CHAPTER 368: CHAPTER 368: OLD DAN KING

Xiu Jie Ming received the intelligence report and squinted slightly, "This guy, indeed is a born leader, his vision and ability to utilize people are beyond ordinary."

Xiu Jie Ming read it several times before finally putting the report down, his eyes somewhat vacant, as if pondering some important matter.

Almost simultaneously, Xiu Yingmei was also in her room, looking at the intelligence report.

"Quite impressive, such a person shouldn’t be doing these things," Xiu Yingmei was contemplating whether she should bring Chen Guan back to the Xiu Family instead of letting him remain with Ji Nanhong.

At the same time, even within both the Celestial Court Army and the Ancestral Court, many were examining this intelligence report, scrutinizing what seemed almost like miraculous battle results.

"Unexpectedly, the eldest daughter of the Ji Family grabbed a wild card so casually." In one office in the Ancestral Court, a man in uniform, holding the report in one hand and a thermos in the other, sighed after setting the report aside.

"This Chen Guan indeed has something; he managed to win." The old man sitting across, wearing reading glasses, set his glasses aside and spoke with a complex expression.

"It’s going to be difficult for us to deal with him." The man contemplated aloud.

"Why do you think it’s difficult?" the old man asked.

"With such talent, surely the Ji Family will support him fully. I’m afraid it’ll be hard to find a chance to move against him. Without solid evidence, we can’t touch him." The man responded.

"Little Hu, why do you think the Ji Family will support him fully?" The old man, holding his cup, took a sip before speaking slowly.

"Ji Nanhong wants to gain control of the Celestial Court Army. Initially, the chances weren’t great—having Chen Guan help increases the chances significantly. Who else would the Ji Family support if not him?" The man said.

The old man squinted, smiling, "You’re not wrong; if Ji Nanhong were a man and Chen Guan a woman, the Ji Family would indeed protect Chen Guan. Unfortunately, Ji Nanhong is a woman, and Chen Guan is a man, which might lead to different outcomes."

"Chief, you mean to say that the Ji Family fears Chen Guan might eventually take over and ostracize them?" The man suddenly realized.

After another sip of water, the old man spoke, "If I were in their shoes, if Chen Guan were merely a supporting talent, I’d certainly protect him with all my might. But what Chen Guan has shown is far beyond a supporting role, making him potentially intimidating. I don’t know if General Ji would fear him, but if I were in their place, I would fear that the Celestial Court Army might one day bear the surname Chen."

"Does that mean we still have a chance?" The man pondered aloud.

"General Ji has been in control of the Celestial Court Army for over eight hundred years, the Xiu Family also dwelling in the Celestial Court for eight hundred years—whether the Celestial Court Army ends up with the surname Ji or Xiu is not a favorable outcome."

The old man’s gaze grew cold, "The Celestial Court Army is a national weapon, how can it bear a private surname? They were destined for ruin the moment they tried to brand it. As the Inspectorate has the responsibility to oversee nationwide affairs, such privatization of this national tool must be suppressed."

"What the Chief says is right; General Ji is foolish to even think about letting his daughter inherit the Celestial Court Army." The man nodded.

"Little Hu, find an excuse to visit the Xiu Family and see what’s happening there. Chen Guan has been involved in so much with Ji Nanhong, yet the Xiu Family hasn’t acted against him, which doesn’t seem logical." The old man said.

"Do you suspect that the Xiu Family and General Ji might have reached a secret agreement?" Little Hu contemplated before speaking.

The old man shook his head, "Unless General Ji compromises, the Xiu Family wouldn’t have reached any agreement with him—this conflict is irreconcilable. The Xiu Family’s silence regarding Chen Guan leads me to wonder if there might be some issue between them."

"Is it possible that Ji Nanhong would choose someone from the Xiu Family to marry?" Little Hu was astonished.

"That’s why I’m asking you to visit the Xiu Family, see if anything peculiar is going on." The old man said quietly.

Chen Guan was at that moment lying on piles of Secret Core, savoring the allure of wealth.

This time, thanks to Ji Nanhong allotting a large batch to him, he didn’t have to take it himself.

Moreover, with some premium items he covertly retained before, Chen Guan gained a considerable amount of resources this time.

However, converting them into money still required another turnover.

Ji Nanhong couldn’t directly give him money, only materials, leaving it up to Chen Guan to exchange them for money himself.

"What’s up with Duan Shulin? How come he’s gone for so long without a sign?" Chen Guan was somewhat irritated.

With Duan Shulin around, exchanging money or buying things would be convenient. Now that he’s nowhere to be seen, dead or alive, it’s unclear what happened.

This world’s affairs are sometimes mystifying; as Chen Guan pondered about Duan Shulin, Duan Shulin suddenly sent a message.

"Family matters, won’t be able to go to the Celestial Court Army anymore."

Chen Guan read and sent back a message, "What’s up, couldn’t make a name outside, forced to return to inherit billions of wealth?"

"If only I could inherit it, you know I love business; cultivation is merely a casual pursuit. Yet my family insists I follow the path of cultivation; I’m nearly driven mad..." Duan Shulin lamented excessively.

Chen Guan finally understood that Duan Shulin’s recent disappearance was because he was forced back home to cultivate, with resources prepared to push him directly into the Third Awakening before allowing him out.

Duan Shulin was forcibly secluded, unable to emerge before the Third Awakening, all outside contact severed.

"Have you undergone the Third Awakening?" Chen Guan asked in shock.

"Of course, with my talent? Although cultivation is merely secondary for me, even a casual practice reaches limits unattainable by ordinary people," Duan Shulin boasted.

Chen Guan was a bit speechless; if someone provided him with all resources, he too could quickly reach the Third Awakening. The problem was, nobody offered him resources.

Moreover, the sheer quantity he needed was another issue; if he were in Duan Shulin’s place, who knows if the Duan Family could prepare so many resources for him.

"Old Duan, do you have any High Level goods for replenishing Qi over there?" Chen Guan asked.

"My family doesn’t deal in those; mainly pets and Secret Core business. As for Elixir, an old Alchemy King runs a shop with good stuff; our Duan Family has good relations with him," Duan Shulin replied.

Upon understanding the situation with the old Alchemy King, Chen Guan couldn’t help but be intrigued.

The old Alchemy King, referring to an Elixir store only present in Black City, run by a shopkeeper with the surname Wang, employs traditional alchemy craft. Their Black City old Elixirs hold fame across the Divine Land, nearly impossible to purchase on the spot, requiring preorders.