Chapter 192: 192. Chapter 189: I Know How to Do It

192. Chapter 189: I Know How to Do It

Xifeng City has become thoroughly lively this time.

The reason is that the City Patrol Corps is recruiting City Patrol Soldiers—not just one or two, but over a thousand.

The fact that the City Patrol Corps eliminated Pan Qi and Gu Zhanjian and took full control of Xifeng City was not considered strange by most people.

Because the top officials in Xifeng City are frequently replaced; Pan Qi was only prominent in the past few years. He killed his predecessor and took over his territory—that's all there was to it.

But after taking control of the territory, the City Patrol Corps didn't stop there—they even began recruiting City Patrol Soldiers, offering quite generous terms.

One crystal per month is barely enough for ordinary low-level cultivators to cultivate and use.

That's just one point; the City Patrol Corps has even taken control of the city gates and the Household Registry Office, introduced new regulations, and banned Joyful Branches…

Regardless of what happens later, the City Patrol Corps' current recruitment of City Patrol Soldiers has drawn in most residents of Xifeng City who lack regular income.

In less than half a day, over five thousand people came to sign up.

If Yan Mei hadn't halted registrations in time, the number of applicants could have exceeded one hundred thousand.

From these five thousand, they selected one thousand two hundred—all of whom exceeded the original eligibility criteria.

Yan Mei handled all this with ease.

After selecting the one thousand two hundred, he appointed five new Patrol Captains, including Wu Tun and Beihor.

Each captain led a hundred men to reorganize the East, South, West, and North Quarters of Xifeng City.

Moreover, in each of the four quarters—East, South, West, and North—the captains established branch Patrol Corps stations to ensure timely response to emergencies.

As for Gu Bin, he was assigned as City Defense Captain, leading five hundred men to guard Xifeng City.

Even the Record Keeper Peng Leizhi was put to use by Yan Mei, and his duties were even heavier.

Peng Leizhi led a hundred men to take over the Household Registry Office, gaining control of all household registrations in Xifeng City, and required all non-registered residents to register immediately.

In addition to the Household Registry Office, Peng Leizhi must also take control of the Tax Office.

…

In the small courtyard of the Great Crystal District.

Ding Huan easily broke the simple seals on four storage bags; each had a capacity of less than two cubic meters, far inferior to the Star House.

What shocked Ding Huan was that among the four storage bags, he collected a total of fifty thousand crystals.

Especially Pan Qi and Gu Zhanjian's storage bags—combined, they contained forty thousand crystals.

The four bags also held piles of low-grade spirit herbs, ores, low-level cultivation techniques, and artifacts—all of which Ding Huan stored in his own storage bag.

In one of the bags, Ding Huan also found a plaque inscribed with "Ascension Realm." He didn't know its purpose, so he tossed it into the Star House anyway.

After organizing everything, Ding Huan planned to wait for Yan Mei's return, then transmit the Luo Shi Jing to Yan Mei, and begin his seclusion to deduce his Foundation Establishment path.

At that moment, the simple seal outside the courtyard was triggered.

Ding Huan sent out his spiritual sense and saw a woman in black robes.

He thought that after Yan Mei returned, he still needed to set up a protective array around this courtyard…

If a protective array made it inconvenient for Yan Mei to come and go, at least he should set one up outside his own room.

If he kept getting interrupted while secluding himself to deduce his Foundation Establishment path, would he even be able to cultivate in peace?

"Who are you looking for?" Ding Huan stepped out of the courtyard.

The woman in black robes bowed to Ding Huan:

"Chief Xue wishes to invite you to the Chief's Residence for a discussion. Do you have time, Lord Ding?" Her tone was very courteous.

Ding Huan realized that since he had eliminated Pan Qi and Gu Zhanjian and demanded control of the Central District, he would inevitably clash with this man sooner or later.

To avoid being disturbed during his future seclusion, it would be better to settle matters with him now.

"Fine, lead the way," Ding Huan accepted the woman's invitation.

The two guards at the Chief's Residence lowered their heads immediately upon seeing Ding Huan approach.

How much time had passed? This City Patrol Soldier they had once deemed doomed was not only alive, but now summoned by the Chief himself.

"Chief Xue, Lord Ding has come to pay a visit," the woman in black robes announced respectfully as she brought Ding Huan to Chief Xue Bo's residence.

Ding Huan internally scoffed—he was paying a visit? How self-important.

If he hadn't come, Xue Bo certainly wouldn't have dared set foot in the Great Crystal District—he had no desire to come at all.

"Hahaha, Captain Ding, please come in," Xue Bo's voice sounded extremely cheerful and warm.

Before the woman in black could open the door, Ding Huan pushed it open decisively and walked in.

Xue Bo's anger flashed across his face, then vanished—he immediately smiled again.

"Sit down. I've been extremely busy. Only just now did I hear that one of my City Patrol Soldiers has emerged as a talent, so I took a moment to invite you over."

Does this guy really think he'll die if he doesn't pretend?

If Ding Huan had arrived earlier, he might have been fooled by this man.

Now Ding Huan knew clearly: even if he killed Xue Bo in Xifeng City, the consequences wouldn't be severe.

Ding Huan had no time to play games with such a hypocritical man—he spoke bluntly:

"Chief Xue, just say what you mean directly. I'm very busy right now."

When he arrived, Ding Huan had already observed: the entire Chief's Residence had only a Level-Two defensive array.

Inside the Chief's Residence, there was only one Level-One attack array and one confinement array.

If it had been a Level-Two attack array, Ding Huan might have hesitated. But a Level-One attack array and a Level-One confinement array were no different from none at all to him.

Hearing Ding Huan's blunt words, Xue Bo's face darkened.

As long as Ding Huan maintained a surface of civility, they could reach an agreement.

Ding Huan must not enter the Central District; elsewhere, Xue Bo wouldn't interfere.

"Captain Ding, I hope you will withdraw your City Patrol Soldiers from the Central District. I won't interfere elsewhere, but this place must remain untouched."

Ding Huan didn't want to beat around the bush, so Xue Bo could only speak plainly.

Xue Bo wasn't afraid Ding Huan would attack him here; deep down, he didn't want to break ties with Ding Huan.

Killing Ding Huan would be best—if this killing array fails to eliminate him, it'll be disastrous.

His only goal in West Wind City was Foundation Establishment; as long as Ding Huan didn't disturb his cultivation or affect his income, he didn't care about anything else.

Ding Huan firmly controlled all taxes and management fees in the city, even banned Joyful Branches—this had already left him with no room to survive.

After saying this, Xue Bo seemed worried Ding Huan might turn hostile, so he added voluntarily:

"I heard you're cracking down on Joyful Branches trade in West Wind City—I can help you with that."

"The main seller of Joyful Branches in West Wind City is Wan Qian, a discarded disciple of Great Star Sword Dao. Wan Qian is no ordinary man—I can join forces with you to take him down."

Ding Huan showed no expression, as if closing his eyes to think.

In truth, Ding Huan was using Great Calculation Art to compute the outcome.

Soon, Ding Huan opened his eyes—he understood Xue Bo's meaning.

In West Wind City, Wan Qian might be selling Joyful Branches, but Xue Bo here was certainly one of them too.

This guy is extremely treacherous—he wants to use someone else's knife to kill.

He wants me to fight Wan Qian; after Wan Qian is eliminated, Joyful Branches will be left to him alone.

And the consequences of killing Wan Qian will mostly be borne by me, Ding Huan.

How could something be this evil?

Just as Ding Huan was deciding how to deal with Xue Bo, a guard rushed to the door and shouted:

"My lord, the City Patrol seized all houses in the Central District without property deeds—they also killed Teng Xiaosheng."

"Why?" Xue Bo's face darkened, as if he could drip water.

He clenched his fists—hadn't they even finished negotiating, and now Ding Huan was shitting on his head?

Teng Xiaosheng was his man; that shop was his shop.

"They said Teng Xiaosheng sold Joyful Branches and killed several people, and that the house was seized by force…"

Xue Bo asked, and the guard dared not hide anything.

"Captain Ding, you've gone too far."

Xue Bo forced down his fury, staring at Ding Huan and speaking slowly:

"These guys did well—Yan Mei really is capable. Good thing he wasn't possessed by the Double Soul Sect; otherwise, it would've been such a waste."

Ignoring Xue Bo entirely, Ding Huan stood up:

"You have two choices: first, stay in the Lord's Mansion and cultivate in peace. Second, leave the Mansion right now—it's not suitable for you."

"Ding Huan, do you know who I am?" Xue Bo roared, standing up.

This petty City Patrol captain was truly unbearable.

"Oh? Who are you?" Ding Huan asked, surprised.

Xue Bo, enraged to his limit, remembered that Pan Qi and Bone Divination Sword had both been killed by Ding Huan—he could only forcibly swallow his fury.

"I am the Lord of Zhuoxing Domain, appointed by the Lord of Zhuoxing Domain, protected by Zhuoxing Domain, and recognized and protected by Great Star Sword Dao."

"If you break with me, you break with Great Star Sword Dao and Zhuoxing Domain."

Xue Bo wasn't certain if Ding Huan could withstand a Level-One Killing Array, so he still didn't act.

"You're surprisingly patient. I'll give you three breaths to decide. Three…"

Ding Huan had barely spoken the number when Xue Bo flung several array flags—immediately, the space around them shifted.

The space blurred instantly; waves of killing intent surged toward Ding Huan.

Deep within this killing intent, Xue Bo summoned his long blade, locked onto Ding Huan's position, unleashed his true energy, and slashed down with all his strength.

He wished to cut Ding Huan into bloody shards with one blow.

At the same moment, Ding Huan grabbed several array flags and threw them, then vanished in a flash.

"Crack!" Xue Bo's blade split the chair Ding Huan had just sat on in two.

Before Xue Bo could react, the killing intent of the space shifted—he realized in horror that the array, which he had controlled, now surrounded him.

Bad—Ding Huan also excels in array arts.

Xue Bo instantly understood—he was filled with regret.

He dared act so boldly against Ding Huan only because of this killing array and a trapping array here.

Using the worst possible killing-trapping array against someone who excels in array arts? That was suicide.

A Qi Refining cultivator excelling in array arts? That was unbelievable. He could activate the killing array only because it had been pre-set by someone else.

But Xue Bo realized too late—a wind blade sliced through his neck.

"Great Star Sword Dao won't let you go unpunished." Xue Bo spoke those words, then collapsed to the ground.

Ding Huan retrieved the array flags; the space returned to stillness.

Cang Cang Cang Yiyi entered and saw Xue Bo slain by Ding Huan—her face filled with disbelief.

She quickly realized:

"Ding Daoist, I only serve the Lord."

Ding Huan nodded:

"Don't worry—I know what to do."

Cang Cang Cang Yiyi quickly stepped back, vowing in her heart: if she didn't deliver this news to Great Star Sword Dao, she'd be unworthy to be human—Xue Bo was also a disciple of Great Star Sword Dao.

"Puff!" A wind blade pierced through the back of her neck. Cang Cang Cang Yiyi wanted to turn and ask Ding Huan why he killed her—but she couldn't utter a single word.

Ding Huan took Xue Bo's storage bag and turned to leave.

I'll have Yan Mei clean up here later.