Chapter 199: The Mouthpiece (Guo Ming Version)

"The quality of the Great Five Elements Auspicious Beasts Scripture remains uncertain; you'll need to reach Rank 2 before we can authenticate it," Guo Ming said, taking out a jade slip, his expression far from pleased.

Saying this, he handed the jade slip to Chu Danqing.

Chu Danqing took it and replied, "It'll be difficult—Paradise Points may drop, but the evaluation won't be spared."

He estimated he'd need at least an A-rank evaluation, but evaluations were scarce, and he'd already used all his on the training chamber—there was no surplus left.

"Don't worry, leave it with you for now; if you can't afford it, just come back with me," Guo Ming comforted him.

He didn't believe Chu Danqing's purse could handle it either.

"By the way, since I've been with you, these past half-months, though without family resources, my progress has actually improved by two-tenths."

"Is it because of this Spiritual Attribute?" Guo Ming asked.

Beside him, Xiong Zhigang nodded in agreement: "Yes, the Divine Might Heavenly King certainly has ability, but these past fifteen days, my mind has felt far more alert than usual."

"That's right. Before, it was all fighting and killing, so you never experienced the effect of Spirit," Chu Danqing affirmed.

Thanks to the Five Elements Living Dao Foundation, Spirit Control Basic/Proficient, and Spiritual Clarity, Guo Ming and Xiong Zhigang had also gained 27 Spiritual Attribute points.

Though temporary, the boost was substantial.

With confirmation, Guo Ming's face lit up: "Then in the future, I'll rely heavily on you, Brother Chu."

"Though my family has master instructors, the master leads you to the door, but cultivation is up to the individual."

"With your 27-point Spiritual boost, I feel as if I've merged with Heaven and Earth—places once obscure and incomprehensible now come easily to me."

"This is far more valuable than progress in magical energy."

Guo Ming attributed all the credit to Chu Danqing.

It was indeed the Divine Might Heavenly King's teachings that gave him room to use Spirit, but it was Chu Danqing who paid.

Whether it was bringing him to train or paying the Divine Might Heavenly King's wages, all came from Chu Danqing's own pocket.

"Indeed, without this, my martial path wouldn't just be uncertain ahead—I'd be drowning in problems right now," Xiong Zhigang chimed in. "This alone has saved me at least three years of hard work."

Unlike Guo Ming, Xiong Zhigang didn't improve through magical energy cultivation—he advanced through his mastery of military strategy, so cultivation was secondary; learning was what raised his command value.

"Don't mention it. Next time I get an S-rank evaluation, I'll call you both back to train," Chu Danqing said with a smile.

After all, evaluations and Paradise Points had to be used; it made perfect sense for a Summoner to bring his permanent summons and allies into the training chamber together.

The only drawback was that temporary summons pulled from equipment couldn't train alongside.

He'd tried—Divine Might Heavenly King said he could release them, but they wouldn't respond.

So Chu Danqing stopped summoning them, since his magical energy was fully spent sustaining Bai Long's training—there was none left to maintain other summons.

Thus, he gave up.

"Now, two matters," Chu Danqing said. "They concern our trio's future development."

At these words, Guo Ming and Xiong Zhigang grew solemn—they knew this was serious business.

"Next trial, I'll undertake a Talent Awakening quest. The difficulty won't be small."

"Its importance matches that of a rank promotion exam—possibly even greater," Chu Danqing said.

"Brother Chu, rest assured—I'm on standby at all times," Guo Ming said immediately.

Previously, Chu Danqing was merely a resource channel; now he was also a teacher guiding them.

Even setting aside the Spiritual Attribute's effect, which gave him something akin to Heaven-Earth Unity, the mere fact of having such a mentor exceeded his wildest expectations.

As the strongest present, he could sense that even the Divine Might Heavenly King's avatar could crush the Lord of Taiping Sect with a single finger.

For such a mighty being to personally instruct them in minute detail—they owed it entirely to Chu Danqing's favor; where else could they ever hope for such treatment?

The more time passed, the tighter their bond with Chu Danqing became.

The stronger Chu Danqing grew, the more they benefited.

Though Xiong Zhigang lacked Guo Ming's background and vision, his own explosive growth was undeniable.

"I'll instruct my men to assemble and arrive within half an hour," Xiong Zhigang admitted—he couldn't respond instantly.

He couldn't have hundreds of soldiers marching beside him in full armor, weapons at the ready.

Soldiers were human—they couldn't bear it.

"You don't need to rush, Brother Xiong. I'll summon you in advance."

"So you won't be flustered or make mistakes," Chu Danqing didn't impose harsh demands.

Xiong Zhigang's situation differed from Guo Ming's—he wasn't usually called for emergencies.

"The second matter concerns you, Brother Xiong," Chu Danqing said, pulling out a basic skill crystal, then explained the strategic commission issue and his suspicion that treasure-type items had become invalid.

This left Xiong Zhigang silent.

"These past days, the Emperor has indeed distrusted me, openly and covertly weakening my military and political power."

"Brother Chu, I'm deeply grateful for your help, but to plot rebellion—I simply cannot," Xiong Zhigang said, troubled.

He knew Chu Danqing's debt to him was beyond repayment, yet he could not rebel.

"I'm not asking you to rebel," Guo Ming interrupted before Chu Danqing could speak. "You can expand your borders—conquer neighboring foreign tribes and bring them under your domain."

"A ruler who preserves versus one who expands territory—your Emperor Taichang knows which benefits him more."

Guo Ming's words sounded reasonable at first, but the problems ran deep.

He was already deeply distrusted—now you want him to expand further? Add another "Overwhelming Merit, Threatening the Throne" debuff?

If Emperor Taichang made even one misstep, or if Xiong Zhigang's intentions were misinterpreted by his subordinates, the next scene would be the Chenqiao Mutiny, the Yellow Robe Investiture.

At that point, it wouldn't matter whether Xiong Zhigang wanted to rebel—it would be his own men seeking the glory of founding a new dynasty or simply trying to survive.

Once this point was reached, if Xiong Zhigang refused rebellion, he'd be the first to die.

At that stage, his men would only seek to serve the dragon—but they wouldn't care which dragon it was.

At this juncture, they were either founding ministers or corpses—no choice remained.

How could Emperor Taichang possibly let a man like Xiong Zhigang—powerful, meritorious beyond measure, commanding vast armies—live?

His troops would be scattered; Xiong Zhigang and his loyalists would die without question.

"I—" Xiong Zhigang, having served for years, knew full well Guo Ming's words were a slow boil.

"Why hesitate? You won't rebel, and you won't expand territory?" Guo Ming goaded him.

This concerned Chu Danqing's growth—Guo Ming had to pick his side.

Chu Danqing couldn't say these things himself—so he would.

Guo Ming wasn't ignorant—he saw clearly the importance of the Basic Skill Crystals.

Whether used to synthesize Proficient-level skills or sold, they'd bring Chu Danqing immense profit.

The stronger Chu Danqing became, the greater their own gains.

"Brother Chu has exhausted himself for us—he can't say these harsh words himself. Let me say them," Guo Ming continued. "You've seen how the Paradise trials work."

"In the last trial, the Apostle Divine Spirit—had the Son of Heaven not sacrificed himself, I couldn't have killed him."

"Then came the Holy Empress Dowager, born from a demon of another realm—only because Brother Chu foresaw it and urged me to break through Rank 3."

"Otherwise, even if Brother Chu escaped alive, he'd have suffered catastrophic losses."

"Twenty thousand Paradise Points and one random attribute point—you know how hard he had to fight to earn those."

"Yet when he gifted you military techniques and pills, he spent ten thousand Paradise Points without blinking."

"An S-rank training chamber costs no more than that," Guo Ming launched straight into moral and debt-based coercion.

Chu Danqing would need to summon Xiong Zhigang again—though he'd feel uneasy, Xiong Zhigang's refusal would end it.

Guo Ming's role as a third party became clear.

Xiong Zhigang was left speechless, ashamed.

They weren't asking him to rebel—just to expand territory—and he still refused.

"I think we should—" Chu Danqing began, suggesting a peaceful transformation instead, since war ultimately harmed the people.

But before he finished, Xiong Zhigang spoke first: "Young Master Guo is right—I failed to consider Brother Chu's difficulties."

"I train in the military techniques you secured for me through favors, I use the pills you gifted me."

"Yet I've repaid you with barely anything."

"Expanding territory is a noble cause—now is the time to sharpen our weapons and show our strength," Xiong Zhigang decisively agreed.

He still understood his place.

Without him, Guo Ming could still aid Chu Danqing.

His only advantage was that he brought troops and consumed fewer Paradise Points.

Yet compared to Guo Ming, his strength was lower, his response slower, his forces bloated.

"Then I rely on you, Brother Xiong," Chu Danqing ultimately chose to go with the flow.

He knew this would lead to war—but when poor, one cultivates oneself; at his current strength, he couldn't yet achieve universal benevolence.

"Brother Chu, you're too kind—I'm merely seeking a good name in history," Xiong Zhigang muttered self-deprecatingly.

Hearing Xiong Zhigang's agreement, Guo Ming subtly shifted tone: "After all, it's for the good of the nation and its people."

"I'll get you technologies and policies to boost productivity, and some improved crops and livestock," Chu Danqing suddenly added. "With sufficient production, you'll have the foundation for a golden age of peace."

No need for grand ideals—just buy from Life Apostles specializing in cultivation and husbandry.

Like modern-bred sweet potatoes, corn, White Feather chickens, or Changbai pigs.

(End of Chapter)