Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Lin Zhao and Yan Chiheng, along with the thirty-odd Foundation Establishment cultivators, began their sweeping attack.

Within a radius of several thousand miles of Dingfeng Plain, many of the large gangs that were wiped out still had members remaining at their strongholds, in addition to dozens of smaller gangs scattered throughout the area.

For the next month, two figures could be seen everywhere in Dingfeng Plain—

A figure in green robes stood atop the dragon spirit; wherever he passed, the small gangs either surrendered or were annihilated.

A bolt of lightning crackled around him, specifically targeting those hiding in caves. A bolt of lightning smashed open the cave entrance, allowing him to enter and collect the corpses.

At the same time, they are also gathering ordinary people together.

Over the centuries, Dingfeng Plain has accumulated countless mortals who were abducted.

Some of them were captured generations ago and have struggled to survive and reproduce here.

Some of them were kidnapped in recent years and are still struggling.

Every time Lin Zhao conquered a place, the first thing he did was to settle the common people.

Gradually, more and more mortals were gathered together.

100,000, 200,000, 500,000—

Finally, nearly a million.

Looking at the densely packed tents, Lin Zhao suddenly felt a headache coming on.

How do I take it back?

However, because of these mortals, nearly twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators also escaped ahead of time. They took with them tens of thousands of Qi Refining cultivators and disappeared into the mountains deep in Dingfeng Plain. By the time Lin Zhao had settled his people and went to chase after them, they had already vanished without a trace.

What's more troublesome is that the three major dynasties have already realized what's happening.

After such a major incident occurred in Dingfeng Plain, the news spread back and all the major forces immediately increased their manpower.

By the time Lin Zhaoteng made his move, the Tribulation Cultivator camp had gained dozens of unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivators, all sent by the three major dynasties.

The original plan to completely take over Dingfeng Plain has only been half completed, and Dingfeng Plain may become a two-way split in the future.

---

Three months later, the migration began.

Nearly a million mortals, in a vast and mighty procession, set off from the depths of Dingfeng Plain towards the border of the Zixuan Dynasty.

Yan Chiheng, along with the thirty-odd Foundation Establishment cultivators and the remaining three thousand Tribulation cultivators after the matter was dealt with, spread out around the group to guard against and drive away any fools.

Lin Zhaozhe released the Four Elements Yinglong and the Four Elements Jianlong, one on the left and one on the right, to protect the two sides of the team.

Nine Luminaries Heavenly Dragons held the rear of the group, intimidating those restless Qi Refining Tribulation cultivators.

The procession moved extremely slowly.

They can only advance a few dozen miles each day.

Some people are sick, some are injured, some can't walk, and some secretly want to run away.

Lin Zhao would look down from the sky every day, watching the long procession in silence.

Upon seeing Lin Zhao, some people began to kneel in worship, while others began to spread her name.

"That's a god!"

"The gods are protecting us!"

Old He found Lin Zhao and said, "Shoulder, let them pay their respects. They need hope, a reason to be sure they can live."

Whether they are gods or immortals, they feel safe as long as you are there.

Lin Zhao remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

Sometimes praying to gods and Buddhas doesn't necessarily mean believing, but it at least gives you comfort and spiritual strength.

He simply released Yinglong every day, letting it circle above the formation a few times so that everyone could see it.

Those mortals who looked up and saw that figure in green felt a little more at ease.

Three months later, the group finally reached the border of the Zixuan Dynasty.

The mortals knelt on the ground, weeping and kowtowing.

Lin Zhao stood on Yinglong's back, looking down at this scene.

Nearly one million ordinary people.

---

There are already many people waiting at the border.

They all rushed here to search for their relatives after hearing the news.

Some people found their long-lost family members in the crowd and wept bitterly.

Some people searched the entire group but couldn't find the person they were looking for. They collapsed to the ground and wailed.

Lin Zhao stood on Yinglong's back, watching this scene, and sighed softly.

He has done all he could.

To completely pacify Dingfeng Plain, the three major dynasties need to be willing to take real action, which is not something he can do alone.

His ability to take half of Dingfeng Plain by surprise was already at its limit.

The rest is up to time.

He was preparing to return to Cangyun Mountain.

---

Among the crowd below, a pair of eyes were fixed on him.

The young man, Luo Yu, stood at the edge of the group, looking up as he watched the figure in blue fly further and further away until it disappeared from sight.

He clenched his fists, turned and ran.

"Brother He An!"

He An was directing people to pack up supplies when he heard the noise and turned around to see Luo Yu running over, panting.

"Brother He An," Luo Yu stopped, his eyes shining brightly, "Can I go back to Cangyun Mountain with you?"

He An was stunned for a moment.

"Cangyun Mountain is a market town for cultivators; it is difficult for mortals to live there."

"I have spiritual roots!" Luo Yu exclaimed anxiously. "The uncle said I have spiritual roots, so I can cultivate immortality!"

He An looked at him.

He recognized the boy; he had been helping out in the team for the past few months—he was diligent, quick-witted, and unafraid of hardship.

Of all the rescued mortals, he was the one who ran around the most diligently.

"Where are your uncle and your parents?"

"The uncle said he's going back to Tongming Immortal City." Luo Yu lowered his head. "My parents are gone. They were gone when I was captured."

I have no relatives left. The uncle said you are good people and told me to come and find you.

He An remained silent.

He has only been at the Foundation Establishment stage for a year and doesn't have many subordinates yet, so he really needs to cultivate a few trustworthy people.

Moreover, this young man possesses spiritual roots.

The first step in cultivating immortality is developing spiritual roots.

"Okay," He An said, "Come with me."

Luo Yu's eyes lit up immediately.

He An added, "But you need to think this through. The path of cultivation is not easy. You might die on the way. It's up to you to decide."

"I've thought it through." Luo Yu straightened his back. "I want to cultivate immortality, I want to be like the guardian deity of the heavens."

He An glanced at him but didn't say anything more.

He turned around and walked towards Cangyun Mountain.

Luo Yu followed closely behind.

---

A few months later, the caravans in Cangyun Mountain Market officially started operating.

More than thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators under control, along with a team of tens of thousands of Qi Refining cultivators, ostensibly Tribulation Cultivators, actually formed a guard team.

Their main task is to protect caravans in Cangyun Mountain, and sometimes they also take on protection tasks for other caravans.

Because of the prestige Lin Zhao had established, she had no obstacles along the way.

The caravan, laden with elixirs, magical artifacts, and talismans, set off from Cangyun Mountain, passed through Dingfeng Plain, and entered the Nanli Dynasty and Tianshui Dynasty.

On the return journey, the ship was loaded with medicinal herbs, ores, and cultivation materials produced there.

Old He strolls around the market every day, his face beaming with joy.

"It's gone up another 20% this month."

"It could go up again next month."

On the other side, along the southern route of Dingfeng Plain, the twenty-odd Foundation Establishment cultivators who had escaped were also busy.

They united cultivators sent by the three dynasties, reorganized a gang, and gathered tens of thousands of Qi cultivators, still doing what they used to do.

But he became much more restrained in his actions, only taking things and not killing people.

If they encounter someone with connections, they'll let them pass after charging a small protection fee.

When the news reached Cangyun Mountain, Old He laughed so hard he slapped his thigh.

"They've been terrified of us!"

When Lin Zhao heard this, he simply nodded and said nothing.

He is currently in seclusion.

---