Oliver Sheng took a stroll around the city, observing soldiers supervising the slaves as they hastened to build the city walls.
Afterward, Oliver inspected several large ranches.
These ranches housed millions of cattle, sheep, and warhorses, all assets of the River West Army.
Once the military affairs were arranged, Oliver spoke up, “Let’s go, Uncle. We’re heading to Da Chu.”
“Alright, it’s been many years since I last went back,” the veteran nodded.
He was originally from Da Chu but had fled to the border of Great Wei to escape the Sima Clan, living incognito.
Oliver, along with the veteran, Wang Zhan, and Zane Wang, set off for Da Chu.
The journey to Da Chu was long, and Oliver didn’t plan to bring many people.
“Uncle, do you have any family left?” Zane Wang asked.
The veteran shook his head, “None left long ago.”
Even if there were any, they were likely hunted down by the Sima Clan and forced to live under assumed names.
“What’s the plan?” Zane Wang scratched his head.
“No worries, I’ve long since come to terms with it,” the veteran smiled faintly.
Such was the way of the martial world.
There was no such thing as sparing one’s family; it was always about eradicating the roots.
No one would leave behind seeds of trouble for themselves.
Having offended the Sima Clan, the veteran didn’t believe he had any surviving relatives, given the clan’s power and ruthlessness.
“This time, we’ll annihilate the Sima Clan,” Oliver reassured him.
“Good, I’ll make sure not even an ant from the Sima Clan survives, and I’ll dig out the worms to split them,” the veteran said with hatred.
The four of them galloped across the land.
Oliver and the veteran could fly, but Wang Zhan and Zane Wang couldn’t.
Few knew of their departure, only those close to Oliver.
To the outside world, it was said that Oliver was in seclusion, stabilizing his cultivation.
Oliver left the army under the management and training of Calvin Yang.
Through wind and rain, after half a month, the four crossed the border of Great Wei and arrived in Da Chu.
Da Chu, located in the southeast of the continent, was rich in rivers, lakes, and plains, with vast areas for grain cultivation.
Upon reaching Da Chu, the four switched to a large boat, heading east along the Li River.
“Da Chu has the most extensive arable land among the three kingdoms,” Zane Wang couldn’t help but comment, looking at the fertile fields on both sides.
“What good is it if the aristocratic families control it, and the common people can only become tenant farmers?” the veteran remarked.
Da Chu had vast, fertile land, yet people still starved.
Oliver remained silent; this was the reality of a feudal dynasty, a world where strength reigned supreme.
Ordinary people could only achieve basic subsistence, while resources were monopolized by the powerful and aristocratic families. Even the emperor found it difficult to resolve this issue.
“Up ahead is Sword Gate Gorge. Once we pass through it, we’ll reach Jingzhou, and beyond Jingzhou is Jinzhou.”
“The entire Jinzhou is controlled by the Sima Clan. They are like local emperors, a great aristocratic family where even royal authority can’t penetrate.”
The veteran explained to Oliver, indicating that the Sima Clan’s power in Da Chu was comparable to the royal family, surpassing many sects.
After all, they had a Martial Saint overseeing them, a formidable force.
Most sects’ strongest members were merely Great Grandmasters.
Ahead, the massive Li River seemed like a sword, splitting the towering mountains in two.
The cliff walls were straight, as if cleaved by a sword, hence the name Sword Gate Gorge.
As the boat passed through Sword Gate Gorge, Oliver didn’t sense any residual sword intent, suggesting it wasn’t man-made.
Nature’s power could sometimes be incredibly awe-inspiring.
“How magnificent!”
Many first-time visitors looked up at the towering, straight cliffs on both sides of the river.
“Legend has it that Sword Gate Gorge was once a mountain. In ancient times, a peerless sword master on this land of Da Chu fought someone and cleaved the mountain with a single sword, creating the gorge we see today,” an elder explained.
“To cleave such a wide gorge with one sword, how powerful must they have been?”
“Such a feat must belong to a deity.”
The martial artists and noble merchants on the boat couldn’t help but marvel.
“Your Highness, could you do that?” Zane Wang asked quietly.
Wang Zhan and the veteran also looked at Oliver, their eyes full of curiosity.
Oliver, a Martial Saint and an Earthly Immortal in the Yang Spirit Realm, had extraordinary skills and strength.
Oliver shook his head, “Such a feat likely belongs to a sword master in the Martial Emperor Realm.”
Cleaving such a wide, tens-of-kilometers-long gorge with one sword was still beyond his current capabilities.
After passing through Sword Gate Gorge, they entered a vast plain.
The mountains had turned into small hills, with dense river networks and fertile fields, resembling the water towns of Jiangnan.
“This land is truly suitable for human habitation,” Wang Zhan couldn’t help but say.
Many parts of Great Wei were continuous mountains, with great demons often emerging from the deep forests.
Unlike Da Chu, which had many plains.
Oliver nodded, this vast fertile land could support countless people.
The world had been divided for too long; it was time for unification!
Two thousand years ago, the Central Plains had a unified royal dynasty.
This great goal, he would achieve it.
Oliver thought to himself, a man should establish an everlasting legacy.
Throughout the journey, the four kept a low profile. Oliver used Daoist techniques to conceal their appearances and auras, making their presence minimal. They encountered no trouble or hero-saving-damsel scenarios.
Passing through Jingzhou, they entered Jinzhou.
Along the way, they frequently saw disciples in Sima Clan attire oppressing the common people, with no one daring to speak out.
“Unexpectedly, the Sima Clan’s disciples have become increasingly arrogant and domineering over the years,” the veteran remarked.
“Let’s go to the provincial capital first and eliminate the Sima Clan members. Others will naturally take care of the rest.”
Upon arriving in Jinzhou City.
“Stop, each person must pay one tael of silver to enter the city,” the gate guard stopped Oliver and his companions.
“Wow, that’s new,” Zane Wang exclaimed. The Sima Clan was indeed powerful, charging a tael of silver just to enter the city.
Wang Zhan took out four taels of silver and tossed them to the guard.
Only then did the gate soldiers let them in.
“Zane Wang, find an inn for us to stay,” Oliver instructed.
“Leave it to me, I’ll handle it quickly.”
Soon, Zane Wang found a large inn in the city.
The clothing styles of Da Chu and Great Wei were somewhat different, so they had changed their attire to fit in when they entered Da Chu.
After settling in Jinzhou City, Oliver didn’t rush to take action.
“Zane Wang, go find out who the direct members of the Sima Clan are,” Oliver tasked Zane Wang with investigating the Sima Clan’s direct members.
Once they were identified, they would be eliminated without leaving a single one.
“I’ll do my best,” Zane Wang didn’t make any promises.
This was Da Chu, and their accents were different from the locals, making it difficult to gather information.
Moreover, Jinzhou was controlled by the Sima Clan, and investigating them could easily alert the clan.
Oliver nodded, not imposing strict requirements.
At night, Jinzhou City was brightly lit, with a bustling night market.
It was even more prosperous than Great Wei.
Standing on the inn’s balcony, Oliver admired the night market’s beauty.
“Who dares trespass in my Sima Mansion!!” An angry roar echoed throughout Jinzhou City.
“Damn, could Zane Wang have been discovered?” Wang Zhan worriedly asked upon hearing the roar.
“No, he wouldn’t be so reckless,” Oliver shook his head.
“Return my disciple, or I’ll destroy your Sima Clan,” a powerful, icy aura pressured the entire city.
“Hmm?”
“Why is it her?!” Oliver’s eyebrows twitched.
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