The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Fang Ting and Fang Chu spent several months scouting the regions around the Eight Ancient Nations. At last, they discovered a feng shui-blessed site ideal for the construction of their imperial capital.

The chosen location sat above the Eight Ancient Nations, relatively close to the Great Xia Dynasty.

Given the longstanding alliance between the Fang Clan and Great Xia, the proximity would allow for mutual support and cooperation in the future.

Once the site was confirmed, the two returned to the Fang Clan to mobilize manpower and materials.

Previously, when the Fang Clan migrated from their former blessed land to their internal small world, they had transformed a desolate wasteland into a flourishing realm of cultivation. Through that experience, they had gained ample construction knowledge and logistical expertise.

Thus, even building an imperial capital of grander scale posed no real difficulty for them.

At the same time, the royalty of the Eight Ancient Nations issued a joint announcement that once again stirred all of Cangzhou.

The statement declared that the Eight Ancient Nations would be unified into a single realm: the Great Qian Dynasty, with its sovereign to be Empress Song Yushu—of the Great Qian royal line.

This shocked everyone.

The Great Zhou Dynasty had fragmented into the Eight Ancient Nations over 100,000 years ago. Throughout the ages, various factions had tried to reunify the lands—but every attempt had ended in failure.

Now, out of nowhere, came news of successful unification.

"What? The Eight Ancient Nations are merging? That's way too sudden!"

"I get them merging, but why join with some backwater kingdom like Great Qian?"

"The Empress of Great Qian, Song Yushu, is the wife of Fang Ting—the Fang Clan's patriarch."

"Ahhh... that explains everything. Unexpected, yet totally reasonable."

"The Fang Clan really plays the long game. They just quietly absorbed the entire Eight Ancient Nations!"

"They were just shy of hegemon-level status before, but with the Great Qian Dynasty? They're officially a top-tier force now."

"All the other hegemonic powers in Cangzhou date back to the ancient era. The Fang Clan did it in a few hundred years—unbelievable."

In truth, when the Heaven's Chosen Rankings had been updated, everyone knew the Fang Clan's potential was limitless. It was just a matter of time before they reached hegemonic status—or beyond.

They just didn't expect it to happen so fast.

Normally, any attempt to unify the Eight Ancient Nations would face opposition from rival powers. After all, resources in Cangzhou were limited; a new hegemon meant more competition.

But since it was the Fang Clan, no one dared object. At least, not publicly. In fact, many factions sent gifts and congratulations.

Especially after the fall of the Duan Clan and the Primordial Sacred Ground, every hegemon was on edge, fearing they might be next. Everyone was too busy protecting themselves to interfere with the Fang Clan.

With manpower and materials secured, construction of the Great Qian Imperial Capital officially began.

Fang Ting had deliberately made the announcement ahead of time and was orchestrating the project with great fanfare. His goal was simple: attract cultivators to the new capital.

After all, if the capital was finished and no one came, that would be embarrassing.

The Fang Clan's strength and reputation were already known throughout Cangzhou. And now, amidst widespread chaos and fear, countless cultivators were searching for a safe haven to live and cultivate.

Thus, before even the foundations were laid, cultivators from all corners of the continent began gathering at the site.

Everyone wanted to be among the first residents of the Great Qian Imperial Capital.

This led to a bizarre situation:

The capital hadn't even been built yet, and the area surrounding the site was already swarming with cultivators.

Some were so eager, they volunteered to help build the city—without pay.

Others found it baffling.

"Why are people rushing to a spot where the capital hasn't even been started yet?"

"You don't get it. Cangzhou's a mess right now. Nowhere feels safe. But the Fang Clan? With that kind of backing, this place will be the safest in the land—even if it's just dirt right now."

"Damn, you're right! I'm gonna sell everything and move here!"

"Mark my words: the Great Qian Dynasty will be the most secure place in all of Cangzhou!"

As more people reached the same conclusion, they all took action. First came the wandering cultivators. Then came small sects and mid-sized powers.

Even though the capital was just barren land, the area buzzed like a fully developed city.

Whenever the topic came up, people couldn't help but laugh and shake their heads.

When Fang Ting heard about this phenomenon, he immediately instructed the clan to release the capital's architectural blueprints—and start pre-selling properties and shop spaces.

That way, once the city was complete, residents and merchants could move in immediately.

Traditionally, Cangzhou cultivators only bought or rented properties once they saw the finished product. Presales didn't exist.

Fang Ting hadn't intended to start such a practice. Yet here he was—introducing speculative real estate to a cultivation world.

And oddly enough, no one complained.

Sure, they muttered a few jokes behind closed doors—but they still lined up to buy.

No one wanted to wait too long and miss their chance.

This was the power of reputation.

People trusted the Fang Clan.

They believed that a clan with this strength and standing would never abandon the project halfway.

So even though the capital didn't yet exist, they were willing to risk their spirit stones to claim a piece of it early.

At the Fang Clan's annual gathering, the elder in charge of the capital's construction stood up and said:

"Clan Chief's decision to start pre-sales was truly wise."

The other elders all agreed.

It wasn't flattery—it came from the heart.

Building a city on par with Duanshan City would require an astronomical amount of resources. Even everything looted from the Primordial Sacred Ground wouldn't be enough.

But with the success of the pre-sale strategy, they were able to quickly recover vast resources—without spending heavily themselves.

Thanks to this, the capital's construction could proceed swiftly and smoothly.

Even Fang Ting hadn't anticipated such success.

This chain of events only happened because of the chaos engulfing Cangzhou—and because cultivators were desperate for security.

And that chaos?

It all began with the destruction of the Duan Clan and the Primordial Sacred Ground.

If only the Duan Clan had been wiped out, people might have shrugged it off.

But the fall of a Sacred Ground as well? That had plunged Cangzhou into fear and uncertainty.

In other words…

Fang Ting had chosen the perfect moment.

He nodded to himself in satisfaction.

"I really am a genius."