214: Chapter 214 I Have High Hopes for You

Yunzhou City, Governors Office.

Inside the study.

The Governor of Yunzhou, Dongfang Tao, was meeting with his subordinate.

"My Lord, according to news sent back by our scouts, people from the Zhenwu Division have already entered the territory of Yunzhou!"

"Who is leading the team, and how many people have come?" Dongfang Tao had long anticipated this day, and he asked in a calm tone.

"The team is led by Sikong Mingyue, accompanied by four in the Blood Refining Realm and five in the Late-stage Refining Viscera. Besides that, there are over five thousand Zhenwu Guards from Lingzhou!" the subordinate reported truthfully.

Upon hearing that the person leading the team was Sikong Mingyue, Dongfang Tao's expression changed slightly.

Not only was Sikong Mingyue herself an expert in the Early Stage of Gang Refining, but she was also the cousin of Director General Zhuge Rongrong of the Zhenwu Division.

Zhuge Rongrong's cultivation had already reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining, and in the Great Yong Kingdom, her strength was second only to the Imperial Preceptor.

If any accident were to happen to Sikong Mingyue in Yunzhou, it might bring Director General Zhuge Rongrong here.

Director General Zhuge Rongrong was not just the Director General of the Zhenwu Division; she was also the daughter of the current head of the Zhuge family.

Although the Zhuge family was relatively low-key, their foundation was definitely not something his Dongfang family could contend with.

Even if he were to reach the Liangang Realm in a short time, he absolutely could not afford to provoke the Zhuge family.

"My Lord, how should we respond?" the subordinate asked.

"Have the people from the Provincial Zhenwu Bureau fully cooperate with Sikong Mingyue!" After a long while, Dongfang Tao spoke slowly.

"Ah!" The subordinate was confused. Having the Provincial Zhenwu Bureau cooperate with Sikong Mingyue—wouldn't that be investigating themselves?

"Also, cut off all ties with the Lotus Sect!" Dongfang Tao continued to instruct.

"My Lord, we are deeply involved with the Lotus Sect, and cutting ties will not be easy!" the subordinate said cautiously. "Moreover, if we sever our cooperation with the Lotus Sect, our losses will be significant."

"No matter how great the losses are, are they more important than our lives?" Dongfang Tao snapped. "Sikong Mingyue is the cousin of the Director General of the Zhenwu Division, and the Director General is the eldest daughter of the head of the Zhuge family. Once we clash with Sikong Mingyue, it is equivalent to provoking Director General Zhuge Rongrong and the Zhuge family. Do you think I have the qualifications to contend with the Zhuge family?"

Hearing Dongfang Tao put it this way, the subordinate realized the situation: "Yes, My Lord! I will go and arrange it immediately!"

"Sigh!" After the subordinate left, Dongfang Tao could not help but sigh. If another Deputy Director General had come, he could have tried to bribe them; if bribery failed, he could have cooperated with the Lotus Sect to resist.

But since it was Sikong Mingyue, he couldn't even summon the slightest thought of resistance.

"If only you could have arrived a little later!"

During the time he had been cooperating with the Lotus Sect, he had obtained quite a few Advanced Divine Blood Pills and Heaven Soul Pills. The results were excellent.

As long as he refined three more Advanced Divine Blood Pills, his Blood Refining Realm could reach perfection. At that time, after taking the Heaven Soul Pill to strengthen his Divine Soul, he could attempt to break through to the Liangang Realm.

Unfortunately, he only had two Advanced Divine Blood Pills left in his hands, and only two Heaven Soul Pills as well.

But no matter how unwilling or reluctant he was, he had no choice but to cut off cooperation with the Lotus Sect.

Meanwhile, at the Lotus Sect headquarters, Sect Leader Shangguan Ao was gathering the high-level members for a meeting.

"We pay our respects to the Sect Leader!"

Shangguan Ao waved his hand. "Everyone, no need for formalities. Sit!"

After everyone was seated, Shangguan Ao continued, "I have just received news that someone from the Zhenwu Division headquarters has arrived. The team is led by one of the Deputy Directors, Sikong Mingyue, who is the cousin of Director General Zhuge Rongrong. Given Dongfang Tao's personality, I fear he will cut off cooperation with us. What are your thoughts on this?"

"Sect Leader, why don't we go all the way and kill that Sikong Mingyue!" Left Protector Yang Jian said with a cold glint in his eyes. "As long as Sikong Mingyue dies, Dongfang Tao will have no choice but to cooperate with us!"

"Correct, I also agree with the Left Protector!" an Elder immediately chimed in.

Following that, the high-level members spoke one after another, and most agreed with assassinating Sikong Mingyue. However, the faction of the Right Protector did not express their stance.

"Right Protector, what are your thoughts?"

Sun Tianya immediately stood up and said, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, I believe we cannot assassinate Sikong Mingyue. In fact, I feel we should actively avoid them!"

"What?" Upon hearing the Right Protector's words, the high-level members present were all shocked.

Yang Jian even sneered, "Right Protector, if I didn't know it was impossible for you to be a traitor, I would have suspected you were an undercover agent for the Zhenwu Division!"

"Right Protector, explain your reasons!" Shangguan Ao, the Sect Leader, was quite calm.

Sun Tianya continued, "What we have done in Yunzhou is merely to refine Divine Blood Pills and Heaven Soul Pills to improve the combat power of our high-level members. Now, we have already refined quite a few Medicinal Pills. As long as we convert these pills into combat power, the overall strength of our Lotus Sect will definitely increase greatly."

"But if we choose to confront the Zhenwu Division, even if we kill Sikong Mingyue and annihilate the Zhenwu Guards she brought, our side will definitely suffer heavy losses."

"Although the Great Yong Kingdom has shown signs of collapse, it has not truly perished after all. If everyone has studied history, you should know that often, the forces that rebel first are merely paving the way for others."

"Once Sikong Mingyue dies, it will certainly incur the wrath of Director General Zhuge Rongrong. Although the Sect Leader's strength is formidable, you are not a match for Director General Zhuge Rongrong. Once the Zhenwu Division mobilizes their entire force, tell me, how many people here will survive?"

Hearing this, most of the people present fell silent. Although they could talk tough, they had to admit that the Zhenwu Division was truly too strong.

If it were really as Sun Tianya said, and they truly brought about the arrival of Director General Zhuge Rongrong, it was hard to say how many of them would survive.

Shangguan Ao's expression could no longer remain calm. He looked at Sun Tianya and said, "The Right Protector's words make sense. What do you think we should do next?"

Sun Tianya said, "Have both insurgent armies withdraw from the prefecture city and hide in the mountains. Sikong Mingyue cannot stay in Yunzhou for long. As long as we maintain sufficient strength, we can completely retake our territory!"

"What does everyone think of the Right Protector's proposal?" Shangguan Ao asked, looking at the crowd.

"I agree!" the Left Protector Yang Jian stated. Following Yang Jian's stance, the other high-level members also expressed their agreement one after another.

Decades ago, the Zhenwu Division had besieged them. The Lotus Sect back then was much stronger than it was now. And the result? The result went without saying. They suffered heavy losses, and even the previous Sect Leader died.

Now, they had finally managed to redevelop and grow, and they did not want to be wiped out by the Zhenwu Division again like they were decades ago.

"Good!" Seeing that everyone had no objections, Shangguan Ao said, "We will proceed according to the Right Protector's proposal. However, we cannot just retreat like this; we must still create some trouble for the Zhenwu Division. Otherwise, if we retreat so ignominiously, I fear we will be mocked by others."

"The Sect Leader is wise!" The Left and Right Protectors both led the cry.

Subsequently, Shangguan Ao decided to organize an assassination squad specifically to assassinate lone Zhenwu Guards. As for Sikong Mingyue, they should not clash with her. After all, Shangguan Ao was only in the Early Stage of Gang Refining, and if he encountered Sikong Mingyue, he might not be her match.

On the other side. Fierce Tiger Gang. Chen Hu's office. After lunch. Chen Hu used a sound transmission gu to have Gao Hangzhou come to see him in secret.

"Thud!" Chen Hu threw an Earth-grade Cultivation Technique, an Earth-grade Martial Skill, and two bottles of Medicinal Pills in front of Gao Hangzhou. "Old Gao, among you three, I think most highly of you. This is the Cultivation Technique, Martial Skill, and Medicinal Pills I am bestowing upon you. Take them and Cultivate well, and strive to reach the Bone Refining Realm soon!"

Hearing this, Gao Hangzhou was so excited. He immediately stated that he would definitely Cultivate hard and not let down Chen Hu's expectations.

After Gao Hangzhou left, Chen Hu called Deputy Gang Leader Xiao Yue and Gang Leader Ji Feng over and did the same thing. By doing this, he wanted to incite internal competition among the three, urging them to reach the Bone Refining Realm as soon as possible.