Chapter 208: Preparations from All Sides

The Tianxing Sword Sect established its own resource circulation and sales hall, handling not only its own resources but also accepting external orders.

Once this news broke, the entire prefecture trembled.

A simple business move seemed insignificant, but anyone with eyes could see it was directly snatching food from the Dongjiang Gang's bowl.

In the past, even if the Tianxing Sword Sect snatched this food, it would be useless; after all, Dongjiang was the prefectural seat, and resources from all regions converged and circulated there. Who could be threatened by accepting orders in a mere county town of Xiazhou?

But precisely now, the situation has changed; Xiazhou has become the prefectural seat, and future resources will surely concentrate there. Those holed up in a mere county town accepting orders are now the Dongjiang Gang.

With the Tianxing Sword Sect's move like this, the very foundation of the Dongjiang Gang is about to vanish.

Just as the Dongjiang Gang was preparing to relocate the entire sect, they heard this news; Sect Leader Shi Tielong stood frozen on the spot, his face shifting between green and white.

"I regret it," after a long while, Shi Tielong said hoarsely to those around him: "We should never have cooperated with the Tianxing Sword Sect to destroy the Incense Tower. No matter how provocative the Incense Tower was, it had no grand ambitions or capability, only able to annoy people. The Tianxing Sword Sect, however, is a fierce tiger lying in wait on the side, ready to devour anyone at the first opportunity."

The elders around him all sighed: "This cannot be blamed on the Sect Leader; we all agreed back then. Who could have foreseen the geographical changes and the relocation of the prefectural seat..."

Shi Tielong looked up at the ceiling, and after a long moment said: "The most headache-inducing thing now is that even though everyone sees their goal is to contend for the championship, on the surface they are merely openly 'restoring the livelihood of former sects,' which is beyond reproach. If we tear up the face and resort to violence, we would be the ones in the wrong."

"Doesn't the Cangshan Sword Sect face the same trouble over there? Previously, when the Tianxing Sword Sect was weak, they claimed to only make high-grade flying swords, not competing with the Cangshan Sword Sect for the common low-grade business. Now, their Sword Casting Hall has been making low-grade flying swords for two or three months; previously they only sold within the Xiazhou county, which the Cangshan Sword Sect barely tolerated. But now? Xiazhou is the prefectural seat."

"At this time, what meaning is there for the Cangshan Sword Sect to come knocking and say that according to past agreements, the Tianxing Sword Sect is only allowed to make high-grade flying swords?"

Shi Tielong fell silent for a long moment, then took a deep breath: "Going to them alone is meaningless. Only by joining hands can we gather momentum and make the Tianxing Sword Sect hesitate a bit."

The elders around him looked at each other; if they joined hands to press them, it would no longer be a matter of gathering momentum.

It would be a complete break.

However, such a break would be useless... You cannot really attack their mountain gate like the Incense Tower did and fight a sect-annihilation war. The only thing possible is a strategy similar to the martial arts competition during their sect founding ceremony; if they can suppress the Tianxing Sword Sect's strong ones, then naturally they won't dare to jump.

Even if they are shameless and still jump, others in the prefecture will naturally know whose side is more worth relying on, and goods will naturally continue to choose the Dongjiang Gang.

For those doing resource circulation, security and protection come first. Everyone's strength is laid bare on the surface; the choice is the most intuitive.

But do they have the confidence to suppress them through martial arts competition?

Shi Tielong's mind flashed back to the performance he observed when attacking the Incense Tower alongside Shen Tang.

This woman is very strong despite her young age... Now she has reached the mid-stage of the third grade; Shi Tielong knows he has no confidence in securing a victory. Now Zhang Shaoyou, Qin Buwang, and Zhao Guishan are all third grade; the Tianxing Sword Sect's strength is at its peak, and capable generals are no longer just the single Shen Tang as before. Even if they held an open grand competition, the Tianxing Sword Sect would not fear anyone.

"The only course of action now is to request external aid," Shi Tielong said in a low voice: "I will go ask my uncle to come and help."

The elders all said: "In that case, we will go ask the Lingyun Gate and the Cangshan Sword Sect to see if they should also call on their backings."

"Hmm... ask the old acquaintances of the Incense Tower again... Although we are enemies who destroyed their sect, if we are willing to apologize and compensate, is there some way to talk..."

Shi Tielong's uncle is an elder of the famous first-grade powerful sect, the Canglan Sect, and is himself a second-grade powerhouse. It was because of this backing that Shi Tielong rose in Dongjiang and turned the Dongjiang Gang into the number one gang.

The Cangshan Sword Sect and other sects will have their own networks; after mixing for a lifetime, who doesn't have some connections and favors? The one with the most connections should be the Incense Tower; unfortunately, they were suppressed back then and couldn't be used, otherwise destroying their sect would have been absolutely impossible.

The elders each took their orders and left.

Shi Tielong looked out the door, still feeling uneasy in his heart.

This is the second time in just half a year that the various forces in Dongjiang have united against the Tianxing Sword Sect, each time with greater momentum than the last.

But the last time completely served to establish the Tianxing Sword Sect's authority, and subsequently the Incense Tower was directly annihilated. What about this time?

The last time there was Yang Dechang secretly coordinating behind the scenes; this time, there isn't even a person coordinating behind the scenes. I heard Lu Xingzhou's conflict with the Huo family in the capital has become even more acute, and he has become hostile with the Prince of Jin due to jealousy over a woman; how come they are even less reactive?

Is it because the Emperor's edict of 'support' is always suppressing them?

After pondering for a moment, Shi Tielong summoned a trusted aide again: "Take my private letter and rush to the capital to find the Prince of Jin and Lord Huo; see what their views are."

The trusted aide took the order and left.

But the capital is far away; whether there is enough time for the round trip is unknown...

"So Shi Tielong's backing is actually the Canglan Sect," Lu Xingzhou said in a low voice while looking at the documents in hand: "This information is still not detailed enough because we have not ascertained Shi Zhong's influence within the Canglan Sect. This concerns whether Shi Tielong's backing is merely his uncle personally, or if he can bring several brothers of similar strength, or even bring a large number of Canglan Sect powerhouses... These are completely different concepts."

Shen Tang sat before him, her face slightly flushed, whispering softly: "The time is still short; we cannot easily probe the internal information of a first-grade sect."

"The Prefect has made a statement; the possibility of a large number of powerhouses entering the territory should be ruled out. As for the rest..." Lu Xingzhou flipped through the documents for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "The Cangshan Sword Sect's backing is the Feixing Sword Sect, and the Feixing Sword Sect is a subordinate sect of the Huanhua Sword Sect. The Huanhua Sword Sect owes me a personal favor... I am wondering if I need to use it."

Shen Tang said: "You don't even need to deliberately say anything; since there is a favor from above, at least the Feixing Sword Sect won't dare to support them recklessly. Perhaps no one will support them along this path."

"The Lingyun Gate, with all its twists and turns, seems to be able to connect with the Chunshan Sect... Tsk, the world is quite small."

"What's wrong with the Chunshan Sect? It's a second-grade sect; isn't the pressure it gives far less than that of the Canglan Sect?"

"The Chunshan Sect has a Chen Yu, a classmate from my Pill Academy who once tried to ambush me. I have long wanted to kill him, but it was difficult to act within the Pill Academy. The previous time I pretended to be lame for the last time to trap someone failed; that was against him. If that had succeeded and I killed him directly, how many future troubles would have been avoided? Unfortunately, that fellow is quite capable."

"He dared to ambush you!"

"..."

"On the day of our sect founding ceremony, the Lingyun Gate was the one that offended us the most; people died," Shen Tang said, some killing intent in her eyes: "Then this time, we should cut them up even more."

"We need to pay extra attention to them anyway; although the Dongjiang Gang is the core, the ones who cause big trouble are not necessarily the Dongjiang Gang." Lu Xingzhou put down the documents, stretched, and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter; now we are the home court."

Shen Tang looked at him with watery eyes, truly unable to imagine that after Lu Xingzhou went out for a spin, the Prefect became one of their own, and Wan Cheng, the Commander of the Demon Suppression Bureau who had previously ignored her, once again became one of their own, a true home court. Now she even hoped the other side would do more things that broke the rules; only an official direct strike would feel comfortable, requiring no action from themselves.

But speaking of which, with the Incense Tower incident happening first and the Dongjiang Gang's conspiracy following, two such events in just half a year already show that the imperial court's deterrent power in the hearts of the Jianghuzong Sect has dropped significantly.

If powerful first-grade sects like the Huanhua Sword Sect and the Canglan Sect really wanted to do something, they would truly not give face to local officials. Let alone the demonic paths like the Nühe Huan Sect and the Yanluo Hall; they play with your bureaucrats.

People like the Dongjiang Gang and the Incense Tower only give some consideration on the surface; in reality, they do what they want to do.

Cultivators relying on their strength to be arrogant and unruly are just like this; even with the imperial court's suppression, it is already like this. Once the imperial court's deterrent power collapses, what chaotic situation will the world be in?

Sects killing and annihilating each other at will, speaking only with fists?

The thought flashed through his mind; naturally, he would not derail the conversation while Lu Xingzhou was pondering the enemy. Lu Xingzhou took a pen and circled a few key points on the documents, but he did not dwell on them; he soon put down the Juan Sect, spread his arms with a smile, and said: "I'm tired, hug me."

Shen Tang spat lightly, looked around to see no one, then slipped into his embrace, leaving only a wheelchair spinning in place.

"Why isn't your Mr. standing there with a stern face today?"

"We are talking about the Tianxing Sword Sect's business; what does it have to do with her? Is she going to listen endlessly? She isn't bored stiff."

"I think she is bored stiff; you went out to visit the Prefect, and she secretly followed. Isn't that boring? I didn't even follow..."

Lu Xingzhou pinched her cheek: "Are you complaining she is meddling, or do you want to take her place?"

"I don't care; you finally came back, and we haven't been intimate even a few times; I just watch her standing there like a big lantern. Look how sensible A'nuo is; since you came back, she has had zero presence."

Lu Xingzhou couldn't help but laugh.

Recalling Lady Ye, it seemed she had not appeared again after he said, "Smile more."

That remark sounded disrespectful... but then again, they were always disrespectful; fundamentally, they still cared for her. He just hadn't expected this expression of concern to have such an effect.

This Mr. looks aloof, but actually... could he be rather lacking in care?

This tactic barely worked on Pei Chuyun, who had lacked love since childhood; who would have thought it would actually change the mood of a Mr. who seemed so high and mighty? Truly rare.

Lu Xingzhou said no more on the matter, only stating, "The true conflict will wait until the Dongjiang Gang formally relocates to Xiazhou to serve as the fuse; for now, everyone is in the preparation stage, so there are no major incidents for the time being. I should also go ask the Mr. how long he intends to stay here, and whether that will conflict with her trial plan."

(End of this chapter)