Lingxiao City

Compared to Starlight City and Changjun City, Lingxiao City is much smaller.

At best, it's on par with Chifeng City, where the Gu Family resides.

With a smaller city comes fewer disturbances.

Especially since the Wang, Zhao, and Fang families in the city are united, forming an impenetrable front that makes it difficult for other forces to interfere.

Under these circumstances, Lingxiao City is surprisingly peaceful.

Of course, this is assuming people don't go missing from time to time.

Gu Jinlai entered Lingxiao City.

Logically, although this city isn't large, it has a recorded population of three to four hundred thousand people.

Yet, as the convoy drove down the streets, one could visibly sense the city's desolation.

Many shops on the street were open, but just as many were closed.

The pedestrians coming and going were mostly in a hurry, rarely interacting.

Compared to the bustling crowds of Changjun City and Starlight City, Lingxiao City was quite bleak.

"Old Ancestor, this city is not right."

Gu Chaoyang said.

"Mm."

Gu Jinlai, holding the top-tier intelligence he obtained from Void True Tower, had essentially clarified everything about Lingxiao City, especially its Meteor Guard.

Lingxiao City's Meteor Guard Commander, Fang Que, is a peak Core Condensation expert.

Not only is his cultivation profound, but he also possesses a Supreme Grade Treasure Sword named Tianxing.

Furthermore, he is a top-tier expert who has reached the Mastery Realm.

With all these advantages, he possesses the strength to fight even against a Spirit Refining expert.

This is also why he can maintain his position as Lingxiao City's Meteor Guard Commander.

"My intention in becoming a Meteor Guard is merely to raise a banner, to gain a year... no! Half a year will suffice! Just give me half a year of peace to establish myself, and I'll be content to ignore everything else."

Gu Jinlai said.

He still had a wisp of Pure Light remaining.

He planned to use this Pure Light to recall the refining methods for osmium-iridium alloy and high-strength fibers, thereby addressing the shortcomings of his Battle Armor being too heavy and its defense insufficient.

And all of this required time.

Besides, ...

If he had a choice, he would still prefer to be a good person.

Unfortunately, now...

There were too many bad people preventing him from being good.

Gu Jinlai took four days to travel, and Lingxiao City had already received news of his impending arrival.

Shortly after he stepped into Lingxiao City, a man dressed in Meteor Guard attire approached him. "Lord Gu, the Commander learned of your arrival today and has prepared a banquet at the Commander's residence to welcome you and celebrate your arrival."

"Thank you for leading the way."

Gu Jinlai said.

He wanted to stay in Lingxiao City peacefully for a while, so naturally, he had to build good relationships with his colleagues.

Soon, this Meteor Guard led him to a large courtyard. After briefly settling Gu Chaoyang and the others, he escorted Gu Jinlai into the main hall.

In the hall, Fang Que, the Commander of Lingxiao City, who appeared to be around forty and exuded an aura of authority, was already waiting.

Beside him stood two middle-aged men in similar attire, who were also Deputy Commanders.

Furthermore, there were thirteen other people in the hall, dressed as high-ranking Meteor Guards. Judging by the sharp aura subtly emanating from them, they were all experts at Qi Refining into Gang.

"Gu Jinlai pays his respects to Commander Fang."

Gu Jinlai adopted a very humble attitude.

He showed no trace of the arrogance he might have possessed as a Spirit Refining Titan or a forging Celestial Master.

Fang Que observed Gu Jinlai for a moment and was quite pleased with his demeanor. "Lord Gu, you must be tired from your journey. Please, have a seat."

After Gu Jinlai sat down, Fang Que smiled and said, "Lord Gu, as a former Spirit Refining Titan, your reputation is well-known. It is Lingxiao City's fortune to have you condescend to serve as our Commander. I believe with your esteemed reputation, our already peaceful Lingxiao City will become even more prosperous and stable."

"Commander Fang is too kind. I have since switched to cultivating as a Celestial Master, and my Blood Essence is depleted. How can I compare to Commander Fang's martial arts Mastery Realm and outstanding strength?"

Gu Jinlai replied.

"The reputation Lord Gu left in Changjun City several months ago is still spoken of in Lingxiao City."

Fang Que said, then gestured to the other two men. "These two are Qin Guichuan, the Deputy Commander of the North City, and Yang Shengping, the Deputy Commander of the South City. Lord Gu will be taking charge of the West City's command, so you will be interacting frequently. Please get acquainted."

The directions he mentioned, North, South, East, and West, not only encompassed the urban area of Lingxiao City but also the counties in those respective directions.

After some exchange, Gu Jinlai remained very polite throughout.

After the pleasantries, Fang Que then pointedly instructed, "Lord Gu, the current peace in Lingxiao City was not easily achieved. When you go to West City, you should prioritize maintaining the stability of the situation as much as possible."

Gu Jinlai understood. "I understand. I also hope Lingxiao City can be harmonious and beautiful."

"That's good. The relevant official documents have been verified and registered. I won't disturb you from taking office, Lord Gu."

Fang Que nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Commander Fang. I will take my leave now."

Gu Jinlai bowed humbly again and retreated.

After Gu Jinlai left, Fang Que's expression immediately turned grim.

"My Lord, according to the information we received, Star Envoy Zhang has already sensed something and dispatched this person, most likely to investigate the truth. But why does this Gu Jinlai seem so well-behaved... acting so harmless, as if he's not here with ill intentions?" Qin Guichuan whispered.

"Well-behaved? Harmless? The more well-behaved and harmless he acts, the more it proves his ambitions are great," Fang Que narrowed his eyes. "Think about it. Six months ago, he was a renowned Spirit Refining Titan, and now he's going to be under me, a Core Condensation cultivator. How can he be so calm? Even after my verbal warning, he endured it without complaint. Coupled with Star Envoy Zhang arranging someone like him, a former Spirit Refining cultivator, to our Lingxiao City..."

He let out a cold snort. "This is an attempt to seize power."

"Seize power!?" Qin Guichuan and Yang Shengping's expressions changed.

"Could it be... that the matter of the Crimson Blood Demonic Sect has been discovered by those above?" Yang Shengping asked.

"You let that kid from the Li family escape. Some leakage of information is unavoidable, but so what?" Fang Que flicked his sleeve. "We do have some cooperation with the Crimson Blood Demonic Sect, but it's all for the prosperity and stability of Lingxiao City. With just a small price, we can keep the Crimson Blood Demonic Sect in line and they even help us control Demonic Beasts. Why must we resort to fighting?"

"Exactly. Last year, Changjun City next door lost no fewer than eight or ten Core Condensation cultivators. How can it compare to our Lingxiao City? All of this is the credit of our families and the Meteor Guard!" Qin Guichuan added.

"We are not like Star Envoy Zhang. His strength is astonishing; he can forcefully suppress even Spirit Refining Titans sent by those top forces. Asking us to fight against experts from those demonic and major sects? We have to consider our own lives and future," Yang Shengping said, pausing slightly. "Moreover, what we are doing, in a broader sense, is for Young Master..."

"Silence!" Fang Que glared at him sternly.

Yang Shengping realized he had spoken out of turn and immediately shut his mouth.

"Zhang Lü sending someone like Gu Jinlai to try and seize power from me is simply looking down on me. I've been managing Lingxiao City for ten years, a full ten years. If I'm going to be suppressed by a fallen Spirit Refining cultivator like Gu Jinlai, then my past ten years have been lived in vain," Fang Que said with a cold laugh.

"My Lord means..."

"The Meteor Guard is not like the Purgatory Demonic Sect, a demonic sect where strength reigns supreme. This is a place that values rules and ability. If Gu Jinlai can't accomplish anything here, I don't see how he can remain in Lingxiao City." Fang Que waved his hand. "Tell Wang Dongyu that I support him taking over as the West City Commander! How he achieves this will depend on his and the Wang family's capabilities."