distant.

He agreed so readily—and even lowered his price—partly out of gratitude for the leaf of the Xuanyuan Mother Tree that Lord Yu Shui once gave him when he was weak; partly to conveniently engage the Shí Nation's lords, to personally gauge the Tiankun Lord's true strength.

"He's a Divine King of the Second Realm, and has also cultivated the Using Hunyuan Bloodline. Prepare well," Luo Feng said, sitting cross-legged on the pavilion, quietly awaiting his moment to act.

…

Within Ji Jiang City.

"The Shí Nation has launched a full-scale invasion; many Master Master Hun Dun States along the border have been seized—yet my Ji Jiang Master Master Hun Dun State remains untouched," Marquis Ji Jiang frowned, feeling both relief and unease.

As surrounding Master Master Hun Dun States fell one by one, all neighbors of Ji Jiang Master Master Hun Dun State became Shí Nation territory.

His single Master Master Hun Dun State was now completely surrounded.

"The Shí Nation hasn't attacked my Ji Jiang Master Master Hun Dun State—not because of me, but because of Lord Luohe," Marquis Ji Jiang had long subscribed to Luohe's intelligence reports, though only to the basic tier—higher-tier intel was too expensive.

"Lord Luohe, the outside world says… after becoming a Divine King, he should possess the strength of a regional overlord. But these are just legends, never verified."

"And even if he is a regional overlord, Lord Luohe is the Emperor's direct disciple. The Tiankun Lord of the Shí Nation is also close to the imperial clan of Yan Feng Ancient Nation. Lord Luohe might side with the Shí Nation." Marquis Ji Jiang was deeply uneasy.

In this chaotic situation, he had no power to resist.

His fate depended on two great nations—and on Luohe's stance.

"Regardless, Lord Luohe is a man of loyalty and righteousness," Marquis Ji Jiang had watched Luo Feng grow from Hu Yangcheng.

"Ji Jiang," the lord suddenly contacted him.

Marquis Ji Jiang startled, bowing deeply: "My lord."

"I plan to reclaim your Ji Jiang Master Master Hun Dun State," Lord Yu Shui said. "I can offer you a replacement Master Master Hun Dun State in the heart of Yu Kingdom. Will you accept?"

Marquis Ji Jiang froze, then replied quickly: "Of course I accept—but my Ji Jiang Master Master Hun Dun State's major city, Hu Yangcheng, belongs to Lord Luohe. I only control part of Ji Jiang Master Master Hun Dun State."

"I know. I intend to exchange it for the Shi Jiang Master Master Hun Dun State," Lord Yu Shui said.

"Shi Jiang Master Master Hun Dun State? That… that's much larger than my Ji Jiang Master Master Hun Dun State, and far richer in resources," Marquis Ji Jiang said. "But in this exchange, I have no authority to claim Hu Yangcheng."

"This exchange is also Lord Luohe's suggestion," Lord Yu Shui said.

Marquis Ji Jiang's heart trembled.

Lord Luohe's suggestion? Lord Luohe stands with the lord?

"If it's your lordship's and Lord Luohe's will, I naturally agree," Marquis Ji Jiang said.

"Good." Lord Yu Shui immediately severed the connection and contacted the next Master Master Hun Dun Lord.

…

"I plan to reclaim your Tian Shui Master Master Hun Dun State. I'll compensate you with three hundred billion Cosmic Sands and a major city in the heart of Yu Kingdom. Will you accept?" Lord Yu Shui contacted Tian Shui Marquis. "Alternatively, you may leave Yu Kingdom—but then you forfeit all compensation."

To receive a fief, one must pledge eternal service to Yu Kingdom.

Once one departs, all rights to the fief are automatically revoked.

"I naturally wish to serve Yu Kingdom. I accept the exchange of three hundred billion Cosmic Sands and a major city," he said. Though leaving Yu Kingdom meant greater freedom and lower danger, he would lose all these resources.

"Good." Lord Yu Shui said, immediately contacting the next Master Master Hun Dun Lord.

Three hundred billion Cosmic Sands seemed vast, yet each eon's output from a Master Master Hun Dun State was immense—residence fees and countless celestial treasures yielded over a hundred million Cosmic Sands per eon.

A Master Master Hun Dun Sovereign usually commanded a vast clan, so at least a major city was granted; otherwise, sustaining the family became impossible.

"With the Shí Nation's full invasion, I must first secure a massive resource base," Tian Shui Marquis mused. "A major city later will barely support my clan and subordinates—I'll likely get nothing for myself. These three hundred billion Cosmic Sands… are my entire future cultivation resource."

"And if I ever leave Yu Kingdom, by law I must return half of these three hundred billion."

Tian Shui Marquis weighed his options.

Not every marquis held a complete Master Master Hun Dun State fief—some chose partial resources and a major city instead.

Joining a nation brought great benefits.

Leaving carried heavy costs.

Under these dire conditions, Lord Yu Shui smoothly reclaimed ten Master Master Hun Dun States. Aside from Marquis Ji Jiang receiving a larger, richer Master Master Hun Dun State in Yu Kingdom's heart, the other marquises could only choose between "three hundred billion Cosmic Sands plus a major city" or departure.

Of the other nine marquises, six chose the resource exchange; three chose to leave. Those three had already lost their fiefs entirely to the Shí Nation and had been forced to relocate their entire clans—they saw no future for Yu Kingdom and seized the chance to sever ties completely.

As for resources? Joining another nation could still grant them.

"They're gone—the Shí Nation is clearly stronger, and the Tiankun Lord has more allies. Even if we hold out this time, Yu Kingdom will still decline."

"These three hundred billion Cosmic Sands aren't easy to keep! You'll have to fight for your life—and if you ever want to leave, you must return half… better to choose a safe place."

The three Master Master Hun Dun Lords, with their families, departed.

Lord Yu Shui offered no resistance—he had clearly stated the departure terms when recruiting Master Master Hun Dun Lords. Divine Kings did not lightly break such public promises.

"Brother Luohe, the ten Master Master Hun Dun States have all been reclaimed. You may act," Lord Yu Shui sent a karmic message.

"Fast," Luo Feng, seated cross-legged atop Hu Yangcheng's pavilion, opened his eyes. "Now, leave it to me."

…

The Shí Nation advanced along the entire border.

Fu Zhen Master Master Hun Dun State, Fu Zhen City.

!.

"Boom—!" The vast Eternal True God army had arrived above Fu Zhen City, its might filling every soul within with terror.

Three terrifying figures stood outside the city.

One loomed like a mountain, larger than Fu Zhen City itself; his breath formed violent storms. Merely seeing this colossal presence made the city's inhabitants tremble.

Another was smaller, yet tall as Fu Zhen City's walls; he stood wreathed in thunder.

The third was smallest, yet his crimson radiance blotted out the entire sky—his aura the most terrifying of all.

"Hou Fu Zhen, do you intend to stop our army alone?" The mountain-like figure laughed heartily, his laughter shaking Fu Zhen City to its foundations; the city's defenders had no will to fight.

On one hand, the enemy coalition was far larger; on the other, the three Master Master Hun Dun Lords could strike at any moment.

"Hou Fu Zhen, if you have courage, strike."

"Ha! We've slaughtered our way here—and your Yu Kingdom has only retreated. How dull."

The three Shí Nation Master Master Hun Dun Lords' voices echoed across heaven and earth.

Inside the Marquis's mansion.

Hou Fu Zhen, clad in gray robes, watched the scene, furious yet powerless. His Fu Zhen Master Master Hun Dun State was not among the ten Luo Feng had chosen—until now, he still clung to his ancestral fief.

"The lord has given no order, and the four Divine Kings remain silent," Hou Fu Zhen sighed inwardly. "Enough. I cannot hold it."

Suddenly—

Hummm!!

An invisible force of world power spread everywhere.

"What?" Hou Fu Zhen gasped.

"Who is this?" The three Shí Nation Master Master Hun Dun Lords turned pale. This world power was unhidden, brutal, and terrifying—even the weakest lifeform felt its crushing suppression.

The entire heavens darkened.

At this moment, not only Fu Zhen City—but an area a hundred million times wider—was engulfed.

The Shí Nation had invaded twelve Master Master Hun Dun States in total; Luo Feng's world power now covered them all. These twelve were spread far apart, beyond the range of his true World Lifeform's coverage.

But Luo Feng had sent out two clones.

Each clone, though holding only one-thousandth of his energy reserves, still far surpassed Master Master Hun Dun Lord levels. Their internal world forces were immensely dense, naturally forming inner worlds with a world-mirroring range stretching across eight Master Master Hun Dun States.

World Lifeform: one true body, two clones.

World mirroring alone was enough to cover every invaded territory.

"Hum—"

All Shí Nation invasion forces—including the thirty-five Master Master Hun Dun Lords involved—were now fully enveloped by world power.

"What is that?" Countless lifeforms looked up, seeing the sky suddenly turn chaotic.

"This…"

Only the Master Master Hun Dun Lords could clearly see—it was a colossal face.

This face was so vast it surpassed the limit of what Eternal True Gods could perceive; only Master Master Hun Dun Lords could discern its true features.

It was Luo Feng's face.

Luo Feng gazed down upon the twelve Master Master Hun Dun States. So immense was his face that even regions beyond them—some Master Master Hun Dun Lords within Shí Nation territory—could see it.

Merely seeing it filled these Master Master Hun Dun Lords with dread.

"I am Luohe."

The enormous face looming over the twelve Master Hun Dun States spoke, its voice calm, "I have come at the invitation of the Lord of Yu State to deal with the invasion by Shi State."

The voice rolled vast and mighty across the heavens and earth of the twelve Master Hun Dun States.

"Th-this..." All the invading armies and Master Hun Dun Realm cultivators of Shi State stared in terror, feeling at that moment that Luohe Shenwang was the sovereign of the twelve Master Hun Dun States.

"Boom—"

With a single thought from Luo Feng, the heavens and earth trembled in wrath.

All invading armies and Master Hun Dun Realm cultivators were swept up by the world's power and expelled directly from the large cities, tumbling onto the wild lands beyond.

"Little intruders of Shi State, you have one day to flee Yu State. Those who remain after one day will never need to leave again." The massive face of Luohe gazed down upon the weak, speaking calmly.

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(End of Chapter)