My Beasts Grind Proficiency For Me

The procession escorting Yang Jing was by no means small. Not only were there people striking gongs and playing music, but there were also attendants holding signs to clear the way and prevent anyone from crashing into the procession.

The carriage Yang Jing rode in was pulled by four ferocious Flood Dragon Beasts.

He recognized at a glance that these Flood Dragon Beasts were Demons of Flood Dragon Bloodline that had transformed by cultivating the Supreme Nine Transformations of the Dragon Scripture, and they possessed considerable power.

Given the long lifespans of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, a single post could easily be held for several decades. Furthermore, positions within the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion were strictly one-to-one, so transfers and promotions were exceedingly rare.

Moreover, Cultivators from the Sect coming to take up their posts didn’t require a procession.

Even the old-timers at the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion had only witnessed such a procession two or three times.

The moment some astute onlookers saw this procession, they guessed that the person inside the dragon carriage must be the new appointee for the recently vacated post of Seven Kingdoms Minister.

"It’s enough to drive you mad with envy. We’ve languished in the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion for sixty or seventy years and are still just minor Yu Hou. That Yang Jing is only in his early twenties, yet his first post was Demon Patrol Envoy—two tiers above us—and now he’s already been promoted to Minister."

A white-haired old Yu Hou watched the procession, his eyes burning with envy.

Within the structure of the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion, Minister was the highest position a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage could hold, a role of significant power and authority.

Many disciples from the Six Sects schemed and scrambled for the chance to secure a Minister position, from which they could seek a lateral transfer back to their Sect. After the post of Seven Kingdoms Minister opened up, everyone pulled out all the stops, each displaying their own Divine Techniques.

"That Yang Jing is a prodigy, his Magical Power immense and unrivaled. He slaughters Demon Cultivators like mowing grass. If you, Old Yu, could come back with a few Demon Cultivator heads hanging from your belt, I’d support you for Seven Kingdoms Minister too."

The old Yu Hou’s companion mocked him, causing his face to flush crimson with embarrassment.

Yang Jing could feel countless gazes fixed upon his dragon carriage. Someone who enjoyed showing off in public would have savored the attention.

He could only urge the Yu Hou to make the procession move faster.

Even so, the procession still took more than the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn before it reached the Governor’s Mansion.

Zuoqiu Feng and Guo Chuanzhi stood by the balustrade of a tall building, watching as Yang Jing was ushered into the Governor’s Mansion by the procession. Guo Chuanzhi was filled with complex emotions. He had also been a True Disciple and was even a core member of the Master-Disciple Lineage, yet he had languished in the Sect for nearly thirty years before becoming Chief of the General Affairs Hall at the age of ninety-seven.

The Five Elements True Spirit Sect naturally recognized positions within the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion. In just a few short years, Yang Jing had already become his equal.

Zuoqiu Feng’s phoenix-like eyes were downcast, making her expression difficult to read.

"Xiaoguo, have you made your decision?"

The moment she spoke, Guo Chuanzhi felt his scalp tingle with dread.

"Junior Martial Uncle Zuoqiu, could you please call me something else? Besides, this is a grave matter. How could a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator like myself dare to act on my own authority? I’m so worried about leaks that I haven’t even dared to send a message Talisman back to the Sect."

Zuoqiu Feng stretched languidly out of boredom.

"You’re a man, so why are you being so indecisive? I, a Golden Core Cultivator, want to leave the Noble Lineage and join your Master-Disciple Lineage. This is an incredible stroke of luck, so what are you hesitating for?"

"’Success is born of secrecy, failure from loose lips.’ This is a momentous affair, Junior Martial Uncle Zuoqiu. Please stop speaking of it so casually."

Guo Chuanzhi hastily glanced around, terrified that the walls had ears.

"Besides, it is precisely because you are a Golden Core Cultivator that I am so hesitant, Junior Martial Uncle Zuoqiu! If the Noble Lineage flies into a rage out of humiliation and our two lineages erupt into a violent conflict like the one a hundred years ago, how could a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator like me possibly shoulder such immense blame?"

A hundred years ago, not long after Guo Chuanzhi had joined the Five Elements True Spirit Sect, he was just an Inner Sect Disciple. Back then, the struggle between the Noble Lineage and the Master-Disciple Lineage was at its most intense.

It wasn’t like today, where Magical Combat is all about pulling punches. Back then, it wasn’t rare for blood to be spilled on the Magic Battle Platform, and some True Disciples even died.

It was only when a Nascent Soul Elder from the Sect saw that things had gotten out of hand and intervened that the violence was suppressed.

Zuoqiu Feng was just over a hundred years old, a few years younger than Guo Chuanzhi, yet she was already a First Layer Golden Core Master. Moreover, she cultivated the Tai Shi Five Elements True Talisman Scripture, meaning her chances of achieving Nascent Soul Formation were far from small.

If someone of her stature were to defect to the Master-Disciple Lineage, it would undoubtedly send shockwaves throughout the entire Sect.

"Junior Martial Uncle Zuoqiu, if you refuse to explain your reasons for wanting to join the Master-Disciple Lineage, I simply cannot report this matter to them."

Guo Chuanzhi said with some hesitation.

He was afraid Zuoqiu Feng was just using this matter to trick him into returning to the Sect, only to take the opportunity to win over Yang Jing herself.

If that happened, he would become a complete laughingstock.

Zuoqiu Feng’s expression was complicated.

"It’s impossible for me to achieve Nascent Soul Formation while in the Zuoqiu Family. Those people persecuted my father, causing him to die of grief, and I have long considered them my mortal enemies. My achieving Core Formation has already left them in a state of constant terror, afraid I’ll come back to settle old scores. If I show any signs of advancing to Nascent Soul, they’ll definitely do something desperate."

Guo Chuanzhi’s eyes widened, and he spoke in disbelief.

"For such a trivial reason, they would obstruct your cultivation path?"

Zuoqiu Feng shook her head.

"This is no small matter. The Noble Family shares its fate with the Sect. So what if they have one less Nascent Soul? Their prestige might diminish slightly, but there won’t be any shortage of their usual luxuries. Besides, doesn’t the Zuoqiu Family have Zuoqiu Ye? In their eyes, Zuoqiu Ye also has the potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage."

Guo Chuanzhi scoffed.

"If Zuoqiu Ye dares to claim he has Nascent Soul potential, then wouldn’t that make Yang Jing a candidate for Divinity Transformation?"

"Second, have you heard of the Profound Carp Association?"

Zuoqiu Feng looked at Guo Chuanzhi.

Guo Chuanzhi’s expression instantly turned grim. As the Chief of the General Affairs Hall, he was naturally not ignorant of an organization like the Profound Carp Association, which was known to collude with the Demon Country.

He had even coordinated with the Taixu Sword Sect’s Demon Slaying Hall to investigate this matter, rooting out a few moles within their own Sect.

Zuoqiu Feng’s tone immediately led him to a deeply unsettling suspicion.

"Don’t tell me...?"

"I have no proof. Given my status, the Zuoqiu Family would never let me get involved in such things. However, thirty years ago, the Zuoqiu Family ancestor, Zuoqiu Hui, suddenly acquired a batch of Life-Extending Spiritual Objects. Her lifespan increased significantly—enough for her to live another two hundred and eighty years."

Zuoqiu Feng said lightly.

Within the territory of the Six Great Sects of the Western Continent, all known Life-Extending Spiritual Objects had long been discovered and placed under strict control. Furthermore, as an Elder of the Five Elements True Spirit Sect, Zuoqiu Hui had already consumed most types, and they would no longer be effective for her.

For her lifespan to suddenly increase so dramatically was indeed highly suspicious.

This earth-shattering revelation made Guo Chuanzhi’s mind go numb. An Elder of the Five Elements True Spirit Sect colluding with Demons... if the other Five Sects were to demand an explanation, it would be a catastrophe, as if the very heavens were collapsing.

"Could they have been purchased from the Central Continent?"

he asked, clinging to a faint hope.

"After the incident with the Profound Carp Association, the Zuoqiu Family suddenly ran into Spirit Stone liquidity problems. They were even a month late on their clansmen’s Spirit Stone stipends and strictly forbade anyone from speaking of it. If I hadn’t accidentally overheard a maid complaining, I would never have known."

Zuoqiu Feng’s words plunged Guo Chuanzhi into complete silence.