Steam rose from the tea, and Dongbo Xueying smiled, "Since the birth of humans and the demon race, our Xia clan has also given birth to deities in history, and the demon race has likely had many outstanding figures over the long course of history. Yet, no one has been able to completely exterminate the other! The struggle between humans and the demon race is too difficult to resolve once and for all."
"Haha, that's right," Yi Hong laughed. "Lord Dongbo is very correct. In history, the demon race has caused us great suffering many times. The Great Elder of the Witch God Hall is merely the most troublesome opponent of this era."
"I feel ashamed. This discussion has strayed too far. The demigods have long lifespans, and most of them strive to become deities, seeking true immortality!" Yi Hong said. "By the way, the Demigod List is only a draft by our Flame World, and it cannot be said to be absolutely correct! Those demigods are all pursuing deification through secluded cultivation. One day, a demigod might emerge with invincible power."
Dongbo Xueying nodded.
He had long known this. What demigods most desire is to become deities! After all, a demigod's lifespan is only three thousand years! Only deities have truly infinite lifespans.
"Let's talk about the main matters now!" Yi Hong said. "On our human side, there are six extraordinary organizations and a hidden Demon God Society in the darkness!"
"The six extraordinary organizations are the Earth God Temple, Blood Blade Inn, Black and White Divine Mountain, Cloud Mist City, Water Source Daoist Temple, and Sea God Palace," Yi Hong introduced. "These six extraordinary organizations represent the righteous path, protecting the entire Xia clan, allowing our clan to continue and thrive! However, there are still some extraordinary individuals who are more selfish! They don't care about mortals, or even their own kin! They only care about themselves, so they are tempted by the Demon Gods... for treasures, for powerful strength, they join the Demon God Society, forming it!"
Dongbo Xueying nodded gently.
Selfish?
It's too common. Extraordinary individuals are inherently superior to mortals in their essence, and their goal in cultivation is to become deities! With their long lifespans, many extraordinary individuals initially have feelings for mortals and their kin, but gradually, their parents and children grow old and die. After a few hundred years, their attachment to their families won't be as deep.
Some are even more self-centered.
For example, those stuck at the peak of the Flying Heaven level or the peak of the Saint level! To seek more resources for breakthroughs, or for greater strength, many join the Demon God Society! Behind the Demon God Society is a very powerful Demon God, who is very generous in sending large amounts of treasures to this world to lure more extraordinary individuals.
"The six extraordinary organizations and the Demon God Society are the main extraordinary forces among humans. As for some ordinary evil gods and smaller extraordinary organizations, they are not worth mentioning; they don't have the qualifications to invite Lord Dongbo!"
"This time, the ones inviting Lord Dongbo are the six extraordinary organizations and the Demon God Society. The Demon God Society will likely contact you secretly, so Lord Dongbo, please be careful," Yi Hong advised. A prodigious genius who became extraordinary at the age of twenty-eight, if lured by the Demon God Society, would be a great disgrace to the six extraordinary organizations.
"Rest assured, the Demon God Society is universally despised, and I have family ties, so I won't join the Demon God Society," Dongbo Xueying said.
Yi Hong laughed, "Then I'll briefly introduce the six extraordinary organizations."
"The Earth God Temple worships a very powerful deity, who is said to have an extremely high status in the Divine Realm, with many deities following. It is the only organization in our entire Xia clan world with the right to spread faith. Others who dare to spread faith are all evil gods and demon gods!"
"Relying on a great tree, the Earth God Temple offers many benefits. Once you join, you will have access to many secret techniques that other extraordinary organizations don't have. The extraordinaries in the Earth God Temple are on par with those in the Blood Blade Inn, and they are significantly stronger than those in the other four major extraordinary organizations!"
"The Blood Blade Inn is also backed by a remarkable deity. Fortunately, that great being doesn't care about faith, otherwise, it would be hard to say who would win in a conflict with the Earth God Temple! The extraordinaries in the Blood Blade Inn excel in killing."
"The above two extraordinary organizations are both backed by powerful deities! Once you join, the advantages are more resources and some powerful secret techniques that can't be learned elsewhere! However, the downside is more rules and restrictions."
"The remaining four extraordinary organizations, Black and White Divine Mountain, Cloud Mist City, Water Source Daoist Temple, and Sea God Palace, are organizations established by the strong of our Xia clan over generations, eventually standing out. They are deeply rooted and have a long history. Because they don't need to worship any deities, these four organizations are more free and have fewer restrictions."
"Meanwhile, the four extraordinary organizations also have their territories."
"The five northern provinces are under the control of the Water Source Daoist Temple."
"The six central provinces are under the control of the Black and White Divine Mountain."
"The four southern provinces are under the control of the Cloud Mist City, though only four provinces, the south has favorable weather and more plains, with a large population."
"The four overseas provinces, including all the seas, are nominally under the control of the Sea God Palace! However, the sea area is vast, much larger than the land, so the Sea God Palace can't fully control it, and some smaller extraordinary organizations have established themselves overseas."
Yi Hong smiled, "Our Anyang Province is one of the five northern provinces! Here, powerful individuals like us, besides the Earth God Temple and Blood Blade Inn, will also be invited by the Water Source Daoist Temple."
"But Lord Dongbo, you are different."
"You are an extraordinary, not belonging to any organization, and you are so young... so all the major extraordinary organizations will sincerely invite you."
"By the way, Lord Dongbo, now that you have become an extraordinary, Yishui City will automatically become the territory of the Dongbo family!" Yi Hong said. "If you join the Water Source Daoist Temple, the entire Qinghe County will secretly be under the control of the Dongbo family. If you don't join the Water Source Daoist Temple... the Dongbo family will find it difficult to influence Qinghe County."
Dongbo Xueying nodded gently.
He knew this.
Extraordinary individuals have privileges.
At the Flying Heaven level and Saint level, families directly receive a county as their territory! This is their own territory, with absolute control.
Demigods can receive a county as their territory!
And secretly, the families of extraordinaries can control even more areas. For example, because the Water Source Daoist Temple controls the five northern provinces, the extraordinaries of the Water Source Daoist Temple have significant power in the five northern provinces. Once Dongbo Xueying joins, he can immediately appoint people to various positions in Qinghe County, except for the Longshan Tower.
Nominal control still belongs to the empire, but secretly, it is absolute control. The influence of the families of extraordinary strong individuals can even spread to surrounding counties!
Consider that the Si family, relying on just one Si Lianghong, has secretly controlled the entire Qinghe County.
Let alone the families of truly powerful extraordinaries!
As for the imperial family?
Without the Great Emperor Longshan, the imperial family cannot compare to the deeply rooted six extraordinary organizations. Now, they are just a figurehead.
"Everything that needs to be said has been said. Lord Dongbo, think carefully about which side to join," Yi Hong smiled. "Actually, a smaller territory controlled by the family isn't a big deal for an extraordinary. What's more important is your own strength."
"I will consider it," Dongbo Xueying nodded.
"Then I'll take my leave. By the way, who will be the first Marquis of the Dongbo family?" Yi Hong asked.
"My father," Dongbo Xueying replied.
A normal extraordinary family can inherit the title of Marquis, which can be passed down for a thousand years, after which it will be downgraded to a Count.
If one becomes a demigod, they can inherit the title of Duke, which can be maintained for five thousand years.
If one becomes a deity, the six extraordinary organizations will temporarily submit, and they can become the emperor of the world, with their family becoming the imperial family... and the title can be passed down until the next deity is born, at which point the imperial status will be revoked.
...
Yi Hong and Dongbo Xueying chatted for nearly an hour, and they had a simple meal and drink. Yi Hong then temporarily stayed in the castle.
That night, Dongbo Xueying went to spend time with his parents and younger brother.
The family was very lively, but the Dongbo family was still too small in population. Even if they controlled a large territory, they would still need outsiders to manage it.
"Phew~"
Late at night, the wind was blowing.
Dongbo Xueying was lying in bed, about to fall asleep, and he was in a good mood.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes.
"Hmm?" Dongbo Xueying frowned slightly, put on his loose sleepwear, and walked to the corridor. His figure flashed twice, and he was already out of the Snowstone Castle, standing on a hill outside the castle.
On the hill, a man was squatting on a bald rock. The man's hair on the left side was completely shaved, while the right side hung down.
He squatted there, his eyelids drooping, holding a knife and slowly sharpening it on the rock. Although his eyelids were drooping, he could clearly sense a presence approaching, with a sharp extraordinary aura and a more powerful physical presence.
"Dongbo Xueying, I didn't expect that you, just after becoming an extraordinary, could already reach the mid-level of the Flying Heaven stage. Did you awaken the ancient bloodline when you were a mortal?" The half-bald man stopped sharpening the knife, looked up at Dongbo Xueying, and the sharpness in his eyes made Dongbo Xueying feel a chill. This was an extremely formidable opponent.