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The latter could not be ignored.

Because Luo State is one of the two states in the Jiawu Realm with the most gold, the other being Fish Scale State, which does not belong to the rule of Zi Xuan and is considered a place beyond conventional realms in various senses.

In this world, there are two places with the most officials.

One is Jingzhou, which after all is the center of the royal court, where all decisions are made. The other is Luo State.

Luo State has one hundred thirty-seven cities, and controlling any one of them could, at the very least, yield five thousand Upper Xuan Stamps annually.

The most ruthless looters could even gather tens of thousands.

To know, five thousand Upper Xuan Stamps is no small sum; to heal Tan Shuchang’s fundamentally severe injuries using extremely rare medicines from all over the world cost only about two hundred Upper Xuan Stamps in total.

And the price of a lower realm Magic Artifact is typically around five hundred Upper Xuan Stamps.

Organizing information about Luo State was not difficult, because although cultivators cannot claim to have photographic memories, most do have extraordinary memory.

Tan Shuchang headed towards Luo State.

However, on this particular day, as he was passing through a city, he was stopped by the local County Magistrate and his men.

Apparently fearing that they could not stop Tan Shuchang, the County Magistrate even brought out the Mountain-Sea Beast that guarded the city. It was a Jiao, a horned serpent, whose movements turned the ground directly into marshwater, accompanied by continuous thundering sounds from the void.

This was a Water Marsh Thunder Jiao, a spirit species inherently equipped with the powers of magic, art, and strength, and its spiritual intelligence was no less than that of a young child at birth.

Surviving a Jiawu cycle, it becomes extremely cunning.

However, despite its cunning nature, the Water Marsh Thunder Jiao was one of the rare Mountain-Sea Beasts that was inherently friendly to humans.

Because mingling in human society greatly aided its growth.

Normally requiring a Jiawu cycle to mature, but with prolonged human contact, it could be enough in just thirty years. Particularly those Water Marsh Thunder Jiaos mixed in the officialdom could mature in just half a Jiawu cycle, ten to twenty years.

Therefore, over time, the Water Marsh Thunder Jiao became a standard battle general in the royal court.

Of course, one shouldn’t hold too high hopes for this monster, because as soon as the Water Marsh Thunder Jiao finds that the opponent is too strong, or that it is likely to be injured, it will immediately flee.

The more powerful the Water Marsh Thunder Jiao, the faster and sooner they tend to flee.

On the contrary, those Water Marsh Thunder Jiaos that had been born only a few years would roar and charge forward.

"What does the County Magistrate intend?" Tan Shuchang looked at the Water Marsh Thunder Jiao, his expression unchanged, but he couldn’t help but feel a bit nostalgic in his eyes because back when he was still in the Tan family, he had a good relationship with a Water Marsh Thunder Jiao, and if he hadn’t abstained from drinking, he might have sworn brotherhood with it.

"I have seen Commander Sir! The three Princes had instructed that if Sir is passing through this place, you could fully utilize the ’Water Spirit’ here and go directly to the Qitian Pavilion headquarters in Luo State," said the County Magistrate hastily.

Although the Sword Command Daoist General belongs to the Qitian Pavilion system, he also holds a clear official rank in the royal court, so the County Magistrate was in a state of sincere fear.

Tan Shuchang’s expression stiffened slightly, then he looked directly at the County Magistrate, about to find an excuse to refuse. However, just as he was about to speak, Tan Shuchang changed his mind, saying he needed to rest a few hours and would use the "Water Spirit" to travel later in the evening.

The County Magistrate naturally had no objections and hurried to prepare for Tan Shuchang.

Since traveling directly to the Qitian Pavilion headquarters in Luo State from here involves an incredibly long journey, continuous use of the "Water Spirit" was required, so it was necessary to coordinate in advance with the other side specifically for him, reserving several hours of transit time.

And as soon as those people walked away, Tan Shuchang’s figure vanished instantly.

Because just before that, the scenery around him had already started to distort. Tan Shuchang had used the Impermanence Order at the first possible moment, thereby delaying for a while his being "invited" into the game instance.

After all, the internal staff of the eerie game, although lacking in significant privileges, still possessed some minor rights.

It was these little "privileges" that came into effect only after the invitation of the eerie game had been extended.

This time, entering the eerie game instance was, as usual, initiated by a dim surrounding scene, but unlike before, Tan Shuchang was given an option.

"Impermanence Order detected, initiating special circumstances."

"One, you may choose to join the Ghost Butcher faction, assisting the ghost in killing more than ten players by its murder rules to be considered a game victory."

"Two, you may choose to join the Ghost Defector faction, persuading the defector to surrender and helping them successfully queue for the surrender, to be incarcerated by the General of the Ghost City of Lang, which will be considered a game victory."

"Three, you may choose to join the Ghost Scholar faction, acting as the top lickspittle under the Lord of the Ghost City of Lang and a long-standing grudge-holder against General Huai. The Ghost Scholar’s mission is specifically to sabotage! Sabotaging General Huai’s incarceration will be considered a game victory.

However, there is also a likelihood of being targeted by the Ghost Butcher and pursued by General Huai."

Hearing this, Tan Shuchang did not hesitate and immediately chose three.

After all, where’s the reason not to help one’s own people?

Moreover, Tan Someone always sided with kin over reason. Hiding truths among family, this was a major principle in how Tan Shuchang conducted himself.

After Tan Shuchang had made his choice, that indistinct, emotionless voice told him to wait on the spot, saying the Ghost Scholar would come to find him.

Very soon, Tan Shuchang saw the familiar Ghost Scholar.

Naturally, this clever strategist also saw him.

"Lord of the City?" the Ghost Scholar blinked, only knowing that a flesh-and-blood player had chosen to help it, but not who this player was.

But immediately, the Ghost Scholar became excited.

"My Lord, are we finally going to take action against General Huai, who dares to defy his superiors?" the Ghost Scholar asked.

"Not in haste, first tell me, how many ghosts are there in this instance, and how many of them can we do without?" Tan Shuchang signaled for his strategist to calm down.

"Reporting to the Lord of the City, once multiple factions appear, it means a group obliteration is possible. This obliteration refers not only to the flesh-and-blood players but also to the ghosts," replied the Ghost Scholar.

Hearing this, Tan Shuchang was naturally a bit excited.

Ghosts can be obliterated?

If he took all the ghosts with him, that should count as an obliteration, right?

So, he asked again, "How many ghosts are there in this instance?"

"Including myself and yourself, Lord, there are eleven," the Ghost Scholar hurriedly answered.

Silently, Tan Shuchang: "..."

Then he said expressionlessly to the Ghost, "Next time you calculate such things, don’t count me. Just count yourself."

"Yes, my Lord, I shall obey."