Then let them offer their loyalty!

"By then, with the emperor far away, how will he stop the Third Sanctuary?"

In those few minutes, Kou Xuan had clearly considered all sorts of possibilities.

So he looked up, his face expressionless, and said, "What if he's confident he can return to the 'Northwest Region'?"

"Back to the Northwest Region?!" Su Wanqing's expression froze for a moment, then her brain raced.

After a moment, she tentatively pointed out the flaw in this conjecture: "If Qiu Tu returns to the 'Northwest Region,' he can indeed break the contract, and no one will be his match."

"However... this also means that his strength is limited, making it difficult for him to continue improving."

"Giving up your own future just to protect Princess Xi?"

Su Wanqing hesitated for a moment before saying, "I don't think... Qiu Tu would make that choice."

Kou Xuan nodded slightly in agreement, saying, "I don't think he would do that either."

"Unless... the 'Isolation Mountains' collapse, the 'Rim Region' and the 'Core Region' merge, and the regional energy levels are unified, then suppressing the 'Northwest' and staying in the 'Core Region' will be no different."

"Otherwise... he would never have made such a choice."

"After all... although he acts like a lecher, he's actually just pretending."

"He knew perfectly well what was going on. With power and influence, women would come naturally. But with women, there would only be endless trouble."

After saying that, Kou Xuan shook his head slightly, "So, this conjecture was dismissed by me not long after it was born."

Although Su Wanqing was also a woman, her expression did not change when she heard Kou Xuan's words. Instead, she nodded in agreement.

Kou Xuan continued, "Moreover... even if this conjecture is true, Lin Xi's behavior is still off."

Su Wanqing nodded slightly in agreement, "Yes."

She analyzed, "If your guess is true, then after receiving the promise, Princess Xi should have seemed more relaxed, and her relationship with Qiu Tu should have appeared more harmonious."

"However... according to intelligence, it seems that Princess Xi and Qiu Tu have indeed broken up."

"Moreover, Princess Xi's self-reflection at the meeting seemed like a subtle but firm response to Qiu Tu."

Kou Xuan nodded slightly, "Yes. Princess Xi's reaction was also inappropriate."

"This is not the reaction of someone who has received a promise and knows they have not been betrayed."

He rested his hands on the table and said, "Unless... she received someone else's promise instead of Qiu Tu's."

“Someone acted as a go-between for her and Qiu Tu, trying to reconcile them.”

Su Wanqing shook her head, "The two of them each represent a faction and are both leaders of that faction. Unless it's someone like Commander Li Feng, no one else has that kind of influence."

Kou Xuan hesitated for a moment, wanting to say that such a peace talk did not necessarily require a patron like Commander Li Feng.

Some people who were close to Qiu Tu and Princess Xi could actually be considered as such. For example... the girls who had been sheltered by Princess Xi at the 8th Shelter...

But then I remembered that the intelligence indicated that although those girls had a good relationship with Princess Xi, they... had a bad relationship with Qiu Tu.

Moreover... intelligence indicates that those girls' abilities are quite average...

So he swallowed his words and nodded slightly.

He didn't continue the conversation on that topic, "Speaking of Li Feng."

"Li Feng contacted me again after the meeting ended."

Upon hearing Kou Xuan's words, Su Wanqing asked, "What did Commander Li Feng say this time?"

Kou Xuan stood up, his robes fluttering as he walked to the window. With his hands behind his back, he gazed at the vibrant beauty of nature outside and said, "It's the same excuse as the other day."

"It seems that the conflict between Shelter 2, Shelter 4 and Shelter 3 is still quite significant."

Su Wanqing gave a soft "hmm" and said, "Yes. The Third Shelter has become increasingly radical and insane in recent years."

"Even the second shelter that initially supported them was a bit frightened."

"That's why the Second Shelter arranged for Commander Li Feng to establish the Fourth Shelter. It's like leaving a way out."

"Therefore, besides shouldering the heavy responsibility of fighting against the 'Nine-Headed Lion,' Commander Li Feng's other task is to guard the Third Shelter."

"If the conditions given by Qiu Tu are followed, the Third Shelter will then enter a period of frantic expansion."

"If we can't contain it, and something really goes wrong, it could very well lead to the death of the entire human race."

At this point, Su Wanqing paused, looking at Kou Xuan's retreating figure, "So... their desire to cooperate with us and establish 'offices' in various states might indeed simply be a way to keep an eye on the Third Shelter."

Upon hearing Su Wanqing's words, Kou Xuan, who was gazing at the scenery to relieve stress, gave a deep "hmm".

Then he said calmly, "But... the gap between the fourth shelter and the third shelter is still too great."

"Her predicament is similar to Qiu Tu's. She is too strong personally, but the people around her are too weak."

"She's the only expert in the entire 4th Shelter who can keep things under control."

"In contrast, the Third Shelter has a bunch of super-level experts because of the competition."

"This is also why the Third Shelter can open up other battlefields and establish overseas enclaves and offices."

At this point, Kou Xuan paused, "Even if we agree to Li Feng's conditions, what if she actually sets up an office?"

"She can't be in multiple places at once, so she still can't control the Third Shelter. Sigh..."

In the past two months, the political situation in the peripheral regions of the human camp has changed too rapidly. It's almost too fast to keep up with.

The more changes occur, the more possibilities arise, and the more difficult it becomes to predict the future.

Such changes made even a prodigy like Kou Xuan feel a little tired.

He gazed out the window at the vibrant spring scene, his pupils seemingly holding the entire world within them...

'Qiu Tu....Lin Xi....Li Feng....Shen Yuzhou....'

'Shelter No. 2, No. 3, No. 6, No. 7...'

'Is the isolated mountain range really going to collapse?'

'Did Shen Yuzhou and the others really reach a deal with Qiu Tu so easily?'

'Could Shelter 2 have secretly made some preparations?'

Because there were too many clues, too many complicated clues, and some key clues were missing, Kou Xuan frowned for two or three minutes before slowly relaxing.

'Never mind, they'll leave traces whenever they take action.'

'Guessing without any clues is too much to think about. Let's just wait and see...'

Thinking this, he suddenly turned around and said to Su Wanqing, "Send a congratulatory letter to Qiu Tu."

"The inauguration of the new Sanctuary No. 1 is a major event for the human faction. Let's not be impolite."

......

Meanwhile, at Shelter No. 8.

Rao Shou and Tang Wanli reunited.

Looking at the records in the intelligence report, the two old men exchanged a glance, speechless for a moment.

After a moment of silence, Rao Shou joked, "Qiu Tu really knows how to handle women."

Tang Wanli: .....

Tang Wanli didn't respond, but Rao Shou pressed on, saying, "A couple of days ago, Qiu Tu called me."

"He said that after he left the 'Northwest Region,' he hoped that Fei would take over as the garrison commander of the four prefectures."

Tang Wanli: .....

Rao Shou glanced at Tang Wanli, then asked, "Isn't Qiu Tu planning to take Fei with him?"

Tang Wanli: ....

Tang Wanli took a deep breath and then said, "I'll go and send a congratulatory letter to Qiu Tu on behalf of the 8th Shelter."

Rao Shou nodded, "Go ahead. This definitely deserves our congratulations."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Also... we can give Qiu Tu a little hint about our connection at Shelter 2."

"If he gets into trouble after going to the 'core area,' at least he'll have a way out."

Tang Wanli paused for a moment, then hummed in agreement again....

.....

at the same time....

第2，第3，第4，第5庇护所的高层们差不多也都陆陆续续的收到了邱途登顶第7庇护所1号的消息。

Although they were somewhat surprised by how smoothly the power transition went, they still offered their blessings as soon as possible, as is customary.

This blessing wasn't just delivered to the 7th shelter to support Qiu Tu; announcements and notices were also published in each shelter, truly making it a part of history.

Of course, well wishes aside, the higher-ups at all the shelters knew that Qiu Tu's rise to power wasn't for the sake of the shelter's inhabitants or the development of the human race, but simply for the sake of power.

Once his strength is consolidated, Qiu Tu will definitely head to the "core area." At that time, a temporary power vacuum will emerge in the 6th, 7th, and even half of the 8th shelters, and the "Northwest Region" may still experience some chaos...

This also led them to hold a negative view of Qiu Tu's rise to power.

After all, to some extent, Qiu Tu was like an official who was merely using the position of Shelter Master as a stepping stone, without actually seeking any benefit for the Shelter or the human faction...

This contradicts their original intention in establishing and ruling the sanctuary.

However, they could neither stop Qiu Tu nor criticize him. So, they could only think about it in their hearts...

Fortunately, regardless of the circumstances, if Qiu Tu can use his position as the Lord of the Sanctuary to further enhance his strength, it will ultimately strengthen the human faction...

That's some consolation.

At least, when history is being recorded, there will be something to write about...

.....

Meanwhile.

While the higher-ups of the various shelters were pondering Qiu Tu's contributions to the 7th Shelter and to the human faction...

At this time, Qiu Tu was also taking advantage of becoming Shelter No. 1 to take a big step forward through the "Cataclysmic Path" and began to rapidly improve his strength.

Having improved his strength recently, Qiu Tu is now even more adept at enhancing his abilities.

Moreover, because of the power he gained from refining the "region," he reached the late stage of the sixth rank ahead of schedule. Therefore, this advancement was actually much smoother.

Therefore, Qiu Tu only cultivated for one night and almost stabilized his realm, officially reaching the peak of the 6th level!

However, it was precisely because of this that Qiu Tu finally felt the constant constraints imposed by the world and the region.

If he used to feel a resonance with the origin of the world, and thrived in the "Northwest Region" with unparalleled ease, then now he feels like a fish out of water, suffering immense torment every moment.

It felt as if the "origin of the world" was urging him to leave this area that was not suitable for him.

What's even more terrifying is that... as he reached the peak of the 6th tier, he felt that the world barrier was as fragile as a thin membrane. It seemed as if it would break with the slightest touch.

So he didn't dare to exert any force, for fear that he might actually puncture the world!

Fortunately, he had the "Sealing Jade" to suppress his strength. Otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to stay in the "Northwest Region".

'It seems... leaving the "Northwest Region" really needs to be put on the agenda for now...'

'However... before I leave, there's one important thing I need to do first.'

The other shelter's higher-ups all knew that Qiu Tu's forced promotion to Shelter Number 1 was purely for his own benefit, contributing nothing to the shelter or the human faction. How could Qiu Tu not know that?

If it were the same person who was ready to walk away, he probably wouldn't care about any of this.

But... don't forget, Qiu Tu is also planning a surprise attack to regain control of the "Northwest Region" and deal with the human faction.

So... he decided to do something big to establish his prestige and to live up to the title of Lord of the Sanctuary...

Thinking this, Qiu Tu, who had fully integrated his strength and officially entered the peak of the sixth rank, slowly opened his eyes.

Then he picked up a special communicator and dialed a few numbers.

A moment later, Mu Ye's voice came through the communicator, "My lord, you were looking for me?"

Upon hearing Mu Ye's voice, Qiu Tu responded and then asked, "How's the investigation going?"

Mu Ye responded on the other end of the phone, saying, "Reporting to my lord. We've almost finished investigating everything."

Qiu Tu said, "Then come back."

After saying that, Qiu Tu paused for a moment, then added, "Bring the jackals back too. I have something to say to you."