Chapter 116 - 115: Subjugation
Chen Yuan staggered over to Wu Youqing’s body. Looking at the corpse, which was nothing but skin and bones, he unhesitatingly stomped on its neck, crushing it.
’This old bastard even had a Divine Weapon Fragment. Who knows what other strange tricks he might have to feign death? Better to be safe.’
With that, Chen Yuan collapsed to the ground. He searched Wu Youqing’s body and found some commonly used Elixirs and the Divine Weapon Fragment.
The glow on this Divine Weapon Fragment was already very dim, and not much of its power remained active.
Wu Youqing was definitely not the first person to use it.
Chen Yuan estimated that its energy would be completely depleted after one more use, and this small fragment would then disintegrate.
Divine Soldiers don’t decay with time, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be damaged and destroyed.
To Chen Yuan, this item was a double-edged sword. Using it once meant death; it was a tool for mutual destruction.
Even so, it was still a treasure. Chen Yuan placed it into his Qiankun Bag.
Chen Yuan then took out some Elixirs and swallowed them to restore his depleted Qi Blood.
It was also the Celestial Blood Eye, but when Chen Yuan channeled the Blood Fiend Power into his Forehead Ancestral Acupoint, the force it unleashed was far stronger than Feng Xieyun’s.
However, while this move was a killing blow, the consumption of Qi Blood was too severe. After a single strike, he was left with almost no strength to continue fighting.
After recovering for a moment, Chen Yuan once again activated the Inner Vision God Observation Method, controlling his body’s Qi Blood to conceal the mark on his forehead.
Then, Chen Yuan picked up Wu Youqing’s head and headed straight for the Flying Horse Pavilion.
When Chen Yuan returned to the Flying Horse Pavilion, the battle was almost over.
The Flying Horse Pavilion was indeed stronger than the Celestial Star Ranch, but with the added strength of the Zhenwu Hall, they were completely unable to resist.
Although the Xu Family wasn’t like the Guan Family, which had only one heir for three generations, their numbers weren’t large. The direct and side branches combined totaled just over thirty people, all of whom had been slain.
Xu Yuanshao’s son, Xu Tianxing, was also killed by Guan Yingxing’s own hands.
The two had been friends since childhood, but it was precisely for this reason that Guan Yingxing’s vengeful attack was all the more ferocious.
The Flying Horse Pavilion also had some caravan members, whom Chen Yuan had specifically ordered to be spared.
These caravan members had traveled with the Flying Horse Pavilion to the Central Plains to sell horses and were very familiar with the routes and procedures.
Sparing them would make it easier for the Guan Family to take over this business in the future.
It was just like how the Xu Family, had they annexed the Guan Family, would not have killed the herders who raised the horses.
Upon his return, Chen Yuan directly tossed Wu Youqing’s head toward Xu Yuanshao.
"You were counting on this bunch of trash from the Nine Swords Alliance to help you annex the Guan Family? Don’t you know they’re like clay Bodhisattvas crossing a river—they can’t even save themselves!"
Seeing Wu Youqing’s head, Xu Yuanshao’s expression changed drastically.
The man from the Nine Swords Alliance was dead. There was no one left to help his Xu Family.
The sight of Wu Youqing’s head rattled Xu Yuanshao, throwing his mind into turmoil.
Guan Zhenshan seized this opportunity, burning his Qi Blood to launch a fierce attack, and finally cut down Xu Yuanshao.
The moment he pulled his blade from Xu Yuanshao’s chest, Guan Zhenshan let out a long cry, completely venting the pent-up frustration in his heart.
Then, Guan Zhenshan walked over and bowed deeply to Chen Yuan with heartfelt conviction.
"Thank you, Lord Chen, for helping my Guan Family avenge this great feud. I will never forget this kindness. From this day forward, my Guan Family will follow your lead!"
Behind Guan Zhenshan, an emotional Guan Yingxing also bowed deeply.
Without Chen Yuan, the father and son would have likely been wiped out by the Xu Family, their entire ancestral foundation devoured.
Moreover, from a practical standpoint, Chen Yuan was immensely powerful. He could already kill a Condensing Truth Realm master while only at the Sea of Reincarnation Realm. Who knew what heights such a genius would reach in the future?
’There’s no shame in submitting to him now. In the future, it might even bring greater benefits.’
"There’s no need for formalities, Master Guan. You can now prepare to take over the Xu Family’s business."
Guan Zhenshan nodded. This wouldn’t be too difficult for him.
Although he had always been raising horses here in the Western Ning Province Grassland, that didn’t mean he knew nothing about selling them.
Besides, many members of the Xu Family’s caravans were still alive. Even if some were fiercely loyal, there would always be those who knew how to adapt when faced with matters of life, death, and personal gain.
Next came the time to reap the rewards. Chen Yuan led the men from the Zhenwu Hall and raided the entire Xu Family estate.
When they opened the Xu Family’s Treasure Vault, even the worldly Chen Yuan couldn’t help but marvel at how truly wealthy they were.
Aside from the dazzling array of gold, silver, and jewelry, there were also stockpiles of various swords and other Weapons, as well as large batches of purchased Elixirs.
There were even a dozen or so bottles of priceless Upper Grade Elixirs, nearly half of which were produced by Medicine King Valley.
One could say that the contents of the Xu Family’s Treasure Vault were enough to arm several Sects and Families of a similar level.
After turning the entire Treasure Vault upside down, Chen Yuan finally found the other half of the Crimson Gold Waist Token.
The Xu Family clearly hadn’t placed much importance on it, having simply tossed it into a corner.
After getting what he wanted, Chen Yuan dealt with the rest according to his usual practice.
Eighty percent went into the Kaiping Prefecture’s treasury to cover daily expenses and to bribe his superior, Feng Wushang.
Twenty percent was for the White Tiger Guards of Kaiping Prefecture.
As for himself, Chen Yuan only took the cultivation-related Elixirs. Resources like these were his main objective.
Gold, silver, and jade were just external objects. If Chen Yuan had power, he could obtain any amount of treasure.
If he lacked power, he wouldn’t be able to protect even a mountain of gold.
Therefore, no matter the situation, Chen Yuan always prioritized increasing his own strength.
The White Tiger Guards who had followed Chen Yuan to exterminate the Flying Horse Pavilion were ecstatic.
When had they ever seen such a generous superior?
Qi Yuanming hadn’t been stingy, exactly, but Kaiping Prefecture’s income was limited, so he would only give out some rewards during festivals.
How could that compare to Chen Yuan, who directly wiped out a top power in Kaiping Prefecture and generously gave twenty percent to the brothers to split among themselves?
Lu Li and the other White Tiger Guards who had followed from Linyuan City looked on with smug pride, casting sidelong glances at their colleagues from Kaiping Prefecture.
’Bunch of country bumpkins!’
’Before, they were all unconvinced and resentful. After joining our lord for a single operation, they’ve all quieted down, completely won over.’
After dividing the spoils of the Xu Family, Guan Zhenshan also returned to Kaiping Prefecture with Chen Yuan.
There were still some Jianghu Forces in Kaiping Prefecture that needed to be dealt with. Now that Chen Yuan had destroyed the Xu Family, it was their turn.
Originally, Chen Yuan had sent notices to the Jianghu Forces of Kaiping Prefecture to discuss taxes in a month’s time.
But the Xu Family had been dealt with faster than expected, so this discussion naturally had to be moved up.
On the second day after returning to Kaiping Prefecture, the Controllers of all the Jianghu Forces within the prefecture obediently came to the Inspectorate’s Mansion upon receiving the news.
They had heard the news about the Xu Family, but it left them all completely bewildered.
The two strongest powers in Kaiping Prefecture, the Xu Family of the Flying Horse Pavilion and the Guan Family of the Celestial Star Ranch, had turned on each other. And the Guan Family had even joined forces with the Zhenwu Hall to destroy the Xu Family.
So where did that leave them, the local Jianghu Forces?
Chen Yuan had just taken office. How did he manage to upend these two powers?
The people of Kaiping Prefecture couldn’t quite figure Chen Yuan out. They were all apprehensive, but they had no choice but to obediently attend the meeting.
Everyone waited in the Council Hall for a short while before the main doors were pushed open, and Chen Yuan walked in with Guan Zhenshan.
Chen Yuan sat in the main seat and gave everyone present a warm smile.
"My name is Chen Tian. Although I have been in charge of Kaiping Prefecture for some time, this is the first time I’ve met all of you.
As for the matter of taxes in Kaiping Prefecture, it’s something I should have discussed with you all long ago.
I am aware of the... private business you all conduct. I could intervene, but I could also turn a blind eye.
But for you all to be feasting on meat without leaving even a bit of soup for my Zhenwu Hall... that’s going a bit too far, isn’t it?
So, starting today, the rules regarding taxes are going to change."
Chen Yuan gazed at the Controllers of the various forces present and said coolly, "From today onward, my White Tiger Guards will be stationed within your territories every month to audit your books. For any and all business, the profits will be split three-to-seven. You get three parts, my Zhenwu Hall gets seven."
As soon as he said this, the various forces present erupted.
Previously, when they conducted their smuggling operations, they only needed to bribe the people from Zhenwu Hall to look the other way, in addition to paying their normal taxes.
These expenses combined didn’t even amount to thirty percent of their profits.
And now Chen Yuan shows up and wants to take seventy percent? How could they possibly agree?
Just then, Guan Zhenshan snorted coldly. With a soft thud, he tossed a head onto the table. It was Xu Yuanshao’s.
"Lord Chen is showing you respect by even discussing this with you. Don’t push your luck!
From this day on, my Guan Family of the Celestial Star Ranch will follow Lord Chen’s lead. Lord Chen’s business is my Guan Family’s business!
Anyone who dares disrespect Lord Chen is insulting my Guan Family! If you don’t want to make a living in Kaiping Prefecture anymore, just say the word, and I’ll be the one to send you on your way!"
Guan Zhenshan usually had a good temper, and the Celestial Star Ranch was far away in the Western Grassland, so he didn’t interact much with these Jianghu Forces in Kaiping Prefecture.
But perhaps spurred on by what happened with the Xu Family, Guan Zhenshan now emanated a ferocious killing intent. Whoever his gaze fell upon would subconsciously lower their head, not daring to make another sound.
These Jianghu Forces couldn’t afford to make an enemy of the Zhenwu Hall, let alone the Celestial Star Ranch.
Seeing Guan Zhenshan’s demeanor now, it was clear he was determined to be Chen Yuan’s dog.
If Chen Yuan wanted to kill any of them, he wouldn’t even have to lift a finger. He just needed to give a signal, and Guan Zhenshan would eliminate them. What was there to be defiant about?
Left with no choice, these Jianghu Forces all behaved themselves and obediently accepted Chen Yuan’s new rules.
Witnessing this scene, the Old Captains from the former Kaiping Prefecture Inspectorate’s Mansion felt extremely uncomfortable.
’Where was that defiant and unruly attitude they used to show in front of Qi Yuanming? Why is every single one of them so docile now?’
The people were the same, but the man standing before them had changed from Qi Yuanming to Lord Chen.
’Before, when Lord Chen called Qi Yuanming a good-for-nothing, some of them were unwilling to admit it.’
’But compared to Lord Chen, Qi Yuanming’s tenure as Inspector truly was pathetic and useless.’