Chapter 63

Ji Yichuan turned to look at his wife, "Xue'er, Ji Ning's strength is already among the top below the Zifu cultivator level. The Yan Mountain region can no longer bind Ji Ning."

Wei Chixue also nodded, understanding what her husband was about to say.

"Hmm?" Ji Ning looked at his parents with some confusion.

Ji Yichuan said, "Ji Ning, do you know about the six major forces on the Yan Mountain region?"

"I know," Ji Ning nodded. "There are six major overlords on the Yan Mountain region: our Ji Clan, Bianhe Clan, Kui Clan, Black Fire Sect, Tiemu Clan, and Snow Dragon Mountain. Among these six major overlords, our Ji Clan, Bianhe Clan, Kui Clan, and Black Fire Sect stand together, while the Tiemu Clan and Snow Dragon Mountain are also allied with each other!"

The six major overlords of Yan Mountain are divided into two major camps, and these two camps often clash, frequently resulting in the deaths of innate spirits.

Ji Yichuan then said, "Do you also know why the alliance of Tiemu Clan and Snow Dragon Mountain can force us and the other four major forces to form an alliance?"

"I don't know," Ji Ning shook his head.

These secrets are not found in books.

"The six major forces all have Zifu cultivators as their anchors," Ji Yichuan looked at his son, "and with your current strength, no one below the Zifu cultivator level can harm you. In a few years, you will likely become a Zifu cultivator. So, I must tell you these things!"

"The Tiemu Clan is not worth mentioning!" Ji Yichuan became serious, with a hint of killing intent in his eyes, "But Snow Dragon Mountain is a truly formidable opponent, very formidable. The Snow Dragon Mountain on our Yan Mountain region is just a branch of the true Snow Dragon Mountain sect."

"Branch?" Ji Ning was shocked.

Among the six major overlords, Snow Dragon Mountain is the strongest. This Snow Dragon Mountain is actually just a branch?

Ji Yichuan looked at his son and said seriously, "The true Snow Dragon Mountain sect is a thousand or ten thousand times stronger than the Yan Mountain branch, a thousand or ten thousand times stronger than our Ji Clan! It is a top-tier major force on par with your mother's clan, the Wei Clan!"

Wei Chixue also looked at her son, "The 'Wind Wing Escape Technique' also contains the origins of our Wei Clan. The Wei Clan is a very ancient and top-tier major clan. Clans at the level of the Ji Clan... are far from being able to compare with our Wei Clan. Of course, that is a thing of the past."

...

Ji Ning, listening to his parents, became even more eager to understand this vast land, the Wei Clan, Snow Dragon Mountain, and some legendary top-tier major clans. They are all far from Yan Mountain.

"Ji Ning, do you know how vast the Great Xia Dynasty is?" Wei Chixue looked at her son.

"I don't know," Ji Ning shook his head.

The Great Xia Dynasty stood tall during the Divine and Demonic Era, destroying other ancient dynasties to unify this vast land, with a history spanning billions of years! The books only describe the territory of the Great Xia Dynasty as... boundless!

Such a dynasty, how powerful is it? How profound is its foundation?

"When the Great Xia Dynasty initially unified the world, it divided the land into 3,600 counties and enfeoffed 800 feudal lords!" Wei Chixue spoke fluently, "Because the land was truly vast, even immortals and demons could not easily manage it, so it was divided into 3,600 counties, which vary in size, but even the smallest is vast and expansive."

"Yan Mountain is under the jurisdiction of 'Anpan County,' which is the fief of Anpan Marquis," Wei Chixue said, "Anpan County is about a million miles away from us."

"Anpan County? A million miles away?" Ji Ning could easily imagine a very distant and ancient, immensely large and prosperous city, where immortals and demons gather, influencing a vast expanse of land.

Wei Chixue continued, "Anpan County is the center of power for the entire county, a gathering place for immortals and demons. However, Anpan County is so vast that there are tens of thousands of places like Yan Mountain... and top-tier major clans, sects, and sects are scattered throughout!"

"So vast?" Ji Ning held his breath.

"The sky is high and the emperor is far away. The land is divided into 3,600 counties, and the feudal lords who control each region have immense power," Wei Chixue sighed, "The capital of the Great Xia Dynasty is too far away, and there have even been rebellions by some feudal lords in history. It was truly a battle of immortals and demons, with countless powerful figures falling, truly terrifying."

Ji Ning nodded.

The disadvantage of such a vast territory is weak control. Even the high and mighty Anpan Marquis can only govern the vast land under his jurisdiction with a hands-off approach, allowing various clans to fight and struggle among themselves.

"After some feudal lords rebelled, the Great Xia Dynasty, to better rule this vast land, began to build cities frantically, even within the Yan Mountain region, there are ten such cities," Wei Chixue looked at her son, "Each city has a corresponding 'Vassal Token'!"

"Vassal Token?" Ji Ning listened carefully.

"Yes, Vassal Token!" Wei Chixue continued, "By refining a Vassal Token, one gains control of a city! Nominal control means becoming a vassal of the Great Xia Dynasty, but the Vassal Token is a step-up magical treasure, and only Zifu cultivators can refine it."

"There are ten such cities within the Yan Mountain region," Ji Yichuan also spoke.

"Among these ten cities, one is Yan Mountain City, where the Great Xia Dynasty has a garrison! The other nine cities are occupied by our Ji Clan, which is the Wanjian City, the capital of our Ji Clan's five residences," Ji Yichuan introduced, "The Bianhe Clan, Kui Clan, and Tiemu Clan each occupy one city."

"The Black Fire Sect occupies two cities, and Snow Dragon Mountain occupies three cities."

"Actually, a long time ago, the Ji Clan, Bianhe Clan, Kui Clan, Black Fire Sect, and Tiemu Clan were all native clans of Yan Mountain," Ji Yichuan sighed, "Later, Snow Dragon Mountain obtained the Vassal Token of one of the cities within the Yan Mountain region and infiltrated. The Tiemu Clan was the weakest and quickly defected to Snow Dragon Mountain. However, the other four major forces are still resisting."

"We are all vassals of the Great Xia Dynasty, and it is forbidden for cultivators to fight within the cities, and violators will be challenging the Great Xia Dynasty, punishable by death!"

Ji Ning, listening to his parents, frowned and said, "Father, Mother, according to what you said, cultivators are forbidden to fight within the cities, and violators are punishable by death. This way, it would be difficult for a clan to be destroyed?"

"Difficult?"

Wei Chixue, however, sneered, "Simple! For example, when a Zifu cultivator reaches the end of their lifespan and dies, the Vassal Token becomes unowned! This clan will naturally decline quickly."

"There are also Zifu cultivators who can't stay in the city all the time. Once they leave and are killed, the Vassal Token is taken, and the clan will soon be finished."

"There are even some lawless major clans and forces!" Wei Chixue said, "They directly send powerful figures to secretly assassinate your clan's Zifu cultivators in the city, take the Vassal Token, and what can you do?"

Ji Ning was taken aback, "This..."

"Without evidence, what can you do?" Wei Chixue smiled, "Of course, the larger the force, the more cautious they are. Challenging the Great Xia Dynasty is punishable by death, so they won't do it lightly. Even if they do, they will use secret methods. I'm just telling you that there are many ways for a clan to be destroyed. If you don't provoke others, they will provoke you. The most fundamental thing is your own strength!"

...

"Anpan Marquis controls this vast land, but besides the garrison, the Great Xia Dynasty also has a force of cultivators called the 'Yinglong Guard.' It is said that at least a Wuxiang True Man can become a member of the Yinglong Guard! With the Yinglong Guard, the Great Xia Dynasty can better control the vast territory. Remember, do not provoke the Yinglong Guard."

...

"Ji Ning, with your talent and insight, it will be easy for you to become a disciple of a powerful figure. After you go out to explore, it would be best to find a powerful master as soon as possible."

...

Ji Yichuan and Wei Chixue spoke a lot to their son. They understood that Ji Ning would definitely step onto a broader stage in the future and might even become a significant figure in Anpan County... so they carefully reminded him and told him everything they knew.

Ji Ning truly broadened his horizons.

He finally understood how vast the world outside was, the Yinglong Guard composed entirely of cultivators, Anpan Marquis controlling the army, and the various top-tier clans, major sects, and sects... of course, there were also many local clans that could sustain for a long time with the Vassal Token. As for the lowest level, there were countless tribes.

"Phew." Ji Ning felt a surge of ambition in his heart.

"Ji Ning, I will take the winged snake's corpse. I will tell others that I killed it," Ji Yichuan said, "You are still young, and once it is made public, it will bring endless trouble."

"I'll leave it to Father," Ji Ning said, "By the way, Father, I want to build a residence by Winged Snake Lake. I want to live here often in the future."

"Live here?"

Ji Yichuan and Wei Chixue looked around, where the misty waves were vast and tranquil.

"Yes, it's a good place," Ji Yichuan nodded, "I will arrange for people to help you build a residence. Your mother and I will return now, and you should also visit home often when you are out exploring."

"I will, I'll return to Xifu City in a few days," Ji Ning nodded. He needed to go to the Black Tooth Tribe to bring Chuncao's brother to Xifu City, a promise he made to Chuncao.

"Return as soon as possible," Wei Chixue gently stroked her son's head.

"Okay," Ji Ning nodded, understanding that his mother was very worried about his entry into the underwater palace.

...

That day, Ji Ning set out with Qiuye and Mo Wu, then rode the black sly beast toward the Black Tooth Tribe.