Master of Kaidan
Chapter 258 Strategy Group Secret Manual

Chapter 258: Chapter 258 Strategy Group Secret Manual

"Why Yan State?"

"Why Central State?"

Both asked almost simultaneously, but then they each had a moment of enlightenment.

The choice between Central State and Yan State, in a sense, could be seen as two extremes.

As the heart of Chu Country, Central State naturally could obtain more information and resources, but it also had to bear the pressure from the Demon Extermination Department. After all, the reason Qingyuan County had provided them with a travel permit so readily was essentially due to the fear of a power vacuum caused by mutual destruction. Under the Emperor’s feet, they had no doubt that the Demon Extermination Department would embrace the idea of "better to kill wrongly than to let one go."

Yan State, on the other hand, seemed to have more of a Jianghu atmosphere. According to those merchants, Yan State, neighboring Qing Province, was now like Xiangyang City in "Shooting Eagles." It was a bastion for martial artists to fight against the demons of the Demon Sect. It was dangerous, but more in line with the traditional cognition of the Martial World.

The choices they made also revealed their thoughts on cultivating Kaidan.

"I came here to enhance martial Kaidan, so Yan State is obviously more suitable for me," Feng Xue explained simply, yet she concealed the core reason.

You could enhance combat power anywhere, but the fundamental reason for heading to the frontline was that she wanted to develop a preliminary Instant Death Resistance. To cultivate such a Kaidan, she inevitably needed a large number of combat encounters and a sufficient number of witnesses. Therefore, the more chaotic it was, the more suitable it was for the spread of legends.

Old Li nodded upon hearing this and also offered an explanation,

"I plan to open an inn."

"Oh?" Feng Xue’s eyes lit up when she heard Old Li’s words, and she quickly grasped his idea. Seeing Feng Xue catch on quickly, Old Li didn’t hold back and said directly:

"In my previous world, many wuxia novels feature taverns and inns where, with a single piece of silver, the innkeeper could provide intelligence about all corners of the world. I want to run such a Kaidan."

"That won’t be easy, with information, channels, manpower—all of that requires a lot of effort. Moreover, don’t you lack combat power right now?"

In fact, Feng Xue thought the "Pleasant Arrival Inn model" had great potential. However, considering the complex network of relationships involved, she didn’t plan to compete with Old Li for this Kaidan. Unlike the straightforward approach of the Libra, the human interactions and relationships required, even if it was just opening a small store, were not easy to manage, let alone a franchise!

Old Li smiled at the comment and said, "Of course, I know this. But I have the relevant Power to try it. Moreover, once this network is established, it could even influence public opinion to some extent. Just spreading the news like, ’Even the number one expert under the heavens would not dare to cause trouble in this inn,’ along with adding some settings like ’the inn is an enterprise of a reclusive sect’ or ’the innkeeper is the real number one under the heavens,’ filling up the combat power is quite feasible."

At this point, Feng Xue clearly understood Old Li’s thoughts. This wasn’t about revealing his secrets, but rather informing her that he was going to proceed with this plan and advising her not to harm friendly forces.

...

"Si Province really was saved by its dreadful geographical position!" Half a month later, when she finally reached the border of Si Province, Feng Xue couldn’t help but sigh.

Although Si Province was adjacent to Qing and Yan States, it was luckily separated by a huge mountain range known as the "Hundred Thousand Great Mountains" by the locals, with only a few kilometers of narrow passes enabling travel from Si Province to Yan State. This meant that the government only needed to establish a fortress at this pass to achieve a situation where one man could fend off ten thousand.

While it still didn’t prevent powerful demons from crossing the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and infiltrating the Central Plains, it was significantly safer compared to the fully penetrated situation in Yan State.

Standing outside this majestic city, Feng Xue couldn’t help but marvel at the dark technology of this world. She wondered how this nearly hundred-meter-tall city wall was constructed.

"Guidebook!"

As Feng Xue pondered, the queue to enter the city had reached her. She took out her guidebook, and the city guard glanced at it before signaling her to enter.

Feng Xue frowned; although possessing a guidebook was proof enough, without a photo, the brief description of a few lines could be used by anyone who found it of the same age.

Compared with the strict physical examinations and reviews in the earlier counties, why did this fortress facing the Demon Sect’s demons seem so lax?

"You’re fresh out of the mountains, right?"

Just as Feng Xue entered the city gate, feeling puzzled, a somewhat frivolous voice reached her ears. When she turned her head, she almost thought it was Old Li who had followed her.

"How can you tell?" Feng Xue’s eyebrows lifted as she looked at the man in front of her. Although his clothes and appearance were different, he had a temperament similar to Old Li’s.

"A guide specifically for newbies? Or maybe a demon from the Demon Sect who sneaked into the city?" Feng Xue had a few guesses in her mind as the man said quite familiarly:

"I’ve been here in Yan State for several years now, and I’ve seen many young prodigies who’ve reached the Grandmaster Realm. But to prevail in Yan State in subduing demons, it’s not enough just to have skills."

"May I ask who you are?" Feng Xue said, clasping her hands together, and the man chuckled:

"Well said, I’m just a wanderer in Jianghu, selling some tales of Yan State."

As he spoke, the man took out a not-too-thick booklet from his bag, which was labeled "Yan State Guide," making Feng Xue suspect, "Are you, by chance, a transmigrator?"

"How much?" Although unsure if the man was trustworthy, having a reference seemed beneficial. Hearing her question, the man stretched out his hand and said:

"Fair price, five silver."

Feng Xue promptly pulled out some silver, and the man, feeling the weight, handed over the booklet to her and didn’t say much else before heading towards another young man.

Listening to the repeated question, "You’re fresh out of the mountains, aren’t you?" Feng Xue’s mouth twitched slightly, and somehow a bag of salt appeared in her hand.

Because she felt this man was just like an NPC that guides players in online games.

Casually tucking the salt away, Feng Xue flipped open the "Yan State Guide," and the first page was packed with essential information—

"How to Identify Demons of the Demon Sect."

"Huh, this is the first lesson before entering Yan State?" Feng Xue read descriptions like "skin with uneven patches or irregular tattoos," "a blunt trauma scar at the back of the head," "black and purple spots under the eyes," "carrying a strong sweet and bloody smell," "ears trembling slightly when speaking"... and connected them to the physical examinations done in Qingyuan County.

"Looks like ’Poison Skill,’" Feng Xue guessed, leveraging her martial arts knowledge about the so-called demons. However, she soon stopped that line of thinking because the second part of the book outlined decidedly—

"Cultivation Technique characteristics of Demon Sect’s demons."

"What strategy group’s ’Secret Manual’?"