Top-tier Unruly Master

Chapter 2331: Chapter 2366: Light and Darkness

Ding Fan smiled watching her leave. When Zhao Xiner reached the doorway, she suddenly turned back to look at Ding Fan and said, "Ding Fan, back in the Great Python Mountain, not taking you back to the Zhao Family was the biggest mistake of my life. After today, I hope I can make up for that mistake.

Then, two blushing clouds rose to Zhao Xiner’s face, and she left as swiftly as the wind.

Zhao Xiner’s words were quite strange; Ding Fan seemed to understand, yet somehow didn’t. He didn’t think much about it but felt relieved in his heart.

The Zhao Family’s matters troubled him for several days. This time, it was a successful victory; Shenwu Country had surrendered. Only Divine Heaven Country and Thousand Gods Country remained.

Divine Heaven Country is now ruled by Tian Bubai’s Tian Family, and Thousand Gods Country by Xiang Neng’s Xiang Family. These two once fought at the Daozhen Villa against Ye Li. In fact, Ding Fan wasn’t ready to accept the surrender of these two countries yet, because he wanted to absorb their resources.

The resources of one Shenwu Country were already abandoned by him, but the remaining two countries’ resources were something he couldn’t let slip. Otherwise, why would he return to the Northern Wastelands? What significance would there be in being an Emperor of the Northern Wasteland without resources?

...

When Zhao Xiner returned to Shenwu City and informed Zhao Tianyong of Ding Fan’s promise, Zhao Tianyong and the others were immediately overjoyed. The Zhao Family alone definitely couldn’t withstand Ding Fan, and hard defiance would only lead to a dead end.

The Zhao Family immediately convened a Council of Elders meeting, quickly reached a resolution, and the next day released a sincere announcement that Shenwu Country would cease to exist, and all families would pledge allegiance to Ding Fan. Anyone who dared defy it, the Zhao Family would send troops to conquer.

Every family of Shenwu Country, seeing the Royal Family Zhao Family had already surrendered, didn’t dare not to surrender as well. They all responded, expressing willingness to follow the Zhao Family in yielding to Ding Fan.

After Zhao Tianyong confirmed, on the third day, he, together with the leaders of Shenwu Country’s Fourth Level families, was teleported to Divine Earth City to formally submit to Ding Fan.

With Northern Wastelands’ four countries plus Tianmu Sea, only two countries remained—Divine Heaven Country and Thousand Gods Country, both panicking. The issue was, what use was their surrender? Both Tian Bubai and Xiang Neng knew well that their performance at the Daozhen Villa battle made Ding Fan very dissatisfied with them.

The Tian Family and Xiang Family had no choice but to secretly arrange for their disciples to escape, while also sending special envoys to Divine Earth City to negotiate with Ding Fan.

The result left both families speechless!

Ding Fan did not receive their envoys, instead sending Madam Yan for negotiations. Madam Yan gave only one statement: the two families had no alternative but unconditional surrender, or else the Tian Family should await the fate of national destruction and genocide.

Madam Yan’s heart was burning with a fire; both Master Daozhen and Herr Wanzhan were killed by Zheng Tianxing, Lin Zhongshan, Zhao Tianba, Tian Bubai, and Xiang Neng. The Zhao Family’s relations with Ding Fan were good, so she dared not anger Zheng Tianxing. Lin Zhongshan was already dead, so naturally, Tian Bubai and Xiang Neng became her targets for revenge.

The Tian Family and Xiang Family had no other way; they had to fight Ding Fan’s army to the bitter end.

Fifteen days later, matters on the side of the Divine Country were nearly settled. Ding Fan waved his hand and ordered Zhong Zhiyong to lead his army to attack Divine Heaven Country. At the same time, he assigned Zhao Tianyong to command Shenwu Country’s experts and troops and to set out from Shenwu Country to campaign against Thousand Gods Country.

Ding Fan gave the Zhao Family such good terms. Although Madam Yan and Zhong Zhiyong as well as others said nothing, surely they had thoughts, so Ding Fan had the Zhao Family campaign against Thousand Gods Country to have them do something; otherwise, it would be hard to convince the masses.

Zhao Tianyong naturally understood this principle. He immediately summoned Shenwu Country’s experts and martial artists, gathering ten thousand men, to attack Thousand Gods Country.

Ding Fan did not go with the army. Such slaughter was boring. If with so many strong individuals they still couldn’t conquer Divine Heaven Country and Thousand Gods Country, then Zhao Tianyong and Zhong Zhiyong might as well not live to disgrace themselves.

Madam Yan did not disappoint Ding Fan. Before the army even set out, she had already thoroughly understood all the situations of Divine Heaven Country and Thousand Gods Country. Originally, these matters should have been handled by Ye Li and the Ye Family elders, but now there was no need for them; Madam Yan had already gathered all the intelligence.

Ding Fan nonchalantly focused on cultivating, spending most of his time daily accompanying Ding Aoshuang, while Herr Rufeng also lingered, not leaving, staying by their side all day. Madam Yan clearly had ulterior motives; Herr Rufeng and Ding Fan were good friends, it seemed she hoped they could grow closer.

Ding Aoshuang didn’t cultivate either; she would chat with Herr Rufeng whenever free, asking about the situation in the Northern Wastelands, the relationships among various powers there, and so on.

Ding Fan had no time to deal with these things. He even said he hoped he could rely on her help, as he himself intended to continue cultivating, thus Ding Aoshuang planned on taking over everything in the future.

Though trivial matters need not be addressed, some major affairs certainly must be. Since they had to manage all of Northern Wastelands, an understanding of the circumstances was essential.

Herr Rufeng had no ulterior motives, and Ding Aoshuang was Ding Fan’s master’s niece, so whatever she wanted to know, Herr Rufeng told her. Over the past few days, Ding Aoshuang had gained some general understanding of Northern Wastelands.

After all, she was born into a super family. Although she had never been involved in management, such matters were commonplace in her family. The Ding Family itself was a super family, with abundant resources in mines, medicine, and Spirit Mountain. There were many elders and stewards too, and various departments were vast—much bigger than a small Northern Wasteland or Sirius Clan, so managing it would be simple.

Ding Fan had already set up the framework; Madam Yan was responsible for the empire’s internal affairs, while Zhong Zhiyong managed external matters. In fact, there wasn’t much more; in the end, it was about integrating resources, subduing and pacifying local forces, and ensuring Ding Fan held absolute authority.

In the end, managing an empire is very simple. First, there are internal worries, and then there are external threats. As long as both aspects are handled properly, everything becomes simple.

Currently, with Ling Wanru helping oversee external threats, there’s no immediate concern. The internal worries involve stabilizing the Northern Wastelands quickly, ensuring everyone complies with management, and making sure each family follows orders. Ultimately, it’s a matter of benefit distribution.

Ding Fan must take the lion’s share; otherwise, his return to the Northern Wastelands would be meaningless. Furthermore, benefit distribution will inevitably be unbalanced. At this juncture, two measures can only be taken: one is to win over allies, and the other is to suppress opposition. In a word, every family must survive, and everyone should follow Ding Fan’s lead.

...

As time progressed, the two armies had begun attacking two countries. On their path, they swept through like a storm, changing the rulers of cities large and small. Many experts from powerful families were killed. In fact, many families had long been willing to surrender; as soon as the army arrived, they all laid down their weapons...

However!

Zhong Zhiyong and Zhao Tianyong still ordered massacres. Regardless of surrender, they killed everyone. The families of Divine Heaven Country and Thousand Gods Country heard about this and united against a common enemy. No family surrendered again, choosing instead to fight to the end.

Thus, the speed of the two armies began to slow. Initially, they could capture dozens of cities in a day; now, they could only take over a dozen. Ding Fan also suffered some casualties on his side.

The news reached Divine Earth City. Ding Fan was furious!

"Order Zhao Tianyong and Zhong Zhiyong, if they can’t fight well, have them retreat immediately, and I’ll lead the battle personally."

Ding Fan coldly eyed Madam Yan and shouted angrily. Madam Yan remained unmoved, smiling as she said, "Young master, this order cannot be passed down?"

"Hmm?"

Ding Fan’s eyes flashed coldly as he glared at Madam Yan, saying, "What’s the matter? Even you won’t obey my orders now? Are you rebelling?"

Ding Fan was so enraged, exuding a powerful aura like an angry lion. Madam Yan did not panic; she merely smiled and said, "It’s not that I don’t obey your orders. Even if you want Yan Ji’s life, I wouldn’t blink. Can you calm down and listen to my explanation?"

Ding Fan sat down panting and said coldly, "Explain. Today, if you can’t give me a satisfactory explanation, I’ll have you hung at the palace gates."

Madam Yan smiled and said, "Child, have you ever heard a saying: when the water is too clear, there are no fish? Why are Zhong Zhiyong and Zhao Tianyong slaughtering their way through? Of course, it’s to seize the wealth of these families, and most of the looted resources must be handed over. If those who haven’t died all surrender, won’t the territory still belong to them? Should we forcibly demand their family mines and spiritual mountains?"

"The battle itself is easy, but where do the post-war rewards come from? Without freed-up territories, with what will the young master reward meritorious states? And many people beside us have died. Zhong Zhiyong and Zhao Tianyong are certainly thinking about the young master; the deceased all hailed from the families that surrendered in Divine Country. With the experts of these families killed, a lot of land has been vacated in Divine Country, and the resources these expert families held will belong to the young master in the future.

"Oh?"

Ding Fan was a bit dumbfounded. He awkwardly rubbed his chin, not realizing there was so much intrigue to consider. Without Madam Yan’s explanation, he wouldn’t have considered these aspects.

In the world, where there is light, there is darkness; many filthy deeds exceeded his imagination.

If all families surrendered, should Ding Fan forcibly occupy all the family resources like mines and spiritual medicine fields?

Everyone dines together, yet you intend to rob others’ resources? Regardless of context, spreading such a reputation would at least not bode well.

Who doesn’t want resources, like Zhong Zhiyong, Crimson Flame, the Herr Family, Zhao Family, or even the Ye and Meng Families? In this small Northern Wastelands, resources are scarce; many resources were extracted from ancestral lands before these families vanished; once used up, they’re gone.

Everyone’s eyes are on those resources, waiting for something to fall into their laps, but Ding Fan himself needs a lot of resources if he wants to grow stronger quickly. He requires significant premium resources, the best spiritual medicines for cultivation. To cultivate a mighty soul, soul crystals are needed. To forge a stronger flying sword, more spiritual materials must be allocated. Ding Aoshuang also needs cultivation; Sixth Level spiritual materials in the Divine Realm are extremely expensive. The elders of the Ye Family, Zhong Zhiyong, and Zhao Tianyong all need cultivation; the required spiritual materials are practically incalculable.

There aren’t many top-tier spiritual materials like the Golden Dragon Branch, Soul Crystal, or better cultivation materials in Northern Wood.

Many spiritual materials need to be procured in the Central Plains. Ding Fan knows Ling Wanru, but he can’t expect Ling Wanru to hand over so many spiritual materials. If too much is given, the Spirit Dragon Hall will surely have complaints, so it’s necessary to bring spiritual materials from this side for exchange.

A peerless expert requires not only extraordinary talent but also endless resources to succeed. Just like Ding Aohuang, despite his exceptional talent, without the Ding Family providing cultivation resources, he wouldn’t have been able to train to the Seventh Level of the Divine Realm on his own ability.

In this Divine Realm, without the support of large families and the accumulation of countless resources, it’s impossible to become a powerful expert.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!