Chapter 115: Setting the First Move in Motion

Jixian Pavilion.

Du Jingming, head of the Feiyuan Academy, was the first to speak: “With Lord Baili’s arrival, the Demon Suppression Division has been reborn from its cocoon. When the division fell into decline long ago, a large number of its books were collected by Feiyuan Academy. However, the person in charge at that time has since passed away, so the specific details are unknown.”

Baili Feihong was momentarily taken aback. This headmaster was a wise man—before he had even explained his purpose, he had already brought up the matter of the books.

But since Baili Feihong was here, naturally, he intended to reclaim these books.

After all, they concerned the future development of the Demon Suppression Division.

At this point, it was hard for Baili Feihong to press the issue too harshly.

“It seems Headmaster Du has already guessed my intentions. The newly established Demon Suppression Division needs to retrieve some old books. After all, much of their content is unique to the division. When the Demon Suppression Envoy carries out missions and encounters difficulties, these texts can be consulted to find the root of problems.”

Baili Feihong spoke plainly and amicably, making his intentions clear.

“Rest assured, Lord Baili, any books belonging to the Demon Suppression Division will be returned by Feiyuan Academy. However...” The headmaster’s expression darkened.

“Speak freely, Headmaster Du.”

“My predecessor, who was also my teacher, once instructed that books from the Demon Suppression Division must not be copied or passed on externally—they are only for viewing,” Du Jingming explained the academy’s rule. “Therefore, the volumes from the division have been well preserved and not disseminated. Now that Lord Baili has come personally, we will naturally return the books.”

“But over the decades, these books have become part of Feiyuan Academy. Our teachers and students have benefited greatly from them.”

“If returned now, it would sever many traditions of Feiyuan Academy.”

Du Jingming voiced the academy’s predicament.

“The value of books lies in the knowledge passed down from predecessors—the content is precious. But I believe knowledge is most important when it is shared. Only by spreading knowledge can a book’s true worth be realized.”

Baili Feihong expressed his insight.

“I understand your difficulties, Headmaster Du. If you wish to copy any of the content, please feel free to do so.”

He had already realized that even if the books were reclaimed, they would no longer be exclusive to the Demon Suppression Division.

Once the books leave the archive, they become public property.

“You are magnanimous, Lord Baili. I admire that. I will promptly organize personnel to begin copying these books, and the volumes will be returned to the Demon Suppression Division in batches.”

Du Jingming’s mood lightened.

With the matter settled, naturally, he was pleased.

“If not for the academy’s preservation, many of these books would have been lost or destroyed by now. It is truly a joyous occasion to have them return to the archives. Over the years, the academy must have devoted great effort to protect these texts. On behalf of the Demon Suppression Division, I thank Feiyuan Academy.”

Baili Feihong smiled and said so.

“With this matter resolved, I am very relieved. Lord Baili, may I ask if your so-called second matter requires any assistance from Feiyuan Academy?”

Du Jingming inquired.

“That matter will indeed trouble Headmaster Du. As you know, the Demon Suppression Division lacks manpower. Many of Feiyuan Academy’s martial arts trace their lineage to the division. I wish to recruit a group from the academy to join the division to hunt demons and fulfill our duty in protecting the people.”

Baili Feihong clasped his hands respectfully.

“Becoming a Demon Suppression Envoy is a great honor for Feiyuan Academy students. However, students have the right to choose freely, and the academy cannot force them to join. I hope Lord Baili understands.”

To become a Demon Suppression Envoy inside the Great Yuan Empire was a coveted position that many would fight for.

But on Feiyuan Island, where the Southern Water Division dominates, becoming an envoy meant having to consider the pressure from the Southern Water Division.

Du Jingming did not know how long Baili Feihong, a young and capable governor, would remain on Feiyuan Island.

Nor did the students of Feiyuan Academy.

If Baili Feihong were to leave, would the Demon Suppression Division return to old paths?

The possibility was high.

“Recruitment must be voluntary. As long as the academy does not hinder, I am confident I can recruit a group to join the division.”

After a prolonged discussion, Baili Feihong finally took his leave.

“The academy harbors something strange.”

A perception arising from blood stirred within Baili Feihong—a hidden aura inside the academy that made him uneasy.

But today was not the time to cause a disturbance and risk escalation.

“Baili Feihong, the Eleven Refined Blood!”

Nangong Zhen whispered as he concealed his divine awareness within a student’s body.

When he possessed Zuo Fenghan, he felt nothing unusual.

At that time, Zuo Fenghan had sacrificed his flesh, soul, and cultivation to gain power beyond the Nascent Soul stage, performing an ultimate secret technique, yet still was defeated by Baili Feihong.

And Baili Feihong had only used his blood energy.

He had yet to tap into the Nascent Soul level’s spiritual energy.

Now it seemed Baili Feihong’s blood energy was only part of his strength.

His acupoints and spirit refinement had been honed to the utmost, both closely linked to spiritual energy.

His Nascent Soul power was probably no weaker than his physical body.

Nangong Zhen dared not meet Baili Feihong’s gaze.

For one who had refined his body to such an extreme, meeting his eyes would immediately be sensed.

The five disciples of the Black Heaven Cult had been defeated precisely because they were spied upon.

***

Within Zhen Nan City.

The Wang Residence.

Qian Yuchen, Lin Zhongjun, and Lin Zhongshu were still residing here temporarily.

The Wang family had already moved out.

They did not dare complain.

They were just glad to have a place.

Qian Yuchen recalled his journey and grew increasingly angry. They were nothing but prodigal dogs.

Since being slapped down by the governor, not a single plan of his had succeeded.

His plan to reclaim the Northern Island’s property, which belonged to the Southern Water Division, had failed.

Baili Feihong had established the governor’s residence in the Northern Island prison to suppress the prison’s resentment.

But in Qian Yuchen’s eyes, this was an occupation of the Southern Water Division’s assets. The mining veins would never be returned to the division.

Nor would outsiders be allowed to continue mining.

He intended to declare the area around the governor’s residence a forbidden zone and occupy it.

Power reveals truth.

This, he did not deny.

But what truly angered him was something else.

The Southern Water Division’s commander’s memorial had already reached the emperor’s hands.

The emperor had approved Yan Fei’s recommendation.

“Truly a betrayal. When the development plan for Northern Island was announced, Yan Fei recommended Zhong Ziling as governor.”

There were female officials in the Great Yuan Empire.

Women had been ennobled and appointed as chancellors before.

But to be a female governor and the nominal highest official on Feiyuan Island...

With the Southern Water Division backing her, Zhong Ziling was the de facto magistrate.

Lin Zhongjun and Lin Zhongshu remained silent.

Qian Yuchen was simply outmatched in experience and strategy.

He had been careless once and allowed Yan Fei’s recommendation to succeed.

He lost control of the Feiyuan Island government and thus the chance to become the ***.

The Northern Island development plan required the government’s consent to proceed.

If Qian Yuchen had become governor and controlled the government, he could have negotiated with the Southern Water Division and the Demon Suppression Division, dividing Northern Island’s profits.

If the Southern Water Division was strong against the government, Qian Yuchen could align with the Demon Suppression Division and Baili Feihong to make things difficult for the Southern Water Division.

At the critical moment, Qian Yuchen missed his chance.

Because he was unwilling to relinquish control of the Southern Water Division, he did not immediately mobilize his backing forces.

By the time he realized, Zhong Ziling’s appointment was already an irreversible fact.

Soon, the imperial eagle bearing the appointment would arrive on Feiyuan Island.

The island’s situation would once again favor the Southern Water Division.

Military and civil power combined.

No matter how strong the Demon Suppression Division became, it would be difficult to challenge the alliance of the Southern Water Division and the island government.

“Brother Qian, the whereabouts of the four fleets of the Southern Water Division are unknown,” Lin Zhongshu suddenly said.

Qian Yuchen snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Lin Zhongshu.

“Aren’t the ships docked in the military port the four fleets?”

“All senior officers of the White Tiger Fleet have disappeared.”

Lin Zhongshu had been trying to get involved with the White Tiger Fleet but kept being rebuffed.

He secretly investigated and, through special means, found a few clues.

There were few clues; the only known fact was that the White Tiger Fleet had left the military port.

Qian Yuchen’s face darkened. He wanted to make trouble here.

He even wanted to confront Yan Fei and ask where the four fleets had gone.

But he was not the true commander and only held supervisory authority.

Yan Fei could simply respond with “military secrets.”

“Commander Yan must be about to do something big,” Qian Yuchen gritted his teeth, struggling in his mind.

If this news leaked out, would it affect the Southern Water Division’s strategy?

If Yan Fei failed, would he have a chance?

Lin Zhongshu and Lin Zhongjun remained silent, quietly frustrated.

They were filled with a fierce determination.

They told Qian Yuchen in hopes he would take action.

“If this news spreads...”

“If it leaks out, all three of you will die.”

Yan Fei’s voice sounded in their ears.

A transmission of divine awareness.

“Lord Qian won’t be able to protect you either, I say this as Yan Fei.”

Yan Fei’s cold message made Qian Yuchen, Lin Zhongshu, and Lin Zhongjun furious, their spiritual energy surging.

The atmosphere grew tense, as if battle might erupt at any moment.

“What business do you gentlemen have? Why not summon me, the governor, to discuss together?”

Baili Feihong’s figure flickered as he appeared between them.

Hands clasped behind his back, standing tall.

“Lord Baili is suspicious. We are merely discussing military affairs,” Commander Yan Fei laughed, withdrawing his divine awareness.

“The governor likes to meddle in others’ affairs. Well, soon enough, I fear the governor won’t have such leisure.”

Qian Yuchen sneered.

“Fighters’ battles fall under the Demon Suppression Division’s jurisdiction. As for whether I have leisure, Deputy Commander Qian need not worry. I see Deputy Commander Qian seems rather free. I hear the fish around Feiyuan Island are abundant—if you’re bored, you could go fishing with the two generals to pass the time.”

Baili Feihong retorted with sarcasm.

He continued walking through the bustling streets of Zhen Nan City.

Unconsciously, he arrived at the Red Light Alley.

“Hmph, let’s see how long your arrogance lasts.”

Qian Yuchen suppressed his anger.

He had already informed his family, who responded that they would invite a guest of the Divine Ability Realm to Feiyuan Island to oversee affairs until Qian Yuchen regained control of the Southern Water Division.

This Divine Ability Realm guest had already set out, though the journey was long. Even for one of that realm, it would take some time to reach Feiyuan Island.

With such help, Qian Yuchen would become the most powerful man on Feiyuan Island.

In this world, ultimately, might makes right.

***

At the Commander’s Mansion.

Yan Fei sipped tea, legs crossed, utterly at ease.

Fati’s presence gave him the advantage of foreknowledge.

Prophecies only showed one possible future.

Yan Fei, having learned the prophecy, intervened and disrupted that possibility.

A life can be altered, but the grand trend is hard to shake.

This was an old saying in the sect.

However, by constantly intervening in small events, the future that unfolds can also change the grand trend.

“Time is nearly right. The current governor should have arrived at Red Light Alley.”

“You awakened these ancient taboos, and as governor, naturally this mess will be yours to handle.”

Yan Fei leisurely enjoyed his spirit tea.

There were ancient taboo creatures on Feiyuan Island that must not be provoked, and the Southern Water Division had long been aware of their presence.

For safety, the division had even reached agreements with them.

Of the prisoners captured over the years, two-thirds were used as blood cattle, offered to these ancient taboo monsters to appease their bloodthirsty nature.

Baili Feihong’s blood energy swept across thousands of miles, disturbing their lairs.

These terrifying creatures, angered, came out to release their true nature, tormenting the human world before eventually returning to their dens.

These ancient taboos were neither demons nor monsters.

They were godlike beings.

Spirits once worshiped by primitive tribes living on Feiyuan Island, these spirits had ascended to godhood.

Gods should be sacred.

Yet these spirits were like blank slates, their nature nearly instinctual.

But the island’s primitive tribes were uncivilized, living by blood and flesh, warring and fighting each other.

Their worshipped spirits consumed their offerings and souls, and their temperaments were tainted by the tribes’ barbaric thoughts.

Feiyuan Island was near Devil Island, where sea demons bred. After landing, they were absorbed or contacted by these ancient taboo beings.

How these taboos evolved, Yan Fei did not know.

He only knew they were powerful, almost rule-like existences, difficult to eradicate.

The Southern Water Division controlled their lairs and threatened their roots, forcing these fearsome beings to agree to a pact.

“Prophecy-based power is truly awe-inspiring.”

“To change one future invites an even more terrifying fate.”

“Seeing the vision, using Baili Feihong’s personality, just a slight tug of divine awareness could lure him to Red Light Alley and trap him.”

“Without intervention, Baili Feihong’s death is certain.”

Yan Fei was confident.

Having endured countless storms, he was captivated by this strange ability.

As a soldier, he understood that having the initiative in planning increased the chance of success greatly.

The prophetic witch had given him the key to invincibility.

“No demonic aura... Seems I was overthinking.”

Baili Feihong whispered softly, half-opening his divine eye, observing Red Light Alley.

He detected no demonic aura.

With the Eleven Refined Blood technique sweeping thousands of miles, Baili Feihong had already eliminated the island’s demons.

The only exception was the True Demon born in the Demon Prison, who had fled into the Devil Sea and was lost.

Otherwise, how could Baili Feihong’s skill book have accumulated over 500,000 skill points?