Appointment

"Although Lingxiao City doesn't have six major forces entrenched in it like Changjun City does, wherever there are people, there are interests, and wherever there are interests, there is conflict. The entire Lingxiao City has been divided among the Three Great Families. Anyone bold enough to reach into Lingxiao City and touch their interests will suffer a thunderous joint retaliation from all three families."

Gu Chaoyang had spent this period carefully learning about Yun Guantian and studying the intelligence provided by the Void Truth Tower. His understanding of Lingxiao City was no worse than Gu Jinlai's.

"The western part of the city we're heading to is the Wang Family's territory."

"Where the water is shallow, there are plenty of turtles."

Gu Jinlai muttered this proverb.

But immediately afterward, he realized what he had said, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Wasn't he also a dragon swimming in shallow water now?

"Forget it. We'll rest in the western district for a while first."

Gu Jinlai looked at the eleven layers of Karma on his body.

"It's just that the possibility is very low. Still, I hope there are a few good people among the Falling Star Guards in the western district."

Over the past half a year, Gu Jinlai had more or less figured things out.

Karma was directly proportional to strength.

Take Blue Star, for example. As long as you were powerful enough, you could wage wars every day, conduct biological experiments, and plunder other countries' wealth, yet not a single institution would come out to sanction or deal with you.

But if you lacked strength, you could set yourself on fire in the blink of an eye, becoming the target of conquest and plunder.

In the eyes of others, Gu Jinlai—the Devil Dao giant who had fallen from Spirit Refining—was precisely the kind of person who lacked strength yet had caused plenty of trouble, making him someone who could be conquered and plundered. If he wanted to avoid trouble...

He first had to reduce his Karma.

The way to reduce Karma was probably to bind your own hands and let others plunder you until you had settled all your causes and effects.

Lay down the butcher's knife and dry your face after being spat upon.

The western district.

The Falling Star Guard estate.

It was a sprawling compound covering a vast area.

Before Gu Jinlai had even arrived, quite a few people had already gathered inside.

Especially in the inner hall, where all six high-ranking Falling Star Guards were present.

As the violent institution Star Province had established specifically to suppress disturbances in the cultivation world, the minimum requirement for entering the Falling Star Guards was Qi Refining.

High-ranking Falling Star Guards were either Gang Condensers who had rendered great service or those whose actual strength had reached Core Forming.

Of the six people before them, two were Core Formers and four were Gang Condensers.

Together with more than thirty mid- and low-ranking Falling Star Guards and over two hundred reserve members, they comprised the entire western district branch.

At that moment, five of the six high-ranking Falling Star Guards were speaking with the man seated at the head.

"I've already sent word to my Third Uncle and Sixth Uncle. They'll be here soon! But when the time comes, I'll still need everyone's assistance."

The middle-aged man at the head cupped his hands toward the five men.

He was Wang Dongyu.

A scion of the Lingxiao Wang Family, he had entered the Falling Star Guards at sixteen. After twenty years of fighting his way up with blade and spear, he had forged the reputation he possessed today as a high-ranking Falling Star Guard.

Some time ago, after the Li Family lineage of the Lingxiao City Lord had nearly been wiped out, his former deputy commander had been pushed forward to take the blame, dismissed, and investigated. Everyone had believed that Wang Dongyu, who possessed the Wang Family's backing and Core Forming combat strength, would become the new deputy commander.

Wang Dongyu himself had thought the same. During this period, he had reduced his contact with the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate and obediently stayed home, waiting for his appointment.

Unexpectedly...

A deputy commander had suddenly been parachuted in from above, and the position that had seemed as good as his had slipped through his fingers just like that.

Twenty years!

He had endured in the Falling Star Guards for a full twenty years!

Just as he was about to shed his identity as a Falling Star Guard and become a commander, someone had snatched the peach from his grasp. The resentment in his heart was obvious.

Fortunately, half an hour ago, Commander Fang Que had sent word that he was equally dissatisfied with this parachuted-in deputy commander. As long as Wang Dongyu properly controlled the western district branch and ensured that Gu Jinlai accomplished nothing, it would not be long before Commander Fang Que found an excuse to drive him out of Lingxiao City.

Wang Dongyu's words quickly won the agreement of several people present. "Commander Fang places great importance on Lord Wang. Although Gu Jinlai has quite a reputation, it won't be easy for him to establish a foothold in Lingxiao City."

"Exactly. Lord Wang is a prized disciple of the Wang Family and has the support of the entire family. Not to mention that Gu Jinlai has already fallen from Spirit Refining—even if he truly were a Spirit Refining Giant, he might not be able to make much of a stir."

"As for the position of commander of the western district, we recognize only Lord Wang. The brothers in the western district are likewise willing to follow Lord Wang's orders."

The four high-ranking Gang Condensing Falling Star Guards spoke one after another.

The other man who had formed a core from True Qi, Zhao Fan, instead said in a low voice, "Gu Jinlai made quite a name for himself in Changjun City. Even though he is no longer a Spirit Refiner, his combat strength is probably still at the peak of Core Forming. We should be cautious."

"I naturally won't underestimate him in the slightest. However, our western district Falling Star Guards have more than two hundred members, including dozens in the True Qi Realm and Gang Condensing Realm. In addition, my Third Uncle and Sixth Uncle will bring two elite squads from the Wang Family to serve as Falling Star Guards. Every one of them is an accomplished Qi Refiner. With such a lineup, even if Gu Jinlai still possessed Spirit Refining power, he couldn't overturn the heavens."

As Wang Dongyu spoke, he smiled faintly. "Of course, I'll still give him the respect due to his position and elevate him high above us. As long as he obediently acts as a figurehead and doesn't interfere with our cooperation with the various sides, he will remain the commander we respect."

"Exactly. We're not trying to oppose him at every turn. The Falling Star Guards act differently from the Devil Dao Sect. This isn't a place for constant fighting and killing. We're a place that values rules and reason."

"I hope this Commander Gu won't make things difficult for us, so he won't be unable to step down later."

Several high-ranking Falling Star Guards echoed him.

"Thank you, brothers. Once the next batch of human pills is traded, I'll give my share to you brothers and buy everyone a drink."

Wang Dongyu smiled.

At this, the few men immediately beamed. "Lord Wang, you're too kind. This is what we should do."

"Then we thank you, Lord Wang."

Wang Dongyu watched them and nodded slightly.

He knew that Gu Jinlai was no kind soul. Even if he was now like a stray dog, chased from place to place, he was still far from someone ordinary people could provoke.

But Wang Dongyu was no ordinary man, either, and the western district was the Wang Family's territory.

On his own turf, with Commander Fang Que's support, if he still didn't dare to fight for it, he might as well remain a Falling Star Guard for the rest of his life. What commander would he dream of becoming?

Wealth and honor were sought amid danger.

There had never been such a thing as a free pie falling from the heavens.

A moment later, a Falling Star Guard entered the hall to report. "My lord, Commander Gu has arrived."

"Good."

Wang Dongyu rose to his feet. "Now, let us go and welcome this superior officer."

He immediately led the high-ranking Falling Star Guards, along with dozens of summoned mid- and low-ranking Falling Star Guards, to the large courtyard at the entrance.

Just then, a convoy of more than twenty people entered the Falling Star Guard estate.

Wang Dongyu gave everyone a look, and they stepped forward. "Your subordinate Wang Dongyu, Zhao Fan... pays his respects to Your Excellency."

"Mm."

Gu Jinlai nodded.

He glanced at everyone present...

In truth, he had already found it somewhat strange when he met Fang Que and the others earlier.

The proportion of Red Names among the Lingxiao City Falling Star Guards was noticeably higher than among the Star City Falling Star Guards.

Just now, the several commanders led by Fang Que in the Falling Star Guard estate had all been drenched in bloodlike Karma.

He had originally thought it was because they had to suppress the cultivation world at all times, resulting in many killings. But now, the proportion of Red Names among these western district Falling Star Guards was still so high, which left him puzzled.

Of more than thirty official Falling Star Guards, there were barely a few Yellow Names.

This was truly...

It was so delightfully unfortunate for the household.

For a moment, Gu Jinlai's gaze toward them became "kind." "There's no need for such formalities."

At this point, he was already considering something.

Should I clean house first, then carry out the half-year consolidation plan?