Chapter 598: Chapter 598

This kid, could it be that he snitched to that person just now?

Given Zuo Qianqiu’s past relationship with the Mu Family, could their person really bring himself to act against him?

Supreme Buddha Country.

A pure white Buddha was seated with eyes closed at the very center of the Buddha Country.

Standing before the Buddha, with hands clasped behind his back, stood Zuo Qianqiu, the Dharma King of the Supreme True Buddha Sect.

Compared to the past, he looked significantly younger, having reverted back to his vigorous prime and status, exuding a majestic and lofty presence.

With the foundation of Yanfu Buddha Country, not only had his injuries healed, but he had also improved further, living a second life and now not far from reaching the Grandmaster level.

He had hidden his true self in the Supreme Buddha Country to avoid potential accidents.

"Dharma King, we have received news that Ji Jingqiu has returned to the East Three Bright Star," reported a man standing behind him at that moment.

Zuo Qianqiu, gazing at the Buddha before him, muttered,

"The Buddha Country specifically asks for this child without giving a reason. And this child is most likely the one chosen by the Old Law Sect – tell me, should I hand this child over to the Buddha Country?"

Over a year ago, he sent his subordinates to investigate the young martial artists that the Old Law Sect secretly supported within the Federation. However, at the brink of attaining valuable insights, Ji Linyuan accidentally killed the responsible subordinate with a single punch, severing the lead.

Now, with the Buddha Country’s request and the fact that Ji Jingqiu was also present on the Four Guardian Stars more than a year ago, Zuo Qianqiu was seventy to eighty percent certain that Ji Jingqiu was the same person they were searching for.

Fate is indeed unfathomable.

But now, Zuo Qianqiu was pondering why the Buddha Country specified that they wanted this child. Could it be that this child not only possessed unparalleled talent but also had some connection to their lineage?

Zuo Qianqiu looked at the pure white Buddha before him, lamenting that such a "divine instrument" was beyond his control.

If he could completely command this "divine instrument," he would dare to storm the Mu Family immediately!

"Find out the whereabouts of Ji Jingqiu. When the time comes, I will make my move personally," he ordered.

His subordinate, shocked, said, "Your Excellency, you wish to take action yourself? A martial artist who only reached the True Seed Realm a year ago – any of us could serve you at any time!"

Zuo Qianqiu smiled faintly and said, "I’ve finally grasped a bit of the profound utility of omnipresence; this child will be a good test subject."

The man behind him rejoiced, saying, "Once you take that step, who in the Federation could stand as your foe?!"

Zuo Qianqiu narrowed his eyes and said, "Careful. We must still wait for those few to leave..."

In a courtyard resembling that of a hermit’s abode, where a stone path meandered through, Ning Fengyuan sat by the pond fishing. Without turning his head, he said casually:

"Yan, why do you have the time to visit this old man again today?"

Yan Ruhuo, the newly appointed Deputy Director of the War Control Department, chuckled and said, "Junior fears that in a few days’ time, I won’t be able to see you, elder."

Ning Fengyuan asked, "On your way here, did you happen to see that old fellow Shi Wenjing?"

Shi Wenjing, one of the Federation’s Four Directions Grandmasters and founder of the Lion Heart Dao, was also a friend of Ji Jingqiu and the master of Shi Xinwan.

Yan Ruhuo nodded and said, "I saw Master Shi on my way here, and he was urging us to quickly have the younger generation of the Nine States return."

Ning Fengyuan chuckled and said, "Is that old guy so worried about his beloved disciple? Then you’d better act swiftly. If that old man gets angry, I won’t meddle in it."

Yan Ruhuo forced a smile and said, "We are already concluding the affairs of the Nine States as quickly as possible and having the younger generation return."

"What brings you to seek me out this time?"

Yan Ruhuo hesitated for a moment and said, "I’ve just received instructions from that member of the Mu Family, and I wanted to seek your opinion on the matter."

Hearing this, Ning Fengyuan turned his head and teased, "What, has that person just helped you to secure the position of Deputy Director of the War Control Department and now you’ve ’forgotten your roots?’ You need to ask my opinion even when asked to do something."

Yan Ruhuo forced a smile and said, "Junior wouldn’t dare. It’s just that this instruction is rather difficult to discuss, so I wanted to consult with you and see if there are any other underlying issues."

"If you can disclose it, then let me hear it," Ning Fengyuan showed interest.

"The person who asks us to issue a challenge to the Federation’s various martial arts veins on behalf of Ji Jingqiu," Yan Ruhuo sighed, "Elder Ning, you must be clear about what this means."

Ning Fengyuan said in surprise, "Just this matter?"

He shook his head: "I thought it was something else. Isn’t it just delivering a challenge letter? Just go ahead and do it."

Yan Ruhuo was dumbfounded. This was not simply "just" delivering a challenge letter.

If one is not careful, Ji Jingqiu, this excellent potential seed, might just be destroyed in the process!

Ning Fengyuan said calmly, "The person who has you doing this certainly has his reasons. All you need to do is to carry it out. You don’t have to worry about anything else."

Yan Ruhuo furrowed his brows tightly and couldn’t help saying, "Ji Jingqiu is possibly the closest to the Seven Marshals in terms of martial arts potential the Federation has seen in millennia. Is this step too big for him? Is he too early compared to those veteran Chains and even the Heart Image?"

Ning Fengyuan said noncommittally, "At his realm, the Seven Marshals had already fought and dominated the founders of various martial arts veins, initially establishing their own positions. Don’t measure his stature with your vision."

Yan Ruhuo had no words to say.

Suddenly Ning Fengyuan said, "Your visit today is indeed quite timely. If you were even half a day later, perhaps you really wouldn’t be able to see this old man anymore."

Yan Ruhuo’s expression changed as he quickly asked, "Isn’t it still not time for departure? Has it been brought forward?"

"That’s not the case," Ning Fengyuan sighed, "Some people are just too hard to invite. According to the intentions of those few, we are to make a personal visit."

Yan Ruhuo’s mind was shaken.

This time, several Great Grandmasters joined hands to send out invitations to various parties, but a month had passed and there were still those who did not appear.

There were already rumors that some had fled to the Spirit Ocean or even Divine Travel among the realms to evade the summons.

And now it seemed clear that those few were not prepared to let anyone on the list go.

"Uh, not just us, that person also plans to take personal action and visit the Supreme True Buddha Sect."

"Supreme True Buddha Sect... Zuo Qianqiu?!" Yan Ruhuo exclaimed in shock, then with a look of surprise and uncertainty, "That person is taking action against Zuo Qianqiu?"

After he took the position of Deputy Director of the War Control Department, he finally gained the authority to access certain secrets, or rather...scandals?

Among them, there were some past events involving the Supreme True Buddha Sect, and Zuo Qianqiu was also on the list.

This person was once courted by the Mu Family and married into it; he should have been at the peak of his life, but he suffered humiliations from his wife. Later, he defected from the Mu Family and joined the Supreme True Buddha Sect.

Strictly speaking, it was the Mu Family who owed him in this matter.

Ning Fengyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he uttered indifferently,

"What else can it be? If this person remains, with us gone, how many in the Federation could control him? It’s all in the plans."

Yan Ruhuo took a deep breath and asked, "What about the Heavenly Road...?"

"They all need to go," Ning Fengyuan said with narrowed eyes, "You need not worry about the Heavenly Road for the time being; what really needs to be guarded against is still internal strife."

Yan Ruhuo sighed, "This matter is truly urgent; the Federation was completely unprepared beforehand, in the end, I fear it will lead to many troubles..."

"There’s not so much that can cater to one’s wishes; impermanence is the norm of life," Ning Fengyuan said indifferently.

Yan Ruhuo stood silently, not knowing what to say.

"Just go. After a while, I too will depart. As for the matter with Ji Jingqiu, do as that person instructed."

"...Junior understands."

Two pieces of information from sources not even certain, with the push from the official Federation channels, spread at an astonishing speed through the Martial Arts Plate.

"Latest news, the Federation seems to be taking action against Beicang Commerce Alliance and several other forces! It’s suspected that Grandmasters are involved!"

"Just in, news arrived that Ji Jingqiu of Dragon Tiger Dojo wishes to challenge the various martial arts veins of the Federation one by one!"

As these two pieces of news set off tremendous waves in the Martial Arts Plate of the Federation network, the already tumultuous Federation grew even deeper, like the sea before a storm.

And at this very moment.

Ji Jingqiu had just walked out of the Divine Temple of the Four Directions God.

He had visited several Divine Lords and expounded on the mysterious aspects of the Divine Embryo during the breakthrough of the Chains Realm.

The Four Directions God also approved of his upcoming decisions, believing it would help to promote the [Physical Body Divine Store].

In Their eyes, this was also a path of propagating teachings.