Chapter 103: Do I, Shi Xin, Have No Face Left at All?

"Liu Wu is a Rong tribe spy and also a Martial Artist from the Giant Spirit Sect. It seems the Rong tribe mainly has the Giant Spirit Sect responsible for matters in Changhe Prefectural Capital?"

"Wu Que was originally the Supervisor of the Vermilion Gold Mine, and He Xiang is the son of a Mining Guild elder. They're all on the same line."

"There are still Rong tribe spies within the Mountain and River Sect."

"It seems the Mining Guild is very problematic, probably riddled with holes like a sieve."

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Yang Ling suddenly smiled and said,

"Can we take the Prince's Gang members away now?"

He Xiang was slightly taken aback, his expression uncertain as he cupped his fists respectfully.

"Constable Yang, you are with the Prince's Gang..."

"Grand Elder."

Yang Ling said calmly.

A flash of pleasant surprise appeared in Wen You's eyes. Brother Yang was giving him so much face!

Without another word, he sneered repeatedly at He Xiang.

"You think I dared to come here today for no reason? Did you really think I didn't know you, He Xiang, are a Ninth-Rank? Plus this so-called Mad Blade Liu Wu, that makes two Ninth-Rank experts. If I didn't have complete confidence, you wouldn't be seeing me here today."

"Brother Yang is now the Grand Elder of our Prince's Gang. Your Dragon-Subduing Gang is to disband immediately, and all members are to be sent back to their hometowns."

"From now on, our Prince's Gang will take over all your territory."

"Do you have any objections?"

These words caused He Xiang and the Dragon-Subduing Gang members present to repeatedly change expressions.

A strange glint flashed in Liu Wu's eyes, then his expression visibly relaxed considerably.

So the other party appeared here because of their connection to the Prince's Gang, not specifically targeting the Rong tribe.

Liu Wu now stood low-key behind He Xiang, no longer speaking.

"Constable Yang, you, a dignified Upper Eighth-Rank expert, how could you get involved with the Prince's Gang..."

A smile suddenly appeared on He Xiang's face.

"I wonder if our Dragon-Subduing Gang has the honor of inviting you to become our Grand Elder?

For this, our Dragon-Subduing Gang can offer ten Spirit Nurturing Pills.

And every month thereafter, we'll give another Spirit Nurturing Pill!"

Wen You sucked in a cold breath. This rich kid from the Mining Guild was really generous.

He actually had that many Spirit Nurturing Pills?!

Yang Ling smiled but didn't respond to the other party. He just told Wen You to take the people and then turned to leave.

The smile on He Xiang's face slightly stiffened.

Only after Yang Ling and the others had left did he finally couldn't help but clench his fist, his eyes somewhat gloomy.

"Gang Leader He, with an expert like Yang Ling backing the Prince's Gang, I'm afraid..."

Liu Wu said with a thoughtful expression.

He Xiang snorted coldly, "What does Yang Ling amount to? Just an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist. All strength but no official power?

A mere Chief Constable from Green Mountain City, does he really think he's some big shot?

The Prince's Gang wants to use him to pressure me? That's impossible!"

"Gang Leader He, then what should we do next..."

"My father will be back soon. When he returns, we'll ask him to make the decision."

He Xiang said calmly.

A flicker passed through Liu Wu's eyes as he nodded with a smile.

......

At the Ironclad Department Yamen, Shi Xin was somewhat surprised when he saw Yang Ling.

"What brings you here, kid?"

Yang Ling immediately recounted the matter of Wen You's trip to Green Mountain City.

"Water Qilin Cave? Old Wen's information is really well-informed..."

Shi Xin muttered to himself, then his expression shifted.

"You said Old Wen gave you five Foundation Consolidation Pills?"

"That's correct."

Yang Ling nodded slightly.

"It seems the information I received is accurate. Old Wen should have some connection with the Pharmacy Guild.

He's showing you goodwill and reminding you about the Water Qilin Cave matter, probably hoping that if you can go to the Water Qilin Cave and obtain some precious medicinal materials, you'll sell them to them first."

Shi Xin smiled, "Every time the Water Qilin Cave opens, those young experts with spots get approached by a bunch of people promising various benefits."

Yang Ling was somewhat surprised and also relieved. If it was just this kind of request, it was fine.

Whether he could even go was still an unknown.

"Chief Constable Shi, does that mean any benefits obtained from going to the Water Qilin Cave can be disposed of freely?"

Yang Ling asked curiously.

"It seems you're somewhat tempted."

Shi Xin chuckled, "Basically, they can all be disposed of freely. Of course, our Ironclad Department will also offer high prices for purchase."

He paused, then continued, "However... there's one thing in the Water Qilin Cave that, if obtained, must be surrendered. It cannot be disposed of privately. Otherwise, if discovered, the punishment is execution of the entire family and extermination of the clan."

"What is it? The Water Bodhi seed?"

Yang Ling was slightly stunned. Execution of the entire family? Such a severe crime?

"Of course not the Water Bodhi seed. It's the scales shed by the Water Qilin."

Shi Xin's expression became somewhat solemn.

"This material is special. Even the Divine Crossbow cannot pierce it!

Last time the Water Qilin Cave opened, many people obtained scales shed by the Water Qilin from inside. Some of them were acquired by our Ironclad Department.

In the end, three sets of Qilin Armor were made. Their defense is even more astonishing. Even a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster cannot break through them!"

"Hiss—"

Yang Ling inwardly sucked in a cold breath.

Even a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster cannot break through?

That's even more exaggerated than the Divine Crossbow being unable to pierce it!

If he could obtain such a set of Qilin Armor, no matter what kind of dangerous situation he encountered in the future, his survival rate would be extremely high!

"So, this armor cannot be privately handled. Even if one of the Four Top-Tier Sects obtains scales shed by the Qilin, they must hand them over to our Zhao State."

Shi Xin smiled, "This thing involves too much. If it accidentally flows to the Rong tribe side, the impact on us would be extremely negative."

"This item indeed needs strict control."

Yang Ling nodded with a solemn expression.

"That fellow Wen Kongxuan thinks Yun Ruo can give you a spot. Does he think I, Shi Xin, have no face?"

Shi Xin suddenly sneered.

"Alright, I'll write a letter to the capital immediately, to my old superior. No matter what, I'll help you get a spot. Someone as young as you, an Upper Eighth-Rank, how can you not go to the Water Qilin Cave to try your luck?

This is an opportunity that only comes once every eighty years!"

Speaking of this, he sighed somewhat emotionally.

"If your current cultivation could reach Upper Seventh-Rank, this matter would be absolutely secure, and you could also obtain more benefits in the Water Qilin Cave."

Yang Ling's mind stirred. His attributes indeed weren't at Upper Seventh-Rank.

But... if he went all out, he definitely had the level of a Lower Seventh-Rank.

Sun Biao said that as long as he could defeat him in a head-on fight, that would be Lower Seventh-Rank.

"The Tiger-Capturing Saber Technique can increase Strength by 9 points. The Twelve Paths Vajra Legs will soon reach Flawless Proficiency, which can then increase Strength by 18 points."

"Plus the Jiaogu Saber's 10 points of Strength, and the Vajra Bright King Technique's 30 points of Strength."

"My Strength limit can reach 78 points!"

"My Agility can break 110. My Strength is only about ten points inferior to Sun Biao's, but my Agility is much higher than his. Defeating him head-on shouldn't be a problem."

After thinking it over, Yang Ling still decided not to reveal his true strength.

A Seventh-Rank expert this young would receive dozens of times more attention than an Upper Eighth-Rank.

That wouldn't be good.

"I'm writing the letter. You go pay a visit to Wen Kongxuan. He gave you five Foundation Consolidation Pills, so you should at least go pay your respects to him."

Shi Xin said with a smile.

Seeing this, Yang Ling immediately cupped his fists and said,

"This subordinate takes his leave!"