Chapter 633 - 348: Fire-avoiding Beast

A one-vote veto?

Hearing this, the expressions of everyone present, including Hee Yun, became quite a spectacle. There was confusion, deep contemplation, and even rising anger.

After all, the purpose behind establishing the Qian Nan Alliance was an open secret. Though it was created under the pretext of securing the future of the Southern Barbarian lands, its real aim was to constrain the Bihai Sect. Lü Zhong’s proposal of such a mechanism had now turned the tables on Hee Yun. The Daoist Sect couldn’t refuse it, since he was, after all, using the very same pretext.

The term "one-vote veto power" was new; none of the cultivators at the meeting had ever heard it before. However, that didn’t stop them from understanding its meaning and what it represented: the advent of "Major Sect unanimity."

Just as Lü Zhong had said, establishing such a mechanism would indeed be an effective way to prevent the abuse of the Qian Nan Alliance’s power.

In that moment, the establishment of veto power was what everyone had hoped for.

Hee Yun’s icy gaze slowly swept across the cultivators present. Although her expression showed no change, killing intent had already bloomed in her heart. She hadn’t expected her trip to the Southern Barbarian lands to get off to such an inauspicious start. Her move with the Qian Nan Alliance had only just been played, yet Lü Zhong had already defused it with ease.

But soon, Hee Yun sneered inwardly.

It didn’t really matter that the proposal to form the Qian Nan Alliance had failed to achieve its goal; it wasn’t the only card she had to play. With the East Sea Route currently cut off, the Daoist Sect was the only channel through which the Southern Barbarian lands could acquire various goods from Central Earth, such as Spirit Contracts and Storage Bags.

Such items were indispensable in a cultivator’s daily life. Spirit Contracts were necessary to form pacts with Spiritual Beasts, and Storage Bags were consumables that were often damaged during combat between cultivators. The Bihai Sect had no way of finding replacements for either of these in the short term.

’Hmph, I refuse to believe I can’t get you under my thumb!’

At this thought, Hee Yun’s state of mind finally stabilized.

Lü Zhong glanced at her and sensed the subtle shift in her mood. His heart skipped a beat as a bad premonition surfaced.

Yet, Hee Yun did not make another move before the Qian Nan Association meeting ended.

...

The next day, a notice was posted, and in an instant, the entire Southern Barbarian region erupted!

Any discerning person could see the significance of the Qian Nan Alliance’s formation for the Southern Barbarian lands. With such a permanent institution in place, the future situation in the region would no longer be subject to drastic ups and downs. And thanks to Lü Zhong’s tireless persistence, the Qian Nan Alliance’s charter was remarkably comprehensive, even including its own dedicated cultivator force. From now on, if a Major Sect wanted to move against a smaller power, it would face many more restrictions.

At the very least, they would need a just cause.

Seeing this, many cultivators from small sects and minor families cheered from the bottom of their hearts.

In the past, as vassals of the Major Sects, their lives and deaths were subject to the whims of their Upper Sect. Sometimes, even a single Foundation Establishment Steward from an Upper Sect could make a Core Formation cultivator from a vassal power bow and scrape. Thus, they lived in constant fear, terrified that one day they would fail to satisfy their Upper Sect and bring a cataclysmic disaster upon their sect or family.

But now, the establishment of the Qian Nan Alliance gave these cultivators hope.

Not far away, Lü Zhong, having altered his face and suppressed his aura to that of the Late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm, was sampling some street food. Seeing this, Yu Feng’Er, who was beside him, couldn’t help but put down her skewer and send a voice transmission: "My dear, proposing all these rules and regulations is like tying your own hands. It seems like something that will only hurt both sides!"

With the formation of the Qian Nan Alliance, the interests of all the Nascent Soul Sects had been harmed. The only ones who stood to gain were the small sects and minor families. And the biggest beneficiaries of all were the previously overlooked Loose Cultivators, as in the future, all positions within the Qian Nan Alliance would, in name, be held only by Loose Cultivators.

In her eyes, it was equivalent to putting on a "shackle."

Lü Zhong simply smiled at her words.

With the Bihai Sect’s current size, it had enough resources to support his cultivation all the way to the Great Cultivator Realm. On the premise that his resource needs could be met, a stable Southern Barbarian Cultivation Realm was what he truly wanted, so he could cultivate peacefully and steadily.

At the same time, Lü Zhong had never forgotten that absolute power was the only truth.

In this world where the great power of heaven and earth is gathered within oneself, a Divinity Transformation cultivator possessed the strength to shatter all rules.

If he could successfully reach Divinity Transformation, he would naturally have the right to rule over the Southern Barbarian lands. At that time, if he wanted to dismantle all the rules and regulations of the Qian Nan Alliance, wouldn’t it be as simple as saying a single word?

’In the end, cultivation is the foundation of everything!’

Thinking this, Lü Zhong let out a SLURP and swallowed another wonton.

’Wontons are so good, I could never get tired of them!’

...

「Time passed, day by day.」

As expected, with the establishment of the Qian Nan Alliance, the situation in the Southern Barbarian lands stabilized.

Although a few smaller areas, influenced by complex factors, were still unable to avoid conflict, the Southern Barbarian Cultivation Realm as a whole was largely at peace.

Under these circumstances, commercial activity flourished more than ever.

This was especially true in the Bihai Domain, which encouraged the migration of Loose Cultivators. Following the construction of one Independent Cultivator Market after another, the demand for resources saw unprecedented growth. Although large quantities of goods were transported in daily, they would be bought out in less than an ancient hour by Loose Cultivators waiting with money in hand.

Situations like this also appeared in other parts of the Southern Barbarian lands.

Many powers saw the benefits in this and, one by one, also began to encourage the migration of Loose Cultivators, either openly or covertly.

This further drove up the demand for resources.

For a time, every faction made a fortune.

「Three years passed.」

Just as Lü Zhong was in seclusion, trouble began to stir again.

「The gates of the Bihai Sect.」