NOVPUB
Chapter 444: Chapter 440: Handover
Gu Jinlai had arrived at the Law Enforcement Court of the Outer City District when Tang Zhengxiao had already returned with the spoils seized from the Thunder Origin Sect.
Among their group, there wasn’t even a single Martial King, yet they had escorted a vast amount of supplies across two hundred li and remarkably, hadn’t encountered any incidents.
"Dean, the assets of the Thunder Origin Sect have been fully seized. After a preliminary inventory and including some assets that need to be liquidated, the total value is around four hundred and thirty million,"
Tang Zhengxiao reported.
"Four hundred and thirty million... "
Gu Jinlai nodded.
Since the Sect of Thunder Origin was situated in the Outer City District, far from the Inner City by more than two hundred li, they naturally couldn’t get their hands on anything top-notch.
To have four hundred and thirty million...
It likely had to do with their backing.
He then turned his gaze to An Yu.
An Yu smiled bitterly, "The Zhang Family’s assets had gone through a round of transfers. Even though due to the time constraints, they couldn’t completely transfer it all, still, from what we could seize, the total gains were no more than sixty million, and even including the Zhang family estate, it barely reaches ninety million."
"The Zhang Family must have paid a significant price to have Cao Congyun take action,"
Gu Jinlai wasn’t surprised.
He estimated that the Zhang Family, being guarded by a Peak Martial King, likely had total assets close to a billion.
Without that amount, it probably wouldn’t have been easy to motivate Cao Congyun.
As for why the Bai Family, although having Devas, had assets far inferior to the Zhang Family...
The Cheng Ying Sword in his hands was the best explanation.
The Zhang Family and Thunder Origin Sect had rounded up people to kill him. He annihilated the Thunder Origin Sect; thus, these assets were part of his spoils of war.
This was also because he acted so swiftly in seizing the Bai Family’s assets that he could swallow them as well.
After considering for a moment, he said, "Keep the Zhang family estate. As for the assets of the Thunder Origin Sect and those seized from the Zhang Family, consider them as part of the seizures from the Fang Family, Bai Family, Luo Family, and other families, to be handed over to the Inner City."
Saying this, he paused in his tone: "You keep thirty million for yourselves to distribute."
Upon hearing this, both Tang Zhengxiao and An Yu instantly perked up: "Yes."
With arrangements in place, Gu Jinlai planned to visit the Wind and Rain Chamber of Commerce to exchange the Quasi-Dao Artifact Spirit Sword he held.
This Quasi-Dao Artifact originally belonged to Bai Fengyu. As a Deva, his need for Dao Artifacts differed from that of a Martial King, so he intended to exchange it for another Quasi-Dao Artifact that would better serve as his primary weapon in battle.
At that moment, he left the Law Enforcement Court.
As he stepped out of the Law Enforcement Court, he glanced at the District Chief Mansion, also located in this same area.
The entire District Chief Mansion was eerily quiet.
Tang Zhengxiao and An Yu brought so much stuff, causing such a commotion, yet Fang Jianfei and Zhen Chuanzong didn’t dare make a single peep.
Gu Jinlai didn’t target them and left the area.
However, he had not yet reached the Wind and Rain Chamber of Commerce when someone hurriedly found him.
Half an hour later, Gu Jinlai appeared in Dean Yan’s office.
Upon entering, Dean Yan stared at Gu Jinlai, his eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.
After a while, he finally spoke, "When you killed Wan Tianlie and Fang Butong, two great Martial Kings, showing strength comparable to a Top Martial King or even a Peak Martial King, I found it somewhat unbelievable. However, from what I’ve learned, you took a loan of nine billion and through the channels of Wind and Rain Chamber of Commerce, purchased a massive amount of Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold. I reckon, perhaps, you’ve honed your physique to the extreme, maybe even... derived a Divine Power? If you derived a Divine Power, killing Wan Tianlie and Fang Butong wouldn’t be difficult."
With his voice rising, he said: "But a death trap laid by high-rank entities like Bai Fengyu, Zhang Zhongshan, Lei Dao, including one High-level Deva and eight Martial Kings, even Top Devas would need to leverage aerial superiority to break them one by one... How... how did you do it as a Martial King?"
"Actually, even if Dean Yan hadn’t sought me, I would have looked for you,"
Gu Jinlai said with a smile, taking out a small booklet: "You should be aware that I had exchanged for the Great Thunder Sword Technique not long ago? I found that the Derivation Divine Abilities in the Great Thunder Sword Technique are quite similar to a Divine Ability I coincidentally acquired years ago."
"The Thunder Sword?"
Dean Yan took the booklet and began flipping through it.
"Correct,"
Gu Jinlai nodded.
What he gave to Dean Yan was the Thunder Sword.
"When I acquired this Divine Power, I’ve been diligently comprehending it. Why do you think I chose to exchange for the Ten Thousand Thunders Secret Scripture, the Great Thunder Sword Technique, and even didn’t spare the Thunder Origin Divine Body? Afterwards, I even exchanged for the Thunder Staff and Primordial Magnetic Divine Light, two Devas Divine Powers, as references to fully master this Thunder Sword Divine Power,"
Gu Jinlai explained, "Although this Divine Power leans more towards Deva’s Divine Power, based on my research over the years, a Martial King who cultivates the Great Thunder Sword Technique and Thunder Origin Divine Body can also practice it, though it’s considerably more challenging. However, my innate understanding of swordsmanship and Divine Powers is quite extraordinary. Considering the power and traits of this Divine Power, the effort is worth it no matter how great."
Dean Yan had indeed found it strange when Gu Jinlai exchanged for the Deva’s Divine Power initially.
At that time, he also said it was for the purpose of comprehension.
Unexpectedly...
It had been less than a month, and he had already delivered such a tremendous surprise!
After a while, having flipped through the Divine Power, Dean Yan somewhat marveled, "The power and traits of this Divine Power are not much inferior to Top-grade Divine Power. If you also consider the advantage that a Martial King can cultivate it, its value is almost on par with a Top-grade Divine Power."
"Top-grade Divine Power?"
Gu Jinlai himself seemed somewhat surprised, "I poured a great amount of time and effort into this divine power, just unwilling to give up when I couldn’t perfect it and always trying to complete and comprehend it. Unexpectedly, it actually possesses such formidable power."
"So, was it through this divine power that you managed to counter-kill those nine from Bai Fengyu, Zhang Zhongshan, and the others’ encirclement?"
"Yes."
Gu Jinlai nodded, "I comprehended this divine power for more than a decade, and after reviewing the Great Thunder Sword Technique and comprehending the Thunder Staff, I achieved sudden enlightenment. With momentum built from a deep foundation, merely half a month after entry-level, I had already perfected the cultivation of this divine power. Ordinary Heavenly Beings wielding Dao Artifacts might not withstand the shooting of the Thunder Sword."
"You actually cultivated this divine power to perfection!?"
Yan Lie involuntarily’s pupils shrank.
"It was precisely by relying on this fully cultivated divine power, and leveraging Bai Fengyu’s careless attitude, that I managed a preemptive surprise attack with the Thunder Sword to blast him away, and then strategically prevented Zhang Zhongshan and the others from teaming up to encircle me, thereby managing to defeat each of them separately," explained Gu Jinlai.
"If it weren’t for this divine power being perfected, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve such a battle record," said Gu Jinlai.
"Perfect Divine Power... to actually perfect the cultivation of this divine power..."
Yan Lie looked at Gu Jinlai, somewhat envious.
How incredibly difficult it is to perfect a divine power?
For ordinary Heavenly Beings, it often requires a hundred years of effort.
Gu Jinlai did it through a single moment of sudden enlightenment...
Although he had previously invested decades of effort into this divine power, which can be said to be the momentum built from a profound foundation, and moreover, sudden enlightenment is an unpredictable event...
Yet possessing a perfect divine power, especially one so refined it nears top-grade, was still enough to cause a fundamental transformation in the life of a Martial King.
"Ancient Martial King, you really have good karma," remarked Yan Lie.
"There’s an old saying, ’One who survives great disaster is bound for future fortune.’ I’ve endured countless hardships on my way to the Holy Dynasty and, in addition, made a decisive choice in seeking my true self... My state of spirit and mental state were undergoing changes all the time, which enabled me to enter sudden enlightenment and perfect the cultivation of this divine power," said Gu Jinlai.
Yan Lie listened and nodded in agreement.
Individuals like Gu Jinlai, who survived life-threatening experiences to finally reach the Holy Dynasty and came into contact with more complete texts and legacies of the dynasty, thus significantly advancing their cultivation, were not uncommon.
It’s just that Gu Jinlai’s power increased relatively quickly.
To perfect the cultivation of a divine power that approximates top-grade in its intricacy...
Bai Fengyu, Zhang Zhongshan, Lei Dao, and others targeting such an unconventional Martial King and losing is not unjust.
"I want to offer this divine power in exchange for another one," said Gu Jinlai, pausing, "Preferably a top-grade one involving the Star Magnetic Field."’
Yan Lie had guessed as much when Gu Jinlai readily offered the Thunder Sword.
He nodded solemnly, "Rest assured, your divine power, since it can be cultivated by martial artists as well, is no less valuable than a top-grade divine power. It is reasonable to request an exchange for a top-grade one, though I can’t guarantee that it will involve the Star Magnetic Field."
"Thank you, Dean Yan," said Gu Jinlai.
"There’s no need to thank me; you deserve this," said Yan Lie, looking at Gu Jinlai and smiling contentedly: "I’ve heard about what you did in the Southeast Outer City District. Well done."
"I was merely doing my duty," said Gu Jinlai.
"That is also what many people cannot achieve," Yan Lie lifted the pamphlet in his hand: "With this divine power, you should be able to fend off the peering eyes of those thirteen dignitaries, especially since you’ve surrendered it. And beyond those thirteen dignitaries, you need not pay much attention to others."
Saying so, he glanced at Gu Jinlai.
Originally at least equivalent to a High-level Martial King, after refining a large amount of Thunder Magnetic Elemental Gold, he was probably now at the Top Martial King level.
And now with this divine power, which is near top-grade and was cultivated to perfection by him...
His combat power might not be much inferior even to Peak Heavenly Beings.
Once he condenses the Martial Arts Will...
He might be able to contest those holding top-grade Daoist Artifacts, or who also cultivated perfection in divine powers, like National Guardian Devas.
After pondering for a moment, Yan Lie spoke again, "With the combat power you now possess, you’ve already reached the level just below those thirteen dignitaries. The Dean might try to recruit you, but I wonder..."
"I am willing to join the Martial Saint Institute," said Gu Jinlai. "However, I am not ready to give up my identity as a Sweeper and my status in the Outer City District yet."
Saying so, he carefully added, "This relates to the condensation of my Martial Arts Will."
Yan Lie listened and nodded deeply, "Good, it’s great that you can express your stance plainly. Rest assured, I will persuade the Dean on your behalf. I can’t promise much time, but for the next three years, you can prioritize condensing your Martial Arts Will. As long as you don’t commit any outrageous acts during this period, no one will disturb you."
