Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 936 - 821: Maneuvering

Jian Shichu considered himself quite familiar with this subordinate. Although usually miserly, crafty, and a little sneaky, he never acted recklessly on serious matters.

This was also one of the main reasons he could be promoted.

After all, everyone hoped that their subordinates would handle any assigned task diligently and properly. Qu Luming performed his duties excellently, so personal temperament was not that important.

This time, the news he brought back was crucial, whether it was about the mysterious Mr. Jiang, whose name could not be found in the Book of Life and Death, or about other rumored versions of the Book of Life and Death. Each matter needed careful handling.

Especially the former.

If the other party was willing to visit Fengdu City personally and it could be affirmed that they weren't playing any tricks, Jian Shichu believed that even the acting Ghost Emperor would be inclined to maintain a good relationship to some extent, at least not fall into conflict over trivial matters.

As expected, when he reported the news to Celestial Ghost General, the answer he received was just as he had anticipated!

However, as one of the Ten Great Shadow Generals stationed in Fengdu City, he didn't have time to deal with so many trivial matters, so he entrusted Jian Shichu with full authority to handle them. He must pursue the whereabouts of the broken version of the Book of Life and Death and bring it back to Fengdu.

"You concluded the discussion so quickly?" Upon receiving the notification from his superior, Qu Luming was searching the desolate mountains for traces of He Miancun. He smacked his lips and murmured: "No wonder it's related to another Book of Life and Death; they must be getting anxious. Normally, things never get done this quickly."

Despite the complaint, he had to respond to his superior's message promptly.

He immediately arranged a meeting time with Mr. Jiang, but in reality, he set aside the Communication Stone and didn't send Jiang Yuan any message, instead continuing to seek out the elusive Miss He.

It was common knowledge that when a Human Cultivator or Demon Cultivator absorbed and refined Spiritual Energy, they could only rely on Spirit Stones in the Netherworld, as the environment here suited lone wandering souls and wild ghosts. The experience of Mr. Jiang and his party upon arriving here wouldn't be pleasant just by thinking about it.

Therefore, Qu Luming was thoughtful.

As long as they had come, why not handle everything in one go? Wouldn't it demonstrate his thoroughness in handling matters? However, this venerable lady was indeed hard to find; could it be that she'd gone into seclusion again?

"Fengdu City has captured so many Ghost Cultivators, and now they've come after me?" Suddenly, a cold voice drifted by and simultaneously, Qu Luming felt a powerful pressure radiating out.

"Greetings, Senior He." He braced against the pressure, bowed towards the black whirlwind that arose from the ground, smiling and saying: "You jest, Senior. Fengdu City's recruitment of Ghost Cultivators is to assist in searching for fugitives, not for capture; besides, I've come today specifically to request a favor from you."

Recruitment, assistance?

He Miancun heard this and couldn't help but coldly laugh, thinking that whether in the Human World or the Netherworld, official rhetoric was quite consistent.

She didn't know what had escaped from the Eighteen Layers of Hell, but Fengdu City's intention to use scattered Ghost Cultivators as cannon fodder was too apparent.

Having worked at Fengdu, He Miancun was very clear about the fundamental reason behind this act: most scattered Ghost Cultivators didn't rise under glamorous circumstances, and more than half of them continued to devour ghost entities in their cultivation. Fengdu wanted to completely eliminate such devouring incidents, lest ordinary ghosts could only stay within towns, afraid to venture out.

But indiscriminately rounding up all Ghost Cultivators made her quite displeased.

Especially since He Miancun had a few subordinates whom she had instructed in the cultivation of the Ghost Immortal Scripture, making them legitimate Ghost Cultivators, yet they were also captured. She couldn't just go there and demand their release, because orthodox cultivation techniques supposedly weren't meant to be transmitted outside. This left her feeling indignant.

"You are quite eloquent; tell me, what brings you here?" Deeply unsatisfied, He Miancun couldn't vent her anger on the juniors who kept smiling, so she said coldly: "All the Ghost Cultivators have been taken by Fengdu. I don't even have a servant to serve tea and pour water at my cave residence; let's not invite you in, just speak here."

Qu Luming stood nearly two meters tall and slightly hunched his shoulders and back, appearing very deferent and genial. Hearing her words, his smile grew even warmer.

Before coming here, he had done his homework, knowing that after leaving Fengdu City, her influence wasn't as commanding as it once was. Although she wasn't "recruited," her subordinates hadn't been able to stay.

At this moment, hearing the resentment, Qu Luming knew his chance had come.

"Senior, I have two matters I wish to discuss with you." He bowed respectfully, glanced around, looking hesitant to speak.

Upon seeing this, she casually set up a Barrier and said moodily: "All beings able to breathe within a hundred miles have been taken by Fengdu City; what are you afraid of, eavesdropping? Get on with it!"

"It's not about being stingy, being cautious is necessary, after all, I'm hoping to obtain a list from you and try to use the current less stringent search efforts to see if I can manage to retrieve the Ghost Cultivators you're accustomed to using."

Qu Luming chuckled: "It's not their fault; given the gravity of the situation, equal treatment is essential. As soon as the search for fugitives became entangled, I immediately received word that it's crucial to retrieve your people while casualties aren't too severe!"

He Miancun was taken aback for a moment, then felt a surge of joy, "Oh? Can you manage this?"

"I dare not boast too much, but I'll say I'll get the list first to see where they're assigned and if they're safe. Once confirmed, I'll then figure a way to bring them out. However..."

He looked troubled, lowered his voice and said: "This matter shouldn't be publicized, and you also know Fengdu City's determination on this; it's an unstoppable force, so you couldn't possibly oppose it. What I'm suggesting is that once we retrieve them, it'd be wise to relocate them to a place invisible to Fengdu City."