Chapter 239: Chapter 214: The Annexation of Qiu Family and Fang Family_1
The Mantis Demon roared, making a charge, and the Qiu Family’s forces discarded their helmets and armor and collapsed in disarray.
The Mantis Demon, directly rushed towards the two Grandmasters of the Qiu Family.
The two Grandmasters of the Qiu Family were greatly shocked. They didn’t dare to take action and turned to run instead.
But from the sky above, two arrows fell, charging straight towards the two Grandmasters.
"It’s you..."
The two Grandmasters roared in anger. The next moment, the arrows pierced through their bodies, and they were killed on the spot.
Then, Lu Yan jumped down and charged directly towards the Mantis Demon.
The Mantis Demon’s two front claws had been repaired, like two demonic swords, slashing towards Lu Yan.
Lu Yan neither dodged nor avoided, he struck down from above with two punches.
Bang! Bang!
The Mantis Demon’s front claws exploded, Lu Yan’s onslaught did not stop, his fists smashed into the Mantis Demon’s body, and the Mantis Demon immediately shattered into pieces.
However, strands of black lines tried to restore it, and Lu Yan bombarded a few more punches, completely smashing the remnants of the Mantis Demon’s body into a fine powder.
Billows of black smoke diffused and dissipated between heaven and earth.
"It’s...it’s Lord Lu Yan of Li’an City."
The warriors of the Qiu Family, having seen Lu Yan, swallowed hard.
They had heard all along that Lu Yan was the top master in Lingdong. Now that they saw him, they knew that reputation was well-deserved.
Such a formidable and invincible Mantis Demon was blown to pieces directly by Lu Yan.
The sight was just too visually impactful.
"This demon was transformed by Qiu Cao. Qiu Yan and Qiu Lin not only condoned the Mantis Demon’s lawless massacring of the people, but they also intended to domesticate the Mantis Demon with sinister motives. They deserved to die."
"Among the Qiu Family, are there any accomplices of these two?"
Lu Yan said coldly.
Some of the higher-ups in the Qiu Family looked at each other in dismay.
They had turned a blind eye to it, but ’domesticating the Mantis Demon’, where did that come from?
But they were not fools, they knew this was an accusation of crime.
Moreover, the last two Grandmasters of the Qiu Family were dead, who would dare to resist Lu Yan?
"Lord Lu, this was all done by Qiu Yan and Qiu Lin on their own. They are Grandmasters and didn’t need to explain their actions to us, we were unaware of it."
"Yes, my lord, we really didn’t know. Qiu Yan and Qiu Lin are really hateful for committing such heinous crimes. They deserved to die."
"I wish I could have killed them myself."
The higher-ups of the Qiu Family were indignant, cursing Qiu Yan and Qiu Lin.
"According to the laws of Da Chu, although Qiu Yan and Qiu Lin are dead, the Qiu Family cannot escape from their involvement. There’s no need for the Qiu Family to exist anymore."
Lu Yan said coldly.
The higher-ups of the Qiu Family looked pale.
They understood.
Today, Lu Yan’s real target was the Qiu Family.
Even if there was no matter of Qiu Cao, Lu Yan would have found an excuse to make war on the Qiu Family.
Given Lu Yan’s strength and ambition, a single Li’an County is far from enough to satisfy him.
"Subordinate Qiu Shengpeng is willing to lead his troops to pledge allegiance to Lord Lu. I hope Lord Lu will take us in."
An old man immediately kneeled on one knee and saluted.
The others quickly came to their senses.
"Subordinate..."
Seven or eight high-ranking members of the Qiu Family kneeled one after another.
They had figured it out. The Qiu Family no longer had a Grandmaster, so they couldn’t take Yunfeng City or the secondary Blood Land Vein.
It would be better to surrender to Lu Yan.
Moreover, the strength Lu Yan had built up was not like other clans where real power positions were held by the lineal clan members, and people of other surnames could hardly hold real power, mostly serving as Elder Keqing.
But in Lu Yan’s power structure, people of other surnames could still hold high positions.
It wasn’t a clan, it was not based on bloodline, its structure was more like a Sect, more like a dynasty.
Rather than surrendering to other clans, it would be better to surrender to Lu Yan.
"Very well, but you need to show some sincerity. Qiu Yan, Qiu Lin, and their cronies, I’ll leave them to you. The army of Li’an City will soon come to Yunfeng City."
Lu Yan finished speaking, jumped onto the Blood Slaughter, which spread its wings and flew away.
Shortly afterward, the main force of Li’an City set out and headed to the Qiu Family.
The Qiu Family surrendered as a whole. Lu Yan took over the Qiu Family without spilling any blood.
The warriors of the Qiu Family were still quite intact, about three thousand in number, and were incorporated into the army of Li’an City by Lu Yan.
In this way, the Wei Family and the Qiu Family could check and balance each other, and none would become overly dominant.
Meanwhile, Lu Yan received a message.
The Zhao Clan of Lingwang City marched their forces south and fought a great battle with the Ouyang Family, wiped out the Ouyang Family in one fell swoop, and seized the Ouyang Family’s Blood Land Vein.
And the Ding Family also marched their forces south, attacked Bai Clan of Qingfeng County. The Bai Clan retreated and was surrounded in their main city, calling out the Refined Corpse to resist.
However, the Bai Clan was left with only one Grandmaster, its confiscation was only a matter of time.
"The Zhao Clan is still formidable, they wiped out the Ouyang Family so quickly. Although there are only two Grandmasters left, they have deep roots, their military strength far exceeds other Grandmaster-level clans, and they have many top martial artists at the peak of Martial Marquis. In a few years’ time, a few more Grandmasters can be born, it’s not an issue."
Lu Yan thought to himself.
"My Lord, what should we do now?"
Li Quan asked.
"Mobilize the troops, go south, wipe out the Fang Family."
Lu Yan said.
"Yes."
Li Quan bowed and was overjoyed.
By now, they possessed three secondary Blood Land Veins and dozens of primary ones. If they also wiped out the Fang Family, they would have four secondary Blood Land Veins.
With such a rapid expansion of strength, their positions as old men would also rise with the tide.
"Li Quan, your cultivation level has reached five times limit breaking now, hasn’t it?"
Lu Yan asked.
"Yes, I just had a breakthrough not long ago."
Li Quan said.
"Practice well, strive to reach Qi-blood overflow as soon as possible and break into Martial Marquis. Five times limit breaking is a bit low."
Lu Yan said.
Li Quan’s heart skipped a beat.
He knew that his cultivation level was after all too low. Now that Lu Yan’s forces were rapidly expanding, five times limit breaking was really not that impressive.
If he didn’t make a breakthrough soon, he was afraid others would surpass him.
That was an unavoidable fact.
In this world, power was supreme. A low cultivation level could not ultimately command respect.
"Li Quan must hasten to break through to the rank of Martial Marquis, so as not to disappoint Lord Lu’s expectations."
Li Quan made up his mind, determined to improve his cultivation level as quickly as possible. The conversation then took a turn, and he said, "By the way, Lord Lu, I’ve recently collected a batch of ancient objects. Would you like to take a look?"
"Oh, bring them over for me to see."
Lu Yan showed interest.
Collecting Dao Food was always Lu Yan’s top priority.
Establishing his power, expanding his territory, what was the purpose?
First, to have a safe place to establish oneself. There they could domesticate alien beasts and prepare Martial Food.
Secondly, there were people to help collect Dao Food.
Soon, a large box of ancient objects was brought up.
There were all kinds of items: bronze ware, stoneware, unique rocks, ancient ironware, etc.
When Lu Yan communicated with the Dao Book, he indeed made discoveries.
Surprisingly, there were four pieces of Dao Food.
The four pieces of Dao Food were two bronze artifacts, an iron artifact, and a peculiar stone.
Lu Yan put away the four pieces of Dao Food and smiled, "You’ve done well. Continue this work. The more ancient objects, the better."
"Yes."
Seeing Lu Yan’s pleasure, Li Quan’s spirits also lifted.
After Li Quan left, Lu Yan summoned the Dao Book, swallowed the four pieces of Dao Food in one gulp, then used it to enhance a speed-related Martial Art.
However, compared to the effects of Immortal Bones, Dao Food fell far behind. The four pieces of Dao Food could only elevate a first-rate speed category Martial Art to the stage of Reaching the Peak of Perfection, still a bit short of being Transcendent.
Two days later, the grand army set out, and a total of four thousand troops marched towards the Fang Family.
Of these four thousand troops, three thousand were originally from the Qiu Family, and one thousand came from the Wei Family.
Wherever they passed, the martial lords of the martial marquis rank, surrendered upon hearing the news.
Lu Yan was reorganising the army along the way, and the size of the army expanded to six thousand troops in no time.
Upon hearing the news, the Fang family gathered the marquis-level feudal lords in the nearby region and defended Qingfeng City.
Qingfeng City, originally the Jun City of Qingfeng County, was grand and imposing. Although not as mighty as Lingwang City, it was not too far behind.
The grand army rested a while ten miles away from Qingfeng City before charging directly towards it.
Riding on the Blood Slaughter, Lu Yan came directly to the front of Qingfeng City alone.
The members of the Fang family, upon seeing Lu Yan, all showed fear.
Intimidated before the battle even started.
Especially the only Grandmaster of the Fang family, Fang Ri, who hid behind the layers of troops, protected by shields weighing a thousand jin each.
He was also followed by over a dozen Refined Corpses.
"Fang Ri, do you want to resist stubbornly? Do you think that you can protect yourself with these Refined Corpses alone? If I want to kill you, it will be effortless."
Lu Yan from his elevated position, spoke apathetically.
"Lord Lu, why do you have to push people too far? I cannot let the two hundred years of Fang Family’s foundation be destroyed under my watch."
Fang Ri said with a desperate tone.
Lu Yan couldn’t be bothered to argue. He directly took out his horn bow and shot out an arrow.
Whiz!
The arrow tore through the void and fell in an instant.
Bang!
A Refined Corpse, without even a chance to react, was immediately shot and blown up.
Then, with two more consecutive shots, two more Refined Corpses were shot and exploded.
Fang Ri turned pale.
If Lu Yan could easily kill the Refined Corpses, he could easily kill him too.
"Fang Ri, surrender, and you can still be lord of a city. Otherwise, the next arrow will target you."
Lu Yan declared coldly, emanating a deadly aura.
"Let me continue to manage Qingfeng City?"
Fang Ri showed a look of anticipation.
"What are you thinking? After surrendering, I allow you to manage Yunfeng City."
Lu Yan said.
Fang Ri looked gloomy.
"My patience is limited."
Lu Yan pulled his bow and arrow. This time, he aimed at Fang Ri.
Fang Ri’s scalp tingled, and he felt a sharp pain between his eyebrows. A sense of death approached him.
"Wait, I... I’m willing to surrender."
Fang Ri let out a long sigh, and said.
He was well aware that even resistance would not change the outcome.
Facing other grandmaster-level feudal lords, they could hold their ground with the help of Refined Corpses.
But as for Lu Yan, he was too abnormal - riding a grandmaster-level giant eagle and possessing a terrifying archery skill - how could they compete?
Whomever he wanted dead, would die.
With Fang Ri’s surrender, the other martial marquis from the Fang Family also let out a sigh of relief.
It was best if they did not have to fight.
Soon, the city gates opened, and the Fang family surrendered.
Yet another bloodless victory.
Following the occupation of Qingfeng city, reforms took place again.
The troops from the Fang Family, Qiu Family, Wei Family, and Changfeng City were completely shuffled and mixed together.
The high-level individuals remained mainly old people from Changfeng City.
They were assisted by the experts of the Fang, Qiu, and Wei Families.
Lu Yan then commanded Fang Ri to lead a portion of the troops to safeguard Yunfeng City.
Originally, Lu Yan had no intention of keeping Fang Ri, but there was a lack of Grandmasters at the moment. No one could hold their own alone. It wouldn’t hurt to keep him around as a useful tool.
Although keeping Fang Ri would pose a risk, Lu Yan had the confidence that as long as he was alive, Fang Ri wouldn’t dare to have the slightest rebellious thought.
Subsequently, he summoned the senior members of the Qiu and Wei Families to safeguard Qingfeng City.
He moved a portion of the upper rank members of the Qiu and Fang Families to Li’an City to accompany him in guarding Li’an City.
