Chapter 162: Identity Discovered

162. Chapter 162: Identity Discovered

"What? One third of the Song family's assets handed over to the Jiang family? This... is it real?"

Hong Jiantao abruptly stood up, his face full of disbelief.

Sitting beside him was a cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage, who was an Administrator of the City Lord's Office.

An Administrator of the City Lord's Office is a major figure in Character: Liyang Immortal City, far higher in status than a Guest Minister; even senior core members of the Ten Great Families must bow respectfully. For a low‑ranking family like the Jiang family, getting a glimpse is usually impossible.

Today, however, the other side took the initiative to visit and brought such a tremendous piece of good news.

It was so good that Hong Jiantao could barely react, thinking it unrealistic.

"Of course it's true. Shopkeeper Hong thinks I'd come just to joke with you, to tease the Jiang family, right?" the Administrator said with a cheerful, very friendly tone.

"I dare not, I dare not..."

Hong Jiantao hurriedly shook his head, suppressing his inner excitement, "It's just... the Song family's assets are eyed by many families; even the Lei family wants a share but can't get it. Why would the City Lord's Office allocate so much profit to the Jiang family?"

The suddenly descending massive pie left Hong Jiantao truly stunned.

He even felt a sense of unreality, instinctively suspecting some trick or trap.

After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

The City Lord's Office could never give such a grand gift to the Jiang family without reason.

The Administrator smiled, "It seems your Jiang family is truly clueless. Of course a great master personally ordered that the Song family's assets be handed to your Jiang family..."

As he spoke, the Administrator pointed upward.

The implication was clearly that someone of far higher rank, a senior official who could decide the Song family's asset allocation, was involved.

"Shopkeeper Hong, don't you know who stands behind the Jiang family? Or even if you don't, didn't your family head Jiang Canghai reveal any hint before he left?" the Administrator asked curiously.

It was his first time seeing such a massive profit being divided, and yet there were still people who were clueless.

It was as if a lucky person had been struck by a heaven‑bestowed opportunity.

"I... I understand!"

Upon hearing that, Hong Jiantao widened his eyes and suddenly came to his senses.

So it was Guang Qin Zhenren who acted! For the City Lord's Office Administrator to deem it the work of a great master, it must naturally be a direct disciple of Character: Liyang Zhenren, most likely one of Character: Liyang's Seven Heroes.

Considering Jiang Canghai's instructions before his departure, and his recent visit to Guang Qin Zhenren's cave residence,

the one handing over the Song family's massive profit to the Jiang family today must undoubtedly be Guang Qin Zhenren!

He had previously speculated that Guang Qin Zhenren looked down on the Jiang family, had no interest in helping them solve troubles, and would just brush them off later.

But to his surprise, although Guang Qin Zhenren never met him, he truly got things done! Not only did he fulfill his promises, he doubled them! Solving the Jiang family's current dilemma was one thing; preventing other families from coveting the Jiang family's Talisman Script market was another. This time he directly gave one third of the Song family's assets to the Jiang family; with that, who dares to trouble the Jiang family? The top‑ranking families among the Ten Great Families cannot even seize the Song assets; the major share is firmly held by the City Lord's Office, leaving only scraps for others to scramble for.

Now the local authority is handing assets to the Jiang family, which undeniably sends a clear signal: the City Lord's Office supports the Jiang family in growing strong and is willing to back them!

Who would dare tempt fate at this moment?

Once they take over one third of the Jiang family's asset chain, the Jiang family will not only secure its footing but also catapult into the top five of the Ten Great Families, no longer the lagging tail.

"As long as you understand..." the Administrator nodded, saying, "When Shopkeeper Hong arranges for people to take over the Song family's assets, don't forget to thank the higher-ups."

"Of course. We must also thank the Administrator..." Hong Jiantao said, being very tactful.

The Jiang family not only resolved the crisis but also gained such a huge benefit; naturally they cannot just take without giving back—what should be offered must be offered.

In the following days, with the City Lord's Office's assistance, the Jiang family began arranging personnel to take over a portion of the Song family's assets.

This move was done openly; the Jiang family flaunted it for everyone in Character: Liyang Immortal City to see, sparking a flurry of discussion. The several families that had been secretly undermining the Jiang family were now shocked, unable to grasp the situation—why had the Jiang family's head and their patron Character: Liyang Zhenren left, yet the Jiang family still had such a solid backing from the City Lord's Office?

Among the Ten Great Families, even the indisputably top‑ranked Lei family, when seeking a share of the Song family's assets, receives no word from the City Lord's Office.

It certainly let the modest Jiang family snag a huge bargain.

Thus other family forces no longer dare to target the Jiang family or cause trouble.

About a week later.

The Jiang family had completed taking over all the assets they were to receive.

Hong Jiantao, carrying a storage sack filled with treasures, returned to Guang Qin Zhenren's cave residence and presented a petition to request an audience.

Compared with last time, Hong Jiantao felt much more assured; there was little anxiety, only gratitude.

Thus, even after arriving at the cave, Guang Qin Zhenren still did not meet him, and the attendant who received him showed little pleasant expression, yet Hong Jiantao remained very sincere.

The more this happened, the more he felt that Guang Qin Zhenren was truly a great master, worthy of being the only disciple of Character: Liyang Zhenren to have formed a Golden Core; his outlook and conduct were entirely different.

He shows no false modesty in person, appearing unattainable, yet once he promises something, he fulfills it! Not only does he give his utmost effort, but also provides unexpected benefits.

Warm‑hearted! A cold exterior but a warm heart!

As for why Guang Qin Zhenren did not meet him personally, there were certainly reasons.

Perhaps he was truly too busy—secluding himself? Or maybe he dislikes being thanked face‑to‑face and refuses small talk? Whatever the reason, it mattered not; Guang Qin Zhenren refused to see him, but Hong Jiantao could not breach etiquette, so he respectfully handed the storage sack to the attendant, asking him to deliver it to Guang Qin Zhenren, saying it was the Jiang family's sincere gratitude for his help, and earnestly requesting that Guang Qin Zhenren accept it.

The attendant frowned upon seeing this, a bit puzzled.

When did the master ever help the Jiang family? He never inquired! What is the Jiang family trying to do, to drag the master up? Receiving gifts without doing anything, is it to force the master to help?

"Shopkeeper Hong, put away that little scheme!"

The attendant barked coldly, scolding, "The master is very busy now, with many major affairs to handle, no time for the trivial petty matters of your Jiang family! Shopkeeper Hong, I advise you to put away that little scheme! To be frank, not only you— even if your Jiang family head comes, the master may still not grant an audience!"

Hong Jiantao, hearing that, was stunned, completely bewildered.

This...

What's going on?

It seemed this attendant was neither speaking falsely nor merely being polite.

Guang Qin Zhenren, could it be that he truly did not help the Jiang family?

Is it true that the one‑third of the Song family's assets was not a gift from Guang Qin Zhenren to the Jiang family? Yet the Administrator of the City Lord's Office said that day...

He clearly said it was an order from the City Lord's Office senior officials.

"Isn't it really Guang Qin Zhenren who helped the Jiang family?" Hong Jiantao asked again, uncertain.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" the attendant snorted coldly, then issued a dismissal order: "Go back to wherever you came from! Don't come again!" Hong Jiantao, at that point, dared not linger any longer and left with a heavy heart.

He was completely at a loss.

He couldn't figure out which other senior official in the Lord's Residence, besides Symbol Master Guang Qin, would be so generous in helping the Jiang family. "Could it be… Xiao Zhangqing?"

The thought resurfaced in Hong Jiantao's mind.

"It shouldn't… be, right?"

Xiao Zhangqing's status and strength could indeed fully aid the Jiang family.

But Xiao Zhangqing is not a member of the Lord's Residence!

He is only the captain of Character: Liyang Guard and merely has a good relationship with that ancient commander; he should have no authority to handle the Song family's assets, nor the standing to be so deeply feared by the Lord's Residence's overseer.

That is why, upon hearing the news, Hong Jiantao's first thought was not Xiao Zhangqing but Symbol Master Guang Qin.

But if it wasn't Symbol Master Guang Qin, the only name Hong Jiantao could think of would be Xiao Zhangqing.

"This matter must be clarified; we cannot be muddled."

Hong Jiantao clutched his storage bag, glanced at Symbol Master Guang Qin's cave dwelling behind him, his expression solemn.

"It seems we still have to go to Jin Xiu Fang and meet Xiao Zhangqing."

This not only involves a huge stake of interests—currently a boon for the Jiang family—but if mishandled or acted recklessly, it could become a catastrophic crisis for the Jiang family, a disaster of annihilation! ……

Symbol Master Guang Qin's cave dwelling.

Since Character: Liyang True Person temporarily departed, Gu Zongyuan again "discovered" that two major Nascent Soul sects were plotting against Character: Liyang Immortal City. Symbol Master Guang Qin, the only Golden Core cultivator among the Seven Heroes of Character: Liyang, thus rightfully assumed the temporary role of "Lord."

Therefore, each day a steady stream of intelligence arrives from all directions.

Information includes changes among the major families and forces of Character: Liyang Immortal City, movements of nearby sects, as well as the Southwest Region's war situation and recent major events among the top sects of the Da Yu Cultivation World.

There are also some "unspeakable" pieces of covert intelligence.

Among them.

What Symbol Master Guang Qin cares most about is the war situation in the Southwest Region.

Although Character: Liyang Immortal City is far from the Southwest Region, the flames of war could hardly reach it unless the Da Yu Cultivation World were completely fallen.

However, senior brother Zuo Zichun led a unit to the front lines; not long ago, his master Character: Liyang True Person suddenly went out, which is also linked to a Demon Sect Evil Cultivator.

Now the war situation in the Southwest Region is dire; the Luoxia Sect and Baihua Valley, the two major local Golden Core sects, have lost more than half their disciples, and especially Luoxia Sect's main base has already been breached and occupied by Demon Sect Evil Cultivators.

Baihua Valley is still struggling to hold on, but it does not seem it can last much longer.

Now, after consultation between Xingyue Palace and Qixing Sword Sect, the Da Yu Cultivation World has voiced a plan to "abandon the Southwest Region and retreat north of the Yunling Mountains."

In other words, the Da Yu Cultivation World will fully withdraw, ceding the vast Southwest Region to the Demon Sect Evil Cultivators.

It is worth noting that Jiang family head Jiang Canghai, a Foundation Establishment complete third‑rank Symbol Master, ranks second only to Zuo True Person within the Character: Liyang Immortal City forces; he disappeared during a mission and is most likely dead at the hands of Demon Sect Evil Cultivators.

This news has not yet been made public.

First, Jiang Canghai is still missing with no confirmed cause of death; second, they do not wish to affect morale, as they may still recruit cultivators from Character: Liyang Immortal City to the battlefield.

If the battlefield situation is described as too perilous, it will be difficult to summon cultivators, especially those above the Foundation Establishment Realm, or even those in the Fake Core Realm.

However, upon learning this information, Symbol Master Guang Qin did not meet Hong Jiantao when he came to request assistance.

His senior brother Zuo Zichun had indeed greeted him before leaving, asking him to look after the Jiang family appropriately if they encountered trouble.

But now the Jiang family head has already died on the battlefield; once the news is released, the Jiang family will surely be removed from the ten great families, and he naturally no longer bothers to look after them.

Besides the Southwest war situation and the covert channels, Symbol Master Guang Qin also pays particular attention to intelligence within Character: Liyang Immortal City.

Or rather, he is especially interested in his junior brother Gu Zongyuan and the mysteriously originated cultivator Ba Wuji.

He has already thoroughly investigated the exact battle outside the city where Gu Zongyuan and Ba Wuji jointly killed the Puppet Evil Lord and the Blood Crow True Person.

How powerful these two truly are, and how much each contributed to slaying the Blood Crow True Person, a mid‑Golden Core cultivator, remains unclear.

But he can roughly judge that the mysteriously originated Ba Wuji poses a greater threat than his junior brother Gu Zongyuan; Ba Wuji was a primary factor in killing the Blood Crow True Person. Hence, in recent days, Symbol Master Guang Qin has been trying various ways to uncover Ba Wuji's identity and background.

He has gained little.

On that day,

Symbol Master Guang Qin suddenly saw a piece of information recording that the Lord's Residence would transfer one‑third of the Song family's assets, which were to be eliminated, to the Jiang family for management! He lightly inquired and learned that the order came from Gu Zongyuan.

Yet from this information, Symbol Master Guang Qin keenly sensed something amiss.

According to the data, his junior brother Symbol Master Guang Qin has no ties with the Jiang family, and senior brother Zuo True Person's relationship with Gu Zongyuan is not good either.

Thus, before departing, senior brother would unlikely have asked junior brother Gu Zongyuan to look after the Jiang family.

But now Gu Zongyuan suddenly shows such friendliness to the Jiang family, granting such a huge benefit, likely because someone else prompted him!

Thus, Symbol Master Guang Qin immediately activated his own intelligence network, pulling up Gu Zongyuan's recent movements.

He discovered that before ordering the transfer of one‑third of the Song family's assets to the Jiang family, Gu Zongyuan had visited Jin Xiu Fang and met Ba Wuji! "Ba Wuji has a history with the Jiang family!"

Combining the various pieces of information, Symbol Master Guang Qin quickly deduced the truth of the matter.

"Jiang family, Jiang Canghai, Luoxia Sect, Southwest Region…"

Symbol Master Guang Qin narrowed his eyes slightly, his pupils flashing, murmuring, "Could this Ba Wuji be from the Southwest Region?"

"If it is the Southwest Region…"

Soon, Symbol Master Guang Qin rummaged through his files and retrieved a recent piece of information about the Southwest Region.

Roughly two years ago, two Fake Core Realm elders from Luoxia Sect and Baihua Valley suffered a severe setback at the hands of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, nearly losing their lives.

One had his life‑defining artifact stolen; the other had his commonly used set of magical swords taken…

This Foundation Establishment cultivator possessed an exceptionally strong Soul Transformation, and his mind‑eye techniques were beyond comprehension, almost instantly rendering the two Fake Core True Persons combat‑ineffective.

"Ba Wuji… Xiao Zhangqing?" (End of chapter)