He took a step forward and cupped his fists at Li Qi again.
"So it was my subordinates who accidentally trespassed into Sir's secluded cultivation area."
Seeing the pile of ruins beside him, Cao He's face showed apology, and he quickly said.
"But it's a coincidence, Sir, our Wei kingdom has a perfect secluded cultivation spot, rich in spiritual energy and beautiful scenery. If Sir doesn't mind, I, Cao, will make the decision to compensate Sir with that cultivation spot."
Upon hearing this, before Li Qi could say anything, Liu Quan of Shu and Sun Bei of Wu, who were standing nearby, couldn't help but curse Cao He as an old fox.
This was hardly compensation for a secluded cultivation spot.
This was clearly an attempt to lure Li Qi to the Wei kingdom, and then with care and concern, coupled with his personal charm, try to recruit Li Qi into his ranks.
With this thought, Liu Quan and Sun Bei immediately stepped forward.
Liu Quan spoke first.
"Sir, although that cultivation spot in Wei is good, in terms of spiritual energy density, our Shu kingdom also has one that is no less inferior. If Sir is willing, I will escort you back to our country today to see that cultivation spot."
He paused for a moment, and Liu Quan continued.
"To express my apologies, if Sir has any needs during your secluded cultivation, such as spirit stones or elixirs, I, Quan, am also willing to do my utmost to obtain them for you."
Then, Sun Bei echoed similar sentiments.
This was originally meant to rescue their captured generals, but the scene suddenly shifted to one of trying to recruit Li Qi.
Unfortunately, Li Qi rejected all three lords' suggestions.
If he were to really cultivate in their secluded spots, he would likely be driven mad.
"Forget it, forget your compensation for the secluded cultivation spot."
Li Qi pondered for a moment, and suddenly, as if remembering something, his gaze returned to the eight captured generals.
"This is it!"
He looked at the three lords.
"How about this: your subordinates broke my secluded residence while fighting, so let your subordinates re-create a new one for me, and then don't bother me again. We'll let this matter pass, how about that?"
Hearing Li Qi's refusal, the three lords sighed, understanding that Li Qi did not want to interfere in the war between their three kingdoms.
As for Li Qi's proposed solution, the three lords cast their gazes towards the generals.
The bound generals were already blushing with shame and dared not meet their eyes. Hearing Li Qi's suggestion, which was not difficult at all.
They eagerly nodded.
"I am willing, I am willing."
Besides, with their Golden Core stage cultivation, creating a cave dwelling was a matter of course.
"Good."
Li Qi nodded, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.
Then, Li Qi lightly tapped the void, and a mysterious formation was gradually drawn by him.
A radiant light emerged from the formation, and the expressions of the eight generals immediately changed slightly.
They discovered that the spiritual energy within their bodies had been sealed.
Li Qi's mischievous laughter echoed.
"Since you are to re-create a cave dwelling for me, you must show some sincerity. My secluded residence will depend on your own hands to create it."
It was laughable, how could he let them off so easily? Was his anger upon exiting seclusion for nothing?
The faces of the eight generals immediately turned grim.
Wasn't this bullying the honest folk?
At this moment, suddenly, among the three top generals at the peak of the Golden Core stage, Zhou Hang seemed to recall something and quickly said.
"Wait, Sir, we three did not damage your residence. Do we not need to re-create it for you?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu and Dian Qi's eyes immediately lit up, especially Dian Qi, who was at odds with Zhou Hang.
At this moment, his gaze towards Zhou Hang was incredibly pleasing to the eye.
This Zhou Hang had indeed done something useful.
"Impossible. Since you are here, you will all work together. Can you bear to watch the five of them work alone?"
Suddenly, the words that were on the tip of the three men's tongues were swallowed back.
They really wanted to say they could bear it.
But their lords were present, and given their camaraderie as fellow soldiers, it was not appropriate to say so.
In the end, these three Golden Core stage generals, with expressions of grief and indignation, also remained to create a new residence for Li Qi.
Li Qi smiled at the three lords.
"Alright, the solution has been discussed. Once they have finished creating my new residence, I will release them. You can go home and wait for news."
...
The three lords left, and the eight black slave laborers began their arduous task.
Fortunately, although Li Qi had sealed their spiritual energy, their physical bodies were still at the Golden Core stage.
The eight laborers worked day and night for over a month.
A residence similar to Li Qi's original one was finally created.
At this moment, the eight generals had lost all semblance of their former demeanor, their faces covered in dirt, as if they had just emerged from a black coal mine.
Li Qi lifted the seal on their spiritual energy.
Breathing in the fresh air, the eight generals couldn't help but shed tears of joy.
Over a month! Do you know how we spent this month and more!
We've been digging stones for over a month, ugh!
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!..."
The moment their spiritual energy was unsealed, the eight generals shot up like arrows from a bow.
They didn't want to stay in this sorrowful place for another moment, and they all fled, fearing that Li Qi would catch them again as black slaves if they lingered.
For this past month and more, because of these generals, even the great war between the three kingdoms had temporarily halted.
Down the mountain, the reception teams from the three kingdoms had been waiting for a long time. Seeing their generals return, they quickly went to greet them.
"Generals, you have finally returned."
Leaving the mountaintop, the eight generals looked back at the summit with expressions of grief and indignation.
If they knew they couldn't win by fighting, they would have truly fought Li Qi to the death.
Just then.
Not far away, a scout ran over anxiously.
"Report, new battle!"
Instantly, the peaceful atmosphere on the scene became tense and charged.
Hostility erupted again among the three teams.
However, with the scout's information, the atmosphere among the generals of the three sides gradually eased.
This battle was not from within their three factions.
It was said that on the fringes of the original Great Han Dynasty, a small tribe called Island Sakura had invaded, wanting to join the天下大战.
"Island Sakura? What kind of small tribe is that? I've never heard of them. What is their combat strength?"
"It is said that their leaders have three experts at the third level of the Golden Core stage!"
Upon hearing this, the eight generals, who had spent over a month mining and had accumulated a great deal of pent-up frustration, suddenly had a glint of ferocity in their eyes.
"Three experts at the third level of the Golden Core stage dare to get involved?"
Such strength would not even rank high in the early days of the great chaos.
"Where are they? Leave them to me!"
The eight generals, one by one, were desperately in need of an outlet for their suppressed frustration.
A few days later, General Wang Feng of the Wei kingdom took the lead, commanding a large army to decisively defeat the Island Sakura forces in half a day, scaring the surviving members of the Island Sakura into fleeing back to the border regions, never to dare intrude again.
Of course, this crushing victory was merely a minor interlude, not even truly a battle, and was soon forgotten, with no one remembering it after a short while.