Chapter 454: Arriving One After Another, Chui Mountain Matter Finished, Jiuzhen Co-Lord, Knock

"Everyone immediately put down your weapons and surrender, and you can be

The five severed heads Yuan Cheng displayed not only stunned the two factions of vassal lords led by Cai Shiqi and Chu Yan'er, but also made the brows of the two brothers, Yang Zun and Yang Fa, twitch violently.

The entire inner city had already fallen into a deathly silence due to the sudden appearance of the large Xia Army, so Yuan Cheng's powerful, resonant shout instantly reached everyone's ears. Aside from the Xianyang-level experts and a very small number of stronger Yuhan-level experts, everyone in the audience was startled into a shiver.

In particular, the two thousand Beishuo troops who had already retreated to the Duan clan's ancestral grounds, along with the more than one thousand direct descendants of the Duan clan, not only shivered but also could not help but turn a few shades paler.

They knew very well that the target of Yuan Cheng's shout at this moment was them.

"Everyone, lay down your weapons and surrender immediately, and your lives will be spared!"

"Everyone, lay down your weapons and surrender immediately, and your lives will be spared!"

…………

However, Yuan Cheng's shout was only the beginning.

Qiu Peng, Xu Ning, Liu Yuan, and Hou Quan soon followed suit, shouting with all their might. Yue Feng, Zhao Long, Meng Yi, Hou Tong, Hong Guang, Hong Tian, Zhou Yuan, Zhu Qing, Li Longkai, and Hou Ming—ten army commanders or deputy commanders—not only joined in but also waved to the soldiers behind them.

"Everyone, lay down your weapons and surrender immediately, and your lives will be spared!"

…………

An army composed of fifteen thousand Yuhan-level soldiers, even if they did nothing but stand there under the cold sun, possessed immense deterrent power.

Moreover, at this moment, they were all unleashing their full momentum, shouting thunderously toward the inner city.

The swirling Qi and blood surged into the sky, and the violent airflow instantly scattered the clouds above the inner city. Not to mention the inner city area, which was only five kilometers in diameter, it was as if the entire Chui Shanzhen City had been shaken by this sound.

The earth trembled incessantly, and even the brothers Yang Zun and Yang Fa changed their expressions, quietly ascending into mid-air. Not to mention the more than three thousand remnants huddled in the Duan clan's ancestral grounds; their expressions were miserable, and despair instantly crawled across their faces.

Clang... Clank...

A few scattered soldiers were even so frightened that they dropped the weapons in their hands.

Things having reached this point, resistance no longer had any meaning.

The moment the fifteen thousand Yuhan-level Xia soldiers appeared, the fate of the Beishuo and Duan clan rebel armies had already been sealed. Not to mention that they had been locked in a bitter battle with the Mu clan's direct troops for over an hour and were already exhausted; even in their prime, they would not have had the slightest chance of winning.

To save their lives, they had only to disarm!

Clang... Clang............

The Duan clan's group acted the fastest; they directly threw down their weapons, walked out of the Duan clan's ancestral grounds, and knelt to surrender to the nearest Fifth Cloud Dragon Army.

The two thousand Beishuo soldiers seemed to still harbor hope, turning their heads to look at the Lord, Yang Zun. Discovering that both Yang Zun and Yang Fa had ascended into mid-air, a trace of despair instantly rose in their pupils, and they subsequently laid down the weapons in their hands one after another.

"Confiscate their blades, strip them of their armor, and take them all into custody!"

Yuan Cheng's voice was clearly filled with joy. Although the Xia Army did not fear a great battle, being able to win without losing a single soldier was naturally the best outcome.

As the soldiers of the Fifth Cloud Dragon Army began to detain the routed troops in the Duan clan's ancestral grounds, this mutiny, which had lasted for nearly two hours, could be considered to have reached a definitive conclusion.

Duan Hong was killed, the Duan clan and the remnants of the Beishuo army all surrendered, and the Mu clan faction, with the support of Does Does Da Xia, achieved a complete victory.

From this day forward, Chui Mountain has completely changed hands!

Yang Zun clenched his fists under his sleeves, turned his head to look at Mu Longhe first, then quickly shifted his gaze to Li Ying Xuan Ling, who was standing in mid-air.

Of course, it was not just him; Yang Fa, Cai Shiqi, Chu Yan'er, including all the surrendered remnants, and even the victorious Mu clan army, all had their gazes focused on Li Ying Xuan Ling at this moment.

Because Li Ying Xuan Ling had just ignored Chu Yan'er's question, until now, apart from those from Does Does Da Xia and a few others, everyone else in the field still did not know her specific identity.

Since when did Does Does Da Xia produce such a powerful Xianyang-level expert?

Who is she?

Soon, everyone had the answer.

Mu Longhe, in mid-air, suddenly bowed to Li Ying Xuan Ling: "Does Does Da Xia's righteous dispatch of troops this time is something the entirety of Chui Mountain is endlessly grateful for. On behalf of everyone in Chui Mountain, Mu Longhe thanks the Lady for her assistance!"

Below, Mu Qinghe, Zhu Ziying, Helian Shan, Qiu Sanming, and other direct Mu clan members, seeing Mu Longhe bowing to Li Ying Xuan Ling, also hurriedly followed suit and bowed: "Thank you, Lady, for your assistance!"

"Thank you, Lady, for your assistance!"

There were over ten thousand people from the Mu clan who participated in the mutiny, and at this moment, only about six thousand were still standing; they all bowed down in unison.

Lady—in Does Does Da Xia, who else could be directly addressed as Lady?

Li Ying Xuan Ling!

Hearing Mu Longhe's form of address, Yang Zun, Yang Fa, Chu Yan'er, Cai Shiqi, and a crowd of others immediately had the three words "Li Ying Xuan Ling" surface in their minds, and subsequently, their faces were covered with shock and agitation.

It has been nearly two years since Does Does Da Xia integrated into the Jiuzhen territory. Although Xia City remains mysterious to the outside world, with the Hong Sect trading port, much of the situation inside Does Does Da Xia has inevitably leaked out.

For example, the news that Xia Hong is already married and that his wife, Li Ying Xuan Ling, possesses formidable strength is one such piece of information.

The problem is, the four words "formidable strength" leave too much room for imagination!

It must be said that in the Jiuzhen territory, the status of women is still very low, or rather, in the entire Frozen Abyss, the status of women is likely not high.

For a woman to be crowned with the words "formidable strength" is already quite an achievement. Many people think that at most, she is a very strong Yuhan-level expert—30 mane... 40 mane; it would be quite good if she had 50 mane of strength at most.

A Xianyang-level expert, and one capable of slaying a Lord...

This instantly exceeded everyone's scope of understanding. Let alone Yang Zun, Yang Fa, and others, just by looking at the thick wariness in the pupils of Chu Yan'er, who is also female and hails from Chen Cang, one could feel how great the impact of Li Ying Xuan Ling's identity was on everyone's psyche.

"Elder Mu, everyone, there is no need for such formalities. Does Does Da Xia's dispatch of troops this time is not only to help Chui Mountain but also to suppress the arrogance of the outer vassal lords!"

Li Ying Xuan Ling first smiled faintly and signaled for the Mu clan members to rise. When she reached the latter part of her sentence, she turned her head directly to look at Cai Shiqi, Chu Yan'er, and the others on the ground, and then her tone suddenly became sharp: "The year before last, first there was Chen Yiqing of Chen Cang, who wantonly killed dozens of people from the Three Towns Chamber of Commerce and framed it on our Does Does Da Xia, eventually leading to the Great Battle of Hong Sect, which nearly caused Does Does Da Xia to go to war with the Liuzhen. After the failure at Hong Sect, Chen Yiqing still would not give up and successively killed over a hundred key officials from various towns, just to sow discord among the Jiuzhen;

Also the year before last, this little princess of Chen Cang, Chu Yan'er, secretly infiltrated our Does Does Da Xia inner city, intending to strike at a group of children under ten years old. If it hadn't been discovered in time by my husband, the consequences would have been unthinkable;

At that time, my husband respected Chen Cang's strength and spared this little princess's life. Only a year and a half has passed, and this woman has actually started instigating Beishuo to annex Chui Mountain, causing such a great disaster;

To be this insane, Chen Cang's sinister intentions are evident..."

Chu Yan'er and the crowd of Chen Cang people listened as their faces turned pale and fluctuated. Including Chu Yan'er, several people wanted to stand up and retort, but when they looked up and saw the long sword in Li Ying Xuan Ling's hand, they retreated back in fear.

They could only listen obediently as Li Ying Xuan Ling counted off Chen Cang's evil deeds one by one.

After finishing with Chen Cang, Li Ying Xuan Ling pointed at Cai Shiqi and the others who had already stood up, and continued with a cold laugh: "At the end of last year, this Cai Shiqi held a 'Clearing Grievances Assembly,' helping us clarify the truth about the Chen Yiqing affair, under the beautiful guise of 'clearing grievances for Cai Qiu.'

This Lady originally thought that this Cai Qiu vassal state would be a little better than Chen Cang.

I didn't know or understand, but upon investigation, I found out that Cai Shiqi, who came with this person, relied on his strength and background to ravish wives and daughters in the six towns of Jin Shan, Wu Chuan, Muyin, Yangqu, Longgu, and Chui Mountain, committing countless crimes;

Cai Shiqi instigating the mutiny today and coercing Duan Hong was merely to compete with this little princess of Chen Cang. The ultimate goal, in the final analysis, was still to allow Cai Qiu to take advantage of the situation and extend its reach into our Jiuzhen territory.

The actions committed by these two alone are enough to show that this Cai Qiu is also nothing good, just a jackal from the same lair as Chen Cang. In the end, it is all for the sake of plotting against our Jiuzhen territory..."

The people of Chui Mountain below had their emotions stirred up by now. Many turned their heads to look at the two groups of Cai Shiqi and Chu Yan'er, their expressions clearly beginning to turn hostile.

Cai Shiqi gripped his severed finger, his face livid. At this moment, his inner fear was even greater than Chu Yan'er's. Even though anger surged to his head and his whole body trembled, he dared not make any move.

Chu Yan'er was different from him. Hearing Li Ying Xuan Ling list the two vassal states of Chen Cang and Cai Qiu one after another, and noticing the gazes of those Yuhan-level experts from Chui Mountain, she seemed to have figured something out. She turned her head to survey her surroundings, her expression already solemn to the extreme.

Li Ying Xuan Ling paused, slightly raised her elegant neck, added a touch of solemnity to her gaze, and continued: "Two Yuhan-level fops, relying on the power of their vassal states, can stir up trouble in the Southern Foothills territory. If the Jiuzhen do not unite, and we allow these vassal state people to continue instigating, we will sooner or later be broken one by one. By then, the millions of commoners in our Southern Foothills will all likely be reduced to subordinates of the vassal states.

This Lady has heard that on the vassal state side, those under their rule are divided into six ranks: noble, elite, military, commoner, lowly, and slave. Once Chen Cang and Cai Qiu annex the Jiuzhen, I fear that over ninety percent of us in the Southern Foothills will be classified as lowly or slave rank. You all surely would not want that, right?"

Li Ying Xuan Ling directly and publicly stated the vassal states' six-rank system. Below, there was an instant uproar. The people below, whether from Chui Mountain or Does Does Da Xia, and even including the remnants of the Beishuo army, all had their expressions change instantly.

Lowly rank, slave rank—just from the literal meaning, one could hear that these were not good things.

Over the past year or so, through Does Does Da Xia's tireless promotion, the Jiuzhen territory had no good feelings toward the two major vassal states to begin with. Chui Mountain, in particular, because it had been infiltrated so deeply by Does Does Da Xia, had an even more severe resistance to the vassal states. Hearing these words from Li Ying Xuan Ling now, one can imagine their inner resistance toward Chen Cang and Cai Qiu.

"Of course we don't want that!"

Yuan Cheng was the first to shout in agreement.

"The Southern Foothills is our Jiuzhen' territory! No Chen Cang or Cai Qiu should ever think of riding above us!"

"That's right! No matter how strong the vassal states are, they are outsiders. Outsiders should not think of laying a finger on our Jiuzhen territory. This Chu Yan'er and Cai Shiqi are both no good. Drive them out and don't let them run wild in the Jiuzhen."

"The Jiuzhen should unite to resist the vassal state invasion. Chen Yiqing, Cai Shiqi, Cai Shiqing, Chu Yan'er... these vassal state people rely on their strength and don't treat us as human beings at all. If we really let them govern the Southern Foothills territory, we Jiuzhen people won't have any good days left!"

"The six-rank system, lowly rank, slave rank—it sounds like nothing good! We must be our own masters and never let the vassal states ride on our heads!"

………………

Once Yuan Cheng spoke, the Does Does Da Xia soldiers followed with angry roars one after another. Before long, even the emotions of the people of Chui Mountain were ignited, and many were even shouting to directly expel Chu Yan'er, Cai Shiqi, and these people from the vassal states.

In an instant, the whole scene was filled with righteous indignation.

Cai Shiqi, Chu Yan'er, and the others also turned slightly pale.

Public anger is hard to defy. Facing Does Does Da Xia's fifteen-thousand-strong army, even the two Xianyang-level experts, Yang Zun and Yang Fa, had quietly ascended into mid-air, let alone them, who only had Yuhan-level cultivation.

No matter how good their talent, how high their birth, or how strong their background, they could not withstand the thousands of troops before them. If the emotions of nearly twenty thousand Yuhan-level experts were to truly spiral out of control, they would be torn to shreds in an instant.

The original struggle over the ownership of Chui Shanzhen City, under Li Ying Xuan Ling's impassioned speech, had gradually evolved into a denunciation of the evil deeds of the two vassal states, with all spears pointed at Chen Cang and Cai Qiu.

Chu Yan'er, Cai Shiqi, and the vassal state crowd who had come with them—thinking this trip was just to show off their power in a backwater—were all instantly stunned.

"Everyone, calm down!"

Li Ying Xuan Ling had completely taken control of the rhythm. She slightly raised her hand to press down, and the tens of thousands of people below immediately closed their mouths and fell into silence.

"The vassal states are powerful after all. Moreover, there are two houses, Chen Cang and Cai Qiu, coveting the Jiuzhen territory. Why do both houses send these fops and scoundrels to constantly instigate conflicts and even wars among the Jiuzhen?

In the final analysis, isn't it because they are afraid of us uniting?

This proves that as long as our Southern Foothills Jiuzhen unite and work together, there is hope to resist the invasion of the two major vassal states!"

Pointing out the long-planned intentions directly, Li Ying Xuan Ling's gaze steadied, and taking advantage of the fact that the crowd below had not yet reacted, she continued to speak loudly:

"Since our Does Does Da Xia has the name of the Southern Foothills hegemon, we should naturally shoulder the heavy burden of resisting foreign enemies. Others dare not mention the Jiuzhen alliance for self-preservation, simply because they worry about the two major vassal states holding a grudge. You are afraid, but our Does Does Da Xia is not!

Because my husband, Xia Hong, is still in seclusion, this Lady will overstep her authority today and hereby sincerely invite the Eight Towns to form an alliance with our Does Does Da Xia to protect the Jiuzhen and jointly resist foreign enemies!"

Protect the Jiuzhen, jointly resist foreign enemies!

Since the end of the Battle of Hong Sect, and Xia Hong's proposal to use the Longyou model to deal with the chaotic situation in the Southern Foothills Jiuzhen, nearly two years had passed, and Does Does Da Xia had also been laying the groundwork for two full years.

Taking advantage of this Chui Mountain mutiny, Li Ying Xuan Ling revealed her true intentions and finally publicly stated the intent to form an alliance.

It can be said that the Longyou model officially began from this moment!

Jiuzhen Alliance!

Yang Zun on the ground suddenly clenched his fists, looked up at Li Ying Xuan Ling, his face full of jealousy, while a trace of unwillingness rose deep in his pupils.

Beside him, Yang Fa's face flushed red, and his reaction was even slightly greater than Yang Zun's.

In the two brothers' plan, the alliance should have been proposed by their Beishuo.

Does Does Da Xia has only been moving east for two years, only two years!

These two years have simply been a nightmare for Beishuo...

In April the year before last, Does Does Da Xia moved east and swallowed Bashang, first forcibly extending the life of Muyin, and later making decisions for Jiangxia. The three towns did not go through the process of forming an alliance, but they had the reality of one;

In September the year before last, the Battle of Hong Sect saw Xia Hong first defeat Yang Zun and snatch the title of the number one person in the Jiuzhen; subsequently, by taking advantage of the port-opening opportunity to expand influence, Does Does Da Xia firmly occupied the throne of the number one town in the Southern Foothills. With these two things superimposed, Xia Hong's name as the Southern Foothills hegemon had long been recognized;

Now Does Does Da Xia has helped Mu Longhe reclaim Chui Shanzhen City, which means that Does Does Da Xia already controls four towns in the entire Southern Foothills Jiuzhen, nearly half;

Now, using the name of the foreign invasion by Cai Qiu and Chen Cang, and in the name of protecting the Jiuzhen and jointly resisting foreign enemies, they have taken the opportunity to propose the Jiuzhen Alliance!

If this alliance succeeds, then the entire Southern Foothills Jiuzhen territory in the future will...

"The Lady's righteous speech is deafening. Xia Houzhang is convinced. As Does Does Da Xia is the hegemon of the Southern Foothills, and Lord Xia Hong bears the title of the number one person in the Jiuzhen, it is most appropriate for Does Does Da Xia to lead the alliance to resist the foreign vassal invasion. Signing the alliance brooks no delay. My Jiangxia Town agrees!"

"The survival of Muyin Town is entirely due to Does Does Da Xia's strong support. Now that two powerful vassal states are coveting us, and Does Does Da Xia has the heart to protect the Jiuzhen, how can this old man not follow? The Jiuzhen will sign the alliance, and Muyin will certainly be among them!"

"This internal chaos has caused countless casualties, all because of the two people, Chu and Cai. The vassal states have caused chaos in the Jiuzhen without cause, showing their wolfish ambitions. If the Jiuzhen do not unite, the day of collapse is not far off. Chui Mountain is willing to honor Does Does Da Xia as the alliance leader and work with Does Does Da Xia to protect the Jiuzhen and jointly resist foreign enemies!"

Xia Houzhang, Murong Chui, and Mu Longhe, who had just ascended to the throne of Chui Mountain, all successively spoke in agreement with Li Ying Xuan Ling.

The stance of these three was naturally within the expectations of the two brothers, Yang Zun and Yang Fa.

Not to mention Chui Mountain; looking at those fifteen thousand troops, one knows that Chui Mountain will not be decided by Mu Longhe in the future. Or rather, pushing out Mu Longhe as a puppet was just a steady move made by Does Does Da Xia out of fear of causing wariness in other towns.

So, after hearing the words of the three, the two just sneered twice, then stood still, not moving at all. Even when stared at by Xia Houzhang and the others, they had no reaction.

However, the next two voices that rang out made the two of them unable to stand still. Their expressions changed rapidly, and they looked up toward the front.

"Chen Cang and Cai Qiu are too bullying; we really cannot sit idly by anymore. Protect the Jiuzhen, jointly resist foreign enemies. Does Does Da Xia has this ambition and lives up to the name of the Southern Foothills hegemon. My Longgu Town is also willing to join the alliance to jointly resist the foreign vassal invasion!"

"Yangqu is willing to honor Does Does Da Xia as the alliance leader to protect the Jiuzhen and jointly resist foreign enemies!"