Chapter 110: Strategic Resources of the Paradise

Guo Ming slaughtered in all directions, swiftly suppressing everyone with the capacity to resist.

The Zhangyu Guards stormed in simultaneously, sealing off the entire scene, making arrests, and confiscating items—all executed with extreme efficiency.

But soon, someone came to disrupt things.

One of the Zhangyu Guards reported that Li Wanwu, the Provincial Military Commander of the Jishi Factory, had arrived.

After letting Da Bao casually kill the archer, Chu Danqing retrieved the excellent-grade treasure chest glowing with patterns from the corpse.

“Hmph, a step too late,” Chu Danqing chuckled. “Guo Brother, hold the ground.”

“Kill anyone who causes trouble.”

“Zhuo Xiao, keep an eye on the ledgers, rosters, and other critical items.” After giving these instructions one by one, Chu Danqing went to meet Li Wanwu.

There was no need to worry about the other side striking—Guo Ming was still here; with his Zi Shi Shenhou Sword and the Shadow of Cold Spring, he could kill Li Wanwu before the latter’s attack even reached Chu Danqing.

“Chu my lord, what an imposing presence,” said Li Wanwu, his face clean-shaven, not overly effeminate but rather rugged, his tone edged with reprimand.

“What imposing presence? I’m merely carrying out the Crown Prince’s and the Emperor’s orders to pursue the assassin,” Chu Danqing bluntly invoked the imperial mandate—he’d dare slap a charge on anyone who dared refute him.

Li Wanwu was no good either; if the timing weren’t wrong, he’d have killed him and looted his treasure chest already.

The ones who blew up the imperial road and the river dike were all from the Jishi Factory.

So he’d hoped to provoke the man, to see if Li Wanwu would say something reckless—then he could act on the spot with imperial authority.

But this was also the downside of leaning on a big tree—major powers must consider the whole picture; they can’t act on whims.

Everything has two sides, benefits mixed with drawbacks; there’s no such thing as perfect.

“We all serve the Emperor; Chu my lord is indeed loyal,” Li Wanwu replied, refusing to fall for such a crude trap, instead following Chu Danqing’s lead.

But he shifted tone: “Yet this ghost market’s tumor has taken root in the capital for years. My Jishi Factory has clashed with it repeatedly, just as we were about to net it—when Chu my lord barged in.”

“I humbly ask, Chu—”

Before Li Wanwu could finish, Chu Danqing cut him off, bluntly saying: “What? Are you, Provincial Military Commander Li, shielding the assassin who tried to kill the Crown Prince?”

That single sentence left Li Wanwu speechless.

Slapping on a heavy charge right off the bat? How can you play like that? Youth lacks decorum.

Li Wanwu’s gaze fell on the Zhangyu Guards behind him, who were still collecting and inventorying items; a flicker of anxiety crossed his eyes.

“Provincial Military Commander Li, please leave. You’re a favorite of the Emperor—don’t get entangled with unsavory types.”

“Otherwise, I’ll have to invite you to Donggong for tea,” Chu Danqing gave him an opening.

The provocation failed; better to just kick him out than leave him as an eyesore.

A sliver of killing intent rose from Li Wanwu—no one had ever dared challenge the Jishi Factory like this.

But Guo Ming sensed it instantly; the sword intent of the Zi Shi Shenhou Sword emerged, locking onto Li Wanwu with unyielding precision.

If he made the slightest improper move, he’d be slain on the spot.

The moment he was locked by the sword intent, Li Wanwu’s hair stood on end; his eyes fixed on Guo Ming, who stood encircled by the Zi Shi Shenhou Sword.

In that instant, dread filled every corner of his mind.

A master who could kill him effortlessly.

Li Wanwu himself had once been a top-tier expert; originally a military officer, he rose to head the Jishi Factory through martial prowess and political maneuvering.

He followed the path of entering civil service through martial mastery.

But years in politics had eroded his martial skill considerably.

He retracted his killing intent and turned his gaze back to Chu Danqing.

“No need for tea, Chu my lord. You’d best watch yourself,” Li Wanwu knew he couldn’t take anything away.

He’d come here with only one goal: to seize control of the ghost market.

Destroying the ghost market was minor; but if the ledgers and rosters scattered, the fallout could spiral beyond control.

If they fell into the Crown Prince’s hands, the consequences were obvious.

Though not as intimidating as the “Biographies of the Officials,” they were still enough to shake the entire political landscape.

As for why the Crown Prince had never acted before—it was simple: too many entanglements; any move might trigger a backlash.

Yet the changes were so drastic that Li Wanwu suspected the Crown Prince had been driven mad by two assassination attempts and one poisoning, leaving him with no restraint.

“No need to see me off,” Chu Danqing dismissed Li Wanwu. This matter was far from over.

The scandals and interests tied to the ghost market could throw the entire capital into chaos; tomorrow morning, dozens of officials would petition to impeach him.

After seeing Li Wanwu off, Chu Danqing returned to oversee the packing, sealing, and loading of evidence; the enslaved merchants were freed and temporarily relocated.

“You made quite a stir this time—and the fallout will be severe,” Guo Ming approached and warned.

“I know. But I’ve done it, and I have no regrets,” Chu Danqing wasn’t afraid at all.

The two found a quiet spot to talk; Chu Danqing opened the treasure chest.

【You opened: Treasure Chest (Excellent Grade), obtained: Skill Book (Ranged Combat Basics), Paradise Points ×2900】

【Skill Book: Ranged Combat Basics】

【Type: Basic Skill】

【Quality: None】

【Effect: Upon use, acquire the skill Ranged Combat Basics, enhancing ranged damage and improving proficiency in ranged techniques】

Seeing this skill book, Chu Danqing smiled.

“Perfect!” Chu Danqing said at once. “Look, I’ve gathered a fine set for you.”

He handed Guo Ming the three basic skill books: Close Combat, Ranged Combat, and Swordsmanship.

“What’s the use of this?” Guo Ming knew skills existed from his cognitive modifications, but he didn’t understand what basic skills were.

Chu Danqing explained, and only then did Guo Ming understand.

“Such precious items—Chu Brother, you’ve gone to great trouble,” Guo Ming hurried to say.

“No, not trouble—expense,” Chu Danqing grumbled. “Learn first. I need to check if I have enough money.”

With the Paradise Points from opening the chest, he had 21,900 left—if each skill cost 10,000, he wouldn’t have enough.

【Alliance target attempting to learn Basic Skill: Swordsmanship Basics. You may choose to pay a processing fee to complete learning.】

【1. Processing Fee: Paradise Points ×10000】

【2. Refuse payment—learning fails】

【Note: Each alliance target may learn only one basic skill through the Dimension Paradise.】

【Note: Basic skills produced by the Dimension Paradise differ from those cultivated natively by inhabitants of the trial world.】

【Note: Basic skills are strategic resources of the Paradise; illegal circulation is prohibited.】

“Hss~” Chu Danqing sucked in a breath—he’d anticipated the fee, but not the learning restriction.

He relayed the situation to Guo Ming: only one of the three could be chosen.

“I’ll take Swordsmanship. At least it covers both close and ranged.” Guo Ming gave his answer.

Chu Danqing immediately paid the fee, allowing Guo Ming to learn Swordsmanship Basics.

The Swordsmanship Basics skill book vanished, sinking into Guo Ming’s body.

The remaining two basic skill books were tucked away by Chu Danqing.

About ten seconds later, Guo Ming’s expression cleared; he bowed deeply to Chu Danqing.

“Chu Brother, you first guided me onto the Dao, and now you’ve gifted me the path itself—your grace I shall never forget.”

“From now on, if you need me to walk through fire or climb mountains of blades, I won’t flinch—even if I can never face my ancestors on ancestral day!” Guo Ming’s display was extravagant.

Chu Danqing was startled, quickly helping him up: “Is it really that extreme?”

“Yes, absolutely,” Guo Ming said seriously after rising. “With Swordsmanship Basics, my Dao path is now secure.”

“Don’t mistake it for mere basics—it contains profound, all-encompassing sword principles.”

“In three years, I’ll catch up to my elder brother, who has trained for decades.”

“If I train five years, I’ll go to Taiping Dao and fetch the Taiping Book to use as a table coaster,” Guo Ming said plainly.

Chu Danqing’s first thought wasn’t how powerful the basic skill was—he realized the unique advantage of Dimension Apostles.

While few Dimension Apostles possessed basic skills, their sheer numbers made the advantage immense.

The basic skills possessed by natives of this trial world were not the same as those he obtained from treasure chests.

Guo Ming’s Swordsmanship Basics came from the Paradise, the same version as those of Dimension Apostles—stronger and more complete.

“That insane?” Chu Danqing was stunned by Guo Ming’s words.

“Chu Brother, you seem to have forgotten you’re equally insane,” Guo Ming smiled. “If I were in your position, without family backing, I’d be nowhere near you.”

“By the way, I haven’t made progress on the secret technique yet—but I’ve brought you a modified version of Wu Yun Dan.”

“Its quality equals that of Wu Qi Dan, but its efficacy far surpasses it—perfect for your cultivation,” Guo Ming handed Chu Danqing a vial of pills.

He added: “If convenient, could you give me the Ranged Combat Basics skill book?”

“The Guo Clan will repay you handsomely.”

Chu Danqing took it, calculated the cost—another 10,000 Paradise Points.

But the problem: basic skills were forbidden from illegal circulation—he didn’t know if Guo Ming could take it back.

If Guo Ming brought back Ranged Combat Basics, he’d gain greater favor in the Guo Clan.

That meant Chu Danqing would receive more suitable rewards.

The Guo Clan had no shortage of good things—they lacked things suited to their needs.

“I don’t know if you can take it. Try first—if you can’t, we’ll deal with it later,” Chu Danqing warned.

“Naturally. This item is extraordinary, hard-won,” Guo Ming was prepared.

“After this, I’m broke—everything’s on you now,” Chu Danqing wasn’t stingy, but he had to protect himself.

“Brother Chu, rest assured—should you need anything, just call on me, and I will respond at once,” Guo Ming said.

In his heart, Chu Danqing had not only changed his mediocre fate but had also inadvertently granted him a path to the heavens.

(End of Chapter)