The convoy traveled all the way toward the Provincial City where Heshenghe was located. As Shen Qiang gazed out the car window at the snow-covered fields reflecting silver light in the sunlight, he was certain that the super powerful being from Carefree Valley chose to abandon Sha Jianming and leave with another injured powerhouse. The first priority would definitely be treatment, not a direct return to Carefree Valley, and this thought brought an inadvertent smile to his lips.

The poplar branches, stripped of their leaves, flashed flickering shadows across the car window as it sped by.

Shen Qiang understood what Bianyi meant by victory.

Qingyun Sword Pavilion.

This is the greatest reward for victory, as long as there are people, any Magical Treasure is not a problem.

So what is the most difficult problem Heshenghe faces now?

It's not money, nor Magical Treasures, but cultivators.

The core of Heshenghe is those demons and a very small number of cultivators.

And to establish a foothold in the Cultivation World, you must have powerful strength and numerous personnel.

The Great Elder of Qingyun Sword Pavilion and Sha Jianming plotted against Shen Qiang.

Apart from the three Dao Fruit Stage cultivators, no one else escaped.

At the same time, Bianyi led Heshenghe's cultivators and demons to win over their enemies, capturing the bases of Qingyun Sword Pavilion and Carefree Valley.

At first glance.

This already seems like a big victory.

But the real situation is not so.

Because the Dao Fruit Stage powerhouses of Qingyun Sword Pavilion and Carefree Valley are still around.

Bianyi could take away the antiques, treasures, and Magical Treasures, and Immortal Artifacts from their treasury, but couldn't take away the living people.

Moreover, today's sects of cultivators are not like those from a few hundred years ago who gathered together, grew some crops, were self-sufficient without leaving the house, and spent all day cultivating. When a fight occurred, most disciples stayed at home.

Now, they are distributed all over the place, doing business, managing industries, or learning and producing, only returning when something major happens.

Especially Qingyun Sword Pavilion, whose disciples do second-hand car businesses in various locations, while those from Carefree Valley engage in funeral-related businesses scattered across regions.

So under a surprise attack.

Benefits are certainly reaped.

But it is still far from truly wiping them out.

Not to mention, the currently known situation is that Qingyun Sword Pavilion and Carefree Valley each have at least two or more Dao Fruit Stage cultivators.

Don't forget, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

Even if Qingyun Sword Pavilion and Carefree Valley suffered heavy losses, lost treasures, and had their bases captured, the manpower they could raise, even by selling off everything, is absolutely incomparable to a small sect.

If the remaining personnel of a top-tier sect like Qingyun Sword Pavilion joined Heshenghe, then Heshenghe would become extremely powerful.

This is a very bold idea.

It's like swallowing a whale whole.

But, Shen Qiang has two good cards in his hand.

One is Qingyun Sword, and the other is Kang Luoying.

If played well, turning Qingyun Sword Pavilion into a Qingyun branch of Heshenghe is not without hope.

But if he approaches them boldly saying, the Qingyun Sword is in my hands, and the idol-level beauty genius is also with me, just surrender and become a part of Heshenghe.

The outcome is obvious without needing a guess.

Qingyun Sword Pavilion would not only refuse to join Heshenghe but could become even more resentful, potentially taking the lead in retaliating against Shen Qiang.

No need to consider others. Just the two Dao Fruit Stage cultivators, if they kept killing the weak of Heshenghe without end while escaping the strong, it would become incredibly troublesome.

So achieving this without a bit of skill is clearly impossible.

As for Carefree Valley, Bianyi was considering a marriage alliance with Sha Jianming's sister.

If that could truly happen, then Carefree Valley naturally wouldn't be a problem.

The young villa master of Hidden Sword Villa, Zuo Lianghao, now views Bianyi like a brother, so if Bianyi doesn't intend to act recklessly, Hidden Sword Villa won't pose a threat to Heshenghe for the time being.

As for Baihua Palace…

Shen Qiang's smile widened, as the fair and lovely Weisheng Zhimei absolutely would not come to confront Heshenghe.

So now the problem is simple.

Bianyi and Carefree Valley's issues, however he decides, it's up to him.

As long as Shen Qiang can handle Qingyun Sword Pavilion and get them to agree to join Heshenghe, even if just in name, Heshenghe's reputation will dramatically rise.

Soon.

When the convoy returned to the Provincial City Heshenghe Building, it was already evening.

The sky had turned dark.

After hosting a blood-stained banquet at Datong River for the heroic demons,

Shen Qiang directly escorted the beautiful women back to Heshenghe.

Except for the beautiful Heroic Thief Jiang Hanyang who returned to her apartment,

The others stayed.…

Jing Xiangwei, Ke Bizhu, Feifei, Kang Luoying.

Upon reaching the doorstep of Heshenghe Mountain Villa.

Shen Qiang immediately spotted the monks of Doushi Temple sitting cross-legged outside the villa in the snowflake-laden darkness.

From a conscientious perspective, Shen Qiang really wanted to thank them for their help and send them back.

But rationality told Shen Qiang that he couldn't do that.

The reason is simple.

They are here at Bianyi's arrangement.

Now, on the surface, Heshenghe already achieved a significant victory.

Yet if Qingyun Sword Pavilion's people fight back, someone will need to step up and hold them off.

So if it comes to someone having to die in battle,

Shen Qiang would rather the monks of Doushi Temple be the ones to fall in battle than have the demons of Heshenghe lose their lives.

So after a brief hesitation.

Shen Qiang called, arranging for someone to go to the best vegetarian restaurant in the Provincial City to order a nutritionally balanced and delicious vegetarian feast, send someone to pick it up, and deliver it to those monks.

After that, he went home.

Although he was only away for a few days.

It inexplicably gave Shen Qiang a sense of surviving a disaster and a feeling of strange yet familiar happiness.

The ladies were full of energy.

Adding that they were now home,

Shen Qiang handed over many Magical Treasures stolen from the treasure showcase to Beautiful Demon Fox Chu Qing and Ke Bizhu, asking them to find a way to erase the Divine Thought imprints left on those Immortal Artifacts.

It's not that Shen Qiang can't do this task, but right now his cultivation level isn't high enough, making it a tiresome endeavor.

On top of that, his nerves had been on edge these past few days, leaving him exhausted, so Shen Qiang simply returned to his room, leaving behind the Evil Spirit Armor.

Sitting on the living room sofa,

Shen Qiang hesitated briefly before opening the box.

The armor hadn't changed.

But the black mist had formed a humanoid shape.

"I want to make the people from Qingyun Sword Pavilion my subordinates. Previously, I just defeated them, and their sect's precious Qingyun Sword and most brilliant genius disciple are in my hands. Do you have any good ideas?"

The dense black mist forming the Evil Spirit said coldly, "Before I see those two people you're talking about, I won't help you, as you should know."

Shen Qiang laughed, "Yes, I understand, but first you need to prove your worth, showing me that you're worth me saving those two people, who have nothing to do with me."

The Evil Spirit was silent for a moment, then said, "To make them submit to you, the best way is to make them face a crisis, so they'll be willing to serve you upon encountering an overwhelming disaster."

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