The rise of a family, the Heavenly Evolution Divine Tree

This protracted war, lasting nearly two months, finally came to an end amidst the smoke of battle. This war spanned from the towering Tianxu Pass to the banks of the turbulent Luo River; from the peaceful Ningzhou to the war-torn Shizhou Le'nan Prefecture.

From the ancient and weathered Ningzhou Guxu Prefecture to the magnificent Luozhou Xiangyuan Prefecture, the Zhao army's footprints covered almost every inch of Ningzhou's land, and they also occupied half of Shizhou's territory, as well as parts of Luozhou's land. In this battle, the Zhao army was like a god of war, conquering cities and seizing land with unstoppable momentum, adding more than a third of Zhao's vast territory in one fell swoop.

This war was like a breathtaking feast. The Zhao army, with overwhelming force, killed thirty-six powerful fourth-tier demon lords, annihilated more than three thousand third-tier demons as easily as cutting melons and vegetables, and the more than four hundred thousand second-tier demons were as vulnerable as ants. Tens of millions of lesser demons were also wiped out under the iron hooves of the Zhao army.

However, the Zhao army was not unscathed. Eighteen Celestial Realm experts fell like meteors, thousands of True Realm experts withered like autumn leaves, over two hundred thousand Martial Realm experts perished like fallen petals, and millions of Mortal Realm warriors vanished like weeds. Although Zhao suffered heavy losses, compared to the demon race, this victory was undoubtedly glorious; Zhao had achieved a resounding triumph.

The demon race cannot be compared to the likes of blood beasts. They too can forge divine weapons, refine elixirs, inscribe mysterious formations, and draw wondrous talismans. Their individual combat strength should not be underestimated, and when they form an army, they are unstoppable, in no way inferior to the human race. The human race has already achieved quite remarkable results.

In conclusion, the human race has reaped a rich harvest this time. Within Ningzhou, there are over 150 sites where foundational Dao treasures converge. Although more than 30 sites were destroyed by the demon race, over 110 still remain. Each treasure site requires two to three hundred years to condense a single foundational Dao treasure, while others can nurture one in as little as thirty to forty years. Upon careful exploration, 24 secret realms were also discovered within Ningzhou. These were meticulously crafted by the demon race specifically for condensing foundational Dao treasures and for cultivation. In addition, countless mineral veins and spiritual veins were also found.

Moreover, the territories they occupy in Shizhou and Luozhou contain nearly ninety treasure lands, over forty secret realms, ten fourth-tier spiritual veins, thirty-four third-tier spiritual veins, and numerous other spiritual veins, as well as various mineral veins such as star mines. Sudden wealth after a single battle perfectly describes the current state of the Zhao Kingdom.

The Zhao royal family, anticipating a contingency plan, prepared a vast amount of resources in advance, allowing various powerful factions to eagerly exchange them, thus enabling the kingdom to recuperate and rebuild. Many of Zhao's top experts stood like an impregnable Great Wall on the front lines, meticulously setting up formations and fortifying defenses to prevent a counterattack from the demon race like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. However, the possibility of a demon counterattack was extremely slim, as Zhao had severely damaged the demon race in Ningzhou, Shizhou, Luozhou, and Xiangzhou, catching them off guard and inflicting devastating losses.

The Zhao royal family was also busily taking stock of the vast territory conquered by the Zhao army and the abundant resources it contained. War camps composed of various powerful families and the Zhao standing army rotated their defenses along the border like a wheel. The Black Armor Legion and Blood-Clad Battalion, among the main Zhao fighting forces, suffered heavy losses and were using this opportunity to replenish their ranks and regain their former glory. After all, this great battle had been a baptism of fire; many warriors had been tempered and adapted to the brutality of the battlefield, and once added to the legions, they would undoubtedly become the elite of the elite.

To this end, the Zhao royal family, with foresight, introduced corresponding policies, attracting various families and forces to send their sons to join the major war legions established by the Zhao Kingdom. The regulations stipulated that the military merits gained by members of different cultivation levels within these legions would vary. Furthermore, those wishing to exchange for the secret realms or treasure lands obtained in this great war would also need to achieve their goals through military merit.

At this moment, the family members, like weary lions, took advantage of the shift change to rest and recuperate. They also gathered together like stars around the moon, carefully taking stock of the family's personnel and spoils. Of the two True Person Realm experts in the family, the Supreme Elder He Yiqiu was seriously injured, more than twenty Martial Human Realm experts died on the battlefield, and more than five hundred Mortal Realm martial artists perished on the battlefield.

However, the family stumbled upon an incredible stroke of luck during this war, acquiring three foundational treasures from the demon race's storage pouch: the Water Source Jade, the Thunder Profound Source, and the Golden Soaring Cloud Edge. This was truly a godsend, allowing the family to obtain these three treasures. Such a gain is extremely rare among powerful families, and probably no other family or force can rival their achievements.

Considering that these Dao Foundation treasures were spoils of war fought valiantly by the family's frontline members, they were treated like rare treasures and distributed only among the family members who went to the front lines to fight for the family. After a heated discussion, it was finally decided to bestow the Water Source Jade upon He Yuanteng like a crown, the Thunder Profound Source upon He Xuanya like a scepter, and the Golden Lingyun Blade upon He Beixi like a precious sword.

Furthermore, the three prodigies of the family, He Beixi, He Yuanteng, and He Xuanya, were sent back to the clan to cultivate diligently and strive to break through to the True Person Realm. The Supreme Elder He Yiqiu, his grandmother Zhang Yunyu, and Elders He Zhonghou and He Zhongyu all deeply agreed with this plan. After all, He Yuanteng, He Beixi, and He Xuanya were the future stars of the family. Although they were currently only at the Martial Realm level, once they possessed the foundational treasures to break through to the True Person Realm, they would no longer need to risk their lives here.