Chapter 70 Suspicion
The Yue Family had operated across the lands of Tian Nan for hundreds of years, with deep-rooted foundations, fearing only the Royal Family - the Liao Family; they would not be intimidated by Lu Zhenhai and Wei Kongming's oppression.
Even though Lu Zhenhai and Wei Kongming stood on just grounds, they were extremely careful in their approach to the Yue Family, eating away at them step by step, fearing to provoke the Yue Family and force a situation where both parties might perish.
However, upon learning that Alkaid had achieved Martial Saint status at nineteen, with a limitless future ahead, they no longer hesitated and fully shifted their allegiance to Alkaid.
Early the next day, Yue Nanxing personally visited Yu Garden.
With Alkaid's approval and instructions, the Family Head of the Yue Family set off a tremor through the local authorities starting from the capital of Tian Nan Territory, rapidly sweeping across the entire region.
Lu Zhenhai and Wei Kongming were unable to control it.
The same afternoon.
One of the three Presidents of the World Association, a top expert in Divine Cultivation, Ji Pingtian arrived in Tian Nan on a private plane and headed straight to Yu Garden where Alkaid resided without stopping.
...
At this time, Alkaid was having a video call inside a room.
The screen showed the somewhat dumbfounded Su Chiming.
"You will follow the Yue Family and take over the water, electricity, gas, and internet to ensure the normal operation of Tian Nan's capital. The rest—transportation, supply logistics, and public security are the Yue Family's responsibility."
He detailed, "The specific arrangements, someone from the Yue Family will liaise with you."
"Alkaid... Alkaid... what... what exactly are you trying to do?"
Su Chiming's voice trembled.
"Don't ask too much; just use every resource available to the Su Family to maintain the normal operation of Tian Nan's capital alongside the Yue Family."
Alkaid said.
"This..."
Su Chiming felt his heart hanging in mid-air.
The tasks Alkaid laid out seemed too dreamlike for them.
"You need to change your way of thinking."
Alkaid said, "Do you know what the biggest difference is between noble families and the others?"
Without waiting for Su Chiming to respond, he went on, "No matter how powerful a family or corporation, they must act within the confines of established rules while operating and trading. Sometimes they might just play on the edge of these rules to make a profit, but even then, they are trembling with fear as if walking on thin ice. But noble families..."
He looked at Su Chiming on the screen, "They are the ones who make the rules! All rules are designed to ensure their interests are safeguarded while keeping the entire system relatively stable, and they use their significant power to compel others to follow these rules."
Su Chiming was slightly startled.
Then, as if something clicked, his pupils suddenly dilated, "Noble families!?"
"Correct."
Alkaid nodded his head.
"Noble family! Noble family!"
Su Chiming mulled over the term for a while, then looked at Alkaid somewhat incredulously: "You... you've already..."
Alkaid smiled lightly, "Reached Martial Saint."
"Martial Saint!"
Though he had already suspected it from Alkaid's words, hearing Alkaid admit it still left Su Chiming stunned.
For several seconds, he seemed to finally digest the news; then, a broad smile slowly spread across his face.
"Martial Saint!"
He repeatedly muttered the title.
Then, he began to laugh, his laughter growing louder and louder.
"Haha! Haha! Martial Saint! My Su Family, has produced a Martial Saint! Hahahaha!"
Laughter is contagious.
Watching Su Chiming laugh wholeheartedly, Alkaid also cracked a slight smile.
"Great! Great! Great! This is truly wonderful!"
Su Chiming smacked the desk heavily, unable to help standing up, as if he desperately wanted to announce to the entire world, "My Su Family, has produced a Martial Saint!"
At that moment, Zhang Tianji appeared at the door.
Noticing that Alkaid was on a call, he did not disturb.
"The Su Family has a lot to do next, be prepared."
Alkaid advised.
"Alkaid, you can rest assured, I dare not say too much, but as long as I'm here one more day, the Su Family will definitely not hold you back!"
Su Chiming declared emphatically.
"Good."
Alkaid hung up the call and turned his gaze to Zhang Tianji.
Zhang Tianji immediately said, "President Ji is here."
"Excellent."
Alkaid smiled slightly.
He had been looking forward to this meeting all day.
He then went downstairs to the outer courtyard.
He saw Zong Yan and a group of people entering the yard.
Among the crowd was someone familiar.
Fang Lu.
However, Alkaid paid her no mind, his focus instantly on a spirited man about fifty-year-old at the forefront of the group.
His essence stood out significantly from others.
With Alkaid's profound understanding of the "Divine Intent" stage, he instantly guessed the man's identity.
Ji Pingtian, one of the three Chairmen of the World Association.
A Fifth Rank Divine Intent Martial Saint.
Hmm.
Probably comparable to Zhao Sheng, whom he had killed.
But that's not the point; the point is...
"Chairman Ji."
Alkaid smiled and stepped forward to greet him actively.
"Su Alkaid."
Ji Pingtian sized up Alkaid.
When he saw his unusually spirited state, he too showed a smile, "These days, your name has been thunderous to my ears—a nineteen-year-old Martial Saint, unprecedented not only in the Central and Eastern regions but also in Red Star and Snow Dragon."
"You flatter me, please come inside for a chat."
Alkaid was polite and gracious.
Ji Pingtian nodded.
At that moment, however, Fang Lu suddenly said, "Chairman."
As Ji Pingtian was about to step inside, he paused slightly and stopped.
Fang Lu's gaze also fell on Alkaid, "Su Alkaid, before the next part of our interaction begins, may I ask how you managed to achieve Martial Saint status from a total novice in martial arts in just one year?"
Zong Yan quickly interjected to explain, "This world always has some geniuses that ordinary people cannot understand; don't view those truly exceptional prodigies through our perspective."
"True, but as the chairman just mentioned, a nineteen-year-old Martial Saint, unprecedented not only in the Central and Eastern regions but also within Red Star and Snow Dragon. If I remember correctly, the fastest achiever of Martial Saint status in Red Star was the nineteenth prince of the Royal Family—Jiang Xuntian! He also reached that status at twenty-one!
Moreover, he had been laying the groundwork since childhood, consuming countless supplements, and despite starting martial arts training at twelve, it still took him nine years to enter the realm of Martial Saint."
Fang Lu continued, looking toward Alkaid, "And he... only took one year."
After saying that, she added, "We have investigated thoroughly; he truly has only been practicing martial arts for one year, and his personality has drastically changed before and after! Such situations... often only mean one possibility!"
"Impossible!"
Zong Yan said without hesitation, "Since Alkaid entered the Martial Arts World, he has been slaying demons; he can't possibly be..."
"A demon?"
Alkaid uttered.
He pondered for a moment.
Even some demons found his origin mysterious, so it was normal for the World Association to think this way.
And in some aspects, he indeed had certain similarities with demons.
So...
The smile on Alkaid's face slightly faded, "Believe it or not, I am not a demon."
"Whether or not you are a demon is not for you to say."
Fang Lu scoffed coldly.
"Fang Lu!"Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Zong Yan scolded unsatisfactorily and then addressed Ji Pingtian, "Chairman Ji, isn't this baseless accusation without any evidence likely to scare off the truly talented individuals?"
"That's why I came in person, which itself represents the sincerity of our World Association," Ji Pingtian said solemnly.
He looked at Alkaid, "If you had taken nine years, eight years, even seven or six years to achieve Martial Saint, the World Association would not hesitate to cultivate you fully. However, the existence of demons must make you realize the world is not that simple, always harboring special life forms that can hide within the human body, deceiving everyone.
Therefore, I hope you would accompany me to the headquarters to undergo a period of observation until we can confirm you are indeed not a demon. After that, all the resources of the World Association will be at your disposal."
After speaking, this Chairman Ji forcefully added, "I hope you can understand and cooperate."
"Go to the World Association headquarters and accept observation."
Hearing Ji Pingtian's words, Alkaid suddenly turned to Zong Yan and Fang Lu, "This scene feels very familiar to me."
"What do you mean?"
Fang Lu furrowed her brows.
"A few days ago, Xia Wuyuan, who disclosed the truth about the Rebirth Society, was similarly detained and kept in the Grand Procuratorate in the capital, and the outcome... he died."
Alkaid smiled, "The current scene, seems like... simply a change of person, a change of setting."
"Su Alkaid!"
Fang Lu shouted sternly, "What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting we are colluding with the Rebirth Society?"
"I'm merely stating a fact,"
Alkaid interrupted her, "Compared to Xia Wuyuan who merely exposed the existence of the Rebirth Society, I directly killed the head of the Rebirth Society in Dayu Country, virtually uprooting Rebirth Society's power here. Right now, I am probably the most wanted person by the Rebirth Society."
He turned his gaze to Ji Pingtian, "So... do you still insist on taking me to the World Association headquarters for observation?"
Ji Pingtian shook his head, "The World Association is not the Dayu Royal Family."
"In my view, there is no difference,"
Alkaid earnestly looked at the chairman of the World Association, "Now, hand over the three hundred billion Red Star Currency that belongs to me, our deal is still valid. When the 'World Battle Meet' comes, I will still assist the World Association in combating the Red Star Martial Saints. If you intend to go back on your word...
I won't say much, let's part on good terms; consider the earlier one hundred billion as your breach of contract fee."
"Su Alkaid! How dare you!"
Before Ji Pingtian could speak, Fang Lu could no longer hold back her scolding, "What do you think the World Association is, a place where you can come and go as you please? If you do not come back with us to the headquarters, it means you have a guilty conscience..."
"Can we speak politely?"
Alkaid looked at Fang Lu, "If you can't speak politely, can you please shut up?"
"Asking me to shut up!? You..."
Fang Lu wanted to say more, but suddenly a terrifying aura surged from Alkaid's not so sturdy body, locking directly onto her.
The aura of killing countless demons on his way here, mixed with a touch of not long nurtured but higher quality intent than Divine Intent, suddenly induced an indescribable chill in Fang Lu.
Goosebumps rapidly appeared on her arms.
"Do you think you are stronger than Zhao Sheng and Xie Yusheng when they manifested their demon forms?"