Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Garrison Commander
Chen Jiwen listened to Gu Jinlai's words with some surprise.
He had not expected him to possess such boldness, willing to hand over the method for forging this new type of Treasure Armor.
He was familiar with the performance of this armor, and if it could be promoted and produced on a larger scale, the power of the Meteor Star Guard, even that of the State Lord Mansion, would be greatly enhanced.
As the state governor's health continued to decline, a strong military force would be of utmost importance in ensuring Star State's independence, standing above Daqian, the Ten Great Demon Sects, and the Six Great Immortal Sects.
After contemplating for a moment, Chen Jiwen quickly said, "It couldn't be better if Heavenly Master Gu is willing to abandon the darkness and turn to the light. Moreover, Heavenly Master Gu's action of eliminating Vice Pavilion Master Bai Yang of the Heavenly Grass Pavilion is enough to prove his stance. The Meteor Star Guard needs people like Heavenly Master Gu who are willing to exert themselves to suppress the Cultivation World."
Having said that, he called out to someone outside: "Go invite Star Master Zhang Luu."
Soon a Meteor Star Guard responded and left.
In planning his retreat, Gu Jinlai had learned about the Meteor Star Guard.
The Meteor Star Guard revered Star Lord Xin Tianqi.
Under the coordination of Xin Tianqi, they were divided into three major departments: the Main Star Department, Star Patrol Department, and Red Star Department, each responsible for suppression, patrol, and logistical tasks.
Among these departments, the Main Star Department, tasked with the suppression of the various local Cultivation Worlds, held the greatest power and the most members.
The Cultivation World of Star State's twenty-six cities was suppressed by the six Star Masters, maintaining order and ensuring that cultivators did not act too recklessly.
Soon, Star Master Zhang Luu arrived at the courtyard under the guidance of a Meteor Star Guard.
On the way, he had learned the reason for Chen Jiwen's invitation from the Meteor Star Guard. Upon entering the hall, his gaze fell upon Gu Jinlai.
"Gu Jinlai, Purgatory Sect Elder, oppressed by Lin Xiao, had no choice but to hide his edge and take refuge in Changjun City. Even so, he was still aggressively pursued, and four months ago, it was rumored that his cultivation had suffered. After being discovered by Zhengyi Dao Elder Bai Shu in Changjun City, he fled, and outside the city, he killed two Hugging Pill and a dozen or so Qi Refinement, Gang Condensation from the Yellow Sky Sect..."
Zhang Luu reported Gu Jinlai's history like an inventory, with extreme detail.
At this moment, Gu Jinlai also recalled this man's identity from the information provided by Yun Guantian.
Each of the six Star Masters oversaw a part, commanding the Meteor Star Guard of four to five cities within the twenty-six cities of Star State.
The Meteor Star Guard of Changjun City, Lingxiao City, Sunset City, and Baihe City all respected Zhang Luu as their leader.
As for him personally...
He was an elite existence at the Refining God Peak.
Over the years, more than a handful of Refining God Immortals had toppled under his hand.
"Considering your conduct during this period, you might truly have a heart for change. Now, you wish to offer the method for forging Treasure Armor to the Meteor Star Guard in exchange for an official position. As a force maintaining order in the Cultivation World of Star State, we naturally ought to give you a chance," Zhang Luu said.
Zhang Luu did not mention the matter of the Heavenly Grass Pavilion, simply stating, "You were once an elder of the Purgatory Sect, a Refining God Immortal. Although your cultivation faltered and you fell from the peak of Refining God, I cannot let you start from scratch as a Meteor Star Guard."
He produced a seal, "The Demon Path has been rampant in Lingxiao City recently, and the handling by the garrison commander, Fang Que, has been quite inappropriate. You will go to Lingxiao City and serve as the Deputy Envoy to assist him in maintaining order in Lingxiao City."
Vice Garrison Commander.
This position was not in the high echelons, but it was still the second-in-command of the Meteor Star Guard of a city.
"Thank you, Star Master."
"Given your particular situation, the sooner you take up your post the better. Get ready and depart for Lingxiao City tomorrow," Zhang Luu said, then turned and instructed a following Meteor Star Guard, "Bai Xiong, take the Ancient Town Guardian to handle the formalities."
With a response, the Meteor Star Guard quickly led Gu Jinlai away.
After Gu Jinlai had left, Chen Jiwen gave him a somewhat surprised look, "Sending him to Lingxiao City? Lingxiao City, like Changjun City, is about to slip from our grasp. Sending him there..."
"I know what you want to say. If Gu Jinlai is to join our Meteor Star Guard, he must prove his worth," Zhang Luu replied.
"The armor-casting method he offered up..."
"The merit of the armor-casting method can only assure that we block the pursuit of the Heavenly Grass Pavilion for him. Don't forget, he has also offended the Purgatory Sect and the Demon Refining Hall of Chang County," Zhang Luu said calmly. "If he doesn't have sufficient ability and value, why should we take on the pressure from these two sides for him?"
"Not to mention the Demon Refining Hall of Chang County, isn't the Purgatory Sect already an enemy we need to guard against? As for the Heavenly Grass Pavilion, it's one of the major thorns in the Starlight City Meteor Star Guard's side. The Star Lord has long wanted to completely uproot the Heavenly Grass Pavilion and the Xuanwu Sect, but has been hesitant to avoid giving Dragon Sparrow Manor a pretext to intervene and escalate the situation."
"That's true, but by sending him to Lingxiao City, I'm also giving him an opportunity," Zhang Luu said.
Zhang Luu said, "The situation in Lingxiao City is intricate and complex. If Gu Jinlai can restore order from chaos, it would be enough to prove his capability. After all, he comes from the Purgatory Demon Sect. Without sufficient ability and merits, how could he establish a firm foothold within our Meteor Guards?"
"Restore order from chaos."
Chen Jiwen's heart stirred. "Does the Star Master suspect Fang Que is colluding with local forces to carve out Lingxiao City for himself?"
"For the past half year, the State Governor has neglected governance, and the Star Lord has also been worn out by the covetous power of Dragon Sparrow Manor, Yellow Sky Sect, and the like. Many people have already begun to harbor inappropriate ambitions. If Gu Jinlai is capable and handles this matter well, then when the time comes, I can support him to become a garrison commander and take charge of a region, which would also show the high regard I have for him."
"He is not at the Refining God level now. If he gets entangled in this..."
"I gave him the opportunity."
Zhang Luu slowly rose to his feet. "If he lacks the ability and dies in there, who can he blame?"
Under the guidance of Bai Xiong, the high-level Meteor Guard, Gu Jinlai swiftly completed the onboarding procedures and received his seal, appointment letter, official robes, and
As a deputy garrison commander of the Meteor Guards, he started at the fifth rank, a bonafide court-appointed official with all the corresponding entitlements.
On the way back in the carriage, Gu Jinlai looked at the seal in his hand. "It turns out it's not the worst-case scenario."
He had prepared six hundred kilograms of explosives in the carriage, worrying that if the Meteor Guards turned on him after crossing the river, he would have the chance to fight back with all his might.
Luckily, institutions like the Meteor Guards still maintain a degree of order.
"Patriarch, what should we do next..."
Nian Buwang inquired.
"Head to Lingxiao City to take up my post,"
Gu Jinlai said directly.
Soon, he had already completed the reunion with Gu Chaoyang and the others.
Having made preparations for withdrawal early on, they were now proceeding in an orderly fashion.
Moreover, he had no intention to let the Meteor Guards mediate a truce with Heavenly Grass Pavilion and turn their strife into a union.
Killing Bai Yang was merely an act of venting his anger.
Had they reconciled, how would he make Heavenly Grass Pavilion compensate for the loss of the ten sets of Treasure Armor they had annexed?
Ten sets of Treasure Armor!
The market value was 680,000.
Heavenly Grass Pavilion withheld 680,000 worth of his payments, dragging this out for months—the demurrage alone would amount to a hefty sum, possibly tens of thousands, right?
Add to that the compounded interest each month, rounding up, a compensation of ten million wouldn't be too much to ask for, would it?
The rationale was there.
Next, all he needed was to become strong enough to knock on their door and demand his debt.
Gu Jinlai devoted a part of his mind to glance at the flames beside his consciousness.
The number of Heavenly Grass Pavilion disciples that died at his hands tonight definitely totalled dozens.
Yet, his Karma only increased from the tenth level to the eleventh.
As a tycoon of the Demon Path, who didn't have layers upon layers of Karma accumulated on them?
He took another look at his Crossing the World technique, which had reached the Mahayana level.
With the shortcoming of his movement technique addressed, he now became even more powerful.
He reminisced about the exhilarating bloodbath he had at the Heavenly Grass Pavilion.
Crushing the restraints!
Without any inhibitions!