Chapter 453: Chapter 49: Hardline, Gonggong Submits
After occupying the Han River, the Jiuli began to defend it.
They no longer marched hurriedly as before, as the greatest natural barrier had been overcome.
Swallowing up the Lie Mountain was merely a matter of time; there was no need to charge directly into the heart of Lie Mountain for a head-on confrontation immediately after a major battle concluded.
If unprepared, it would cause too much depletion to the Jiuli Army.
Ultimately, Jiuli’s enemy is Youxiong, not Lie Mountain.
Lie Mountain is used by Shen Fei to increase the power of Jiuli.
In order to complete the [Professional Promotion Task], Shen Fei cannot guarantee that Xuanyuan’s development will follow the original path.
After all, there might be more matters involved behind the scenes, what if something unexpected happens?
So Shen Fei still made the best preparations.
Moreover, it was the right time to let the impact of this major defeat ferment a bit.
...
Inside the main tent.
Shen Fei sat in the main seat, while opposite him sat Gonggong and Zhurong, but Gonggong did not look well.
Zhurong wore an angry expression, and the Empress sat beside him to prevent Zhurong from acting impulsively at any moment.
"High Priest, please stop persuading us; we will not surrender to Jiuli."
Gonggong shook his head.
And Zhurong just snorted coldly; if not for worrying about Gonggong’s safety, he would have already crushed the Immortal Pill and fought desperately against Jiuli.
"Why?"
Shen Fei looked at the stubborn Gonggong, no wonder legends say Gonggong is famously obstinate.
He had asked countless times during this period.
"In that case, I can only kill all the captured people of the Lie Mountain Tribe."
Shen Fei shook his head, "You must prove your loyalty."
Gonggong’s face changed instantly, "You are going back on your word."
"Where have I gone back on my word?"
"You said if we surrendered, you would spare the soldiers of the Lie Mountain Tribe." Gonggong, agitated, coughed a few times hastily.
Zhurong was relatively better off; he was only sealed by the Empress using ’Colorless Realm Divine Power’ and ’Yin Yang Five Elements Permanently Solid Great Barrier’.
If Zhurong wanted to pay some price, he could still break the seals.
But Gonggong was different; he was really severely injured, and coupled with Medicine Ancestor’s poison.
Now, if it weren’t for Jiuli’s healing witchcraft helping him, the Immortal Pill would likely shatter, and his realm would drop.
He might even fall, after all, the Immortal Pill was where they stored the Law.
Every time he got angry, he would cough consecutively.
"If you surrender, I only promised to spare them on the battlefield. Now you are unwilling to join Jiuli.
To us, they are useless."
Shen Fei tapped on the desk, feeling weary regarding recruiting Gonggong, initially believing at least Gonggong could be won over.
From what he knew of what Gonggong had done, and having had contact with him.
But since it’s such a hassle, if unwilling, just kill them directly.
Moreover, he reckoned, if recruiting Gonggong was difficult, Shennong might not join them either.
Thus, possibly prolonging the time needed to complete the task.
Because without Shennong, Jiuli might not necessarily overthrow Lie Mountain entirely.
Although failing would still allow the Celestial Dao Demon Venerable to become a Mythical Summoned Beast, Human Emperor Chi You sounds better than Defeated Emperor Chi You, right?
Furthermore, there is a big difference between Mythical Tier Five and Mythical Tier One.
If successful, it would allow another summoned beast to become [Mythical], but failing yields no professional advancement, nor another mythical summoned beast.
The disparity here is indeed significant.
Given the opportunity, Shen Fei definitely aimed for the best, especially knowing more and more.
This bit of impatience was already felt by Gonggong and Zhurong, it was the first time Gonggong saw Shen Fei showing such an emotion.
Every other time he met Shen Fei, he felt Shen Fei always seemed to have wisdom within grasp.
"I have told you three times, you refuse each time, I am tired of recruiting."
"If you wish to be stubbornly loyal, then let all your tribespeople do the same, if a self-willed leader can still make you follow, then let it be."
Shen Fei shook his head and shouted, "Someone!"
"High Priest."
Zhe Lu entered from outside, Shen Fei instructed, "Let Can Gang handle all those captured, whether killing them, feeding them to exotic beasts, or using them as materials for witchcraft practice—it doesn’t matter."
"Just ensure they don’t live." Shen Fei waved his hand, his sight fell on Gonggong and Zhurong.
"By the way, would you like to witness it personally?"
"Ah? Fine..." Zhe Lu was aware of some of the High Priest’s plans, but didn’t expect Shen Fei to be so aggressive all of a sudden.
But if they are to be killed, then so be it.
Gonggong hurriedly shouted, "Wait! Wait!"
But Zhe Lu only listened to the High Priest and wouldn’t listen to a prisoner, turning to leave.
"Didn’t you say Jiuli has Holy Virtue, but then you massacre prisoners? Moreover, you want to feed them to exotic beasts?"
Gonggong yelled at Shen Fei in rage.
"Holy Virtue and the Holy Way I have given, you didn’t accept, so now King’s Dao will be my approach.
No matter how many people die hereafter, it’s all because of your stubbornness, your blind loyalty, speaking all for the Human Race.
Isn’t it just for your good reputation that you don’t want to let go of the glory within Lie Mountain?"
"Watching your tribesmen suffering with open eyes!"
Zhurong angrily retorted, "That is because you invaded Lie Mountain!"
"Who invades whom? Originally, you were the one who sent the vanguard army first!!
Using the metallurgy techniques we shared, to kill our Jiuli?"
"If not for your Common Lord, for the so-called factions and sects, not even bothering to look at our Jiuli’s development thinking Xuanyuan was better than us!"
"Would it have come to this point?"
Gonggong took a deep breath, "You make them stop, I agree to your terms."
"It’s too late, I no longer need it. In the past, I thought your Lie Mountain was strong, that’s why I planned to recruit you."
"But now, I realize your Lie Mountain is nothing special.
If that’s the case, why should I fret? Kill them all and be done with it, no need to assimilate, seems you’re all loyal to a fault."
"You—!"
Zhurong’s aura agitated, he tried to forcibly break free of the Empress’s restraints but was subdued by Gonggong.
"What do you intend?"
"With your reputation, gather your tribespeople from Lie Mountain to us."
Shen Fei said coldly, sometimes you really have given too much face.
If not being assertive, they would always think there’s room for maneuver.
"Alright."
Gonggong took a deep breath, looking at Zhurong.
Zhurong reluctantly retracted his agitated aura, Shen Fei turned to the Empress, "Go stop Zhe Lu."
"Okay."
The Empress disappeared from the spot.
The anger Shen Fei displayed earlier vanished without a trace; he looked at Gonggong and Zhurong, "Welcome both of you to Jiuli."
"Hmph!"
Zhurong snorted coldly; to join by such near coercion, if not for his tribespeople and Gonggong’s safety.
He would have exploded at Shen Fei long ago.
"High Priest."
Gonggong cupped his hands, Shen Fei smiled, "I will have the Empress help you with your injuries for now, and have Medicine Ancestor prepare some antidote to speed up your recovery."
These are two Human Immortals, Tier Ten, capable of deciding a part of the battlefield’s strength.
