In this great battle, casualties among the Mountain Folk exceeded two million. The vast majority were ordinary Mountain Folk, followed by newly initiated Dao Foundation cultivators. Casualties among Dao Foundation perfection and dharma idol cultivators were far fewer, and a single Scenery Command fell.
Of Qingming's five hundred thousand elite troops, one hundred and fifty thousand were casualties, along with nearly a thousand template Dao Foundation cultivators. Adding the losses on the eastern front, Qingming's cumulative casualties across the campaign approached four hundred thousand, which had been traded for three million enemy casualties and 1.6 million Dao soldiers.
Yet ever since Qingming's production capacity had ramped up—particularly after the explosion in gunpowder output—it had been a very long time since they had suffered such staggering losses.
With the State of Ji withdrawing its army, Wei Yuan immediately redeployed his elite forces back north. This time he left no gap, firmly sealing off the Mountain Folk's path eastward and southward.
Soon after, Wei Yuan began constructing a new Spirit-Refining Pool, preparing to refine the immense number of Mountain Folk corpses into pure spiritual qi to return to heaven and earth, thereby enriching the land of Ji.
Not long after the fighting ended, a diplomatic delegation from the State of Ji arrived at Guantun County seeking peace talks. This mission was immense in scale, led personally by none other than Great General Xiao Jingyuan—an envoy of the highest rank, signaling utmost sincerity. The entire delegation numbered several hundred, escorted by three thousand elite cavalry.
When the mission reached the lonely old gatehouse of Guantun County, a vanguard rider galloped forward, halted before the central carriage, and reported, "Reporting to the Great General! Military Commissioner of Qingyang Wei Yuan has personally exited the town to welcome you and is currently waiting outside the gates!"
"What?!" Xiao Jingyuan's eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them. He murmured slowly, "It seems Wei Yuan fears my political demise won't be thorough enough!"
Inside the carriage were also Xiao Jingyuan's son and adoptive son. Both spoke in unison, "Let us go meet this Wei Yuan!"
Xiao Jingyuan sighed. "Wei Yuan is personally waiting to welcome us. How could the two of you handle such a gambit? Since he has taken the field in person, these old bones of mine have no choice but to accompany him."
Xiao Jingyuan stepped out of the carriage. Foregoing his mount, he led his generals in flight straight to the front of the column, where he indeed saw Wei Yuan waiting beneath the town walls!
Xiao Jingyuan touched down before Wei Yuan, studied him closely, and sighed. "Commissioner Wei, your heroic bearing and brilliant talent are rarely seen in this world. This Xiao accepts his defeat wholeheartedly."
Wei Yuan offered a faint smile. "This Wei merely wishes to accomplish something for the world, something for the common people. Old General Xiao flatters me excessively."
Behind Xiao Jingyuan, his two sons cursed silently, thinking Wei Yuan was merely chasing vain glory and speaking high-minded platitudes. Who couldn't mouth such pretty words?
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wei Yuan warmly took Xiao Jingyuan by the hand. In full view of the thousands in the delegation, he walked him through the city gates and personally guided the old general aloft to his lodgings in the new city.
The new city of Guantun had already undergone renovation and clearing, though faint traces of war could still be seen in a few corners. Many buildings had been hastily repaired and restored.
The delegation was housed across three multistory buildings serving as guesthouses, while Xiao Jingyuan was placed alone in a standalone villa. Wei Yuan personally escorted him around the rooms, explaining the use of each fixture and amenity with great care.
The interior layout of this small building closely resembled the style of the world Beyond Heaven, decorated much like the apartments the Umbrella Corporation provided for its researchers. Unfortunately, Wei Yuan had only been an unconfirmed intern researcher back then, never having seen the truly luxurious estates of senior personnel.
Xiao Jingyuan was somewhat astonished by the furnishings. Hot and cold water on demand, running clear water at the turn of a handle—these were amenities any late Dao Foundation cultivator's manor could have. Yet in a cultivator's estate, they relied on Daoist techniques. Here, they were structural fixtures operating without a trace of Daoist magic or power. That meant even ordinary wealthy households could install and enjoy them.
Xiao Jingyuan was merely surprised and did not ponder it too deeply. Judged by the standards of a Scenery Command cultivator, the villa had no spirit arrays, no immortal springs, no auspicious birds or rare beasts, and no spiritual fruit laid out for the taking; it was truly austere. But he had come to negotiate peace; as the defeated party, suffering a little humiliation was only to be expected.
Thus, Xiao Jingyuan had arrived fully prepared to swallow any insult. In truth, this lodging was quite comfortable; lacking fancy ornamentations was of no consequence.
Yet among the delegation housed in the Beyond Heaven-style inns, reactions were polarized. Wei Yuan had paid no heed to who held what rank; he simply stuffed four people to a room, every room completely identical down to the last detail.
The delegation had to reshuffle the arrangements internally, setting aside private suites for Xiao Jingyuan's son and adoptive son, while several generals also took single rooms. These generals were naturally full of complaints, sneering that this place was utterly destitute, without even a decent place to stay.
Having played his part to the full, Wei Yuan took his leave. The negotiations would officially begin the following morning, and Wei Yuan naturally had no intention of participating in person.
Early the next morning, the negotiations commenced.
The venue was set in a council chamber within a nearby administrative building. Each side fielded nine representatives seated at the table, with dozens of aides and staff seated behind them.
To demonstrate sincerity, Xiao Jingyuan, as chief representative of the defeated party, attended in person and sat directly in the center of their side. Only after they were seated did the Qingming delegation enter.
The generals of Ji had braced themselves for Wei Yuan sending some low-ranking cultivator to handle the talks. When the Qingming delegation filed in, the person taking the center seat was indeed a young cultivator who appeared not even twenty years old.
Yet he looked extraordinarily beautiful; even dressed in men's clothing, he still set the hearts of many Ji generals racing. When the Qingming representatives sat down, this young cultivator took the seat dead center, facing Xiao Jingyuan directly.
Xiao Jingyuan's adoptive son immediately scowled with anger, but as if sensing it, the young cultivator cast a seemingly casual glance in his direction. The moment their eyes met, Xiao Jingyuan's adoptive son felt a searing, piercing ache in both eyes. His vision blurred in an instant, and in a daze, he seemed to see a blazing sun rising before him!
Xiao Jingyuan turned and glared at his adoptive son. The adoptive son lowered his head at once, all arrogance drained from him. That single exchange of glances had effectively been a clash of divine senses.
This flower-like young cultivator's cultivation barely reached the late dharma idol realm, far below the adoptive son's level. Yet the adoptive son had suffered complete defeat in the clash, demonstrating that the young cultivator's dharma idol tier was exceedingly exalted, vastly outstripping his own. Their future prospects were not even on the same level.
After this minor interlude, once everyone was settled, the young cultivator finally spoke: "I am Xiaoyu of the Xiao family, currently City Lord of Yong'an in Qingming. Commissioned by Realm Lord Wei Yuan, I have full authority to conduct these negotiations."
Hearing the name Xiaoyu, everyone from Ji felt a collective chill, not daring to harbor the slightest trace of contempt.
When Xiaoyu attained a dharma idol, the Xiao family had planned a grand dharma idol ceremony and notified all the great clans, but Xiaoyu had run off to Qingming, leaving the matter unresolved.
Later, at Qingming's World Dharma Idol Meet, Xiaoyu had been ranked among the Twelve Celestial Idols, featured in numerous publications distributed across the realm. Consequently, Xiaoyu was already quite famous, far more renowned than many Scenery Command cultivators.
Unlike other bizarre, unheard-of celestial idols, Xiaoyu's Star Lord Embracing the Sword was an impeccably orthodox celestial idol, offering more than an even chance of ascending to immortality. Moreover, Xiaoyu was currently favored by karmic luck, so the Xiao family naturally valued Xiaoyu immensely.
Purely in terms of status, let alone the generals of Ji, even Xiao Jingyuan himself could not match Xiaoyu's present standing in the cultivation world. Wei Yuan sending Xiaoyu to preside over the talks was truly showing the State of Ji immense face.
Once they realized this, the delegation from Ji felt their momentum deflate across the board.
Xiaoyu continued, "Regarding these negotiations, the Realm Lord's intention is to foster goodwill. We and the State of Ji must continue living side by side as neighbors. Therefore, although your country suffered a crushing defeat, we will not make excessive demands. We have only a few modest requests for your consideration."
At this, the talks entered the substantive phase; Wei Yuan was about to state his terms. Xiao Jingyuan immediately responded, "The King sent us here bearing sincere intentions as well. Please feel free to speak."
Xiaoyu stated calmly, "If names are not correct, language cannot be in accordance with the truth of things; if language is not in accordance with the truth, affairs cannot be successfully carried out. Rectifying names is of paramount importance. Realm Lord Wei was originally Great Tang's Military Commissioner of Qingyang, and was later invested as Military Commissioner of Xianghan, attaining rank two, lower tier in Great Tang. By custom, when an official of Great Tang enters the Nine States, his rank is automatically elevated by one tier. Therefore, Commissioner Wei is equivalent to rank one, lower tier in the State of Ji. Do you gentlemen agree?"
Xiao Jingyuan nodded. "Tang rites are indeed so."
Xiaoyu continued, "Commissioner Wei has toiled through great hardships and performed meritorious deeds, rescuing the people from dire straits. It is only fitting that he receive an appropriate enfeoffment. Thus, we request that the King of Ji confer upon Wei Yuan the title Duke of Rong and appoint him Military Commissioner of Xianghan, with a fiefdom consisting of the two commanderies of Xianghan, plus Fengyuan Commandery."
The faces of the Ji delegation drained of color in an instant, and even Xiao Jingyuan was visibly shaken. This clause was tantamount to outright ceding three entire commanderies! Setting aside whether the King of Ji would ever agree, Xiao Jingyuan knew enough insider details to understand that these three commanderies were specifically earmarked by the Sovereign behind the scenes. How could they possibly hand them over?
This very first condition was completely impossible to grant.
Yet Xiao Jingyuan was an old fox. Keeping his expression composed, he said, "Enfeoffing a duke is a momentous affair that must be bestowed personally by the King to comply with propriety and law. Therefore, this general cannot decide this matter; I must report it back to the King."
With this deflective stroke, he mentioned only the dukedom and said nothing of the other points, as though the only obstacle lay in conferring the noble rank.
Xiaoyu had never expected him to agree outright anyway, and continued, "To ensure no further misunderstandings arise between our two sides, it is necessary to exchange what each possesses and deepen mutual understanding. Toward this end, the Realm Lord invites the princes and princesses—including the Crown Prince—to travel to Qingming for study and scholastic exchange. Qingming currently hosts over a dozen world-renowned Grand Scholars lecturing in residence, so their studies will not be neglected. However, given the long journey, it would be best to send a sizable party at once—preferably no fewer than ten."
This term essentially required the King of Ji to send his Crown Prince to Qingming as a hostage, an utter humiliation. Every Ji general wore a look of fury; had Xiaoyu not been sitting across from them, they would have slammed the table in outrage!
Xiao Jingyuan remained impassive, once again citing the need to report to the King of Ji to shelve the term for the moment, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Xiaoyu paid it no mind and went on, "We have spoken of mutual understanding; now let us speak of mutual exchange. Although this war arose from a misunderstanding, our side suffered grievous losses, and expenditures for military operations and pensions have cost millions. Therefore, our side demands that your state compensate our military expenses and pensions in the amount of exactly one hundred million taels of immortal silver, payable over twenty years."
A collective uproar erupted among the Ji generals, murder in the air!
Xiaoyu remained seated peacefully, unmoving as a mountain. If any of the Ji generals dared make a move, they would be struck dead where they stood.
Once the generals quieted down slightly, Xiaoyu said, "This clause is non-negotiable."
Xiao Jingyuan nodded. "Is there more?"
Xiaoyu said, "Mutual exchange hinges on open passage. Therefore, to ensure that merchants and travelers from both sides may move freely, the Realm Lord requests that your state open its entire territory. Across all regions of the State of Ji, Qingming merchant caravans must be permitted unhindered travel; checkpoints along the route may not inspect, intercept, or levy any form of duty or tax upon them.
"Second, your state must open seven border cities as commercial trading ports. Specific zones within these cities shall be designated for Qingming's exclusive use, where our side may garrison troops. All matters within these zones, large and small, shall be governed according to Qingming law. Even if an official of the State of Ji commits an offense within the zone, the trial must be conducted by Qingming.
"Third, if a Qingming citizen commits an offense within the borders of the State of Ji, your state may not pass judgment; the offender must be handed over to us to be tried and sentenced according to Qingming law. Our side guarantees that sentencing will be fair and just."
Xiaoyu then retrieved a finalized document and handed it across to Xiao Jingyuan. "All the above articles are set down in these two treaties: the Treaty of Guanxian, and the Qing-Ji Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation."
Chapter 1070