169: Chapter 169 Movements from All Sides

East of Song City, East Pass Fortress.

Qiguang Sect stood on the high tower of the fortress with his hands behind his back, overlooking the entire eastern front.

Liang Zheng sat at a small tea table not far behind him, pouring another cup of freshly brewed tea, and then called out.

"Old Qi, aren't you tired of standing? Come sit for a while and drink some hot tea."

"Neither of us is young anymore, and with all this toil, we must learn to take care of our bodies."

"Our City Guard's current combat results are slightly ahead, but your National Defense Army isn't doing badly either; you haven't fallen far behind."

"The bet before was just casual talk, no need to take it to heart. Could I really make you, President Qi, shine my shoes?"

Qiguang Sect glanced back at him. "Little Liang, don't act so smug with me."

"Even if I lose today, it's not to you, but to Governor Xu."

"I truly didn't expect him to quietly raise the combat power of the City Guard's First Division to this level."

"There are many more things you haven't expected!"

Liang Zheng stood up, picked up the teacup, and handed it directly to Qiguang Sect.

"The City Guard's expansion plan this time is actually for three divisions. The framework for the Fifth Division has already been built."

A strange look flashed in Qiguang Sect's eyes. "The Fifth Division is already set up? Does... does Headquarters know about this?"

"What does it matter if Headquarters knows or not?"

"This month, the heavenly change within 300 kilometers of Song City has increased over a thousand times. Last week, strange beasts directly assaulted the city defenses, and tonight, Alien God domains have appeared in every city jurisdiction."

"The world is becoming increasingly dangerous. Has Headquarters sent people to protect Song City, or given us more military funding? We haven't even received a single hair, have we?"

"What difference does it make whether Governor Xu files this report or not?"

"Before, the people below argued that you were the favored children. Hehe, is that still the case now?"

"Old Qi, don't be so stubborn. Do you think we don't want to be loyal to the Imperial Court? But what does the Imperial Court treat us as? Hasn't the fate of Old Miao made you realize the truth yet?"

"If things continue like this, regional autonomy is the inevitable trend. Even if the Six Marshals were in power, it wouldn't change anything. Why bother making yourselves outcasts on both sides?"

Qiguang Sect picked up the teacup in his hand, smelled the aroma and the steam, but didn't drink, instead placing it back on the table.

"The sky hasn't brightened yet; it's too early to talk about winning or losing."

Liang Zheng smiled bitterly. "You old guy really are... Forget it, just pretend I didn't say anything. If you like shining other people's shoes, then so be it."

Just then, Qiguang Sect's phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was actually Manman.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Song City National Defense Army, theoretically, he wouldn't answer any calls at this time except for military ones.

But he knew Manman. This girl had an extremely strong personality; she wouldn't contact him unless she was pushed into a corner with no retreat.

After a moment of thought, he answered immediately.

"This is Qiguang Sect."

"Grandpa Qi, I have something extremely urgent and important to tell you..."

"Girl, be as concise as possible."

"Yes."

Listening to Manman quickly explain the reasons, Qiguang Sect's expression changed several times, clearly becoming somewhat agitated.

Once Manman finished, he immediately pressed for more.

"Girl, this is of great importance. Can you confirm that everything you just said is true?"

"I can! I swear on my grandfather's reputation!"

"Good, very good! I will send a specialist to handle it tomorrow morning. Before that, you are responsible for the preliminary work. You must absolutely not let anyone cut in. Understand!"

"Don't worry, I'm confident in this."

Just as he hung up the phone, Liang Zheng leaned in.

"What happened? Do you need my help?"

Qiguang Sect laughed. "You, just wait to help me shine my shoes."

While Liang Zheng was stunned, Qiguang Sect had already dialed another number.

"Is this Hu Xiao Group One? This is Qiguang Sect! Put your team leader on the phone."

"Yes, it's me."

"Zhuoyue, I need to assign you an important task now!"

—— South of Huaidu. On the edge of an abandoned mining area, on a nameless hill.

A group of Imperial Academy leaders, led by Grand Secretary University Scholar Zong Liangchen, were overlooking a large hunting ground.

Behind him, Dr. Shi Chengyu stepped forward to report, "Teacher, the combat report from the last two hours has just arrived. Would you like to look at it?"

"Is there any special news?"

"Our twelve scholar groups are progressing very smoothly, and the hunting yield is 20% higher than the Pope's side."

University Scholar Zong Liangchen snorted. "Why compare with them! There are only five people in the Apostle Sequence, and we have thirty-six people in twelve groups. You still have the face to compare with them? Aren't you ashamed?"

Seeing he was unhappy, Shi Chengyu hurriedly bowed silently and stepped back.

At this moment, his deputy Ritual Master Yu Hai spoke up to persuade him. "Brother Liangchen, there's no need to lose your temper."

"The Apostle Sequence already possesses sacred artifacts and has been personally trained by the Pope, so it's normal for our scholars to be slightly inferior."

"At the very least, we are better than those in the Military Department. Usually, they blow everything out of proportion, and when they ask the national treasury for money, they beat their chests loudly. What about now?"

"I received news that those Children of the Alien God are extremely weak. Even for that small camp below, not only did they fail to take it, but many people died. After the Emperor received the news, he was furious and even cursed Zhao Jixian as trash."

University Scholar Zong Liangchen looked back at him and asked in a low voice, "Did the Emperor really curse?"

"Of course. I said that the position of Military Department Chief is a hot seat, but he insisted on sharpening his head to climb up. It seems he's not far from bad luck."

University Scholar Zong Liangchen sighed. "The heavenly change is intensifying, and the Imperial Court's control over the cities will become weaker and weaker. It might cause trouble, and it's hard for the Emperor too."

"He has been in a bad mood recently, so we must be extra careful in our work and absolutely avoid touching a nerve."

"Pass on my words. Whoever acts stupid at a time like this, don't blame me, Zong, for being heartless."

The people behind him agreed repeatedly.

"Also, among the hunting spoils, are there any rare and interesting things? Something I can take to make the Emperor happy?"

This question only drew a silence.

University Scholar Zong Liangchen snorted and then let out a cold laugh.

But just then, Shi Chengyu stepped forward again and whispered to him.

"Teacher, you have a call from Song City. Do you want to take it?"

"Who is it?"

"It's your grandson, the second son of Lord Bai Yan."

"Qingzhou? This brat, why is he calling me at a time like this?"

"Teacher, calling at a time like this probably wasn't easy."

Although very unhappy, University Scholar Zong Liangchen still took the phone.

"Hello."

"It's me."

"You brat, why aren't you studying properly and calling me instead? Have you forgotten the rules your father set? You must rely on your own abilities. If you ask us for help, it's equivalent to giving up your inheritance rights. Think clearly before you speak!"

"Alright then, speak quickly; I'm short on time."

"What? There's such a thing? Are you sure it's a Spiritual Imprint Inheritance?"

"And a Legacy Artifact! Did you see it with your own eyes?"

"And a Yuanwu spy? You brat... is all of this true or false? How does it sound..."

"Right! Don't let this matter go through the Intelligence Department; they might be infiltrated. I will send people to assist you in casting the net!"

"Qingzhou, let me tell you, that must be a Huagai Realm inheritance, and a very rare type! Once the news leaks, all parties will go to snatch the person!"

"The night is too dangerous. My people will head over there as soon as day breaks! You must do everything possible to stabilize the situation; you can use extraordinary means if necessary!"

"If it's necessary, I will go see the High Priest of Song City myself!"

After hanging up the phone, there was another brief silence. Even University Scholar Zong Liangchen felt that things were a bit surreal.

But after only a few seconds, he suddenly burst into laughter.

Shi Chengyu asked hurriedly, "Teacher, what are you so happy about?"

"Chengyu, Old Yu, my good grandson just presented a great gift to our Imperial Academy."

"He and a few classmates from the First Specialized Academy in Song City recently encountered the opening of the Gate of Heavens Legacy."

"One of the youths successfully passed the trial and obtained a Wuque Method with a Spiritual Imprint Inheritance, and he also possesses a Legacy Artifact. According to him, this technique contains a method for tempering a spirit body post-natally!"

"Through his mediation, the other party has basically agreed to hand over the technique to the Imperial Academy!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a chorus of exclamations around him.

"What! Tempering a spirit body post-natally?"

"Spiritual Imprint Inheritance, that was a popular method of inheritance in ancient times. This method does not use written text, so the inheritance is prone to deviations."

"Yes, such techniques can generally only be passed down for one generation. But with a Legacy Artifact, it's different."

"Brother Liangchen, if I recall correctly, even our Imperial Academy's secret collection doesn't have such a technique, right?"

"There is one that is similar, but it is indeed slightly inferior."

"If we can record such an inheritance, in the future history books, Brother Liangchen, you will have written a brilliant chapter for the Imperial Academy. Congratulations!"

"Congratulations to us all. However, both the person and the technique are in Song City, and some people probably won't let us get our way so easily. If I go myself, the implication of pressure is too heavy, which is counterproductive."

"Old Yu, Chengyu, you two should make a trip."