"It''s a good thing, as it is. We are steadily gaining our footing, and the conflicts between Shengtian and Qingmu in the Everlasting Empire within each separate region are beneficial for us. Look, Your Majesty, after their defeat in Dongchu forbidden territory, they retreated and occupied a region to the right of Great Wu. Meanwhile, various powers are fighting each other all across that region."


    Lu Qianfu analyzes the situation.


    "After two Xuan-Gods died in the Dongchu Forbidden Area, they dare not act recklessly anymore. None of the smaller powers pose a threat to us."


    The Celestial God Tianhong speaks.


    "We''ve entered a relatively calm period at present. What our generals need to do now is further fortify Windfall City and transfer gathered resources to the national treasury."


    Chu Yuan nods, currently in a stable situation, and asks, "How is the recruitment of powerful individuals in our nation progressing?"


    "Reporting to Your Majesty."


    The civil official in control of the nation''s population register speaks: "Following Your Majesty''s orders, the court has issued a call for recruitment. Be it strong familiars or solitary practitioners who avoid the world, as long as they are within the borders of Great Wu, we have summoned them.@@@@


    And since they are enjoying the protection of Wu''s national luck within Great Wu, they will have to make contributions when the Imperial Dynasty needs them."


    Some powerful individuals prefer to establish their own clans or ruling dynasties.


    Whilst others prefer seclusion, self-cultivation, or creating their own spiritual havens.


    There are quite a few of such individuals and Chu Yuan has given orders. As long as they are within the Great Wu territory, they should be summoned – every single one of them.


    Even though it seems that they are not directly using any of Great Wu''s resources, the moment they set foot within Great Wu''s territory, they are directly under the auspices of Great Wu''s national luck. They are part of the Empire, albeit a somewhat rebellious part.


    And now, Chu Yuan intends to bring them into line.


    "I have recently received news that three powerful elders live by the sea. They are called the Sea Mountain Triad, and they are hosting the Tri-Mountain Grand Competition to recruit genius disciples."


    The senior minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs speaks.


    "Using the power of national luck, I know of these three elders'' existence too," Chu Yuan speaks.


    "These three elders, named Sea Mountain Elder, Sea Cliff Elder, and Sea Orchid Elder, have all reached the Xuan-God stage, and Sea Mountain Elder is the strongest one among them. The Imperial summons reached them, but they have shown no response, remaining indifferent and continue to act however they want."


    The senior minister from the Ministry of Civil Affairs is unsatisfied with the Triad''s failure to reply to their summons.


    "The Sea Mountain Triad is located within the waters of the Origin Spirit Realm," says the Celestial God Tianhong.


    "When the empire summons all the powerful individuals into Spirit Mountain, and the Sea Mountain Triad defies the summons within our territory, I don''t care how much they previously enjoyed the freedom of setting up an empire and acting as their own masters. As long as they''re in my land, they must follow my commands. Otherwise, they''ll have no place to stay."


    Every part of the land should be under the control of the Great Wu.


    No matter who you are — even if you''re an Old Man of the Mountain — as long as you''re here, you''ll have to follow Chu Yuan''s commands.


    "Hmph! Great Wu!"


    A strong man from Sea Cliff Island grumbles discontentedly, "Without the Great Wu, countless geniuses would have been sent to us. As I''ve heard, the Great Wu Empire even sent a summons for our Triad. The way they sounded, it was as if they regard our Triad as their subjects, to be used at their command."


    "That''s outrageous!"


    "The three elders plan to personally lead a team to Imperial City of Great Wu to challenge their geniuses, to see whether the Triad is superior, or whether their academy is more formidable."


    "These things will be managed by the elders. What we need to do, is to successfully host the Tri-Mountain Competition."


    ...


    Inside a secret, secluded space,


    Three elderly beings appear, two men and a woman, all Xuan-Gods. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    Among them, the cultivation level of Sea Mountain Elder has reached the Fourth Level of Xuan-God, while both Sea Orchid Elder and Sea Cliff Elder are at the Third Level of Xuan-God. They''re all furrowing their brows and looking quite unhappy.


    "You all received the summons from Great Wu, right?" Sea Mountain Elder says.


    "We did," Sea Cliff Elder scoffs coldly, "What does Great Wu think it is? The language of their summons, are they trying to command us? We three elders have built our islands in the sea for millions of years. When have we ever listened to others'' orders?"


    Sea Orchid Elder says, "Calm down, I''ve just received some news. Great Wu has already taken a piece of territory within Spirit Mountain and is stable now. Four Xuan-Gods from Dongchu Forbidden Land have been slain by them."


    "How is that possible? There''s no way Great Wu could have killed Xuan-Gods!" Sea Cliff Elder shakes his head vigorously.


    "Don''t dismiss it. Great Wu''s rise is too mysterious. We, the three elders, are too used to our freedom and rule over our islands. We''re living so comfortably now. If we join Great Wu, there will be no such freedom in the future."


    Sea Mountain Elder says, "But the number of geniuses coming to the three islands this year was not even a hundredth of the past years'' numbers."


    "That Great Wu Academy?" Sea Cliff Elder sneers in contempt, "That kind of academy system, mass education, they accept all sorts of talents, even the useless ones can get in. Can their geniuses be stronger than the ones we train? We don''t need to confront Great Wu head-on, we just need to use our geniuses to beat theirs."


    "Right, I plan to change the Tri-Mountain Competition this time into a challenge against the Great Wu Academy," Sea Mountain Elder says.


    "I agree with Big Brother''s viewpoint," Sea Orchid Elder says.


    "Sea Orchid and Sea Cliff, the three of us have been helping each other and cultivating together for so many years. Can we really let ourselves be constrained by Great Wu?"


    Sea Mountain Elder says.


    The three elders have been extremely close. They started cultivating together from a young age.


    "Whatever Big Brother decides to do, I and Sister Sea Orchid will follow him!"


    Sea Cliff Elder says.


    "Sea Mountain Triad, if the decree cannot invite you to come, then I, myself, will come to do so."