The Ancestors of the Four Great Clans of Linji City’s Inner City were once merely Outer Sect Stewards of the Great Dao Sect. They built their immense family influence using the merit and connections they accumulated during their time as stewards.

It could be said that as long as Mr. Zheng made no mistakes during his tenure as an Outer Sect Steward, he could easily establish a family no weaker than the Four Great Clans of Linji City’s Inner City.

If Mr. Zheng were to be given greater responsibilities and his Martial Arts Power advanced further, he could even hope to be promoted to an Inner Sect Elder. Then he could establish roots in Su State City and develop his influence there.

The Great Dao Sect was currently in great need of manpower. Not long after becoming an Outer Sect Steward, Mr. Zheng was entrusted with a major task: he was dispatched to Sanmen Prefecture to handle potential turmoil from Jianghu influences and the demon beast menace.

The situation in Sanmen Prefecture was said to be quite severe. Forces from other State Cities were infiltrating the region, the local Jianghu Martial Artists were growing restless, and the people were uneasy. On top of that, a Tier Six Demon Beast had appeared.

If the situation was mishandled, it could very well shake the very foundation of the Great Dao Sect. For this reason, the sect re-established the Inspection Department.

When the Great Yu was founded, it established three core government offices: the Inspection Department, the Demon Suppression Department, and the City Guard Department.

For a long time, the Inspection Department was a core department of power in the Great Yu, reporting directly to the Great Yu Royal Family. Its authority even surpassed that of the Demon Suppression Department and the City Guard Department.

But in Su State, after the Great Dao Sect seceded and took control, it disbanded this government office.

After all, this government office’s predecessor had been loyal to the Great Yu Royal Family. It patrolled and monitored the various regions on their behalf, exposing corrupt officials. Its main officials were all directly appointed by the Great Yu Royal Family.

To solidify its control over Su State, the Great Dao Sect naturally couldn’t allow the Inspection Department to remain.

Now, the Great Dao Sect had re-established the Inspection Department. Its function was identical to before, but the people employed were, of course, all core members of the Great Dao Sect. It answered only to the sect and had long since severed all ties with the Great Yu Royal Family.

The Inspection Department of Sanmen Prefecture was to be led by an Outer Sect Elder from the Great Dao Sect, who would serve directly as its Director.

The other two Vice Directors were both Outer Sect Stewards of the Great Dao Sect, and Mr. Zheng was one of them.

The Great Dao Sect wasn’t just establishing an Inspection Department in Sanmen Prefecture. Su State City and all the Prefecture Cities under its jurisdiction would soon follow suit.

Because the Black Lotus Sect Headquarters was located in the Great Wilderness Mountain Range, Linji City was on the front lines and would also be establishing an Inspection Department very soon.

In the Inner City District, a rather large plot of land next to the City Lord’s Mansion had already been cleared to build the new Inspection Bureau Office. Construction was underway at a feverish pace.

The Great Dao Sect’s grand and conspicuous mobilization made Chen Cheng sense the impending crisis.

The situation outside of Su State City had likely become perilous, to the point where it could shake the Great Dao Sect’s rule.

The Northern Territory was likely on the brink of turmoil. And if that was the case in the Northern Territory, then the rest of the Great Yu—the Central State, the Western Regions, the Southern Wilderness, and the East Sea—were probably not at peace either.

The rolling tide of fate was finally coming.

No matter how the world changes, only the strong survive!

’If I don’t want to be crushed like an ant in this coming tide, my only choice is to relentlessly improve my Martial Arts Power and prepare for what’s to come.’

The inner courtyard of the Zheng Martial Arts Hall was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners. Everyone was busy celebrating. Even Mu Xiaowan had a rare day off and was called away by Sixth Madam Luo Yunzhi to chat with her.

Chen Cheng, however, remained in his own courtyard, engrossed in cultivating the Martial Dao.

Long Saber in hand, Chen Cheng stood tall and aloof in his green robes, meticulously recalling the Wind Chasing Youth Demon-Slaying Map in his mind.

Suddenly, the Qi Blood Power around Chen Cheng surged. A gentle breeze began to stir in the otherwise tranquil courtyard.

At first, the wind was extremely slow, and a few leaves drifted gently down from the treetops.

Ripples suddenly appeared in the air, and the wind’s momentum shifted. It began to sound like a mournful cry, and the fallen leaves scattered in every direction.

Then, the wind swelled, turning into a furious howl that made the branches in the courtyard whip back and forth. Leaves swirled up into the air.

As his robes whipped violently around him, Chen Cheng suddenly drew his saber and slashed!

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

A gale, carrying sharp, blade-like gusts of wind, surged forward in layered waves, sweeping toward the falling leaves in mid-air.

After the wind passed, the entire courtyard suddenly fell silent. The leaves drifted down slowly.

All that remained of the leaves were their skeletal veins, every tiny detail visible.

Chen Cheng sheathed his Long Saber and slowly reached out to catch a leaf, a faint smile appearing on his face.

’Although my Qingfeng Saber Intent hasn’t reached the Perfection Realm yet, I can now unleash it at full power using just twenty percent of my Qi Blood Power.’

’Its might is also extremely sharp. Against anyone below the Bone Forging Realm, a single move results in a White Bone Transformation!’

’Even against a Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist who hasn’t cultivated a Realm of intent, I’d be hard-pressed to find a match!’

’As for Marrow Cleansing Realm Martial Artists, they can use the even more formidable True Force, and most have mastered a First Layer Realm.’

’Even if I used both my Great Power Realm and my Qingfeng Saber Intent at the same time, it would probably be difficult to win.’

’But escaping from a Marrow Cleansing Realm Martial Artist shouldn’t be too hard.’

There were only a handful of Marrow Cleansing Realm Martial Artists in all of Linji City, and every one of them was a prominent figure who wouldn’t act rashly.

Plus, with Mr. Zheng’s influence, Chen Cheng didn’t need to worry too much.

"Not bad. With my current Martial Arts Power, I can barely protect myself."

He thought to himself and summoned his status panel to take a look.

[Name: Chen Cheng

Realm: Bone Forging (Small Success)

Skills: Iron Armor Dragon Elephant Skill (Small Success 366/1000)

Dragon Elephant Bone Forging Technique (Uninitiated 1/10)

Dragon’s Roar Iron Cloth Shirt (Small Success 533/1000)

Tendon-Separating Bone-Crushing Hand (Beginner Level 12/100)

Powerful Eagle Claw Skill (Perfection) (Powerful Eagle Claw Stance) (First Layer of the Great Power Realm) (Inferring Second Layer Technique of the Great Power Realm... Progress: 82/1000. When inference reaches Perfection, the Second Layer can be further cultivated.)