On the way back from the southern industrial zone, Chen Chuan watched the scenery recede on both sides, lost in thought.
Judging by his previous cultivation, even if he obtained another four or five portions of Six-Yang Gold, it likely would not suffice to meet his needs.
Yet during his conversation with Mr. Zhuan and Mr. Mask, a thought had sprouted in his mind. Since that material was said to be everywhere on the other side, there was no need for him to merely wait around here.
Why not try venturing to the other side to look for it?
Others might find it impossible.
However—
He glanced down at the Xuejun Saber resting beside his hand. This blade was capable of severing a fissure open to the other side, which made it an ideal tool for him.
Previously, he had maintained a cautious attitude toward setting foot on the other side. Even when breaking through his limit, he had relied on Hongfu's protection. But now he was a true martial artist. He believed that as long as he did not venture too deep, relying on his own strength together with his second self would be more than enough to ensure his survival.
He already had his own hunting ground in the Confluence. Why couldn't he establish one there as well?
Returning to the villa, he placed the Xuejun Saber on the weapon rack. The saber had consumed a great deal over the past few days and needed time to digest it all.
Yet the Xuejun Saber was no longer what it once was. With its tier elevated, its ability to assimilate such energy had increased as well.
He estimated that in another two or three days, the saber would finish digesting everything inside.
In that case, he would wait—wait until the Six-Yang Gold sent from headquarters arrived before considering what to do next.
During this waiting period, he took the opportunity to attend to various chores that had accumulated, and also met up with some old friends, having a meal with Ni Xixi and the others.
During that time, he also contacted Cheng Zitong. His former teacher said he planned to come to Center City, but had not set off yet as he was still arranging some affairs at the school. Still, Chen Chuan had the sense that the teacher was waiting for a specific date, so he would simply wait to meet him when the time came.
Two days later, word came from Mr. Zhuan that the Six-Yang Gold dispatched from headquarters had arrived, so Chen Chuan made another trip to the southern industrial zone.
This time, just as Mr. Zhuan had predicted, the higher-ups in the faction were exceptionally pleased with him and allocated him five portions of Six-Yang Gold directly.
After thanking Mr. Zhuan formally, Chen Chuan took his leave. Instead of heading straight back to the villa, he detoured toward the branch to inspect the situation there.
Ever since returning from the Confluence, he had first toppled the Municipal Council, then tracked down and dealt with that entity while balancing his cultivation. As a result, he had only been able to monitor the branch's construction progress via boundary credential communications. Fortunately, with Chang Dong overseeing things as the principal head, everything at the branch was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
Several months had passed, and the tower-like pivot pillar in the center was nearly complete, with the surrounding auxiliary buildings fully erected as well.
The branch was finally beginning to look like a proper branch.
There were also quite a few more personnel around, lending the place a lively atmosphere, though they were merely temporary hires responsible for maintenance, cleaning, and routine tasks. Even so, they had to take medication daily to ward off the faint, ubiquitous invasive influence here.
Counting Chen Chuan, there were still only six formal members, unchanged from before. In truth, the entry threshold for the Purist Faction was extraordinarily high, requiring rigorous selection rather than casual admittance. Strictly speaking, the two members recruited earlier had simply happened upon the re-establishment of the branch when hands were urgently needed, and had just barely met the passing standard.
Thus, after joining the faction, in addition to handling their share of duties, they had to set aside time for study without letting their martial arts slip. When the right moment came, they would have the opportunity to be recommended to government departments or the military, which was generally the finest path available to them.
Chen Chuan accompanied Chang Dong on a stroll through the mostly completed branch before returning to the pivot pillar. Chang Dong looked up at the structure and said, "Only with this standing do I truly feel our branch has been rebuilt."
Chen Chuan looked up and asked, "Old Chang, where was our old branch originally located?"
Chang Dong said with regret, "At the border between Jiyang District and Yinglu District. But after the branch was destroyed, the buildings were demolished, leveled, and rebuilt into something else. The driving forces behind that were almost certainly the Convergence faction and the Refined Practice School. They never wanted us here."
After a moment's thought, he added, "Branch Head, though you toppled the Municipal Council this time, I still feel the Convergence faction and Refined Practice School won't step down willingly. That doesn't match their way of doing things. Who knows what kind of trouble they'll stir up."
Chen Chuan said, "Under the current circumstances, they can no longer accomplish anything significant. They've lost both militarily and politically. If they still harbor any hope, they're merely waiting for the international investigation team."
Chang Dong agreed. "Aye, exactly. That's their only lifeline left. Hah, since they can't stir up any waves themselves, their only hope of turning the tables is relying on outside forces." He smiled and added, "It seems you've prepared well in advance, Branch Head. I'll just wait to see them make fools of themselves."
Chen Chuan replied, "We cannot afford to be careless."
Chang Dong nodded repeatedly in agreement.
The two stepped into the building. Gao Yanjun walked over and brewed each of them a cup of steaming, fragrant tea.
Chen Chuan thanked her, pulled over a suitcase he had brought with him, and pushed it in front of Chang Dong. "I brought back quite a few things from the Confluence, and set aside some for the branch. Consider it a personal bonus for the branch members."
Chang Dong rubbed his hands together with a broad smile. "Well, that works out wonderfully. Today we'll partake of your generosity, Branch Head!"
Chen Chuan smiled. "If the branch lacks anything else, remember to let me know. I'll find a way for you."
Chang Dong thought for a moment. "We don't lack supplies for now. If anything is missing, it's people. Having just the few of us is too sparse. But meeting the standards of our Purist Faction makes recruitment difficult; it has to be done gradually. That said, when I passed through Yinglu District recently, I spotted a promising prospect."
He pointed to his own eyes. "Branch Head, when it comes to reading people, these eyes of mine never miss. I'm certain that girl possesses remarkable spiritual talent. However, she might belong to a gang. I checked into it afterward and found out she's the wife of the Elephant Gang's leader, Tu Nai."
Chen Chuan immediately recognized who he meant upon hearing that. "I know who that is, and I've dealt with her before. She spent her past wandering in hardship, and now she only wants a peaceful, stable life. We don't need to disturb her."
Chang Dong said, "Then forget it. I'll search for someone else. Branch Head, fighters are easy to come by, but people with spiritual talent are exceedingly rare. Those with outstanding spiritual talent are fiercely contested by the state, corporations, and every faction alike."
Chen Chuan nodded. Setting everything else aside, just the ability to foresee danger in advance could prove vital at a crucial juncture.
Yet as the Great Impact drew near, such individuals would only become more numerous, and Center City had never lacked for them.
He said, "I'll keep an eye out."
He remained there for about half a day, had a meal with the members, and then set off to return. Not long after leaving Hongsheng District, a message arrived over his boundary credential. It was from Lan Shengu: *"Section Chief Chen, would it be possible for us to meet?"*
Chen Chuan replied, *"Certainly. Where are you, Mr. Lan?"*
*"I'm in Yinglu District."*
Chen Chuan said, *"Then let's meet in half an hour at the open-air tea pavilion in Seawall Plaza, Yinglu District."*
Once the call ended, he hailed a cab and turned toward Yinglu District.
Just over twenty minutes later, the cab arrived at Seawall Plaza. Casting a glance across the area, he spotted Lan Shengu and his cousin waiting at one of the tea tables.
He stepped over after getting out of the car. Seeing him approach, the two were about to stand, but he gestured for them to stay seated. He walked forward, took an empty chair across from them, ordered a cup of tea from the server, and asked, "Mr. Lan reached out to me. Does that mean you've finished considering the invitation from before?"
Lan Shengu nodded. He had previously received Chen Chuan's invitation asking him to remain in Jibei Dao to guide personnel while clearing urban anomalies.
Over the past two days, he had taken Xiaoyi around Center City. He felt this place was genuinely different from elsewhere; public safety was far better than in other center cities—so much so that it hardly felt like a center city at all.
He knew this was not the usual state of affairs. Such a transformation had likely been brought about by the man sitting before him, together with the Reformist Faction in the Government Affairs Department.
He said, "Section Chief Chen, we've thought it over and believe we can stay. However..." He hesitated.
Chen Chuan asked, "Do you have concerns?"
Lan Shengu looked at him, his expression intensely earnest. "Section Chief Chen, there is something I must say. Some anomalies may be tied to the actions of corporations and the government. Some individuals even conduct transactions with entities on the other side. If that doesn't change, certain problems can never truly be resolved. Can you guarantee that you will always support us, Section Chief Chen?"
Chen Chuan looked out toward the distance and said, "Do you two see that building over there?"
Lan Shengu and his cousin looked in that direction. "The Progenitor Company building?"
"That used to belong to the Ferris Wheel Company," Chen Chuan said. "There was once a massive Ferris wheel over there."
Mo Xiaoyi promptly performed a search and found a photo of that Ferris wheel lit up at night. She let out a soft exclamation. "How beautiful." Then she looked around in bewilderment. "Why can't it be seen anymore?"
Chen Chuan said calmly, "Because I destroyed that Ferris wheel with a single slash. That was once the landmark of the Ferris Wheel Company. They acted without a baseline of restraint, and one of their key board members was possessed by an entity from the other side.
"You two have also come into contact with entities from the other side, and you should be well aware of the Great Impact. As the Great Impact draws ever closer, such entities will inevitably infiltrate this realm relentlessly. I will not permit such things to exist here. Therefore, you may act with a completely free hand. I will give you my full support."
He glanced at Mo Xiaoyi and added, "I can also promise that as long as I am in Center City, I can ensure your safety and guarantee that you will not face any interference—including your cousin."
Lan Shengu's expression shifted slightly, his body tensing up.
Chen Chuan said, "There is no need to be tense. There are many people in Center City who possess spiritual talent. Some work for others, while some live very well. There is a place for them here."
He paused briefly. "The same goes for your cousin."
Lan Shengu slowly relaxed. If he had harbored any hesitation a moment ago, none remained now.
Chen Chuan had openly acknowledged his cousin's spiritual ability without using it to coerce him in the slightest. Perhaps in the eyes of a martial artist, such things were hardly worth coveting.
He was an ambitious young man who still harbored a longing for a peaceful and fine world, desiring greatly to use the knowledge he had acquired to do something meaningful for others. It was just that previously, there had never been a place suited to exercising his talents. Yet now, it seemed everything he sought was right here.
He looked at Chen Chuan and spoke with solemn resolve: "Section Chief Chen, I agree. I will stay, and do my part alongside you to resist those things."
Chapter 936