Chapter 2: Nightmare Arrives at the Residence, Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend
Lanling City.
Marquis Jing'an Mansion.
After the first of the month, this long-quiet mansion became lively once again.
For more than ten consecutive days, it could be described as bustling!
Those who took the initiative to visit, besides officials from the court, were mostly people from the Jianghu.
Representatives from twenty-three provinces, numerous Martial Arts Masters, True Masters, Reserve Council Members, and Council Members from the Blue Patrol Pavilion almost all came to visit Li Fei!
Li Fei had just been elected as a Blue Patrol Member, and these people would all be his colleagues in the future. Plus, they were all Martial Arts Masters and True Masters, so not meeting them would seem too pretentious.
So, for more than half a month, Li Fei spent most of his daytime on social engagements, only able to cultivate at night.
However, this hustle was very valuable, allowing him to establish his network in twenty-two other provinces.
"If Marquis Jing'an comes to Guangwu Province someday, I must extend my hospitality!"
"Haha, Sect Leader Zhang is too kind, I will definitely visit your sect then."
"Hahaha, great then, it's settled!"
In the hall, Li Fei was conversing with the Sect Leader of Thousand Snow Sect from Guangwu Province, Zhang Chengjun.
Guangwu Province also lacked any top-tier forces, with Thousand Snow Sect being the most powerful Jianghu sect in the province, leading to Zhang Chengjun's successful election as a council member of the Blue Patrol Pavilion for Guangwu Province.
With support from one of the 'Ten Gate Valves', the Yuwen Family, Zhang Chengjun's council position can also be considered as belonging to the court side.
Zhang Chengjun, at 89 years old, was a Martial Arts Master with Four Divine Abilities, already attempting to condense a Martial Arts Domain, with a certain chance to break through.
Once successfully breaking through, Thousand Snow Sect would possess a Great Grandmaster and instantly elevate to a top-tier force!
Therefore, Zhang Chengjun was very famous in the Jianghu of Guangwu Province, undoubtedly the number one person!
However, this famous Martial Arts Master kept a humble posture in front of Li Fei, even proactively brought a valuable gift—a Spirit Heart Pill.
The Spirit Heart Pill is an elixir specifically for Martial Artists cultivating 'Unity', which can increase the success rate of Martial Artists breaking through to the Tao Foundation Stage!
Li Fei used his marquis status share to purchase this precious elixir from the court, able to buy only ten pills each year.
Zhang Chengjun's gift included thirty Spirit Heart Pills!
This kind of elixir was surely beyond Li Fei's need but could be used to cultivate his subordinates.
Currently, he had only truly trained one Dao Foundation Stage Martial Artist under him, Xu Xiaotian, and was still very short-handed. With this elixir, plus a batch of Spirit Heart Pills given by the Crown Prince at the Qionghua Banquet of the Daluo Sect in the past...
With two bottles of elixir together, Li Fei had the chance to cultivate one more Dao Foundation Stage Martial Artist!
Those who visited him recently were either sect leaders, gang leaders, or at the very least, Supreme Elders or top tributors.
These people certainly wouldn't come empty-handed, and they all gave generously!
Li Fei assessed the circumstances and chose to accept most of the gifts.
Previously, when he secluded himself to cultivate, he used up his future five-year purchasing share in advance, and although as a Blue Patrol Member he received a substantial share yearly, he practiced Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts, so even the Blue Patrol's share might not be sufficient for his own cultivation, let alone for training subordinates.
Therefore, the gifts received during this period alleviated Li Fei's urgent needs.
The accumulated gifts were almost equivalent to his marquis's annual purchasing share!
It's evident that gift-giving is indeed a savvy way to accumulate wealth.
After sending off Zhang Chengjun, Li Fei just sat down to drink a cup of tea when the steward of the mansion hurried over again.
Li Fei sighed, "Who is it this time?"
"Marquis, it's Supreme Elder Shen Zhen of the Nightmare Sect visiting."
The steward said.
"Oh?"
Li Fei was surprised and suddenly energized, "Please invite True Master Shen in."
"Yes."
The steward turned around to invite the guest.
During this period, those who came to visit Li Fei had all submitted their visiting cards beforehand and agreed on specific times with Li Fei before coming.
Shen Zhen had not submitted a visiting card before but suddenly came today.
Li Fei somewhat guessed in his heart, knowing what she came for.
Moments later, Shen Zhen stepped into the hall, dressed in a white robe, wearing a green bamboo jade hairpin, adorned with a crescent-shaped jade pendant at her waist, possessing a refined and ethereal aura.
"Greetings, True Master Shen."
Li Fei proactively stood up to greet her.
"Greetings, Marquis Jing'an."
Shen Zhen bowed to Li Fei.
"Please be seated, True Master."
"Thank you."
After the two sat down, servants quickly brought tea.
"Please have some tea."
"Alright."
The two began sipping tea, the hall quiet for a while.
Shen Zhen didn't speak first, and Li Fei wasn't rushed, simply accompanying her to savor the tea slowly.
"Marquis Jing'an's display when breaking through the realm that day was unmatched in my lifetime, truly admirable."
Shen Zhen set down her teacup, speaking softly.
Li Fei also set down his teacup, smiling, "True Master Shen is too kind."
Shen Zhen: "Marquis walks the path of Magic and Martial Unity, I observed it closely when breaking through the realm that day, seemly Marquis's lifebound magic artifact is somewhat extraordinary."
Li Fei's smile remained, "Indeed, it has some special qualities."
Shen Zhen looked into Li Fei's eyes earnestly as if trying to discern something.
After watching for a few seconds, she spoke word by word:
"Has Marquis heard of a True One Magical Artifact from my sect named Dream Command?"
Li Fei's smile faded, nodding, "I've heard of it."
Shen Zhen spoke solemnly, "This item is the treasure of our sect, but it was lost years ago. If anyone can return it, our sect will surely offer generous rewards, any conditions are negotiable!"
She finally brought it up.
In fact, once it was determined that the Dream Command was in the Daluo Sect, the Nightmare Sect conducted a series of covert investigations.