The next morning, Ji Yuan quietly left the Qian family before anyone else noticed.
He didn't even take a carriage, but walked alone through the streets and alleys, arriving at a more remote block.
Almost no residents lived here; it was mostly warehouses for shops, piled high with a large amount of goods.
Although there were quite a few restaurants, they were not prosperous, mainly serving the workers in the area.
And the Ming Jian Division, which was feared and even terrified by all parties, demons, and monsters alike.
Was located in this block.
Although it was only his second visit, Ji Yuan was not unfamiliar with it at all.
With his current cultivation level, it was not an exaggeration to say he had a photographic memory; even memories from a long time ago could become very clear.
He slowly approached the outside of the Ming Jian Division, looked at the unguarded gate, paused briefly, and then strode in proudly.
This place had not changed since Ji Yuan's previous visit. The large yamen still lacked vitality.
He walked all the way to the depths, but did not see a single person.
In other yamen, if not for constables and runners, there would always be some ordinary clerks to be seen.
"Come in."
Just as Ji Yuan hesitated, a voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
Without further delay, he walked straight into the small courtyard at the very back.
This was the residence of the Ming Jian Division's Chief.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw a young man in white standing silently in the courtyard.
"Junior pays his respects to senior!"
He bowed respectfully.
By not addressing the other party as Chief, he indicated that this was a personal visit.
As his cultivation level improved, seeing the young man in white again, his senses immediately became different.
The last time he saw the other party, he only felt that their strength was terrifying, their aura unfathomable like the sea.
Now, at a glance, it was like seeing a drawn long saber, its edge sharp enough to cleave the sky and everything in the world.
Ji Yuan even felt that even Xu Chengfeng, the peak master of Lei Ze Peak.
Might not be as good as the young man in white before him!
"It's been many years since we last met, and you have made considerable progress."
Wang Zhenyuan, the Chief of the Ming Jian Division, slowly turned around.
Under his gaze, Ji Yuan felt as if he had no secrets, as if he had been seen through completely.
However, he knew that this was just his imagination. With the other party's status, he would not stoop to such actions towards a junior.
"Compared to senior, my achievements are insignificant."
He replied immediately.
This was not flattery, but stating a fact.
The young Chief of the Ming Jian Division before him had entered the third realm after only a few years of martial arts practice, and then, within ten to twenty years, had broken through to the fourth realm of martial arts – the True Body realm.
What is a True Body?
It is the True Body of martial arts!
This realm corresponds to the Golden Core of cultivators and the Golden Body of deities.
Once a martial artist enters this realm, their physique naturally develops divine abilities, and their three souls and seven spirits merge into their flesh and blood.
From then on, the True Body is indestructible, and the self is eternal!
Now, after decades or even a century, the other party's cultivation level has reached an extremely terrifying degree.
If ranked by killing power, he could even be among the top five in Lingyang Prefecture!
It was precisely because of this that Ji Yuan felt that his achievements were not vastly different, but rather similar, compared to the other party.
"You are too kind."
The young man in white paused, then said, "The path of martial arts emphasizes rapid progress, constantly breaking through while one is young and strong."
It is the immortal path that is somewhat different; the speed of progress does not represent everything.
Ji Yuan's current cultivation speed was already comparable to the achievements of the young man in white back then.
However, if one were to be exact, he was still a little short.
"Why have you come?"
Wang Zhenyuan asked.
He was always brief and to the point, not out of arrogance, but because he was not good at communicating with others.
It was precisely because of this that, with his powerful strength, he was willing to stay in Luoxia County.
Otherwise, with his killing power in the top five of a prefecture, it would be no problem for him to be the Chief of the Ming Jian Division in the prefecture city.
"First, I was passing through the county town and came to visit senior and a friend. Second, I wanted to discuss some business."
Ji Yuan was also direct, saving much of the unnecessary preamble.
Although he had not interacted much, he could tell that it was best to be direct when talking to the young man in white before him.
"If you are visiting, why are you empty-handed?"
Wang Zhenyuan pondered for a long time, then slowly spoke.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan was stunned. His mind couldn't help but recall what Xu Lin had said.
That talented Blade Holder of the Ming Jian Division had said that this Chief disliked socializing and never accepted gifts from anyone.
After all, it was the Ming Jian Division, and they would pay some attention to these matters.
This was also why he had not prepared a gift when he came.
"Just kidding."
Seeing Ji Yuan stunned, the young man coughed lightly and then silently turned away.
As if trying to conceal his embarrassment.
"Junior came in a hurry and did not prepare a gift. I will make up for it in the future."
However, Ji Yuan was not someone who understood nothing, and naturally, he would not let the other party be too embarrassed.
Then he paused and continued, "How do you view the current situation outside?"
His purpose for coming today was indeed to discuss business.
But before that, he still needed to ascertain the intentions of this Chief of the Ming Jian Division in Luoxia County.
If it differed from his own thoughts, he would have to make other plans for the business.
"I can't wait to wield my saber freely."
After a long silence, his faint voice sounded.
This simple sentence revealed a great deal.
Ji Yuan nodded in his heart and then asked, "Is the Ming Jian Division still lacking money?"
In the past, the Ming Jian Division was so poor that they could barely afford medicinal herbs, and daily cultivation resources were difficult to guarantee.
Although they later confiscated the Li family's assets and had multiple collaborations with Ming Xin Xuan, the change was likely not significant.
As expected, Ji Yuan could feel that after he spoke, the other party's aura clearly fluctuated.
It seemed that the predicament of the Ming Jian Division was difficult for even this extremely powerful Chief to treat with a calm demeanor.
"We lack people, money, and resources."
The young man in white pondered for a long time and let out a sigh of helplessness.
Under normal circumstances, the Ming Jian Division of a prefecture should have at least three hundred Blade Holders and over a thousand yamen runners.
However, this vast yamen now only had thirty to forty Blade Holders, and a mere ten or so ordinary yamen runners.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan's mouth twitched. He knew that the Ming Jian Division in Luoxia County was much more desperate than other counties.
But he did not expect it to have reached such a critical point.
No wonder that in Luoxia County, although the Ming Jian Division had a reputation, it was only spread among powerful factions.