Lingxiao City

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

At most, it was on par with Red Wind City, where the Gu Clan was located.

The smaller the city, the fewer the troubles.

Especially with the Wang Family, Zhao Family, and Fang Family in the city united as one, as solid as an iron plate, making it difficult for other forces to intervene.

Under such circumstances, Lingxiao City was astonishingly peaceful.

Of course, that was assuming one ignored the occasional disappearances.

Gu Jinlai entered Lingxiao City.

In theory, although this city was not large, records stated that it had three or four hundred thousand residents.

Yet as the convoy traveled along the main street, one could clearly see with the naked eye how deserted the city was.

Quite a few shops along the street were open, but just as many were closed.

The pedestrians coming and going were mostly hurrying along, with very little interaction.

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

"Old Ancestor, something's wrong with this city."

Gu Chaoyang said.

"Mm."

The top-grade intelligence Gu Jinlai had obtained from the Ruins True Pavilion had essentially laid out the situation in Lingxiao City, especially the intelligence concerning Lingxiao City's Meteor Guard.

Fang Que, the garrison commander of Lingxiao City's Meteor Guard, was a peak Core Forming expert.

Not only was his cultivation profound, he also possessed a top-grade treasured sword named Heavenly Star.

Moreover, he was a top-tier existence whose realm had reached the stage of perfection.

With all these advantages, even when facing a Spirit Refining expert head-on, he had the strength to fight.

That was also why he had been able to sit firmly in the position of Lingxiao City's Meteor Guard garrison commander.

"I'm taking this Meteor Guard post only because I want to wave a big banner and buy myself a year... No! Half a year will do! Let me live comfortably for half a year and establish myself. I can't be bothered with anything else."

Gu Jinlai said.

He still had one streak of pure light left.

He planned to use it to recall the methods for refining osmium-iridium alloy and high-strength fibers, making up for the deficiencies of his battle armor—it was not heavy enough, and its defenses were not strong enough.

And all of that required time.

Besides...

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

Unfortunately, right now...

There were too many villains who refused to let him be one.

Gu Jinlai had spent four days on the road, and Lingxiao City had already received news of his impending appointment.

Not long after he entered Lingxiao City, a man dressed in the uniform of the Meteor Guard came to greet him. "Lord Gu, the garrison commander learned that you would be arriving today. He has already prepared a feast at the garrison office to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey."

"Sorry to trouble you. Lead the way."

Gu Jinlai said.

Since he wanted to stay quietly in Lingxiao City for a while, he naturally had to build good relations with his colleagues.

Soon, the Meteor Guard brought him to a large courtyard. After making brief arrangements for Gu Chaoyang and the others, he led Gu Jinlai into the main hall.

Inside, the Lingxiao City garrison commander, Fang Que, appeared to be around forty and carried an imposing air. He had already been waiting there.

Beside him stood two middle-aged men dressed similarly to him, who were also deputy garrison commanders.

There were another thirteen people in the hall, all dressed as senior Meteor Guards. From the sharp auras faintly radiating from them, one could tell that they were all experts who had refined their qi into astral force.

"Gu Jinlai greets Garrison Commander Fang."

Gu Jinlai kept his attitude extremely humble.

He showed none of the arrogance of someone who had once been a Spirit Refining Giant or a Celestial Artificer Grandmaster.

Fang Que sized Gu Jinlai up for a moment, evidently pleased by his attitude. "Lord Gu, you must have had a difficult journey. Please sit."

After Gu Jinlai sat down, he smiled and said, "Lord Gu was once a Spirit Refining Giant of great renown. For you to condescend to come to our Lingxiao City and serve as garrison commander is Lingxiao City's good fortune. With your reputation, our already peaceful Lingxiao City will surely become even more prosperous and stable."

"Garrison Commander Fang, you flatter me. I have switched to cultivating as a Celestial Master, and my qi and blood have both suffered. How could I compare with your martial cultivation, which has reached the stage of perfection, and your extraordinary strength?"

Gu Jinlai said.

"Your renown from your time in Changjun City several months ago still circulates throughout Lingxiao City to this day."

As Fang Que spoke, he pointed to the other two men. "These two are Qin Guichuan, the deputy garrison commander of the northern district, and Yang Shengping, the deputy garrison commander of the southern district. Lord Gu is taking over as the garrison commander of the western district, so you'll have plenty of dealings in the future. Get to know each other well."

The east, west, south, and north districts he mentioned included not only Lingxiao City proper, but also the counties corresponding to those directions.

The two sides exchanged pleasantries, and throughout the process, Gu Jinlai remained exceedingly courteous.

After some small talk, Fang Que finally offered a pointed reminder. "Lord Gu, Lingxiao City's current peace was hard-won. After going to the western district, you should make maintaining stability your priority."

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

"Good. The relevant documents have already been verified and registered, so I won't delay you from taking office."

Fang Que gave a slight nod.

"Thank you, Garrison Commander Fang. I'll take my leave for now."

Gu Jinlai gave another humble bow and withdrew.

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

"My lord, according to the information we received, Star Overseer Zhang has already noticed something and sent this man here in all likelihood to investigate the truth. But why does this Gu Jinlai seem so courteous and sensible... He acts completely harmless, as if he hasn't come with any aggressive intentions."

Qin Guichuan asked in a low voice.

"Courteous and sensible? Harmless? The more courteous and sensible he acts, the more it proves that he has grand designs."

Fang Que narrowed his eyes. "Think about it. Half a year ago, he was still a renowned Spirit Refining Giant, yet now he has to serve under a Core Forming cultivator like me. How could he remain calm? Even when I warned him afterward, he still endured it without saying a word. And when you consider that Star Overseer Zhang assigned someone who had once been a Spirit Refining expert to our Lingxiao City..."

He let out a cold snort. "He's here to seize power."

"Seize power!?"

Qin Guichuan and Yang Shengping's expressions changed.

"Could it be... that the matter with the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate has reached the ears of those above?"

Yang Shengping asked.

"You let that boy from the Li Family escape, so some information leaking was inevitable. But so what?"

Fang Que abruptly swept his sleeve. "It's true that we have cooperated with the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate, but we did it all for Lingxiao City's prosperity and stability. With only a small price, we can make the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate's people behave themselves and even have them help us control the Demonic Beasts. Why insist on fighting and killing?"

"Exactly. The neighboring Changjun City has had at least eight Core Forming cultivators die this year, if not ten. How could it compare with our Lingxiao City? All of this is thanks to the efforts of our families and the Meteor Guard!"

Qin Guichuan chimed in.

"We're different from Star Overseer Zhang. His strength is astonishing—even if those top forces sent Spirit Refining Giants to kill him, he could still crush them with overwhelming force. But if we're expected to risk our lives fighting experts from those Devil Dao Sects and great sects, we have to consider our own lives and futures."

Yang Shengping spoke, then paused slightly. "Besides, if we put it more grandly, what we did was also for the young master..."

"Silence!"

Fang Que glared at him sternly.

Realizing that he had misspoken, Yang Shengping immediately shut his mouth.

"Zhang Lu sent a mere Gu Jinlai to take power from me. He truly thinks nothing of me. I've spent ten years managing Lingxiao City—ten whole years. If I were suppressed by a fallen Spirit Refining expert like Gu Jinlai, then I would have lived all these years for nothing."

Fang Que sneered.

"What does my lord intend...?"

"The Meteor Guard isn't a Devil Dao Sect like the Purgatory Demon Sect, where the strong rule supreme. This is a place where rules and ability matter. If Gu Jinlai comes here and can't accomplish anything, let's see whether he can continue staying in Lingxiao City."

Fang Que waved a hand. "Tell Wang Dongyu that I support him taking over as garrison commander of the western district! How he rises to the position will depend on the ability of him and his Wang Family."