59: Chapter 59 A High-Profile Entrance

[Chu Sheng had been living quite peacefully these past two months, spending his days practicing swordsmanship, beast taming, and alchemy. Life was good.]

[Two months later, Sun Xing came again.]

[This time, he was holding a letter in his hand.]

[Chu Sheng's heart skipped a beat.]

["Ahem, Uncle-Master," he said, looking at the letter warily, "What are you holding?"]

[Sun Xing sat down with a smile: "A letter of recommendation for the Qian Family."]

[Chu Sheng: "..."]

["The Qian Family?" His voice sounded a bit airy, "The Qian Family in the Western Territory?"]

["Nonsense, how many Qian Families are there in the Yan Kingdom?"]

Chu Sheng couldn't help but mutter to himself as he read this.

"Is this meant to push me into a pit of fire? A behemoth like the Qian Family is easy to enter but hard to leave."

Over the past two months, he had gained a deep understanding of the situation in the Yan Kingdom.

The Qian Family Head, Family Head, was the current Prime Minister, a powerhouse in the Hua Zhen Realm, and held immense power at court.

His younger brother, Second Master Qian, was in the Gu Zhen Realm and was the largest merchant in the Yan Kingdom, dealing in intelligence, artifact forging, pills, spirit mines...

As long as it was a profitable business, it had something to do with him.

[Chu Sheng asked cautiously: "Uncle-Master, am I not part of the Crown Prince's faction? I haven't even met the Crown Prince yet, and you're already sending me to the enemy's side?"]

[Sun Xing glared at him: "What do you know? This is called strategy!"]

[Chu Sheng: "..."]

["The Qian Family is currently the most powerful among the Four Great Families."]

[Sun Xing lowered his voice, "Family Head is the Prime Minister, controlling the government; Second Master Qian does business, controlling the wealth. His daughter is even the official consort of the Third Prince, forming a marriage alliance with the royal family."]

The job of an undercover agent sounded high-risk.

If he were exposed, a single slap from a Hua Zhen Realm powerhouse would leave nothing but ash.

["But..." Chu Sheng scratched his head.]

["Why me? There are so many disciples in the Beast Sect; wouldn't picking any random one be better than an outsider like me?"]

[Sun Xing smiled: "Because you are suitable."]

["Suitable?"]

["Your cultivation is not high, only Sixth Grade Qi Induction, so you won't arouse suspicion; you have no roots or ties, and your background is clean; you know beast taming, swordsmanship, and alchemy. The Qian Family is just lacking a versatile person like you."]

[Chu Sheng fell silent.]

[He suddenly thought of a question.]

["Uncle-Master, what is the Qian Family... recruiting people for?"]

[Sun Xing's smile became meaningful.]

["That old fox, Family Head, has great ambition. He wants to expand his power while the King of Yan is critically ill. Recently, the Qian Family has been recruiting troops and buying horses everywhere, widely accepting talented people."]

["Beast tamers, alchemists, artifact forgers, swordsmen... as long as they are talented, they are all accepted."]

Chu Sheng's eyes lit up.

Widely accepting talented people? Isn't this an opportunity?

Getting in and grabbing some resources would be better than bitter cultivation in the Beast Sect.

Did he have the right to choose?

["Uncle-Master, I'll go."]

[Sun Xing nodded with satisfaction: "Good, that's more like Li Laogui's disciple."]

[He pushed the letter over: "This is the letter of recommendation, take it. Leave tomorrow for the Qian Family in the Western Territory."]

[Chu Sheng took the letter and suddenly asked: "Uncle-Master, over at the Qian Family... should I be low-key or high-profile?"]

[Sun Xing looked at him and smiled: "Decide for yourself."]

[Critical Choice Triggered: How to enter the Qian Family?]

[1. Act low-key. Disguise yourself as an ordinary rogue cultivator, blend into the bottom layer, and slowly climb up. The risk is small, but the opportunity is also small.]

[2. High-profile entrance. Reveal all your skills, strive to reach the top in one step, and enter the core directly. The opportunity is big, but the risk is also big.]

"Why isn't there a third option?"

Chu Sheng looked at these two options, stroking his chin in thought.

"Low-key? The Qian Family is so big, with thousands at the bottom; how long would it take to reach the core?"

"High-profile? If I arouse suspicion, a Gu Zhen Realm expert could dig up everything about me with a casual investigation."

[Chu Sheng stood up and walked to the window.]

[He thought of the ruins of Qingshi Town, of Lin Bufan whose life and death were uncertain, and of his wife still in Jin Xiao City.]

He needed power.

He needed resources.

He needed speed.

["Then I'll be high-profile for once."]

...

[Seven days later, at the Qian Residence in the Western Territory.]

[The Qian Residence occupied a thousand acres, with buildings standing in great numbers, even more impressive than the entire mountain gate of the Qinglan Sect.]

[Chu Sheng stood outside the residence gate, looking up at the huge plaque—"Qian Residence".]

[There were two rows of guards at the entrance, all of them at Seventh Grade Qi Induction or above, and the leader was a steward in the Ju Zhen Realm.]

[Chu Sheng took a deep breath and walked forward.]

["Stop!" The guard stopped him, "What are you here for?"]

[Chu Sheng took out the letter of recommendation from his bosom and presented it with both hands.]

["I am Chu Sheng, a guest elder of the Beast Sect, here specifically to pay a visit to Second Master Qian."]

[The steward finished reading the letter: "A guest elder of the Beast Sect? You, at Sixth Grade Qi Induction, what can you do?"]

[Chu Sheng smiled slightly: "I know beast taming, swordsmanship, and alchemy. I wonder if Second Master Qian needs someone like this?"]

Chu Sheng watched this scene and silently gave himself a thumbs up.

"This opening line is confident enough."

[The steward was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Interesting. Follow me."]

[Passing through many courtyards, Chu Sheng was led to an independent pavilion.]

[Standing at the entrance was a middle-aged man in luxurious brocade clothing, with an elegant and graceful bearing.]

Second Master Qian.

The largest merchant in the Yan Kingdom, a Gu Zhen Realm expert, and the controller of the Qian Family's financial power.

[Chu Sheng stepped forward and bowed: "Junior Chu Sheng, 'Chu' as in clear and distinct, 'Sheng' as in endless life, greets Second Master Qian."]

[Second Master Qian didn't speak, just looked at him: "Guest elder of the Beast Sect? Sixth Grade Qi Induction? I heard you know beast taming, swordsmanship, and alchemy?"]

[Chu Sheng nodded: "That is correct."]

[Second Master Qian walked up to him and circled him: "Beast taming, to what extent?"]

["I can tame spirit beasts below Ninth Grade of Qi Induction."]

["And swordsmanship?"]

["Mysterious Grade Low-tier sword technique, small success."]

["Alchemy?"]

["First Grade High-tier alchemist, can refine Second Grade Low-tier pills."]

Chu Sheng couldn't help but complain as he read this.

"These three skills would be highly sought after anywhere. That old fox, Second Master Qian, is probably already calculating how to exploit him."

[Second Master Qian stopped, a flash of interest in his eyes: "First Grade High-tier, can refine Second Grade Low-tier? Are you sure?"]

[Chu Sheng nodded: "Sure."]

[Second Master Qian smiled: "Good, then you can stay. It just so happens that the Qian Family needs talent like you."]

[Chu Sheng felt a surge of joy: "Thank you for your appreciation, Second Master."]

[Second Master Qian waved his hand: "Don't be so quick to thank me. If you do the job well, you will be heavily rewarded. If you don't... go back to where you came from."]

[Chu Sheng felt a shiver in his heart and clasped his hands: "I will definitely not fail the mission."]

[Second Master Qian turned and walked towards the pavilion, saying as he walked: "Three days later, a batch of goods needs to be delivered to the Li Family in the Northern Territory. The road is not peaceful, and people are needed to escort it."]

["Since you know beast taming, follow the caravan and be responsible for taming any unruly spirit beasts."]

[Chu Sheng clasped his hands: "Yes."]

[Second Master Qian walked to the door, suddenly turned back, and glanced at him: "By the way, you said just now that your name is Chu Sheng? 'Sheng' as in endless life?"]

[Chu Sheng nodded.]

[Second Master Qian smiled, a meaningful smile: "Good name. I hope you can truly be 'endless'."]

"Did this old fox see through something?"

"Or is it that he just thinks the name is interesting?"

He shook his head and continued reading.

[Chu Sheng stood where he was, watching Second Master Qian disappear into the pavilion, silently calculating in his heart.]

[Three days later, the trip to the Northern Territory...]

[What kind of mission will it be?]