Nuclear-powered Sword Immortal-Chapter 69 Discussing Affairs

"Lingxiao City."

Gu Jinlai stood before a large map in his study.

Lingxiao City, one of the twenty-six cities in Star State.

Its scale couldn’t compare to that of significant cities like Chang County or Baihe, much less to the capital, Starlight City.

However, its location was quite ingenious.

Star State had historically been the southern traffic hub of Daqian, with routes leading to Yellow State’s Yellow Sky Sect in the north, Purgatory Demon Sect in Red State to the west, Netherworld Demon Sect in White State, eastward to Dragon Sparrow Manor in Jiangzhou State, and further south to the Cold Moon Demon Sect in Blue State.

In times of great peace, Star State flourished with the convenience of transportation, and its population once peaked at sixty million more than a century ago.

Along with Central State, Sun State, and Moon State, it was counted among the Four Major Upper States.

But since a century ago, with the chaos brought by demons, Daqian declined, and then there was the Heavenly Immortal Palace...

Or rather, the Heavenly Demon Hall emerged exploiting the situation, intent on overthrowing the order and recreating the universe.

Although the Heavenly Demon Hall had been defeated by a coalition led by Daqian and the Sanqing Holy Temple, alongside other Righteous Sect forces, even the then-most powerful man, Emperor Tianji, was slain by Sanqing Dao Immortal Wushi, former Imperial Advisor Tai A, Abyss Lord, and Xuan Guang, Daqian suffered a great loss of vital energy. Tai A and Xuan Guang died in battle, no longer capable of resolving the chaos and controlling the world.

Since then, with demons ravaging the outside and Ten Great Demon Sects and Six Great Immortal Sects rising internally, the world plunged into chaos.

Star State, originally a transport hub, also turned into a battleground.

Back then, Demon Sects like Purgatory, Cold Moon, and Netherworld, who had supported the rise of the Heavenly Demon Hall, set their sights on this lush land.

Yellow Sky Sect and Dragon Sparrow Manor, which assisted the Sanqing Hall, were not to be outdone and sent people to settle in.

Just to the north of Star State by a thousand miles, at the center of Tian River, a Supreme Demon King was entrenched.

The Tian River was a barrier, preventing the north and south from aiding each other.

In such circumstances, with complex relations within the territory of Star State, State Governor Qi Zhongsheng was willing to serve the country but had to recruit troops and secure his position first.

"The Five Great Sects and the State Governor represent the first-tier forces, followed by various large city lords and large forces within Star State, such as the Four Great Families in the capital, Heavenly Gang Sect in Yuanhua City, and the city lord of Chang County City, all belonging to the second-tier forces," Gu Jinlai reviewed the map, marking fourteen spots on it.

Further back, there was he, Gu Jinlai, who had taken over Lingxiao City.

The standard for major forces...

Is to stand against a Divinity Transformation Great Master.

By that measure, the City Lord of Chang County actually fell short.

Six thousand elite troops, charging ahead unstoppable, but if a Divinity Transformation Great Master indeed arrived, as soon as those generals dared show themselves, they would surely be beheaded by a flying sword.

Without their generals to command them, how much battle power could six thousand elite troops truly display?

Gu Jinlai glanced at the geographic location of Lingxiao City.

Near Chang County City, Sunset City, Baihe City, and...

Yuanhua City.

Especially Yuanhua City.

If he could connect Yuanhua City, it would provide a link to Red State.

To Red State...

"Linfeng City."

If he remembered correctly.

Lin Xiao’s Lin Family, occupied Linfeng City.

Although the scale of Linfeng City was similar to that of Lingxiao City and Red Wind City, with this city, the Lin Family trained two thousand elite soldiers and four thousand troops, renowned far and wide.

This army of six thousand was also the foundation from which Lin Xiao stood out among the various saint sons, climbing to the position of Deputy Sect Master.

As Gu Jinlai looked at the map, he directly drew a horizontal line on it.

"Connecting to Red State, and then breaking through to Linfeng City, directly linking to the Gu family’s Red Wind City."

After a moment, he drew three faint lines around Chang County City, Baihe City, and Sunset City.

If he could take these three cities as well, the depth and security of his controlled area would no longer be as vulnerable as a straight river.

"No hurry, no rush," Gu Jinlai calmly observed.

Step by step.

Illness comes as swiftly as a collapsing mountain, but leaves as slowly as silk being pulled.

This world was sick, and he needed to heal it gradually.

If the medicine was administered too forcefully, it could cause the patient’s condition to worsen dramatically.

Therefore, he needed to be patient.

...

Gu Jinlai had made up his mind to recuperate.

In the Purgatory Sect of Red State, the monthly sect meeting was underway.

The masters of the Conquest Hall, Dongzhen Hall, Guardian Hall, Chuan Gong Hall, Monitoring Hall, Punishment Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, Government Affairs Hall, and Elder Hall were all present.

Also in attendance were Lin Xiao, Qin Li, and Dongfang Xue, the three Deputy Sect Masters, listening in.

"The expansion opportunities left for our Purgatory Sect are already few. We are situated on the western borders. To the west lies the Black and White Sand Sea, vast and endless, to the north, Tianhe hinders us with rampaging demons, and to the south, the Netherworld Sect is fully on guard. We are not yet prepared to wage war against them. Thus, advancing east into Star State has become our only option."

At this moment, it was Luu Zhenbei, the Palace Master of the Conquest Hall, who spoke. He clasped his hands and said, "Please agree to dispatch six more elders and thirty protectors to garrison the cities we have taken, to ensure absolute security."

"The strategy for Star State is indeed the primary concern for our Purgatory Sect today. However, demons frequently invade through Tianhe, and sand bandits thrive in the Black and White Sand Sea. Many elders and protectors have their own important tasks, and those we can deploy are few."

Elder Hall’s Hall Master, Huo Changqing, said, "Currently, there are only five available elders in the Elder Hall, three of whom are advanced in age and should not be carelessly mobilized."

"As for taking charge in Star State, don’t we have an elder in our Purgatory Sect with outstanding merits, who has carved out territories in impossible conditions for our sect, and even now, he alone has secured a city for himself?"

At that point, Deputy Sect Master Qin Li spoke up, "Given the intelligence gathering capabilities of the Dongzhen Hall, you must have already received detailed information, right?"

Yuan Xizhi, the Master of the Dongzhen Hall said as he stood up, "Are you referring to Elder Gu Jinlai of Lingxiao City? Indeed, there is such news. We recently learned that Elder Gu transitioned to become a Heavenly Master and transformed commonplace materials meant only for fireworks into gunpowder of astonishing power. Just ten pounds of it can match the strength of a Refining God strike."

Upon hearing this, the crowd changed colors.

These Hall Masters were all of Refining God Cultivation.

If Gu Jinlai refined such a weapon in sufficient quantities, wouldn’t it pose a threat to their lives?

"With this powerful weapon, Elder Gu took down Lingxiao City, which was allied with the Red Blood Sect, within just a few months, killing dozens of Hugging Pill and hundreds of demons, including three Supreme Demons."

Yuan Xizhi said, exhaling deeply, "Now, Lingxiao City is completely under his control."

With this statement, the assembly erupted into an uproar.

"Three Supreme Demons? Is this true, Palace Master Yuan?"

"Does this so-called gunpowder truly possess such power?"

"I thought Gu Jinlai, having transitioned to a Heavenly Master, intended to retreat from the strife, and yet he has refined such a treasure."

The Hall Masters began discussing animatedly, quickly turning the meeting into a bustling affair.

Following this, Luu Zhenbei, the Palace Master of the Conquest Hall, added with a smile, "Lingxiao City is close to the major cities of Changjun and Baihe. If we can use Lingxiao City as a stepping-stone to advance into Changjun and Baihe, within a few years, these cities will fall fully under the control of our Purgatory Sect."

"Indeed, Lingxiao City is an excellent stepping-stone."

"Although our Purgatory Sect has established a foothold in six cities within Star State, we only have complete control over two, and both are minor border towns, hardly noteworthy. Geographically, they can’t compare to Lingxiao City, Elder Gu has accomplished a great feat."

The other Hall Masters nodded in agreement.

Qin Li took it all in.

Seeing the right moment, he spoke again, "Our Purgatory Sect has such a capable and courageous elder, yet due to persecution from within our own sect, he had to hide, nearly losing his elder status. If we do not address this, who in the future will dare serve our Purgatory Sect?"

His words drew many eyes to Lin Xiao.

This Deputy Sect Master’s longstanding grievances with Gu Jinlai were well known to many.

Lin Xiao stood his ground, "Everything I have done is within the rules of our sect. I am willing to undergo a review by both the Monitoring Hall and the Law Enforcement Hall. As for Gu Jinlai... he truly is capable, but he managed to take Lingxiao City because he served the Meteor Star Guard, a traitor to our Purgatory Sect. Sect Master Qin still referring to him as an elder seems inappropriate."

"Gu Jinlai has not yet been stripped of his elder status. How can you speak of betrayal? His recent lack of communication with our sect is merely a matter of biding his time."

"Biding his time?"

Lin Xiao chuckled lightly, "Sect Master Qin, feel free to petition our Sect Master. If Gu Jinlai still responds to the orders, I will recognize him as a Golden Robed Elder to honor his achievements, even willing to apologize for my actions. But if he doesn’t respond, his act of betrayal will be conclusively proven. Would Sect Master Qin dare?"

Qin Li seemed to realize something; his expression changed.

However, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, with the arrow already nocked, clearly holding the upper hand, he could not back down without weakening his own position.

He immediately said, "Why not? I shall petition the Sect Master right away. If Elder Gu responds, Sect Master Lin must not forget to apologize to Elder Gu."