Gu Jinlai sealed off Wutong County to buy time for the Military Workshop to produce bullets and cast "Thunder" Gatling molds.
Half a month later, the Meteor Star Guard, who had the geographical advantage, still obtained detailed intelligence on Wutong County.
The first Meteor Star Guard who saw this intelligence trembled all over.
"Dead, Miss Su is dead, the Refining God Immortal with the Yan Xuejian from the Heavenly Gang Sect is also dead."
He suddenly shivered, "Big trouble has occurred, big trouble... the sky is falling..."
He dared not delay and sent the intelligence to his superior, Star Patrol Envoy Shangguan Tangqing, as fast as he could.
Disbelief filled Tangqing’s eyes, "Su Tong... Wasn’t she accompanied by the Venerable Daoist Yan Xuejian from the Heavenly Gang Sect? That was a Refining God Immortal, and there were also dozens of Hugging Pill and Gang Condensation Level Experts guarding her, how could this..."
The high-level Meteor Guard said with a trembling voice, "The news came three days ago. I had it verified from multiple sources. The pearl of Minister Su’s palm... really has..."
Tangqing’s anger flared, "How dare he! Gu Jinlai! Who gave him the guts!? How dare he!?"
That was Minister Su’s daughter.
Did he eat the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard?
How dare he lay a hand on the daughter of such a big figure!?
Does he want to be completely severed from the world!?
Tangqing’s face changed colors.
No matter how unbelievable he found it, the event had indeed occurred.
He had to think about how to report the news to Minister Su.
For a good while, Tangqing could not think of a proper way.
Eventually, he rose wearily, "Come with me to see Minister Su."
He could only opt to tell the truth.
Shortly after Tangqing received the news, Star Master Zhang Luu also received the news of Su Tong’s death in Lingxiao City.
At this moment, this high-ranking Star Master in charge of the power in four cities, a Refining God Peak, outright cursed.
A valuable blue-and-white porcelain vase was smashed on the floor, shattering into pieces.
"Damn it, Gu Jinlai, is he seeking death? What kind of a person was Su Tong? He even dared to make a move against Su Tong, does he not want to stay in the Meteor Star Guard anymore!? If he doesn’t want to stay, he shouldn’t drag me down with him!"
Zhang Luu cursed angrily.
"Sir, is there a possibility that Gu Jinlai has never betrayed the Purgatory Sect from the beginning, and that the entire act with the Vice Sect Master Lin Xiao was just a ruse, with the aim of taking control of our Meteor Star Guard?"
A confidant speculated.
"Do you think the intelligence personnel of the Star Patrol Department are idiots? Can’t they see through a ruse? It is most likely that that brainless woman Su Tong, relying on Yan Xuejian’s protection, aggressively pressured Gu Jinlai into turning back to the Purgatory Sect!"
Zhang Luu said, slamming the table hard, "I knew it, with Su Tong’s capabilities, letting her be in charge of a territory was definitely a disaster waiting to happen."
"Zhang Luu, my daughter is already dead, you have no right to slander her any further!"
At that moment, an angry shout came from outside.
Immediately after, Star Patrol Department Director Su Wen and Star Patrol Envoy Tangqing barged in furiously.
Seeing Su Wen, Zhang Luu had to forcefully suppress his anger and stepped forward to greet him, "Minister Su..."
Before he could finish, Su Wen already furiously waved his hand, "Zhang Luu, since you’ve received the news, what are you waiting for!? My daughter was so innocent and kind, she couldn’t even bear to kill a person, yet she was brutally murdered by your deputy garrison commander. Such a murderer should be dissected a thousand times. Gather all the Meteor Guard, I want to see his corpse within half a month, immediately, right now!"
Watching the ruthless Su Wen, Zhang Luu waved his hand.
The confidant quickly withdrew, closing the doors and windows and dismissing the people around.
At this time, the respectful look on Zhang Luu’s face also faded slightly, "Minister Su is a distinguished figure, in charge of a department, but as a Star Master under the Main Star Department, I do not need Minister Su dictating what to do."
Su Wen’s gaze turned cold, "Star Master Zhang, do you realize what you’re saying?"
"I am well aware of what I am doing, and I even know what Minister Su intends to do."
Zhang Luu looked at Su Wen, narrowing his eyes, "You approved of Su Tong, along with the Venerable Daoist Yan Xuejian from the Heavenly Gang Sect, to take up a position in Lingxiao City despite knowing full well that Gu Jinlai was not a good person. Perhaps you harbored thoughts of incorporating Lingxiao City into your jurisdiction, the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Gang Sect which has long been under Minister Su’s control or, to put it another way, a private force that rose with your support. And the Heavenly Gang Sect’s Yuanhua City is less than four hundred miles away from Lingxiao City."
"I do not know what you are talking about."
Su Wen’s expression remained unchanged, "I only know that my daughter is dead, dead at the hands of a garrison commander under your watch, so you must give me an explanation."
Zhang Luu was at a loss for words.
Su Wen had lost his daughter.
With that reason in hand, even if his actions were excessive, many high-level members of the Meteor Guard could sympathize.
In this situation, if he truly failed to provide an explanation...
His position as a Star Master was likely at its end.
After all, it was he who had recommended Gu Jinlai as deputy garrison commander in Lingxiao City.
"I will send men to Lingxiao City to apprehend Gu Jinlai. However, Gu Jinlai is fierce, and solely with my forces, we might not be able to capture and kill him," Zhang Luu said.
"I will call upon personnel from the Heavenly Gang Sect to assist you," Su Wen said, then turned and left.
Before exiting, however, he added, "I hope to hear the news that Lingxiao City has been retaken and the murderer of my daughter has been executed within half a month."
With that, he strode away.
"Heavenly Gang Sect!"
Zhang Luu’s face darkened.
It seems that even now, Su Wen still hasn’t given up on the idea of swallowing Lingxiao City.
This Minister Su is really a master of deadly strategies, quite ruthless at heart.
Even his own daughter is willing to be used as a pawn.
No wonder the other party could become the Director of the Star Patrol Department, a major power.
He could only be a Star Master.
"However... Gu Jinlai, this Heavenly Master, actually invented something like gunpowder. If I could get the formula for gunpowder... My losses might not be irreplaceable,"
Zhang Luu made up his mind.
The courtyard of Lin Xiao, Vice Sect Master of Purgatory Sect.
At this moment, the Vice Sect Master excitedly slammed the table, his eyes gleaming: "The great plan has succeeded."
"Congratulations, Sect Master. Soon you will be able to remove this major thorn in our side,"
In front of him, Protector Zhang Wang bowed with a smile on his face.
"Things have gone smoother than I anticipated,"
Lin Xiao said, "Yang Kan actually died."
"All thanks to the Sect Master’s divine strategy,"
Zhang Wang praised sincerely.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao slightly smiled.
He greatly enjoyed these moments of strategizing and securing victories from thousands of miles away.
Even formidable individuals like those in the Golden Robe, and even the Red Robed Elder, could only become his pawns.
When he learned that Su Tong was going to Lingxiao City to replace the garrison commander, he sent a message to Yang Kan.
Yang Kan’s primary task was to help Xue Wuqing seize control of Baihe City.
However, Baihe City was the stronghold of Star Master Zhang Luu, personally overseen by Gu Zhixuan, a Refining God Realm garrison commander.
The jurisdiction involved the Meteor Star Guard and the City Lord Mansion; thousands of troops united as one.
Seizing it was no easy task.
Therefore, he proposed the idea of letting Gu Jinlai kill Su Tong and using Minister Su Wen’s influence to pressure Zhang Luu into reallocating his forces to deal with Gu Jinlai.
With Zhang Luu’s forces dispersed, Baihe City would naturally become vulnerable, providing both him and Xue Wuqing the chance to strike and take over.
This plan was highly feasible, the only concern being that it would offend Gu Jinlai.
However, before Yang Kan left for Lingxiao City, he had a thorough overnight discussion with this Golden Robed Elder, claiming that Gu Jinlai harbored malicious intentions, was duplicitous towards the Purgatory Sect, advising Yang Kan to be extremely careful, preferably clarifying Gu Jinlai’s stance to avoid being caught in a net with the Meteor Star Guard.
This conversation was precisely what later led Yang Kan to act according to his scheme.
Not only did Su Tong die, but the Meteor Star Guard would certainly not sit idly by.
A Golden Robed Elder had died.
Many heard the sect’s protector loudly proclaim that Yang Kan’s killer was none other than Gu Jinlai.
It was undeniable evidence.
Under such circumstances, regardless of whether the Purgatory Sect wanted to or not, they had to execute Gu Jinlai, the traitor, on the spot.
Otherwise, if this precedent was set, reward and punishment unclear, the Purgatory Sect might face the risk of complete collapse.
"Next, I only need to find a way to join the team from the Law Enforcement Hall who are cleaning house, then I can capture Gu Jinlai, and after that..."
Lin Xiao thought of the Jade Scroll.
Thought of gunpowder.
Thought of Gu Jinlai, who had risen unexpectedly and was about to become a major force within less than a year.
His heart immediately heated up.
At this moment, someone hurriedly approached from outside.
It was Lin Jianfeng from the Lin Family, a genius who achieved the Hugging Pill stage before thirty.
"Uncle, the Heavenly Gang Sect has recently been frequently moving their top experts. According to the perilous information obtained by our undercover agents, Venerable Daoist Su Bieli, Sect Leader Su Fangzheng, will lead most of the elite to directly strike Lingxiao City, aiming to take it over and extend the influence of the Heavenly Gang Sect,"
"The Heavenly Gang Sect!?"
Lin Xiao quickly understood the reasons behind it.
Minister Su was planning to use the power of the Heavenly Gang Sect in collaboration with Zhang Luu to ensure the elimination of Gu Jinlai was foolproof,
this course of action...
A gleam flickered in Lin Xiao’s eyes: "Yuanhua City, occupied by the Heavenly Gang Sect, and our Lin Family’s Linfeng City are less than five hundred miles apart. If the Heavenly Gang Sect empties their nest, Yuanhua City will definitely be vulnerable. If we can take down Yuanhua City... this could be a feat of expanding territory!"
The key was, he could use the attack on Yuanhua City as a pretext to get the judges from the Law Enforcement Hall to coordinate with him.
After all, Yuanhua City was less than four hundred miles away from Lingxiao City.
With Yuanhua City in hand, the experts from the Law Enforcement Hall would also effectively have a way out.
As long as he timed it correctly, everything would pose no problem.
"Even, if we really take down Yuanhua City, with this merit, I could ask the Sect Master to order that the capture of Gu Jinlai be led by me, and that wouldn’t be out of the question."
After speaking, Lin Xiao took decisive steps: "Let’s go see the Sect Master."
In fact, with such a big commotion in Lingxiao City, and with the Purgatory Sect losing a Golden Robed Elder, it was impossible for Sect Master Lu Dengxian not to be informed.
As soon as Lin Xiao stepped out, Lu Dengxian had already sent someone to invite Lin Xiao to discuss matters at the Elder Hall.
"Opportunities coincide with the forces of nature and the earth,"
Lin Xiao’s eyes twinkled with cold light, energized: "The forces from Minister Su’s Heavenly Gang Sect, Main Star Department’s Star Master Zhang Luu, Law Enforcement Hall’s Elder Hall judges, combined with me, Lin Xiao, and the Lin family army... All these forces mobilized because of one man, Gu Jinlai, this time, you can’t escape even if you had wings!"