Chapter 567 - 307: Shangguan Qingying: An Able Husband Has More Work to Do...

When the Zhao Family faces war, all their vassal powers must answer the call to arms and unconditionally contribute manpower and resources.

Of course, if a vassal power is invaded by an external enemy, the Zhao Family is also obligated to intervene and protect the vassal’s legitimate interests.

These were the most crucial clauses in the alliance treaty. The remaining articles, numbering over a hundred, covered all sorts of details from every possible angle.

In the Cultivation Realm, there are countless examples of main families successfully managing their relationships with vassal powers, but just as many failures. It’s hard to say definitively who was right or wrong in each case.

However, in Ling Changqing’s and Shangguan Qingying’s eyes, this treaty was merely a stopgap measure. In twenty or thirty years, once the Zhao Family’s power had grown further, they could consider tearing up the treaty and launching a major campaign of external expansion.

"Our enemies are dangerous, but our allies are deadly."

A famous quote Ling Changqing had read in his previous life surfaced in his mind, fitting the situation perfectly.

When external expansion and plunder become unfeasible, the only option left is to turn on one’s own allies—fattening the pig for the slaughter.

A certain superpower in his past life had operated this way, and so did many of the great powers in this world.

It had nothing to do with right or wrong. Being weak was the original sin!

After the treaty was signed, the special envoys from each family immediately presented large-capacity Storage Magical Artifacts containing their resource tribute for the year.

After receiving a nod of approval from Shangguan Qingying, Ling Changqing stepped forward to collect them one by one. He inspected the contents, and once he confirmed everything was in order, the handover was complete.

Although each family had surely hidden some of their true wealth, the total sum of these resources was still roughly equivalent to the Zhao Family’s entire annual income.

Zhao Wanyi had already planned how to use these resources. The family’s new disciple selection program was currently underway, and once the final candidates were chosen, this wealth could be used to cultivate them.

It was foreseeable that with such a massive influx of resources, the Zhao Family’s new disciple cultivation program could be expanded. The younger generation would grow faster, completely surpassing those of the established Nascent Soul powers.

The surrounding powers were well aware of this, but they were powerless to stop it.

Finally, on behalf of the family’s upper echelon, Shangguan Qingying hosted a grand banquet to entertain the special envoys who had participated in the negotiations.

Inside the great hall, cups were raised and toasts exchanged amidst melodious music. A large group of beauties in exquisite gowns danced gracefully, the brilliant luster of pearls reflecting off their ornate headdresses, casting a dazzling, dreamlike kaleidoscope of light and shadow.

Over a hundred tables inlaid with gold and jade were arranged in rows, seating the special envoys from the sixteen Nascent Soul powers, along with their trusted confidants and attendants.

Shangguan Qingying and Ling Changqing sat at the head table. The sisters Zhao Wanyi and Zhao Wanqing were present, as was another Nascent Soul True Monarch, Zhao Qinghong. A group of Golden Core Elders also attended to keep the guests company.

"...Fellow Daoist Yi, do you think this treaty will last?"

Taking advantage of a lull between toasts, Zhong Yan Tian, the Vice Sect Leader of Vast Cloud Peak, glanced at the gray-haired old man beside him and asked secretly via Divine Thought.

The old man was Yi Zhoudian, the Patriarch of the Yi Family. He possessed a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation, and his family was further supported by four other Nascent Soul True Monarchs. Their original strength and foundation had actually surpassed the Zhao Family’s.

Yi Zhoudian had once harbored designs on the Zhao Family’s foundation, but after Shangguan Qingying advanced to the Divinity Transformation Realm, the Yi Family’s power was no longer sufficient. They had no choice but to submit.

Hearing Zhong Yan Tian’s question, Yi Zhoudian fell silent for a moment, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

"What other choice is there? It’s better than turning against them now and having that woman show up at our doorstep to kill us, right?"

Clearly, Yi Zhoudian had also anticipated the possibility of the Zhao Family going back on their word in the future.

After all, they were all thousand-year-old foxes. What sort of deceptions, intrigues, and conspiracies hadn’t they seen?

But even so, they had no better options. Only another being of the same Realm could counterbalance a Divinity Transformation Powerhouse.

It was just that looking across the vast surrounding region, which spanned millions of miles, the other Divinity Transformation powers were all quite distant and wouldn’t necessarily be interested in the affairs here.

Besides, those Divinity Transformation powers were just as insatiably greedy. They wouldn’t necessarily be any easier to deal with than the Zhao Family. A single misstep could mean letting the wolf into the henhouse.

Zhong Yan Tian took a sip of wine and said meaningfully:

"Our Vast Cloud Peak’s territory doesn’t produce anything of real value; that woman might not even give it a second glance. Your Yi Family, on the other hand... your lands have a Grade Five Spirit Vein, heheh..."

The implication was clear: the Zhao Family’s territory lacked a Grade Five Spirit Vein. But for Shangguan Qingying, a newly advanced Divinity Transformation Powerhouse, to continue her advancement, a Grade Five Spirit Vein Cave Mansion would be essential. Therefore, the Yi Family’s situation was about to become rather... delicate.

Yi Zhoudian frowned, his gaze shifting to a beautiful woman dozens of feet away—alluring, with a headdress of pearls and jade, and dressed in a flowing, sky-blue gown. He responded coldly:

"If that’s the case, then I fear Zuiyun Pavilion won’t be safe either, will they? Their territory also has a Grade Five Spirit Vein!"

"Mm, that’s right,"

Zhong Yan Tian nodded. "Among our sixteen powers, only your Yi Family and Zuiyun Pavilion have a Grade Five Spirit Vein in your territories, yet neither of you has produced a Divinity Transformation Powerhouse. So..."

A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.

If a valuable and auspicious land isn’t protected by sufficient power, it will sooner or later fall into the hands of others. This was a common occurrence in the Cultivation Realm.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

After a moment of silence, Yi Zhoudian asked with a sense of helplessness.

"Offer up that Spirit Vein voluntarily!"

Zhong Yan Tian sighed. "By doing so, the Yi Family can at least salvage some dignity. Otherwise, once she brings it up herself, the conversation won’t be nearly as pleasant."