Joint operation, one overt and five covert

The Third Army's encampment!

A burly middle-aged man put down the scroll in his hand, looked down, and said coldly:

"Zhang Wei, repeat what you just said."

"Yes!" Zhang Wei's heart tightened. "Chu He acted on my instructions. He may have misunderstood and mistakenly killed the Divine Sword Sect disciples. If punishment is due, I will bear it all."

"Bear it!"

"To think this Thousand Household Commander valued you so highly. A Hundred Household Commander, and you cannot even grasp the current situation?"

The burly man questioned him coldly again.

The presence radiating from him sent the temperature throughout the hall plummeting. Even space seemed to freeze.

At that moment.

Zhang Wei's mind went completely blank!

First: he had never expected the Thousand Household Commander to fly into such a rage.

Second: the Thousand Household Commander was too powerful. He stood only a hair's breadth from breaking through to fifth rank. Once he did, it would shake Yun Province.

Fifth rank.

That already counted as top-tier fighting strength in a province. In the Great Qian Empire, a fourth-rank cultivator could establish a force spanning several commanderies. A fifth-rank cultivator could essentially establish a top sect that held sway over an entire province.

Even in the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau!

The experts above fifth rank numbered no more than the fingers of one hand. They were true big shots, whose every word and action could determine the fates of countless living beings.

And the burly man above him was Qian Hao, the Third Army's Thousand Household Commander, and the strongest man below fifth rank in Yun Province.

"My lord, your subordinate is slow-witted and guilty!"

Zhang Wei hurriedly replied, releasing a trace of his own presence to resist the pressure. Otherwise, he feared it would crush him into coughing blood on the spot.

"Guilty, my ass." Qian Hao looked at him with the frustration of iron refusing to become steel. "I thought you had finally grown clever and understood the bigger picture. That was why I specifically had you handle this."

"Now it seems that, if not for Chu He's decisiveness and ruthlessness, you might well have ruined everything."

What?

Thank goodness Chu He had acted decisively?

Following his instructions would have ruined things?

Qian Hao's words left Zhang Wei stunned. He instinctively said, "My lord, I don't understand."

"You!"

Qian Hao shook his head helplessly. "You know the situation in Great Qian. Unrest everywhere, White Lotus Cult remnants emerging one after another. Some forces in Yun Province can no longer hold themselves back."

Zhang Wei was startled. "With the Garrison Commissioner here, who would dare act out?"

Qian Hao sighed. "Lord Tie is not currently in Yun Province. Many forces have already noticed. The Divine Sword Sect affair has long ceased to be Chu He's affair alone. It is something the entire Demon Suppression Bureau must resolve properly."

"For now, Lord Tie's lingering prestige can still keep them in check. Once the Demon Suppression Bureau shows the slightest weakness, Yun Province will descend into chaos.

"Chu He killed the Divine Sword Sect disciples without hesitation and even made bold declarations in public. That should deter some people."

So that was it!

Zhang Wei now understood where the problem lay. He had thought he would surely be punished today, yet his crooked shot had struck true and even earned him merit.

"My lord, what should we do next?"

"Next comes a joint operation. Each of the three armies will send two battalions. The location: Nine Nether Town." Qian Hao picked up his scroll and continued, "You and Sun Shang will represent our Third Army."

"Yes!"

Zhang Wei nodded.

After a few more words, he bowed and withdrew. Just as he was about to step out of the hall, Qian Hao's voice reached his ears again:

"A lord higher up has taken an interest in Chu He. Go compile a dossier on his life before joining the Demon Suppression Bureau."

"Understood."

Joy appeared on Zhang Wei's face.

Since a lord higher up had taken an interest in Chu He, his future prospects were surely limitless. As his recommender, Zhang Wei could also reap some benefits. At least, he would most likely receive a spot in the Heavenly Mansion Pool this time.

Three days later!

News that Chu He had received no punishment spread throughout the Demon Suppression Bureau and all the major forces of Yun Province.

For a time!

Everyone speculated:

Those in the Demon Suppression Bureau suspected that Chu He had powerful backing. He was very likely related to some big shot, or had caught the attention of someone higher up.

Outside, people likewise suspected that Chu He had backing, while also believing that the Demon Suppression Bureau truly still had reserves it had yet to deploy. None dared act rashly.

Orders issued from the various major forces:

"Reply to the White Lotus Cult. Tell them I am an official of Great Qian. If they dare approach me again, I will kill them without mercy."

"Feng Clan disciples must not participate in the Nine Nether Town affair. Above all, do not provoke anyone from the Demon Suppression Bureau."

"If any of you give the Demon Suppression Bureau a chance to make an example of you, don't blame this sect master for not protecting you. The Divine Sword Sect disciples' fate will be yours."

Meanwhile!

Over those three days!

Chu He had also exchanged merit points for some cultivation resources to consolidate the foundation of his Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Art.

However.

He had to admit: after the rapid improvement from adding points, Chu He could no longer accept his own sluggish cultivation speed.

"If I keep cultivating like this, I'll need at least three months to break through to second rank middle stage, and a year to reach second rank late stage."

Dissatisfaction appeared on Chu He's face.

This sight!

Had outsiders known, they might have gone mad with anger!

After all, Chu He cultivated the Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Art, the most difficult art in the Demon Suppression Bureau. Even peerless prodigies would not dare claim they could advance two minor stages in a year.

Yet Chu He was dissatisfied with that.

However!

Chu He was not showing off. It really was too slow. He had taken less than a month to go from unranked to second rank early stage.

Besides, his soul power was increasing extremely quickly. If it took him a year to reach second rank late stage, the grass on his grave would probably already stand ten feet tall.

(Everyone else: Fine, fine, you're the most badass, all right? None of us deserve to be compared with you. ＜(ToT)＞)

The Demon Suppression encampment!

Six hundred Demon Suppression Guards from six battalions stood in the square, with Zhang Wei and the other five Hundred Household Commanders at the very front.

Hum...!

A figure in a brocade robe appeared out of thin air above the square, standing suspended without the aid of any tool.

This was the ability of experts of fourth rank and above: flight!

As long as their reserves did not run dry, flying ten thousand miles in a day was perfectly normal. They could also take to the sky to battle flying demonic beasts.

At that moment!

Chu He looked up at the suspended figure. This was his first time seeing a fourth-rank expert, and the man was indeed far stronger than Zhang Wei.

Fourth rank was a dividing line!

Second- and third-rank experts could be overwhelmed and killed through sheer numbers, but fourth-rank experts could not, because they could fly!

"Fourth rank. Before too long, this Company Commander will surely break through." A trace of dominance showed in Chu He's eyes.

Even setting aside the pressure from his soul!

Flight alone:

It was a temptation no living being from Blue Star could resist!

"By order of Commander Zhou, this Thousand Household Commander will lead this joint operation. Mission location: Nine Nether Town."

"One battalion will operate overtly, five covertly. The covert battalions will infiltrate Nine Nether Town in batches. Do not beat the grass and startle the snake. The overt battalion will enter openly."

With that!

The Thousand Household Commander, Qian Hao, looked at Zhang Wei. "The overt force will be the Third Army's Third Battalion. This Thousand Household Commander has only one demand of you: be overbearing. Show the might the Demon Suppression Bureau ought to have."

"Yes!"

Zhang Wei answered immediately.

The sight made Hundred Household Commander Sun grind his back teeth. His intuition told him that after this joint mission, he would completely lose his chance to enter the Heavenly Mansion Pool.

"Move out!"

Qian Hao shouted.

Immediately!

The six battalions departed separately, each divided into companies.