73: mutation

Jiang Chen’s various merits were all brought to the Black Yamen by Chu Yun for registration.

But for Gao Jie, even though these few times he only provided a little extra help, it brought him immense benefits.

Inside Dongfeng Town’s Shangwu Pavilion, he had already continuously selected several Cultivation Techniques and martial arts, as well as some excellent Medicinal Pills.

One Body Tempering Pill would sell for forty thousand taels of silver outside!

However, in the Shangwu Pavilion, it only required three hundred contribution points to exchange.

Of course, this was the exchange rate for External Guards.

So Gao Jie was always thinking about going on missions with Jiang Chen.

After all, going on missions with Jiang Chen was simply too easy; he would do some reconnaissance work beforehand, then summon Jiang Chen, and everything would be resolved, earning him free contribution points.

Simply put, this mission was about collecting evidence.

As long as they could personally witness, or find traces of, Tian Po Sect members’ activities within Lei Family Fortress, it would essentially be confirmed.

After all, while Lei Family Fortress possessed its own land rights, it didn’t mean they could do things on their territory that defied the Great Lan Dynasty’s laws.

In the afternoon, a batch of detoxification powder, anti-inflammatory powder, and some other medicinal ingredients would be delivered by the Zhou Family’s guards.

Jiang Chen and the others would then blend in with the guards, infiltrating Lei Family Fortress to search.

Lei Family Fortress’s strength was not weak.

They had hidden their strength for so many years, and Lei Family Fortress itself occupied a spiritual mountain treasure ground with abundant resources.

The current Family Head of Lei Family Fortress was rumored to have already reached the Peak of the Houtian Realm!

Within the Family, there were at least ten Houtian Realm Elders alone.

Facing such power, Dongfeng Town’s limited manpower was simply not enough.

Therefore, they could only collect evidence first.

Of course, Dongfeng Town had a garrison of five thousand soldiers, equipped with various firearms.

If they were to truly attack Lei Family Fortress, it wouldn’t be a difficult matter.

However, Dongfeng Town’s target was not Lei Family Fortress, but the Tian Po Sect.

The Zhou Family’s goods filled two carriages.

There were a total of twelve guards.

However, three of them had been replaced by Jiang Chen, Gao Jie, and Zhou Miaoqing.

Originally, Zhou Yan didn't want Zhou Miaoqing to participate, but Zhou Miaoqing had a stubborn personality, and since the Zhou Family was involved in this matter, she was even more determined to go.

Helplessly, Zhou Yan could only entrust Jiang Chen to look after Zhou Miaoqing.

The caravan’s guard captain was named Zhou Lian.

In addition to the twelve guards, there was also a steward named Zhou Quan, Steward Zhou.

At noon, the Zhou Family’s caravan left the city gate and headed straight for Lei Family Fortress.

Lei Family Fortress was nearly 140 li away from Dongfeng Town.

Adding some mountain paths and trails, the journey would take about an hour and a half.

After all, Lei Family Mountain, where Lei Family Fortress was located, was an area with relatively dense forests.

Jiang Chen and the others put on the Zhou Family guards’ uniforms.

The Zhou Family’s guard uniforms themselves were designed and tailored, and after Jiang Chen put them on, his upright physique made people’s eyes light up even more, which was why Zhou Miaoqing’s gaze occasionally drifted towards Jiang Chen.

Given Zhou Miaoqing’s status, she had naturally seen some wealthy young masters.

However, not a single one possessed Jiang Chen’s temperament; he could even wear a common guard uniform and exude the aura of a great general.

An hour later.

The convoy entered a dense forest.

Jiang Chen, who had been dozing on horseback, couldn't help but open his eyes.

A glint flashed in his eyes.

However, because he was wearing a wide flying saucer hat, Jiang Chen’s gaze was well hidden.

Of course, Jiang Chen himself described this hat as a flying saucer hat.

This flying saucer hat was not only aesthetically pleasing, but its brim also concealed a small blade, which could be thrown as a hidden weapon at critical moments.

“Someone is already watching us so quickly? It seems Lei Family Fortress’s defenses are very strict.”

Gao Jie came to Jiang Chen’s side and whispered.

After all, Gao Jie was also skilled in lightness techniques, and his reconnaissance abilities were not weak.

“Hmm… In this Lei Family Fortress, the strongest is a Xiantian Realm expert? What level of the Xiantian Realm is he?”

Jiang Chen asked.

Gao Jie used to make a living by gathering information.

He was relatively clear about the movements in the Jianghu.

“Currently, the person revealed on the surface is the Lei Family’s Family Head, Lei Jianbin.”

“However, I heard many years ago that the Lei Family’s Old Master, the previous Family Head, was already close to Xiantian Realm Perfection. After all these years, I don’t know if he has broken through to the Spirit Martial Realm.”

“Besides that, there are at least three other Xiantian Realm masters in the Lei Family.”

“I estimate that the Lei Family is targeting Dongfeng Town because they see its insufficient strength, so even if it arouses suspicion, they are not afraid at all.”

Gao Jie said with a worried expression.

Clearly, this information gathering, in Gao Jie’s opinion, was not a simple matter.

They were clearly showing that they could easily manipulate Dongfeng Town.

If it were a large place like Cangzhou City, which obviously had better medicinal ingredients, it would naturally be a better choice, but they didn’t choose it.

“Little brother, this Lei Family Fortress is not simple. To be able to build the entire Family to this scale and maintain it for so long, there are many deep secrets here. Let’s carefully scout for clues, and then withdraw. Don’t sacrifice your lives in vain.”

Gao Jie advised in a low voice.

His meaning was to tell Jiang Chen not to push himself too hard.

Such matters should be handled by those with higher positions.

“It’s fine, we’ll act according to the situation when the time comes.”

Jiang Chen also nodded.

This matter naturally could not be taken lightly.

Lei Family Fortress was not a small town Family, similar to the Ding Family or the Wu Family.

Instead, it was an existence with its own territory.

Its Legacy of over a hundred years was something ordinary people could never fathom.

Even though Jiang Chen’s own strength was not weak, he still had to consider others.

If they acted rashly, everyone might end up perishing inside.

Finally, the convoy arrived at the foot of a mountain. A long ditch had been specially dug here, and a drawbridge was installed. Only after their identities were confirmed and the drawbridge lowered could they pass.

And ascending the mountain was also done through special vertical lifting equipment.

It could transport several tons of goods to the mountainside in a very short amount of time.

Although Storage Rings were common, in reality, the space in a Storage Ring could not hold much.

The vertical crane transported the convoy to the mountainside.

Only then could they see the towering walls of Lei Family Fortress, and the various houses built within the walls.

This scale of defensive construction could be said to be military-grade.

Occupying the terrain, it was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Jiang Chen couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This was just one Lei Family Fortress.

What kind of Legacy would those martial Dao Families that had been passed down for hundreds or thousands of years possess?

“Haha, I am Lei Yao. Thank you, everyone from the Zhou Family, for traveling over a hundred li to transport the goods.”

After everyone entered the Lei Family Fortress territory, someone quickly came to greet them.

It was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties or forties, with a stubble beard like freshly cut straw. As he walked, he moved with the majestic stride of a Dragon and a tiger, broad and powerful, with abundant inner Qi.

A Xiantian Realm master!

Jiang Chen was slightly startled. Lei Family Fortress’s strength was indeed not simple. Any few people they casually brought out would be enough to break through Dongfeng Town’s garrison office.

Of course, the consequences were also something these people could not bear.

“Haha, no trouble, no trouble, just earning money.”

“Please, Manager Lei, check the inventory.”

Zhou Quan, Steward Zhou cupped his hands and said.

He displayed all the items on the carriage one by one for Lei Yao to see, and also helped with the inventory and inspection.

“Haha, the Zhou Family’s craftsmanship is indeed first-class, and the quality of these medicinal ingredients is also top-notch.”

Lei Yao nodded with great satisfaction.

Then he directly settled the final payment.

After Zhou Quan, Steward Zhou received the final payment, he also said with a smile.

“Thank you, Manager Lei. You few, please help move these things to the warehouse.”

Zhou Quan, Steward Zhou directed Jiang Chen and a few others.

Just as Jiang Chen and the others were about to step forward to move the items.

They were stopped by Lei Yao.

“No need to trouble yourselves. For such a small matter, our Lei Family has plenty of manpower.”

Lei Yao smiled and interrupted their actions.

“It’s fine, let them do it. These medicinal ingredients cannot be stored carelessly…”

However, Lei Yao ignored Zhou Quan, Steward Zhou’s insistence and instead directly called a few Lei Family Disciples to move the medicinal ingredients away.

Seeing that there was no opportunity, everyone no longer insisted.

However, just as the Zhou Family members were preparing to leave.

Suddenly, a tremor came from underground.

Accompanied by a roar.

Not far away, from underground, a demon with a wolf’s head and human body suddenly burst out of the ground.

“Roar!”