CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 192 PEACE_1

The Long Jaw Clan Leader remembered his promise to Lord Yan Xing. Lord Yan Xing had provided the Dragon Breath Liquor so readily that, as a friend, one must help at a critical moment. Besides, other than this delineation, there was no better solution for the boundary.

"I think this boundary division plan is very reasonable," the Long Jaw Clan Leader said in agreement. "We absolutely will not permit the Werewolf Tribe to expand further east of the Blood Crown Mountain line; it’s unlikely the Werewolves would easily give back the land west of this line to us. Lord Yan Xing will build a road on this line to serve as the boundary. The Lizardmen west of the boundary will migrate east, and the Werewolves east of it will migrate west. We can offer some compensation to the Werewolf Tribes that move westward."

As the sole Dragonkin and the wise man among the Lizardmen Clans, the Long Jaw Clan Leader held a very unique status. No matter how much Red Eye and Green Tail tried to suppress Long Jaw, his status among the Lizardmen continued to rise. After all, he had awakened the Dragon Clan bloodline latent within the Lizardmen, fulfilling their yearning. With Long Jaw publicly endorsing the boundary line, and without any obvious flaws in the plan, the two Lizard Kings could not, at least openly, oppose it.

Moreover, after the cessation of hostilities, the Lizardmen were in urgent need of unification. As the sole Dragonkin, if Long Jaw had no intention of claiming kingship, whoever he supported in the future would have a high likelihood of becoming the true master of Blood Crown Mountain. Therefore, both Red Eye and Green Tail, following Long Jaw’s lead, acknowledged the boundary division proposed by Yan Xing on behalf of the Lizardmen.

Yan Xing looked towards the Werewolf Clan leaders and said, "As the initiator and facilitator of this ceasefire meeting, I hope what I bring an end to is not merely this war, but that it may grant both you and the Lizardmen a lasting peace. Both the Lizardmen and I believe that this boundary best conforms to the current state of Thunderous Swamp. If you have any objections, please propose a better boundary division plan."

Very few Werewolf Tribes had encroached on the eastern side; the vast majority were still on lands expanded into during this war. Retreating, though reluctant, was not considered a significant loss. Moreover, this boundary had already reached the Lizardmen’s bottom line; any further eastward expansion would undoubtedly lead to their fierce resistance, and the war would then be unable to end.

During quiet discussions among some Werewolf Clan leaders, they felt this boundary division was quite reasonable. Everyone wanted to end the war as soon as possible to lead their tribesfolk back to their own domains. Only Ironhead felt that accepting such a boundary division would damage his status within the Werewolf Race. This meeting had only defined the western boundary between the Werewolves and Lizardmen. The southern and northern boundaries would involve two separate groups of Werewolf Tribes negotiating independently with the Lizardmen. This effectively split the Werewolf Race into three parts, a division that nonetheless received broad recognition from Thunderous Swamp. But Clan Leader Ironhead could not propose a better boundary division plan. With many Werewolf Clan leaders unwilling to continue fighting, he also lacked the ability to carry on the war and seize more land.

They could only tentatively settle on a boundary for now. Then, Clan Leader Ironhead looked towards Yan Xing. He knew that the Eternal Werewolf Tribe possessed methods to train Fifth Order Werewolves. Yan Xing also currently controlled the Werewolves on the southern fringe of the swamp, had money, weapons, and had fostered good relations with the Lizardmen. I want to unify the Swamp Werewolves, and then unify Thunderous Swamp. A battle with Eternal Domain is inevitable, Ironhead thought.

In light of the prevailing trends, Ironhead acquiesced to the desires of many Werewolf Clan Leaders and spoke, "Well... since the Werewolf Tribes from the east can be steadily relocated to the west, I agree to use this road as the dividing line between the Werewolf and Lizardman controlled areas."

With both Werewolves and Lizardmen in agreement about this dividing line, the road Yan Xing envisioned could now be openly built. Yan Xing was highly satisfied and had the Werewolf and Lizardman chieftains turn to the next page of the document.

"With a boundary established, you both can cease hostilities, making this meeting a resounding success. The remaining items are small gifts from my Eternal Domain to both sides."

The last page of the document contained the design blueprint of a city. While the chieftains couldn’t make heads or tails of it, Yan Xing continued to explain, "I plan to expand my Blood Crown Mountain base into Blood Crown Mountain City. This will be a city based on swamp systems, dedicated to maintaining peace within Thunderous Swamp. I will build a large marketplace within Blood Crown Mountain City for trade between Werewolves and Lizardmen. Eternal Domain will also help the Werewolf and Lizardman Tribes gain access to ironware, fabrics, ceramics, alcoholic beverages, and other items not available in the swamp. At the same time, I also suggest that Chief Qiao She and the Lianzu Chieftain stay in Blood Crown Mountain City as representatives of the Werewolves and Lizardmen, respectively. Together, we will resolve the conflicts within Thunderous Swamp through negotiation, reducing unnecessary fights and bloodshed."

Yan Xing’s proposal to build Blood Crown Mountain City garnered the support of Werewolf and Lizardman leaders, spearheaded by Chief Qiao She and the Lianzu Chieftain. They yearned for the abundance and prosperity they had witnessed in recent days and felt a spiritual devotion to Eternal Domain. They feared that one day Lord Yan Xing might return to Eternal Domain with everything from the Blood Crown Mountain base, leaving them unable to lean on him spiritually. Yan Xing’s decision to build Blood Crown Mountain City arguably gave a backbone to those Werewolves and Lizardmen who already showed signs of assimilation.

Thus, without waiting for Ironhead, Red Eye, and Green Tail to state their positions, some chieftains expressed that Eternal Domain should build a city here. While other chieftains had not had much contact with the Blood Crown Mountain base, they knew Eternal Domain was indeed wealthy and possessed many iron tools and other materials they lacked. If there were a developed marketplace in the heart of Thunderous Swamp, it would naturally benefit everyone’s trade and access to materials. Another portion of Werewolf and Lizardman chieftains agreed to Eternal Domain expanding the Blood Crown Mountain base into Blood Crown Mountain City.

As for the three most prestigious chieftains...

The social structure of both Werewolves and Lizardmen still followed a tribal alliance model. Consequently, when the majority of the tribes supported the construction of Blood Crown Mountain City, neither Ironhead, Red Eye, nor Green Tail could publicly dissent.

The motion to construct Blood Crown Mountain City was approved.

A road, a city.

The confirmation of these two projects meant that Yan Xing had completed his primary mission for this venture deep into Thunderous Swamp. Eternal Domain’s position in Thunderous Swamp was solidified, allowing its influence to radiate from Blood Crown Mountain City as a focal point and along the Thunderous Swamp main road to both east and west. Using cultural and economic invasion as the primary means, the plan was to assimilate every Werewolf and Lizardman Tribe reached by this radiation into Eternal Domain’s system.

By then, Thunderous Swamp could be said to be in Yan Xing’s grasp, for the Werewolves and Lizardmen had never witnessed such methods of invasion.

No war, no killing, no hate.

Lord Yan Xing came with pure goodwill, bringing prosperity and wealth to the Werewolves and Lizardmen, and peace to Thunderous Swamp...