Chapter 488: The Eight Flag Thunder Army Captain Assessment
"As long as Elder Bing agrees to join Yuanfu, I promise that within ten years, the Artifact Alliance will have ten Seventh-Tier Artisans, and you, Elder Bing, will advance to the Eighth Tier during this time."
As soon as Mo Yu finished speaking, a wave of gasps rippled through the hall. Even Ma Chen couldn't help but look at Mo Yu in astonishment.
Everyone present understood how difficult it was to advance as an artisan. The Western Alliance's dominance wasn't just due to Sword Sovereign, the leader of Wan Jian Pavilion, and Mo Yi, the master of Diming Sect, but also because of the behind-the-scenes power of the Master Blacksmith, an Eighth-Tier Artisan. Without him, the Western Alliance would have lost at least half of its influence.
So when Mo Yu claimed that the Artifact Alliance would have ten Seventh-Tier Artisans and one Eighth-Tier Artisan in ten years, it sounded almost absurd.
For Ma Chen and the others, this seemed like an impossible feat. Elder Bing, being an artisan himself, was even more aware of the difficulty of advancing, so he stared at Mo Yu in shock. It took him a while to recover before he spoke, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Mo Yu, are you serious?"
Mo Yu smiled confidently. "As the champion of the Artisans' Tournament and an Eighth-Tier Artisan myself, I believe my words hold weight, don't they? The difficulty artisans face is not due to a lack of skill but a lack of resources and heritage, unlike alchemists. When I was young, I stumbled upon an ancient ruin and acquired many high-tier artisan blueprints. That's how I became an Eighth-Tier Artisan in just over a decade. If the Artifact Alliance joins the Yuanfu Alliance, I'm willing to share these blueprints. Members of the alliance can earn them by contributing merit."
The eyes of those in the hall narrowed slightly, while Elder Bing's face showed deep surprise. He had always assumed that Mo Yu had learned from a master craftsman, but now it turned out Mo Yu had inherited ancient artisan knowledge from a ruin. If this were true, it was terrifying.
"No wonder he became an Eighth-Tier Artisan at such a young age. He's truly blessed by the heavens…" Elder Bing thought, his amazement gradually giving way to admiration for Mo Yu's good fortune.
As he processed this information, Elder Bing's heart surged with hope. His lifelong ambition was to see the artisan profession thrive and catch up to the standing of alchemists. However, his own limitations—both in talent and age—meant he hadn't made much progress. If Mo Yu could really help him advance to the Eighth Tier in a few years, it would be worth merging the Artifact Alliance into Yuanfu.
After a long pause, Elder Bing finally let out a deep breath and looked Mo Yu straight in the eyes. "If you can truly provide the necessary blueprints for the Seventh and Eighth Tiers and help the Artifact Alliance train ten Sixth-Tier Artisans in ten years, then I will agree to merge the Artifact Alliance with Yuanfu."
Mo Yu nodded with a smile. He had confidence in the countless blueprints he had collected in his past life. With these, he could easily nurture talented artisans over the years. As for Elder Bing, with Mo Yu's guidance and resources, advancing to the Eighth Tier would not be difficult.
"Congratulations, Lord Mo Yu! With the Artifact Alliance joining Yuanfu, the future of the Yuanfu Alliance is bound to be limitless," many attendees said, offering their congratulations. They understood the significance of integrating the Artifact Alliance into Yuanfu. With steady growth, Yuanfu could one day rival even the One Hall and One Tower, and perhaps even the Two Sects and Three Valleys.
Mo Yu smiled slightly and glanced at Ma Chen and the others, who were filled with a bit of envy. "As long as your clans contribute wholeheartedly to the Yuanfu Alliance, I can also promise that within a few years, your families will each have at least one Dou Zun (Battle Sovereign). I assure you, this is easier to achieve than training ten Seventh-Tier Artisans."
Upon hearing this, Ma Chen, Dongfang Hong, and the others were stunned. Then, overjoyed, they quickly stood up to thank Mo Yu.
A Dou Zun expert was one of the most powerful individuals on the continent. Even clans that already had a Dou Zun wouldn't turn down the chance to have another. For those clans without one, this was a dream come true. At that moment, they knew they had made the right decision in joining the Yuanfu Alliance.
As things unfolded according to plan, Xiao Li smiled from his seat. He gestured, and a nearby servant immediately brought drinks to everyone present.
"Today marks the formation of the Yuanfu Alliance, a momentous occasion. Let's drink to our alliance!" Mo Yu said, raising his cup with a smile.
"Haha! Cheers!"
As laughter filled the hall, the largest alliance in the Western Region of Zhongzhou quietly took form. Soon, the Yuanfu Alliance would be on the lips of everyone in the Western Region, and people would come to understand that this alliance was here to replace the Western Alliance.
But whether this new force would go further than its predecessor would depend on the abilities of its leader.
After the discussions ended, everyone gradually left the hall, and the once serious atmosphere finally began to relax.
As the last guest departed, Mo Yu said, "It's finally done. With the support of these local forces, Yuanfu is truly rooted in the Western Region now."
"With your current strength, you could have just forced them to join. Why go through all the trouble?" Xiao Yixian asked calmly, though her eyes held a trace of tenderness as she looked at Mo Yu.
Behind him, Qing Lin, who had been so fierce on the battlefield, was gently massaging Mo Yu's head like a loyal maidservant.
"Haha, they fought with us against the Western Alliance, and some of them are old friends of mine. Using force would only damage Yuanfu's reputation. By creating the Yuanfu Alliance, we bring these factions into the fold and secure the majority of the Western Region's resources," Mo Yu replied with a chuckle.
Everyone nodded in agreement. After all, they were the closest confidants of Yuanfu and understood Mo Yu's approach. It was hard to believe that Yuanfu, once the dominant force in the Black-Corner Region, had now risen to become a ruling power in Zhongzhou's Western Region.
Seeing this unfold, they couldn't help but look at Mo Yu with admiration and awe. It hadn't been long since Mo Yu had vowed to bring Yuanfu to Zhongzhou and establish a foothold here, and now that vision had become a reality—Yuanfu was now the dominant power in the Western Region.
"Lord Mo Yu, aren't you being too generous with the promises? Raising a Dou Zun isn't easy. What if they decide to leave after receiving the benefits?" Xiao Li frowned as he voiced his concerns.
"Don't worry. The Western Region is vast, and the resources here are plentiful. Once we take over the remnants of the Western Alliance's assets, nurturing a few Dou Zun won't be difficult. Right now, my goal is simply to win their loyalty. Over time, their ties to their families will fade, and they'll naturally come to view the Yuanfu Alliance as their new home. Of course, you all are Yuanfu's core members, and all resources will prioritize you. The Yuanfu Alliance will always be Yuanfu at its heart—it will never become a separate entity," Mo Yu said confidently with a smile.
Hearing this, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. They had been worried that the local forces would overshadow Yuanfu's original members. After all, while Yuanfu was powerful in the Black-Corner Region, it was still relatively weak in the Western Region. With so many local factions joining the Yuanfu Alliance, they feared being pushed aside.
But now, with Mo Yu's assurance, they were relieved and happy.
"By the way, Lord Mo Yu, since the Artifact Alliance is about to join us, the Hundred Weapons Hall will soon expand significantly. But you mustn't neglect the Thousand Medicine Hall. If Yuanfu wants to grow, it can't rely only on the Hundred Weapons Hall—Thousand Medicine Hall must also be strengthened," said Gu He, standing up and bowing to Mo Yu.
Since learning the Soul Power cultivation method Mo Yu had gifted him, Gu He had advanced to a Seventh-Tier Alchemist. A Seventh-Tier Alchemist was a rare and valuable asset, even to a faction as powerful as the Three Valleys or the Four Pavilions.
Mo Yu rubbed his chin and asked, "What do you suggest?"
"I have two ideas. First, order those who have joined the Yuanfu Alliance and our subordinate forces to each send a certain number of alchemists to join the Thousand Medicine Hall. Second, we can use the soul power cultivation method you gave me to attract talented alchemists from Zhongzhou. With these two steps, expanding the Thousand Medicine Hall two to three times won't be difficult. What do you think?"
"Agreed," Mo Yu replied with a smile. After a brief moment of thought, he approved Gu He's suggestions.
"Thank you, Lord Mo Yu," Gu He said with a smile. Ever since leaving the Jia Ma Empire, he had buried his past with Yun Yun deep in his heart. His greatest wish now was to expand the Thousand Medicine Hall and leave his mark in the world of alchemy.
Mo Yu stretched and said, "Now that the Yuanfu Alliance is up and running, I'll leave the next steps to Zi Huo and Xiao Li."
"Yes, Lord Mo Yu," Zi Huo and Xiao Li replied with a nod.
The formation of the Yuanfu Alliance caused a huge stir in the Western Region. Many were shocked by this new force made up of such powerful factions. With over a dozen Dou Zun experts, the Yuanfu Alliance had become as formidable as the former Western Alliance, and Mo Yu had accomplished what the Western Alliance could not.
It was clear to everyone that the Western Region now belonged to Yuanfu. The Western Alliance had truly become a thing of the past.
While the outside world buzzed about the Yuanfu Alliance, Mo Yu enjoyed some peace, spending time with Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin. He planned to bring his family, including Xiao Yu, to the Western Region once everything settled down.
One day, as Mo Yu stood before the Black Thunder Flag squad, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "You're heading back to the Lei Clan?"
"Yes, Sir! We've been away from the Lei Clan for a year now, and the Black Thunder Flag's captain assessment is coming up. We need to return and report in," Mang Dian replied respectfully.
It was hard to believe that just a year ago, they had been protecting Mo Yu. Now, Mo Yu had grown strong enough to kill a Three-Star Dou Zun. Even as members of the powerful Lei Clan, they were in awe of him and had developed a deep respect for his abilities.
"In that case, you may return. I'll always remember your contributions," Mo Yu said with a smile.
Mang Dian and the others beamed. Their year of hard work had paid off—they had successfully aligned themselves with Mo Yu, the Lei Clan's future son-in-law.
"Serving you is an honor, Sir," the Black Thunder Flag squad declared in unison, reaffirming their loyalty. Then, Mang Dian seemed to remember something and added, "By the way, Sir, the Eight Flag Thunder Army's captain assessment is approaching. As a captain, you'll need to participate. The other seven flag captains will be your competitors. According to the rules, the captain ranked last will lose their position, and a new captain will be appointed. The first-place captain will receive personal praise from the clan leader, and their flag will be rewarded."
"Oh? A captain's assessment?" Mo Yu raised an eyebrow. "When is it?"
"Two years from now. I hope you'll be able to attend, Sir. If you don't, even if the clan leader keeps your position, others will question it," Mang Dian explained.
"Two years, huh…" Mo Yu mused before nodding. "Don't worry. I'll be there."
Hearing this, Mang Dian and the others were delighted. The Black Thunder Flag had been at the bottom of the rankings for a long time, but with Mo Yu in command, they hoped to finally rise.
Of course, they didn't dare to expect Mo Yu to win first place in the assessment. The other flag captains of the Eight Flag Thunder Army were all monsters in their own right. Compared to them, even the leaders of the Three Valleys and Four Pavilions were no match.
After personally seeing off Mang Dian and his men, Mo Yu gazed into the distant sky and murmured to himself, "Very well then, two years from now, I'll visit the Lei Clan."
(End of Chapter)
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