Chapter 273: A Solitary Boat Crosses the Heavenly Capital, Even the Sea of Suffering Holds No Clear Sky

On the rooftop of a towering building, at the edge of the floating airstrip.

Jiang Jian sat inside a hovering vehicle.

He cultivated quietly while waiting.

Finally.

His identity device flickered with faint light, delivering a notification.

Jiang Jian opened his eyes, halted his cultivation, and opened the message.

A low voice came through: “Student Jiang Jian, let me confirm once more—the East District A30 toll airstrip, silver-gray lightweight hovering vehicle, correct?”

Jiang Jian swiped his finger and sent a text reply: “Yes.”

He turned off the identity device.

He lifted his head and looked out the window.

A hundred meters away, a lightweight hovering vehicle was parked.

Its paint color was precisely silver-gray.

A few minutes later.

A black aerial warship landed on the airstrip.

The hatch opened.

A man in tight-fitting attire, with a stern face, strode down the boarding ramp.

His expression was grave; he scanned left and right, confirmed his target, and walked straight toward the silver-gray hovering vehicle.

Jiang Jian watched from the window and recognized the man’s appearance.

It was Zhang Baiwood, Deputy Director of the Yingtian Bureau.

Zhang Baiwood stepped forward, extended a finger, and tapped on the silver-gray vehicle’s window.

No response.

He lowered his head, reconfirmed the vehicle before him, and tapped the window again.

Still no reaction.

The next instant.

Zhang Baiwood pulled out his identity device and sent a communication: “Student Jiang Jian, please open the door and come with me to submit your mission.”

Jiang Jian used Fire Karma to carefully observe and confirmed this man was truly Zhang Baiwood, not an imposter.

Only then did he raise his wrist and reply: “I’m behind you.”

Shortly after.

Jiang Jian opened the hatch and stepped out of the hovering vehicle.

A short distance away.

Zhang Baiwood turned around, looked at Jiang Jian, and raised an eyebrow: “Your vigilance is surprisingly high.”

Jiang Jian said nothing more, simply stepped forward, verified the identity device information, took out the wooden box, and handed it to Zhang Baiwood: “The item is here.”

Zhang Baiwood did not take it, but smiled and said: “Since you brought it, you must be the one to deliver it.”

Jiang Jian murmured: “Master Guanxi said I was to give it to you—the mission ends there.”

“Old Shen is always the type to quietly strike it rich.”

Zhang Baiwood clicked his tongue. “This mission has stirred up a storm—countless eyes are watching. Under current circumstances, I have no authority to act as an intermediary.”

“Come with me.”

With those words.

He turned and walked ahead toward the black aerial warship.

Jiang Jian paused briefly, tucked the wooden box into his sleeve, and followed.

A few dozen seconds later.

The black warship’s hatch closed and rose into the sky.

Soon it left the ground, piercing through the clouds.

“After failing to break through, you somehow endured the backlash and survived.”

In the spacious cabin, Zhang Baiwood sat on a sofa, gazing at the white-robed boy across from him, his expression growing more awed.

“No wonder Old Shen went to such lengths to recommend you and secure you the position of Patrol Envoy.”

In his eyes,

the white-robed boy before him,

whether in cultivation foundation or spiritual energy meridians, had nearly reached the absolute limit!

Even though Zhang Baiwood held a high rank and possessed broad experience,

he had rarely encountered a cultivation foundation as near-perfectly dense as Jiang Jian’s.

Jiang Jian replied: “Master Guanxi did indeed apply for me to receive an official post in the Imperial Star Hall.”

Zhang Baiwood sighed, looking at Jiang Jian: “You and Old Shen have done a great service to the Surface Realm!”

He lifted his teacup, sipped, and added: “Old Shen’s reward hasn’t been announced yet, but the reward from above for you is truly envious.”

Jiang Jian’s heart stirred, yet his expression remained calm: “Deputy Director Zhang, this matter isn’t settled yet. Discussing rewards now is premature.”

“Not premature—not at all.”

Zhang Baiwood sighed, his face filled with admiration: “Old Shen’s insight is razor-sharp. He conceived this method to pinpoint the Realm Boundary coordinates—truly brilliant, beyond compare.”

“This mission will succeed without doubt!”

“Above has already prepared everything—waiting only for your item to arrive before acting!”

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian said nothing more and fell silent.

But Zhang Baiwood stared at Jiang Jian and asked: “Don’t you really want to know what reward they’ll give you?”

Jiang Jian said: “If there is a reward, I’ll learn of it soon enough. No need to rush.”

Zhang Baiwood clicked his tongue, then spoke: “I heard this reward was personally approved by the Lord of Jade Capital.”

Upon hearing this,

Jiang Jian’s gaze sharpened slightly.

The Lord of Jade Capital was a True Lord of the Spirit Platform in the Surface Realm.

He was also the true head of the Heavenly Capital’s central authority!

The Lord of Chang’an, as the “Surface True Lord,” nominally governed the Heavenly Capital and oversaw seventy prefectures of the Surface Realm.

The two True Lords jointly governed the Surface Realm.

But at this moment,

the Lord of Chang’an was in the Lunar Realm, one of the three Grand Masters of the Imperial Star Hall’s Earth division, utterly unable to leave.

The Lord of Jade Capital remained trapped in the Ninth Realm Boundary, unable to depart.

After Shen Xi’s plan was submitted,

it was reviewed and personally approved by the Lord of Jade Capital!

“Anyway, this is no longer a secret.”

“Let me tell you plainly.”

Zhang Baiwood’s face showed envy as he spoke slowly: “Since the Yinshan Marvel emerged, the Heavenly Capital has paid close attention, using various methods to locate seven Yinshan Chosen Ones.”

“One more Chosen One was only just discovered recently.”

“You hid yourself well—never found.”

“When the Lunar Realm stirred and pressed against the Realm Wall,

you alone were within the Ninth Realm Boundary.”

“Old Shen discovering you was pure coincidence.”

“Using the Marvel to traverse space and return to the Surface Realm—that idea is astonishing.”

Zhang Baiwood gazed at Jiang Jian and said gravely: “By returning the World’s Origin, you’ve earned great merit. The reward above has prepared for you is unimaginable.”

Here,

his tone grew heavier.

“All eight Yinshan Chosen Ones identified have been compensated by the Heavenly Capital’s central authority with massive resources, to persuade them to voluntarily abandon their claim to the Yinshan Lordship!”

“This decision was made personally by the Lord of Jade Capital!”

“As for the final Chosen One, the Heavenly Capital continues to use every means to intensify the search.”

“Once the other nine have all relinquished their claims,

the Yinshan Marvel will be yours!”

Zhang Baiwood’s eyes burned red, his envy reaching its peak!

The Yinshan Marvel was a true great marvel!

Its spiritual resources, unique treasures, and regenerative artifacts were countless!

The Yinshan Lord could even receive the priceless title of “Earth Treasury!”

Throughout history,

every Marvel Lord who fully controlled their Marvel rose to unparalleled heights!

Hearing this news,

even Jiang Jian’s composure could not prevent his pupils from contracting slightly, surprise stirring within him.

He had never imagined.

The Heavenly Capital Central Authority actually deemed it worth such a great cost to help him secure the position of Lord of Yinshan!

After all,

the allure of a complete wonderland is great enough to drive one mad!

To make those eight aspirants willingly relinquish their chance to compete.

The compensation dispatched by the Heavenly Capital Central Authority would surely be an astronomical sum!

As he pondered this,

Jiang Jian’s brow unconsciously furrowed.

“When you add it all up, it feels like a terrible loss.”

Thinking of the compensation the Heavenly Capital was about to hand out,

Jiang Jian felt a sharp pang of regret.

Such a massive amount of resources, given away to others, would never reach his own hands.

“Vice Director Zhang, could this reward be exchanged for something else?”

Jiang Jian suddenly spoke up.

Hearing this,

Zhang Baiwood could not help but freeze in surprise.

(End of Chapter)