Chapter 188: Water Qilin Leaves the Prefecture

“That kid Yang Ling, he’s caught Zhao Xun’s eye…”

Lu Yunchen’s expression shifted.

The other directors from Yunwen Provincial Capital exchanged furtive looks, each nursing their own thoughts.

Li Huaiyi and the others seethed with silent jealousy.

In official circles, Zhao Xun’s words were tantamount to saying, “You belong to me.”

They all wanted to hear those words said to themselves.

Unfortunately, their performance in the Water Qilin Cave had been unremarkable—neither outstanding nor disastrous—so receiving such praise was unlikely.

“Your Excellency Zhao, among the Rong tribe spies we discovered there was a heretic cult called the Immortal God Sect.”

Yang Ling spoke up suddenly, “The Immortal God Sect can produce a devastating weapon, something called ‘explosives.’

Its destructive power is enormous. If the Immortal God Sect is allowed to develop unchecked, it will be extremely dangerous.”

“Immortal God Sect? Explosives?”

Zhang Shendao and the others all gasped sharply, their faces showing astonishment.

Isn’t this the same heretic cult that appeared in the real world?

The Immortal God Sect has already appeared in the Water Qilin Cave?

They’ve developed this fast!?

“Explosives, huh? The Immortal God Sect must have skilled engineers and craftsmen. That’s not good news. I should have studied engineering instead of diving into Buddhist studies…”

Li Shou muttered to himself.

As teacher, Zhang Shendao, and reserve teacher Jiang Tian’ai both understood the implications.

They exchanged a glance and saw deep concern mirrored in each other’s eyes.

The Fourth Prince’s expression darkened somewhat:

“Chief Constable Yang’s worries are not without reason. The Immortal God Sect’s performance this time was indeed striking.

The explosives they brought nearly caused us heavy losses in the Water Qilin Cave.”

Li Ruhai asked with curiosity, “Fourth Prince, are these explosives really that powerful?”

“They’re likely comparable to a Grandmaster’s techniques.”

The Fourth Prince’s tone was low and grave. “We can only hope such devices are extremely rare; otherwise their appearance will boost the Rong tribe’s national power.”

Comparable to Grandmaster-level techniques! Increasing national power!

Either of those evaluations is an extraordinary assessment.

Especially the latter—only the rise of a new Second-Rank Human Immortal in a country could justify such a statement!

Li Ruhai and the others inhaled sharply.

Cao Junxiong, the Water Transport Guild’s Sixth-Rank expert, was stunned into silence.

Xu Wuji’s brow tightened as he exchanged a look with Zhao Xun.

At that moment, a Seventh-Rank Ironclad Department agent spoke quietly:

“My jurisdiction appears to already show signs of the Immortal God Sect.”

Zhao Xun nodded slightly. “The Ironclad Department has received some intelligence on the Immortal God Sect.

We know this sect’s leader is from the Rong tribe, and their main base is also there.

However, there are Immortal God Sect followers preaching within Zhao State as well.

When this mission concludes, the Department Head will reach a decision. You should prepare to suppress the Immortal God Sect.”

Everyone’s expressions grew slightly solemn.

If the Ironclad Department intends to eradicate the Immortal God Sect, it will certainly stir up turmoil in Zhao State’s martial world!

Yang Ling felt a private sense of relief. A heretic cult capable of manufacturing explosives and converting players into heretic cultists must be wiped out.

His own knowledge and rumors about the cult convinced him these people deserved no mercy and could not be allowed to flourish.

“By the way, did any of you obtain a Water Bodhi seed?”

“I looked at your haul, and it seems rather ordinary.”

Zhao Xun changed the subject, scanning the pouches carried by the martial artists present, and couldn’t help but smile.

Several martial artists blushed faintly.

Their yields had indeed been mediocre.

Yang Ling was different; his own pouch was bulging, and his overt findings were quite respectable.

His hidden gains… mentioning them would frighten people to death.

“We did see a Water Bodhi seed, but that thing was probably fake.”

The Fourth Prince recounted what happened.

Zhao Xun pondered, “If that’s the case, it was probably an illusion. It seems none of you obtained a real Water Bodhi seed.”

He paused, “But don’t be discouraged. Where is a martial saint pill like the Water Bodhi seed that easy to come by?

You managed to collect a batch of rare exotic herbs and flowers—already a good result.”

“Uncle Tang, these three sacks of rare herbs were confiscated by Chief Constable Yang. What do you want us to do with them?”

The Fourth Prince pointed to the three sacks on the ground and explained the situation.

Gu Weizhou looked gloomy and didn’t dare argue.

Zhao Xun shot Gu Weizhou a glance, then mused:

“Extraordinary matters require extraordinary measures. Since their ambush of Chief Constable Yang failed, these things naturally belong to Chief Constable Yang.”

He smiled at Yang Ling. “Take them. Sell them to the Pharmacy Guild or use them yourself, as you see fit.”

“Hiss—”

Mian Zhengdong and the other martial artists all inhaled sharply.

Even Li Ruhai’s face changed.

There were quite a few rare herbs in those three sacks!

Yang Ling didn’t decline; he promptly picked up the three sacks and tied them at his waist.

Just then, a dozen li away on the river, the water suddenly surged violently.

Zhao Xun’s face changed, his gaze sharpening.

Xu Wuji turned slightly, his eyes hawk-like and fierce.

“The Water Qilin is leaving the prefecture.”

Li Ruhai and the others didn’t dare be lax; they carefully held their breath and focused.

A flicker of curiosity appeared in Yang Ling’s eyes.

He wanted to see what the legendary Water Qilin actually looked like.

In the next instant, the waves grew increasingly violent, occasionally rising into surges tens of zhang high.

The boats everyone stood on were rocked by the waves and began to toss violently.

Then the surging water rushed away at great speed.

Through the entire scene, no one managed to see the Water Qilin itself.

“The Water Qilin is beneath those waves. It’s a pity it didn’t surface…”

Yang Ling watched the receding waves until they vanished from sight and mentally lamented the missed chance.

The next time it comes will be eighty years later; he might never have the chance to see the Water Qilin’s true face again.

After the Water Qilin left, the Tianyuan River took several breaths’ worth of time to calm.

Everyone’s eyes carried a trace of awe toward the Water Qilin.

That included the Fourth Prince, Zhao Xun, and Xu Wuji.

Although the Water Qilin hadn’t appeared, the overwhelming momentum it displayed had sent their hearts racing; it took a while to settle.

At that moment, the giant bird that Xu Wuji had earlier summoned reappeared and dropped a bamboo tube.

Xu Wuji opened it and his face darkened. He said to the Fourth Prince:

“Fourth Prince, the Rong tribe spies broke through the encirclement. We couldn’t capture many alive, only killed over a dozen…”

“This time they even deployed some Fifth-Rank and Sixth-Rank reinforcements. We also suffered many casualties among our experts.”

Everyone was slightly startled, their impression of the Heavenly Wolf Guard’s capabilities deepening.

To wreak such havoc on Zhao State’s turf and emerge almost unscathed—such a hand would be difficult even for a first-rate sect to orchestrate.

“As long as some escaped alive, it’s fine. The Heavenly Wolf Guard still suffered heavy losses.”

The Fourth Prince pondered.

After a moment, he turned to Cao Junxiong:

“Elder Cao, have your men ready the ships. We’ll return to Yunwen Provincial Capital.”

Yang Ling had an idea. After Cao Junxiong made the arrangements and every large ship began its return journey, he approached him.

Cao Junxiong understood at once and smiled:

“Chief Constable Yang, may we speak aside?”