Chapter 488 - 245: Alliance Leader and Mastermind

Chapter 488: Chapter 245: Alliance Leader and Mastermind

The Government Office and the Jingwu Bureau were both under his influence, and in the Jianghu, he had the Initial Saint Sect as his wings...

At that rate, Ning’an Prefecture would likely become what could be called "Chen’s Ning’an," a place where Chen Sheng alone called the shots.

To this end, Nie Changming, the Patriarch of the Nie Clan’s branch, had urgently reported to the main family in Yunzhou. His words were filled with concern and dissatisfaction over Chen Sheng building a private army and marginalizing the Nie Clan’s interests.

However, what he received in return was a stern reprimand and punishment from the main family.

The Nie Family’s stance was crystal clear.

Chen Sheng was the son-in-law of the Nie Clan’s Direct Lineage, making him "one of them." As a member of a branch family, Nie Changming was to prioritize assisting and cooperating with him, working together in good faith to jointly protect the Nie Family’s interests in Ning’an.

That Chen Sheng had been able to build such a foundation in Ning’an was proof of his ability and value, something the Nie Family was happy to see.

As for the distribution of profits, although their twenty-percent share was less than expected, it was still a tangible gain. They should be content and must not jeopardize their relationship with Chen Sheng over petty profits. That would be a true case of the losses outweighing the gains.

Thoroughly humbled, Nie Changming had no choice but to put aside his scheming and formally apologize to Chen Sheng.

He also made his position clear.

Henceforth, the Ning’an Nie Clan would follow Inspector Chen’s lead and resolutely support the decisions made by the Government Office under Chen Sheng’s leadership.

With the explicit support of the Nie Clan’s branch, Chen Sheng’s foundation of rule in Ning’an became even more solid.

When some powers from the surrounding prefectures saw that the situation in Ning’an had stabilized and that the profits were rich, they couldn’t resist extending their feelers to try and take a slice of the pie. Chen Sheng’s response was iron-fisted and decisive.

Under his guidance, the Initial Saint Sect, Iron Sword Sect, Danxia Sect, Ning’an Wang Clan, and Ning’an Nie Clan—all led by the Government Office—launched ruthless attacks on any outside force that dared to infringe upon Ning’an’s interests.

They eradicated them root and stem, showing no mercy.

The Iron Sword Sect and the other two major powers, although still resentful of Chen Sheng’s domineering attitude and broken promises during the subsequent distribution of profits,

were in complete alignment with his stance when it came to resisting foreign aggressors and protecting their own territory and resources.

The more hungry wolves that came from the outside, the less meat there would be for them.

For a time, the five newly established major powers of Ning’an, united under Chen Sheng, actually formed a rather solid alliance.

They presented a united front, severing every hand that reached in and beating back the surrounding powers until they no longer dared to covet Ning’an’s wealth.

Seizing this favorable opportunity, and at Chen Sheng’s behest, the New Ning’an Alliance was formally established.

Chu Kuangfeng, Sect Leader of the Initial Saint Sect, and Lu Qingsong, Sect Leader of the Iron Sword Sect, were nominated as Deputy Alliance Leaders.

The position of Alliance Leader, however, was unexpectedly left vacant.

But anyone with discerning eyes knew full well who that vacant throne belonged to.

It was, of course, the man hidden behind the curtain of the Government Office, the inspector who could decide the fate of the Five Sects with a single word and single-handedly control the landscape of the Ning’an Martial World: Chen Sheng!

Though he didn’t hold the title of Alliance Leader, he was already the unspoken, publicly acknowledged uncrowned king of the Ning’an Martial World—the true master behind the scenes.

Chen Sheng had his own reasons for arranging things this way.

’Chu Kuangfeng has a heroic reputation, but his Cultivation and prestige are not yet sufficient to command universal respect. Forcing him into the role of Alliance Leader would only stir up trouble.’

’Lu Qingsong is qualified enough, but would I really hand over the power of an Alliance Leader to someone else?’

’It’s better to leave the position vacant. This maintains a superficial balance while keeping the ultimate authority firmly in my own hands.’

As for becoming the Alliance Leader myself?

Chen Sheng had no such intention.

He was an official appointed by the court, already a figure of immense real power in Ning’an.

His ambitions lay in the high halls of the court, in seizing even greater authority.

To him, the empty title of Alliance Leader of the Ning’an Martial World was far less practical and transcendent than being the shadow leader who could command the heroes without holding the position.

Besides, Chen Sheng had already paved the way for Chu Kuangfeng.

As far as he knew, Chu Kuangfeng had been accumulating power for a long time and was on the verge of breaking through to the late stage of Profound Mastery.

Once he successfully broke through, then with a few of Chen Sheng’s arrangements and some manufactured momentum, Chu Kuangfeng could logically ascend to the Alliance Leader’s throne.

Having him manage the Ning’an Martial World in his stead was the most stable, long-term plan.

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