Chapter 490: Chapter 488: Eight Banner Thunder Army Assessment
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long as Bing Lao agrees to join the Yuan Manor, I, Mo Yu, promise this: within ten years, the Weapon Alliance will have ten seventh-grade weapon refiner. Moreover, during that time, you, Bing Lao, will step into the ranks of eighth-grade weapon refiner."
As Mo Yu finished speaking, his words landed like a heavy bombshell, eliciting gasps of shock from everyone in the hall. Even Ma Chen looked at Mo Yu with astonishment.
Everyone present understood the difficulty of advancing in the art of weapon refinement.
The Western Alliance’s dominance stemmed not only from Jian Zun Zhe, master of the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion, and Mo Yi, leader of the Di Ming Sect, but also from the shadowy yet pivotal influence of Master Zhu Jian, an eighth-grade weapon refiner.
Without this Zhu Jian, the Western Alliance’s power would be halved.
Thus, when Mo Yu claimed he could elevate the Weapon Alliance to ten seventh-grade and one eighth-grade weapon refiner within ten years, it sounded almost ludicrous.
The difficulty of such an endeavor was well understood by Ma Chen and others. Bing Lao, in particular, was utterly stunned. He took a long moment to process the promise before looking at Mo Yu with excitement.
"Mo Yu, are your words true?"
"Ha, as the champion of the Refining Convention and an eighth-grade weapon refiner, do you think I would spout nonsense? Furthermore, I understand the plight of weapon refiners on this continent. Compared to alchemists, they lack heritage and foundational knowledge. However, in my youth, I stumbled upon an ancient ruin and obtained numerous high-grade weapon blueprints."
"It was these blueprints that allowed me to become an eighth-grade weapon refiner in just over a decade. If the Weapon Alliance joins the Yuan Alliance, I am willing to make these blueprints available. Anyone with sufficient merit can exchange them for the corresponding blueprints!" Mo Yu declared boldly.
The hall fell silent, and the collective gaze of the attendees sharpened. Bing Lao’s astonishment deepened; he had long assumed Mo Yu was taught by a reclusive master of refining.
Now, hearing about the ancient ruin and its trove of refining knowledge, Bing Lao couldn’t help but marvel.
"No wonder he became an eighth-grade weapon refiner at such a young age. The heavens truly favor him..."
As his initial shock subsided, Bing Lao’s eyes lit up with hope. His lifelong ambition was to advance as a weapon refiner and elevate the status of their profession to rival that of alchemists.
Due to his age and limited talent, Bing Lao had long despaired of making further progress. If Mo Yu could genuinely fulfill his promise and help him ascend to eighth-grade weapon refiner, then merging the Weapon Alliance into the Yuan Manor would be an acceptable price.
After careful deliberation, Bing Lao exhaled deeply and fixed his gaze on Mo Yu. "If you can truly provide a substantial number of seventh- and eighth-grade weapon blueprints and ensure that the Weapon Alliance cultivates ten seventh-grade weapon refiners within ten years, I will agree to merge the Weapon Alliance into the Yuan Manor."
Hearing this, Mo Yu smiled confidently. In his past life, he stood at the pinnacle of weapon refinement, possessing countless blueprints. With these, he was confident in nurturing outstanding refiners within a few years.
As for Bing Lao, with the resources and guidance Mo Yu could provide, elevating him to eighth-grade weapon refiner was achievable.
"Congratulations, Lord Mo! With the Weapon Alliance as part of the Yuan Alliance, its future potential is boundless."
The crowd congratulated Mo Yu, fully understanding the implications of absorbing the Weapon Alliance. With steady development, the Yuan Alliance might not surpass the Pill Tower or Hall of Souls, but it could rival the likes of the two great sects and three grand valleys.
Mo Yu smiled faintly and glanced at the envious faces of Ma Chen and the others. He added, "If your families work diligently for the Yuan Alliance, I can promise that within a few years, your clans will gain at least one Dou Zun-level expert.
"And that, I believe, is even easier than cultivating ten seventh-grade weapon refiners."
Ma Chen and Dongfang Hong were initially stunned, but their faces soon lit up with joy. They quickly stood and expressed their gratitude.
A Dou Zun expert represented the pinnacle of power on the continent. Even families that already had one would welcome another with open arms. For those without, Mo Yu’s promise was a dream come true.
This assurance made them feel that joining the Yuan Alliance was the right decision.
As everything proceeded as planned, Xiao Li’s stern expression softened into a smile. With a gesture, a maidservant quickly distributed wine to everyone.
"Today marks the founding of the Yuan Alliance—a momentous occasion. Let us all drink to its success!" Mo Yu raised his cup with a smile.
"Haha, cheers!"
Laughter and toasts echoed in the hall. The Yuan Alliance, destined to become the largest force in the Western Region, was quietly taking shape.
Soon, this alliance would replace the Western Alliance in people’s hearts.
Whether it would surpass its predecessor remained to be seen and depended on the capabilities of its leader.
As the discussions concluded and guests departed, the tense atmosphere in the hall gradually relaxed.
Seeing the last guest out, Mo Yu sighed. "Finally done. With these local forces joining, the Yuan Manor will truly take root in the Western Region."
"With your current strength, couldn’t you have forced them to join? Why go through all this trouble?" asked Xiao Yixian softly, though her gaze carried a trace of tenderness.
Behind Mo Yu, Qing Lin, once a fierce battlefield warrior, now seemed more like a maid as she gently massaged his temples.
"Ha, they are our allies against the Western Alliance, some even old friends. Using force would harm the Yuan Manor’s reputation.
"Instead, by establishing the Yuan Alliance, we turn these forces into our own while securing the majority of the Western Region’s resources." Mo Yu explained with a faint smile.
Those present, all confidants of Mo Yu, nodded in agreement.
Even they found this transformation astonishing. Who would have thought that the Yuan Manor, once reigning over the Black-Corner Region, could rise to become a dominant force in the Central Plains’ Western Region?
"Lord Mo, are we offering them too much? A Dou Zun isn’t easy to cultivate. What if they choose to leave later? Wouldn’t it be a loss?" Xiao Li asked with a frown.
"Don’t worry. The Western Region is vast and resource-rich. Absorbing the Western Alliance’s assets will make cultivating Dou Zuns manageable.
"For now, the goal is to stabilize them. Over time, their loyalty will shift from their clans to the alliance.
"Besides, all major resources will prioritize you, my core members. The Yuan Alliance is just a framework; ultimate control will remain in my hands." Mo Yu’s confident smile reassured everyone.
Upon hearing Mo Yu’s assurance, everyone present heaved a sigh of relief. They had been genuinely worried that their positions in Yuan Manor might be threatened by the rising local forces of the Western Region.
After all, while Yuan Manor dominated the Black-Corner Region, its foundation in the Western Region was still weak. With so many family factions joining the Yuan Alliance, the older members were genuinely concerned about being pushed aside.
Mo Yu’s promise brought smiles to their faces.
"By the way, Manor Lord," Gu He suddenly stood up and cupped his hands toward Mo Yu, "now that the Weapon Alliance is about to join the Yuan Alliance, the Hundred Weapons Hall will undoubtedly experience significant expansion. However, Manor Lord must not favor one over the other and neglect my Thousand Medicines Hall.
If Yuan Manor wishes to grow, Hundred Weapons Hall alone will not suffice. Thousand Medicines Hall must also keep pace."
Since receiving Mo Yu’s soul cultivation technique, Gu He had made remarkable progress over the years, successfully advancing to the rank of a seventh-grade alchemist.
This development was a crucial reason for the rapid rise in Yuan Manor’s top-level combat strength. A seventh-grade alchemist, even among the ranks of the Three Valleys and Four Pavilions, would be considered a revered guest.
Mo Yu stroked his chin thoughtfully and asked softly, "What do you propose, Hall Master Gu He?"
"Manor Lord," Gu He replied respectfully, "I have two suggestions for quickly strengthening the Thousand Medicines Hall. First, you could issue an order for families that have joined the Yuan Alliance or become Yuan Manor’s vassals to each contribute a certain number of alchemists to the Thousand Medicines Hall.
Second, we could use the soul cultivation technique bestowed by you to attract talented alchemists from the Central Plains. By combining these efforts, it shouldn’t be difficult to expand the Hall two- or threefold. What does Manor Lord think?"
"Approved!"
Mo Yu smiled faintly. Gu He’s suggestions were indeed practical, so after only a moment’s thought, he agreed.
"Thank you, Manor Lord," Gu He replied with a smile. Since leaving the Jia Ma Empire, he had realized just how vast the world truly was. The matter with Yun Yun had been buried deep in his heart.
Now, his greatest aspiration was to expand the Thousand Medicines Hall and leave an indelible mark in the world of alchemists.
Mo Yu chuckled, stretched lazily, and said, "Now that the Yuan Alliance has been successfully established, the subsequent tasks will be entrusted to Zi Huo and Cousin Xiao Li."
"Yes, Manor Lord," Zi Huo and Xiao Li nodded in response.
The establishment of the Yuan Alliance caused an immediate sensation in the Western Region. Many were astonished by this new powerhouse composed of so many strong factions.
A force boasting over a dozen Dou Zun-level experts was almost comparable to the former Western Alliance. No one had anticipated that Mo Yu would quietly and efficiently accomplish what even the Western Alliance had failed to achieve.
Many began to speculate that the future of the Western Region in the Central Plains might belong to Yuan Manor. The Western Alliance was now truly replaced and gradually fading into history.
While the outside world buzzed with discussions about the Yuan Alliance, Mo Yu ignored the commotion, spending his days leisurely with Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin.
As for his family members like Xiao Yu, Mo Yu planned to bring them to him once the affairs of the Western Region were settled.
"You’re returning to the Lei Clan?"
One day, Mo Yu raised an eyebrow as he looked at the Black Thunder Banner squad before him.
"Yes, Captain. It has been a year since we left the Lei Clan, and the assessment for Black Thunder Banner members is approaching. We need to report back," Mang Dian replied respectfully to Mo Yu.
Who would have thought that the captain they were assigned to protect a year ago would now be capable of slaying a three-star Dou Zun? Such an achievement left them, members of the Lei Clan, deeply impressed and even more reverent.
"In that case, you may return," Mo Yu said with a smile. "Your contributions have not been forgotten."
After escorting Yuan Manor back to the Central Plains, Mang Dian and his squad had indeed performed significant service. Mo Yu was not one to overlook such loyalty.
Mang Dian and the others beamed at his words. Their year of hardship and dedication had been to win the favor of this prospective son-in-law of the Lei Clan’s patriarch.
"To serve Captain is our honor," the Black Thunder Banner squad declared their loyalty. Mang Dian then seemed to recall something and added, "By the way, Captain, the Eight Banners Thunder Army’s assessment for captains is also approaching. As a captain, you’ll need to participate. Your opponents will be the captains of the other seven banners.
According to the rules, the last-ranked captain will be removed from their position, and a replacement will be chosen.
As for the first-ranked captain, they will receive personal commendation from the patriarch, and their banner will also receive substantial rewards."
"Oh, a captain’s assessment?" Mo Yu raised an eyebrow and asked, "When is it?"
"In two years. We hope the Captain will make it a priority to participate. Otherwise, even if the patriarch secures your position, dissent may arise," Mang Dian explained.
"Two years..." Mo Yu nodded. "Don’t worry. I’ll be there."
Mang Dian and his squad were delighted. The Black Thunder Banner had been at the bottom of the Eight Banners Thunder Army for some time. With Mo Yu’s participation, there was hope for a turnaround.
Of course, they didn’t expect him to take first place. After all, the other banner captains were considered monstrous in the outside world, far surpassing the leaders of factions like the Three Valleys and Four Pavilions.
After personally seeing off Mang Dian and his squad, Mo Yu gazed into the distant sky and murmured, "In that case, two years from now, I’ll pay a visit to the Lei Clan..."
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