NOVPUB
Chapter 413: Chapter 409 Competition
"So, no matter the environment, good people and bad people will always exist."
Gu Jinlai felt somewhat twisted inside.
Pan Dali, his karma as dark as ink, yet he watched helplessly as he swaggered before him, even abusing martial and authoritative powers, yet he could do nothing about it.
Even...
In the upcoming team leader election, he would have to cast his vote for him, supporting him.
It was like in Blue Star, watching helplessly as superiors engaged in corruption, but due to their higher rank, one still had to express satisfaction and support for their superiors’ work when filing reports.
And on Blue Star, actively opposing might at most cost one’s job, but here, it could cost one’s life.
"Martial Arts Will."
Gu Jinlai’s expression carried a hint of mockery.
In such an environment, how could he directly face his true self, seek his true self, and subdue his true self to ultimately achieve unity with his true self and condense the Martial Arts Will?
...
Southeast City District courtyard.
When Gu Jinlai returned, Zhao Yushu had already been waiting there with others.
Seeing Gu Jinlai, she hurriedly approached with joy, "Senior Gu, you’ve finally arrived."
"Hmm? Have you finished dealing with your business alliance matters?"
Gu Jinlai replied somewhat disinterestedly.
"Yes, after more than a month of efforts, our Yellow Dragon Commerce, along with the original six great chambers of commerce and two other significant chambers, have joined forces to create the Wind and Rain Commerce Alliance. My reform plans have been unanimously agreed upon by everyone, and soon, the Wind and Rain Commerce Alliance will complete its integration and rapidly extend its influence to surrounding cities."
As Zhao Yushu spoke, good at reading expressions and intentions, she also sensed something, "Senior Gu, is there anything I can help you with?"
Gu Jinlai glanced at her.
Martial King and Martial Saint already represented the top echelon in Wind and Rain City.
Such ripples at this level were not something Zhao Yushu could handle.
He waved his hand, "No worries, the completion of the Wind and Rain Commerce Alliance is a good thing. I’m waiting to see you perform, is there anything else?"
"This."
Zhao Yushu took out a jade box.
This jade box contained a special energy fluctuation, and just by its appearance, one could tell it was of considerable value.
"Senior Gu, would you like to have a look?"
"Oh."
Gu Jinlai took the jade box and opened it, soon, a piece of dark purple, but seemingly flowing like mercury, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures appeared before him.
As he opened the jade box, streaks of electric light also flickered on it.
"Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold!?"
Gu Jinlai was somewhat surprised.
"Yes, I heard that Senior Gu needed this kind of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, so, after the establishment of the Wind and Rain Commerce Alliance, I arranged for Senior Gu to represent our Yellow Dragon Commerce as one of the thirteen grand tributes for the alliance, and the annual salary for a grand tribute is a top-level Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures."
Zhao Yushu said.
Although Gu Jinlai knew she was using his status as a Martial King to increase the speaking rights of Yellow Dragon Commerce in the Wind and Rain Commerce Alliance, her approach was approved by him.
Now that she could also secure a top-tier Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures for him as an unexpected joy...
"You are considerate."
Gu Jinlai said.
Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold was worth millions.
One should know, a bounty for a Martial Sect often amounted to around ten million.
"I’m glad Senior Gu is pleased."
Zhao Yushu revealed a smile.
"When is the inauguration of the Wind and Rain Commerce Alliance? I will attend it."
Gu Jinlai actively said.
"It’s in half a month, I will come to pick up Senior Gu then."
"Good."
Gu Jinlai nodded.
After exchanging a few more words, Zhao Yushu took her leave.
Gu Jinlai looked at the Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold...
Although he had finally obtained this material, a single piece was ultimately too little.
"Let’s try it."
Gu Jinlai swallowed the Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold.
The next moment, though not completely stable yet within his body, the operable Eternal Furnace began to run, and the intense and radiant energy churned incessantly within the Eternal Furnace. It quickly got digested and then permeated into his body through the Chaotic Thunder Primordial Body.
Several hours later, Gu Jinlai opened his eyes.
"It will likely take about one hundred fifty to two hundred pieces of Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold to cultivate the Chaotic Thunder Primordial Body to Mahayana,"
He quickly concluded this based on the efficiency of refining a piece of Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold. 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
One hundred fifty to two hundred pieces of Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold, that’s equivalent to fifteen to twenty billion.
And on the Danger Level list, the few individuals ranked at the top only have bounties of five to ten billion, those people either being like Pan Dali who are Peak Martial Kings or High-level Heavenly Beings.
It’s known that High-level Martial Kings have a significant advantage against Ordinary Martial Kings and can even take on two at a time. If a Top Martial King makes a move, unless there’s a significant difference in their movement techniques, that Ordinary Martial King might not even be able to escape with their life.
Although he barely had the combat power of a High-level Martial King, facing a Peak Martial King or a High-level Heavenly Being still meant his chances of escaping unscathed were dubious.
"If only I still had my Qiankun Ring,"
Gu Jinlai thought to himself.
Even though he couldn’t use the True Spirit Power because of the watchful eyes of the Aries Star Lord and couldn’t activate the Cheng Ying Mecha, his Qiankun Ring contained a Dao Artifact Level Divine Mountain Sword.
The price of a single Dao Artifact could often reach dozens of billions.
If sold, gathering one or two hundred pieces of Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold wouldn’t be difficult.
Once the Chaotic Thunder Primordial Body reached Mahayana, that would enhance his precise control over the power of the "Eternal Furnace" within his body to some extent.
By that time, his regular strikes would not be inferior to Martial Arts Divine Skills, and coupled with his exquisite swordsmanship, even if his equipment was slightly inferior, he could still possess the combat capability of the Top Martial King, or even a Peak Martial King.
"Let’s see if I can gather more resources, and also study other Martial Arts inheritances. If that’s truly not possible, I’ll just have to wait until the Eternal Furnace stabilizes and then target a Heavenly Being or Martial Saint from the Extreme Danger List, or even a Saint."
Gu Jinlai pondered.
He "looked" at the remaining twenty-four strands of Qingguang in his spiritual world.
Of these twenty-four strands, twenty-two were originally present, and the other two were added this month.
These Qingguang could save him a lot of time in cultivating Cultivation Techniques and swordsmanship, but at the Martial King and Heavenly Being phases, swordsmanship and bursts of power aren’t crucial. Cultivation involves reshaping the body and bloodline transformations that need support from external objects.
Unless he could cultivate like he did with the Grand Sun Nine Refinement Visualization Method by directly smashing down multiple times the Qingguang, forcibly creating a jump in levels to condense something akin to a weakened version of the True Spirit—a weakened Sacred Body.
Otherwise, these twenty-four strands of Qingguang would not enable him to experience a rapid increase in strength in a short period.
...
Three days later, before Gu Jinlai had gone to the Martial Saint Institute, Qian Wuque and Hua Yumian had already come looking for him in advance.
In the living room,
Gu Jinlai had the housekeeper prepare tea.
After some pleasantries, Hua Yumian expressed with some envy, "Ancient Martial King indeed possesses great audacity. Barely half a month into Wind and Rain City, and you’ve joined the ranks of the Sweepers, becoming a member of the Sweepers. Right now, the four major forces are jointly considering establishing a completely new department, and Ancient Martial King has encountered a good opportunity."
"You flatter me; it was just a coincidence. I didn’t expect such a decision from the higher-ups,"
Gu Jinlai said.
"Now, many Martial Kings inside the institute wish to join the ranks of the Sweepers, but the scrutiny has evidently become more strict. It’s said that the higher-ups have implemented a new system where new members must complete three hunts to become official Sweepers..."
Hua Yumian mentioned as she glanced at Gu Jinlai.
If it weren’t for the fact that Gu Jinlai came from outside Wind and Rain City, she would have suspected that he had some top-tier backing behind him.
"Three tasks are not too difficult,"
Gu Jinlai said.
"Nevertheless, this ultimately involves questions of seniority,"
Hua Yumian spoke, lowering her voice slightly: "The new department’s name has been established, continuing the name of the Sweepers, as the Clearing Department, headed by City Lord Zhao with Military Commander Jin, Martial Arts Academy Master, and Cao Junzhu as vice directors. The three vice directors also serve as the commanders of the three major teams, with Vice Commanders being the Peak Heavenly Being Su Liangyi, Martial Saint Mu Changsheng, and Emperor Bai."
Well, the four great powers in Wind and Rain City had directly allocated the highest positions of the Clearing Department among themselves.
Mu Changsheng and Emperor Bai, also among the top powers in Wind and Rain City just after the Four Great Giants.
Wind and Rain City, in some respects, is directly controlled by these sixteen families collectively consisting of the Four Great Giants, nine Martial Saints, and three National Guardian Devas.
However, from the selections of department heads, vice department heads, and vice-commanders, it can be inferred how high the rank of the Clearing Department is.
Even if it can’t compare to the Demon-slaying Hall or the Martial Arts Academy, it likely isn’t much lower.
"The stations have already been partitioned among the major teams. The key now is the sixteen sub-teams; each sub-team receiving one captain and two vice-captains along with twenty to thirty members. Currently, who the sixteen captains and thirty-two vice-captains will be hasn’t been finalized, but the superiors have already outlined the responsibilities for captains and vice-captains: captains are equal to the Domain Masters, vice-captains to the Vice Domain Masters."
Hua Yumian said, her eyes filled with envy: "In pursuing Out–of–Control agents and Demonic Cultists, they even have the authority to ask the Domain Masters and Vice Domain Masters to assist in operations."
Gu Jinlai looked at Hua Yumian who was explaining the details to him, considering the implications, "You two didn’t specifically come just to inform me of this, did you?"
Qian Wuque and Hua Yumian looked at each other.
Hua Yumian said straightforwardly, "Ancient Martial King guessed right, I’m here on Jin Yuhai’s behalf to inquire about your attitude. The captain position in the Southeast City District will inevitably belong to our Martial Saint Institute. The Sweepers from our institute are only six plus three, making a total of nine. Of the nine, Pan Dali is the strongest, but you know what kind of person Pan Dali is, Ancient Martial King. He thinks to solve everything with brute force and is extremely domineering in his personal dealings. If he becomes captain, would you and your fellows have any good days ahead? In contrast, Jin Yuhai is different..."
She said gravely, "Martial King Jin has a gentle nature and possesses a manner befitting of the gentry. Key is, he’s the son of Jin, the Hall Master of the Demon-slaying Hall, whose network far surpasses the other contenders..."
After Hua Yumian praised Jin Yuhai extensively, she added at the end, "If Ancient Martial King is willing to support Martial King Jin to become the captain of the Southeast Team, Martial King Jin promises, once successful, he will deliver the Thunder Origin Divine Body you wish to exchange and read, right to your hands."
