Establishing Authority

Since the appointment of officials and the preparation for operation of Double Brightness Trade Market were both trivial matters in the eyes of the Acting Sima Gun,

Therefore, the only important matter in his mind must be the shop that the Gun Household is preparing to open in Double Brightness Trade Market.

Yes, one of the ironclad rules of the Immortal Dynasty's officialdom is that no matter how important public affairs are, they cannot be more important than one's own affairs.

From this perspective, although Acting Sima Gun was a tough guy who fought his way up from the ranks, he was not immune to worldly conventions.

In the Immortal Dynasty, if one cannot learn the art of enriching oneself at the expense of the public, then one is considered out of place. This is even worse than embezzlement and corruption, and is a major taboo in officialdom!

Although he knew this principle, Sect Leader Kang Da couldn't help but mutter to himself for a while, thinking that it was unreasonable for the Kuang Household to be invincible.

He knew that he, as a parasite, had no right to criticize others, so he just sighed in his heart, "The crow laughs at the pig for being black," and then stood aside and smiled for a long time, listening to Deng Baichuan and Acting Sima Gun talk about business for a long time.

Only after Acting Sima Gun nodded in satisfaction and led the way away on his Mystic Falcon were Sect Leader Kang Da and Deng Baichuan able to disperse as well.

With only a few days left before the market opened, Deng Baichuan, who was in charge, was still very busy, so he pulled Feng En along to get to work again.

Compared to him, Kang Dabao was much more relaxed. He didn't share Deng Baichuan's idea that the market would soon belong to the Kang family.

Kindness comes from superiors; what they bestow when they are in a good mood can be taken back when they are in a bad mood, so it's not something to be particularly happy about.

However, the absence of Xu Yingshi, a troublesome character who was at odds with him, could be considered a good thing. Sect Leader Kang Da could also take advantage of this time to collude with Deng Baichuan and work together to extract as much profit as possible from the market to strengthen himself.

Although with his Chongming Sect to immediately transform from a pawn into a player, even a little progress, from being at the mercy of others to being manipulated by them, would be good.

Kang Dabao then remembered the two positions that the Acting Sima Gun; deciding who should take them wouldn't be difficult.

Of the three junior brothers he brought out this time, Pei Yi, as the current number two figure in the Chongming Sect and an elder who transmits skills, is not good at fighting, so it would be better for him to go back and guard the sect.

After Deng Baichuan was promoted to acting lieutenant, the position of chief accountant was left to Ye Zhengwen, who was proficient in general affairs. As for the head of the criminal gang, Yuan Jin had been in office for a long time and was a ready-made candidate.

But this team?

Don't think that just because Xu Yingshi left, leaving behind forty capable and ruthless cultivators, it's all good news.

Several of the leaders in his group have already reached the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer Refining, which is much higher than that of Sect Leader Kang Da and Yuan Jin. If they cannot be subdued, it will be a very difficult matter.

In Sect Leader Kang Da's opinion, it would be better to just send them all away. These people have connections with many Foundation Establishment Aristocratic Clan; they are either loyal servants or relatives by marriage.

They're definitely not easy to manage.

Unlike Xu Yingshi, who had a privileged background, I'm not a Nascent Soul cultivator. How many methods will it take for me to win over these people?

But if you actually do that, what does it mean that the Acting Sima Gun just handed the troops over to you, and then you immediately disperse them?

This is... hard to say and hard to hear.

At this moment, not only was Sect Leader Kang Da in a dilemma and looking unhappy.

Upon learning that Xu Yingshi had been promoted in name only and demoted in reality, being transferred to Jin County as magistrate, the group he had gathered was equally indignant.

When Xu Yingshi left, he did not do anything to incite or persuade. He simply stated the arrangements for the Acting Sima Gun in a calm tone, then selected ten people and left.

But instead of making a scene, his remaining followers spontaneously started to clamor.

"Alright, then we'll all follow Acting Commandant Xu to Jin County."

"Now we should call him Magistrate Xu!"

"Yes, yes, what kind of scoundrel is that Kang? How could he be worthy of our seeking refuge?"

Even before the Double Brightness Trade Market in Market Commandant Kang's town has officially opened, it seems to be bustling with activity ahead of schedule.

----The next day at the training ground outside the market

Both groups arrived and stood in rows, clearly separated.

Today, Sect Leader Kang Da is not performing the same "gathering generals with drums, those who fail to appear will be executed" act that Emperor Taizu did in his youth. His prestige is insufficient, and he should be careful not to imitate the tiger and end up with a dog.

If they suffer a backlash from the group below, and the newly established Thief-Catching Office gets caught up in a firefight before even setting out to hunt down thieves, the situation will be difficult to manage.

Xu Yingshi and his group knew what was important. Regardless of whether they respected Kang Dabao or not, they all arrived in an orderly fashion after receiving the notice, giving the latter no chance to pick a scapegoat to cause trouble.

"Drill!" Kang Dabao, with his protruding belly, stood under the White Bear Fang Banner. At his command, only his original squad, led by Yuan Jin, moved. The newcomers, on the other hand, remained motionless.

"Reporting to the City Commandant, Magistrate Xu did not appoint a fire captain before leaving, so we cannot train." The most powerful Qi Refinement Ninth Layer cultivator, stepped forward under the gaze of Sect Leader Kang Da.

Kang Dabao sized him up for a while. Having spent these days in the market, he recognized the man Xu Yingshi had recruited.

This person was originally an elder of the Carefree Grotto, a Qi Refinement sect under the jurisdiction of the Feng Prefecture Ge Household. Kang Dabao couldn't remember his name, but he thought his surname was Qin.

Originally, the Feng Prefecture Ge Household had no dealings with the state government, but after Ge Yangfeng died, it seems that an elder of his family led many clansmen to settle down in Cloud Horn Prefecture.

If the information obtained by Sect Leader Kang Da is accurate, Carefree Grotto has also moved to Cloud Horn Prefecture along with this Ge Household, but it is unclear which county they have settled in.

Speaking of this, one has to admire Xu Yingshi's connections. For impoverished Rogue Cultivator like those from Shandu Ridge, being able to work in the market was at least a good thing.

Even a cultivator surnamed Qin has come, which is a real deference; Xu Yingshi's influence is truly considerable.

But he only wanted to give Xu Yingshi face; he not only didn't respect Sect Leader Kang Da, but also seemed to want to slap him in the face.

"Then please, Fellow Daoist Qin, accept the position of Fire Chief." Sect Leader Kang Da's tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"My cultivation is too low; I am unworthy of this position," the cultivator surnamed Qin said, shaking his head in refusal.

"Chu Huer, since Fellow Daoist Qin is so humble, then you shall become his Fire Chief. Do not be arrogant; Fellow Daoist Qin is an elder of a major sect and a senior figure in the Daoist community. You should learn from him."

Hearing what the cultivator surnamed Qin said, Kang Dabao did not insist, and then called Chu Huer to step forward.

"Chu Huer obeys!" Chu Huer immediately stepped out from the crowd and answered in a strong voice.

"City Commandant, forgive my bluntness, but this Fellow Daoist Chu is not fit to be my superior." The cultivator surnamed Qin raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at Chu Huer's short stature, revealing an undisguised look of disdain.

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Qin, please tell me why it cannot be done?" Kang Dabao said to himself without getting angry.

"With insufficient cultivation and mixed aura, this Fellow Daoist Chu is clearly a rogue cultivator. His abilities are laughable. How could he possibly be my superior?"

The cultivator surnamed Qin spoke scathingly to Chu Huer's face without any mercy, making the short, stocky man gasp for breath.

"Then, Fellow Daoist Qin, who do you think could be your superior?" Kang Dabao asked, still unperturbed.

"Forgive my bluntness, but I'm afraid there isn't anyone like that here. Since Market Commandant Kang can't find anyone, please send me back to my hometown to live out my remaining years." The cultivator surnamed Qin answered with his head held high, looking directly into the small eyes of the Sect Leader Kang Da without flinching.

As soon as he finished speaking, most of the people who came to Xu Yingshi looked eager to try, as if they were all hoping that Sect Leader Kang Da would speak.

"Phew," Kang Dabao sighed. It seems that even the title of Fei Household's son-in-law can't intimidate many people.

At this moment, his gaze towards the cultivator surnamed Qin sharpened considerably, and he said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Qin, this duel is unavoidable, isn't it?!"

The cultivator surnamed Qin raised a slight smile but did not reply.

"Fine, Chu Huer, why don't you ask Fellow Daoist Qin for his expert skills?" Seeing that the cultivator surnamed Qin was unyielding, Sect Leader Kang Da had no choice but to give up.

After he finished speaking, the group followed him to the arena in the training ground.

"Kill!" Chu Huer was clearly annoyed by the Qin-surnamed cultivator's belittling.

After stepping onto the arena, the referee, Kang Dabao, shouted "Start!" and Chu Huer, without even a greeting, pounced on the cultivator surnamed Qin like a giant worm.

The cultivators of Shandu Ridge had received teachings from Martial Uncle Li. To treat them as ordinary Rogue Cultivator who couldn't even recite a First Tier Five Elements incantation would be too humiliating.

Chu Huer was able to stand out among them and become the leader not only because of his unparalleled cultivation at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, but also because of his remarkable fighting skills.

Chu Huer's fundamental Cultivation Method is not worth mentioning; it's merely Desolate-Tier Lower-Grade.

Over the years, as his cultivation level improved, his horizons broadened considerably, and he did acquire higher-level complete Cultivation Method.

Even a cultivator like Yuan Jin, who had a sect to rely on, found it difficult to muster the courage to dissipate his cultivation and start over. How could Chu Huer, a freelance Rogue Cultivator of nature with few means to earn resources, possibly dare to do so?

When his cultivation level was lower, he might have had some thoughts about switching to a higher-level Cultivation Method to escape the embarrassing situation of being inferior to others wherever he went.

But seeing that he was almost at the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer Refining, Chu Huer completely gave up on that idea and could only look for powerful Law Technique and good Law Artifact to protect himself in order to earn resources for Foundation Establishment.

Chu Huer's most prized Daoist technique was called "Vicious Flood Dragon Fist," which was of a fairly high grade, already at the Desolate-Tier Superior-Grade. Perhaps because of its fitting name, Chu Huer mastered this Daoist technique to the point of perfection in just under twenty years.

This was already quite rare for Qi Refinement cultivator, so Chu Huer, with the idea of taking the initiative, quickly ran to the Qin-surnamed cultivator.

Then Chu Huer shouted loudly, his muscles bulging, and a black dragon Dao seal appeared in his hand. He aimed at the Qin-surnamed cultivator and struck him on the head.

The cultivator surnamed Qin had been calm and was planning to make some sarcastic remarks before taking any action.

Unexpectedly, the short, blond man in front of him was not as bad as he had thought. The few wisps of wind from his fists were as sharp as the claws of a ferocious beast, making the Qin-surnamed cultivator realize that something was wrong.

"This is not someone to be trifled with, you've overestimated yourself!" But the Qin-surnamed cultivator was, after all, a late-stage cultivator with years of experience. Even though he lost the initiative, he didn't panic. Seeing that Chu Huer's fist, as big as a bowl, was about to strike, he simply touched his Storage Bag, and a jade talisman emitted a yellow spiritual light, blocking Chu Huer's fist.

But Chu Huer's punches were not so easy to block. His prepared, furious strike, while not as powerful as Yuan Jin's Ape Demon Cannon Hammer, was not far off.

The jade talisman of the cultivator surnamed Qin could not stop him; it only bought him a little time to evade.

The cultivator surnamed Qin was surprised to find that he had underestimated the power of Chu Huer's magic, and the jade talisman failed to achieve the effect he had expected.

He had barely moved a step, not even having time to unleash his next move, when Chu Huer had already adjusted his stance, withdrawn his fist, leaped from the ground, and landed with a somersault.

The cultivator surnamed Qin saw Chu Huer's short leg, which resembled a heavy axe, come crashing down with a fierce wind and a dragon's roar!

Having experienced the initial panic, the old cultivator calmed down and was no longer flustered. He then began to practice the Carefree Footwork, which he had been practicing for over sixty years.

The signature footwork of the Carefree Grotto Cave is of a high grade, already at the Vast-Tier Lower-Grade. After practicing it for so many years, the Qin family cultivator has only reached the rudimentary level and has found it difficult to make any further progress.

However, he was still quite adept at dealing with Chu Huer.

Chu Huer's whip-like kick, which came hurtling through the air, was dodged by the cultivator surnamed Qin, who then reached into his Storage Bag and revealed a chain as thick as a child's arm and about ten feet long.

This chain is quite extraordinary; it is entirely bright silver and incredibly Hardness.

Chu Huer's whip kick was blocked by it, and the force of the recoil almost broke Chu Huer's right leg, which was as hard as refined steel.

The latter couldn't help but feel a chill, thinking to himself that the old man's chains were incredibly powerful, probably much Hardness than ordinary First-Tier Middle-Grade defensive magic Law Artifact.

Realizing the danger, Chu Huer immediately abandoned the idea of hand-to-hand combat and summoned a one-legged bronze weapon to defend himself.

This was a high-grade magic Law Artifact he had been fortunate enough to obtain from a dying Lineage cultivator years ago. In a great mood, he did a good deed by relieving the Lineage cultivator's pain.

Chu Huer's bronze unicorn horn flashed seven beams of mysterious light at the Qin-surnamed cultivator, but the latter remained calm. A chain, like a silver snake, danced wildly, knocking down each of the seven beams of light.

Over the years, Chu Huer has relied on this Law Artifact to fight, and while he may not be invincible, he has few rivals.

Unexpectedly, the cultivator surnamed Qin easily knocked down the seven streams of profound light that Chu Huer relied on with just a chain magic Law Artifact, which was truly impressive.

The cultivator surnamed Qin was far stronger than Chu Huer had anticipated, and now it was his turn to panic.

After the chain magic Law Artifact of the cultivator surnamed Qin struck down the seven beams of mysterious light, it was not taken back by the cultivator surnamed Qin, but was still being attacked towards him. Chu Huer had no choice but to summon the one-legged bronze man to resist.

Unexpectedly, after being struck by the chains on the other side, this magical Law Artifact, which Chu Huer, soon developed fine lines the thickness of a cow's hair on its surface, and its spiritual light diminished.

Chu Huer was immediately heartbroken. He was about to recall the one-legged bronze figure and switch to Law Artifact to deal with it when he saw the cultivator surnamed Qin already using his chains to bypass the one-legged bronze figure and attack Chu Huer himself.

Chu Huer then summoned a mid-grade Law Artifact shield, which was a Sect Leader Kang Da when they first met. Chu Huer hadn't refined it for long and hadn't gained much effect. The shield only took two hits from the chains before it cracked and fell to the ground.

Facing the chains Chu Huer had no time to turn the one-legged bronze figure around, so he had to steel himself and raise his fist to meet the chain magic Law Artifact of the Qin surname cultivator.

Kang Dabao, who was watching closely, knew that if Chu Huer had taken that blow, he would have been crippled, if not killed.

"Chu Huer has lost. Please, Fellow Daoist Qin, stop!"

The words had already been spoken, but the cultivator surnamed Qin seemed not to have heard them. His fingers moved in a series of hand seals, and the chain Law Artifact continued its momentum, getting closer and closer to Chu Huer.

"Stop!"

The cultivator surnamed Qin ignored him, his chain magic Law Artifact flying swiftly, while Chu Huer's expression grew increasingly ferocious.

Just as Kang Dabao was about to step down, he saw the cultivators from the Qin family pressing forward. Seeing this, Yuan Jin was not to be outdone and led his men to meet them.

Sect Leader Kang Da frowned deeply, cursing inwardly, "These cowards, do they really dare to challenge me?!"

Their actions momentarily silenced Kang Dabao, while the cultivator surnamed Qin was quite pleased with himself, his lips curling up even higher.

Just as the chain-like magical Law Artifact was about to shatter Chu Huer's short, stocky body, three blazing red sword lights pierced the sky and fell from the heavens. The surging heat waves they generated caused even the Qin-surname cultivator, who was quite far away, to frown.

With a "whoosh," the sword light drew near, landing in front of Chu Huer and directly knocking down the arrogant chain magic Law Artifact of the Qin surname cultivator.

Before the short, stocky man could even catch his breath, he saw a sword net woven from eighteen Sword Qi, arranged in nine vertical and nine horizontal lines, suddenly attacking and descending upon the cultivator surnamed Qin.

The latter's expression changed drastically. He unleashed three or five defensive magical Law Artifact in succession, but none of them could even slow down the attack. They were all cut into pieces by the sword net that fell from the sky. From then on, the arrogant look on his face was never seen again.

The cultivator surnamed Qin only had time to shout in panic before he was trapped by the sword net. His robe, which had been radiating spiritual light, was immediately torn to shreds, and a large amount of blood spurted out instantly.

The Qin-surname cultivator, who had suffered such a severe injury, was now lying on the ground. The people present could only see that his body was still radiating warmth, but they did not know whether he was dead or alive.

Just as everyone was in shock, a young man in black carrying a flying sword entered the arena. With just himself and his sword, he remained silent, silencing the cultivators who had just been making their moves.

They all knew the abilities of the cultivator surnamed Qin; he was definitely one of the best among them, and it would be difficult for two or three ordinary cultivators of the same level to get close to him.

The young man in black defeated him with just one sword strike?

The young man in black ignored what they were thinking and stepped onto the arena.

He swept past the still-shaken Chu Huer, stepped on the chain Law Artifact, and kicked it away.

The young man in black picked up the bloodied and mangled cultivator surnamed Qin, then, after thinking for a moment, threw him to the ground.

After he tapped the man's head with his foot to wipe away the blood, he used his toes to lift the Qin-surnamed cultivator's chin.

Ignoring the fact that the cultivator surnamed Qin had his eyelids tightly closed, the young man in black coldly asked, "Are you deaf? Or stupid? My sect leader told you to stop, didn't you hear him?!"

I'm currently away on business, so I'll thank everyone for their monthly votes in the next chapter.

Some people said the previous cover wasn't good, so here's a new cover. What do you all think?