Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains-Chapter 747 - 332, Closure and Penetration_2

Of course, this only pertained to the majority of ordinary citizens in Hexi.

Under the direct command of Hou Yuduan, the infiltration and espionage efforts in Nanjiang were unfolding swiftly. Members from the Qinglong Association, Upper and Lower Hou Sect, and Zhaoyang Escort Agency, began to covertly assume false identities and frequented Nanjiang.

Time slowly passed, and everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

......

New Yu Era 1331, July, Nanjiang Chilih Prefecture, Qingmiao City

Strictly speaking, Nanjiang was considered outside the realm, not a part of Shenzhou territory. However, due to frequent interactions with Yongzhou and similar lifestyle habits of the Nanjiang Five Miao Tribes compared to the people of Yongzhou, the foreign nature of Nanjiang was not strongly perceived. Over time, many started to regard Nanjiang as part of Shenzhou.

Over four hundred years ago, when the strength of the Nanjiang Temple was at its peak, it harbored ambitions of invading Yongzhou from the north. However, it was defeated by the united forces of the Rakshasa Holy Sect, losing much of its territory. Additionally, the foundational Chi Li Heaven Barrier of the temple was destroyed by Sikong Xingzhou.

The Chi Li Heaven Barrier was a sacred object used by the Nanjiang Five Miao Tribes to cultivate their race. Its destruction by Sikong Xingzhou caused the temple to decline rapidly, stripping it of the capability to challenge the Rakshasa Holy Sect. It was left with no choice but to retreat and keep to itself.

The population of Nanjiang was entirely composed of Miao descendants, divided into the five branches of Black, White, Green, Red, and Purple Miao, each with a population of millions. Each branch occupied a major city named after their respective group, like the Qingmiao for the Green Miao Tribe, Hong Miao City for the Red Miao Tribe, and so forth.

Although the five Miao branches competed, they all revered the Temple, which was controlled by the strongest group. A change in leadership occurred every fifty years. The last change in 1300 saw the Qingmiao tribe prevailing, hence the temple was then located in Qingmiao City. The Qingmiao Clan Chief, Qing Xuan, was the current leader of the temple.

In a humble three-story residence in Qingmiao City, Hou Yuduan in a white robe, after listening to Cheng Yunye's description behind him, gently shook his folding fan and walked to the windowsill. Pointing at the grand temple standing not far away, he whispered, "What does this ownership of the temple mean? Is it about which city the grand hall is built in, or is there some other significant object involved?"

Cheng Yunye replied, "It pertains to the ownership of the Chi Li Heaven Barrier. According to information gathered, the Chi Li Heaven Barrier is likely concealed within a precious object. Every fifty years, the power shift occurs. The strongest controls that sacred object and becomes the leader of the temple for the next fifty years."

"Wasn't the Chi Li Heaven Barrier destroyed by Sikong Xingzhou?"

"Indeed, but from what I've seen over the past few years in Nanjiang, from the top experts of the Miao tribes down to ordinary citizens, everyone seems to have a profound belief in the Chi Li Heaven Barrier, similar to how many citizens of Yongzhou revere the Respected Rakshasa God. They almost have an unconditional fervor, so the possession of that artifact is crucial to them, despite the Chi Li Heaven Barrier being useless now!"

Hou Yuduan nodded and turned to look at Cheng Yunye, asking softly, "You've been here for four years; you must have more to tell me than just this, right?"

In the Hou Clan's internal nine divisions, his five brothers each had their focus; officially, Cheng Yunye was not his man as he headed the Yinhu Division of the Lower Hou Sect and directly reported to his sister, Hou Yuling. However, this time Cheng Yunye specifically sent a message to his sister, asking him to make this trip, evidently bearing significant news.

Cheng Yunye took out a map from his chest, unfolding it on the table:

"Fifth Master, please look. The boundary of the entire Nanjiang is about five hundred square miles, and this is the distribution of the Five Miao Cities.

The nearest to our Xingnan Prefecture is Hei Miao City, which is two thousand seven hundred miles from the southernmost part of Yinling County in Hexi. A hundred and twenty miles further down is Baimiao City, to the east of which ninety miles away, lies Hong Miao City, and to the west by a hundred and thirty miles, lies Zimiao City. As for the Qingmiao City where we are now, it is eighty miles north of Zimiao City, to the southwest of Hei Miao City, at a distance of about ninety miles."

Moreover, each Miao tribe, except for the Green Miao, has an army of five hundred thousand. Due to support from Sikong Yue in recent years, the Qingmiao tribe has seen encouraging growth, expanding its army to seven hundred thousand, becoming the strongest among the Miao tribes. The clan leader, Qing Xuan, who is also the current leader of the temple, has fought leaders from the other four tribes and remains undefeated. Qingmiao is undeniably the foremost leader among the Miao tribes, and although the other four tribes are resentful internally, none dare openly oppose Qingmiao on the surface, and they mostly comply with Qing Xuan's commands."

Hou Yuduan, looking at the map, with a hint of enlightenment in his eyes, realized the approximate locations of the Five Miao Cities were no secret in Hexi, but having them clarified with specific locations and the routes and distances between them as Cheng Yunye had done was clearly a significant effort.

Furthermore, this information was extremely valuable for Hexi.

"Yun Ye, you've worked hard!"

"Fifth Master flatters me, it's just my duty."

Hou Yuduan committed the details on the map to memory, then turned to look at Cheng Yunye, smiling slightly, "I haven't stopped hearing about you from my third sister in the past couple of years. She mentioned that you've been stirring up trouble in Nanjiang, inciting relations among the five tribes, with notable results. Your reputation is even growing day by day, and I heard you've even earned the nickname 'Flying Feather Sword.' Is that true?"

"Fifth Master jests, these outlanders haven't seen real talent!"

Upon hearing the words "Flying Feather Sword," Cheng Yunye seemed a bit embarrassed, his expression became somewhat uncomfortable, but he quickly adjusted and continued, "Third Miss speaks the truth, but stirring up relations among the five tribes isn't something one person alone can achieve. Thanks to Fourth Master and Gao Commander, by integrating top experts from the Upper Hou Sect and Qinglong Association, I've been able to make my moves..."