After submitting to Dawu, Zhu Shan took Chu Yuan to White Cloud, East Shang, and hundreds of islands nearby.
The overall strengths of these three major islands are roughly equal. However, White Cloud Island is a bit stronger, with more than 300 million inhabitants, while East Shang Island has only over 100 million. After all, these are just islands in the sea, not true continents, and can't accommodate such a large population.
Upon Chu Yuan's arrival, the people of White Cloud and East Shang were naturally unwilling to submit to him.
However, Chu Yuan directly set up the divine enormous cannon, blew several uninhabited deserted islands flat in front of them, and showed them the head of the chief of Tiger Shark Island.
Under this double threat, the leaders of the two big islands knew that the situation was irreversible. If they persisted in their resistance, they would be eradicated just like the chief of Tiger Shark Island, considering their martial cultivation and strength were roughly equivalent.
Cultivating to the God Illumination stage, who among them would want to die for no reason?
With the submission of these three island lords, it was naturally no problem to subjugate the other smaller islands, each of which was incorporated into Dawu.
Though they had a scarce population, what pleased Chu Yuan was that the sparse population meant that more martial arts resources could be allocated per person, allowing the islanders to be able to cultivate at least up to the Meridian Connecting stage.
"Your Majesty, there are only our three big islands and hundreds of small islands within a hundred thousand miles. In the deeper parts of the sea, it is rumored that there are extremely terrifying forces, horrific Imperial Dynasties. It sweeps across all directions, beyond our knowledge," Zhu Shan, the first to submit and the most sincere, said.
"Bring out all the sea maps of your three islands, then piece them together to make a new and complete sea map that will allow people to explore further into the sea," said Chu Yuan, nodding his head. He was not in a hurry to venture into the distant sea, having a pile of things to deal with within the Suspended Realm.
He then said, "I will soon send people to cultivate Lingyuan rice, unique to Dawu, on your three islands. For now, I'll give you some to distribute to the people on the islands."
When the Lingyuan rice was taken out, each grain was as shiny as a pearl. The scent it emitted made the three island leaders slightly intoxicated.
"This type of rice?"
Zhu Shan grabbed a handful and ate it, exclaiming, "Is this the kind of rice all your Majesty's subjects eat? If it's consumed daily, it will strengthen the body and greatly enhance one's physique. Even a sickly person could cultivate martial arts and become a strong person. That would be incredibly powerful!
"Thousands of years ago, there appeared a horrific five-star force over the sea. Although it quickly perished, I accidentally obtained their food, which was not nearly as impressive as this Lingyuan rice," a white-haired old man, the chief of White Cloud Island, also exclaimed.
"This is just part of my wealth. Work diligently for me, and don't play petty tricks in front of me," Chu Yuan waved his hand, and three jade bottles fell into the hands of the three island lords. He indifferently said, "The divine elixir in these bottles is my gift to you."
"Thousand Heart Pill!"
When the jade bottles were opened, the three island lords were once again astonished.
He had originally wanted to form five armies capable of expanding the territory.
Although the Fiery Army had only begun to take shape, he instructed the three island lords to start building the Blackwater Army when they returned. The army's members were to be recruited from the islands, all weaponry and armors, various elixirs and materials, would be distributed by the court.
In addition, the god martial troops gained an additional 150,000 soldiers from within the state of islands, making their total strength rise to 400,000.
All 400,000 were cultivators at the Original Spirit Realm.
Once the three island lords realized that Chu Yuan could supply Divine Elixirs in large quantities, they had no resistance to any commands. They even sent their confidants to the God Martial Army to improve Chu Yuan's impression of them.
It's important to know that the God Martial Army was Chu Yuan's personal army. As long as they could receive a Thousand Heart Pill every month. You can absolutely claim submission. Even giving the island to Chu Yuan wouldn't be an issue as their goal in expanding their influence was to gather resources.
With the inclusion of more strong men from the State of Islands, this solved the problem of the scarcity of strong men in Dawu who were above the stage of God Illumination. Even within the God Martial Army, the three islands sent in a God Illumination Realm expert.
This was the brilliance of Chu Yuan.
Joining the God Martial Troops meant binding to the War Army Chessboard. Once bound, he would not fear any betrayal. The incorporation of a large number of elite forces from the three islands made them completely his people and less likely to betray him.
With the current state of Dawu, it was actually comparable to a three-star Imperial Dynasty.
Moreover, he brought two Tong Xuan Ming Shen pills.
One was given to Lu Qianfu, which let him directly break through to the stage of God Illumination, with enough strength to lead the god martial army.
The other was given to Ji Fuling.
Ji Fuling was a very important logistics officer for Chu Yuan. She needed to represent him in negotiating various transactions with the Qiankun Business Alliance. Her cultivation level at the God Illumination stage was not enough.
After breaking through to the stage of God Illumination, Ji Fuling was even more amazed at Chu Yuan's terrifying foundation. She felt more and more that her decision to leave the Infinite Business Alliance and join Dawu was the wisest one. Otherwise, at the Infinite Business Alliance, she would never have the chance to break through to the God Illumination stage in her lifetime.
After all, her qualifications were not high, and they wouldn't provide that many resources to her.
But what Chu Yuan valued was her business ability, not her combat skills. As for cultivation, Chu Yuan could help her elevate it using huge amounts of Divine Elixirs.
"Your Majesty, I just received news that Feng, the General of the Vermilion Bird Camp, has suddenly gone towards the Mountain Range of Ten Thousand Beasts alone," one day, Zi Lin the Thunder Dragon informed Chu Yuan of this news.