Days later, Han Shuo and his Divine Guards of the Fifth Corps returned to the City of Shadows. In one of the secret chambers of the Han residence, Han Shuo, Stratholme, Ayermike, Bollands, Emily, and all the core members of the House of Han gathered to discuss the competition that had taken place in the Soaring Cloud Mountains.
After everyone was seated, Han Shuo immediately began the meeting. He said, "Wallace feels threatened by our family clan. It is clear that he is on guard against us!" They had been informed of the results and Wallace's actions.
Stratholme nodded and said, "It seems that Wallace just couldn't stand any kind of potential competition. With the departure of the House of Lavers, the overall strength of the City of Shadows has diminished. It's only recently that our House of Han has begun to fill the gap. But instead of giving us their full support, they have begun to oppress us prematurely. That's not good for the City of Shadows!"
"Maybe Bryan's strength was just too overwhelming and scared Wallace," Emily knitted her eyebrows and said, "I'm afraid our House of Han won't be able to enjoy such smooth growth in the City of Shadows!"
Han Shuo, taking in everyone's expressions and opinions, smiled faintly and said, "Well, we have already reaped many benefits in the City of Shadows. Even though Wallace wants to suppress us, he won't do anything too excessive for now. You don't need to worry too much, at least for now."
After a short pause, Han Shuo continued, "From today, we House of Han will no longer focus our expansion efforts on the City of Shadows. Instead, we will concentrate on extending the influence of the Celestial Pearl to all other Dominions. As for Fort Lasberg, since it is on the outskirts of the city, we should tighten our grip on it. We must put as much thought and effort into Fort Lasberg as possible.
"That's right. If we House of Han manage to spread our influence to every Dominion, even if we fall out with the City of Shadows, we could just pack up and go somewhere else. If this city doesn't welcome us, another will. There is no place we could not flourish," Phoebe said angrily.
These members of the House of Han were very upset that the growth of their family clan was being hindered when it was at its greatest. No one in the Han family, including Han Shuo, coveted the City of Shadows or planned to take it over. Wallace's actions had alienated them and forced them to make necessary changes to their plans for the future.
"From the competition between the Divine Guard Chiefs, we did not receive all the rewards we expected. Wallace gave us nothing but some fame and titles." Han Shuo said calmly, "However, all those titles that seemed useless to him are the things we need most at the moment! Hehe, in just a few days, more than several hundred gods have asked to join the House of Han and the Fifth Corps. These people will be the future pillars of strength for our House of Han!
The House of Han had plenty of money and land. What they lacked was people!
Before Han Shuo had shown his outstanding strength in the competition, only a few people would consider joining the Fifth Corps and his family clan as divine guards. However, after Han Shuo defeated Ralph and Aobashi to become the most powerful Divine Guard Chief, after the Fifth Corps crushed the Second Corps to become the strongest Divine Guard Corps, the number of recruits increased more than tenfold!
Moreover, the recruits were of much higher quality in terms of skill and strength. They were the talents Han Shuo needed!
The divine guards that the House of Han and the Fifth Corps lacked were quickly filled. The House of Han was no longer a small family clan protected by a few people. It was as if the House of Han had become more powerful overnight.
"Yes, we needed men. The number of divine guards we have now is far too few. If the Fifth Corps can assemble a thousand divine guards, we will put them all through a round of training in the Eight Desolation and Torment Formation to raise their strength and power to a whole new level. And if they become half as loyal and united as the First Company, even if we fall out with the House of Sainte in the future, we will have some real bargaining chips!" said Bollands after nodding.
"Yes, we must do all we can to recruit new divine guards. But that doesn't mean we have to compromise on quality. Make sure you check the background of every applicant thoroughly. I do not want any of them to be double agents from other family clans who might turn around and bite us at a critical moment. You must bear this in mind. Interrogate each of the applicants thoroughly!" Han Shuo emphasised the point repeatedly. Han Shuo did not want a single potential spy, even if it meant that the recruitment process would be slow.
"Rest assured, Senior. I will make sure that every single recruit is clean," Bollands assured solemnly.
As the days passed, all the other divine guards and members of the great family clans returned to the city from the Soaring Cloud Mountains. Word of the results of the competition in the Soaring Cloud Mountains spread throughout the city. There were even certain powers that deliberately spread the news.
Genius Pharmacist defeated Aobashi and Ralph. The Divine Guards he trained became the most coordinated team and the most powerful in team combat, defeating even the Second Corps...
All sorts of positive information about Han Shuo was spread far and wide through various channels. The gods living in every fortress and city under the City of Shadows would discuss the matter with great enthusiasm.
...
"Carter, let's not go to the House of Kisa. We should go to the House of Han instead!"
"The House of Han is currently riding a wave. They even have medicine that can increase one's strength. This is indeed the wisest choice!"
"We should go to the Fifth Corps. It is said that the Fifth Corps is currently recruiting divine guards. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Aren't you going?"
"Me? Forget it. I'm only a Mid-stage Midgod. They will probably reject me at the doorstep!"
....
Similar conversations were repeated by different people in every corner of the City of Shadows. Experts with great ambitions from every region had gathered in the City of Shadows. Their goal: the Fifth Corps and the House of Han. They were willing to do anything to get in. A series of extensive tests was nothing to them.
The City of Shadows suddenly became quite crowded, as many had travelled thousands of miles to get there. Some had even travelled from other Dominions. They flocked to the city with the intention of applying to the House of Han or the Fifth Corps to become Divine Guards.
The House of Han and the Fifth Corps suddenly became very busy, with extremely long queues forming outside their entrances. Bollands, Stratholme and Ayermike Cotton, who were in charge of examining the applicants, were busy day in and day out. They scrutinised each applicant and held them to the strictest standards.
The three Great Patriarchs quietly watched the activity in the city. They did nothing as they watched Han Shuo slowly assemble an army.
When the competition was over, Aobashi and Erebus were reassigned to the far reaches of the city. They did not go to Han Shuo to celebrate his victory.
For some reason, Andre and Carmelita had stopped visiting Han Shuo since the competition. Members of other family clans who were on good terms with the House of Han had also stopped visiting Han Shuo, as if they were afraid of something.
Since the current situation in the City of Shadows was not exactly stable, Han Shuo did not travel to the outskirts with Rose, but sat in his Han residence. At this sensitive time, if there was any kind of chaos in the city, the House of Han might not make it without a Highgod. Han Shuo takes no chances when it comes to the safety of his family clan. He will not leave the House of Han without absolute assurance of their safety.
Time passed quickly. A year passed. In that time, the House of Han and the Fifth Corps had managed to recruit more than five hundred divine guards. The reason they were so slow in recruiting was that Han Shuo's requirements were simply too strict. He would only accept exceptionally talented experts with clean backgrounds. All those who lacked tenacity or were born with certain problems were rejected, no matter how great their powers.
Once it was ensured that the new recruits would be unswervingly faithful and loyal to Han Shuo, they would be sent to the Eight Desolation and Torment Formation to be tempered. Their strength and power would increase significantly with each round of training in the formation. Those who were still on the fence about dedicating their lives to the House of Han would compromise after seeing those who had pledged their allegiance grow stronger and receive much better treatment. The temptation was simply too great.
And during this time, Jiya of the House of Kinson would often enter the Han residence to look for Han Shuo on the pretext of seeking his cultivation advice, buying medicine, and so on. She would ignore the murderous looks of Phoebe, Emily and the other ladies and shamelessly pull Han Shuo away to talk about anything and everything.
As Jiya's visits became more frequent, even the newly recruited divine guards could tell that Jiya was interested in Han Shuo.
There were a large number of young people in the city who worshipped Jiya. When they noticed that Jiya often visited the Han residence alone and actively searched for Han Shuo, they could not be more angry and frustrated. However, the Han household and Han Shuo were untouchable to most people these days. Although these hot-blooded youths held a grudge against the House of Han, they did not dare to cause any trouble. All they could do was harass their family clan into boycotting Celestial Pearl Pharmacy. Needless to say, their actions had absolutely no effect on the House of Han or Celestial Pearl.
"I hate that little sneaky fox!" said Phoebe for the thousandth time. Emily, Fanny, Jasper, Lisa, Sylph, Helen and Hemanna all had the same opinion about Jiya. Every time Jiya came to the residence, they were anything but nice to her. There had even been a few conflicts between them.
"Bryan, we really don't like this woman. Tell us honestly, do you like her or not?" asked Emily quietly. Her exhausted body lay naked on top of Han Shuo as she drew circles on his chest with her tender hand.
Phoebe, lying tiredly on the other side, lifted her head with what little energy she had left to look at Han Shuo and gently pinched his lower leg when she heard Emily's question. She asked, "This woman is too pretentious. I don't like her either. Bryan, will you please ignore her?"
Han Shuo, his every cell relaxed, nodded contentedly. He replied, "Okay. I'm already more than happy to have you all here."
Phoebe and Emily could not be happier to get this promise from Han Shuo. They lay comfortably on top of Han Shuo and fell fast asleep.
*** Three days later, Han Shuo received a handwritten letter from the patriarch Caspar of the Kinson family, proposing that his daughter Jiya be betrothed to Han Shuo. He even asked Han Shuo to hold a pompous and grand ceremony in the City of Shadows to officially marry Jiya.
When Emily and the others received the news, they hastily gathered around Han Shuo and looked at him nervously. None of them had received any kind of official recognition, even though they had been with Han Shuo for so long. If Han Shuo were to marry Jiya in front of them and even hold a grand ceremony, none of them would accept it.
"Don't worry, I won't marry her," Han Shuo said with a faint smile. He proceeded to write a letter politely refusing Caspar's proposal in front of the ladies. He then had Bollands deliver the letter to the Kinson family.
When Han Shuo wrote the letter, he had no idea that it would eventually lead to a major dispute in the City of Shadows.