Taking Up the Post

Although Lingxiao City isn't like Changjun City, which is dominated by six major powers, wherever there are people, there's profit, and wherever there's profit, there's conflict. The entire Lingxiao City is divided among three major families. Anyone who dares to reach into Lingxiao City and touch their interests will face a thunderous strike from the combined forces of the three families.

Gu Chaoyang had spent this time thoroughly researching Yun Guantian and the intelligence provided by the Void True Tower, and his understanding of Lingxiao City was no less than Gu Jinlai's.

"The west side of the city, where we're going, is Wang family territory."

"Too many turtles in a shallow pond."

Gu Jinlai remarked.

But then he realized, and his mouth twitched.

Wasn't he himself like a dragon trapped in shallow waters right now?

"Never mind, let's rest in the west side of the city for a while first."

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

"It's just that the probability of this happening would be very low, but I still hope there are a few good people among the Meteor Guards in the west side of the city."

Gu Jinlai had come to understand over the past half year.

Karma was directly proportional to strength.

Just like on Earth, as long as you were powerful, you could start wars, conduct biological experiments, and plunder other nations' wealth every day, and no organization would come to sanction or deal with you.

But if you were weak, you'd be engulfed in flames in minutes, becoming an object of conquest and plunder.

To others, Gu Jinlai, a fallen Spirit Refining Titan of the demonic path, was precisely the kind of person who was weak and had caused a lot of trouble, someone who could be conquered and plundered. To avoid trouble...

He needed to reduce his Karma first.

The method to reduce Karma was probably to tie his own hands and let others plunder him until the cause and effect were settled.

Lay down your butcher's knife and endure insults.

West Side of the City.

Meteor Guard Headquarters.

This was a vast complex of courtyards.

Before Gu Jinlai even arrived, many people had already gathered inside.

Especially in the inner hall, where all six Senior Meteor Guards were present.

As the specialized violent agency in Xingzhou for suppressing unrest in the cultivation world, the minimum entry standard for the Meteor Guards was Qi Refining.

Senior Meteor Guards were either those who had made great contributions at the Gang Condensation stage or those who had reached the Core Condensation stage through sheer strength.

The six people present included two Core Condensation cultivators and four Gang Condensation cultivators.

Coupled with over thirty Intermediate and Junior Meteor Guards, and more than two hundred reserves, they constituted all the members of the west side branch.

At this moment, the other five Senior Meteor Guards were speaking with the person seated at the head of the table.

"I've already notified my third and sixth uncles, and they'll be here soon! But I'll still need everyone's assistance when they arrive."

The middle-aged man at the head of the table cupped his fists toward the five.

He was Wang Dongyu.

A scion of the Wang family in Lingxiao City, he joined the Meteor Guards at sixteen and had spent twenty years earning his reputation as a Senior Meteor Guard through countless battles.

A while ago, due to the near annihilation of the Li family, the City Lord of Lingxiao City, his predecessor, the Deputy Garrison Chief, was pushed out to take the blame and was dismissed for investigation. Everyone believed that he, with the backing of the Wang family and his Core Condensation combat power, would become the new Deputy Garrison Chief.

Even Wang Dongyu himself thought so. He had even reduced his contact with the Crimson Blood Demonic Sect during this period, staying home obediently to await his appointment.

He hadn't expected...

Suddenly, a Deputy Garrison Chief was parachuted in, and his position as Deputy Garrison Chief, which he thought was already in his grasp, slipped through his fingers.

Twenty years!

He had toiled in the Meteor Guards for a full twenty years!

To have someone snatch the opportunity just as he was about to leave his Meteor Guard identity and become a Garrison Chief, his resentment was imaginable.

Fortunately, half an hour ago, the Garrison Chief had sent word that he was also dissatisfied with this parachuted-in Deputy Garrison Chief. As long as he could control the west side branch and prevent the newcomer from achieving anything, the Garrison Chief would soon find a reason to drive him out of Lingxiao City.

Wang Dongyu's words were quickly met with responses from those present: "Garrison Chief Fang greatly values Lord Wang. Although Gu Jinlai has a considerable reputation, it won't be easy for him to establish himself in Lingxiao City."

"Indeed, Lord Wang is a distinguished disciple of the Wang family and has the support of the entire Wang family. Even if Gu Jinlai were still a Spirit Refining Titan, it's unlikely he could stir up much trouble."

"We only trust Lord Wang for the position of Garrison Chief of the west side, and the brothers in the west side are also willing to follow Lord Wang's lead."

The four Senior Meteor Guards at the Gang Condensation stage spoke one after another.

However, Zhao Fan, another cultivator at the Core Condensation stage, said gravely, "Gu Jinlai made quite a name for himself in Changjun City. Even if he's no longer a Spirit Refining Titan, his combat power is likely at the peak of Core Condensation. We should be cautious."

"I naturally won't underestimate him in the slightest, but our west side Meteor Guards have over two hundred members, with dozens at the Qi Refining and Gang Condensation stages. Furthermore, my third and sixth uncles will also bring two elite teams from my Wang family to serve as Meteor Guards on a temporary basis. Each of them is a master of Qi Refining. With such a lineup, even if Gu Jinlai still possesses Spirit Refining power, he won't be able to turn the tables."

Wang Dongyu said with a slight smile, "Of course, I'll still give him some face and put him on a pedestal. As long as he behaves like a mascot and doesn't interfere with our cooperation with various parties, he will still be a Garrison Chief whom we respect."

"Exactly, we're not trying to confront him directly. The actions of the Meteor Guards are different from demonic sects, which are always fighting. This is a place where we follow rules and reason."

"I hope this Garrison Chief Gu doesn't make things difficult for us, lest we lose face in the end."

Several senior Meteor Guards chimed in.

"Thank you, brothers. After the next batch of human pills is traded, I'll give you my share. Drinks are on me," Wang Dongyu said with a smile.

His words immediately brought smiles to their faces. "Lord Wang is too kind. This is what we should be doing."

"Then we thank you, Lord Wang."

Wang Dongyu saw this and nodded slightly.

He knew Gu Jinlai was no ordinary person. Even if he was like a stray dog now, constantly on the run, he was still not someone to be trifled with.

But Wang Dongyu was no ordinary person either. The west of the city was their Wang family's territory.

On his own turf, with the support of Commander Fang Que, if he didn't dare to seize this opportunity, he might as well remain a Meteor Guard for life. How could he ever hope to be promoted to Commander?

Fortune favors the bold.

There were no free lunches in this world.

A moment later, a Meteor Guard entered the hall to report, "Sir, Commander Gu has arrived."

"Alright."

Wang Dongyu stood up. "Let's go and welcome this superior officer."

He then led the senior Meteor Guards and dozens of summoned mid- and low-level Meteor Guards to the main courtyard entrance.

Just then, a convoy of over twenty people entered the Meteor Guard's jurisdiction.

Wang Dongyu signaled to the others, who stepped forward. "Your subordinates, Wang Dongyu, Zhao Fan... pay respects to you, Sir."

"Mm."

Gu Jinlai nodded.

He glanced at the people present...

In fact, he had found something strange when he met Fang Que and the others previously.

The proportion of red names among the Lingxiao City Meteor Guards was significantly higher than that of the Starlight City Meteor Guards.

Just now, in the Meteor Guard's mansion, several commanders, led by Fang Que, all had karma as red as blood.

He had originally thought this was because they had to constantly suppress the cultivation world, resulting in a lot of bloodshed. But seeing that the proportion of red names among these west city Meteor Guards was still so high, he was surprised.

Out of over thirty official Meteor Guards, there were barely a few with yellow names.

Truly...

A fortunate misfortune.

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

At this moment, he was already considering.

Should he carry out a cleansing first before executing the six-month settling plan?