Garrison Chief

"Oh."

Chen Jiuwen found Gu Jinlai's words somewhat unexpected.

He hadn't anticipated Gu Jinlai would have the audacity to offer the method for refining this new type of Treasure Armor.

He understood the performance of this Treasure Armor. If its production could be popularized, the Meteor Guard, and even the Provincial Lord's Mansion, would be significantly strengthened.

With the Provincial Lord's health deteriorating, a powerful military force was paramount to ensuring Xingzhou's independence and its standing above Great Qian, the Ten Great Demonic Sects, and the Six Great Immortal Sects.

Chen Jiuwen pondered for a moment before quickly saying, "It's best that Celestial Master Gu is willing to abandon darkness and embrace light. Furthermore, Celestial Master Gu's actions in attacking the Deputy Pavilion Master of Heavenly Grass Pavilion, Bai Yang, are sufficient proof of his stance. My Meteor Guard needs someone like Celestial Master Gu who is willing to contribute to suppressing the cultivation world."

After speaking, he called out to someone outside, "Go invite Star Envoy Zhang Lü here."

"Yes."

Soon, a Meteor Guard responded and left.

"Star Envoy."

Gu Jinlai had learned about the Meteor Guard while planning his escape route.

The Meteor Guard revered Star Lord Xin Tianqi as their leader.

Under Xin Tianqi's command, there were three major departments: the Main Star Department, the Patrol Star Department, and the Crimson Star Department, responsible for suppression, patrol, and logistics respectively.

Among the three departments, the Main Star Department, responsible for suppressing the cultivation world in various regions, held the most power and had the largest number of personnel.

The Main Star Department had six Star Envoys, all of whom were powerful figures who had achieved Spirit Refining.

The cultivation worlds of Xingzhou's twenty-six cities were under the jurisdiction of these six Star Envoys, who maintained order and ensured that cultivators did not act too recklessly.

Soon, Star Envoy Zhang Lü arrived at the courtyard, led by a Meteor Guard.

On the way, he had already learned from the Meteor Guard the reason for Chen Jiuwen summoning him. As soon as he entered the main hall, his gaze fell upon Gu Jinlai.

"Gu Jinlai, an elder of the Purgatory Sect. Due to suppression by Lin Xiao, he was forced to avoid his sharp edge and flee to Changjun City. Even so, he was relentlessly pursued, and four months ago, news spread that his cultivation was ailing. After being exposed by Bai Shu, an elder of the Orthodox Dao Sect, he escaped Changjun City, only to kill two Core Condensation and over a dozen Qi Refining and Gang Condensation cultivators from the Yellow Heaven Dao outside Changjun City..."

Zhang Lü recounted Gu Jinlai's experiences as if listing treasures, with extreme detail.

At this moment, Gu Jinlai also recalled this person's identity from Yun Guantian's intelligence.

Each of the six Star Envoys guarded a specific region, overseeing the Meteor Guards in four to five of Xingzhou's twenty-six cities.

The Meteor Guards of Changjun City, Lingxiao City, Luori City, and Baihe City all respected Zhang Lü as their superior.

He himself...

was a top-tier expert at the peak of Spirit Refining.

In recent years, he had personally dealt with no less than a handful of True Spirit Refining experts.

"Observing your actions during this period, you may indeed have a genuine desire for reform. Now that you are willing to offer the method for refining Treasure Armor to my Meteor Guard in exchange for an official position, as a member of the Meteor Guard responsible for maintaining order in Xingzhou's cultivation world, I naturally must give you an opportunity."

Zhang Lü did not mention the matter with the Heavenly Grass Pavilion. He only said, "You were once an elder of the Purgatory Sect and a True Spirit Refining expert. Although your cultivation suffered a setback and you fell from Spirit Refining, I cannot let you start as a mere Meteor Guard."

He took out a seal and said, "Recently, demonic forces have been rampant in Lingxiao City, and Garrison Chief Fang's handling of the situation has been quite improper. You will go to Lingxiao City as the Deputy Garrison Chief to assist him in maintaining order."

Deputy Garrison Chief.

This position was not high-level, but it was the second-in-command responsible for overseeing the Meteor Guards of a city.

"Thank you, Star Envoy."

"Your situation is somewhat special right now, so the sooner you take office, the better. Pack your things and depart for Lingxiao City tomorrow."

Zhang Lü said, then instructed the Meteor Guard following him, "Bai Xiong, take Garrison Chief Gu to handle the procedures."

"Yes, sir."

This Meteor Guard responded and quickly left with Gu Jinlai.

After Gu Jinlai left, Chen Jiuwen looked at Zhang Lü with some surprise. "Arranging for him to go to Lingxiao City? Lingxiao City, like Changjun City, is on the verge of breaking away from our Meteor Guard's rule. Placing him there..."

"I know what you're thinking. Since Gu Jinlai is to join our Meteor Guard, he must demonstrate sufficient value."

"The method for refining Treasure Armor he offered..."

"The merit from the Treasure Armor refining method can only guarantee that we will shield him from the Heavenly Grass Pavilion's pursuit. Don't forget, he has also offended the Purgatory Sect and the Demon Refining Hall in Changjun City."

Zhang Lü said calmly, "Let's not even mention the Demon Refining Hall in Changjun City. Isn't the Purgatory Sect an enemy we need to guard against? And the Heavenly Grass Pavilion is one of the major troubles for the Meteor Guard of our Starlight City. The Star Lord has always wanted to completely uproot the Heavenly Grass Pavilion and the Black Tortoise Gate, but he's worried that without a suitable reason, the Dragon Sparrow Villa might seize the opportunity to make a move and fully intervene."

"That is true, but by sending him to Lingxiao City, am I not also giving him an opportunity?"

Zhang Lü said, "The situation in Lingxiao City is complex. If Gu Jinlai can restore order, it will be enough to prove his capabilities. He is, after all, from the Purgatory Demonic Sect. Without sufficient ability and merit, how can he establish a firm foothold within my Meteor Guard?"

"Restore order."

Chen Jiuwen's heart stirred. "Does the Star Envoy suspect that Fang Que is colluding with local forces to secede Lingxiao City?"

"In the past six months, the Provincial Lord has ceased to manage state affairs, and the Star Lord has been overwhelmed by the covetous gazes of forces like the Dragon Sparrow Villa and the Yellow Heaven Dao. Many have begun to harbor improper intentions. If Gu Jinlai has the ability and can handle matters well, I will promote him to be a Garrison Chief to oversee a region, which would also be a sign of my regard for him."

"He is no longer a Spirit Refining expert. If he gets entangled in this..."

"I have given him the opportunity."

Zhang Lü slowly stood up. "If he lacks the ability and dies in the process, who can he blame?"

Under the guidance of Bai Xiong, a high-ranking Meteor Guard, Gu Jinlai completed his onboarding procedures at an extremely rapid pace, receiving his official seal, letter of appointment, uniform, and sword.

As a Deputy Garrison Chief of the Meteor Guard, a position of the fifth rank, he was a bona fide official of the court and naturally received all the necessary accouterments.

On the return carriage, Gu Jinlai examined the seal in his hand. "At least the worst-case scenario didn't happen."

He had prepared six hundred kilograms of explosives in the carriage, just in case the Meteor Guard decided to betray him and he needed an opportunity to fight back.

Fortunately, official organizations like the Meteor Guard maintained a certain degree of order.

"Old Ancestor, what are our next steps..." Nian Buwang inquired.

"We're heading to Lingxiao City for my new post," Gu Jinlai stated directly.

Soon, he had successfully reunited with Gu Chaoyang and the others.

Since they had made preparations for a retreat beforehand, their actions were now orderly and systematic.

Furthermore, he had no intention of using the Meteor Guard to mediate a peace with the Heavenly Grass Pavilion.

Killing Bai Yang was merely an act of venting his anger.

If they made peace, how would he get the Heavenly Grass Pavilion to compensate them for the loss of his ten sets of Treasure Armor?

Ten sets of Treasure Armor!

Their market value was six hundred and eighty thousand.

If the Heavenly Grass Pavilion held onto his payment for several months, the late fees alone would amount to hundreds of thousands, wouldn't they?

Coupled with the compounding interest each month, rounding up, demanding ten million wouldn't be excessive, right?

That was his reasoning.

From now on, once his strength was sufficient, he would go to their doorstep to collect his debt.

Gu Jinlai diverted a portion of his attention to the flames swirling around his spiritual body.

The disciples of the Heavenly Grass Pavilion he had killed tonight numbered in the dozens.

Yet, his Karma had only increased from level ten to level eleven.

"That's it?" Gu Jinlai scoffed.

As a paramount figure of the demonic path, who wouldn't accumulate over a dozen levels of Karma?

He then glanced at Unrestricted Movement, which had been elevated to the Great Accomplishment stage.

With his movement techniques now perfected, he was even more powerful.

He recalled the exhilarating scene of him slaughtering his way through the Heavenly Grass Pavilion.

Breaking the rules!

Shattering constraints!

Acting without restraint!

That feeling...

Was incredibly satisfying.