After half a quarter-hour, the nine Grand Elders finally calmed down.
Now that we have a cultivation method, it’s time to consider how to make use of it.
After some discussion, everyone unanimously agreed: a new department should be established.
The new department would be led directly by the cabinet, with its administrative rank temporarily set at vice-national level.
“Right, since it’s a new department, it needs a new name. What do you all think it should be called?” The Head of State asked the nine Grand Elders with a smile.
“Why not let young Song pick the name?” Elder Quinn suggested with a smile.
As soon as he said this, the others caught on, instantly understanding Elder Quinn’s intention. He was clearly planning to bring Ian Song into the new department. Everyone present had a direct sense of Ian’s strength—and besides, in the whole Yanhuang Republic, he was the only true cultivator. The new department was meant to train cultivators, so this ‘senior expert’ had to join.
“Ian, what do you think would be a good name for this new department?” The Head of State asked as well.
Hearing their questions, Ian thought for a moment. “How about ‘Dragon Guard Directorate’? ‘Guard’ means to protect, and ‘Dragon’ is our national totem—it represents Yanhuang. Put together, it means protecting Yanhuang.”
“Good, I like that name.” The Head of State clapped approvingly.
“I like the name too. Dragon Guard Directorate—it’s very good!” Elder Quinn was quite pleased.
Next, the other Grand Elders spoke up, all agreeing that the new department should be called the ‘Dragon Guard Directorate’.
“Now that we have a name, how about we decide on the director of the Dragon Guard Directorate as well?” The Head of State said with a cheerful smile, casting a rather meaningful glance at Ian Song.
“The cultivation method was Ian’s contribution, and his strength is obvious to all. If you ask me, he should be the director.” Elder Stone said bluntly, voicing his thoughts directly.
Elder Quinn nodded. “Yes, that’s reasonable. I agree.”
“I agree too.”
Next, the other Grand Elders all voiced their support for Ian Song as director of the Dragon Guard Directorate.
Finally, the Head of State looked at Ian Song. “Ian, what do you think?”
“I’m happy to follow the organization’s arrangements,” Ian replied. He really couldn’t refuse—someone like him, a superhuman, would only put the Head of State and Grand Elders at ease if he was under their control.
“Good, then it’s settled.” The Head of State finalized the decision.
Afterward, they discussed the members of the Dragon Guard Directorate. In the end, they decided to set the initial number at two hundred: each Grand Elder would get two recommendation slots, each of the Ten Great Families and Six Major Sects would get one slot.
As director, Ian Song would have ten recommendation slots.
The remaining slots would be selected from the army, the War God Squad, the Yanhuang Directorate, and the Special Operations Corps.
Two hours later, Ian Song and Edward Zhao walked out of the Inner Palace.
Ian couldn’t help feeling a bit emotional. He hadn’t expected to get promoted again so soon—now he was a vice-national official, only half a grade below the nine Grand Elders. If this news got out, it would probably scare a ton of officials, especially since he wasn’t even twenty yet.
Magic City Airport.
An elderly man in a black long coat emerged from the VIP passage, flanked by two middle-aged attendants. Though his hair was completely silver, his face looked no older than fifty, and his eyes were especially bright and piercing. His entire bearing radiated the authority of a true leader.
Outside the VIP passage, a man and a woman stood waiting—it was Jiansheng Mo and Julia Yang.
As soon as they saw the elderly man appear, both hurried forward to greet him.
“Dad, hello,” Jiansheng Mo greeted nervously.
“I’m not well at all.” The old man stopped in his tracks and glared coldly at Jiansheng Mo. “If you weren’t already a vice-provincial official, I’d slap you right now. Can’t even protect your own daughter—what kind of father are you?”
Jiansheng Mo didn’t dare argue; he nodded hurriedly. “Yes, yes, you’re right, Dad. It’s all my fault for not taking care of Linlin.”
“Dad, to be honest, it’s not really Jiansheng’s fault—the culprit was just far too strong.”
Although Julia Yang had little affection left for her husband, she still spoke up for him out of a wife’s duty.
“Who is the culprit? Have you caught them yet?” Huikui Yang asked impatiently.
“We haven’t caught them yet,” Jiansheng Mo replied, lowering his head.
“Useless!” Huikui Yang cursed, striding forward.
Half an hour later, Magic City Hospital.
Huikui Yang personally examined Monica Mo’s injuries, and his face darkened immediately. He found that all the meridians in his granddaughter’s limbs had been shattered by true qi, making recovery impossible—Monica would be bedridden for life.
“Grandpa, I want revenge. I want to kill that dog-man and dog-woman myself!” Monica Mo spat out, her voice filled with venom.
“Don’t worry, my dear granddaughter—Grandpa will make sure you get what you want!” Huikui Yang said dotingly. Monica was the only girl among all his children’s descendants, so he treasured her especially.
“You two, come with me!”
Huikui Yang shot a cold look at Jiansheng Mo and Julia Yang, then walked out of the ward.
Outside the ward.
Huikui Yang said in a deep voice, “Tell me exactly what happened.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jiansheng Mo nodded and recounted how Monica, out of jealousy, lured a girl named Shelly Song onto the rooftop, slashed her face and pushed her off, then how Ian Song later showed up at the hospital and took Shelly away.
After hearing this, Huikui Yang looked thoughtful, silently analyzing the mysterious young man’s strength.
Quentin Qi, deputy leader of the Green-Red Gang, was already Innate Sixth Layer, but he was still defeated by that mysterious youth. That meant the attacker had to be at least Innate Seventh Layer, maybe even Eighth.
“By the way, have you found out who that mysterious young man is?” Huikui Yang asked again.
Jiansheng Mo shook his head. “No, that young man’s background is extremely mysterious—it’s as if he just appeared out of nowhere in Magic City.”
“Hmph!” Huikui Yang snorted in displeasure again. “Call Honglin Zuo of the Green-Red Gang—have him search for that mysterious young man with everything he’s got. I, Huikui Yang, owe him a favor!”
“Yes, Dad. I’ll call Honglin Zuo right away!”
As the saying goes, ‘A mighty dragon doesn’t suppress the local snake.’ Huikui Yang might be the boss of the northern underworld, but here in Magic City, the Green-Red Gang could find someone far faster than he could.
Inside the Green-Red Gang headquarters.
After getting Jiansheng Mo’s call, Honglin Zuo was delighted. Getting a favor from Huikui Yang was a great deal. Thinking this, he shouted, “Men! Search for those two with everything you’ve got!”
Magic City, inside a café. Ian Song sat quietly by the window, sipping his coffee.
After leaving the Inner Palace, he’d flown his Silverlight Vessel straight to Magic City. The secret realm would open the day after tomorrow, so he had to settle things here before then.