"Next area, Weisu District!"
Xu Tianzong's voice rang out in the foothold, reaching the ears of all the Plane Lords from the minor derivative areas present.
To quickly move to the next area for harvesting and avoid being preempted by other regions, Xu Tianzong wasted no time.
At the same time, his figure leaped high from the foothold, extending one hand.
Immediately, a giant hand of spiritual energy materialized in the void, directly grabbing the foothold where the spirit gathering array was set up.
Then, Xu Tianzong, along with this foothold and a group of Plane Lords, flew directly in one direction.
After all, their current objective was not just to harvest one area.
Therefore, this foothold could not be a disposable item; it was best to take it with them.
Xu Tianzong's speed was quite fast, even while dragging the enormous continent that served as the foothold.
In just a few days, they arrived at the Weisu District he had mentioned.
The Plane Lord of Weisu District at the Harmonization stage was one of the three at the sixth heaven of Harmonization who had delayed Xu Tianzong that day.
When the Plane Lords of the minor derivative areas arrived near Weisu District, Xu Tianzong's spiritual energy hand dragging the foothold dissipated, and he casually placed the foothold in the void.
"Fellow Daoists, it's time to strike."
Xu Tianzong's calm voice sounded.
As Xu Tianzong's words fell, the Plane Lords of the minor derivative areas, who were already eager, directly launched their assault, leaving Li Qi alone to guard the empty... oh, no, the empty foothold.
Fortunately, Li Qi was accustomed to all of this.
This harvesting operation proceeded without any unexpected incidents, and the Plane Lords of the minor derivative areas reaped immense profits.
Li Qi, who collected his commission, once again obtained a substantial portion of the Heavenly Dao Will, which he fed to the Heavenly Dao of the Earthly Void Realm.
Having learned from Li Qi's previous earnest teachings, the Heavenly Dao of the Earthly Void Realm obediently devoured all the incomplete Heavenly Dao Will first.
This caused Li Qi to nod with satisfaction, realizing his guidance had some effect.
Two years after the Plane Lords of the minor derivative areas embarked on their harvest in Weisu District, Li Qi, who was in the foothold, suddenly opened his eyes.
He noticed that from the direction of Weisu District, the Plane Lords of the minor derivative areas were returning to the foothold in groups, as if by prior agreement.
"What's going on? You all returned together?" Li Qi asked the group of returning Plane Lords.
One of the Plane Lords at the front shook his head slightly.
"No, it was Senior Xu Tianzong who instructed us to return. Senior Xu Tianzong is likely integrating and accepting the Plane Lords of the small worlds within Weisu District who have surrendered."
Under the Plane Lord's explanation, Li Qi began to understand.
In reality, when they from the minor derivative areas had arrived in Weisu District two years prior to begin harvesting, many Plane Lords had already abandoned their resistance and wished to surrender.
However, the matter of harvesting the Heavenly Dao of other regions and earning wealth was still to be carried out.
Therefore, Xu Tianzong gave the Plane Lords of the minor derivative areas a two-year period.
Within these two years, the Plane Lords of the minor derivative areas could earn as much wealth as their abilities allowed.
After two years, they would uniformly cease their operations, and Xu Tianzong would then handle the matters of surrender.
As for the surrendered Plane Lords of the small worlds in Weisu District, they were naturally those who had survived these two years or had proven their strength.
This was an opportunity for the Plane Lords of the minor derivative areas to gain wealth and a method to filter out the small worlds willing to surrender.
After all, if they couldn't even endure these two years, then those weak small worlds and their Plane Lords were not qualified to surrender to the minor derivative area. It would be better for them to have their Heavenly Dao and the resources of their worlds harvested, gradually leading them to an era of decline.
This method was not an accidental idea of Xu Tianzong's; it was a customary rule established during conflicts between different regions after victory.
"So that's how it is. No wonder you all went so crazy these past two years; there was a time limit." Li Qi finally understood, but then a thought struck him.
"That's not right. A hundred years ago, didn't we go to harvest two other regions' small worlds? Why weren't there any Plane Lords coming to surrender then?"
"Uh..." The Plane Lord in front of Li Qi pondered for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts. After a while, he finally said, "Actually, there were, but you were in the foothold and didn't go out, so you didn't hear about it."
"And then?"
"And then, those Plane Lords who attempted to surrender were directly killed by Senior Xu Tianzong?"
Li Qi: "???"
One moment they agreed to surrender, the next they were all killed. Was he playing favorites?
Then, the Plane Lord in front of Li Qi continued, "It was mainly because before that time, many small worlds in our minor derivative area had their Heavenly Dao Will harvested. So after we gained the advantage and counterattacked, Senior Xu Tianzong, and all of us, were a bit carried away... so we didn't accept the surrender of those Plane Lords."
"However, it wasn't just our minor derivative area that went harvesting. I also heard that there were indeed a scattered few small worlds that chose to surrender to other regions."
"I see." Li Qi nodded, finally understanding completely.
As expected, less than a month later, Xu Tianzong's figure once again approached the foothold.
"The matter is concluded. The surrender of the Plane Lords in Weisu District has been completely resolved."
They continued to the next area.
Time flowed rapidly, and two more years passed...
The next area, called Dark River District, was also resolved.
There were a total of six regions involved in the siege of Gu Mengping, corresponding to six Harmonization stage cultivators.
Now, three of the six regions had been dealt with. Only three remained.
"This time, Crimson Sun District."
Xu Tianzong led the Plane Lords of the minor derivative area on their journey once more.
Ahead, the small worlds within Crimson Sun District were faintly visible.
The Plane Lords of the minor derivative area, now experienced, were already prepared.
At this moment, from the direction of Crimson Sun District, two figures appeared side-by-side in the void without any warning, blocking the path of the Plane Lords of the minor derivative area.
"Halt, travelers."
As they spoke, powerful auras surged from the two figures, one belonging to the ninth heaven of Harmonization, and the other to the seventh heaven of Harmonization.
These two terrifying auras directly directed themselves towards Xu Tianzong and the Plane Lords of the minor derivative area.
Sensing the immense pressure, Xu Tianzong's expression couldn't help but shift slightly.
His spiritual energy hand holding the foothold dissipated.
Facing an opponent two minor realms stronger than himself, Xu Tianzong's figure abruptly stopped. The figure at the ninth heaven of Harmonization, who was blocking their path, spoke calmly.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, the small worlds within Crimson Sun District have all surrendered to my Fenghong District. If you wish to harvest Heavenly Dao Will, please seek elsewhere."