The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

The events in Ascension City spread rapidly across Cangzhou.

This time, even without the help of Drunken Immortal Pavilion's intelligence network, the news traveled like wildfire.

After all, it was simply too earth-shattering.

Since the ancient era, no Saint King in Cangzhou had ever broken through to the Imperial Realm.

Now, not only had two emerged simultaneously, but a battle had also broken out between them.

This was, without question, the most sensational event in Cangzhou in tens of thousands of years. Every street and alley buzzed with conversation.

"No wonder this is called the Era of Great Strife—it actually birthed two Emperors in Cangzhou."

"Well, now there's only one."

"Arghhh! An Imperial Realm battle and I missed it! I'll regret this for the rest of my life!"

"If I had known, I would've gone too. Missed it this time, and I may never again get to witness such a battle."

"The Buddhist sect has been driven out. Grand Qian is going to unify all of Cangzhou!"

"Just a few years ago, the Fang Clan was still being suppressed by a coalition of powers. And now, not only have those powers vanished, but the Fang Clan is laughing last—and loudest."

No one could have imagined that the Fang Clan, which once had to rely on the Divine Gate Manor for protection after moving to Duanshan City, could rise so high in such a short time.

In Sacred City, the head of the Yao Clan—once the Nine Li Divine Emperor—felt nothing but lingering dread upon hearing the news.

"So he had already become an Emperor. No wonder he could wipe out the five great demonic sects without anyone knowing. I should have realized it back then."

"Thank the heavens."

The Yao Clan leader inwardly rejoiced that he had a good daughter.

If Yao Zhitong hadn't persuaded him to surrender, he might still have been stubbornly resisting. Perhaps the Grand Qian wouldn't have taken initiative against them—but had any friction arisen, the Yao Clan would have been annihilated in an instant.

Her marriage to Qu Wubing had linked the Yao Clan to the Fang family, and that too had been crucial.

At the very least, they were now family—and could rest easy.

Thinking of this, the clan head urgently instructed all family members to follow their son-in-law Qu Wubing's lead without question. Even if they ignored him, they were never to disobey Qu Wubing.

Clinging to this connection with the Fang family was now a matter of survival.

By now, few hegemonic forces remained in Cangzhou. Especially in the Eastern Region, only two were still standing—Yao Clan in Sacred City and Duanshan City.

But the Yao Clan had already moved to Sacred City and become relatives of the Fang family, leaving Duanshan City's position increasingly awkward.

Though Duanshan City had worked closely with the Fang Clan ever since Tu Jiuming's rescue and installment as city lord, they remained only allies—not truly family.

So, when Tu Jiuming learned of what had happened in Ascension City, he wasted no time in making a decision.

He personally traveled to Ascension City and visited the Eastern Palace to request an audience with Crown Prince Fang Kong.

"Greetings, Your Highness," Tu Jiuming said with respectful solemnity.

As a Saint King and head of a hegemonic force, Tu Jiuming was one of the most powerful men in Cangzhou. Normally, he had no reason to show deference to anyone other than an Emperor.

But that was the old world.

Now that Grand Qian had unified Cangzhou and Fang Ting stood as the only Emperor, even when facing the Emperor's son, Tu Jiuming had to show the utmost respect.

Fang Kong responded calmly, "City Lord Tu is too courteous. To what do I owe this visit?"

Tu Jiuming replied, "Your Highness is wise and capable, governing Grand Qian with order and prosperity. My Duanshan City, in comparison, is not even on par with some of Grand Qian's smaller cities."

"For the sake of the people in my city, I wish to place Duanshan City under Grand Qian's direct governance. We will pay annual taxes on time, and all city officials may be appointed by Grand Qian."

"I hope Your Highness will grant this request."

Fang Kong raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly.

Tu Jiuming was both cautious and farsighted.

Fearing that Grand Qian might target the only remaining hegemon not bound by family ties, he had followed the Yao Clan's example and surrendered outright—offering up Duanshan City in its entirety.

"A ruler who loves his people as his children—how could this prince refuse?"

Tu Jiuming immediately bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness."

To hand over the fruits of tens of thousands of years of development and thank the recipient for accepting it—

That was the reality of a world where strength reigned supreme.

Only those who understood this could survive long.

Meanwhile, the senior members of the Xiao Clan, who had left Cangzhou over a decade ago to develop elsewhere, found their new home increasingly unsatisfactory. So they sent an elder back to check on their remaining clan members and reassess Cangzhou's current power structure.

After all, nothing beats one's homeland. If possible, it would be better to move back.

Upon returning, the Xiao elder looked out over the land.

"It really feels better being home. If things are calm, I'll advise the patriarch and ancestors to move back as soon as possible."

With that thought, he disappeared into a flash of light. Instead of returning directly to the Xiao Clan's ancestral grounds, he entered a random city in disguise.

He originally planned to visit a tavern for intel—but before he even made it that far, the conversations of passersby left him stunned.

"Tsk tsk, not only has the Buddhist sect been kicked out of Cangzhou, but now even Duanshan City has joined Grand Qian."

"Well, of course. Patriarch Fang is in the Imperial Realm. Grand Qian's unified Cangzhou—who would dare defy him?"

"Exactly. Best to seek shelter under a great tree."

"Crown Prince Fang governs with such wisdom. The people live peacefully and joyfully. Under Grand Qian's leadership, Cangzhou will only keep getting better."

"Definitely. Honestly, most people have been hoping Grand Qian would unify the land for a while now."

Hearing all this, the Xiao elder was shaken to his core. The sheer volume of new information made his head buzz.

The Xiao Clan had left Cangzhou out of fear that Grand Qian's rise was too rapid—worried they'd be swallowed whole.

They even considered relocating to the Western Region.

Yet in just over ten years, the mighty Buddhist sect of the Western Region was gone. Duanshan City had surrendered. Cangzhou was now completely under Grand Qian's control.

"Return home? What a joke."

If they returned in the morning, Grand Qian's army would be knocking at their gates by afternoon.

With that, the Xiao elder didn't even bother visiting his clan's remnants. He turned around and left Cangzhou.

When he recounted what had happened to the Xiao Clan's leadership, they sat in stunned silence.

All thoughts of returning to Cangzhou were banished for good.

As for the remaining Xiao clansmen still in Cangzhou—they were now, quite simply, beyond saving.