Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 266 - 266 0224 Have You Made a Mistake

Chapter 266: Chapter 0224: Have You Made a Mistake? Chapter 266: Chapter 0224: Have You Made a Mistake? Chapter 0224: Have You Got the Wrong Idea?

Qi Tian looked at Jiang Pan and said, “Brother Jiang Pan, if you want to join my team and head to the border, I need to know your top speed as I am the leader of this team. Without this information, I cannot efficiently manage our resources and properly strategize for everyone’s benefit.”

Jiang Pan still shook his head and said, “If you want me to join your team, you must allow me to keep some secrets. Otherwise, I would rather not join. To be frank, your team is not only very dangerous, but the benefits are also few. If it weren’t for the fact that you use spirit stones as payment instead of gold and silver, I probably wouldn’t have come. I’m not lacking in opportunities for missions.”

Luo Xia knew that Jiang Pan was very capable and feared that he would walk away, hurriedly said: “Brother Jiang Pan, you can’t say that. Qi Tian has a promising future and is the hope of our Imperial Master Mansion. Today, accompanying him to the border is building good karma. It’s beneficial for both the Imperial Master Mansion, and you personally.”

Jiang Pan didn’t refute. Given his ability, like he said, he wasn’t worried about finding opportunities to make money. However, he was willing to come not just because of the spirit stones, but also because of Qi Tian. Just like Luo Xia, Jiang Pan also believed that Qi Tian had a grand future. Helping Qi Tian now would bring great returns in the future.

Luo Xia then turned to Qi Tian and said, “Brother, people with talent often have a bit of a temper. But I can assure you that Jiang Pan has his own principles and limits. Having him travel with you will only bring benefits, not harm.”

After contemplating for a moment, Qi Tian nodded. Although somewhat dissatisfied with Jiang Pan’s concealment, it’s merely a minor flaw and won’t affect the big picture. And in his team, they indeed needed someone who excelled in speed. Therefore, letting Jiang Pan join was without a doubt a good choice.

Luo Xia heaved a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Qi Tian, being stuck in his ways, would take no notice of Jiang Pan, causing Jiang Pan to be offended and walk away. In that case, finding another person on par with Jiang Pan to accompany him would be an impossible task. Fortunately, although Qi Tian was young, he didn’t possess the rebellious nature of young people. He possessed the sensibility of adults, knew when not to act on impulse, and knew what the right choices to make were.

The many cultivators who had gathered around watching saw that Qi Tian had already chosen his final companion and they felt somewhat unwilling. They didn’t disperse, but clamored for Qi Tian to employ one or two more people. Some of them even introduced themselves, telling their names, what they specialized in, and a bunch of other things, all in hope of being able to move Qi Tian.

Luo Xia said, “Brothers, I know you all care for our junior brother Qi Tian. If possible, I wish I could hire all the brothers, but as you all know, our Sky Eagle Hall isn’t as rich. The expenses for hiring Jiang Pan and others have already exhausted my wits. If there were to be more people, I, Luo Xia, would be bankrupt. On this matter, I hope you could understand. Next time, maybe next time. Sorry, could you all disperse now, please?”

When Luo Xia stepped in, it certainly saved a lot of trouble. Everyone was aware of Sky Eagle Hall’s predicament, so they didn’t crowd around anymore and dispersed. Among the nearly one hundred cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage present, none of them were willing to voluntarily accompany Qi Tian to the border without receiving pay. This clearly showed that although Qi Tian had risen like a comet, his influence within the Imperial Master Mansion was still not deep enough and his appeal was obviously insufficient.

Of course, Qi Tian didn’t care about these. He gathered several members of his squad and headed toward the Sky Eagle Hall together. Qi Tian planned to hold a discussion meeting first to arrange work for the five members, including himself.

When they arrived at the Sky Eagle Hall, before they had time to discuss anything, the imperial summons had already been delivered by a special envoy. The content was simple: they needed to mobilize fifteen cultivators, including Qi Tian, to go to the border.

Every year, when the Chi Di people came down from the North, the imperial court had to call for support from the three Master Mansions to go to the border. The number of people requisitioned each year was always fixed. Among them, the number of people requisitioned from the Imperial Master Mansion was always the least. Not because the Imperial Court and the Royal Family of Great Zhao cared for them, but because they had been given the weakest position among the three Master Mansions.

Every year, the number of people requisitioned was determined by the imperial court’s stated requirements for the number and strength of people, and then counted and registered internally by the Imperial Master Mansion. Finally, a list of fifteen people would be submitted to the imperial court, which then would without fail proceed with the requisition based on this list. This was the process each year. But this year, even though the Imperial Master Mansion had submitted a list of fifteen people in advance, by the time the official requisition order was issued, a cultivator named Huang Zhiwei had been removed from the list, and Qi Tian had been added in his place.

That alone wasn’t much. But on the order for mobilization, Qi Tian’s name was singled out. The other fourteen individuals were all required to report to the Tongguan Guard Office within twenty days. Qi Tian, however, was required to report to the Tonggun Pass’s Left Guard Station within fifteen days.