The woman was surprised and puzzled. Junior brother Liu had undergone the fourth heavenly tribulation a long time ago, and he was experienced on the battlefield. He was far more powerful than Li Qingshan. On top of that, this was the Department of Military Provisions, and senior brother Ge was watching right from above. Was that Li Qingshan supposed to commit murder or something?

  Ge Xing sighed and shut his eyes. “Once he enters the battlefield, he’ll probably earn contribution no slower than if he were in the Hundred Herbs garden.”
The Human realm organised cultivators to fend off demonfolk, and they obviously did not work for free. Instead, they had been promised heavy rewards to gather as many soldiers as possible. Many independent cultivators entered the bloody battlefield through Myriad city to forge a future for themselves. This was also one of the major responsibilities of the Department of Military Provisions.

  As they talked, the officer had finally brought Li Qingshan beneath the tall tower. His heart drummed away. Right in front of him was the firmly-shut door. If he continued any further, he would walk right into it.

  If he stopped, the consequences would be unfathomable, and his fate would become unknown. Like a fugitive pressed into dire straits, his fear suddenly turned into anger, powering his Yin Soul for a desperate counterattack.

  Li Qingshan suddenly stopped, and the chilling killing intent vanished.

  The officer reeled as if he had just thrown a punch and missed. There was nowhere for him to release his strength, so it shook up his organs and made him pour with sweat. His mouth was filled with the metallic taste of blood as he abruptly turned around. “Li Qingshan, you’ve gone too far!”
Li Qingshan smiled. “Who’s gone too far?”
His eyes that hid smiles made the officer shiver inside. His fury had been extinguished instantly. It was all just a joke. If that man actually wanted to kill him, he would probably stand no chance at all.

  He wiped away the blood that seeped out from the corner of his lips. “So be it. Let’s just say I deserved this, and I’ve finally learnt why it’s better to see someone face-to-face than assume off reputation. The master of military provisions, senior brother Ge, is inside the tower. Please proceed inside!”
Li Qingshan clasped his hands and made his way over, pushing open the black stone door casually. Before he could even make out the interior of the tower, a short, stocky man received him with a face full of smiles.

  Li Qingshan raised his guard and took half a step back instinctively. Right when he was about to assume a defensive position, the person had already grabbed his right hand. “Senior brother Ge!?”
Ge Xing patted Li Qingshan’s hand. “Welcome, welcome, junior brother Li!”
The woman behind him was bewildered. Ge Xing had never been so enthusiastic towards her before. The person that she believed to just be lucky would soon receive the special attention of another direct disciple, even treated as an equal, and it would be her superior too.

  Li Qingshan did not pull his hand back. Instead, he grabbed Ge Xing’s hand with his other hand and shook it forcefully. “Senior brother, I’ve made you wait!”
It was as if he was very willing to cooperate.

  Ge Xing was slightly surprised, but he also seemed to understand what was going on. “Junior brother Li, do you know why I’ve summoned you here?”
Li Qingshan thought about it and said, “To conscript me by force and to ruin my cultivation.”
Ge Xing’s smile hardened. He never expected him to be so direct. He let go of his hand and said, “Alright, you’re a straightforward person! We’ve never had any grievances, so there was originally no reason for me to do this.”
Li Qingshan grinned. “I understand. I’m just a pawn and others want to take me. There’s never been any reason to speak of in the first place.”
Ge Xing said sternly, “If you don’t die, you’ll definitely be able to stand among us.”
Li Qingshan also became serious. “Thank you for your kind words, senior brother. I’ll definitely work hard on striving ahead. Why don’t you just let me go this time? I’ll definitely pay you back in the future!”
“What if I decline?”
Even though Ge Xing admired Li Qingshan a little, showing him great respect by personally venturing down the tower to receive him, that was only an attempt to avoid any personal feuds with him. It was a result of his calculation of the consequences. This was merely a gamble, and he was not the only one involved, so there really was no reason for him to stand forward and incur resentment.

  Li Qingshan shrugged. “I’m not just going to go down without a fight either.”
“You don’t hate me?” Ge Xing said in intrigue. Li Qingshan did not seem to hate him at all, and it definitely could not be faked, or he would have sensed it.

  “Just like what you’ve said, we’ve never had any grievances, senior brother. It’s all because of a gamble. Accepting the benefits comes hand in hand with enduring the consequences, so why speak of hatred?” Li Qingshan clasped his hands again, coming off as neither arrogant nor humble. “I just hope that you don’t kill me ruthlessly when you have the upper hand, senior brother.”
All of this was only the aftermath from taking a thousand Green Jade bookmarks from Le Tian. It was a part of the gamble. If he wanted to take the dangerous path, then he had to accept it. Ge Xing had no interest in developing any feuds with him, so why would he go out of his way to feud with a direct disciple? If he acted all resentful, he would basically be forcing Ge Xing into opposing him relentlessly.

  “Alright!” Excitement and praise flashed past Ge Xing’s face. “I’m not the only one involved in this gamble, or I’d really like to let you go this time.”
“But senior brother Pi said you’re a miser as stingy as they come, where you refuse to even lose a single Black Wood bookmark.” Li Qingshan did not believe him at all, exposing the one behind it all without any hesitation.

  “That bastard!” Ge Xing became slightly awkward. “This is a part of my responsibilities. It requires careful and meticulous calculations down to the smallest of details.”
“Sigh, if it requires careful and meticulous calculations down to the smallest of details, you shouldn’t gamble then! Senior brother, you better not take it too far and make it too difficult for me, or you might not see me again.”
“You have nothing to worry about. The Myriad sect is not a demonic sect. We won’t go as far as to kill and harm fellow disciples. Once you enter the battlefield, you’ll be beyond my control anyway. With your abilities, the contributions you earn on the battlefield won’t be any less than the Hundred Herbs garden. As long as you’re capable of this and you become a direct disciple, we’ll admit defeat willingly.”
Ge Xing patted his chest in a hearty manner, except he thought inside, Damned brat, once you’re under Chao Tianjiao’s command, how she dispatches you won’t be my fault!

  “Alright!” Li Qingshan thought, Who the hell would believe you? Only a dumb cunt would enter the battlefield. This isn’t really worthy of bearing a grudge over, but if the opportunity arises in the future, you better not blame me if I make a fool out of you. Why isn’t senior sister Ruan here yet?

  The two men feigned their appreciation for each other as they schemed away inside, leaving the female officer on the side rather stunned. These two hypocritical men.

  On a bridge that spanned between two tall buildings, Gu Yanying glanced far in the direction of the Department of Military Provisions before immediately looking away again. “I think I see him; it is in the flesh this time! There’s a Yang Soul cultivator right in front of him, so I’m afraid to stare.”
“Is he in danger?” Xiao An rubbed her wrist. There was a new string of Skull Prayer Beads there.

  Gu Yanying understood she would immediately prepare for battle if she said there was danger, regardless of where she was, regardless of whether there was a Daemon Immortal watching over this place or not.

  “Don’t worry. He’s still very safe, at least for now. He’s probably sensed us too. Let’s wait and see! He knows a woman called Ruan Yaozhu here who’s also a Human Sovereign. I think she’ll come and help him.”
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  At this moment, a nine-coloured streak of light shot over the bridge.

  Gu Yanying and Xiao An suddenly looked back. Ruan Yaozhu sensed them and met their gaze, nodding to give them her regards. The white robes hid their figures and appearances, but she still seemed to be able to tell that they were two extremely beautiful women.

  Gu Yanying and Xiao An basically recognised the woman instantly too. They exchanged glances. “Ruan Yaozhu!”
Flying was forbidden in Myriad city, and this happened to be a necessary path leading towards the Department of Military Provisions.

  Ruan Yaozhu rode the nine-coloured deer, arriving at the entrance of the Department of Military Provisions instantly. Without notifying the guards about her arrival, she directly made her way in, arriving beneath the black tower. She ignored Li Qingshan and denounced Ge Xing directly, “Senior brother Ge, you’ve gone too far this time!”
That’s an awful amount of respect you’re getting, having a direct disciple come in person for you! Ge Xing glanced at Li Qingshan and received Ruan Yaozhu. “Long time no see, junior sister Ruan. I know you treasure this kid very much, but this is not something you can stop. You should just save your time and give up now!”