Chapter 375 - 202: I Will Not Enjoy This Glory Alone

Chapter 375: Chapter 202: I Will Not Enjoy This Glory Alone

"Clan Leader Wang, what message did Lu Canghai ask you to bring?"

Chen Sheng leaned back slightly, resting against the back of his chair. His gaze fell calmly on Wangqingshan, his tone betraying no emotion.

Wangqingshan put down his wine cup and said with a serious expression:

"Manor Master Lu says that while the past grievances are complex, upon careful reflection, it was ultimately Luoyun Manor that acted improperly and was at fault first. He hopes to resolve the conflict with Governor Chen.

To that end, he is willing to offer one hundred Elemental Crystals, plus three drops of ’Cold Marrow,’ as an apology."

"Cold Marrow?"

Chen Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his lips curled into a cryptic smile.

He was, of course, familiar with this item.

The six great powers of Ning’an Prefecture each had their own foundation and greatest treasure.

For example, Golden Spring Temple’s Golden Spring Spiritual Liquid, the Danxia Sect’s medicinal garden, the Ning’an Wang Clan’s Earth Core Spirit Milk... and Luoyun Manor’s most precious legacy was this Cold Marrow.

According to the Jingwu Bureau’s records.

By a stroke of luck, the founding ancestor of Luoyun Manor found a unique White Jade Cold Toad in the frigid lands overseas. He brought it back to a secret location in the manor and spent a hundred years carefully cultivating it with a special Magic Technique.

This toad gradually developed spiritual intelligence and could endlessly secrete an extremely cold and pure marrow fluid, which was the Cold Marrow.

This item had miraculous effects for a Martial Artist’s cultivation, whether for Qi Refining or Body Refining, and was an incredibly rare Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence.

More importantly, according to the hints from the "Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil" Celestial Book, aside from the annual tribute given to their backer, the Vast Sea Upper Sect, Luoyun Manor’s current stock of Cold Marrow still had twelve drops remaining.

If he could obtain and refine all of it, it would be enough to push his Cultivation from the initial stage of the Primordial Sea to the peak of the Primordial Sea Realm.

Furthermore, the White Jade Cold Toad itself, which had already developed spiritual intelligence, would also be of immeasurable help for breaking through the Body Refining bottleneck and reaching the Thunder Sound Realm, the middle stage of Profound Mastery.

Chen Sheng’s determination to move against Luoyun Manor was driven by a desire to settle old scores, but seizing their foundational treasures to fuel his own cultivation was an equally undeniable core objective.

Seeing Chen Sheng remain silent, Wangqingshan quickly added, distancing himself from the matter:

"Governor Chen, I was merely entrusted by another to pass on a message. Whatever Luoyun Manor’s attitude may be, I and the Ning’an Wang Clan will absolutely not get involved."

"Heh heh..."

Chen Sheng chuckled lightly, his gaze shifting to Lu Qingsong, who looked slightly tense.

"Sect Leader Lu, in your opinion, what should be done about this?"

Lu Qingsong’s brows furrowed slightly. He said tentatively, "Manor Master Lu... does seem truly remorseful this time, and he has adopted a very humble stance. As they say, it’s better to resolve enmity than to create it. If we can..."

"He doesn’t know he was wrong."

Chen Sheng suddenly cut Lu Qingsong off. His voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear, carrying an icy, decisive finality:

"He knows... that Luoyun Manor is about to be destroyed!"

The moment his words fell, the very air in the hall seemed to freeze.

Bai Qing still wore a faint smile, but her eyes had grown a few shades deeper.

Wangqingshan’s pupils contracted, and the hand raising his teacup paused.

As for Lu Qingsong, his breath hitched, and some of the color drained from his face.

The killing intent and resolution in Chen Sheng’s words were now laid bare, completely undisguised.

"In the past, Luoyun Manor first secretly hired assassins from the White Tiger Hall to kill me. Not long ago, they went even further, colluding with the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance—heinous water bandits who have plagued Ning’an—to openly lay a trap and defy the Government Office."

Chen Sheng slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over the three of them like a bolt of cold lightning.

"Such actions have long since crossed the line. Even setting aside my personal grudges with Lu Canghai, merely to restore order to Ning’an and protect the peace of its people, I... cannot allow Luoyun Manor to continue causing chaos."

At this, Chen Sheng paused. His fingertips tapped lightly on the tabletop, the crisp, rhythmic sound breaking the suffocating silence.

Chen Sheng looked at each of the three in turn:

"Eradicating such a menace is not a matter for my Jingwu Bureau alone; it also requires the full support of our fellow members of the Jianghu. I wonder, are the three of you willing... to lend a hand in this matter?"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, and the ripples they created sent a massive shock through the hearts of the three.

A faint sheen of sweat appeared on Lu Qingsong’s brow, and he was filled with endless regret.

’If I had known it would be this kind of life-or-death situation of choosing sides, I should have just left with Liang Jingxing regardless of everything!’

Now he was in an impossible situation. Since he was now in the know, if he flatly refused, the old grievances that had just been so painstakingly resolved would likely vanish into thin air.

Given Chen Sheng’s vengeful nature, the Iron Sword Sect would surely face even fiercer retaliation in the future.

But if he agreed... it would be tantamount to openly violating the unwritten rule of the six major sects standing together. He would be siding completely with the Government Office, and in the future, he would become a public enemy in the Ning’an Martial World!

Wangqingshan’s expression was grave. He said thoughtfully:

"Governor Chen, it’s not that I wish to shirk responsibility, but... the six major sects once made an unwritten agreement to watch over and help one another when facing pressure from the Government Office. If we were to move against Luoyun Manor,

Golden Spring Temple and Qingfeng Temple... would likely not stand idly by. At that point, the situation would spiral out of control, which I fear would not be a blessing for Ning’an. I urge the Governor to reconsider."

"Clan Leader Wang is absolutely right!"

Lu Qingsong, as if clutching a life-saving straw, quickly agreed, "This could set off a chain reaction. This matter requires careful consideration."

Chen Sheng remained noncommittal, turning to Bai Qing, who had yet to state her position clearly.

"Sect Leader Bai, and what are your thoughts?"

Bai Qing broke into a bright smile, but her words carried a decisive chill:

"Luoyun Manor colluded with water bandits and plotted to assassinate a court official. The evidence is irrefutable, and their crimes are heinous. Although my Danxia Sect has some ties with our fellow members of the Jianghu, we are ashamed to associate with such scum!

If Governor Chen is determined to rid Ning’an of this scourge, my Danxia Sect... would be happy to see it happen!"