Ao Yuan, who flew out of the water pillar and landed beside Elder Long, blinked at Han Yibang who suddenly knelt down. He was confused and didn't understand why Han Yibang was doing this.
Although he had had grievances with Bangzi Country, Ao Yuan always repaid kindness with kindness and vengeance with vengeance.
As of now, his relationship with Bangzi Country was not particularly good, but it wasn't so bad that the leader of a country would kneel down and beg for mercy upon seeing him.
While Ao Yuan was confused, Han Yibang, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly shouted again: "The leader of Bangzi Country, a vassal state of Great Xia, pays his respects to Your Excellency, the Guardian Divine Beast of Great Xia!"
Ao Yuan was stunned, even more incredulous.
He looked at Elder Long beside him, lost in thought.
It seemed that after he returned from Bangzi Country, some incredible changes had occurred between Bangzi Country and Great Xia.
"He has already submitted to our Great Xia," Elder Long cleared his throat and looked intently at Ao Yuan.
"Because of me?"
Ao Yuan paused, even more incredulous.
"Yes!" Elder Long shook his head and smiled. "After you helped Bangzi Country, Han Yibang rushed to Great Xia immediately, wanting me to bring him to apologize to you."
Upon hearing this, Ao Yuan smiled and waved his claws, "If that's the case, then you can get up."
"As long as you promise to do as I say, I will forgive you."
Ao Yuan was not like ancient emperors who demanded elaborate bows and courtesies.
This was a new era!
"Ao Yuan, there's one more thing."
Elder Long thought for a moment and continued, "It's about the Spirit Gathering Array. After Han Yibang saw the Spirit Gathering Array, he hoped to have one installed in Bangzi Country as well."
Ao Yuan's expression remained unchanged. "Since I have already given the Spirit Gathering Array to your Great Xia, how you handle it is Great Xia's business."
This was not out of generosity, but because he understood that once the Spirit Gathering Array was gifted to Great Xia, it could no longer be kept secret.
Rather than having Han Yibang bother him with every little thing, it was better to let Great Xia decide who to give it to and who not to.
In short.
He believed that Great Xia would not do anything detrimental to him.
"Since there's nothing else, let's end the conversation here for now."
"We'll be in touch in two days!"
Ao Yuan finished speaking and turned to dive back into Tianchi Lake.
He had no time to bother with these matters. The immediate priority was to make preparations for the ancient battlefield.
He currently had no evolution points, so he could use this time to replenish them.
...
Near Tianchi Lake.
"This... Elder Long, His Excellency the Guardian Divine Beast just... just left like that?" Han Yibang, who was still kneeling, looked up slightly, bewildered.
When he first heard Elder Long directly mention the Spirit Gathering Array, he thought Ao Yuan would lecture him.
After all, wanting a Spirit Gathering Array right after joining Great Xia was something unheard of in any country on Blue Star.
But Ao Yuan agreed so easily?
He still felt a sense of unreality.
It was as if he were living in a dream.
"If not, what else would you do?"
Elder Long asked with a smile. "Do you want to stay here for tea?"
Looking at the surrounding demon kings standing silently, Han Yibang shivered and immediately stood up, "Elder Long, in that case, let's leave quickly."
"Alright!"
Elder Long smiled and led Han Yibang back.
Although Han Yibang was now a vassal state of Great Xia, Elder Long treated him more as an ally.
Instead, he viewed Han Yibang and Bangzi Country as in an alliance.
However, Great Xia was the leader of this alliance.
Of course, Great Xia was not comparable to the United States.
Since they had joined Great Xia's alliance and benefited from it, any attempt to leave later would have consequences that Bangzi Country could not bear.
...
Upon returning to the capital of Great Xia, Elder Long hosted Han Yibang generously before sending him off on a special plane.
At their farewell, Elder Long did not hold back and directly handed over the method for the Spirit Gathering Array to Han Yibang.
While Ao Yuan had not issued any warnings, Elder Long had given him a stern one.
Han Yibang readily agreed, promising that the Spirit Gathering Array would not be leaked.
Swish!
As the special plane took off.
Han Yibang couldn't help but touch the plan for the Spirit Gathering Array in his pocket, still feeling as if he were dreaming.
This trip to Great Xia had been too smooth.
"Mr. Han, how was your trip to Great Xia this time?" The man in a suit looked at Han Yibang, who was lost in thought, and couldn't help but ask.
"If the Guardian Divine Beast of Great Xia hadn't accepted us..."
Before he could finish, Han Yibang smiled and said, "It was quite good."
"Much smoother than I imagined."
He paused for a moment, then his tone became more serious. "You should notify them now."
"Tell them that upon my return to Bangzi Country, I will hold a press conference."
"The content of the press conference will be that Bangzi Country has officially become a vassal state of Great Xia!"
The man in the suit was stunned and looked at Han Yibang in disbelief.
Wasn't he here to apologize this time?
How did he end up submitting to Great Xia and becoming a vassal state out of nowhere?
This... this... the news was too sudden!
"Mr. Han, aren't we being a bit too hasty?" The man in the suit pondered for a moment, trying to persuade him.
"Yes, you are absolutely right, it is too hasty!" Han Yibang agreed wholeheartedly.
"Hoo..."
The man in the suit breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
But before he could fully relax, he heard Han Yibang say with extreme seriousness, "Since we are to submit to Great Xia, we must show our sincerity!"
"Announce that from now on, everything in Bangzi Country will align with Great Xia; Great Xia's policies will be our policies."
"Great Xia's festivals will also be our festivals."
"And in the future, if people from Great Xia come to Bangzi Country, all their expenses will be covered by Bangzi Country!"
...
Han Yibang rattled off a string of demands.
The man in the suit stared at Han Yibang, dumbfounded.
What did he mean?
He was trying to persuade him not to make such a hasty decision.
What was going on with him?
And after his long speech, Han Yibang frowned at the man in the suit and said, "Are you listening to me?"
"Record all of this. I will explain it in detail at the press conference when I get off the plane."
"I..." The man in the suit was about to speak.
Han Yibang seemed to have thought of something, smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes, and took out his phone. "No, since we have already submitted to Great Xia."
"We must let all the countries on Blue Star know immediately."
"Come, help me hold my phone. I'm going to record a video right now to inform everyone on Blue Star!"
"???"
Looking at Han Yibang's eagerness, the man in the suit was completely bewildered.
What on earth was Han Yibang trying to do?
If he didn't know for sure that this person was Han Yibang, he would have suspected he was an imposter.
...