I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1060 - Chapter 1060 Chapter 354 Lifting the Ban

Chapter 1060: Chapter 354: Lifting the Ban Chapter 1060: Chapter 354: Lifting the Ban When a superpower city like Chaochang was embroiled in turmoil, it would alarm the whole of Longzhou, an event too grave for even Bu Jiu and An Yuanxi, with the authorization of Martial Saint Mountain and the Saint King, to dare take responsibility for the consequences.

For the largest city in Longzhou to fall into chaos because of one person was an outcome no sacred land could accept.

Furthermore, the Dutian Heavenly King Patrol was an intelligence organization jointly established by all the great sacred lands to monitor the world, with the purpose of calming and suppressing rebellion, not creating turmoil.

The Arbitration Office was even more so established to maintain the order of Kunwu County; even Dapeng Grandmaster Bu Jiu could not make the decision to continue the lockdown.

However, with Xu Qingyue’s whereabouts remaining unknown, and Gouchen also missing, and with both issues unresolved, how could they let go of their pride?

“Winds leave trails, geese leave cries, our sect cannot accept that in such a grand Chaochang, no one has seen a trace of Gouchen. Three final days!” said Bu Jiu, together with two Big Arbitrators and the Dutian Heavenly King Patrol, as they made a decision, “If Gouchen’s trace still cannot be found, it would indicate that people within Chaochang are assisting Gouchen, and they must certainly belong to a family of impressive array mastery, otherwise they could not block the sensing of the Divine Symbols.”

“The Grandmaster speaks sensibly. The Arbitrators of the Arbitration Office in the wilderness outside the city have also almost finished their search. With the capabilities of those villagers, even if they saw Gouchen, they could not save him; either Gouchen is immortal, having fled away, or, if his injuries haven’t healed, he must still be within the borders of Chaochang,” responded An Yuanxi from the side. “After three days, lift the city restrictions, and the Xiang Family will lead stewards and Arbitrators to raid the noble families in Chaochang’s Upper City District; perhaps there will be something to gain!”

Upon hearing the decision of An Yuanxi and Bu Jiu, Xiang Loulan’s expression changed, but under the gaze of the two, she could only acquiesce.

After leaving the council hall, the young clan leader of the Xiang Family quickly found her father, Xiang Ange, and hastily relayed the decisions of the Arbitration Office and the Dutian Heavenly King Patrol.

The Xiang Family clan leader, who was busy approving reports, listened to the matter without breaking the rhythm of his reading. Only after clearing the case files on his desk and letting the servants take them away, he then turned to Xiang Loulan, who had been hung out to dry, and said indifferently, “This is very good. Why do you panic, my child?”

“Father, how could this be good!” said Xiang Loulan anxiously. “Most of the noble families in the Upper City District of Chaochang have received the benefits of the Yun Clan. Since our family took charge of Chaochang, we have always been at odds with them…”

“Silence!” said the previously composed Xiang Ange sharply, upon hearing Xiang Loulan’s words, “The city lord of Chaochang is the direct descendant of the Yun Clan ancestor, the young miss Yun Xiu. Our family is here merely to assist Lady Yun Xiu in managing Chaochang; the real decision-makers are the elders of the Yun Clan congregated in the Cloud Summit Meeting! Do you understand?”

“Father, it’s just the two of us now. What’s the point of holding such words in our mouth!”

Xiang Loulan frowned, looking around the empty steward room, feeling that her father Xiang Ange’s meticulousness was excessive: “Nowadays, who doesn’t know that Chaochang is under our Xiang Family’s rule? Even invitations to the Longzhou Youth Martial Arts Conference are sent to the Xiang Family. The Yun Clan is a thing of the past; why don’t we just find an excuse to abolish the Cloud Summit Meeting? After all, those side branches of the Yun Clan are nothing but idle and useless people these days!”

“Foolishness!” Xiang Ange, upon hearing his child’s foolish words, rebuked angrily, “The reason our family manages Chaochang so smoothly now is precisely because we hold the moral high ground. Without the cover of the Yun Clan’s reputation, do you realize how many merchants and magnates, powerful figures from various states who have once received great favors from the Yun Clan, would take up arms against us? Not to mention the far-off ones, just look at the Pavilion Master of the Yulin Pavilion, would he sit idly by? Do not let the smooth sailing before you blind your eyes. Inside Chaochang, countless eyes are watching us, waiting for us to show the slightest weakness to pounce like hungry wolves!”

For over a decade, like walking on thin ice, Xiang Ange had been cautiously building the Xiang Family’s reputation in Chaochang so as not to give his critics any material.

But the youth did not take the old man’s caution to heart, and Xiang Loulan exclaimed, “Father is being overly cautious! Having obtained the Yun Clan’s secret stash, we now have two martial arts masters. In another decade or so, we will have at least a handful of masters who have completed their Spirit Qualification. If any one of our ancestors breaks into the King Realm, our Xiang Family could remain as stable as Mount Tai for hundreds of years. Must we really wait until then to abolish the Cloud Council?”

Xiang Loulan could not contain himself any longer. From a young age, he was seen as a prodigy of the Xiang Family but suffered endless humiliation on Martial Saint Mountain, and in his view, it was all because of the Yun Clan.

Only by abolishing the Cloud Council and seizing the position of City Lord from Yun Xiu would the Xiang Family be the rightful ruler of Chaochang. Otherwise, as a vassal, one could never raise one’s head in their entire life.

The Xiang Family would forever be the dogs of the Yun Clan, and even if they changed masters, they could never rightfully stand tall.

But Xiang Loulan was just the junior clan head, and the real decision-maker of the Xiang Family was Xiang Ange. Even with a million reluctances in his heart, he could only bring the topic to a close and inquire about the resolutions concerning Bu Jiu and An Yuanxi.

“Father, you haven’t explained why it’s a good thing that the King Realm patrollers and the Arbitrators are conducting aggressive searches of the noble families. These powerful clans have always been at odds with us. Even if they don’t dare to confront the patrollers or the Arbitration Office directly, they will surely trouble our family after the fact. What should we do about this?”

In Chaochang, merchants and magnates are found everywhere. Stand on a street corner in the Upper City District and throw a handful of pebbles, and eight or nine times out of ten, you’ll hit either a shopkeeper or a relative of a noble family.

These people occupy the most central position in Chaochang, conducting business that connects all corners of the world. They have money, they have people, and many even have the support of sects.

To barge into such a noble family’s estate for an inspection would surely come at a price.

The young tend to view issues separately, always preferring businesses where profits are certain and losses are none.

But as you gain experience, you’ll realize that all benefits in this world come with risks, and the greater the benefit, the greater the risk.

Conversely, behind an action with severe risks, like this search, there lay benefits for the Xiang Family!

“My child, do you know who in the Upper City District pretends to be with us yet acts like a snake, who sincerely wishes to join us, and who sabotages us in the dark?”

Xiang Ange sighed deeply, “Our family has been in the city for over a decade, and I have realized that no matter how well our family does, even if we surpass the Yun Clan by a hundred or a thousand times, we cannot replace the Yun Clan’s place in the hearts of the Chaochang people.”

Merchants are best at being two-faced, especially those from Chaochang, who are exceedingly cunning. Such a group of people driven by profit come and go on a whim, let alone loyalty, even friendships are fake.

You think you’re their friend, but they only see you as a client. They give their all only because you are useful to them, but once the situation changes, they turn their backs faster than you can flip a page in a book.