Guys, I am suffering from Dengue Fever. So, the Chapter quality might be a bit worse. When I recover, I will revisit this chapter and make changes.

Also, thanks a lot to my readers. You are the reason I found the energy to write this chapter.

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“Hey, my cultivation base fell to Stage 3 of the Path Forging realm!”

“Me too. I am down to the third stage.”

“Hmph! You need to practice more. I am at Stage 4!”

Commander Lu shot Ikasa with an accusatory glare when he heard the conversations.

Unwilling to be blamed unfairly, he immediately retorted with a fact.

“Did you really expect their Cultivation Realms to not fall? Their Energy Channels are twice as long as before! Be glad their ranks fell by just three or four stages, thanks to the energy storm!

Lu Shao couldn’t refute the truth. His face turned sour, and his companion gloated at his defeat.

He turned to his men to assert his authority and regain some dignity.

“Everyone! Enough of chit-chat! Fall in Line now!”

The men obeyed. Being the thorough man he was, he personally checked the cultivation bases of his troops.

“Wan Yu! Stage 3. Good.”

“Zhan Cao, Stage 2. Needs to be whipped into shape.”

“Bo Man, Stage…1?”

Lu Shao frowned. A second check yielded the same result. The man was temporarily dismissed, but he remembered his face.

“Zi Fan, Stage 4! Very well done!”

As he checked the cultivation base, he realized some had better cultivation stages, and a few had the worst.

He narrowed his eyes on these men. He understood one simple principle.

This regiment only had Veteran Path Forgers. (Stage 7-8)

Since everyone used the same technique and was nearly in the same realms, their cultivation bases after regressing should be equal.

At most, one can be a stage lower or higher than Stage 3.

However, these 3 men had Stage 1 cultivation base. Meaning they did not use the standard technique provided by the City Lord.

‘To think there would be moles in my, Lu Shao’s, regiment! The Hu Clan and the Monstrous Flame Sect are getting out of hand.’

Lu Shao did not expose them instantly. Instead, he made a plan to catch all the moles hidden in the army in one fell swoop.

“Thank You, Your manuals opened my eyes in more ways than you can imagine.”

Ikasa threw a puzzled glance at him, but then his gaze shifted to the three Stage 1 guards. Hit by a sudden realization, he nodded his head in understanding.

He had an inkling of what Commander Lu was talking about.

“We would like to use this Herb Garden tomorrow again,” Commander Lu requested.

“Sure, sure, Commander Lu, you can use this Herb Garden anytime you want. Chu Kuang will guide you when you are here tomorrow!”

The Commander took his leave after receiving Ikasa’s promise.

Once his back disappeared from his view, Ikasa hurried to Xin Ruo.

In an urgent tone, he ordered her, “Recall all our men from the City guards. Also, bring Yin Ying to my Study tonight. It’s about time we had a chat about her Information Network.”

While Ikasa worried about his informant’s safety, Chu Kuang surveyed the soil in the herb garden.

The sticky, wet mud had the scent of the first rain. Seeing Ikasa approach, he refilled the hole he had dug and stomped on it.

“How is the condition of the soil, Uncle Chu?” Ikasa asked with a smile.

“The duration of the Energy Storm was too short. So, the Energy-infused Water did not seep as deep into the soil as I expected.” The bald man looked disappointed.

But realizing he might ruin his Master’s mood, he immediately suggested a solution.

“After two or three such Energy Storms, I think this soil would be the best for herb cultivation.”

Chu Kuang added with enthusiasm.

“Seems like your wish will come true, Uncle Chu. Commander Lu Shao is going to bring the other regiments here as well. You can expect two more Energy Storms for sure.”

Ikasa informed the older man as he saw the joy on his face multiply.

Chu Kuang laughed heartily.

“I will do my best to repay your trust, Master. Soon, you will see seedlings of new herbs growing in this farmland.”

Ikasa acknowledged his gratitude with a nod. As he turned, he had one thought,

‘I hope he doesn’t change his profession from Manager to Farmer!’

__

In the evening, two sexy figures stealthily entered the Study of the Villa. They stood before the desk of the Master of this Study.

Ikasa looked at the buxom figure with narrowed eyes. His steepled fingers were resting on his chin.

“How is the progress?” He asked Yin Ying.

“My 38 men have infiltrated all the forces.”

She answered without a trace of emotion.

“The Hu Clan?”

“7.”

“Details?”

“Three seduced maids, others entered the militia.”

Ikasa thoughtfully tapped his chin. He wondered about the credibility of the information from the maids. Still, there was nothing he could do.

‘I guess I will have to verify every piece of information with the much deeply rooted City Lord’s Network.’

Deciding on the course of action, he asked about their next adversary.

“The Monstrous Flame Sect?”

“Two entered their shops; only one got into Sect.”

For the first time, Ikasa sensed frustration in her voice. But she quickly recovered.

“Reason?”

“Strict recruitment procedure and standards.”

Ikasa stared at her, expecting her to elaborate.

“Do not allow Vagrants with techniques below high grade.”

He was shocked to hear the requirements. They were demanding a high-grade technique just for entry.

‘They are not even a County-Level Force. Where does their confidence to attract those with High-Grade Cultivation manuals come from?’

He became curious and inquired further.

“Any important news from the Sect?”

“No, they are under lockdown. Except for disciples overseeing the industries in Birch City, no one exits or enters.”

Xin Ruo answered for Yin Ying. She had received this news just before they came to the Study.

Frowning, he jumped to a conclusion.

‘This must be related to the surprise they are preparing!’

“Increase surveillance on the Monstrous Flame Sect. I want to be the first to know what they are planning!”

His intense stare met the two ladies’ eyes.

Yin Ying simply nodded in response, unfazed by his gaze.

“Now the City Lord’s Manor and the City Hall…  How deep inside are you?”

“Bribed Mo Fan’s maid. She likes to gossip.”

“Twelve men successfully joined the regiments.”

“Two joined City Hall as Peons.”

Yin Ying and Xin Ruo alternately answered as if trying to one-up each other. And then, out of nowhere, Yin Ying dropped the bomb.

“Uncovered some dirt on City Lord and Mo Fan. The Former slept with the latter’s wife.”

Xin Ruo was left tongue-tied, unable to deliver similarly explosive news.

‘Leave it to Yin Ying to deliver such a juicy piece of news in a monotonous voice.’ Ikasa thought with a gobsmacked expression.

Still, this was not important right now.

“Any news about responses to my manuals?”

“The Hu Clan is surprised and trying to investigate your backing.”

“No response from the Monstrous Flame Sect.”

“And what about the City Guards themselves?”

“As per your instructions, I have called back all twelve of them.”

Yin Ying threw an annoyed glance at the two and schooled her features before they could notice. She had gone through lots of trouble to get them inside, and now her efforts were wasted.

“According to the news they brought back, the Hu Clan’s informants in regiments one and two are all identified and imprisoned.”

“Other informants will also fall soon.” Ikasa reminded the girls.

Once he heard every piece of news that these girls deemed important, he asked Xin Ruo to leave.

“Yin Ying, I am satisfied with your performance. Is there anything you want?”

She hesitated.

“Rehabilitate the men coming from the City Guards.”

“Of Course! That’s a given. They will start working here, in this villa, with new identities. What do you want for yourself?”

Yin Ying shook her head with a stoic expression.

Ikasa pinched his nose bridge and sighed. He opened the drawer and took out two Top Grade Techniques.

Yin Ying had her eyes wide open upon seeing the manuals. She knew what these two books meant. This was the technique Ikasa offered to only those in his close favor.

She looked at the book and the person before her in disbelief. The young man stood up and walked out of the Study.

“Choose one. You deserve it.”

He said, closing the door of the Study behind him. The lone tear drop trickled down her face, but she composed herself quickly.

‘If I want I can take both. But the trust Ikasa has shown will be broken.’

She decisively picked the Movement Technique, leaving the Cultivation Manual untouched.

When Ikasa returned from his stroll, he noticed a single Cultivation Manual on the table inside his Study.

He beamed at the empty seat, still warm from the body temperature of the recent occupant.

“Really, I didn’t make a mistake.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep