Chapter 110: Strategic Resources of the Paradise

Guo Ming slaughtered his way through, swiftly suppressing everyone who possessed the strength to resist.

The Feather-Wielding Guards charged in simultaneously, sealing off the entire scene, making arrests, and confiscating items; the entire process was extremely efficient.

However, it wasn't long before spoilers arrived.

A member of the Feather-Wielding Guards reported that Li Wanwu, Commandant of the Investigative Bureau, had come to visit.

After letting Da Bao casually slaughter that archer, Chu Danqing put away the Excellent-tier treasure chest that was shimmering with patterns on the corpse.

"Heh, a step too late." Chu Danqing chuckled, "Brother Guo, you hold down the fort."

"Kill whoever causes trouble."

"Brother Zhuo, keep a close eye on the account books, rosters, and other key items." After giving his instructions one by one, Chu Danqing went to meet Li Wanwu.

There was no need to worry about the other party making a move; Guo Ming was still there, and with his Hour-of-the-Rat Divine Queen Sword and Shadow of the Cold Spring, he was more than capable of killing Li Wanwu before his attack could land on Chu Danqing.

"Lord Chu, how very imposing." Li Wanwu was clean-shaven, not particularly effeminate, but rather slightly stern, his tone carrying a reprimand.

"What talk of being imposing? I am merely acting under the orders of the Crown Prince and His Majesty to pursue the culprits." Chu Danqing directly pulled out the "tiger skin" of authority; if the other party had the ability to refute him, he would dare to slap a label on them.

This Li Wanwu was no good either; if the timing hadn't been inappropriate, he would have wanted to slaughter him to make him drop a treasure chest.

It was the people from the Investigative Bureau who had blown up the official roads and river embankments.

Therefore, he thought about provoking the other party to see if he could make Li Wanwu say something disrespectful, allowing him to act on his own discretion and strike immediately.

But this was also the downside of having a big tree to lean on—large factions must consider the overall situation and cannot act as they please.

Everything has two sides, both advantages and disadvantages; how could there be anything perfect?

"Everything is for the service of His Majesty; Lord Chu is indeed loyal and devoted." Li Wanwu would never fall for such a clumsy trap, so he simply followed Chu Danqing's words.

Yet, he changed the subject and said, "It's just that this tumor of the Ghost Market has been rooted in the capital for too long. My Investigative Bureau has clashed with them time and again, and just as we were about to close the net, Lord Chu intervened."

"I ask that Lord Chu—"

Before Li Wanwu could finish, Chu Danqing interrupted him, saying bluntly, "What? Does Commandant Li want to shield the culprits who assassinated the Crown Prince?"

With just that one sentence, Li Wanwu was directly choked up.

How are you supposed to play when someone slaps a huge label on you right from the start? This youngster really doesn't play by the rules of martial virtue.

Li Wanwu's gaze fell on the Feather-Wielding Guards in the back who were collecting and taking inventory, a hint of anxiety appearing in his eyes.

"Commandant Li, please return. You are a favorite in front of His Majesty; you must not get entangled with just any unsavory characters."

"Otherwise, I will have to invite Commandant Li to the Eastern Palace for tea." Chu Danqing gave the other party a chance.

Since the provocation didn't work, it was better to just drive the person away rather than leaving them there as an eyesore.

A hint of killing intent surfaced on Li Wanwu; it had always been their Investigative Bureau that was arrogant, yet today, someone actually dared to break ground on the head of Tai Sui.

It was just that this wisp of killing intent was detected by Guo Ming, and the sword intent of the Hour-of-the-Rat Divine Queen Sword emerged, locking onto Li Wanwu firmly.

If he dared to make even the slightest inappropriate move, he would be finished on the spot.

The moment he was locked onto by the sword intent, Li Wanwu's hair stood on end, his gaze falling on Guo Ming, who was surrounded by the Hour-of-the-Rat Divine Queen Sword.

At that moment, apprehension filled his entire mind.

An expert capable of killing him easily.

Li Wanwu himself had once been a top-tier expert; originally, he held a military post, but after his martial arts reached great success, he used political maneuvering to become the Commandant of the Investigative Bureau.

He had taken the path of entering the civil service through martial arts.

However, these years of political life had caused his martial arts to regress significantly.

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

"There's no need for tea; Lord Chu, you should take care of yourself." Li Wanwu knew he wouldn't be able to take anything away.

He had only one goal in rushing here, and that was to take over the Ghost Market.

The Ghost Market being raided was a small matter, but if the account books, rosters, and other items were scattered, the extent of the involvement would be hard to contain.

Once they fell into the hands of the Crown Prince, the outcome could be imagined.

Although they might not have the deterrent power of something like the "Records of the Hundred Officials," they were enough to affect the overall situation.

As for why the Crown Prince hadn't dared to act before, it was very simple: because too much was involved, and acting would risk a backlash.

He hadn't expected the change to be so great; Li Wanwu suspected that the Crown Prince had been driven mad by two assassination attempts and one poisoning, which was why he no longer had any scruples.

"I won't see you out." Chu Danqing dismissed Li Wanwu; this matter was certainly not over yet.

The scandals and interests involved in the Ghost Market could throw the entire capital into chaos; by tomorrow morning, there would be countless people impeaching him.

After sending Li Wanwu away, Chu Danqing turned back; boxes of evidence were being packed, sealed, and loaded onto carts, while the people who had been imprisoned and sold were rescued and temporarily settled in a unified manner.

"You've made quite a stir this time, but the aftermath will also be great." Guo Ming walked over and offered a reminder.

"I know, but what's done is done, and there's nothing to regret." Chu Danqing wasn't afraid at all.

The two found a quiet place to chat, and Chu Danqing took the opportunity to open the treasure chest.

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

【Skill Book: Basic Ranged Combat】

【Type: Basic Skill】

【Quality: None】

【Effect: After use, gain the skill Basic Ranged Combat, increase ranged damage, and enhance proficiency in ranged techniques】

Seeing this skill book, a smile appeared on Chu Danqing's face.

"It's settled!" Chu Danqing said immediately, "Look, I've put together a set of good things for you."

As he spoke, Chu Danqing handed the three basic skill books—Close Combat, Ranged Combat, and Sword Art—to Guo Ming.

"What is the use of this?" Guo Ming knew there were skills from the cognitive modification he had received, but he was unclear about what basic skills were.

Chu Danqing explained it to him, which made Guo Ming suddenly realize.

"Such precious items, Brother Chu has gone to great lengths." Guo Ming said hurriedly.

"No, it's not great lengths, it's great expense." Chu Danqing complained, "You learn it first; I need to see if the money I have on me is enough."

Including the Paradise Points from opening the chest, he only had 21,900 left; if learning one skill cost 10,000 Paradise Points, he wouldn't have enough.

【Detected that the covenant partner is attempting to learn the basic skill: Basic Sword Art; you may choose to pay a service fee to complete the learning】

【1. Service fee: Paradise Points × 10,000】

【2. Refuse to pay, learning fails】

(Note: Each covenant partner can only learn one basic skill through the Dimensional Paradise)

(Note: Basic skills produced by the Dimensional Paradise are different from those cultivated by the natives of the Trial World)

(Note: Basic skills are strategic resources of the Paradise; illegal circulation is prohibited)

"Hiss~" Chu Danqing gasped; he had anticipated a fee, but he hadn't anticipated there would be a learning restriction.

He translated this matter to Guo Ming, indicating that he could only choose one out of three.

"I will choose Sword Art; at least I will have both ranged and close-quarters capabilities." Guo Ming gave his answer.

Chu Danqing immediately paid the service fee, allowing Guo Ming to learn Basic Sword Art.

The Basic Sword Art skill book disappeared and merged into Guo Ming's body.

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

After about ten seconds, Guo Ming's expression recovered, and he bowed directly to Chu Danqing.

"Brother Chu first helped me enter the Dao, and then gifted me the path; I will never forget this kindness in this lifetime."

"In the future, even if I have to go through mountains of blades or seas of fire, if I even frown while doing it for Brother Chu, I will have no face to face my ancestors during the annual sacrifices!" Guo Ming's behavior was truly exaggerated.

Chu Danqing was also taken aback and hurriedly helped him up: "Is it really that exaggerated?"

"Yes, of course it is." Guo Ming said seriously after being helped up: "With the basic skill of Basic Sword Art, my path is worry-free."

"Do not look at it as just a basic skill; the sword Dao it contains is profound and all-encompassing."

"In just three years, I will be able to catch up to my elder brother who has been training bitterly for decades."

"If I am allowed to cultivate for five years, I can go to the Taiping Dao and fetch the Taiping Book for Brother Chu to use as a table mat." Guo Ming said bluntly.

After hearing this, Chu Danqing's first feeling wasn't that basic skills were so powerful, but rather the realization of the unique advantages of the Dimensional Apostles.

There are few Dimensional Apostles who possess basic skills, but the base number of Dimensional Apostles is large.

As for the basic skills on the natives in this Trial World, they are not the same version as the basic skills he obtained from the treasure chest.

The basic sword art Guo Ming learned came from the Paradise and is the same version as the Dimensional Apostles, likely being higher in strength and completeness.

"So outrageous?" Chu Danqing was shocked by Guo Ming's answer.

"Brother Chu, you seem to have forgotten that you are equally outrageous." Guo Ming said with a smile: "If I were in Brother Chu's situation, without the support of my family, I wouldn't be able to compare to Brother Chu."

"By the way, there has been no progress on the secret arts for the time being, but I have brought a bottle of improved Five-Cloud Pill for Brother Chu."

"The quality is equivalent to the Five-Qi Pill, but the medicinal effect is far superior, which is just right for Brother Chu's cultivation." Guo Ming handed a bottle of pills to Chu Danqing.

Then he said: "If it is convenient, could you gift me this Basic Ranged Combat skill book?"

"The Guo family will certainly reward you handsomely."

After Chu Danqing took it, he calculated that it would cost another 10,000 Paradise Points.

But the problem is that basic skills are prohibited from illegal circulation, and he doesn't know if he can let Guo Ming take it back.

If Guo Ming takes back Basic Ranged Combat, he will be even more valued within the Guo family.

The things Chu Danqing can obtain will also be more suitable.

The Guo family doesn't lack good things; what they lack are things suitable for themselves.

"I don't know if you can take it away; let's try it first, and we'll talk if you can't." Chu Danqing gave a preemptive warning.

"Naturally, this item is extraordinary and not easily obtained." Guo Ming was mentally prepared.

"After giving it to you, I won't have much money left, so I'll have to rely on you later." Chu Danqing wasn't stingy, but he had to ensure his own safety.

"Brother Chu, rest assured; if there is anything, just summon me, and I will definitely respond immediately." Guo Ming said.

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

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 111 =====