Ikasa obtained a better understanding of the external powers residing in the Beech City from hearing Zhen Ya’s words and observing her reactions.

People from the Mu Family were the ones with the most influential backgrounds. They shouldn’t be contacted or messed with.

Ikasa’s second assurance, the He Family, had sent their arrogant Young Master. Path Finder He Ding had given Ikasa a good measure of the arrogance of the He Family. He had no interest in dealing with a Young Master who supposedly took it to another level.

The Su Family and Nian Clan were unknown variables. Even Zhen Ya did not have much information about their contingent.

Summarizing the information, Ikasa was shocked to realize that every external power he heard about was either neutral or hostile. There was not a single friendly power he could rely on inside the Rift!

‘Is there no familiar power I can work with?’

Suddenly he had a thought. The closest Tier 2 City to the Beech City was Ebony City. So, he was astonished to not hear any news of a power from the Ebony City.

“Path Finder Zhen, how come there is no power from Ebony City here?”

“Because Miss Zhen Ya drove away everyone who did not belong to Deciduous County.”

Instead of Zhen Ya, another person answered his question in a teasing tone. Ikasa looked up to see a handsome man who seemed to be in his twenties arrive in the hall.

Zhen Ya looked at him with cold indifference. The young man ignored her glare and introduced himself with a smile.

“I am Qian Bu, the Commander of Forces stationed here on the Governor’s orders.”

A hint of admiration for the youth flashed across Ikasa’s eyes as he returned the greeting with a cupped fist. Zhen Ya did not miss his look. She snorted and exposed the Commander.

“Don’t be fooled by his appearance. He is an old foggy in his mid-fifties who chomps down youth retaining pills every day.”

Ikasa’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at the Commander with suspicion. Commander Qian’s face had darkened for a moment, but a smile returned immediately.

He retaliated in kind to Zhen Ya’s revelation. Qian Bu approached Ikasa and whispered as if telling a top secret.

“Actually, Miss Zhen couldn’t tolerate her limelight being snatched by Miss Zhong of Ebony City. So, she drove Miss Zhong and her suitors away under the pretext that they were from Evergreen County.”

The Commander finished his sentence with a wink, further infuriating Zhen Ya. She stood up and stormed out of the room. She paused at the door and addressed Ikasa in a cold voice.

“Bu-ge will answer any questions you have. Make sure to squeeze all the information out of him.”

Ikasa was left alone in the room with the mischievous Commander, who had the face of a youth. Qian Bu looked at the departing figure of Zhen Ya with a fond smile like he was watching his little sibling.

Once she disappeared from the view, his smile vanished, and he looked at the young man critically. Ikasa was taken aback by the sudden change in attitude.

“Get changed and meet me near the Planar Rift. I will answer your questions there.”

The Commander abruptly left with his stack of papers, leaving the dumbfounded Ikasa alone.

‘Is this the legendary sis-con?’

Ikasa wondered as he climbed the stairs to his room.

Half an hour later, Ikasa and two of the kids were riding the carriage. They were on the way to the Planar Rift’s site. Elder Yi, Xin Ruo, the girls, and Yan Xiao had stayed back to care for Feng Yan.

“Brother Ikasa, you have fulfilled promises made to everyone except me. When are you giving me my 1000 Gold Coins? You also haven’t paid me my salary.”

Chu Qing asked sulkily. He had asked this question nearly every day to Ikasa and he had received a single-word reply.

“Patience.”

Today was no different. Pei Yuan sniggered on the other side. Chu Qing knew tantrums did not work, so he could only swallow his complaints and endure.

The Carriage slowly came to a stop outside the construction site. Ikasa felt the vacuum of energy now that they were within the Rift’s sphere of influence.

“Move that rock 3 steps to the left. Which idiot planted the pole away from the mark? Correct its position, right now!”

The three heard the Path Finder floating in the air roar at the workers as soon as they got down from the carriage. The trio attracted the attention of the guards on duty.

“Stop! Who are you? State your purpose.”

Ikasa looked at the guard who had spoken. He felt that the guard was as strong as Pei Yuan and Chu Qing, meaning he was a Sense Realm Cultivator!

“We are here to meet Commander Qian. Tell him, Ikasa has arrived.”

The guard held his staff tightly and scrutinized the suspicious trio. He motioned his colleague to inform the Commander while he himself kept an eye on the suspicious trio.

Ikasa waited patiently for the other guard to return. As he looked around, he saw a squadron of 20 men patrolling on both sides of the street. The leaders of both squadrons were Sense Realm Experts!

The mark on the chest of the guard and the squadrons was similar to the one on Commander Qian’s robe; A tree with half the leaves yellow and the other half green.

‘They serve under the Governor of Deciduous County.’

Ikasa came to the conclusion. Still, he was puzzled by the amount of security around the area. There was nothing that demanded this much protection. Not even the Planar Rift.

As he was wondering, the other guard came back and nodded to the Sense Trainer blocking Ikasa’s path. He took a step back, unapologetic for blocking the path of his superior’s guests.

The Guard led Ikasa and the teens to a hastily erected tent near the Planar Rift.

“Commander, the guests are here.”

He announced, standing at the entrance.

“Send them in.”

When the voice came from inside, the Guard moved the curtain and gestured for them to enter.

“Whoa!”

The two kids exclaimed as soon as they entered the tent. The insides were much much bigger than what it seemed from the outside. It was not decked in opulence as Ikasa had expected but it had all the basic amenities.

The Commander stood by a large table at the center of the tent. Eight boxes were placed at eight positions around some sort of circular diagram. Inside the open boxes, eight different sparkling gems sat on a silky cloth.

Chu Qing’s eyes shined seeing the multicolored stones. He barely controlled his urge to rush over and stroke the beautiful fist-sized gems.

“Are they your kids?”

Commander Qian asked, seeing Ikasa hold Chu Qing and Pei Yuan by their shoulders. The question threw Ikasa off guard.

‘Do I look old enough to have Kids this big? Should I eat a few of those Youth Pills?’

Ikasa wondered. Pei Yuan saved him from answering the awkward question.

“He is our big brother and we are his employees.”

Commander Qian’s gaze immediately became judgmental but he did not comment further. He returned his attention back to the circular diagram arranged on the table and said,

“Whatever questions you have, ask away.”

Ikasa carefully thought about his questions. He needed detailed information on important powers like the Mu Family. Only by knowing his contenders could he plan for his venture effectively.

“Commander Qian, can you elaborate on the forces of the Mu Family and other major powers?”

“There is only one person belonging to the Mu Family in the City. He is Path Finder Mu Shi.”

“Just one person?”

Ikasa asked with confusion. From what he heard from Zhen Ya, he thought a whole bunch of people might be here from the Mu Family.

“The rallying power of an imperial descendant, however distant the relation may be, is enormous. Mu Shi has received the support of a few powers from the nearby cities and some of the local mercenaries. Not to mention, he has set his eyes on Zhen Ya.”

“Oh!”

It explained Zhen Ya’s irritation with him. Not only Mu Shi was one of her persistent suitors, but also the only person who challenged the Zhen Family’s authority in the City.

Commander Qian marked something on the diagram and spoke,

“As for other powers, you don’t have to worry about them. They have only sent Sense Trainers since Path Finders are virtually useless inside the Rift.”

He made another mark on the diagram. Intrigued, Ikasa approached the diagram. Commander Qian noticed his movements but did not stop him.

Ikasa saw eight concentric circles drawn around a central ordinary stone. On each of the circles, one gem was placed in a different direction from the other.

He was taken in by the beauty of the gems and the mysterious patterns on the diagram evoked his curiosity.

“What is this?”

He asked, pointing to the overall arrangement on the table. Qian Bu threw him a glance and then returned his eyes back to the center.

“Hmph! Never seen an array arrangement before?”

Commander Qian asked rhetorically, his lips twitching with a lopsided smirk. Without waiting for Ikasa to reply, he answered his question.

“This is the arrangement diagram for a Space Isolation Array.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep