Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 898 - 898 0545 A Bit of an Exaggeration_1

Chapter 898: Chapter 0545 A Bit of an Exaggeration_1 Chapter 898: Chapter 0545 A Bit of an Exaggeration_1 Chapter 0545: That’s a Bit of an Overstatement

Within the City Lord’s Mansion, Qi Tian believed there were three places most likely to conceal secrets: the mansion’s study, the City Lord’s bedroom, and the City Lord himself.

In the several days since Qi Tian had entered the City Lord’s Mansion, he had stealthily inspected its study but to no avail. He turned the place inside out yet failed to find any valuable clues. The study was well-furnished, but there wasn’t a single item infused with Spirit Qi. Most documents related to city defense and population registers. Qi Tian concluded that the City Lord was a cautious man, likely trusting himself above all others, much like most cultivators. He would prefer to carry useful and precious items on his person rather than leaving them elsewhere.

Qi Tian had yet to meet the City Lord, Xiang Songzhi, who was rumored to be away on business in the core area. However, Qi Tian had gleaned plenty about Xiang Songzhi from others. With a cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Peak, Xiang Songzhi’s stature in the entire Imperial Family Secret Territory was considered upper-middle-class. Yet his position as the lord of a city, albeit a minor one, had little to do with his cultivation level. It owed more to his connections—his ancestor had been a Personal Guard Commander to a Great Zhao Emperor, deeply trusted by the reigning monarch. This ancestor had come to the Imperial Family Secret Territory with the Emperor, who, in gratitude for the commander’s loyalty, granted him a small city to govern and promised perpetual rule to his family as long as they remained loyal.

There were many such towns in the Imperial Family Secret Territory, each guarded by the personal guards, servants, and their families who followed the emperors over the generations. These towns served as both the empire’s strongholds and guardians of the Imperial Family Secret Territory on behalf of the Great Zhao royal family.

After rifling through Xiang Songzhi’s study without success, Qi Tian turned his attention to his bedroom. Seizing the opportunity, he searched the residences of Xiang Songzhi’s legal wife, two concubines, and one mistress housed in the City Lord’s Mansion—all without finding any valuable clues. He discovered that all four of Xiang Songzhi’s wives were involved in illicit affairs but nothing that would aid his quest. Qi Tian was now certain that if there were any core secrets about the Imperial Family Secret Territory in the City Lord’s Mansion, they had to be on Xiang Songzhi’s person. It was even possible that Xiang Songzhi hadn’t left any written records, keeping everything in his memory.

This was somewhat troublesome.

As Qi Tian wracked his brain for a solution to his current predicament, the accountant once again appeared before him, smiling amiably as he extended an invitation.

“Guard Qi, the young master invites you.”

This was the first time Qi Tian had been summoned by Xiang Bo since becoming a first-class guard of the City Lord’s Mansion. Qi Tian didn’t know what Xiang Bo had in mind, whether good or bad, but he didn’t care. His strength in this place was unmatched.

Following the accountant, Qi Tian arrived at Xiang Bo’s residence, where Xiang Bo personally greeted him at the entrance to the Flower Hall, affording Qi Tian no small amount of respect.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Xiang Bo, they entered the Flower Hall together. The hall was already set for a banquet, with all of the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators Qi Tian had seen serving Xiang Bo now seated. Some nodded in greeting while others wore looks of disdain as Qi Tian entered.

Only two seats were left at the banquet, the seat of honor and the lowest seat. Naturally, the seat of honor was reserved for Xiang Bo, leaving Qi Tian the lowest seat. This situation caused Xiang Bo a little embarrassment—he hadn’t intended for Qi Tian to take the lowest seat when arranging the seating. But in the time it took him to greet Qi Tian at the Flower Hall entrance, the guest officials whom he had invited at great expense had taken Qi Tian’s intended seat.

Xiang Bo couldn’t force the guest officials to give up their seats, as these were influential people he couldn’t afford to offend. So, he could only offer Qi Tian an apologetic smile and say, “Guard Qi, I’m sorry, but I must ask you to sit here for now.”

Qi Tian didn’t mind. Competing for a seat with a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators would have been below him. He walked to the last seat and sat down with ease. This prompted the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had just snubbed him to reveal triumphant smiles.

Xiang Bo took his place and picked up his wine cup, saying, “I have invited everyone here for two reasons today. The first is to celebrate Qi Tian becoming the third first-class guard of our City Lord’s Mansion, and the first one appointed by me. Let’s raise our glasses and congratulate Guard Qi.”

Facing Xiang Bo’s face, the cultivators reluctantly lifted their cups, but their manner was half-hearted, showing no real intention to celebrate. Moreover, Qi Tian remained cool and unenthusiastic. Xiang Bo had hoped his mention of personally promoting Qi Tian to first-class guard would compel Qi Tian to deliver a passionate speech expressing loyalty to him, but Qi Tian did nothing of the sort.

Xiang Bo was both embarrassed and annoyed, but from his father, he had learned some basic leadership skills. He knew that a capable man like Qi Tian was likely to be prideful and without the patience to be won over easily. So, pretending to ignore the guests’ indifference and Qi Tian’s disregard, he lifted his wine cup to his lips and drained it in one gulp, then made a point of showing his empty cup to everyone.