What a lucky world!

Chapter 290 The Discussion of Grandmasters
In this world, a Grandmaster can be considered a strategic-level force.

In martial arts, a Grandmaster has entered the stage of "seeing heaven and earth," able to mobilize the power of heaven and earth with their own internal energy, thus possessing astonishing destructive power. To kill a Grandmaster, if no Grandmaster of the corresponding level is involved in the fight, the only option is to wear them down with human lives until the Grandmaster can no longer withstand the power of heaven and earth and collapses.

The reason why military training methods are so valuable is that, in addition to improving combat power, troops trained through these methods also possess a military momentum. This momentum can suppress the power of heaven and earth, amplifying the cost that a Grandmaster must bear, thus enabling the Grandmaster to be killed at the lowest possible cost.

Even so, the casualties will not be small.

Therefore, if Wen Lang's idea is to be realized, 100,000 soldiers are not enough; the support of a grandmaster is also needed.

Zhang Mu and Ye Hanzhou are both at the Gathering Courage Realm, but there is a huge gap between the Gathering Courage Realm and the Grandmaster Realm. Zhang Mu is still completely clueless about how to proceed, so it is difficult to predict when he will advance.

Zhang Mu wasn't in a hurry before, only thinking about slowly accumulating strength. Now that he has a clear understanding of the path ahead, he should also pay attention to matters related to becoming a Grandmaster.

"Perhaps... after resolving Yang Jun's matter, I should take a long trip," Zhang Mu thought to himself.

If Zhang Mu wanted to learn about matters related to grandmasters, there were only two places he could turn to for help.

The first is Tiannan City, one of the four great cities in the world.

Tiannan City stands majestically in the southern region, holding a prominent position and even surpassing the power and prestige of those ancient families. Naturally, it is not lacking in masters of the Dao.

The key point is that it was Zhuge Nanxian's territory.

More than a year has passed since their hasty parting. When he thinks of that intelligent woman who is like a banished immortal, and the gleaming silver dragon spear in the weapon box, a warm feeling rises in Zhang Mu's heart.

Hmm... I can't go!

Zhang Mu immediately abandoned the plan.

If someone travels a long way to ask for help, Zhuge Nanxian will naturally treat them warmly, but she'll probably be looked down upon by her clansmen!
If it happens to use a few more clichéd plot points from online novels, then it won't be fun.

If you're going, you should go in style and with the title of Young Master!
Then there's only the second path left—the Righteous Alliance!

One of the three strongholds in the Four Cities and Three Strongholds, the number one martial arts stronghold in the world where my cheap master Qin Fengge is located.

It is perfectly reasonable for a disciple to ask his master for guidance.

However, compared to Tiannan City, which maintains a harmonious relationship with the imperial court, the Righteous Alliance has clearly carved out its own territory in the Northwest, and Dayun has also deployed a large number of troops there. How to get through there safely is a problem.

Just as Zhang Mu was thinking about these random things, Wen Lang spoke up again.

"If it's a Grandmaster, perhaps I have a way."

Zhang Mu was startled and looked at Wen Lang.

Out of respect for his lord's magnanimity, Zhang Mu swallowed back the words, "Are you bragging?"

If you truly had the skills of a grandmaster, would you have been driven to suicide by a remnant of the White Lotus sect?

Wen Lang seemed not to notice Zhang Mu's gaze and continued, "My master's reforms have offended countless people."

"At its peak, he attempted six assassinations in a single day!"

"At that time, there were three main forces protecting our teacher."

"Firstly, it was offered as tribute in the palace."

"Secondly, the Demon Suppression Division."

"Thirdly, there is the Taiyue Pavilion."

"Taiyue Pavilion?" Zhang Mu was taken aback, then realized, "The power that Zhang Taiyue established himself?"

“It wasn’t established by our master.” Wen Lang shook his head. “It was an organization established by some martial arts enthusiasts who agreed with our master’s ideals, voluntarily followed him, and were under his command.”

"Now our mentor has been harmed by villains and has gone to Longhai. Most of us followed him, but some of us stayed behind."

"One of the masters was someone I knew well and who shared some of my views."

"I can write a letter and introduce you on my behalf."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mu did not immediately agree. It's understandable why Zhang Mu would act this way; everyone knows the prestige of a Grandmaster. If he were to invite a Grandmaster up the mountain for no reason, who would be in charge of this martial arts stronghold?

He wasn't Zhang Taiyue, who could use his prestige and ideals to make masters willingly work for him.

Don't try to guess what others are thinking, but there will always be disagreements between people. When that happens, whose opinion should you listen to?

This is not a matter of lust for power, much less the kind of jealousy and envy that Wang Lun of Liangshan had.

Who knows what kind of person that master is, or what his character is like?

In this world, a single wrong decision could bury tens of thousands of lives in Qianyuan Martial Village. Zhang Mu cannot afford to make excuses or put on airs.

Qianyuan Martial Village is currently too small and cannot afford to make mistakes.

He can only trust himself.

In Zhang Mu's mind, inviting a grandmaster to create a great cause together was not a problem, but the premise was that he was confident he could control it.

So normally, that would have to wait until he or Ye Hanzhou advances to the Grandmaster level.

Wen Lang immediately realized his mistake and hurriedly explained, "I was reckless. Please punish me, my lord."

Zhang Mu waved his hand: "Don't say that. Even the real Buddha might not be willing to come to our little temple."

"However, it would be good to get to know him."

Get to know them first and see what kind of person they are; at the very least, see if you can ask them some questions about martial arts at the Grandmaster level. If you do gain something, you won't have to travel all the way to the Righteous Alliance.

"There's no harm in getting acquainted," Wen Lang quickly said. "I'll write a letter right away..."

"No rush," Zhang Mu shook his head. "We can discuss this later."

"Now that we've withdrawn our troops, what are your plans?"

Wen Lang blinked, cupped his hands and said, "Please allow me to serve as magistrate for a while longer, so that I can win back the hearts of the people and help you return to the mountains."

"How do you explain the White Lotus thief?"

"No need for explanation," Wen Lang laughed. "Just tell them that the White Lotus bandits have looted enough and left on their own, and that's the end of it."

Zhang Mu thought about it and realized that it was indeed in line with the style of the current Da Yun imperial court.

"What a pity," Zhang Mu chuckled. "I was originally going to give you the credit."

“It’s no use.” Wen Lang shook his head. “The credit will be taken by those above.”

Zhang Mu nodded, about to say something more, when suddenly his ears twitched and he looked in the direction the courtyard had entered. Soon after, Ye Hanzhou walked in.

"Is everything resolved?" Zhang Mu asked.

Ye Hanzhou replied, "There were twenty-three people who took advantage of the chaos, and they were all beheaded in the street. There were also some people who were misled, and they were each given ten lashes before being let go."

Zhang Mu nodded.

Ye Hanzhou's expression changed again, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Is there anything else?" Zhang Mu asked.

Ye Hanzhou said helplessly, "A maid named Xiao Cui from Yuanwei Escort Agency came to me and asked me to pass on a message."

"Ok?"

She said, "The lady asked, 'When are you going back to the security company?'"

Zhang Mu: ...

Wen Lang: The layout of this backyard seems quite nice. How come I never noticed it before? Let me take a closer look.

(End of this chapter)