Intelligence Forum

Su Yuan had never expected Old Xu to be such a player, even using the scattershot approach.

He had come up with more than seventy backup positions.

Su Yuan entered the more than seventy assorted alternative positions Xu Jingyang had provided into the system one by one. Before long, the evaluation results came out.

He rubbed his slightly throbbing temples and pointed at the top of the light screen.

"Immortal, I have not failed your trust. According to this humble official's crude algorithm, this is the evaluation ranking for all the positions. First place is Deputy Director of the Integrated Three Offices under the Heavenly Court Office, acting director. Have you considered this position?"

"The Heavenly Court Office? The Integrated Three Offices?"

Xu Jingyang unconsciously leaned forward. He had only casually written down that position to fill space and had not paid it any attention at all.

"Precisely!"

With a tap of Su Yuan's finger, the light screen swiftly simulated the parameters of the position.

"The Heavenly Court Office is the true hub of the Heavenly Court's operations, close to His Majesty and the core decision-makers! The Integrated Three Offices may appear to handle mundane matters such as documents, meetings, and coordination, but in truth, it can influence the speed at which policies move through the system, arrange audiences, and even gain access to core secrets. The rank is not high, but the authority is substantial. It is far more worthwhile than positions like Chief Superintendent of the Craftworks Directorate or Joint Councilor of the Celestial River Transport Bureau that you listed!"

Xu Jingyang nodded repeatedly as he listened, then instinctively looked toward Venus Star Lord.

Venus Star Lord's hand, which had been stroking his beard, paused slightly. A trace of surprise and approval flashed through his eyes.

"I had not noticed that the Integrated Three Offices actually had a vacant post. If it truly does, then it is indeed a good place to go."

The three of them muttered in low voices for a while longer. Venus Star Lord's brows were tightly furrowed, his face full of worry.

"But those rumors about the Great Sage still leave me uneasy. Once this wind of excessive praise starts blowing, someone must be stirring things up behind the scenes."

Su Yuan immediately understood.

"If Teacher is at ease with it, shall I go see whether I can pick up any rumors?"

After receiving permission, he took out a communication talisman and contacted Ink Qilin.

"Venerable? Want to have a drink tonight? I brought some good stuff from Western Heaven."

A reply soon came from the other side.

"Cut the crap. What good stuff could that bunch of paupers in Western Heaven possibly have? But there is a gathering tonight. It is not for trading goods, though. Are you coming?"

Su Yuan replied instantly.

"Definitely!"

That evening, he gathered quite a few Buddhist sect specialties and slipped into the Immortal Execution Platform on time.

The main hall was dimly lit, with a circle of people in black cloaks seated inside.

Two people sat facing each other in the center. The entire hall was deathly silent, and everyone held a light screen, tapping and swiping away.

Su Yuan was wondering what kind of arrangement this was when he suddenly spotted someone in the corner taking deep drags from a cigarette, its red tip glowing on and off.

He grinned. It had to be Ink Qilin, that chain smoker.

Su Yuan moved up beside Ink Qilin, patted him on the shoulder, and said,

"Boss? What's going on here?"

The shadow jolted and whipped his head around, his gaze shooting out like lightning as though he were about to spring up.

Only after seeing that familiar, easygoing smile did Ink Qilin's tense body relax. He lowered his voice.

"Dealing information."

"Dealing information?" Su Yuan echoed quietly.

"Yeah. The Grand Court Assembly is about to begin, and everyone is scrambling to trade information and feel out the wind. Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear, the two intelligence brokers, were even specially invited. You normally would not get the chance to see something like this."

He handed over a palm-sized light screen and warned him,

"Look for yourself, but do not leave comments carelessly. Trading intelligence is different from trafficking contraband. Knowing too much can easily bring trouble to your door."

Su Yuan took the light screen. Countless lines of text flowed across it, just like a forum from the future, with endless anonymous inquiries and offers scrolling rapidly.

[Urgent question: Has His Majesty adjusted the battle strategy for Northern Jambudvipa? Will the Second Heavenly Soldier Legion remain stationed in the north? Are there plans for redeployment or rotation?]

[Question: When will bids begin for the various wines at this year's Jade Pool Peaches of Immortality Banquet? Does anyone have a reliable connection? A bidding price ceiling would work too!]

[Offering a fortune: When will the "Yellow Bell Plum" of the Western Kunlun Jade Pool Immortal Garden bear fruit next? Is there any way to reserve a small amount in advance? It is for my child's body cultivation!]

[Help wanted: Is there anyone working inside the Marriage Bureau who can check the red-thread status of a female immortal for me? (Extremely urgent, generous reward guaranteed!!!!!)]

[Collecting intelligence: The top post at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been vacant for a long time. Will a candidate be confirmed at this Court Assembly? Will Emperor Wenchang be promoted, or will some Emperor Lord's confidant be parachuted in?]

Su Yuan scrolled through the posts, opened the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thread, and posted an anonymous comment beneath it.

[The rest is unknown for now, but Venus Star Lord has no interest in this position.]

The instant the message was sent, Su Yuan's screen flashed violently.

[Reward received: 500,000 spirit stones.]

At the same time, he received a private message.

"Young friend, may I ask whether your source is reliable? How certain are you?"

The moment Su Yuan saw that pompous tone, he immediately understood. The person who had made the post was none other than Emperor Wenchang, the deputy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He hurriedly replied,

"Greetings, Emperor Lord. It is me, Su Yuan."

The other side was silent for quite a while before a single line popped up.

"So it is you, brat. Fine, then I believe you. Do not spread this matter any further."

Immediately afterward, a line of small text appeared on the light screen.

[The other party has withdrawn the reward.]

Su Yuan:?

That old bastard was unbelievably stingy! What a disgrace!

Beside him, Ink Qilin had a cigarette hanging from his lips. Seeing this, he chuckled.

"Hehehe, you will get used to it. Every one of those old fellows is shrewd. Little Su, whatever you want to find out, just make a post here. The information network is excellent."

Su Yuan thought for a moment, his fingers swiftly moving across the light screen as he posted a new reward thread.

[Offering a fortune for an answer: Rumors are spreading all over the Heavenly Court today that the Great Sage Equal to Heaven will not only receive an official title, but will also establish his own residence and command, enjoying the offerings of an entire domain. Where exactly did this news first leak from? A generous reward for anyone who provides the exact source!]

With a tap of his finger, he directly maxed out the reward—two million spirit stones!

The enormous sum instantly turned the bounty into the hottest topic. A crowd of armchair analysts and speculators immediately exploded beneath it.

"Holy shit! Two million! So generous! Did the Great Sage himself show up?"

"Not the Great Sage. I saw him sneak out through the Southern Heavenly Gate to the lower realm again this morning."

"Let me analyze this: someone is definitely trying to harm him."

"First, they raise the Great Sage's expectations to the maximum. If His Majesty does not grant him that much in the end, he will definitely be unhappy and harbor resentment!"

"Second, they make His Majesty think that this monkey is dissatisfied and making outrageous demands outside, relying on his merits to throw his weight around!"

"Third, and most viciously! They make all those Star Lords and Emperor Lords nervous, making them think this monkey is coming to seize territory and divide authority. That directly turns him into a thorn in everyone's eye!"

"One stone, three birds! So damn despicable! Whose handiwork is this?"

"My blind guess is the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King."

"Possible. Everyone knows he is the most petty."

"I think it sounds like someone from True Martial Emperor's side."