617: Chapter 616: The Storm is Brewing 1 617: Chapter 616: The Storm is Brewing 1 Li Shipeng was indeed impressive.
For a cultivator who had been gathering strength for ten years, nothing could hinder his ambition to climb higher!
More resources, more important positions, more powerful mentors…
all these were the future for a cultivator like him with no background.
He was not, as Hou Niao thought, oblivious to the changes in the Jinxiu Continent; on the contrary, it was precisely because he knew that the continent might be on the brink of a grand and tumultuous era, an era that could be permanently etched into the history of cultivation, that he was so impatient to throw himself into it.
He knew that to not be abandoned by history, he had to actively take part; he didn’t know whom specifically to seek out or what events to get involved in, because his current level was too low, and he had seen too little.
So, if it was impossible to rapidly increase his cultivation realm, shouldn’t he at least plot to secure a position that would allow him to access higher-level secrets?
He had waited a long time and passed on several opportunities, so this time, he did not want to wait any longer.
Of course, there was also the vague intuition about this Capital Commandant Hou that compelled him to take a chance.
Mining resources weren’t as easy to conceal as magic artifacts.
The resources of Pingliang State belonged to the entire nation, not to private individuals; due to Pingliang’s special historical circumstances, Geng Ore was managed by Mu Shuai’s office.
Three-tenths of the yield were handed over to the Shan Sect, and the remaining seven-tenths belonged to Pingliang State, used for the operation of the state’s people’s livelihood.
With such large-scale ore mining, there was little room for falsification, and it couldn’t escape the attention of those who watched closely over time.
As soon as Li Shipeng made his move, the lost ores hadn’t even shown up yet, and many people were already unsettled.
They thought the Capital Commandant’s office would focus their main energy on tracking down the bandits, but they never imagined that the focus would instead be on internal investigations.
Of course, Li Shipeng’s reasoning was completely justified, without a single flaw: without an inside accomplice, how could a group of distant bandits accomplish a robbery so flawlessly and seamlessly?
“Open the storeroom, I want to inspect.”
Li Shipeng, accompanied by three colleagues from the Capital Commandant’s office who, like him, had previously been frustrated, now had great power in their hands and their attitudes turned somewhat abrasive; actually, this was nothing unusual in other state offices.
After all, wasn’t this the nature of the Capital Commandant’s work, to act without having to greet everyone with a smile?
But in Pingliang State, in Zhongqing Prefecture, people were more accustomed to their discretion and tolerance, not causing any trouble, so now that they were returning to their normal work routine, some found it difficult to accept.
The storage guards were cultivators from the Central Army’s Office.
Without an order from the Central Army’s Office, how dare they open the storeroom themselves?
Wouldn’t that be exposing all their business secrets to outsiders?
“Esteemed Daoist, you hold a Token from the Capital Commandant’s office, but this storeroom belongs to the Central Army’s Office; I’m afraid we cannot comply.”
Li Shipeng’s expression grew colder, “In Shan Country, there is no place that the Capital Commandant’s office cannot inspect when pursuing a case.
Moreover, this pursuit of the Geng Ore was at the request of the Central Army’s Office.
Have you forgotten so quickly?”
The leading storage guard was uncompromising, “We are not privy to the matters above.
Since there is the intent of the Central Army’s Office involved, why doesn’t Daoist Li go to the Central Army’s Office and ask for a token?
It shouldn’t be difficult, should it?”
He was confident, increasing the security measures in the storeroom after the incidents with two transport rafts.
Previously, a few cultivators would stand guard in rotations, but now there were five cultivators gathered at once, fearing a sudden attack from the bandits—or indeed, some unfaithful creature.
Li Shipeng knew he couldn’t show weakness; otherwise, everything he had done would have been for naught.
With a wave of his hand, he and the other three Capital Commandant’s sword cultivators prepared for battle.
“On the land of Shan Country, is there still someone who thinks they are beyond jurisdiction?
Do you know what the consequences are?”
The leading cultivator smirked coldly, “In another state, I might believe you; but this is Pingliang State.
If you really stir up some trouble, I’m afraid you, Daoist Li, wouldn’t be able to bear the responsibility.”
Li Shipeng thought to himself; they were four, and the opponents were five.
Not that they couldn’t be forceful, but when the strengths of both sides were not far apart, it would be difficult to control the situation without causing irreversible damage.
Killing would be easier, but was this the place for blood to be spilled five steps away?
At times like these, it was a contest of wills—he could not retreat!
“Those who dare obstruct the actions of the Capital Commandant’s office may be executed without hesitation!”
No sooner had his words fallen than he began to lead the charge inside.
The storage guards grinned viciously, as one hand transformed into a Magic Barrier and pushed forward, colliding directly with Li Shipeng who was charging towards them.
In the midst of the violent fluctuations of spiritual forces, a flash of sword light appeared, and several people immediately clashed, but confined by the environment of the storeroom, the fight had yet to escalate seriously, amounting only to shoving each other with their mana.
As soon as Li Shipeng matched forces with his opponent, he knew he had made a mistake.
He should not have charged in; he should have released his Flying Sword to strike immediately.
His hesitations meant he fell into the trap that other cultivator had set at the mana level.
What was worse, the opponent’s mana cultivation was even higher than his.
His pride was high, constrained only by the fact that he did not possess the strength to overwhelm.
Clearly, the five Central Army’s Office cultivators had come prepared, and he also didn’t know if there were others hidden here.
He sighed internally, knowing he would have to swallow this silent setback.
Another person might care more about face, but he would not; he only valued results.
He couldn’t let a moment of impulsiveness ruin the big picture for the Capital Commandant.
As he began to withdraw his force, since the opponent had restricted him in this way, he could use the same method to compel them to let them leave.
After all, as long as no casualties occurred, neither side was completely betrayed.
“Daoist friends are highly skilled; being mere miners in a remote mine is a waste of talent.
It’s a wonder who could have persuaded you to do such work?”
The leading cultivator didn’t insist on detaining them, and sneered, “It’s not that we are underutilized, but rather that the Capital Commandant’s office is incompetent; you come with great momentum, only to appear a pewter head on a steel rod.”
…As Li Shipeng led his companions away, one of the sword cultivators felt dissatisfied, “Why didn’t we draw our swords?
To suffer such humiliation for no reason, can our Capital Commandant’s office still hold its head high in Pingliang State?”
Li Shipeng’s face darkened, “Our aim is to provoke them!
This storeroom is just the beginning, and there will be many more places where we’ll encounter similar challenges…
Remember, our job is to fan the flames, not to resolve the situation.
If they become anxious and act out, we achieve our goal.
Don’t worry about our reputation.
Has the Capital Commandant’s office been so renowned in Pingliang State these years?
What does it matter if we add a few more incidents?
What we seek is a thorough resolution, not to maintain a laughable facade where it doesn’t matter.”
“How do we resolve this completely?” one of the sword cultivators asked.
Li Shipeng did not respond, because he didn’t know either.