Chapter 373 - 201: The Meaning of Power, The Iron Sword Sect Bows Its Head

Chapter 373: Chapter 201: The Meaning of Power, The Iron Sword Sect Bows Its Head

A brief, dead silence descended upon the cell, broken only by Chu Kuangfeng’s heavy, bellows-like gasps.

"The day this demon is vanquished will be the day you and your old friend are freed, Donor Chu."

Monk Kongjian added, gazing calmly at Chu Kuangfeng.

Chu Kuangfeng’s head was bowed, his disheveled long hair obscuring his expression.

After a long moment, a single word, as if dredged from the abyss and carrying an endless, suppressed chill, rang out:

"Fine."

A genuine smile finally touched Monk Kongjian’s lips. He opened his hand, revealing an irregularly shaped relic lying quietly in his palm, emitting a faint, gentle golden light.

"Since you are to enter our fold, you must accept our rules. Junior Brother Xuanxin, please refine this relic first to stabilize your Buddhist heart. It will not be too late to begin slaying demons and defending the path afterward."

Xuanxin was the dharma name they had prepared for Chu Kuangfeng long ago.

Chu Kuangfeng stared at the relic. A torrent of emotions flashed through his eyes—struggle, resentment, and fury—before finally settling into an icy coldness.

He knew that refining this item meant, to some extent, subjecting himself to an even deeper level of control.

’But if I don’t refine it, these damn monks will never feel safe letting me leave this Demon Suppression Tower.’

Silence descended.

After a long while, Chu Kuangfeng gave a painfully slow nod and forced a single word from the depths of his throat:

"Fine."

Seeing Chu Kuangfeng finally yield, the four First Seats outside the cell exchanged a look, their faces breaking into the smiles of victors—smiles filled with both compassion and satisfaction.

But set against the golden light in the dim base of the tower, their smiles looked exceptionally eerie and cold.

...

「Meanwhile」

Just as Golden Spring Temple was plotting against Chen Sheng, a piece of news from within the Jingwu Bureau landed like a boulder in a calm lake, sending waves surging through Ning’an Prefecture once more.

Chen Sheng, a Captain of the Jingwu Bureau, had been promoted to Vice Governor of the Jingwu Bureau, a position of the Junior Fifth Grade!

The news spread like wildfire, instantly engulfing the Prefecture City before radiating out in all directions.

It not only shook the Jianghu, but also left countless mid- and low-level officials within the government utterly dumbfounded.

A Governor in his early twenties!

Such a thing was unheard of, not just in Ning’an Prefecture, but in all of Yunzhou for the past twenty years!

This appointment also served as indirect confirmation of the rumors surrounding the battle at Fulong Creek.

There was no longer any doubt that Chen Sheng had broken through to Profound Mastery and killed Zhou Kuohai.

Chen Sheng’s old acquaintances were all jubilant upon hearing the news.

His old subordinates from G Camp were vindicated, walking with a swagger as if they had been the ones promoted.

After hearing the news, Wu Kuang of the Prefecture Government Office, who had once looked out for Chen Sheng, sat alone in his duty office for a long time, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

The young man who had once offered him silver for a leg up was now a towering figure he could only look up to.

Inside Luoyun Manor, Lu Canghai’s expression turned thunderous when he received the report.

It wasn’t just Chen Sheng’s terrifying individual power that worried him.

It was the immense authority and government backing that came with the title of Governor.

This meant that if Chen Sheng decided to move against Luoyun Manor, the resources he could now mobilize would far exceed anything he could before.

’I can’t wait any longer...’

Lu Canghai muttered to himself, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

He immediately decided to personally visit the Danxia Sect and the Ning’an Wang Clan.

He needed to sound out the attitudes of these two powers and be fully prepared for any eventuality, whether it be suing for peace or preparing for war.

Once the news was out, the various powers reacted swiftly.

Aside from Luoyun Manor and Golden Spring Temple—who had a feud to the death with Chen Sheng and remained eerily quiet—the other four top powers all prepared lavish gifts and sent representatives to Yunze City to offer their congratulations.

Sect Leader Bai Qing of the Danxia Sect, Sect Leader Lu Qingsong of the Iron Sword Sect, and Patriarch Wangqingshan of the Ning’an Wang Clan all attended in person.

Even the traditionally aloof Qingfeng Temple sent Elder Liang Jingxing—who had a passing acquaintance with Chen Sheng—as their representative.

For a time, the Yunze City Lord’s Mansion was filled with distinguished guests.

...

「The Main Hall of the City Lord’s Mansion」

Several banquet tables were laid out with rare delicacies, and the fragrance of fine wine filled the air.

Chen Sheng sat at the head of the hall, dressed in a brand-new, deep black Bear Official Robe that made his features appear sharper and his aura more composed and imposing.

Seated below him were Bai Qing, Wangqingshan, Lu Qingsong, Liang Jingxing, and the others, all chatting and laughing amiably.

Whatever their private thoughts, they were all impeccably keeping up appearances.

No one dared to treat Chen Sheng as a mere youth any longer.

His ability to sit as an equal with the leaders of these major powers, conversing with them so freely, was the ultimate proof of his strength and status.

In a corner of the hall, Xiong Lie and Li Xuance, who had accompanied their Sect Leader, watched the man at the head table. He was a young man, about their age, yet he could already converse with their own Sect Leader as an equal. The feeling this stirred in them was complex and difficult to put into words.

Their past rivalry felt like it had happened in another lifetime.

Now, he had ridden the winds and transformed into a dragon soaring through the heavens, while they were still struggling to achieve their next breakthrough within the confines of their sect.

The immense gap between them, mingled with a touch of resentment and a larger dose of despair, quietly filled their hearts.

They knew their Sect Leader’s personal visit, though ostensibly for celebration, was in reality... a gesture of submission, intended to resolve old grievances.

This realization made them feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles, deeply humiliated yet utterly powerless.

After three rounds of drinks, as the atmosphere grew more festive, Lu Qingsong saw the time was right. He raised his cup, stood to face Chen Sheng, and spoke with a sincere expression:

"Governor Chen, I’d like to take this cup of wine, first, to congratulate you on your promotion and wish you a brilliant future. Second, I would also like to apologize on behalf of two foolish juniors from my sect.

Xiong Lie and Xuan Ce were young and impetuous in the past. If they offended you in any way, I hope Your Excellency will be magnanimous and not hold it against them."

As he finished speaking, Xiong Lie and Li Xuance had no choice but to steel themselves, rise, and walk to the front. They gave Chen Sheng a deep bow, their voices dry and strained: