Chapter 121: After the Battle

Dawn had broken.

The battlefield outside the city was a complete mess.

The ground was covered in deep pits and cracks, the remnants of last night's fierce battle.

The corpses of the male cultivators from Yuxu Palace had been cleared away, leaving behind only pools of dark red blood.

Su Yun stood on the city wall, looking down at the newly recruited female cultivators below.

Twenty-three Golden Core cultivators, all elites brought by Supreme Elder Zhou Yuansheng.

At this moment, they stood below the city wall, heads bowed, their bodies trembling slightly.

Zhou Yuanshuang walked to his side.

"Master, everything has been arranged. They are temporarily staying in the camp outside the city, awaiting your disposal."

Su Yun nodded.

He walked down from the city wall and approached the female cultivators.

His gaze swept over them; there were twenty-three of them, all young and quite attractive.

Most were at the Mid Golden Core Stage, with a few at the Golden Core Late Stage.

He walked up to the first one.

It was a woman at the Golden Core Late Stage, looking to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, with a cold expression and a hint of stubbornness in her eyes.

Su Yun raised his hand and tapped her forehead with a finger.

A golden light flashed.

[Enslavement successful] [New slave acquired: Zhou Ruoxi. Loyalty: 52] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a portion of spirit power feedback from Enslavement. Cultivation base stabilized.]

Zhou Ruoxi's body stiffened, and the stubbornness in her eyes gradually turned into submission.

She lowered her head. "Master."

Su Yun walked to the second. Then the third. Then the fourth.

He went through the twenty-three female cultivators one by one.

Golden light flashed repeatedly.

Within his Dantian, the feedback of spirit power flowed in like a trickling stream.

Although each one was not much, the twenty-plus streams combined into a considerable amount.

Coupled with the spirit power feedback from the cultivation of the slaves after killing Supreme Elder Zhou Yuansheng last night, his cultivation base had advanced significantly.

His Peak Golden Core Stage was now completely stabilized.

He was only one step away from the Nascent Soul.

He opened his eyes and looked at Zhou Ruoxi.

"What was your status in Yuxu Palace?"

Zhou Ruoxi lowered her head and replied, "Reporting to Master, this subordinate was Supreme Elder Zhou Yuansheng's closed-door Disciple, and I have followed him to Cultivate for thirty years."

Su Yun raised an eyebrow. "Supreme Elder Zhou Yuansheng's Disciple? Then what did he teach you?"

Zhou Ruoxi said, "This subordinate Cultivates the Xuanbing Art, the direct lineage technique of Yuxu Palace, but Master said my Aptitude was limited, and I have never been able to achieve a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul."

Su Yun nodded. "From today on, you will follow Zhou Yuanshuang."

Zhou Ruoxi agreed.

Su Yun turned around and walked back into the city.

In the courtyard, Zhou Ruoyun was already awake. The little girl was wearing a pink ru skirt, her hair a bit messy, standing at the door waiting for him.

Seeing him return, she trotted over.

"Brother Su, you didn't sleep last night."

Su Yun reached out and ruffled her hair. "I couldn't sleep."

Zhou Ruoyun tilted her little face up. "Then will you sleep for a while now? Ruoyun will keep watch for Brother Su."

Su Yun smiled. "No need. Keep me company while I eat something."

The two sat down by the stone table.

Shen Ying brought over porridge and side dishes, then silently retreated to the side.

Su Yun picked up the bowl and drank slowly.

Zhou Ruoyun sat opposite him, eating in small bites, looking up at him from time to time.

After finishing breakfast, Su Yun called Zhou Yuanshuang and Zhou Yuanmin over.

"What moves will Yuxu Palace make next?"

Zhou Yuanshuang thought for a moment.

"Supreme Elder Zhou Yuansheng is dead, and Yuxu Palace's Origin Qi has been greatly damaged. They shouldn't send anyone else in the short term, but the Immortal Alliance will definitely learn of the news."

Su Yun looked at her. "What will the Immortal Alliance do?"

Zhou Yuanshuang said, "The Immortal Alliance is jointly established by the Seven Great Immortal Sects, and Yuxu Palace is just one of them. The death of Supreme Elder Zhou Yuansheng will alert the other Immortal Sects. They might unite and send stronger people."

Su Yun smiled. "Stronger? If Late Nascent Soul Stage isn't enough, then Soul Transformation Stage?"

Zhou Yuanshuang's expression changed. "Master, the old monsters at the Soul Transformation Stage won't easily make a move. But if you cause too much trouble, they really might come out."

Su Yun nodded. "I understand."

He stood up and walked to the center of the courtyard. Sunlight spilled down, shining upon him.

"Have Fairy Ziyun and the others come over. It's time to discuss what to do next."

Half an hour later.

Fairy Ziyun, Fairy Shuiyun, Lie Yunyan, Zhou Yuanshuang, Zhou Yuanmin, Hu Meiniang, Zhou Ruoxi, and others gathered in the courtyard.

Adding the other few Golden Core Late Stage cultivators, there were over twenty people standing crowded together.

Su Yun sat by the stone table, his gaze sweeping over them.

"Yuxu Palace won't come for now, but the Immortal Alliance will act sooner or later. Next, we need to do two things."

The women listened attentively.

Su Yun continued, "First, expand our territory. Qinghe City is too small to support so many people. Three hundred miles to the north is Luoyun City, three times larger than Qinghe City. The forces there are affiliated with Yuxu Palace, and it is the perfect time to take it over."

"Second, improve our strength. You are all at the Nascent Soul or Golden Core stages, but it's not enough. I want you to achieve a Breakthrough as soon as possible; achieve as many as you can."

He looked at Fairy Ziyun. "You are proficient in Alchemy; list the Materials you need. Have people go to the major markets to collect them."

Fairy Ziyun nodded.

Su Yun looked at Lie Yunyan. "The fire-type Cultivation Technique you practice can help others temper their Meridians. I leave this task to you."

Lie Yunyan agreed.

Su Yun looked at Zhou Yuanshuang and Zhou Yuanmin. "Take people to Luoyun City and incorporate the forces there. Keep the female cultivators and deal with the male cultivators."

Both nodded simultaneously.

Su Yun stood up. "Go and prepare. We will make our move in three days."

The women dispersed. Only Su Yun and Zhou Ruoyun remained in the courtyard.

The little girl walked to his side and took his hand. "Brother Su, is there anything Ruoyun can do?"

Su Yun looked down at her. "Just focus on your Cultivate. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, I will teach you other things."

Zhou Ruoyun nodded vigorously.

Three days later, Zhou Yuanshuang and Zhou Yuanmin set off for Luoyun City with over a hundred Golden Core female cultivators.

Su Yun did not go. He remained in Qinghe City, waiting for their news.

Two days later, news was sent back. Luoyun City had been taken.

There were three factions in the city; the strongest one was affiliated with Yuxu Palace, and its Sect Master was at the Early Nascent Soul Stage, who was killed by Zhou Yuanshuang herself.

The remaining two factions saw that the situation was bad and surrendered directly. All female cultivators were kept, and not a single male cultivator survived.

Su Yun received the news and nodded with satisfaction.

Five days passed again. Zhou Yuanshuang returned with the team. Following behind her were over two hundred newly recruited female cultivators, ranging from the Early Nascent Soul Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Su Yun stood on the city wall, watching the new faces. Within his Dantian, new feedback spirit power was surging in.

Although weak, it accumulated over time.

He gazed into the distance. That was the direction of the Immortal Alliance.

It would be soon. Once he achieved a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul, it would be his turn to take the initiative and go find them.