"If that''s the case,"


    "I really must secure the first ce."


    Chen Sansi was aware that the people from the famous families across the whole world definitely were not the same as those from a poor and remote ce like Po Yang County.


    Take the Blood Refining Realm for instance.


    In Po Yang County, most people only reach a rge'' level.


    He, on the other hand, had his power flowing through his entire body. How could it be the same?


    Whether it''s the royal family or any noble family, no matter how inferior, they wouldn''tck much, their resources were absolutely sufficient, not to mention, their talents were not poor either.


    At least one parent in each noble family was a high-realm martial artist, plus with wealthy people having many descendants, each generation could generally produce at least one fairly talented individual, and if lucky, even a genius.


    Challenging across realms was certainly difficult.


    Moreover, for those in the Refining Internal Realm, martial artists could experience a special state called "Blood Burst" which immensely amplified their abilities. Even transcending one realm might not guarantee a win, let alone he had only achieved a small achievement in his cultivation technique.


    It was just that time was tight.


    Once the war broke out, all the Selection Officers from across the country were summoned in advance, causing the selection to be held much earlier.


    For him to reach a small achievement in refining internal organs, it would take at least twenty days at the fastest.


    Unless he could secure more beast meat, particrly Exotic Beast Meat, and find someone to train with him day and night without stopping, maybe he could speed up the process a bit.


    "Oh well, let''s go and see first."


    Chen Sansi, along with Sun Buqi, embarked in a carriage.


    It was his first time entering the city from the county, and he couldn''t help but lift the curtain to enjoy the street views. When they passed through the bustling market area, he used his keen eyes to spot a few notices.


    Among them, two in particr caught his attention.


    A wanted order from the Witch God Sect, and a eulogy of his leading people across the river.


    Chen Sansi inquired, "Is the Witch God Sect also in Liangzhou City?"


    "Of course, it is."


    Sun Buqi leaned back in his seat, munching on some unknown fruit, and said, "The Witch God Sect has been causing chaos for more than just a day or two. They have a presence practically all over the world, and not all of them are Barbarians. They have many followers even in the Central ins, hard to distinguish from their appearance. Lurking in the darkness, they disrupt the peace and stir up trouble everywhere.


    "Just like in Seven Absolute Sect of Dongyi City, in my opinion, eight or nine out of ten, it''s their instigation."


    "Hmm."


    Chen Sansi had long heard of the Witch God Sect causing chaos everywhere. Po Yang County was unaffected before the Immortal Treasure incident because it was too insignificant.


    The ce was too small with not enough strategic value, that even the Witch God Sect couldn''t be bothered toe.


    "And furthermore,"


    Sun Buqi sat upright, seriously stating, "The followers in Liangzhou City specifically target martial artists. Initially, they killed those of lower realms more often, butter they even took down those in higher realms. It''s said during the frontline warfare, even the top disciple of Moon Splitting Mountain Vi was killed."


    "Killing martial artists?"


    Chen Sansi contemted internally.


    The Witch God Sect, while using millions of citizens for a blood sacrifice, dared to kill martial artists; the objects in their hands seemed less like treasures of immortals and more like demonic items, all needing human lives as fuel.


    "But don''t worry,"


    Sun Buqi added, "Most of those who died were disciples of sects and people from the Jianghu. They rarely dare to attack people from the Eight Camps, and after the war ends, my father really ns to investigate this thoroughly."


    Initially in Po Yang County, various martial arts halls capturedmon folks daily to test medicines.


    Now in Liangzhou, the sects were the targets persecuted by the Witch God Sect.


    "The matter of Amugu''s disappearance…"


    Just mentioning the Witch God Sect made Chen Sansi involuntarily think of this expert of the Meridian Passage Realm.


    He was somewhat worried. Although he had imed in front of five thousand cavalrymen that Amugu was killed by Sun Xiangzong and due to some misunderstandings, the supervisor did actually make an appearance afterward, but there were still gaps in the story.


    If Sun Xiangzong had arrived at the scene earlier, there would have been no need for their roadblock which resulted in heavy casualties.


    Fortunately, even if the Witch God Sect suspected him, they wouldn''t share that information with the Sheng Dynasty.


    If the old Emperor got his hands on the Immortal Treasure, he wouldn''t return it to the Barbarians; they could only investigate secretly.


    Next, he just needed to be more cautious.


    Moreover, if there truly were other assants, Chen Sansi, while ensuring his own safety, would try to capture a living person to interrogate thoroughly about the Immortal Treasure, to see if it matched his spections.


    "Sansi,"@@novelbin@@


    Sun Buqi interrupted his train of thought, "His Majesty has dered your merits to the whole world; today, quite a few people will probably seek to make your acquaintance."


    "Hmm."


    Chen Sansi nodded.


    The banquet venue called the "Immortal Crane Tower" could be considered the Eight Treasures Building of Liangzhou City, but since it was a state city, the level of luxury there naturally couldn''t bepared to a small county town.


    Even so, today the Immortal Crane Tower was still reserved entirely.


    The entire street was filled with all kinds of luxurious carriages, showing the high status of the attendees at this event.


    "Ahem!"


    Sun Buqi cleared his throat, "Sansi, let me break it down for you, the people here today roughly belong to three camps.


    "The first is the Emperor''s people.


    "The second, the people of the Crown Prince.


    "The third, people from famous families. Within the famous families, they are further divided ording to whom they affiliate with."


    This was no ordinary banquet, but aplex web of politicalworking.


    "You can actually discern all this."


    Chen Sansi admired, noting that birth indeed determined perspective and insight.


    He indeed needed Sun Buqi beside him, otherwise, if he went in alone, he would be utterly blind, not recognizing anyone or knowing how to react.


    "People from sects can also participate in the Selection?"


    Chen Sansi asked.


    "Of course they can."


    Sun Buqi responded, "Thends, medicine gardens, and even mountains in various ces arergely upied by the sects and noble families, so any military needs must rely on them for support. Correspondingly, it''s natural to provide them with opportunities."


    Land consolidation and ss solidification were not phenomena exclusive to Po Yang County.


    The whole Great Sheng Dynasty was the same.


    To make the sects cooperate sincerely, it was necessary to provide opportunities. Once in power, their status became even more secure, and this cycle could continue indefinitely without limits; the sects would be like local emperors.


    Chen Sansi couldn''t help recalling, in his previous life when he read historical tales, the Emperor who founded the Eastern Han, the "Child of the ne" Liu Xiu, had managed significant feats with the support of the noble families of Central ins, much like Cao Xie initially.


    During their conversation, the two walked into the Immortal Crane Tower.


    Upon entering, there was no noise, only the sound of quiet conversations and faintly ying music, with prominent officialsing and going. Not one was amoner.


    Even among the Selected des, only a few who had achieved at least small sess in Refining Internal Organs were present at the banquet.


    There were acquaintances.


    Cao Fan, Yin Hanwen.


    "Congrattions to the Princely Heir and Mr. Yin for your great achievements in Yunzhou!"


    "..."


    "..."


    "Has Brother Bu Qi arrived?"


    "Brother Bu Qi, long time no see!"


    Many people came up to Sun Buqi withpliments, "This person beside you, must be Mr. Chen, right?"


    "Oh, leading people across the river, known throughout the world!"


    "Mr. Chen is so young yet has already caught the Emperor''s favor. You will definitely rise rapidly!"


    "..."


    Soon, arge circle had formed around Chen Sansi.


    Most of them were young offspring of officials.


    Sun Buqi introduced, "This is Lu Shuhua, the Young Sect Master of the Sky-reaching Sword Sect, and this is Chu Tianshu of the Lingxu Sect. This Immortal Crane Tower belongs to Brother Chu."


    "Brother Lu, Brother Chu."


    Chen Sansi responded one by one, neither overly humble nor arrogant, feeling no need to ingratiate himself with others, nor offend anyone.


    "Lu Shuhua is one of your strongpetitors, born with the Sword Heart Body, already perfected in Refining Internal Organs, with superb swordsmanship and formidable strength."


    Sun Buqi pointed to a distant ce where Zongmen disciples stood with Cao Fan, and whispered, "That''s Wen Qiushi from the Moon Splitting Mountain Vi standing over there, he has always been ingratiating himself with the Princely Heir, and those others too."


    In fact.


    Looking around inside and outside the Immortal Crane Tower, it was indeed the group around Cao Fan that was thergest, each of them exceedingly respectful towards him.


    The first thing everyone did upon entering was to offer him a toast, and then they mingled and made connections with others.


    "Sigh~"


    Sun Buqi sighed and said, "Now with both the governorship and military supervision secured by the eunuchs, two of the eight camps belong to the Crown Prince''s men. They see that my father is about to retire from the battlefield, and they''ve started treating us coldly so early!"


    Retire from the battlefield?


    Chen Sansi thought it probably wasn''t that simple.


    The scene before him increasingly resembled his earlier conjecture: Supervisor Sun won''t live much longer.


    These people were here to divide up the influence of the Eight Camps.


    Enjoy more content from empire


    Supervisor Sun probably allowed this to unfold because he was somehow trying to secure a retreat for his two remaining children.


    Because…


    Chen Sansi hadn''t heard of any other True Disciple who had broken through to a level Above Martial Saint capable of protecting Supervisor Sun''s family.


    "..."


    "Hypocrite!"


    Yin Hanwen angrily eximed, "Princely Heir, that man is utterly deceitful! Why did he insist on staying behind to help the civilians cross the river during the battle, if not to gain a reputation through these means? And our Holy Emperor, benevolent as he is, was actually deceived by him."


    "Yes, Princely Heir."


    Wen Qiushi chimed in, "He didn''t evene over to offer you a toast. He received a third-rank title and now thinks too highly of himself?"


    Cao Fan, holding a wine cup, slowly said, "Not only the Grand Emperor, but even my father thinks highly of him, hoping that I could make connections with him. It''s really troubling - I don''t see what a country Refiner, even with the Nine Dragon Body, can do."


    "Yes, Princely Heir, you have the Dragon Heart Tiger Bone, a bodily vessel of an Innate Martial Saint."


    Yin Hanwen expressed his admiration, "In this Selected de, no one poses a threat to you."


    "Yes, naturally."


    Cao Fan spoke calmly, "Father is probably not worried about that. He likely wants to recruit him for our use."


    "I''ll get him toe over and offer a toast to the Princely Heir!"


    Wen Qiushi said and was about to go over, but the other party took the initiative toe forward.


    "Greetings to the Princely Heir."


    Chen Sansi first saluted, then offered a toast.


    He hadn''t forgotten the disdain and arrogance the other party had shown at the banks of the Hongze River, refusing to even let him speak, instantly branding him as a deserter.


    However, it was better not to burn bridges in such gatherings, as even if there were minor conflictster, they wouldn''t easily be suspected.


    Cao Feng''s smile was somewhat mocking, "Brother Chen, isn''t this toast a bitte?"


    "Princely Heir, please don''t me me. It''s my first time at such a grand event, and I may have been inadvertently discourteous. I''ll punish myself with three cups."


    Saying this, Chen Sansi downed three cups in session.


    "Impressive tolerance."


    Only then did Cao Fan appear satisfied.


    Not all present were children of wealth and power; some were talented individuals from lesser ces and impoverished backgrounds.


    In previous Selected de events, this gathering would really just have been about making connections.


    But since it was Sun Xiangzong''sst time and even the Crown Prince''s son was involved, the situation became moreplex - turning into a politicalworking event and an opportunity to choose allegiances.


    Governor Mansion, Crown Prince, and the Yan Party.


    Grandson of Elder Yan was also present.


    There were three docks to choose from, depending on their own choices.


    Because of Supervisor Sun''s esteemed reputation, half still chose to ally with the Governor Mansion''s dock.


    The rest, sensing the delicate situation, either chose Cao Fan or Elder Yan''s grandson.


    Knowing who would be participating in the Selected de, Chen Sansi no longer felt inclined to stay. No matter what, he would try topete for the first ce—courting factions was pointless.


    He put down his wine cup, ready to leave with Sun Buqi, when suddenly someone with a resonant and powerful voice holding a wine cup approached, echoing through the hall,


    "I am Bai Thingzhi from Guangling County, long have I admired General Chen''s great reputation!


    "General Chen leading people across the river, shook the heavens and moved the Earth, truly a role model for us martial artists and military men!


    "Here''s to you!"