In the end, only Ann Miaoyi's cousin remained there, cursing until his voice went hoarse. He was so enraged that he spat out three mouthfuls of blood, finally fainting on the ground, unmoving.

After everything was settled, Wang Xiaoqiang tossed Ann Miaoyi and her cousin into the Sumeru Ring and walked up to her cousin. Seeing his blood-stained mouth and disheveled hair—looking utterly defeated as he lay unconscious—Wang Xiaoqiang kicked him but didn't take his life.

Killing him would be a relief. Keeping him alive, so he continues to live in disgrace, letting his spirit suffer, is clearly more worthwhile than killing him.

Jinling Royal Mansion was soon occupied; everyone inside, master and servant, became prisoners. Those who resisted were beheaded, and the women were all taken as servants.

Jinling is a land of enchantment, with a pleasant climate and picturesque scenery—a place of widespread beauty that has nurtured many beauties, including those within Jinling Royal Mansion. The wives and daughters of King Jinling were all fair as flowers.

King Jinling had more than one woman and more than one daughter; his harem could rival that of Huang Ce.

Jiang Haitian carefully selected King Jinling's women and daughters to send to Wang Xiaoqiang.

This was tricky for him, since his daughter, Jiang Yiyan, had become Wang Xiaoqiang's woman, yet he was now sending women to Wang Xiaoqiang, perhaps to vie for attention and stir jealousy with his own daughter?

Wang Xiaoqiang laughed and accepted them with a smile.

He also marveled at Jiang Haitian's cunning and unscrupulous methods. To please him, Jiang Haitian spared no cost. Yet, adept at worldly matters, quick-thinking, eloquent, and capable, having such a reliable assistant brings much relief, so Wang Xiaoqiang entrusted him with the task of discovering King Jinling's whereabouts.

Wang Xiaoqiang took up residence in Jinling Royal Mansion, indulging daily in Jinling's luxuries and King Jinling's beautiful women and daughters, living quite merrily.

Meanwhile, he didn't forget his brothers; he opened Jinling's gold and silver storage rooms and pill storage rooms, distributing wealth to his soldiers and officers, and granted the servants of the mansion to those valiant young commanders to enjoy.

This strengthened the cohesion and loyalty of his troops; now, they only follow Wang Xiaoqiang, even if Huang Ce were to come, he could not command them.

This is the effect Wang Xiaoqiang desired.

For cultivators, what are gold, silver, and treasures worth? They are but external objects; those pills aren't very important to Wang Xiaoqiang either. Now, he hopes to capture the hearts of these brothers, so they would fight for him.

Considering the immense power of the Myriad Circle Spirit Formation, if many are formed, not only could they overthrow Huang Ce, but conquer the entire Immortal Realm without any problem.

Of course, the prerequisite is to win the hearts of the soldiers.

Jinling City's captured guards numbered close to two hundred thousand, survivors of the Myriad Circle Spirit Formation, suggesting their cultivation base was strong.

Indeed, after a selection, he discovered among these two hundred thousand, one-tenth were elite soldiers and generals, with twenty thousand possessing True Immortal Realm cultivation.

Wang Xiaoqiang entrusted these twenty thousand to Cheng Jin, first having him register their home addresses, then forming them into two Myriad Circle Spirit Formations.

Wang Xiaoqiang stayed in Jinling City for a week.

During this time, the feudal kings previously submitting to King Jinling came one after another to plead guilty and surrender.

Wang Xiaoqiang didn't make things difficult for them, subduing them one by one.

Finally, all feudal kings south of Yue Land surrendered.

Wang Xiaoqiang pacified the realm.

At that moment, Jiang Haitian brought news that King Jinling had fled to Golden Serpent City, adjacent to the Yellow Dragon Empire, seeking refuge with Luo Sang King of the Yue Kingdom.

Upon hearing the name 'Luo Sang King,' Wang Xiaoqiang paused slightly, feeling it somewhat familiar, as if he had heard of it before, but he didn't care.

King Jinling's loss of territory made him an empty shell of a marquis king, worthless now. Wang Xiaoqiang saw no reason to sour relations with the Yue Kingdom over him.

Three days later, Wang Xiaoqiang finally released Ann Miaoyi and her cousin from the Sumeru Ring. Seeing Ann hadn't committed suicide, he chuckled playfully and said, "Have you come around?"

Ann Miaoyi remained silent. She seemed to have lost heart.

"Considering you're a virgin and have become my woman, I won't kill you. From now on, serve as my woman; I won't mistreat you," Wang Xiaoqiang said, addressing her cousin, "You're not bad either, you'll be my woman too, but you'll be responsible for looking after your cousin."

After his instructions, Wang Xiaoqiang sent people to secretly monitor the two women, preventing them from fleeing. He wasn't worried about their suicide; if they had wanted to, they would've done it in the Sumeru Ring, not waited until now.

Once matters in Jinling City were settled, Wang Xiaoqiang handed the city over to Jiang Haitian, who was ecstatic to leap from being a City Lord to a Feudal King.

Wang Xiaoqiang said, "Jiang Haitian, I know you're capable. Work well, and I'll promote you further. But don't play tricks or foster ambitions like King Jinling; otherwise, you'll meet a worse fate than him."

Jiang Haitian immediately knelt, kowtowing frantically, until his forehead bled, saying, "I dare not, absolutely dare not."

"I'm taking your daughter Jiang Yiyan," Wang Xiaoqiang said, and with that, he returned to court triumphantly. By this time, Cheng Jin had completed his assigned task; the two Myriad Circle Spirit Formations were formed.

Now Wang Xiaoqiang possessed thirty-three Myriad Circle Spirit Formations and eleven Thousand-Position Spirit Formations, an unprecedentedly vast force.

...

Just as Wang Xiaoqiang returned to court, in the Yellow Dragon Empire's imperial court they were fiercely debating what position Wang Xiaoqiang should assume upon his return.

The civil and military officials split into two factions over this matter, each holding their stance, arguing incessantly, almost becoming chaotic.

One faction supported Wang Xiaoqiang, claiming he quelled the rebel army with outstanding achievements, thus deserving the highest military position to command the troops.

The other faction argued Wang Xiaoqiang's accomplishments eclipsed the ruler, hence should not be entrusted with power, his military authority should be stripped to prevent another Ann Guochu scenario.

Among them, a person named Qiu Ji spoke most fiercely, submitting a report, "Wang Xiaoqiang killed the Half-Step Immortal Emperor Ann Guochu and defeated the Immortal Emperor Stage King Jinling, quelled the rebel army and swept the realm, truly commendable, but when a person's accomplishments are too great, their desires only grow. The key is Wang Xiaoqiang's strength is excessively overpowering; no one in the Immortal Emperor Stage can suppress him now... If he intends rebellion, the country will truly be imperiled..." (To be continued. If you love this work, come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes, month votes; your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)

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