Inside the compound of the Deputy General's residence in the Nine Luminaries Division of Jade Mountain.
Two figures exuding profound auras sat upright beside the stone table, both clad in Silver Fish- patterned robes, highlighting their extraordinary status.
However, their expressions were quite different.
One looked helpless, the other with a furrowed brow, as if they had encountered some great injustice.
Squeak--
Just then, the long-browed man, who had learned the news, pushed open the door and entered.
Although he tried his best to hide his excitement, he still seemed extremely eager.
Before he could even regain his footing, he bowed to the browless-faced Deputy General of Yushan beside the stone table and proclaimed in a loud voice:
"Lord Zeng! I saw someone visiting Prefect Cao, and the guards at the gate went in to report it!"
Upon hearing this, the man named Zeng Fan finally raised his head. "Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"
He was still furious that the spot for refining skills he had secured was gone.
The long-browed man quickly lowered his head and said:
"Rest assured, my lord, my eyes never fail me. I can even clearly see the design of that Tiger Tally; it's most likely the work of a Longtan Grand Commandery!"
"Longtan Grand Commandery... when did a lieutenant general emerge from there?"
Zeng Fan's brows remained furrowed, and after a moment of silence, he voiced his doubts.
The lieutenant across the stone table coughed twice and replied:
"It seems to have happened in the last few days. I only heard the governor mention it casually, I didn't expect to have the opportunity to meet him so soon."
Upon hearing this, Zeng Fan's question marks only increased, and he laughed angrily:
"A newly promoted lieutenant general can get a spot in the [Jade Mountain Refinement]? Brother Su, are you kidding me?"
If that's true, then what about the two Great Void Realm Peak Great Demon he killed day and night?
What about all the effort he put into the Nine Luminaries Division of Jade Mountain?!
"... Perhaps he really is exceptionally talented. After all, he was promoted to a higher rank through exceptional means, so he must have some outstanding qualities."
Su Yongye chuckled awkwardly, and fearing he might add fuel to the fire, he could only try to smooth things over from another angle:
"Brother Zeng, don't be too anxious. Although you've lost the spot for the refining competition, didn't the Prefect promise to compensate you in other ways?"
"I don't need any compensation, I just want Jade Mountain Refinement!" Zeng Fan slammed his fist on the table in anger, his eyes flashing with a menacing light.
He stared intently at Su Yongye's face and said, word by word:
"Even you, a genius who has been studying at [Shiguang Academy], made a special trip back from the Capital City to participate in the Jade Mountain Refinement. Tell me, what can compensate for this?"
"What could possibly compare to the chance to advance to the Cosmic Birth Realm in the future?!"
Su Yongye fell silent. He knew what the other person said was true. The opening time of the Jade Mountain Refinement was extremely unstable, and every spot was crucial.
Even the direct disciples of the [Four Extremes Twelve Gates] were incredibly envious of this opportunity, which speaks volumes about its value.
Su Yongye sighed helplessly, "But there are no more spots left. You can't exactly try to snatch them, can you?"
"Why not?!"
"...?"
Su Yongye's expression froze on his face, then he slowly looked at his colleague.
After a long silence, his voice turned cold for the first time:
"Zeng Fan, you attacked a colleague within the company? Are you crazy or did I mishear you?"
"You weren't the one whose spot was taken, so of course you're full of moral high ground." Zeng Fan's eyes flashed with sarcasm as he sneered.
"When did I say I was going to take action against him within the company?"
"Besides, this spot should have been mine in the first place! Is it wrong to take back what's rightfully mine?!"
If you take other people's things without a second thought, you should be prepared to have your hands chopped off.
There's no need to take action within the bureau. Jade Mountain is quite a distance from the Nine Luminaries Division, so we can decide how to proceed when the time comes.
As for the subsequent punishment...
The criminal law of the Dasheng Dynasty also had a hierarchy.
It's just a matter of inflicting some physical pain on a colleague; you can't just remove him from his post, can you?
"Go ahead and expose them if you want."
Zeng Fan sat back down in his chair and said indifferently, "Anyway, this only benefits you. You're only happy to see my refinement stolen for nothing, aren't you?"
"... You'll definitely regret this!"
Su Yongye's face turned ashen, and in the end, he could only angrily turn and leave.
Obtaining the Jade Mountain Refinement certificate in this way will only severely damage one's image in the world.
To sacrifice one's reputation for petty gains is the act of a worthless person!
Given Zeng Fan's character, he will undoubtedly want to gain the favor of those above him in the future, which makes it even less worthwhile.
Unfortunately, no Human Teachings can teach him; only by letting Zeng Fan personally experience the disastrous consequences of Jade Mountain Refinement will he have a chance to wake up!
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
After a moment of silence, Zeng Fan slowly withdrew his gaze from the direction the other person had left and said:
"Send more people to gather information in the next two days. If he really informs the prefect about this, notify me immediately."
If the governor finds out about this, even if he is Yushan's own subordinate, he will definitely stop the plan.
Although the two sides are colleagues who know each other inside and out, they still have to be wary.
Zeng Fan then summoned several trusted confidants and gave them his instructions:
"Remember, everyone must prepare according to the standards for hunting down Great Demon. No one is allowed to be careless!"
He was at least a Retainer General and subordinate general; even if he was bad, he couldn't be too bad.
However, being a newly appointed deputy general from Longtan Grand Commandery, he was completely unaware of how abundant the resources were in Yushan County.
Even if they are both at the Dao Evolution Realm, there will inevitably be a huge gap in their combat strength!
Zeng Fan was extremely confident about this trip.
He was completely willing to go all out for the proof of his Jade Mountain Refinement.