Action

"He seems to be near the Imperial Mausoleum in Dongshan?"

What was he doing in Dongshan?

Zhang Xuezhou's unconsciousness was nearing its end, and it was time for Zuo Luo to make his move.

When Zuo Luo was making some preparations, he also communicated with Zuo Quan.

The topic of their discussion involved Zhang Xuezhou.

Zuo Quan sensed Zhang Xuezhou's location and was slightly taken aback, not expecting that Zhang Xuezhou had run towards the direction of the Eastern Mountain Imperial Mausoleum.

Zuo Luo then inquired about Zhang Xuezhou's reason for going to Dongshan.

"I don't know what he wanted to do at the Dongshan Imperial Mausoleum, wait... he seems to have replaced Zhu Haishan as the caretaker of the Dongshan Imperial Mausoleum!"

Zuo Quan quickly flipped through some of the relevant information. When he picked out the announcement involving Zhang Xuezhou, the information that he had become the director of the Dongshan Imperial Mausoleum Management Office came into his view.

As the newly appointed director of the Dongshan Imperial Mausoleum Management Office, Zhang Xuezhou in Dongshan is quite normal.

"He doesn't seem to care much about official titles. The formal handover hasn't even taken place yet, so how come he's assuming office so quickly?" Zuo Luo wondered.

"Young people are always enthusiastic when they first become officials," Zuo Quan said. "If he weren't bound by us, Zuo Teng would have been in charge of the special task force long ago."

"He's quite enthusiastic about power, and being the deputy captain of a special task force satisfies his little desires," Zuo Luo said.

"Zuo Teng likes this kind of real power and authority, while Zhang Xuezhou dislikes official titles, which is why he ended up managing the Dongshan Imperial Mausoleum," Zuo Quan said. "This also fits Zhang Xuezhou's personality of not vying for power!"

"But I don't understand why he went to the management office of the Dongshan Imperial Mausoleum so early. Logically speaking, if he didn't like his position, Zhang Xuezhou should be at the research institute right now," Zuo Luo asked doubtfully.

"You suspect he's just trying to gain fame and fortune, and that he has to pretend he doesn't like power because of his family background, but he slipped up on this small matter?" Zuo Quan asked.

"Although this isn't a major problem, there is indeed a risk of being controlled by someone who says one thing to your face and another behind your back, and it's very likely that you'll face high-risk competition with Zuo Teng in the future," Zuo Luo said.

Zuo Luo was already reluctant to use seeds to control Zhang Xuezhou, and when he found some faults, he became unhappy.

For him, finding a healthy and positive seed is far better than this diseased and bad one.

"Given our current situation, he is indeed worth investing in, and you can't find anyone more suitable," Zuo Quan said, frowning.

"Perhaps waiting a few more years would be better?"

"Let me ask Zhang Xuezhou for you!"

Zuo Quan had been in Western Capital City for much longer than Zuo Luo, and he knew the Western Capital City's operating rules Grand Clarity.

They can no longer rely on past methods of control to manipulate one person and thus control the whole situation; that era of feudal control is over.

Currently, the Scarlet Alliance State is constantly changing, with various factions emerging, and there is no one who can truly make decisions on a single issue.

Rather than wasting time and energy on these people, Zuo Quan felt it was better to develop the younger generation.

Given Zhang Xuezhou's abilities, the opponent is not only guaranteed a place as a candidate member for the next four years, but also for the next four years and the four years after that.

This is enough to build a young and stable team. If the other party is more ambitious in the next ten years or so, he may have a real committee member status, and then lead many young people to rise steadily until he and Zuo Teng truly grasp the power of the Alliance States.

Zuo Luo disliked Zhang Xuezhou, but Zuo Quan felt that Zhang Xuezhou was genuinely good, at least relying on him offered a possibility of success.

He stopped Zuo Luo from speaking, and then dialed the communication button.

After a brief call, Zhang Xuezhou's voice came through the communicator.

"I'm at the Dongshan Imperial Mausoleum. The committee appointed me as the director of the management office here, so I came over beforehand to check on things!"

"This position is indeed very relaxed. I can come for a few days and rest for a few days without any problem, and even if I don't come for a long time, it's not a big issue!"

"I told them I didn't like being an official, and Committee Member Li suggested I take a sinecure. I wondered why I'd choose a sinecure like guarding a tomb, since tombs are considered unlucky. Committee Member Li said that we could find many antiquities here, and there was even a high probability that we could find the best ancient martial arts and medicine recipes from the Luofu Dynasty, which would be helpful for my traditional medicine refining!"

"I couldn't contain myself when I heard about this great news; I've been searching through the management office for the past few days!"

Over the communicator, Zhang Xuezhou's extremely cheerful and hearty laughter could be heard intermittently as Zuo Quan asked him questions.

After asking back and forth, Zuo Quan finally got the answer he wanted.

He glanced at Zuo Luo, and only after Zuo Luo nodded did Zuo Quan chuckle and exchange pleasantries with Zhang Xuezhou before concluding the conversation.

"See? I told you he wasn't interested in power. He went off to search for ancient artifacts and secret formulas," Zuo Quan said.

"It's a case of taking advantage of one's position!"

Zuo Luo replied reluctantly, but the initial resistance he felt was gone.

Zuo Quan may be talking without understanding the situation, but no parent wants their child to be sickly. Zuo Luo is no exception. When breeding and raising children, he tries his best to select the best mates so as not to waste his investment.

"They're still researching it," Zuo Quan said. "Besides, isn't he going to develop some kind of longevity drug? If we want those old folks in the Twilight Years Mansion to die sooner, we can control how much research he does on longevity!"

"That's true!"

Zuo Luo nodded.

Putting aside Zhang Xuezhou's ailing health, Zuo Luo felt that the other man had only good qualities.

Even disregarding the opponent's advantage of being the most outstanding among the young alternate members, as long as Zhang Xuezhou develops fewer longevity drugs for the elderly in the Twilight Years Mansion, these people will not be an obstacle.

Upon closer examination, Zuo Luo felt that Zhang Xuezhou was quite effective, as he could manage both elderly and young groups.

When the time comes, the third-generation committee members will move into their Twilight Years Mansion, and the world will fall under their control.

"Alright, let's get ready and try to plant the seed tonight. By the way, is Zhang Xuezhou in Dongshan or did he go back to North Rehe?" Zuo Luo asked.

"He's driving back to North Rehe now, we can just wait for him there!"

Zuo Quan pointed in the direction, indicating that he and Zuo Luo could go to the research institute in North Rehe to see Zuo Denggao in advance.

Visiting Zuo Denggao was secondary; if they could delay until Zhang Xuezhou fell into a deep sleep, their opportunity to act would arise.

"I need ten minutes. Use some tricks to try and charm everyone at the B13 Research Institute," Zuo Luo instructed.

"Don't even mention ten minutes, I could easily last an hour," Zuo Quan patted his chest and said, "My talent in this area is exceptional; even Fifth Sequence cultivator couldn't withstand it!"

"Um!"

"Of course, your talent is far superior," Zuo Quan said ingratiatingly. "I would be content if I could reach your level of a six-star plant in this lifetime!"

"My talent is nothing special; it's just about controlling and developing three subspecies!"

"That's incredibly impressive! You want to have high- Sequence Holder bodyguards at any time if you want to be powerful. If Pei Jing hadn't died, you could go anywhere!"

"Pei Jing... that good-for-nothing used to boast that his longsword was unmatched among its peers, but who knew he'd become so useless with age, getting beaten into a mentally challenged state..."

Amidst the low curses, Zuo Luo was clearly very dissatisfied with Pei Jing, who had died so young.