The Political Landscape of Dongjia State

What do mountains and rivers represent?

Ancient cultivators often said that mountains and rivers are the lifeblood of a region. If the mountains and rivers are prosperous, then the lifeblood of the region thrives, making it easier for rare treasures to emerge and even for great cultivators to arise.

Of course, some cultivators reject this view, calling it feudal superstition that should be discarded. They argue that one should follow the rules of the new era of cultivation, where success depends on personal effort. Great cultivators are made through their own hard work, and mountains and rivers have nothing to do with it.

The topic of mountains and rivers as lifeblood is hotly debated, with each cultivator holding their own opinion. However, the East Jia State no longer needs to worry about this issue.

Because their entire world has been shattered by a single finger of the Divine Realm Ancester, and no mountains or rivers as lifeblood remain.

Moreover, the Great Emperors of the Divine Realm have seized the opportunity to enter the Immortal Realm, occupying a portion of its mountains and rivers, roughly equivalent to three-tenths of the East Jia State. With several Great Emperors as their force, they have entrenched themselves there, determined to hold onto this territory.

The Great Emperors of the Immortal Realm know they cannot allow the Divine Realm cultivators to encroach on their land, but reclaiming it is no easy task. The Divine Realm has sent too many Great Emperors, and they refuse to budge from their stronghold, stubbornly holding their ground.

The Immortal Realm cannot afford to recall so many Great Emperors from the frontlines, leaving them at a loss for what to do.

This situation has angered the cultivators of the Immortal Realm, who have begun to question:

"Why can the Divine Realm attack the Immortal Realm, but the Immortal Realm cannot retaliate? That makes no sense! I suggest we gather all our forces and launch an assault on the Divine Realm!"

"But what if the Divine Realm cultivators counterattack? What if they send the Great Emperors holding East Jia State to overrun the Immortal Realm's rear?" another cultivator asked.

"Don’t worry. The Divine Realm is short on Great Emperors, and in direct combat, they’re no match for the Immortal Realm. Let them occupy our land—we’ll just take theirs. It’s a fair trade, and we won’t tolerate this humiliation!"

It’s safe to say he understood the concept of a "fair trade."

A more knowledgeable cultivator analyzed the situation, explaining:

"The Immortal Realm’s current predicament isn’t solely due to the Divine Realm. The Divine Realm has also allied with the neighboring Supreme Realm. If the Immortal Realm dares to launch an offensive, the Divine Realm will join forces with the Supreme Realm to first conquer the Immortal Realm and then move on to other major realms."

This is the Immortal Realm’s dilemma. If it were just the Divine Realm, they wouldn’t be so fearful. The problem lies in the Supreme Realm, which is watching them like a tiger eyeing its prey.

Although the Supreme Realm has yet to make a move, the great cultivators of the Immortal Realm know this is merely an illusion created by the Divine Realm and the Supreme Realm.

If the Immortal Realm’s Great Emperors leave their home territory, losing their home-field advantage, they will quickly be surrounded and annihilated by the Supreme Realm’s Great Emperors.

Moreover, aside from the legendary Nine Mountain Lord, the quality of the Immortal Realm’s Great Emperors is not particularly high. In one-on-one battles, they might not stand a chance against the Divine Realm’s lineup of Great Emperors.

This is the Immortal Realm’s awkward position. They have many Great Emperors, but when it comes to battles at that level, they fall short.

The reason is simple: they can’t win, so they have no choice but to endure the humiliation.

The Divine Realm’s Great Emperors have occupied three-tenths of the East Jia State, provoking the cultivators of the entire region. They refuse to leave, stubbornly holding their ground.

Some Saints of the Divine Realm have even taunted the East Jia State cultivators, saying:

"If you’ve got the guts, come fight me!"

When have the cultivators of East Jia State ever endured such humiliation? How could locals be bullied by outsiders? Immediately, a Saint charged into the territory held by the Divine Realm cultivators and engaged in battle.

Of course, they didn’t win, but fortunately, they didn’t die either, as they were rescued by a Great Emperor of East Jia State.

From then on, the Divine Realm cultivators boasted arrogantly, laughing:

"The cultivators of East Jia State are nothing but loud-mouthed braggarts. They have no skill, but their temper is huge. I thought they were something special, but they crumbled at the first touch."

"I thought the Immortal Realm cultivators were useless, but the East Jia State cultivators are even worse, haha!"

These words enraged the entire East Jia State, igniting a fiery passion among its cultivators. The entire region was ablaze with indignation.

Such anger could not be ignored.

Thus, the Great Emperors of East Jia State took action. Three Great Emperors confronted the Divine Realm’s Great Emperors, paving the way with their own Great Dao and leading the righteous and furious cultivators of East Jia State to challenge them.

The Divine Realm’s Great Emperors showed no fear, stepping forward to confront the Immortal Realm cultivators and pointing at their noses, cursing:

"Arrogant brats, if you’ve got the guts, come fight your father! If not, get lost, you trash!"

The Great Emperors of the Immortal Realm had never endured such insults. Wu Xi Great Emperor unleashed two Great Daos at once, leading the charge into battle. The mountains and rivers trembled, and the heavens and earth were thrown into chaos.

This battle would later be remembered in East Jia State’s history as the First Great Emperor Melee of East Jia State. It was an unprecedented clash, with the East Jia State Great Emperors fighting valiantly. Three Great Emperors faced off against several Divine Realm Great Emperors, holding their ground and showcasing the indomitable spirit of East Jia State.

But there was one small problem.

They didn’t win.

The three Great Emperors were ultimately no match for the Divine Realm’s lineup, which included a Great Emperor with three Great Daos, and were forced to retreat.

The Divine Realm’s Great Emperors did not pursue them, instead holding their position in the three-tenths of East Jia State they occupied. This area had become a neutral zone. If they chased further, they would enter the Immortal Realm’s home territory, and if there were any ambushes, they would be trapped.

The Divine Realm’s Great Emperors were indeed cautious. Though their words were bold, they refused to set foot in the Immortal Realm’s territory.

But soon, they discovered a place within the Immortal Realm that wasn’t quite part of it.

The Ten Thousand Mountains.