Chapter 450

Chapter 450: Taking Office

“Even if fate is full of twists and turns, even if fate is strange and frightening…”

Wang Chen felt that this song from his previous life suited him well.

Fate was like an invisible hand, first bringing him to this world, then pushing him to keep running, never allowing him a moment of true stability.

Inside the lavish cabin of the flying ship, he set down the scroll he held.

This thick book recorded various aspects of Daying County in West Zhou.

It was something Zuo Xiaomo worked hard to gather for Wang Chen.

Daying was the largest county in West Zhou, covering tens of thousands of miles, but located on the border, with two-thirds of its area being wasteland and sand desert, resulting in a harsh natural environment.

The county government, Daying City, was the most bustling place in the entire border region, with a population of millions.

It was protected by a Grand Celestial Guardian from the West Sea Sect and eight subordinate Grand Celestial Guardians!

Given Wang Chen’s status and cultivation level, he certainly could not serve as the Grand Celestial Guardian; his task was to take the place of one of the subordinate Grand Celestial Guardians.

Unlike most cities in the West Sea Spiritual Realm, Daying City faced constant disturbances from the Sand People, leading to the stationing of a ten-thousand-strong Dao soldiers and a hundred thousand battle soldiers.

The Sand People were the natives of the West Desert, known for their fierce and warlike nature, often organizing bandit groups to raid towns within Daying County and even threatening Daying City.

With the strength of the West Sea Sect, exterminating the Sand People was not difficult.

However, they upheld the faith of the Buddha, and a powerful force from the Western Buddhist Sect stood behind them, causing the West Sea Sect to hesitate.

Though the West Sea Sect was the largest sect in the Mountain-Sea Realm, it did not possess absolute authority nor was it invincible; in fact, there were several powerful organizations that were not allied with the West Sea Sect.

For example, the Western Buddhist Sect, the Void Sword Sect, and the Eastern Sea Alliance, among others.

Being the leader was not an easy task; the West Sea Sect could not start a full-scale war with the Western Buddhist Sect simply because of disturbances from the Sand People.

In a mutually damaging conflict, only other powerful organizations would find it amusing.

In summary, the situation in Daying was extremely complex; four or five celestial guardians had died under unclear circumstances in the last ten years!

“Reporting to the Immortal Master…”

At that moment, someone gently knocked on the cabin door, and a soft female voice came in, “We are almost at Daying City.”

Wang Chen’s eyes flashed as he put away the scroll and said, “I understand.”

He stood up and exited the cabin, making his way to the deck.

The flying ship he was on belonged to the West Sea Sect; it was larger, faster, and equipped with treasure-level armaments.

It had a strong deterrent power.

After a journey of hundreds of thousands of miles, with seven stops along the way, it took five days and four nights to finally reach the destination.

At this time, the flying ship was descending.

Below the clouds, a huge city appeared in Wang Chen’s sight.

Daying City had a unique design, presenting an overall "凸" shape, with the protruding parts occupying a valley formed by two gigantic mountains, creating a fortress-like structure.

To the west of the valley was an endless expanse of golden desert, while to the east, the city was surrounded by millions of acres of spirit fields.

One side was golden, the other green; the mountains and rivers marked a clear distinction!

Overlooking from a commanding height, the city sprawled below with buildings densely packed and countless pavilions and towers dotting the landscape.

The air was thick with the essence of human benevolence, vibrant and flourishing!

With a deep, resonant horn sound, the West Sea Sect’s flying ship descended smoothly into the very heart of the city.

The Celestial Guardians’ residences of Daying!

The Grand Celestial Guardian’s residences covered an extensive area, functioning as a city within the city, also referred to as the inner city.

This marked the final destination for the flying ship.

Wang Chen stepped off the flying ship.

He was not alone; indeed, a large group of people had Daying City as their destination.

Among them were West Sea Sect disciples seeking training, merchants conducting business, visitors to family and friends, and even exiles.

In total, several hundred people disembarked!

“Are you Wang Chen, junior brother Wang?”

No sooner had Wang Chen alighted from the flying ship than a stern-looking middle-aged cultivator approached, scrutinizing him with a piercing gaze.

A large entourage followed behind this cultivator.

“I pay my respects to Grand Celestial Guardian Luo.”

Wang Chen greeted him with a balanced demeanor, neither subservient nor arrogant, and said, “I look forward to your guidance in the future.”

This middle-aged cultivator was none other than Luo Han, the Grand Celestial Guardian of Daying County, an extraordinary practitioner at the ninth level of the Purple Palace.

Luo Han, over a century old, had been stationed in Daying for thirty years without returning to the West Sea Sect, effectively making it his permanent post.

Thus, this Purple Palace extraordinary practitioner wielded unmatched authority in Daying County!

“Well said.”

Luo Han, evidently a man of few words, nodded and said, “Junior brother Wang, you have journeyed far. Rest first in the residence, and later, I will escort you to the Celestial Guardian’s pavilion to assume your duties.”

“Thank you, Grand Celestial Guardian.”

Guided by a white-haired old cultivator, Wang Chen settled into the guest building of the Grand Celestial Guardian’s residences.

However, Luo Han neither hosted a welcoming banquet for Wang Chen that evening nor engaged in further conversation; he merely arranged for a table of food and drinks to be set in the guest building for his entertainment.

By the next morning, the person sent to accompany Wang Chen to the Celestial Guardian’s pavilion was merely a steward from the Grand Celestial Guardian’s residences.

Apart from the initial welcome, Luo Han made no further appearances.

The Grand Celestial Guardian’s attitude towards Wang Chen was distinctly cold, clearly indicating a desire to maintain distance.

The commencement of this mission was undeniably unfavorable!

In addition to the Grand Celestial Guardian’s residences, Daying City housed eight Celestial Guardian’s pavilions, each managed by cultivators dispatched from the sect.

These eight celestial guardian pavilions were strategically positioned at the eight cardinal points of the city, safeguarding the eight nodes of the Daying protective formation.

The Daying protective formation was of a very high rank, reputedly capable of withstanding the might of Yuan Ying until true immortals from the sect arrived to reinforce it.

As for Golden Core true masters, even if three or fifty were to attack, they would not breach it!

This underscores the significance the West Sea Sect attaches to Daying City.

Yet, for reasons unknown, since its inception, the highest-ranking Grand Celestial Guardian in Daying City had only reached the complete stage of the Purple Palace.

There appears to be an unspoken agreement between the West Sea Sect and the Western Buddhist Sect behind the Sand People to confine their conflicts to below the Golden Core level.

This ensures that, regardless of the intensity of their skirmishes, the fundamental stability of both sides remains intact!

This insight was deduced and speculated by Wang Chen himself.

The Celestial Guardian’s pavilion under Wang Chen’s charge was situated in the northwest corner of Daying City, near the outer city of the canyon, adjacent to the vast mountain range.

The previous celestial guardian, whom Wang Chen was replacing, greeted him with the warmth of seeing a long-lost relative.

He was eager to hand over all responsibilities to Wang Chen, including the maids, battle cultivators, stewards, and other personnel, before hastily departing with his few disciples.

This abrupt transfer left Wang Chen with a growing sense of being ensnared.

As the besieger here, Wang Chen faced the significant challenge of having no reliable subordinates; he arrived alone, without a single trustworthy aide.

And indeed, his troubles were only just beginning!