"Vice Envoy Sun, whether it’s true or not, why not have Donor Chen come out so we can get to the bottom of this? My martial uncle, Master Xuanbei, has perfected the Heart Inquiry Technique. He only needs to look upon him in person. If Deputy Captain Chen has a clear conscience, his name will naturally be cleared."

"Insolence!"

Before Sun Yuzhi could speak, an authoritative roar suddenly erupted from outside the Government Office Hall. The sound was like the clash of metal, making everyone’s eardrums ring.

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw a figure stride into the hall with the gait of a dragon and the prowl of a tiger.

The newcomer was also dressed in the official robes of the Jingwu Bureau, but of a deeper color and embroidered with the pattern of a bear. It was none other than the Standard Fifth-Grade Governor, Nie Xuanfeng.

However, his expression was cold and hard, his gaze like lightning. He first swept his eyes over Sun Yuzhi without a hint of expression, then rudely bypassed her and walked straight to the head seat, his posture overwhelmingly imposing.

Nie Xuanfeng’s icy gaze swept over the members of Golden Spring Temple, finally landing on the Martial Monk who had spoken. His tone was bone-chilling:

"This is the sovereign territory of the Jingwu Bureau! Deputy Captain Chen is a dignified sixth-grade official of the court. Is he someone you Jianghu Sects can interrogate at will? What, does Golden Spring Temple now intend to place itself above the Government Office?!"

Overwhelmed by Nie Xuanfeng’s presence, the Martial Monk’s face paled. He opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately didn’t dare to argue, and sullenly took a step back.

Seeing this, Xuanbei showed no anger. Instead, a faint smile appeared as he performed a single-handed salute:

"Amitabha Buddha. Donor Nie, I trust you have been well."

Nie Xuanfeng snorted coldly, his reply blunt:

"This official is already aware of the matter concerning the Red Lotus Evil Qi. Deputy Captain Chen has absolutely no connection to it. Master Xuanbei, you should go back and investigate more carefully before you speak. As for this ’face-to-face inquiry,’ it is out of the question."

Xuanbei gave Nie Xuanfeng a deep look, the smile on his face unchanging. He suddenly changed the subject, mentioning a seemingly unrelated matter:

"Donor Nie, if this humble monk remembers correctly, the battle between the Ning’an Six Sects and the Government Office for the shares of the Wushan Mountain Elemental Crystal Vein is in six months, is it not?"

At these words, Sun Yuzhi, who was sitting to the side, felt her expression darken almost imperceptibly.

Nie Xuanfeng’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within them:

"What are you getting at?"

The Wushan Yuan Ore was a small Yuan Ore mine that had suddenly appeared sixty years ago.

Because it was located in unclaimed territory, its discovery had sparked a fierce struggle within Ning’an Prefecture, throwing the various powers into a chaotic struggle.

Although it was only a small vein, it could still reliably produce nearly two thousand Elemental Crystals annually. For any faction, this was an immense fortune that could not be ignored.

Finally, after several bloody conflicts, the six major sects of Ning’an and the Government Office agreed on a distribution plan: the Government Office would hold a fixed share of ten percent, while the six major sects would collectively hold a fixed share of forty percent.

The remaining fifty percent was a variable share. The Government Office and the Six Sects would each send young Martial Masters no older than thirty to compete in a martial tournament every six years. The final results of the tournament would determine the allocation of this remaining fifty percent of Elemental Crystals.

The so-called title of the "Ning’an Ten Heroes" evolved from this very competition. It was not only a matter of prestige but was also directly tied to immense, tangible benefits.

For Xuanbei to mention this now, his implied threat was perfectly clear.

If the Jingwu Bureau insisted on not returning the Red Lotus Evil Qi, then in the battle at Wushan Mountain six months later, Golden Spring Temple would not only refuse to look out for the Martial Artists sent by the Government Office, but would very likely ally with friendly sects to specifically suppress them.

When that time came, the variable share the Government Office could obtain would surely be drastically reduced.

"Donor Nie overstates the matter. How could this humble monk dare to threaten a court official?"

Xuanbei put his palms together, his tone still peaceful, but the sharp edge in his words was unconcealed:

"I just hope Donor Nie understands that there has never been any enmity between Golden Spring Temple and the Jingwu Bureau. We should coexist peacefully and support each other. If a small misunderstanding harms our good relations and affects a major event like the Wushan Yuan Ore, which concerns the interests of all parties, it would be a case of... losing the greater for the lesser."

"Governor..."

Sun Yuzhi couldn’t help but speak up, wanting to persuade Nie Xuanfeng to de-escalate the situation for now.

She was well aware of the importance of the battle at Wushan Mountain. If they became enemies with Golden Spring Temple over the Red Lotus Evil Qi, causing the Government Office’s interests to suffer, neither of them could escape the blame.

But she swallowed the words before they could leave her lips.

’Hand over the Red Lotus Evil Qi? Never mind that Chen Sheng is in seclusion Condensing Evil and can’t produce it anyway. Even if he could, with Nie Xuanfeng’s temperament, would he ever bow down to a sect?’

Nie Xuanfeng raised a hand to stop Sun Yuzhi, his gaze piercing straight toward Xuanbei. "The Jingwu Bureau does not bow to threats. And neither do I."

Xuanbei and Nie Xuanfeng locked eyes for a moment. The faint smile on his face gradually faded. He gave him one last deep look and said slowly:

"Since that is the case, this humble monk will say no more. Perhaps... our temple’s information was indeed mistaken. I hope you will forgive the disturbance."

"Not ’perhaps.’"

Nie Xuanfeng enunciated each word, his voice firm and decisive. "It is certain!"

"Amitabha Buddha. This humble monk takes his leave."

Xuanbei said no more. He rose, gave a slight bow, and then turned and left with his monks, without the slightest hesitation.

For powers such as theirs, making empty threats was meaningless. The true contest would be decided on the battlefield of Wushan Mountain in six months.

After the figures of Xuanbei and his monks disappeared through the doorway, the atmosphere in the hall remained tense.

"Governor Nie," Sun Yuzhi took a deep breath, her voice filled with clear dissatisfaction and worry, "To be so unyielding with Golden Spring Temple, even to the point of making an enemy of them, is truly an unwise move."

"Unwise?"

Nie Xuanfeng turned around, his sharp gaze fixed on Sun Yuzhi:

"So, are you suggesting, Vice Envoy Sun, that the Jingwu Bureau should just keep yielding to these Jianghu Sects and let them push us around? Or do you think we should have Chen Sheng hand over the Red Lotus Evil Qi just to appease them and keep the peace?"