Chapter 10 : Negotiations

Through this period of interaction, Zhang Yujun realized Chen Zhao’s mindset was resilient. Convincing him to switch allegiances was probably impossible, but she still had to ask.

“Senior Brother, have you taken a master?”

“Not yet, but Senior Brother Li gave me a referral token for True Person Qin.” Chen Zhao answered honestly. He saw Zhang Yujun’s intent to recruit him, but he owed Senior Brother Li too much. Besides, he leaned toward the master-disciple lineage.

Aristocratic families valued bloodlines. Unless he married in, they wouldn’t heavily invest in him.

“A pity.”

The result was as Zhang Yujun expected. She had indeed intended to support Chen Zhao, but since he belonged to the master-disciple faction, others wouldn’t allow it.

Zhang Yujun said no more.

Chen Zhao acted as if the matter never arose.

That evening, Su Qi arrived as promised, face grave with a trace of anger.

Zhang Yujun met him.

“Exalted One, does the agreement you mentioned before still stand?” Su Qi’s expression softened; his gaze toward Zhang Yujun held hope.

“Of course. State your plans.” Zhang Yujun nodded lightly.

Su Qi swallowed, realizing this might be the greatest opportunity of his life.

If earlier his loyalty to Zhang Yujun came from the thought technique, now he was truly betting everything on following them.

“Exalted One, though I’m a high-tier source user, my experience and qualifications are shallow. Surpassing the old fossils above in this aspect is impossible unless I achieve great merit or demonstrate decisive strength to overawe everyone.” Su Qi said slowly.

In this world, fists ultimately spoke.

Once his strength exceeded his position, people would naturally value him and help push him higher.

Mutual exploitation.

He’d use others’ power to rise; they’d gain what they wanted through him.

Zhang Yujun easily understood. Even the Ask Immortal Sect was filled with such large and small struggles.

“Are you prepared?” Zhang Yujun asked.

Improving strength wasn’t hard; the key was having someone willing to help.

“I’m always prepared.” Su Qi gritted his teeth. In source talent, he far surpassed others. No one knew how much he’d paid for his current position in Wei Qing City.

“Good. Let me see your aptitude.” Zhang Yujun said calmly, placing her palm on Su Qi’s shoulder.

As expected, Su Qi had no innate talent. In the Ask Immortal Sect, even killing himself cultivating, he’d barely reach Qi Refining.

But Source added variables, like rewiring his meridians. Though not as fitting as natural ones, it had some spirituality; medium level.

Su Qi waited anxiously. This test could decide his future.

Zhang Yujun withdrew her hand.

“How was it, Exalted One?”

“Barely usable.” Zhang Yujun nodded lightly.

“Great! Exalted One, if this succeeds, I’ll go through fire and water for you!” Su Qi’s joy overflowed.

“No need for that. Go find Chen Zhao. He knows what to do.”

Su Qi knew it was time to leave. He closed the door and went to find Chen Zhao in quiet cultivation elsewhere.

Zhang Yujun withdrew her gaze. As expected, Chen Zhao would next force-activate Source’s upper limit with mana, raising Su Qi to a decent level.

Probably Qi Refining tenth to eleventh layer.

Qi Refining thirteenth layer; at that point, one could barely call oneself a cultivator.

The consequence: Su Qi would have no further progress.

But for him, it was worth it. Relying on himself to reach that realm would take who knew how long; better to overdraw potential early.

“Without Foundation Establishment, one remains mortal.”

Zhang Yujun slowly closed her eyes. If Su Qi’s future could reach Foundation Establishment, she and Chen Zhao wouldn’t do this but use gentler methods.

After all, only Foundation Establishment mattered to the Ask Immortal Sect.

Su Qi’s Source was called Dim Abyss Phantoms; rare artifact-type Source. Upgrading phantom soldiers fed back to the body; the soldiers themselves had various abilities.

After Chen Zhao’s development, the original short blade phantom evolved into armor covering most of the body. The phantom carried extreme toxicity; ordinary source users died on touch.

With this, Chen Zhao quickly resolved the Enforcement Department’s backlog cases.

Even a corpse tide outbreak was suppressed single-handedly by Su Qi leading a team.

For a time, Su Qi’s fame in Wei Qing City was unmatched.

Of course, some suspected.

But with Chen Zhao’s secret help, Su Qi faced no obstacles in Wei Qing City. Unsolvable enemies were quietly eliminated by Chen Zhao. Foundation killing a mortal left no trace.

Source awakening was probabilistic anyway. Su Qi had been one of Wei Qing City’s most talented; secondary awakening to limit source user seemed understandable?

Municipal Hall.

Zhu Jian slowly entered the bright conference room. Several people were already gathered.

Among them: Municipal Minister Li Yongnian, Finance Minister Zhang Fugui, and numerous council members.

Many smiled at him. He nodded slightly. As Enforcement Minister holding Wei Qing City’s greatest violent apparatus, he didn’t need to be overly polite.

Soon the meeting began. The council president announced plans deciding Wei Qing City’s direction one by one, discussed, then issued for implementation below.

In a few words, the big shots seated here decided the fate of Wei Qing City and all surrounding bases.

Zhu Jian wiped his glasses, uninterested in these.

“Next item: proposal for first-class enforcer Su Qi to promote to chief enforcer. Proposer: Zhu Jian.”

Most gazes turned to him.

Chief enforcer wasn’t just a title; practically the reserve for Enforcement Minister. Upon minister retirement or death, the chief took over immediately.

The previous chief had been Zhu Jian’s hand-raised confidant.

This replacement baffled others.

When did Zhu Jian change and become so fair? Out of character among them.

Zhu Jian ignored the looks, slowly raising his hand in full support of Su Qi’s succession.

Young people deserved more chances; he wasn’t like some who clung to positions.

After Zhu Jian’s stance, the other ministers looked at him oddly.

This isn’t like you! Everyone knew Zhu Jian loved power struggles. His high awakening level had silenced opposition before.

Wanting face and lining both.

With Zhu Jian’s support, opposition was futile. Su Qi’s chief enforcer proposal passed smoothly.

Due to the chief’s special nature, removing the position next would take three years.

Zhu Jian continued idly cleaning his glasses when, through the reflection, he saw his own face: calm and serious, yet utterly unfamiliar.

Who… is this?

What am I doing?

He suddenly recalled the discussed rising young man.

Su Qi; who was he really?

Seizing chief enforcer this time; what for? Surely not just my ministerial seat?

Zhu Jian instantly felt like sitting on pins.

After the meeting, ignoring others, he left alone for home. Right now, he wanted to see no one.

But entering, Zhu Jian felt wrong again. The eerie feeling lingered.

Turning the corner to the living room, his pupils contracted.

Li Yongnian and Zhang Fugui sat there, staring straight at him.

Before them, Su Qi smiled and bowed to Zhu Jian.

“Minister Zhu, your subordinate reports for duty.”

A newly appointed chief enforcer greeting his minister was normal.

But this was his home.

Zhu Jian stared at Su Qi a moment, then at his expressionless former friends.

“Speak. What do you want?” He sighed helplessly.

Such actions meant demands.

“I want nothing.” Su Qi shook his head, smiling at Zhu Jian. “Minister, I hope you’ll join us in pursuing the immortal dao.”

“Immortal dao? Too many fairy tales.” Zhu Jian frowned. At the same moment, Li Yongnian and Zhang Fugui stood; the danger they posed matched Su Qi’s.

“You believe his nonsense too?” Zhu Jian looked at them incredulously.

Years together; they were all old foxes.

“Old Zhu, I didn’t believe at first either. But once you meet the Exalted One, everything becomes clear.” Li Yongnian said calmly.

“Exactly.” Zhang Fugui nodded.

“Exalted One? That person?”

Zhu Jian recalled the daytime figure. Chill rose from his heart, spreading through limbs.

He wanted to flee immediately.

As he thought escape, Su Qi and the others’ gazes left him.

“Welcome, Exalted One.”

All three spoke in unison.

A shadow cast by light fell on the floor, slowly moving beside, then in front of Zhu Jian.

Zhu Jian looked up. A handsome white-robed youth stood before him. He ignored the three, gazing at Zhu Jian with eyes deep as abyss.

“You are?” Zhu Jian tried keeping his voice steady.

“I’m Chen Zhao, a simple seeker of the Dao.” Chen Zhao said regretfully. “Minister Zhu, I didn’t want to meet you this way, but since you’ve seen through the illusion, our meeting was inevitable.”

To save time, Chen Zhao had planted illusions on all Wei Qing City higher-ups. If smooth, by realization, their thoughts would already be changed.

Unexpectedly, some exceeded control; Zhu Jian was one.

For such people, Chen Zhao chose gentler recruitment.

“Minister Zhu, my goal doesn’t conflict with yours. Wei Qing City’s Source keys are held by you three ministers. I only wish to view Source; it won’t hinder you at all.” Chen Zhao said.

Another seeking Source.

Zhu Jian sighed inwardly. Even he hadn’t seen original Source in recent years.

“You might be disappointed. Even collecting Source keys won’t let you touch Source. The city lord guards the Source hub; he allows no one in.” Zhu Jian shook his head.

“City lord?” Chen Zhao pondered. The one he and Zhang Yujun guessed as Foundation-level source user.

“Minister Zhu, rest assured. Even the city lord is nothing before the Exalted One.” Su Qi smiled.

This time, he’d witnessed the higher-ups’ changes; merely a thought from Chen Zhao.

“You don’t understand the city lord’s terror. To him, we’re all disposable tools for gathering resources.” Zhu Jian smiled bitterly. Compared to the other ministers, he knew more and understood his position better.

“I can hand over my Source key, but I hope you’ll give me a chance to leave the city.” Zhu Jian looked at Chen Zhao. He’d long prepared an escape route for situations like this.

“Agreed.” Chen Zhao glanced at Zhu Jian and nodded.

A white light fell into the courtyard, revealing Chen Zhao’s figure.

He glanced at Zhang Yujun cultivating nearby. Her Foundation aura was fully revealed; she’d stopped hiding.

But he understood: against unknown cultivators, not revealing true strength was correct.

Chen Zhao stood beside Zhang Yujun.

“The situation in Wei Qing City is basically under our control. The three ministers, most council members are ours. The Source hub can open anytime.” Chen Zhao updated city affairs.

“Senior Brother is truly skilled at this.” Zhang Yujun opened her eyes, curiously glancing at Chen Zhao.

Thought technique required massive effort. Most cultivators avoided it; weak in same-realm direct combat.

In other words, only for bullying lower realms.

“Mm, just ordinary people. Junior Sister would achieve the same.” Chen Zhao remained expressionless.

“Senior Brother’s quite thick-skinned too.” Zhang Yujun smiled.

“Forget that. Junior Sister, next we touch Source; conflict with the city lord is inevitable. Any thoughts?” Chen Zhao awkwardly changed topic.

Zhang Yujun didn’t dwell.

“From our deduction, the city lord’s level is undoubtedly Foundation Establishment. But after so long, he seems oblivious to city events; that doesn’t match Foundation behavior…” Zhang Yujun pondered.

In her understanding, a Foundation city lord couldn’t ignore their actions.

Unless…

“He has restrictions!”

Both spoke in unison, eyes meeting.

“Yes. With Foundation vs Qi Refining gap, he wouldn’t need city people gathering resources. Ordinary people can’t compare to Foundation personally acting. Most likely, he can’t leave the Source hub.” Chen Zhao’s eyes flashed.

“Correct. Source users reaching Foundation here must be flawed, constantly needing Source to maintain power.” Zhang Yujun thought of source users periodically fed into the hub.

Nicely put, supplementing city Source; actually all nourishment for the city lord.

“If we want Source, battle with the city lord is unavoidable.” Chen Zhao said.

“But we hold initiative. We can weaken him first.” Zhang Yujun said.

They both classified the city lord as non-negotiable.

Touching Foundation realm, no one would give up. Wanting original Source meant digging his life root.

By empathy, if they were city lord, they’d fight to death too.