bookpower Chapter 354 Southern Capital
Chapter 354 Southern Capital
In Northern Sea Star, Dao lineages stand tall.
But the true Dao Lord lineages are only the Ten Great Immortal Paths, the Three Immortal Martial Sects, and the Four Great Immortal Dynasties.
Of course, there are also the Six Sects of the Demonic Dao, Nine Veins of Demon Immortals, and Ancestor Divine of the Ten Directions among the forces of demon cultivators, evil cultivators, and alien races; these forces also have Dao Lord-level existences behind them.
Even if all backed by Dao Lords, the background and strength of different forces are not the same.
The Dashang Immortal Dynasty, for instance, has only a hundred and eight states, and there are fewer than five Shattered Void Realm powerhouses within the country.
In contrast, looking at Heavenly Dao Sect, let alone anything else, just the Southern Region alone has forty-nine states.
That's the disparity in foundation.
At this moment, the fleet led by the Heavenly Casualty War Hall had already left the directly governed Central Region of the Immortal Sect and entered the Southern Region.
In the forty-nine states of the Southern Region, there are hundreds of cities, large and small, with cultivators living there ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.
Of course, except for the Province Prefecture, most cities usually have only Seventh or Eighth Layer Golden Core Cultivators stationed there.
Some underdeveloped small cities even have only Fifth or Sixth Layer, that is, Constant Light Realm and Crimson Red Gold Core Cultivators, responsible for management.
And the most central city of the entire Southern Region is known as Southern Capital.
That is, the capital of the Southern Region.
This place is not only located at the core of the Southern Region but also has a Teleportation Array. In the form of Stellar Sect, it can conduct personnel teleports.
Of course, due to the special environment of Northern Sea Star, the cost of activating the Teleportation Array is significant; based on the distance, it often requires tens of thousands, or even more than a hundred thousand, hundreds of thousands of Pure Yang Great Pills' worth of resources to activate once.
Aside from Hollow Void and a few top Golden Core cultivators who have emergencies, no one would use it.
Even Alkaid, when relocating core members of Nine Cauldrons Peak to the Southern Region, chose to travel by warship; otherwise...
Let's not even talk about the members of Nine Cauldrons Peak, just moving people from the sect to the Southern Region, even for the Heavenly Casualty War Hall, would cost tens of millions of Pure Yang Great Pills.
Just not worth it.
...
"In recent years, under the development by Sect Leader Song, the Southern Region has already become the flourishing state second only to Central Region. Sect Leader Song even expanded the territory by force, seizing thirteen states from the hands of Yin Moon Sect, turning the Southern Region from thirty-six states to forty-nine states,"
On the warship of the Heavenly Casualty War Hall, both Ling Ruogu and Chi Yu were accompanying on board.
As they traveled, it was Ling Ruogu who was quite knowledgeable about these historical events providing the introduction.
"Later, when Sect Leader Song betrayed the sect, the Sect Master personally led the team, in alliance with three Supreme Elders, and with the command of ten great war halls and dozens of Hollow Voids, they quelled the rebellion. Although this great battle caused the vitality of the Southern Region to be significantly weakened, with the Sect Master taking personal control of the Southern Region and devotedly developing it, these years have seen a recovery of vitality. Currently, except for the nine states bordering Yin Moon Sect where occasional wars break out, the other forty states are prospering."
He looked at the cities that kept passing by below, thinking that the Ling Family would also multiply and grow on this land, and his eyes couldn't help but fill with joy: "As of today, the forty-nine states of the Southern Region have a total population of 430 million cultivators. It's booming and dynamic, and almost every major state has a Hollow Void stationed there, secure as if fortified with refined gold."
"Every state has a Hollow Void stationed?"
Alkaid was somewhat surprised, "Does the sect have so many Hollow Voids?"
"Not exactly, some of these Hollow Voids are directly under the sect, while others are part of the sect's subsidiary forces."
"Subsidiary forces?"
Alkaid was somewhat taken aback.
"That's right. These subsidiary forces depend on our Heavenly Dao Sect for survival. The Heavenly Dao Sect will not exterminate them entirely, and even for the states they occupy, they won't meddle too much, as long as they pay sufficient taxes on time each year."
Ling Ruogu said, adding with a smile, "Of course, if they cause any grievous issues that incite public anger within their states, our Heavenly Dao Sect will not stand idly by."
"It works like that?"
"This system is only implemented in some impoverished and backward states where no Hollow Void Elder is willing to go. Those states that are slightly wealthier and have assets are all held in the hands of our own Hollow Void Elders."
Chi Yu chimed in from the side: "Moreover, when the sect needs to wage wars elsewhere, and those regions do not hold much benefit, the first to be summoned are Hollow Voids from these subsidiary forces."
Alkaid thought of Yun Province, where Nine Cauldrons Sect initially took root upon arriving at Northern Sea Star.
It could be said that the size of the area a formation could envelop represented the range of the Southern Capital itself.
"This is the Capital Dragon Slaying Formation, a Thirteen Level Formation! Its core is a genuine Dao Artifact. If someone in the Refining Void Realm presides over it, even a lone Shattered Void who falls into it runs the risk of perishing."
Qi Sha took this moment to assert his presence, "This is the most powerful formation in the Southern Capital, or even the entire Southern Region. Once we take over the residence of the Southern Region's Lord, we will be able to control this formation."
"Hmm, I'm afraid it won't be that easy,"
Alkaid chuckled lightly.
The grand fleet directly ascended above the Southern Region.
For a capital city such as this, the skies should be bustling with activity. Yet when this fleet sailed here, it found the place quite deserted.
The entire region's air space seemed as if it was on the brink of war.
"Sect Leader, something's not right..."
Qi Sha immediately said.
"Are they trying to show us who's boss?"
Alkaid said calmly, "Foolish."
Ling Ruogu, standing beside him, seemed to understand what Alkaid meant and said, "What cultivators trust most is their own strength, so they also consider this aspect in their actions. Powerful countries, when encountering situations, often first ask: Where are our troops, rather than seeking peaceful and rational solutions."
"Resorting to such methods to solve problems only proves that they see themselves as the more powerful party. That is their folly,"
Alkaid said.
But, perhaps, they saw him as a newly advanced Refining Void with no backing. If the people in the Southern Capital could scare him with such methods, what if it worked and he retreated? Maybe they thought trying once wouldn't be a loss?
Just then, a dozen people suddenly arrived through Escaping Light.
Looking at the massive scale of the fleet, the leader of the group, the Hollow Void War Immortal, had a flickering gaze but quickly said, "Not long ago, the Yin Moon Demons caused trouble, and for a thorough investigation, the area up ahead is a no-fly zone! All warships must not..."
"To be in the Southern Region but dare to obstruct the warships of the Lord of the Southern Region, Qi Sha..."
Alkaid gave a command.
Qi Sha, upon receiving the instruction, didn't hesitate, rising into the air and drawing his sword in an instant.
"For the Lord of the Southern Region to personally arrive and be met with disrespect, deserves death!"
The Power of Destruction permeated his being, instantly igniting a torrent of annihilation, which eventually formed a sword Qi that seemed to destroy all in its path, boldly slashing towards the Hollow Void War Immortal at the lead.
"Great Annihilation Sword Qi!"
The Hollow Void War Immortal let out a panicked cry.
He had never expected the other party to attack without even letting him finish speaking.
And... the person who attacked went straight for the kill!?
Violent energy suddenly emanated from his body, his combat power quickly soaring above six million, but against an unrestrained Qi Sha...
He couldn't even begin to defend against the edge of the Great Annihilation Sword Qi.
"BOOM!"
With the pure Power of Destruction scattering, the Hollow Void War Immortal, along with the Chaos Void he mobilized with all his might, and the dozens of cultivators around him, were all swallowed by the Great Annihilation Sword Qi.
"Enemy attack!"
The next moment, a piercing alarm sounded throughout the skies of the Southern Capital.
Subsequently, the Capital Dragon Slaying Formation, reputedly capable of trapping even a Shattered Void within, quickly started operating, appearing ready to enter defensive mode.
Upon seeing this, Alkaid waved his hand dismissively.
Wan Liugui, who had rehearsed this scenario countless times, immediately ordered, "The fleet will retreat! The Southern Capital dares to attack the warships of the Lord of the Southern Region. It must be the remnants of the past stirring trouble, intending to replay the old rebellions! We will quickly return to the Sect and report to the Supreme Elder Council, calling upon the army to suppress the rebellion! This time, massacre the entire city without sparing a single one!"