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Chapter 146: Chapter 143: Marriage Alliance
Why had the State Governor, Qi Zhongsheng, died?
Why had the situation in Star State suddenly deteriorated?
Why had there been a fallout between the State Lord Mansion and Dragon Sparrow Manor?
What conspiracy lay hidden behind all this, and who was the unknown manipulator stirring up storms!?
These were matters both the State Lord Mansion and Dragon Sparrow Manor wanted to understand.
At the moment...
Looking at this piece of intelligence, the truth seemingly surfaced unexpectedly!?
"Gu Jinlai!"
Su Wen looked at the intelligence, analyzing it word by word.
After a while, he suddenly shouted, "Someone, gather all the details of what Gu Jinlai did when he entered our Starlight City during the Ten Miles Slope festival! I want the most detailed intelligence!"
"Yes!"
Soon, a voice responded from outside.
In the following days, Su Wen buried himself in these pieces of intelligence.
He carefully probed and seriously analyzed each and every piece, refusing to overlook any possible omissions.
Finally...
Through Gu Jinlai’s actions, together with the intelligence received from Baihe City, a conclusion extremely close to the truth was on the verge of emerging.
"It’s him! It’s him! It is him!"
Su Wen emphatically said, "The main culprit behind our major plan’s failure, the death of the State Governor, our mutual suspicion and enmity with Dragon Sparrow Manor, and the chaos throughout all Star State, is Gu Jinlai!"
It had to be him!
Suddenly, Su Wen swiftly stood up, heading directly towards the State Lord Mansion to find Xin Tianqi, who was temporarily acting as the Star State Governor.
"I must see the Star Lord!"
...
Within Lingxiao City.
Gu Jinlai was entertaining a guest.
A guest who somewhat surprised him.
"Nie Shisan, Elder Nie, your arrival truly astonishes me," Gu Jinlai said as he looked at the Supreme Elder from the Nine Formulas Sword Sect.
"If I’m not mistaken, there seems to be no acquaintance between us?"
"Familiarity grows with each meeting, and every acquaintance starts with a process," Nie Shisan said with a smile.
"Moreover, I have come here specifically to bring a small gift for Heavenly Monarch Gu, as a token of our first meeting."
"Oh? A gift?"
Gu Jinlai looked towards the courtyard.
Nie Shisan clapped his hands.
Instantly, a Divine General escorted a group of more than ten people forward.
These ten or so people...
He recognized several of them.
"Zhengyi Dao Elder Bai Shu, along with Zhengyi Sixth Son," Gu Jinlai said.
"That’s them."
Nie Shisan nodded. "With Star State in chaos and the State Lord Mansion intent on wiping us out, we had to form an alliance to protect ourselves; otherwise, we would be completely devoured by the forces like the Cold Moon Sect, Netherworld Sect, Purgatory Sect, Yellow Sky Sect, and Dragon Sparrow Manor. Zhengyi Dao also wanted to join our alliance. After understanding the grievances between you and them, Elder Gu, I immediately brought them to you for your disposal."
"Zhengyi Dao, huh," Gu Jinlai mused, recalling the scenes when he had first arrived in this world.
Back then, his soul transmigrated into the body of a deviated elder from the Purgatory Demon Sect, "Gu Jinlai," and not understanding the Mystic Use of Green Lotus, he was anxious and sought to quickly turn away from evil, doing good deeds to cleanse the Karma BUFF from his spirit. As a result...
He was targeted by Zhengyi Dao, put through a test.
In the end, Zhengyi Dao Elder Bai Shu seized the opportunity to grievously wound him, who had only transmigrated a month ago and had yet to grasp movement techniques and swordsmanship.
At that time, the Hugging Pill Dharma Protector of the Purgatory Sect’s abode was not present, no one was around to aid him, and he was forced to flee in haste.
During that period, he was hunted by Zhengyi Sixth Son, pursued by many masters from Zhengyi Dao, living in constant fear, with no escape from heaven and no entrance to earth.
Recalling those days...
Gu Jinlai felt somewhat emotional.
His gaze fell on Bai Shu.
Since he had the Cultivation of Hugging Pill, for safety reasons, he had been crippled by Nie Shisan and appeared weak and elderly, far from his former spirited self.
"Elder Zhengyi Dao, long time no see."
"Gu... Heavenly Monarch Gu..."
Bai Shu looked at Gu Jinlai, his face filled with bitterness. "I am aware of my deep sins and certain of my death, and I am willing to be disposed of by the Heavenly Monarch. However, these disciples have all acted upon orders; I implore Heavenly Monarch to show leniency towards them."
"Acted upon orders," Gu Jinlai looked towards Ding Buqi, who led the Zhengyi Sixth Son.
This young master from Zhengyi Dao, already cultivated to the Gang Condensation Realm, was quite popular.
Such a realm...
In a county city, he could be a dominant figure.
Back when Gu Jinlai had almost been sent to govern Huayin County, the strongest in the Four Great Families were at Gang Condensation level.
Not to mention a county city, even in a small city like Sunset City, he would be considered a top-notch expert.
But now, what was his identity?
Lord of Five Cities.
Each city has jurisdiction over a dozen county cities, overseeing millions of people.
A mere Gang Condensation was hardly worthy of note.
Sensing Gu Jinlai’s gaze, Ding Buqi could not help trembling slightly, his eyes filled with fear.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but could not utter a word.
"Release, that’s not possible."
Gu Jinlai turned to Bai Shu, "However, if you are willing to honestly answer my questions, I can give them a chance."
Bai Shu was stunned for a moment and without hesitation said, "Heavenly Monarch Gu, please ask, I shall withhold nothing and spare no detail."
"Back then, did Zhengyi Dao chase after me with Lin Xiao pushing from behind?"
"Yes."
Bai Shu without hesitation said, "Although some covertly hinted to us that Heavenly Monarch Gu had deviated and that your powers were barely a tenth of what they once were, according to our investigation, Lin Xiao was behind that person."
"Good."
Gu Jinlai indifferently said, "Someone, take him to Purgatory Sect, and Purgatory Sect must provide me with an explanation regarding Lin Xiao."
Soon, someone came forward and took Bai Shu away.
Before leaving, Bai Shu looked at Gu Jinlai, his eyes filled with pleading.
"Gu Xiangyang."
Gu Jinlai called out.
"Patriarch."
Gu Xiangyang stepped forward.
"Zhengyi sixth son, don’t say that I’m using my power to bully the younger."
Gu Jinlai calmly said, "I have four disciples, two of whom became traitors, the eldest disciple has become a Refining God Immortal, and now... only Gu Xiangyang remains, based on your actions when I deviated, I could have killed you directly, but I shall still give you a chance. The six of you, if you can defeat him, you may live; if not, you die."
Ding Buqi and his five companions looked at Gu Xiangyang.
Gu Xiangyang was a Hugging Pill.
The six of them...
Though there was one in the Gang Condensation Realm and five in Qi Refinement, facing a Hugging Pill, a desperate fight was not necessarily without a sliver of hope.
"Thank you, Heavenly Monarch Gu."
Ding Buqi replied, his eyes resolute.
Bai Shu also bowed his head, letting the Gu family disciples take him away.
This slim chance of survival was the best condition he could secure for these disciples.
"Since the Patriarch is both the Gu family Patriarch and my master, Gu Xiangyang, you six once insulted my master, and as his disciple, this vengeance must be avenged,"
Gu Xiangyang said gravely, leaving the courtyard.
Zhengyi sixth son followed.
Gu Jinlai did not leave the main hall.
It turns out none of Zhengyi sixth son had reached the Light Red Level; among them, one even bore the Light Purple name.
In Changjun City’s Cultivation World, they were undoubtedly considered young heroes.
That was the reason Gu Jinlai was willing to give them a chance for survival.
Unfortunately...
Several moments later, Gu Xiangyang, his body stained with blood, entered the main hall, "Patriarch, I have not failed your command; those who offended you have all been put to death."
"Go and apply medicine."
Gu Jinlai said.
The death of Zhengyi sixth son...
Left him feeling somewhat dazed.
The initial panic when he first crossed into this world, and now having steadied his position...
Unknowingly, he had truly integrated into this world and started to become accustomed to the way this world operates.
"Heavenly Monarch Gu’s actions can truly be regarded as utterly righteous and benevolent,"
Nie Shisan said admiringly.
His words drew Gu Jinlai out of his daze.
"You flatter me,"
he said, adding, "Elder Nie, your visit couldn’t have been solely to bring these people here, could it?"
"This is one of the reasons, but the most important is, our Nine Formulas Sword Sect..."
Nie Shisan said, pausing, "should be that Star Sky Alliance wishes to align with Heavenly Monarch Gu."
"Star Sky Alliance?"
Gu Jinlai faintly realized something.
"Star Sky Alliance is led by our Nine Formulas Sword Sect and Fengyun Meeting, incorporating a series of local forces such as Qiushui Sword Sect and Yunhua Valley, comprising thirteen native forces, and now apart from me, the Divinity Transformation Alliance Leader, there are nineteen Refining God Elders and one hundred twenty Hugging Pill Dharma Protectors, as well as thousands in the Gang Condensation and Qi Refining members,"
Nie Shisan said.
Gu Jinlai had heard about the Nine Formulas Sword Sect and Fengyun Meeting uniting many local forces of Star State, and he hadn’t expected them to settle things so quickly.
One Divinity Transformation, nineteen Refining Gods, along with hundreds of Hugging Pills and thousands in the Gang Condensation and Qi Refining...
This lineup could not be considered weak.
It even surpassed the forces stationed in Star State by the Five Great Powers.
"Star Sky Alliance’s territory mainly covers the central south of Star State, including three cities north of Changjun City and forty-six counties, all under our control,"
Nie Shisan stated.
Gu Jinlai quickly formed an impression in his mind.
The entire Star State is rectangular, two thousand three hundred miles from north to south and one thousand four hundred miles from east to west.
The territory owned by Star Sky Alliance resembles a straight line, the top end being the Capital of Star State, to the left is Netherworld Sect, to the right is Dragon Sparrow Manor, and below originally belonged to Purgatory Sect’s Baihe City, now...
Naturally, it was his territory.
"Alliance Leader Nie, how do you suggest we form an alliance?"
Gu Jinlai asked.
However, Nie Shisan did not answer immediately but instead smiled and said, "Recently, the Gu family disciples have been intensifying ties with local families through marriage alliances..."
"Oh?"
Gu Jinlai listened, also smiling slightly, "Alliance Leader Nie fancy someone? My left hand and right arm Gu Chaoyang, disciple Gu Xiangyang, or the captain of the Personal Guard Gu Chifeng?"
Nie Shisan shook his head, "Heavenly Monarch Gu not only achieved Heavenly Monarch, matching a Divinity Transformation, but also established a vast foundation in Lingxiao City, Baihe, and Chang County among the Five Cities, truly a dragon among men. I wonder how many young ladies see the Heavenly Monarch as a hero and secretly pledge their heart."
He continued smiling, "I have a sworn sister, not a nation-toppling beauty, yet certainly of top-grade appearance and talent. Raised on Treasure Medicine, she established her cultivation foundation and achieved Qi Refining at just nineteen. Upon hearing of Heavenly Monarch Gu’s heroic deeds, she has been deeply infatuated. I wonder if she might catch the eye of the Heavenly Monarch and meet with him?"
