I conquer the immortal with my strength.

Chapter 597 Tribulation
Several days later, at the Earth God Temple.

Xingyi held a water-sealed bamboo slip in her hands, her delicate brows furrowed and her eyes filled with anger.

“Lord Land,” Cui Baisong reported in a low voice, “this is a letter from Grand Commandant Jiao. He says that the Iron-Throated Wolf Tribe of Xiling has been brought under his command, and warns you not to act rashly, or you will bear the consequences.”

"What arrogance!" Hongxia stood up, her hand on her sword, her face full of anger.

Upon hearing this, the others all looked furious, their eyes flashing with murderous intent.

Xingyi's gaze darkened slightly, and she raised her hand to stop the crowd. She knew in her heart that Jiaoting, relying on the Cang family's backing, had already disregarded the local temple.

However, the Cang family was indeed powerful, and any move they made would have far-reaching consequences. This was not a matter she could decide on her own, so she had to go to the inner palace to ask for instructions again.

-

The quiet room in the rear hall.

Xia Daoming sat cross-legged on a futon, his aura as deep as an abyss, yet an invisible pressure emanated from his body. His eyes were lowered, and ripples of light, like water, flowed around him, making the entire quiet room seem shrouded in layers of water curtains, the space heavy and oppressive, as if a towering mountain were pressing down upon it.

As soon as Xingyi stepped into the palace, her body sank, each step feeling as heavy as falling iron stones. She couldn't help but look shocked, secretly marveling at the profound skills Xia Daoming had cultivated.

"You've arrived. What brings you here?" Xia Daoming opened his eyes, which were as deep as the ocean, and his words seemed to carry the surging tides of a river.

Xingyi was filled with even greater astonishment and awe, and respectfully bowed: "Reporting to Master Xia, the Iron Throat Wolf Tribe, fearing our conquest and annihilation, has defected to Jiaoting. Today, Jiaoting sent someone to deliver a message, warning me not to touch the Iron Throat Wolf Tribe, otherwise he will surely raise an army."

Upon hearing this, Xia Daoming's lips curled slightly, and he sneered, "A mere mixed-blood water dragon dares to threaten the Heavenly Court's government? It seems that Biyuan County... truly is a place where dragons and snakes rise together, and the Heavenly Court's prestige has long lost its weight."

"There's nothing we can do about it. Biyuan County is located on the border. Although it was granted by the Heavenly Court, its official power has always been weak. It can only collect some taxes and deter some petty villains. The truly powerful and influential forces would not even dare to look down on me, let alone this little land of mine, even the City God Pavilion."

"That Jiao Ting is powerful and has the Cang family backing him up. Although he doesn't dare to provoke the City God, he really dares to disregard this land of mine," Xingyi said with a wry smile.

Upon hearing this, Xia Daoming felt a surge of murderous intent, but then he thought that his One Yuan Heavy Water Divine Weapon was at a crucial stage of its formation, and he also vaguely sensed that the True Immortal Tribulation would begin soon. Therefore, there was no need to rush, so he suppressed his murderous intent and changed his tone, saying:

"Jiaoting's adoptive father, Cang Shunshui, is not a threat, but the Cang family has a deep foundation, and Old Master Cang has reached the Four Realms level. If we rashly start a trouble and make a big fuss, dragging them all into it, it will not be a good strategy. I am new here, so it is better to be more cautious."

"Alright then, since the Iron-Throated Wolf Clan has joined Jiao Ting's ranks, you can tolerate them for a while. Let them run rampant for a bit. Your focus should be on maintaining order, winning over the hearts of the people, and sending some men out to gather information about the True Fire and True Water. After some time, before the first month of next year, we'll deal with both of their forces!"

"I obey!" Xingyi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but also felt inexplicably disappointed.

"By the way, is there any place in your Jade Stream that is rarely visited by people and devoid of life?" Xia Daoming asked.

Xingyi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. Although she was puzzled, she still answered honestly, "Reporting to Master Xia, there is a vicious miasma swamp six hundred miles away. The area within two hundred miles of that place is a filthy swamp shrouded in miasma. Even powerful Nascent Soul cultivators would inevitably be poisoned and damaged if they entered, let alone ordinary cultivators and living beings."

"This place exists! This is wonderful!" Xia Daoming was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"Master Xia, are you perhaps going to that place?" Xingyi finally couldn't help but ask.

"I will soon undergo a tribulation, a special one that should not be known to the outside world. That place is just right," Xia Daoming said with a smile.

"I see! Congratulations, Master Xia!" Xingyi was overjoyed upon hearing this, as if she herself was about to undergo a tribulation. She quickly bowed and offered her congratulations. At the same time, she understood why Xia Daoming had to tolerate the Iron Throat Wolf Tribe and Jiao Ting for a while.

"Go ahead, if you have any questions about your cultivation, you can come to me!" Xia Daoming smiled. "Thank you for your guidance, Master Xia. I'll take my leave now!" Xingyi bowed again before withdrawing.

Return to the front hall.

Xingyi ordered Du Shoulu to write a letter and send it to the Jianhe Jiaofu, warning him to restrain the Iron Throat Wolf Tribe from committing further atrocities, or else she would send troops to wipe them out.

Hongxia and the others were quite disappointed upon hearing this, but they had no choice.

After all, Jiaoting is backed by the Cangfu government of the county city. If they really rely on the thunder talisman bestowed by Master Xia to act rashly and wipe out the Iron Throat Wolf Tribe and Jiaoting's followers, it will be a great disaster if the Cangfu government comes to punish them.
-
Soon after, Jiao Ting received a letter sent by Xing Yi, and after reading it, he couldn't help but laugh triumphantly.

"I told her she wouldn't dare, and she truly wouldn't! It seems this woman has some self-awareness. What a pity, otherwise I would have had a legitimate reason to take her to my bed!"

As he laughed, Jiao Ting flicked his hand, sending the letter flying toward Lang Heng, who was sitting below him.

Lang Heng quickly took the letter, glanced at it, and felt a sense of relief. He then hurriedly stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to Jiao Ting, and said, "My lord is mighty!"

"Haha!" Jiao Ting laughed loudly again, then waved his hand and said, "Go ahead, with me here, I doubt the local temple would dare to do anything to your troops. What talk of restraint and annihilation is nothing but her trying to save face!"

"That's right, that's right!" Lang Heng repeatedly bowed and then withdrew.

After stepping down, with Jiao Ting backing them up, the Iron Throat Wolf Clan became even more arrogant, rampaging wildly in the Xiling area, but they didn't dare to cross the border and commit any crimes.

After all, the Land God Temple's illustrious record of successively annihilating two major demon dens was right before their eyes, leaving them no choice but to be wary.

However, Jiao Ting's power expanded greatly after he took over the Iron Throat Wolf Tribe. Seeing that there was a lack of power in the Cangxiu Mountain and Northern Ghost Mother Cave areas, and that the Earth God Temple did not have enough troops to garrison those two places, he became ambitious and sent some people there to seize a part of the territory. There, they picked spiritual herbs and fruits, mined ore, and occasionally oppressed and plundered the people in the nearby villages.

When this matter spread, it somewhat damaged the prestige that the local earth god temple had worked so hard to build.

This caused the once-booming incense offerings to the local earth god temple to stagnate.

This made Cui Baisong and the others secretly anxious but helpless.

Only Xingyi was not in a hurry, patiently waiting for Master Xia's instructions.

apse.

This day.

Xia Daoming was meditating and regulating his breathing when suddenly his heart trembled, his soul abruptly froze, and his body stiffened like stone. The next instant, a chilling, ghostly fire suddenly surged from the Yongquan acupoints on the soles of his feet.

The fire was a deep blue, seemingly fire but not quite, yet it surged upwards like a venomous snake along the meridians, heading straight for the kidneys, and then climbing up the spine.

Wherever the Yin Fire passes, flesh and blood melt like ice and snow, and tendons and bones seem to turn into phantoms, as if they will burn into nothingness in an instant.

Xia Daoming felt as if every inch of his body was being licked by flames, yet he had nowhere to escape. Even his soul was enveloped by the flames, as if it would be burned to ashes in the next instant.

　That concludes today's update.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)