Then let them offer their loyalty!

Page 213

He couldn't help but exclaim, "Yan Chen is currently advancing to the pseudo-fourth rank?!"

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Chapter 249 Yan Chen Wants to Slay a God! (10,000 words, please vote!)

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Secretary Bai turned around and smiled, but did not respond.

He stood with his hands behind his back, exuding elegance by the French windows, gazing at the scenery outside, and said softly, "It's raining."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but turn his gaze to the window. Sure enough, a light drizzle had begun to fall outside the window.

The raindrops, like silk threads, connected heaven and earth, like the unbroken threads of a lotus root connecting the heaven and the earth, linking the spirit and reality.

Qiu Tu stared blankly at the rain for a while, then came to his senses and asked, "But... even if he advances to the pseudo-fourth rank, how will that help Yan Chen?"

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Secretary Bai frowned slightly. Then he reminded him, "It's Director Yan..."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu chuckled, "Alright. How will this help Director Yan?"

Qiu Tu added, "I heard from Director Tang that the job assignments at the shelters have nothing to do with their strength."

"Those with high abilities do not necessarily hold high positions, and those with low abilities do not necessarily hold low positions."

Secretary Bai nodded upon hearing this, "Director Tang is right."

"However... that's all based on her experience."

Secretary Bai said slowly, "But don't forget. What is Director Tang's strength? A peak Tier 3 Cataclysm, the limit that the Sanctuary can openly support."

"Therefore, given her own qualities, she is second to none in terms of strength. Of course, she feels that strength is not a major factor."

"Furthermore... you also need to be aware of Director Tang's identity and background."

Secretary Bai turned around, sat on a low cabinet by the window, and looked directly at Qiu Tu. "In the entire New Territories, no one is more politically reliable than Director Tang."

"Her father was one of the core founders of the Eighth Sanctuary and one of the highest-ranking officers in the Investigation Bureau system."

“His status and position are even higher than Huang Shangzong’s.”

"Given her demonstrated abilities, background, and current position, the shelter's leadership is grooming her as the core of the shelter's future."

"Who dares to block her promotion?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu's eyes widened in surprise.

He had actually considered that Tang Feifei's identity and background were very high. Especially after meeting Tang Feifei's second uncle, he became even more certain.

But to be honest... he really didn't expect it to be this high.

If Tang Feifei were in Qiu Tu's previous life, she would definitely be a high-ranking official, a princess-level figure.

Seeing this, Secretary Bai smiled gently and then said, "You still don't think things through comprehensively enough."

"Actually, you can see how exaggerated Director Tang's status is from just one detail."

"The entire system of the Detective Service in the New Territories was built by the Director himself."

"Whether it's Deputy Director Yu or Deputy Director Lai, they're both his people. This means that both the 'operations department' and the 'administrative department' within the bureau are filled with the director's confidants."

"In addition, eight out of the nine high-ranking officials are the director's confidants."

"Under these circumstances, Director Tang still has a certain degree of influence in the department. It is remarkable that the director, with his shrewdness and cunning, can tolerate her."

"This is enough to prove that her identity is not simple."

Hearing Secretary Bai's words, Qiu Tu nodded slightly, agreeing with the assessment.

At this moment, Secretary Bai continued to explain, "Let's get back to the topic we were just discussing."

“For Director Tang, strength is not important.”

He paused for a moment, then added, "Or perhaps for most mid- to high-level officials, strength isn't that important."

"Even for the director, strength isn't that important on a regular basis."

"But...have you forgotten what time it is?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu was first taken aback, then suddenly realized what was going on.

He said in surprise, "Is the director doing this for the position of deputy speaker of Dongye State?"

Secretary Bai smiled slightly, saying nothing, but everything was understood without being said.

Having obtained the most crucial piece of the puzzle, Qiu Tu suddenly felt that everything was connected!

His mind was racing!

The strength of a Cataclysm user might not be important in normal times. In regular promotions, it only adds a tiny bit of points.

However, it became somewhat important when a new state was formed.

It should be noted that after the establishment of Dongye Prefecture, the highest-ranking officials of the three major power institutions in more than a dozen cities will automatically become members of parliament.

From these forty-odd members of parliament, three deputy speakers will be selected.

The highest-ranking officials in each city are all of the same rank; their strength and abilities are also similar; and even their connections within the shelters may be quite similar.

Choosing either one or not is a matter of ambiguity.

If Yan Chen were to advance to become a fourth-tier Cataclysm at this time, wouldn't he stand out among the competitors in the Exploration Bureau's faction?

Especially after Huang Shangzong vetoed the original top candidate, Director Liu (the head of the state government's investigation department), he is likely to gain the full support of the investigation department faction.

In addition, the shelter will also consider having a Tier 4 Cataclysm to keep things in check, so that even if evil gods or cataclysmic creatures descend in the future, Dongyezhou will have the strength to deal with them.

Therefore, a chip that was originally insignificant suddenly becomes a heavyweight chip that can influence the final outcome when it falls on the scales at such a crucial moment!

Thinking about this, Qiu Tu suddenly understood Yan Chen's series of plans.

'As expected of Yan Chen... still using the same familiar methods: stirring up the biggest storm with the slightest change.'

'But...why is Old Bai talking to me about this?'

'Wasn't I talking to him about the evil goddess Lariro?'

What is the connection between Yan Chen's advancement and La Ri Luo?

Thinking this, Qiu Tu's mind raced.

A moment later, he suddenly got goosebumps all over his body!

He suddenly looked up at Secretary Bai.

At this moment, Secretary Bai appeared at a small table in the bedroom and began to brew tea.

He wasn't wearing his uniform today; he was dressed in white civilian clothes, giving him a dashing and elegant air.

Qiu Tu just stared at Secretary Bai, staring...

After a moment, he said, "I remember the security department showed me information about Yan Chen before. They said he was suspected of being a Cataclysm user through the 'Life' or 'Immortality' pathway." (Chapters 42 and 95)

"so...."

Before Qiu Tu could finish speaking, Secretary Bai interrupted him, "The Director's disaster pathway is 'Life'."

Qiu Tu suddenly bit his lip.

He was right!

Yan Chen's path to catastrophe is "life," and La Ri Luo's path to catastrophe is also "life"!

Therefore, the reason why Yan Chen made Secretary Bai join La Ri Luo and lured La Ri Luo into the real world was because he wanted to devour La Ri Luo!

The reason why Secretary Bai talked to him about Yan Chen's desire to advance to the fourth-tier Cataclysm was actually to tell Qiu Tu that Yan Chen wanted to advance to the fourth-tier Cataclysm by devouring La Ri Luo!

"Damn! This is insane!"

To be honest, last night when he was working with Tang Feifei, Qiu Tu also thought a lot about the reasons why Yan Chen instructed Secretary Bai to become a follower of the evil god!

He suspected that Yan Chen had sent Secretary Bai to infiltrate La Riluo's group, intending to wipe out all of La Riluo's followers in one fell swoop.

Yan Chen thought that he was old and afraid of death, and wanted to get the method of immortality from La Ri Luo.

I wondered if Yan Chen was like Jia Shu, wanting to cooperate with the evil god to eliminate dissidents, but not wanting to get involved himself.

However... no matter which reason he came up with, Qiu Tu felt that something was amiss: after all, Secretary Bai's position and potential were too high.

Sacrificing Secretary Bai in exchange for the above benefits—let alone whether Secretary Bai would agree, even for Yan Chen himself, the sacrifice and the reward are disproportionate!

Now that Qiu Tu knows that Yan Chen is actually planning to kill a god and "eat" La Ri Luo in one bite, everything feels right!

If Yan Chen can truly kill a god and "eat" La Ri Luo, then the traces of a believer on Secretary Bai will also disappear!

Therefore, Yan Chen was able to both advance to the fourth rank and protect Secretary Bai!

However, thinking about this, Qiu Tu was a little confused about when Yan Chen had started planning all of this.

Did it begin when I arrived in the New Territories? Did it begin when Lariel descended into this world? Or did it begin after I discovered Lariel?

Thinking of this, Qiu Tu's expression turned ugly for a moment.

While he was still thinking about how to outwit Larilu, Yan Chen had already cleverly included Larilu, this variable, in his plan and used her as a resource for his advancement!

And quietly indulge in attacking Lariro's followers and influence, weakening her power!

Is this the skill of the old fox in strategizing?

Just as Qiu Tu was thinking this, suddenly, a green beam of light burst forth outside the window! Then it shot straight into the sky from the ground!

At the same time, the phantom of a large tree suddenly appeared in the sky above the entire 11,200 square kilometers of the New Territories!

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Chapter 250 A Way to Break the Impasse! (1/2 words, please vote!)

Upon seeing this, Qiu Tu was startled, then quickly got up, walked to the French windows in the bedroom, and looked up at the sky.

In his vision, the enormous green tree phantom resembled a majestic mountain range, towering high and stretching across the entire New Territories! Its imposing form reached straight into the clouds, as if it were connecting heaven and earth.

The rain, like emerald sap dripping from leaves, shimmered under the illusory reflection, cascading down from the treetops and crashing onto the ground, creating ripples.

Gazing at the magnificent spectacle he had never seen before, Qiu Tu was filled with shock and disbelief. He murmured to himself,

"What's this?"

Hearing his words, Secretary Bai also picked up his teacup, slowly walked to the French window, and while looking at the phantom of the giant tree, said calmly, "This is a phantom of the law."

"When a being reaches the fourth level, his spirit will become more and more in line with the path he practices."

"And they will acquire a portion of the laws they practice, and eventually it will become a unique phantom of their own laws."

"And once the phantom of the law is born, there will be many benefits."

Secretary Bai paused for a moment before saying, "Firstly, the strength of living beings will be greatly enhanced."

"Secondly, the lifespan of living beings will also be greatly extended because they are in harmony with the laws."

"For example, the average lifespan of ordinary humans is only about 60-70 years. But once you reach level four, it is said that you can live up to 200 years."

"Moreover, even when the physical body reaches the end of its lifespan, it can transform into a spiritual body, becoming a special existence similar to a high-level cataclysmic creature, and continue to live."

"By then, lifespan will be even longer. How much longer exactly, nobody knows..."

Hearing this, Qiu Tu pondered for a moment, then replied, "But becoming a fourth-order Cataclysm and giving birth to a Law Phantom must also have its downsides, right?"

"For example...being influenced by the laws, so one's thoughts and spirit are increasingly affected by the path one follows?"

"Do many behaviors need to be more in line with the habits of the means they follow?"

Secretary Bai smiled and nodded. "Yes, that's true."

"This is also why the shelter does not encourage officials to pursue high power."

"Because the stronger the strength, the higher the degree of assimilation by the pathways."

"The 'life' path is alright, but if it's the 'chaos' or 'destruction' path, one might become a madman or a psychopath."

Qiu Tu nodded slightly upon hearing this.

He continued to gaze up at the magnificent phantom tree composed of countless points of light, then asked, "So, Director, you've successfully advanced?"