Jing Yuan looked rather grim.
"So... judging by Qingzu's last report, the Alchemy Commission has serious problems."
He had never expected the Borisin to have infiltrators too, let alone ones so deeply embedded.
With their warhead imprisoned in the Prison of Deep Seclusion, the Borisin had been a leaderless pack, unable to amount to much. They had suffered crushing defeats all along the way.
Who would have thought those bastards would actually...
How had those beasts disguised themselves as Xianzhou natives?
Are you serious?
Lingchen gave Jing Yuan a strange look.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Jing Yuan was puzzled.
"No, it's nothing. I just wanted to say you're right."
Serious problems?
It practically deserves to be called the Sanctus Medicus Commission.
"Ah, troubled times. It seems we need to make arrangements and see whether we can develop instruments or medicine to identify the Borisin."
"There's no rush yet."
"Hm?"
"All Six Commissions have people who aren't from the Luofu. You're preparing to move against the higher-ups while worrying about the Borisin too. You might end up causing a real upheaval."
"You mean there are infiltrators among the higher-ups of the Six Commissions too?"
Jing Yuan was starting to feel numb.
Well, the Luofu certainly has a bright future.
"I didn't say that. But if you leave those mutts alone for now, the Xianzhou won't descend into actual turmoil. Given their objective, there's a fair chance they won't act early either."
The Borisin's target was Hoolay in the Prison of Deep Seclusion. Without an opportunity to open the prison, they would most likely continue to bide their time.
"So you generals can contact one another and prepare in advance. If the Borisin spot an opportunity to act, you can turn their scheme against them. If they don't, you can quickly deal with those mutts after resolving the trouble with the higher-ups."
"Your wisdom is extraordinary as well."
Jing Yuan was no fool. After hearing Lingchen's explanation, he knew what to do.
Turn their scheme against them and pretend not to know the Borisin existed. If they stayed put, the Xianzhou would be safe, and they could be dealt with later. If they made a move, the generals would be ready.
"I'm just looking at it as an outsider." With Jing Yuan's intelligence, he could have realized it himself, but the succession of problems had left him somewhat numb. "The Luofu used to have a Cauldron Master, right?"
P.S. The Xianzhou Yuanqiao had 130 billion people during the era of the Three Calamities, so the Xianzhou's population is at least in the hundreds of billions.
There's one more chapter. The national civil service exam is giving me a headache. Over a thousand people have applied. When I checked the registration portal, I found I was still missing information and had to fill it out again. I'm numb.
Chapter 60: A Price That Can Be Paid. "You mean... we should restore the position of Cauldron Master?" Jing Yuan considered it briefly.
Restoring the position was certainly possible. It would be a good chance to address the Alchemy Commission's problems, too. Leaving it vacant forever was no solution.
"What do you think? Can you find a way to see through the Borisin's disguises anytime soon? Is the Alchemy Commission even functional anymore?" "...You'll help us, won't you?" Jing Yuan shamelessly thickened his skin.
"You still haven't told me what price you're paying."
Lingchen was somewhat speechless, but then he smiled. "Still, if the new Cauldron Master is a pretty girl, I wouldn't mind."
Of course, the price would still have to be paid, but that would be the new Cauldron Master's concern.
Hearing Lingchen's words, Jing Yuan met his gaze, and the two laughed at the same time.
"Do you have anyone in mind?" "Jing Yuan, you're acting strange today. This is an internal matter for your Luofu. It's not my place to decide."
Lingchen narrowed his eyes and leaned forward slightly.
"You aren't trying to have me choose someone to offset part of the price, are you?" After all, the Luofu had used him, even if only his name.
Few of the Xianzhou's old fossils were good people, but their appetites were just as great. If they could use Lingchen's name to eliminate several higher-ups who wanted to move against him, then divide those people's assets among themselves, they would be more than willing.
Of course, the generals and High Elders would also take a share.
They had lacked an opportunity before. Now, they had to seize it.
"You still represent the Xianzhou, and you're its Emanators. If you break with those higher-ups, you won't have an easy time either. So I'm the unspoken 'lubricant' between you."
"Only with a shared threat or justification can everyone remain cordial on the surface and claim that everything is for the Luofu."
Of course, none of this would be brought out into the open. That would only truly push Lingchen elsewhere.
But this incident would also intimidate the remaining higher-ups, giving the generals greater freedom and authority to exercise.
Leaving aside the other hidden benefits, these Xianzhou Emanators stood to gain almost nothing but advantages.
His name, however, might end up stinking in the eyes of those higher-ups.
After all, those higher-ups still needed the Xianzhou's Emanators to maintain their comfortable lives. They did not need Lingchen.
"So appointing the Alchemy Commission's leader will just be an extra."
"Then how about I ask the Marshal to let you command a Xianzhou ship of your own? With the Xianzhou Alliance's current strength, building another ship wouldn't be difficult, though its structural strength and other qualities might fall short of ours."
The existing Xianzhou ships all bore Yaoshi's blessing. A newly built one would probably be only as sturdy as an ordinary gigantic spacecraft.
Lingchen was instantly speechless. Not only was Jing Yuan refusing to pay, he was trying to freeload.
"What are you thinking? Leaving aside the fact that I'm not an Emanator of [The Hunt], even if I were, the recruitment and routine administration afterward would work me to death. You aren't trying to use this to accommodate some of the Xianzhou Alliance's population, are you?" Jing Yuan felt no embarrassment at having his intentions exposed.
A thick skin was an essential skill for a general.
"As for the Alchemy Commission's Cauldron Master, I remember the former one was called Yunhua. Then let Lingsha take the position this time. Yes, her original name was Danzhu."
"Are you serious? Do you know their relationship?" "Of course. Just tell me whether it's possible." Jing Yuan looked at Lingchen seriously, then finally sighed.
"Of course it is. The past is in the past. After all these years, if she can return to the Luofu, that would settle a lingering concern."
There might originally have been many considerations behind arranging for Lingsha to become Cauldron Master, but at this moment, there were none. There was only one reason: Lingchen had requested it.
Put more plainly, Lingchen had probably taken a liking to her.
That was fine, too. Being transferred back on a single word from Lingchen was better than getting caught in the coming maelstrom.
"Speaking of which, you Heavenly Generals have long been dissatisfied with certain people."
Lingchen smiled. In this universe, only strength could bring dignity.
"They've already obstructed the Xianzhou's development. Their very existence could even bring disaster upon it."
Previously, they had provoked Lingchen. Because of Fu Xuan and the others, he had merely eliminated a few higher-ups who had acted directly, delivering a warning.
If more people had been involved last time, or if Fu Xuan and the others had not been there, there was no telling whether Lingchen would have given the Xianzhou a truly spectacular bit of entertainment.
"Without breaking the old, you can't build the new. Break it first, then rebuild."
"You certainly know quite a few Xianzhou sayings."
"Didn't I tell you? The world I came from was very similar to the Xianzhou."
Jing Yuan nodded. Lingchen had mentioned this before. Perhaps that was why he had adapted to the Xianzhou so quickly.
"There's one more thing. Although we can remove some of them, others have backgrounds that are too complicated for us to deal with. Afterward, I'll give you their information. If they intend to act, I'll let you know."
At Jing Yuan's words, Lingchen's gaze gradually settled into calm. After a moment of silence, Jing Yuan continued, "Marshal Hua said those people will all be secretly monitored. If there really is a problem, you may do whatever you wish."
"Not bad. Your Marshal is fairly decisive. But I still have to remind you that this may prevent the next selection of generals from going as you wish. There will inevitably be complications."
After this incident, the higher-ups might well develop designs on the generals' positions and arrange to put their own people in them.
But those without virtue could not hold such positions securely.
For one thing, Lan could sense the Path.
If someone strayed too far from the Path, even an inherited position would probably be revoked.
Still, they could cultivate fanatical believers who firmly followed [The Hunt] while favoring the higher-ups.
"On that matter, Marshal Hua has already joined with the other Heavenly Generals to add requirements for future successors."
"Two of them are absolute impartiality toward any individual, organization, family, or faction, and a requirement that generals trust and assist one another."
How could they possibly have overlooked something like that? Jing Yuan still needed to report the Borisin issue, though, as well as the Vidyadhara problem. He had actually forgotten to mention it at the last meeting. He must have been too exhausted from work. From now on, he would get up at nine.
"As for the price: first, on behalf of the Alliance, I can give you an alliance Jade Abacus. In the future, you may ask the Alliance to act unconditionally three times."
"Second, there are six Xianzhou ships, so you may make six requests in the future. As long as they do not violate our Path or harm the Xianzhou's people, we can agree to them."
"Third, all your future expenses will be charged to the Alliance."
"How does that sound?" P.S. The book goes premium tomorrow. I'm begging all you readers to subscribe to the first paid chapter so I can see how many people are reading this book.
I've completed two books, so updates are guaranteed.
And thank you to Qingshui Ximuyuan for the monthly vote.
Thanks to *Muyi for the monthly vote.
Finally, one more plea for support.
Chapter 61: A Diting? Go Play Somewhere Else
Lingchen stared at the alliance Jade Abacus and the credit card Jing Yuan handed him, momentarily stunned.
"This really is a little unexpected."
If the other Masked Fools saw this, they would probably be ashamed to associate with him.
Everywhere the others went, they committed all sorts of mischief in pursuit of amusement. For many, not becoming wanted criminals counted as success. Lingchen had gone in the exact opposite direction.
Still, in Aha's eyes, this might also be a kind of amusement.
Just like when Aha granted power to the Mournful Actors.
"Was this your idea?" "It also received the support of the Marshal, the other generals, the High Elders, and the Ten Lords."
He had contacted the other generals and High Elders that morning and explained the price they could pay.
In the end, everyone had agreed.
This arrangement offered only advantages, with no drawbacks.
After all, Lingchen's current strength was nearly equal to the entire Alliance's.
Although this price ultimately benefited the Xianzhou too, it truly was the greatest sincerity the Xianzhou could offer.
"Vision, cooperation, and guts. That's Lan's good boy for you."
"Still, I didn't expect all Ten Lords to agree."
Lingchen gave him a thumbs-up and flashed a wholesome smile.
As an Emanator of [The Hunt], Jing Yuan's mouth twitched, but he did not argue.
Still, he thought that even if he wanted to be Lan's good boy, Lan would not acknowledge him.
But on further thought, some people never even had the chance to receive a glance, let alone become an adopted son.
"There were actually objections among the Ten Lords. Any normal person could see that this would probably be a win-win, or even leave the Xianzhou better off. But certain people... I won't say more. You understand. In the end, those two stepped down, and new members have now taken their places among the Ten Lords."
"Oh? Where did those two go? To experience the Ten-Lords Commission's joys firsthand?" Jing Yuan's mouth twitched. That was far too ruthless.
"No. They were merely stripped of their authority and made to retire."
"I'll give you their names afterward."
Having committed to building a good relationship with Lingchen, they would no longer hesitate.
It was time for the Xianzhou to gain some fresh vitality.
"Sure enough, as Lan's Emanators, you all have a streak of drive in your bones."
Even Lingchen was somewhat astonished.
The Xianzhou's aristocratic connections were deeply entangled, and those higher-ups controlled vast resources. Even with cooperation from other higher-ups, bringing them down would likely be difficult. The Ten-Lords Commission, in particular, stood outside the center of power. That was also why no one had acted against them until now.
"Haha, once you've made up your mind, you have to act. Hesitation only costs you a perfect opportunity."