A Small Gathering, Mingyue Reappears

Demonstration?

Or perhaps a riot?

The people in the hall looked at each other, their expressions changing, and then some of them felt a sense of schadenfreude.

Lin Changle wiped away his sweat:

"Of the 100,000 permanent troops stationed here, at least 20,000 have entered the city and are currently conducting a large-scale demonstration."

"All transportation hubs in the city are paralyzed, and the demonstrations are showing signs of turning into a real riot!"

"Twelve spaceships entered the city and hovered above the Executive Building."

"A large-scale power outage has occurred in the eastern part of the city."

"The consul requests that you go to see him immediately."

One urgent message after another poured out of her mouth, and Zhang Fusheng leaned back comfortably in his chair, listening quietly.

As expected.

Chen Qiusheng was said to be the second commander of the Chongyang Military Department, but he was actually the real power behind the scenes. The first commander, Zhang Erhe, had long been sidelined.

Once arrested, he will not leave easily; he will surely seize the opportunity to launch a large-scale military rebellion.

Logically, this riot should eventually end with appeasement, and Chen Qiusheng should be brought out to take charge and stabilize the situation.

Then, Chen Qiusheng, who was 'wronged' and 'suffered injustice' but still put the overall situation first and resolved a large-scale crisis, will naturally be compensated.

Chen Qiusheng appears to be scheming for the position of Golden Councilor.

Perhaps, if he can resolve this incident smoothly, he will actually have a better chance of becoming Golden Councilor.

Everything.

Everything seemed to be proceeding as the eldest master had predicted.

Zhang Fusheng smiled gently.

"Chief."

Lin Changle asked cautiously:

"What should we do now?"

Zhang Fusheng flipped through the files of the investigator from the Investigation Bureau who was scheduled to arrive in Chongyang City in three days to investigate him.

It was given to me by my second senior uncle.

He said calmly:

"No need to do anything, just let them stir it up."

"They've turned the Executive Building into complete chaos, and even the Golden City called to inquire about it."

Zhang Fusheng stood up, stretched, and yawned.

"Go and secretly meet with Mr. Zhang Erhe, and have him come to see me."

Lin Changle nodded blankly:

"Is he here to see you? And what about the Consul?"

"Have him go see me at Old Hu's Hu Zhongli. As for the governor?"

Zhang Fusheng strode towards the hall exit:

Ignore him.

Lin Changle swallowed hard, somewhat confused as to what this official was trying to do.

What exactly are we supposed to do?

She didn't understand; all she knew was that...

The world has changed.

"Arrest of Chen Qiusheng, military riot, Director General Zhang Fusheng??"

The old woman looked at the reports one after another, her expression shaken, and handed the reports to the drunken middle-aged man:

"How did Zhang Fusheng become the Director-General?"

"If I remember correctly, the Director-General of the Public Security Bureau needs to be a Grandmaster, right?"

The middle-aged man remained seated by the window, quietly listening to the hustle and bustle coming from both inside and outside the city.

The drunkenness on his face had subsided somewhat. After a moment's hesitation, he asked:

"Have you reported this to the Investigation Bureau?"

"Yes."

Granny Jin nodded gently:

"Through that envoy within the organization who works High Envoy the General Administration, the information file regarding Zhang Fusheng has been submitted."

"A person who escaped from Jiangzhou City but then falsified his identity records."

Listening to the old woman's words, the middle-aged man nodded thoughtfully.

"So, the investigators from the Investigation Bureau are coming to Chongyang City?"

"Good."

A look of solemnity and apprehension appeared on Granny Jin's face.

Inspector.

Within the Investigation Bureau, these dispatched investigators, though perhaps not highly skilled, often wield terrifyingly large temporary powers.

They can even report directly to the General Administration and mobilize its resources!

The three main power structures of the Golden Province: the Governor, the Members of Parliament, and the Investigation Bureau.

This Investigation Bureau is above the military; it is a truly violent institution, even larger than the military!

The High Envoy a sip of wine and exhaled:

"Strange, very strange."

"What exactly does Zhang Fusheng want? Has he already become a grandmaster?"

"Impossible!" the old woman blurted out, then turned her gaze to Chen Nuanyu, who remained silent to the side.

"Miss Chen, are you sure that when you last saw Zhang Fusheng, he was just a martial artist?"

Chen Nuanyu considered for a moment, then nodded:

"That's right, a martial artist."

Granny Jin understood, and looked High Envoy the envoy again:

"In just one month, this young man can at most reach the level of a beginner Martial Arts Master. Grandmaster? Absolutely impossible."

"I suspect that his rise to the position of Director-General is probably inseparable from his old friends in Hong Tianbao?"

The High Envoy stroked his chin and nodded gently:

"Perhaps, but that's not important—the report also said that Jin Qiuyue was kidnapped by him?"

"Hmm." The old woman nodded.

"Tsk tsk."

The High Envoy shook his head and said:

"That's getting interesting. It seems our only remaining option is Zhang Fusheng. Should we try to protect him in this situation?"

Granny Jin was taken aback, her pupils contracting slightly:

"It seems... that's indeed the case?"

After pausing for a moment, she rubbed her forehead and said:

"No, it's not just us. Mingyue 'High Envoy faction, as well as those who previously supported Jin Qiuyue and High Envoy's faction, will probably all have to do their part to protect this guy."

The High Envoy's gaze was profound.

"This is interesting. What exactly is he trying to do?"

"Alright, Miss Chen, why don't you go and make contact with this old acquaintance of yours?"

Chen Nuanyu nodded gently.

The sounds of protest could be heard in the distance.

First District.

A private villa located near the Executive Building.

Zhang Fusheng stood outside the villa, looked up, and glanced at the twelve spaceships suspended above the Executive Building.

The main guns of the spaceship were faintly lit, indicating that all weapons on the ship had been unlocked—a single shot from the spaceship's main guns was enough to flatten a mountain.

Theoretically speaking, even Great Grandmaster would not fare well if hit head-on by a main cannon shot from a spaceship.

"Go ahead and make a scene."

"The bigger the commotion, the better."

Zhang Fusheng knocked on the villa's door and then pushed it open and went inside.

"Sir, please follow me."

A servant respectfully led the young director-general up to the second floor.

A few people sat solemnly in the reception room.

Hu Zhongli, Zhou Muneo, Elder Yu, and a middle-aged man with a tightly furrowed brow.

Upon hearing footsteps, everyone turned their gaze to the boy, while surprise appeared on the faces of Old Man Yu and his middle-aged children.

Elder Yu blinked:

"Are you... Xiao Zhang?"

She naturally remembered the boy who had saved her life, but she was also clearly unaware that Zhang Fusheng was now the Director-General.

They had no idea that the riots in the city were closely related to this young man.

Another middle-aged man also looked Zhang Fusheng up and down, then suddenly slapped his forehead:

"Zhang Fusheng, right?"

He turned his head and looked at Hu Zhongli:

"Old Hu, is this the guy you've been waiting for? This young man who's causing so much trouble in the city?"

Unlike Elder Yu, the middle-aged man seemed to know some of the specific details.

"Elder Yu, and Councilor Li?"

Zhang Fusheng greeted him with a smile, then slowly took his seat.

The middle-aged man was none other than Li Guoquan, Golden Councilor from Chongyang City.

Li Guoquan glanced at him, then turned his gaze back to Hu Zhongli, and said somewhat impolitely:

"Old Hu, what exactly did you call us over here for?"

After a pause, he said in a deep voice:

"There's a huge mess waiting for me to clean up. If this doesn't go well today, I could lose my job!"

"Take it easy, take it easy."

Hu Zhongli spoke slowly.

Li Guoquan could no longer sit still.

"Old Hu, are you really getting senile? What kind of time is this, and you're still telling me to calm down?"

He was furious:

"I'm leaving. I have to go and quell this riot."

The middle-aged man made a move to leave.

But he had only just gotten up and taken two steps...

Great power descended.

He was forcefully pushed back onto the sofa.

Li Guoquan changed drastically, staring at Hu Zhongli in astonishment:

"You've broken through to the Innate Realm?!"

Elder Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, while Zhang Fusheng maintained his smile.

Hu Zhongli nodded calmly.

"Just broke through to the next level."

Li Guoquan's eyelids twitched:

"Old."

"Old Hu, did you consume a Heavenly Elixir that prolongs life?"

No.

Hu Zhongli said calmly:

"It's just that the Heavenly Venerate's Attendant granted me thirty years of lifespan, and allowed me to add fifteen years to my past contemplation and practice; that's all."

Heavenly Venerate's Attendant?

Elder Yu and Li Guoquan were taken aback. Who was this?

Heavenly Venerable

The first thing that came to their minds was a certain Evil God.

Hu Zhongli gently tapped the table:

"The Heavenly Venerable is the Great Compassionate One, the Great Majestic One, and the Great Ancient One, who sits Above High Heaven."

"Heavenly Venerate's Attendant, you two have both seen him before—he was the one who questioned the heavens on that day [in his true form]."

"He is also called the True Person."

Elder Yu's pupils contracted, Li Guoquan suddenly sat up straight, his breathing becoming rapid.

"High Heaven. Meeting??"

During this period, Gao Tian's name spread widely.

Especially within Chongyang City, after rumors spread that someone had made a deal with Gao Tian—while others remained unaware—

But Li Guoquan, as Golden Councilor, naturally knew that all those rumors were true!

Some people lost their illnesses, some lost their past cultivation experiences, and some inexplicably gained extra lifespans—without taking any life-extending drugs!

Ordinary people may not be paying attention to this yet.

But for those who truly hold power, the weight of the word "high heaven" becomes increasingly heavy.

The Governor-General's Office even called to inquire about it.

Hu Zhongli picked up his teacup and took a small sip:

"That's right, Gao Tian, Gaotian Association."

He remained calm.

"I am a member of the Gaotian Association —and not just me, but this young friend Zhang is too."

Li Guoquan suddenly turned his head and looked at the smiling boy.

He licked his dry lips:

"I've received word that a senior investigator from the Investigation Bureau is arriving soon, partly to investigate this young man, Zhang."

"Another reason is to investigate the [Gaotian Association] matter, to determine whether it's true or false, and to investigate those transactions, to determine whether they're real or fake!"

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Guoquan looked intently at Hu Zhongli and tentatively asked:

"Old Hu, does your open and honest approach mean..."

"Good."

Hu Zhongli nodded and said calmly:

"Respected Attendant, you two are permitted to join the Gaotian Association."

The old woman looked around, Li Guoquan's breathing became rapid.

Where is he?

Hu Zhongli smiled and shook his head:

"Not yet."

Li Guoquan suddenly looked at him again:

"I've heard that the Gaotian Association practices what? [The Exchange Heaven and Dao]?"

"Old Hu, you have gained lifespan and that so-called, contemplative past."

"Then, what have you lost?"

Elder Yu also turned his gaze to Hu Zhongli.

The latter raised his eyelids slightly, looked at the silent Three-Eyed Boy, and answered calmly:

"I sold my position as Golden Councilor."

???

Elder Yu and Li Guoquan both turned their attention to Zhou Muneo.

The latter opened its eyes at that moment.

Suddenly, it became indescribably high.

He's here.

It also seems to be at an infinite height.

Beyond thought, beyond imagination, beyond the limits that ideas can reach!

Director Zhang, who had been listening quietly, lowered his eyelids at some point.

The three-eyed boy sighed softly and snapped his fingers gently.

"Wake up."

The Contract Book trembled.

A certain period of history that has been altered, obscured, swept into the dust and sealed away.

The restrictions on Li Guoquan and Elder Yu were lifted.

It was during the period that changed after Hu Zhongli sold off his power.

The sound was vast and resonant.

Li Guoquan and the old woman had somehow become prostrate on the ground, worshipping the three-eyed boy, or perhaps...

They worshipped the enormous phantom reflected above the other's head.

It was that old man who called himself "The True Person".

Sweat streamed down Li Guoquan's forehead as two conflicting memories collided in his mind, and two vastly different histories unfolded in his mind.

He raised his head, peering into the enormous phantom, into the attendant from the Above High Heaven, as if struck by a sudden inspiration.

"Heaven above! Heavenly Venerable above!"

That's what Golden Councilor said.

The enormous phantom suddenly sighed with compassion and disappeared. Director Zhang, who was sitting quietly on the sofa, raised his eyelids, glanced out the window, and silently sensed the distant horizon.

This is the Waiting Area.

The [Plague Demon] Waiting Area was caught by a thin, weak hand.

She was a woman who looked as if she had stepped out of a painting, with a single cinnabar dot on her forehead.

Miss Mingyue.

"I've searched high and low, but it's right here."

Zhang Fusheng whispered.

I'm hospitalized for heart palpitations and have a lot of tests these past few days, so updates might be a couple of hours late. Also, please vote with your monthly tickets!