The power of the Huaxia Empire had been fully witnessed by them.
Every time a city was taken, it was sure to be governed by scholars with a stationed army.
A small city would be garrisoned by two Life and Death Realm Body Realm soldiers, a hundred Sky Breaking Realm soldiers, and ten thousand Nirvana Realm soldiers.
A medium city would be garrisoned by four Life and Death Realm Power Realm elite soldiers, five hundred Sky Breaking Realm soldiers, and thirty thousand Nirvana Realm soldiers.
A large city would be garrisoned by eight Life and Death Realm Soul Realm team leader soldiers, two thousand Sky Breaking Realm soldiers, and seventy thousand Nirvana Realm soldiers.
For colossal cities and mountain gates like the Beast Taming Sect, twelve Life and Death Realm Heart Realm major team leader soldiers, ten thousand Sky Breaking Realm soldiers, and one hundred fifty thousand Nirvana Realm soldiers would be stationed.
From the beginning, Lin Qian had made arrangements according to these specifications.
Many people believed that it would not be long before Lin Qian ran out of people to use.
After all, there were already over a thousand small cities near the coastal gates. Did the Huaxia Empire really have a thousand Life and Death Realm soldiers?
However, the reality proved, they damn well did!
In an instant, the former elders and disciples of the Coastal State and Beast Taming Sect went insane. They could no longer fathom just how strong the Huaxia Empire they had submitted to was.
It was too strong, too terrifying.
In the face of such absolute power, the rebellious feelings some disciples had in their hearts completely vanished.
Facing such an imposing behemoth, being slaughtered by them was literally a matter of minutes.
But as long as you submitted and became a subject of the Empire, they actually respected you, the formidable army protected you, and you had a secure environment to live and cultivate.
Only a fool would decline that!
The days under Shengtian Sect’s rule were miserable, filled with oppression. Where else could they find such good days in comparison?
Therefore, the governance of the territories of the Wanxiang Sect, Coastal State, and Beast Taming Sect went very smoothly with virtually no resistance, without the need to resolve everything through use of force.
Everything was going according to plan.
In the Council Hall, old members from the Coastal State and Beast Taming Sect such as Hai Mingyun and Shen Yunhai, now considering themselves subjects to Lin Qian, looked towards Qin Wushuang and Mei Yuexia with a bit of pride and self-satisfaction.
We’ve got ourselves a powerful backer!
Moreover, figures like Hai Mingyun and Shen Yunhai had already become the regional officials for the Coastal and Beast Taming Domains, equipped with certain powers to mobilize the Imperial Army troops stationed there.
However, their authority was limited; they could not move Life and Death Realm soldiers and had the power only to command up to a hundred Sky Breaking Realm soldiers and five thousand Nirvana Realm soldiers.
According to Lin Qian, if they performed well and made significant contributions to the Empire, their authority would be increased.
For example, they might receive better cultivation techniques, potions for cultivation assistance, and other benefits.
Of course, their authority was limited, and they could not act against the interests of the Empire.
But because of the influence of the Imperial Majesty Talent, it was also impossible for them to engage in such actions.
The conference began, and Lin Qian openly expressed his intention, which was to rule the entire Coastal State.
However, he would gift the Spirit Mountain Range and territory of Shengtian Sect to the Wanxiang Sect.
At the same time, he would also reclaim the territory of the Divine Sword Sect and give it to Mei Yuexia.
However, Lin Qian made it clear that his Huaxia Empire would unapologetically annex other territories of Coastal State but would establish an alliance with Wanxiang Sect and Divine Sword Sect.
As long as the descendants of the two Sects do not attack the Huaxia Empire, the Empire would not invade them.
When Lin Qian got to this point, Qin Wushuang and Mei Yuexia simultaneously rolled their eyes.
What kind of courage must one have, to dare attack your crumbling Empire?
The current military strength of the small cities under the Huaxia Empire’s control could wipe out both Sects!
The strength of just two small cities!
Lin Qian also announced the situation of the Eight-Armed Sea Clan, and if Wanxiang Sect and Divine Sword Sect were willing to ally with them, he was ready to facilitate the connection.
"Junior Brother, Shengtian Sect hasn’t even been attacked yet, and you’re already divvying up Coastal State?" Gao Benli from Wanxiang Sect’s region asked in astonishment.
As soon as he finished speaking, he slapped his own head, "That’s right, with the power you now wield, wiping out Shengtian Sect seems like child’s play."
"It is indeed child’s play, very easy," Lin Qian replied with a smile, casually saying, "These days, we’ve also caught quite a few Shengtian Sect spies and sent plenty of false information their way."
"Sending false information, is there any need for that?" Gao Benli asked, popping a piece of edible jade into his mouth, not understanding, "Junior Brother, you’re not worried they’ll get scared off by knowing your true power, are you?"
"Exactly, I am indeed worried that Yuan Wuji and Zhang Dingyun would be scared off by my Empire’s power," Lin Qian replied, to Gao Benli’s surprise.
Then, pointing at Zhao Wei, Lin Qian laid out Yuan Wuji’s actions.
After listening to Lin Qian’s description, everyone in the Council Hall showed extreme anger on their faces.
"Despicable and shameless, who would have thought that Yuan Wuji could be such a scoundrel!" exclaimed Gao Benli, whose face usually wore a giggling expression, now filled with a grave and indignant look.
The plight of the Origin State’s Human Clan moved the women in the Council Hall to tears, and the Sea Clan’s Zhang Qi also shook his head and sighed, unable to bear it.
Yuan Wuji of Shengtian Sect had the heart to deceive the innocent Human Clan of Origin State by stealing the wealth inherited from their ancestors and left without a care in the world, an act that was simply repulsive.
Especially for Hai Mingyun and others from the coastal regions, they felt a personal sense of grievance, as due to Shengtian Sect’s reasons, their region’s Human Clan had also suffered persecution by the foreign Bone Blade Fish Clan.
They even wished they could immediately rush over and exterminate Shengtian Sect.
"These days, I’ve secretly dispatched people to set up Arrays along the entire border of Coastal State, stationing watchdogs and personnel. The moment someone attempts to escape, we’ll be immediately aware and stop them."
"I must ensure that Yuan Wuji and Zhang Dingyun absolutely cannot escape and cannot leave Coastal State."
"Deceit, abandonment of one’s own kind, colluding with foreign races to oppress their own kin, they don’t deserve to be called human. To the victor belong the spoils, this saying makes sense, but there’s also a bottom line."
Lin Qian’s eyes suddenly sharpened: "Ordinary disciples and elders of Shengtian Sect may spare their lives, but Yuan Wuji, Zhang Dingyun, and those who willingly committed atrocities and harmed their own kind with them must die!"
Inside the Council Hall, there was a long silence following Lin Qian’s grim words.
Suddenly, the sound of chewing became clearer and clearer, prompting everyone to look towards the source.
"Hm?" Gao Benli noticed everyone looking at him, and with an embarrassed smile, he quickly asked Lin Qian a question to divert attention, "Junior Brother, you mentioned capturing Shengtian Sect spies and sending back false messages, what kind of false messages were they?"
"Oh, the false message is that Huaxia Empire is just a plaything I’ve made for fun and to act high and mighty, where I am the Emperor, Xinxin is the Empress, you are the Prime Minister, and Lei Qian is the General. The Imperial Army is none other than the outer disciples of Wanxiang Sect."
People could imagine, if Shengtian Sect truly believed that, how Yuan Wuji and Zhang Dingyun would look when the Huaxia Empire later marched against them.