Chapter 487: Expanding Power, Merging with the Alliance
The next day, as the warm sunlight gradually bathed Wanbing City, several of the most powerful factions in the Western Region began to gather at the gates of Yuanfu, located in the center of the city.
Many onlookers gazed from afar at the banners of these influential factions and felt a sense that something monumental was about to happen in the Western Region once again.
After defeating the Western Alliance, Yuanfu left a portion of its forces to guard the Yumen Fortress, while the main contingent returned to Wanbing City.
Today, Yuanfu's defenses were more rigorous than ever. Anyone who walked through the city and wasn't part of the clan would instantly draw the attention of dozens of hidden eyes. If anyone acted even slightly suspicious, they would quickly be met with overwhelming force.
At the heart of Yuanfu stood a large conference hall, heavily guarded by soldiers whose cold gazes swept the area constantly. Despite the tight security, the atmosphere inside the hall was surprisingly relaxed. Only a select few had been invited to attend—a group of about a dozen people representing the most powerful forces in the Western Region.
Among these figures were Ma Chen of the Golden Warhorse Tribe, Dongfang Hong of the Dongfang Family, Elder Bing of the Artifact Alliance, and the lone warrior Iron Sword Sovereign.
At the head of the hall sat a silver-eyed young man, Mo Yu, who smiled occasionally while engaging in light conversation with Elder Bing beside him.
To his left sat the cold-faced Xiao Yixian (Little Doctor Immortal) and Qing Lin, while behind them stood Yuanfu's key members, including Zi Huo, Xiao Li, and Gu He.
After talking with Elder Bing for a while, Mo Yu noticed that most of the attendees had arrived. He stood up slowly, his gaze sweeping across the room, and the murmur of voices gradually quieted as all eyes turned to him.
"Now that everyone is here, let's get down to business," Mo Yu said, his voice steady and commanding.
Hearing this, the crowd immediately focused their attention.
Mo Yu took a deep breath, then spoke directly, getting straight to the point: "The Western Alliance is no more. The ambitions of the Sword Sovereign and Diming Sect have been crushed. However, as you all know, the Western Region does not hold a high standing in Zhongzhou. Even when Wan Jian Pavilion was still around, it was insignificant compared to the greater powers of Zhongzhou.
Now, with Wan Jian Pavilion gone, we still have to deal with Diming Sect, and behind them looms the Heavenly Underworld Sect, one of the two great sects. While the Heavenly Underworld Sect is far away in the Central Region and unlikely to interfere in our affairs for now, there's no guarantee they won't one day back Diming Sect and try to reclaim the Western Region.
As people of the Western Region, I'm sure none of you would want to see that happen," Mo Yu said, his eyes scanning the room.
The others nodded, their expressions serious. They knew that the only faction capable of dealing with such complex challenges was Yuanfu, with its newfound power and prestige after defeating the Western Alliance.
"I'm sure many of you have already heard some of my plans. A strong regional force would naturally elevate the standing of the region itself. Now that the Western Alliance is disbanded, it's time for me to build something even more powerful—a force greater than the Western Alliance ever was!" Mo Yu's gaze sharpened as he continued, "The reason I've gathered you all here today is that I hope you will join me in this new alliance. By doing so, your status and the benefits you gain will far surpass what you currently have!"
When Mo Yu finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment. It was Ma Chen who finally broke the silence with a light cough.
"Mo Yu, are you suggesting that we merge our factions into Yuanfu? That might be difficult. Our clans and factions have been around for hundreds of years, and we've always valued our independence. It wouldn't be easy to just integrate them into Yuanfu."
Hearing Ma Chen's concerns, several of the other clan leaders nodded in agreement, excluding Elder Bing and Iron Sword Sovereign. While they acknowledged Mo Yu's grand vision, it sounded like he was asking them to give up their autonomy, which didn't seem all that different from what the Western Alliance had tried to impose on them.
Mo Yu smiled gently, shaking his head. "You misunderstand. I'm not forcing anyone to join Yuanfu. Just like when we fought the Western Alliance together, I'm inviting you to join a greater Yuanfu Alliance. This alliance will protect its members, and we will rise and fall together. To put it bluntly, some of your clans are led by Dou Zong (Battle Sect) experts at best, and while that strength isn't insignificant, it wasn't much help in the recent battles.
Even if your factions have Dou Zun (Battle Sovereign) protectors, you would still struggle to fend off retaliation from forces like Diming Sect or even the Heavenly Underworld Sect. But if you join the Yuanfu Alliance, you'll have a strong foundation to rely on. Even when facing a powerful enemy, you won't be in constant danger of being wiped out.
My proposal isn't just about benefiting Yuanfu—you, too, will gain things you never could have before," Mo Yu said, his tone calm yet persuasive.
Hearing this, the room relaxed slightly, and several people nodded in agreement. If the alliance really operated as Mo Yu described, joining it might not be such a bad idea after all.
Seeing their reactions, Mo Yu smiled and continued, "Once the alliance is formed, we'll establish a special training hall dedicated to nurturing the alliance's future talents. This institution will become the backbone of the alliance, providing a steady stream of new warriors. As members of the alliance, you'll be able to send your most talented young people to receive top-tier training—training that far surpasses anything your clans can offer. Their future potential will exceed your expectations."
At this, Dongfang Hong, Ma Chen, and the others showed signs of interest. This benefit seemed far more tempting than anything else they had heard so far.
One of the Eight-Star Dou Zong experts present, the head of the Lin family, smiled and asked, "If we join the alliance, what will we have to give in return?"
Mo Yu had anticipated this question and replied calmly, "Those who join the alliance must no longer operate as independent clans. Instead, you must consider the alliance as your family and prioritize its interests above all else."
Mo Yu's words were simple, but the commitment they demanded was immense.
Hearing this, Dongfang Hong and the others hesitated. They understood that joining the alliance would mean giving up their clans' independence and fully dedicating themselves to the alliance.
Mo Yu, however, remained impassive, offering no further explanation. He had no intention of offering the kind of generous concessions that Xiao Yan had made when founding the Yan Alliance, where old clans in the Jia Ma Empire retained significant autonomy. Mo Yu had created Yuanfu, and he held all the power. While these factions would benefit from joining Yuanfu, they would never have a say in its leadership.
If any of these factions refused to join, Mo Yu wouldn't be bothered. In his eyes, they were simply short-sighted.
Seeing Mo Yu's indifferent attitude, several faction leaders silently decided against joining and soon asked to leave.
Mo Yu didn't try to stop them. He casually waved his hand, allowing them to depart.
As the first group left, others followed, until only a few factions remained in the hall.
"Haha, I think Mo Yu's proposal is a good one. From now on, the Golden Warhorse Tribe will join the Yuanfu Alliance and fight for its cause!" Ma Chen said with a hearty laugh.
Those who remained were startled. The Golden Warhorse Tribe was one of the most powerful factions in the Western Region, second only to the likes of Wan Jian Pavilion and Diming Sect. To see them join Yuanfu so quickly was surprising.
Before the others could react, Iron Sword Sovereign opened his eyes and spoke calmly, "I've grown tired of wandering aimlessly for years. I'd like to settle down somewhere. Would Yuanfu be willing to take me in?"
Mo Yu smiled warmly. "If Clan Chief Ma and Iron Sword Sovereign are willing to join the Yuanfu Alliance, you are more than welcome. From now on, both of you will be esteemed members of Yuanfu, with high status and no obligations except to me."
"Thank you, Lord Mo Yu," Iron Sword Sovereign and Ma Chen replied, recognizing that Mo Yu was honoring their past relationship by offering them prestigious roles within Yuanfu.
With Ma Chen and Iron Sword Sovereign pledging their loyalty, the remaining factions in the hall began to reconsider. They realized that Yuanfu no longer needed them as much as they needed Yuanfu.
In terms of strength, Yuanfu had grown to rival the former Western Alliance, with nearly ten Dou Zun-level experts among its ranks. Joining Yuanfu might mean losing some autonomy, but it also promised great advantages.
With a resigned sigh, Dongfang Hong stood and said, "Since Clan Chief Ma has already agreed, the Dongfang family will also join the alliance. I only hope that Lord Mo Yu will treat us well."
"Once you join the alliance, we will all be one family. Anyone who dares to harm the Dongfang family will have to answer to me," Mo Yu replied firmly.
Seeing this, the remaining Dou Zong-level factions exchanged glances before standing and bowing respectfully to Mo Yu.
"We are willing to join the Yuanfu Alliance!"
"Haha, welcome, everyone," Mo Yu said, raising his hand in a gesture of acceptance, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.
While Yuanfu was already powerful on its own, these factions would solve one of its biggest problems: a shortage of manpower. With more people under its command, Yuanfu would be able to take full advantage of the vacuum left by the Western Alliance's collapse and claim its vast resources.
Turning away from Dongfang Hong and the others, Mo Yu's gaze settled on Elder Bing, who had remained silent throughout the discussion. Mo Yu smiled and asked, "Elder Bing, what are your thoughts?"
Hearing this, Elder Bing sighed bitterly, realizing that he could no longer avoid the inevitable.
"Mo Yu, the Artifact Alliance is different from a family or clan. Most of its members are independent artisans. The alliance can't dictate their choices, so..." Elder Bing began.
Mo Yu's silver eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Elder Bing. While he knew the elder's words were true, he wasn't about to give up on acquiring the Artifact Alliance. The alliance, with its wealth of skilled artisans, was what Mo Yu coveted the most. With them, Yuanfu's power would grow exponentially.
Artisans, after all, were one of the most valuable resources on the Dou Qi Continent.
Letting the Artifact Alliance slip through his fingers was not an option.
Under Mo Yu's intense gaze, Elder Bing felt a surge of helplessness. Even before the Western Alliance's attack, the Artifact Alliance had been on the verge of dissolution. Two of its five leaders had defected, and the remaining members had mostly fled, leaving Elder Bing with only a handful of loyal followers.
Though he was one of the most respected craftsmen in Zhongzhou, known even beyond the Western Region, Elder Bing couldn't deny that the Artifact Alliance was crumbling.
The atmosphere in the hall grew tense as Mo Yu continued to stare at Elder Bing, waiting for his response. The other attendees remained silent, knowing that the fate of the Artifact Alliance would likely be decided here.
Finally, Mo Yu broke the silence, speaking in a measured tone. "Elder Bing, if the Artifact Alliance joins the Yuanfu Alliance, Yuanfu will fully support all its artisans, providing them with the resources they need to improve their craft. This will greatly benefit their growth."
Elder Bing hesitated, but Mo Yu pressed on.
"And as for the issue of independence, you need not worry. If you agree, most artisans will follow your lead and join the alliance."
Hearing this, Elder Bing was taken aback. He hadn't expected Mo Yu to be so direct in his offer.
After a moment of reflection, Elder Bing sighed again. "This is not a decision I can make alone. I will need to discuss it with the other elders before I can give you an answer."
Mo Yu nodded, understanding the elder's position, but he wasn't about to let the matter rest. He decided to make one final offer.
"Elder Bing, you seem to forget that I am also an Eighth-Tier Artisan. Let me sweeten the deal. If the Artifact Alliance joins Yuanfu, I will provide a large number of Sixth, Seventh, and even... Eighth-Tier crafting blueprints!"
(End of Chapter)
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