Inspection Bureau.
Back in the main hall.
Everyone sat down again.
At this moment, Ye Qiu and the others looked at Jiang Ning with friendly smiles.
The seventh-grade martial artist status had left them deeply shocked.
This level of strength was on par with theirs, even though they hailed from more prominent regions.
What mattered most was the immense potential they saw in Jiang Ning.
This potential made them feel a sense of awe.
Under these circumstances, they chose not to mention the fact that Jiang Ning possessed two Spatial Rings.
Although Spatial Rings seemed valuable.
In reality, they were more of a novelty.
In this world, over 99% of people were not qualified to use Spatial Rings.
For them, Spatial Rings only had collectible and research value, with no practical use.
Having witnessed Jiang Ning's terrifying rate of improvement and potential, they had no desire to covet the Spatial Rings in his possession.
To them, these rings were worth at most tens of thousands of taels of silver.
While tens of thousands of taels of silver were a significant sum for them.
It wasn't an impossible amount to acquire.
With some effort, they could gather that amount in half a year or a year.
Compared to that, offending Jiang Ning, a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon List and a future grandmaster, was unwise.
"Alright, let's continue with the earlier discussion," Hong Minghu said after taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat.
Ye Qiu nodded.
He then looked around the room, scanning the other three commanders and three deputy commanders.
"I believe everyone is curious as to why the Commander has summoned you all today."
Everyone nodded slightly, waiting for Ye Qiu to continue.
Seeing this, Ye Qiu went on.
"Yesterday, a deacon from the Yellow Heaven Sect arrived in Luoshui County."
The Yellow Heaven Sect?
Hearing this, Jiang Ning felt puzzled.
"What is this?"
At this moment, he was completely clueless.
He had never heard of the Yellow Heaven Sect.
Since arriving in this world, he had spent most of his time practicing martial arts. Even in his spare time, he focused on reading and absorbing knowledge.
If asked about the history of the Great Xia Empire spanning thousands of years or the legends of ancient times, he could speak at length.
These were recorded in books, and he had ways to learn about them.
But when it came to the distribution and changes of major forces in the world, he only had a superficial understanding.
He had never heard of the Yellow Heaven Sect, nor had it been mentioned in any of the memories of his former self.
Ye Qiu glanced around the room and immediately understood.
He then said, "I know some of you may not be familiar with the Yellow Heaven Sect, so I came prepared."
With that, Ye Qiu quickly took out a few sheets of paper from his person.
"Take a look. These contain a general overview of the Yellow Heaven Sect."
He then handed the papers to everyone.
Jiang Ning took the papers and read them carefully.
After a while.
Once he finished reading, he understood why Hong Minghu had made such a grand gesture.
According to the information.
The influence of the Yellow Heaven Sect was staggering.
This sect was mainly spread across five of the nine provinces of the Great Xia Empire, with followers also present in the other provinces to varying degrees.
The number of its followers was at least in the millions.
Most importantly, the spiritual leader of the Yellow Heaven Sect, the Yellow Heaven Daoist, was one of the top experts in the world, second only to the Martial Saint.
This person had a close friendship with the Imperial Preceptor of the Great Xia Empire and was said to have a master-disciple relationship with the Martial Saint.
He had once visited the Taoist holy site, Mount Yu Xu, and debated with the Taoist leader for three days. The outcome was unknown, but afterward, the Taoist leader said:
"I am not his match."
He also visited the Buddhist holy site, the Diamond Temple, and debated Buddhist scriptures with the Buddhist leader for three days before leaving.
He had even met the Emperor of the Great Xia Empire and had several days of discussions.
Afterward, the Emperor spoke highly of him.
The Yellow Heaven Daoist was undoubtedly one of the top figures in the world.
There were rumors that he was a reincarnated immortal, possessing divine powers, capable of turning beans into soldiers and summoning heavenly troops.
These rumors were not baseless.
The Yellow Heaven Daoist had demonstrated miraculous powers on several occasions.
In the capital, he once caused half the city's flowers to bloom in winter with a single gesture.
He was also said to have performed a rain-summoning ritual in Beiqiu Prefecture, which had been suffering from drought for six months. Rain poured down for three days and nights.
Such accounts would have been dismissed as mere legends by Jiang Ning in the past.
But now, he knew they were not impossible.
After all, he had mastered the divine ability to control clouds and rain.
If he could possess such abilities, the Yellow Heaven Daoist could have the power to summon rain.
Moreover, this world was far from simple.
In ancient times, there were traces of gods and immortals.
Even in this era, the Worship Sect had its deity.
And in this world, he was not the only one with a spiritual root or divine wisdom.
In Luoshui County alone, he knew of two people, Wang Jin and Shen Congyun, who possessed spiritual roots.
It was highly likely that the Yellow Heaven Daoist was the same.
A person with a spiritual root and divine wisdom.
Such a person mastering so-called divine arts was not impossible.
With such a terrifying figure, whose martial prowess was among the best in the world, and who might possess ancient divine arts.
In Jiang Ning's eyes, this was akin to an ancient immortal walking the earth.
Coupled with the immense influence of the Yellow Heaven Sect, this behemoth far surpassed the Worship Sect.
According to the records, every deacon of the Yellow Heaven Sect was a fifth-grade Internal Strengthening expert.
As far as Jiang Ning knew.
In Dongling County, the Valley of Medicinal Kings, which dominated the region, had a valley master who was only a fifth-grade Internal Strengthening expert.
The entire Valley of Medicinal Kings had no more than three fifth-grade experts on record.
This showed the terrifying strength of the Yellow Heaven Sect.
A fifth-grade Internal Strengthening expert alone could sweep through Luoshui County.
Such a powerhouse, without the Great Xia Empire's organized crossbow units, could not be defeated through sheer numbers.
After all, once the internal organs were tempered, one's breath became long and steady, and stamina was nearly inexhaustible.
If such a person unleashed their internal energy, they could fight their way out of an encirclement of a thousand heavily armed, ninth-grade martial artists.
If such a person employed guerrilla tactics, they could easily achieve a thousand kills.
And these thousand kills would not be against ordinary soldiers.
But against armies composed of ranked martial artists, fully armed and armored.
This demonstrated the might of a fifth-grade martial artist.
With such a person entering the city, backed by the even more terrifying Yellow Heaven Sect, it was no wonder Hong Minghu was on high alert.
After a while.
Seeing that everyone had finished reading, Ye Qiu spoke again.
"Colleagues, tonight the deacon from the Yellow Heaven Sect will visit us."
"Commander Ye, what do you need us to do?" Tang Miaomiao asked.
Ye Qiu shook his head. "You don't need to do anything. Just meet him and get to know him. It might be useful in the future."
"Understood!" Tang Miaomiao replied respectfully.
Hong Minghu also spoke. "Tonight, you must not let the Inspection Bureau lose face!"
"Of course!" said a commander who looked like a noble young master, exuding confidence.
Jiang Ning glanced at him.
Although this commander had not appeared often, Jiang Ning knew his name was Li Changkong, a genuine sixth-grade expert.
After the discussion.
Everyone dispersed.
Jiang Ning decided not to return home and instead continued his training in his courtyard, tempering his tendons to increase their resilience.
In his courtyard, he had already dug a pool for his training.
By mid-morning.
Jiang Ning began meditating in the pool, absorbing solar essence to temper his internal organs and increase his internal energy.
Before long, night fell.
The moon slowly rose, hanging in the sky.
"Colleagues, you're here early!"
In the familiar main hall, Ye Qiu stepped over the threshold and greeted everyone with a smile.
Soon after.
A guard came in with steady steps to report that the Yellow Heaven Sect had arrived.
"They're here," Ye Qiu said calmly, with a smile on his face.
A moment later.
Tap, tap, tap
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.
In the next moment.
The figures appeared before Jiang Ning and the others.
They were all dressed in yellowish-brown robes, wearing yellowish-brown headscarves, slightly bent, with very friendly smiles on their faces.
"Greetings, Commander Hong!" The leader stepped into the hall and immediately bowed to Hong Minghu, appearing very humble.
"Greetings, Commander Hong!"
"Greetings, Commander Hong!"
The others also bowed to Hong Minghu.
Jiang Ning carefully observed these people.
In the next moment.
His pupils suddenly contracted.
It's him!!
Jiang Ning's heart was suddenly filled with shock.
Among the seven people before him, he saw a familiar face.
This face was the blurry image his former self had seen in his final moments.
It was also the last image in the memories of his former self before he arrived in this world.
Although the face was blurry when Jiang Ning saw it again.
He was now 80-90% sure that the blurry face, the person who had taken the life of his former self, was among this group from the Yellow Heaven Sect.
Based on his memories and subsequent investigations and speculations.
His former self had been killed by a member of the Worship Sect.
In the Worship Sect, sacrificing someone with innate spiritual wisdom would grant the sect's deity's blessing.
Just like Shi Xiaoyuan from the Green Snake Gang, who not only made great progress in martial arts but also gained the ability to transform into a nearly immortal monster.
At this moment.
Jiang Ning's intense gaze immediately caught the attention of that person.
The person looked up at Jiang Ning.
In an instant.
The person's pupils contracted sharply.
As if they had seen something unbelievable.
Their eyes filled with shock.
Seeing this reaction, Jiang Ning's 80-90% certainty instantly became 100%.
"This person is the one who took the life of my former self!"
"No doubt about it!!"
Jiang Ning was now completely convinced.
In the next moment.
Thoughts raced through his mind.
In less than a second.
Only one thought remained in Jiang Ning's mind.
"This person cannot be allowed to live!!!"
Having made his decision, Jiang Ning's expression remained calm, but he knew in his heart.
This person was too dangerous to keep alive.
His former self had died, and he had taken over.
Originally, only he knew about this.
But now, things were different.
This person might be the second to know.
Although Jiang Ning couldn't be certain, he didn't want to take the risk.
Nor would he.
Coming back from the dead.
The soul perished, yet the body lived.
If this were exposed, he didn't know what the consequences would be.
In an instant.
Jiang Ning had made up his mind.
Above the Inspection Bureau, over half of Luoshui County, the sky began to churn.
In an instant, dark clouds gathered, and the moon quickly disappeared behind the clouds, plunging the world into darkness.
Boom
A loud thunderclap.
Lightning flashed outside.
At this moment.
The leader of the Yellow Heaven Sect also spoke. "Commander Hong, let me formally introduce myself!"
"No need for introductions. I know you, Liu Linmen," Hong Minghu said indifferently.
"Commander Hong knows a small figure like me? I am truly honored!" Liu Linmen, the leader of the Yellow Heaven Sect, smiled.
"If a fifth-grade expert is a small figure, then what am I?" Hong Minghu asked.
"You, of course, are a great figure!" Liu Linmen said with a smile.
Hong Minghu raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Speak! What brings you to Luoshui County?"
"Since Commander Hong is so direct, I won't beat around the bush either!" Liu Linmen bowed slightly.
He then continued, "I would like your permission to spread our teachings in Luoshui County."
"On what grounds?" Hong Minghu asked calmly, his expression unchanged.
As soon as these words were spoken.
Everyone felt the atmosphere in the hall suddenly grow heavy.
An invisible pressure seemed to emanate from Hong Minghu.
This pressure came in waves, unending, like a tidal surge.
It felt as if the air had solidified.
Beside him, Tang Miaomiao and Yuan Hua's expressions changed, their faces slightly red.
They seemed to be enduring some terrifying pressure.
In front of Hong Minghu, six of the seven members of the Yellow Heaven Sect swayed slightly, with those at the back almost losing their balance.
It was as if they were standing before a tidal wave, being constantly battered, making it hard to stay steady.
"Such powerful internal energy!!" Ye Qiu murmured, in a voice only he could hear.
Even though he wasn't directly facing Hong Minghu, he could feel the invisible pressure in the air.
It made it hard for him to breathe.
If not for his superior strength compared to Tang Miaomiao and Yuan Hua.
He wouldn't have been able to remain so composed.
"Hmm," Ye Qiu then let out a soft exclamation as he looked at Jiang Ning.
Because at this moment, Jiang Ning's expression showed no change, as calm as ever.
Unlike Tang Miaomiao and Yuan Hua, whose faces were flushed red.
Seeing this, a flash of shock passed through Ye Qiu's eyes.
After all.
Yuan Hua and Tang Miaomiao were not weak; they were genuine seventh-grade martial artists.
Before joining the Inspection Bureau, these two had already crossed the threshold of the seventh grade.
Compared to them, even He Jinyun, with his innate divine strength, was likely no match.
But even with their strength, they were now being pressured to the point of having flushed faces.
Yet Jiang Ning remained as calm as still water.
This scene undoubtedly showed that Jiang Ning was above these two.
At least in terms of endurance, he surpassed them.
"How did this kid do it?"
"His rate of improvement is simply too terrifying!!!"
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