When the time comes, he would have the option of making peace with the Iron Sword Sect and Luoyun Manor, or he could secretly plot to turn them against each other. This scheme was also a perfect opportunity for him to demonstrate his capabilities to the alliance.

Elder Kusou nodded slightly:

"Young Master, your foresight is admirable. In that case, let’s proceed with the plan. We’ll finalize the marriage contract with the Song Clan in seven days. What do you think, Young Master?"

"Fine. We’ll do that."

Zhou Chengzong nodded slightly.

"And what about Gao Qilin? Should we tell him that his father died at Chen Sheng’s hands?"

Elder Kusou asked again.

A smirk touched the corner of Zhou Chengzong’s lips:

"Of course. After all, the feud for a father’s murder is irreconcilable. Only then will it be easy to control him, to keep him firmly in the palm of our hand."

"Brilliant, Young Master."

Elder Kusou immediately seized the opportunity to flatter him.

Just as the two were speaking, a voice suddenly called out from outside the hall:

"Reporting to the Young Master! The Alliance Leader summons you to see him at once."

The color drained slightly from Zhou Chengzong’s face at those words.

He understood instantly. ’Father must have heard the news. He’s summoning me now... I’m definitely in for a scolding.’

But it was unavoidable. Taking a deep breath, Zhou Chengzong said in a low voice,

"I understand. I’ll be there shortly."

...

「Inside the G Camp Headquarters of the Jingwu Bureau.」

Chen Sheng sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, breathing rhythmically. He held an Elemental Crystal in one hand, refining the pure Primordial Qi within it, but he was not satisfied with his rate of progress.

[Blood Slaughter Floating Light Body: Minor Achievement (28/500)]

[Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique: Great Success (12/1000)]

[Basic Saber Skill Perfection (1796/2000)]

[Fishing Toad Force Secret Technique Perfection (543/2000)]

[Demon-Slaying Triple Extremes Saber Perfection (866/2000)]

His other Cultivation Techniques and Secret Arts were showing considerable progress, but his Cultivation alone was advancing at a snail’s pace. At this rate, it would take several years at the very least to reach the peak of the Earth Fiend realm.

’I really need to refine some heavenly materials and earthly treasures that can advance my Cultivation.’

Chen Sheng lamented inwardly.

If any outsider were to hear this inner thought, they would surely be heartbroken.

To be supported by an ample supply of Elemental Crystals was a privilege countless Martial Masters could only dream of. In truth, the vast majority of Martial Masters had to painstakingly grind out their Cultivation, bit by bit.

Many didn’t even have access to sufficient resources at all.

Even a second-rate power in the Prefecture City, like the Xu Family, lacked the luxury of refining Elemental Crystals with such abandon.

As for refining heavenly materials and earthly treasures to boost one’s Cultivation, that was indeed a shortcut. The problem was, not even a True Inheritor from a top-tier power would have that kind of backing.

Take the Ning’an Ten Heroes, for example. Although their sects and families poured precious resources into them, it was not without limit. After all, the sects and families didn’t belong to them alone.

If their performance was subpar, much of their resource support could be revoked.

Just as Chen Sheng was contemplating whether he should go out and try to trigger a prompt from his Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil, his heart jolted. He instantly focused his thoughts.

New lines of text had suddenly materialized upon the Celestial Book.

[My name is Chen Sheng. By the time you read this, I... After learning the whereabouts of Gao Yuanzhao’s son, Gao Qilin, I immediately took my men to the Iron Sword Sect to demand they hand him over.

However, due to our previous grudges, as well as the trust Gao Yuanzhao placed in them before his death, Iron Sword Sect Leader Lu Qingsong was completely uncooperative. He obstructed me at every turn and refused to surrender the man.

He even advised me that Gao Yuanzhao was Gao Yuanzhao, and Gao Qilin was Gao Qilin, hoping the Jingwu Bureau would enforce the law impartially and not implicate the innocent. In the end, I returned in failure.

But to my surprise, a perfect opportunity presented itself. Due to a scheme by the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, Gao Qilin and the legitimate daughter of the Song Family are to have their engagement finalized on March 26th.

That will be the best time to kill him.]

The Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil continued to refresh:

[What I also didn’t expect was that the Song Family had not only been colluding with the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance for some time, but they were also hiding half a bottle of Profound Origin Spirit Water that they had failed to offer as tribute to Luoyun Manor. If I had been able to obtain and refine it,

my Cultivation would have soared, saving me a great deal of bitter training. But at the time, because Luoyun Manor intervened, and for various other reasons, I did not press the issue. Thinking back on it now, I am filled with endless regret.]

Chen Sheng was lost in thought as he looked at the text that had appeared on the Celestial Book.

’If the Iron Sword Sect insists on protecting Gao Qilin, there’s really nothing I can do at the moment. After all, a top-tier sect in the Prefecture City is different from an ordinary powerhouse in a lesser county.’

’With the latter, you just need to present a government edict, and they wouldn’t dare refuse you openly.’

’But the top-tier powers of the Prefecture City, strictly speaking, co-govern alongside the Government Office. Their foundations are extraordinary. Without sufficient strength of my own, relying solely on the government’s authority is definitely not enough to make them yield.’

’And now, Gao Qilin represents more than just Gao Yuanzhao. Given what happened before, where I bested the Iron Sword Sect, if they were to simply let me take Gao Qilin now, they would lose all face.’

’Therefore, going to the Iron Sword Sect to demand they hand him over is doomed to fail.’

’However, I didn’t expect a new opportunity to arise.’

’The Song Clan of Qu Shui has actually colluded with the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance and is preparing to arrange a marriage with Gao Qilin. This is a great opportunity. Once Gao Qilin leaves the sanctuary of the Iron Sword Sect, I can easily deal with a nobody like him.’

’Besides that, the Song Clan is hiding half a bottle of Profound Origin Spirit Water...’

’Now that’s a treasure.’

As far as he knew, the Song Clan of Qu Shui was a vassal of Luoyun Manor. Their main purpose was to provide the manor with resources, the most important of which was the Profound Origin Spirit Water.

A single drop of this substance was priceless. It could enhance Cultivation and be used in Alchemy and Medicine Refining. It was one of the three greatest Spirit Waters in Ning’an Prefecture. Of the other two, one was at the Golden Spring Temple, and the other was with the Danxia Sect.

None of them were easily obtainable; they were truly top-tier resources.

A full half-bottle... the Song Clan of Qu Shui must have been secretly hoarding it for a long time.

And now that he knew about it, there was no way he would let this heaven-sent opportunity slip through his fingers.

Just as he was thinking this, Xu Shenzhi’s voice suddenly came from outside the office.

Chen Sheng withdrew his gaze and said flatly,

"Come in."

Xu Shenzhi walked into the Government Office Hall and bowed to Chen Sheng.

"Greetings, Captain."

"How did it go?"

Chen Sheng asked calmly.

"Captain, I’ve looked into the various Artifact Refining Masters in Ning’an Prefecture, but... I’m afraid none of them will be easy to commission." Xu Shenzhi explained, a troubled look on his face.

"There are three famous Artifact Refining Masters in Ning’an Prefecture. One is in the Iron Sword Sect, one is at the Golden Spring Temple, and the last is in the Danxia Sect..."

Chen Sheng’s eyes narrowed.

’Well, what do you know.’

’These Artifact Refining Masters are really putting me in a tough spot.’

’I’m on bad terms with both the Iron Sword Sect and the Golden Spring Temple.’

’The only one left, the Danxia Sect, won’t be easy to persuade either. They’re a top-tier power; they won’t just agree to forge a saber for me.’

’It’s not that the Jingwu Bureau doesn’t have Artifact Refining Masters, but talents like that are all in the State City. There’s no one of that caliber here in Ning’an Prefecture.’

’And who knows how long a round trip to the State City would take.’

Chen Sheng thought for a moment. He could only shelve the matter for now. He would first test the Danxia Sect’s attitude. If they refused, he would ask Nie Xuanfeng to help send the Cold-Intimidating Blade to the State City.

"I understand."

Chen Sheng did not betray much of his thoughts.

"Captain, we’ve also tracked down Gao Qilin. He’s inside the Iron Sword Sect. Should we go and demand they hand him over, or...?" Xu Shenzhi changed the subject and continued.

Chen Sheng deliberated for a moment before saying,

"The Iron Sword Sect won’t hand him over so easily. Continue to gather information on Gao Qilin. See if any other opportunities present themselves."

"Yes, I understand."

Xu Shenzhi bowed and withdrew.

Chen Sheng closed his eyes and resumed his meditative breathing.

Although he had already learned about the engagement from the Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil, he couldn’t possibly reveal that. It was best to let his own men discover the information first.

That way, it wouldn’t seem unnatural.

Otherwise, always anticipating events and knowing things before anyone else would be far too suspicious.

---

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