Divine-level Base

Chapter 170 - 169: Divine Research Association

The scions of Noble Families know that their every move represents their family, making them experts at weighing pros and cons. The Han Family is a Fourth-Grade Noble Family, just one step shy of becoming one of the Upper Third-Grade Noble Families.

The Bei Yuan Li Family is a First-Grade Noble Family, placing them in a league of their own. Compared to them, the Han Family isn’t even on the same level. Even so, the Bei Yuan Li Family wouldn’t rashly start a war with the Han Family. After all, in an all-out war, even if the Bei Yuan Li Family won, their own Vitality would be damaged. The cost would far outweigh the gain.

Li Xuan Yi’s use of the Bei Yuan Li Family’s Power to pressure the Han Family was tantamount to career suicide. The position of Patriarch would only drift further from his grasp.

Han Tianyuan said coolly, "Since the Bei Yuan Li Family has already made a move against us, and we’re in the wrong on this matter, we have no choice but to bow our heads. Han Leiying, when Shu Feng returns, you must apologize to him in public. And with that, this matter will be over!"

"Yes!!"

Han Leiying replied through gritted teeth, his heart twisting in agony.

Han Tianyuan added nonchalantly, "And by the way, not only is Shu Feng not dead, but he also foiled the plot to resurrect the Lord of the Dark Night, rendering a great service. Guardian Flame headquarters has already decided to promote him to a Three Flames Level officer."

Han Leiying’s eyes narrowed. He looked up and stared intently at Han Tianyuan.

The highest officer rank within the Guardian Flame was Nine Flames, a title currently held by only one person: Flame Master Jing Chen. The Vice Flame Master was Eight Flames, the Celestial Sword Three Giants were Seven Flames, a direct captain of Celestial Sword like Shui Lingyan was Six Flames, her deputy was Five Flames, Celestial Sword’s elites were Four Flames, and its regular members were Three Flames.

A local branch captain like Zhou Yang was merely a First Flame Level officer.

Even a high-ranking officer in the Guardian Flame like Han Feng was only a Five Flames Level officer.

Once Shu Feng was promoted to a Three Flames Level officer, he would leap into the ranks of middle management within the Guardian Flame. Many of the usual schemes would be difficult to use against him; to do so would be to provoke the terrifying behemoth that was the entire Guardian Flame organization.

Han Tianyuan glared at Han Leiying and said coldly, "Don’t even think about it. Shu Feng’s promotion to a Three Flames Level officer is set in stone. Our Han Family cannot interfere. But the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Even if our family does nothing, there are plenty of others who want him dead."

Han Leiying gritted his teeth. "Yes!"

Inside a luxurious villa.

Li Xuan Yi picked up a document and glanced at it, sighing with some regret. "The Han Family caved. A pity. With my current Power, this is as far as I can push things."

The Bei Yuan Li Family certainly had the Ability to destroy the Han Family, but that didn’t mean Li Xuan Yi personally wielded that terrifying Power. After all, Li Xuan Yi was not the Patriarch of the Bei Yuan Li Family; the resources he could mobilize were limited.

If the Han Family had put up a fight, the Bei Yuan Li Family would have been forced to teach them a harsh lesson to uphold the honor of a First-Grade Noble Family. But since the Han Family backed down, Li Xuan Yi had to stop as well. Otherwise, he would not only fail to gain support from within his own family but also draw the ire of the other Noble Families.

A flash of admiration flickered in Elder Fang’s eyes. "Young Master, your planning is flawless. You were able to carve a huge chunk out of the Han Family and force them to submit. Among the younger generation of the Qianyuan Republic, very few can match such tactics."

This maneuver against the Han Family involved Li Xuan Yi using the name of the Bei Yuan Li Family to unite with several of the Han Family’s long-standing rivals. Together, they dealt a severe blow to many of the Han Family’s industries in the Qianyuan Republic, reaping considerable benefits in the process. He managed all this without provoking a major backlash from the Han Family. Very few among the younger generation in the Qianyuan Republic could have managed such a delicate balance.

Two days later, the people from the Qianyuan Republic finally arrived in the Leiyin Republic.

In a conference hall within the Leiyin Republic’s Imperial Palace.

A tall, middle-aged man with short hair and a long scar on his face, clad in a Celestial Sword uniform, extended a hand to Shu Feng. "Hello, Shu Feng. I’m Shao Fan, Captain of the Sky Sword 23rd Team. I’m in charge of the investigation into the Dark Night Church."

Seven Celestial Sword elites followed behind Shao Fan, each with an air of arrogance about them.

Celestial Sword was the most elite unit of Spiritualists in the Guardian Flame. Even an ordinary member possessed a Great Spirit Master Level of cultivation, and their equipment and combat prowess far surpassed that of a typical Great Spirit Master.

Celestial Sword was comprised of thirty-six teams in total, divided into tiers of twelve. The Sky Sword 23rd Team belonged to the second tier, making them quite powerful. Both their captain and vice-captain were experts at the Spirit Sect Realm. A single squad, working in concert, possessed the terrifying power to threaten the life of a Grandmaster.

Shu Feng shook Shao Fan’s hand. "Hello. I’m Shu Feng."

A middle-aged man of average build with well-defined features and a hint of malice in his eyes spoke icily, "Shu Feng. The Daughters of the Sinful King, Hanani and Hassina. Where did they go?"

Shu Feng’s tone turned cold as well. "And who might you be?"

"Chen Ningquan, Vice-Captain of the 23rd Team!"

Shu Feng replied coolly, "They have legs of their own. How would I know where they went?"

"Shu Feng, Hanani and Hassina are key figures in the Evil God’s resurrection. If you dare to harbor them, you’ll be considered an accomplice. I advise you to come clean and tell us exactly where they are!"

Chen Ningquan’s gaze was like ice as he stared daggers at Shu Feng. His Spiritual Qi churned, and a terrifying Spirit Sect Level Spiritual Pressure crashed toward Shu Feng with the force of a tidal wave.

"Captain Shao Fan, I was the one who destroyed the Evil God Church in the Leiyin Republic. Vice-Captain Chen Ningquan and I have no personal history, yet he’s being incredibly hostile toward me. Could he be a disciple of the Dark Night Church? I suspect Vice-Captain Chen Ningquan is colluding with them. For all we know, he might be the one who deleted the report I sent to headquarters."

Shu Feng turned directly to Shao Fan to lodge his complaint.

Chen Ningquan was both shocked and furious. "That’s a baseless accusation!!"

The Guardian Flame was currently conducting a thorough internal investigation to find the person who had deleted Shu Feng’s request for aid, carrying out a major purge in the process. Countless fools had already been rooted out. If Chen Ningquan were to get caught up in this, he would be investigated as well. Even if he were eventually cleared, it would still cause him a massive headache.

A cold glint flashed in Zhao Zixing’s eyes. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Shu Feng and looked directly at Shao Fan. "That’s right. I also suspect Chen Ningquan of colluding with the Dark Night Church!"

Shao Fan glanced at Zhao Zixing, his eyes narrowing slightly before he broke into a placating smile. "A misunderstanding. This is all just a misunderstanding! For my sake, how about we let the matter drop?"

Shu Feng said nothing, merely watching Shao Fan in silence.

Shao Fan sighed. "Shu Feng, I won’t hide it from you. Hassina and Hanani are involved in the Evil God’s resurrection ritual. The Divine Research Association has specifically requested them. If you have them, you’d best hand them over."

Zhao Zixing’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she fell silent. ’The Divine Research Association!’

The Divine Research Association was a loose alliance of factions, with members from many of the Qianyuan Republic’s Noble Families and Clans. Their goal was to study Divine Spirits in an attempt to achieve Ascension to Divinity.