Ten years of dormancy: Starting as a martial arts master at the pinnacle

The leaders of the canal gang showed no surprise.

They were very united and clearly knew about it beforehand.

Human nature is indeed very complex.

The entire Beggars' Sect mobilized for Chen Changfeng, all in the hopes of having a leader.

Before they came to Kyoto, they didn't even know if Chen Changfeng was willing to see them.

But they still came without hesitation.

The Beggars' Sect has long suffered from the misery of powerful figures.

The Cao Gang produced a man named Li Changsheng, although his current strength is only that of a Grandmaster.

But with the cunning and shrewd eyes of these people from the Grand Canal Gang...

Li Changqing didn't believe they couldn't see Li Changsheng's potential.

However, they still chose to contact the Crown Prince and exclude Li Changsheng from the core of the canal gang's power.

For their own benefit, they completely disregarded the future of the Grand Canal Gang.

Or perhaps they knew perfectly well that the Canal Gang should not tolerate the existence of a master at the Free and Unfettered Realm.

Such a master is too sensitive to the Canal Gang and the Salt Gang.

This could easily cause misunderstandings with the imperial court, bringing undeserved disaster to their faction.

"Your Highness is right! We are indeed all from Yipintang. And you, Your Highness?"

The four experts at the Free and Unfettered Realm, the leader of whom looked to be in his early thirties.

Whether it's his clothing or his demeanor, he's no different from a rough-and-tumble outlaw.

Even when facing Li Changqing, this powerful figure at the Free and Unfettered Realm, he showed little respect.

Whether it's their Yipintang or Li Changqing, the Prince of Qinghe, their goal is the canal gang's money bag.

No one has the right to judge anyone else.

Even Yipintang, they are even more particular about their products.

Unlike Li Changqing, who came directly with the soldiers of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

"I am not an outsider!"

As Li Changqing spoke, he took a sign off his waist.

The sign was entirely blue, with Li Changqing's name written on it and the character "漕" (cao) from the Cao Gang (漕帮) on the back.

"I am a legitimate disciple of the Canal Gang. Not only am I listed in the Shanhai County register, but my name is also on the Canal Gang's general register."

The Cao Gang of Shanhai County has approximately 1000 formal disciples.

However, this does not mean that all one thousand people will appear on the roster of the Grand Canal Gang headquarters.

The lists submitted by various canal gangs numbered at most one or two hundred. Shanhai County submitted a total of one hundred and thirty people, which Li Changqing personally oversaw the submission of.

His name is listed as number seventeen.

He was a core talent who possessed the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the imperial examinations) and was also a clerk at the canal port.

Li Changqing's status in the Shanhaiguan Canal Gang at that time was probably even higher.

Holding the identity badge of the Canal Gang in his hand, Li Changqing enjoyed the exasperated expressions of the four powerful figures at the Free and Unfettered Realm.

At this moment, they actually wanted to say something.

But they couldn't find any reason to refute Li Changqing.

"Now you have two choices. One is to acknowledge your status as a member of the Cao Gang. This is an internal matter of our gang, and outsiders are not allowed to interfere."

"Not even the Crown Prince's uncle!"

"As for the other one, I can let one of you go. Whoever you bring, whether they are skilled in literature or martial arts, as long as they can defeat me, I will no longer concern myself with the affairs of the Grand Canal Gang."

After saying this, Li Changqing stared at the powerful cultivator in the Free and Unfettered Realm with a full beard.

"On the contrary, if you lose, don't spout any nonsense. Just leave here obediently and promise never to interfere in the affairs of the Canal Gang again."

Reasoning with them won't work.

If it makes sense, the people from Yipintang should have left when Li Changqing produced his identity badge.

But they didn't leave, and Luo Dahai, as the gang leader, showed no intention of accepting his fate.

Then let's see who comes out on top by comparing their strengths.

Li Changqing didn't have that much time to waste; he wanted to get things done quickly and establish the framework of the World Society as soon as possible.

"You, you..."

The powerful cultivator from the Free and Unfettered Realm, with his thick beard, looked at Li Changqing as if he were looking at a devil.

Why does the Prince of Qinghe act so unpredictably?

Yipintang is under the Crown Prince's patronage, and Li Changqing is the legitimate son of the Prince of Qin's mansion, as well as the Prince of Qinghe, personally appointed by His Majesty.

The Grand Canal was not some desolate place.

This is also in the heart of Kyoto, just a little off to the side.

The number of shops and pedestrians here is no less than in other parts of Kyoto.

The Crown Prince and the King of Qin confronted each other directly from here.

The already tense struggle for the throne between the two sides is about to be brought into the open.

Could this be a conspiracy by the Prince of Qin's mansion?

They sent out a newly found legitimate son, who was also a prince.

On the Crown Prince's side, only the heir apparent, the Crown Prince himself, and the Crown Princess are of enough influence to make the decision.

"Has the Prince of Qinghe gone mad?"

The burly man with a thick beard was sweating profusely.

The more he thought about it, the more nervous he became.

"Since you can't make the decision, go find your master, and be quick. Otherwise, by the time you arrive, the Canal Gang will have already taken care of everything."

Li Changsheng said disdainfully.

How could a powerful being in the Free and Unfettered Realm be treated like a dog by someone else?

How shameful!

"I can't make that decision; I'll be right back."

A resolute glint flashed in the eyes of the burly man with a thick beard.

After he left, the entire canal gang fell into a ghostly silence.

After several breaths, Li Changsheng finally spoke: "Is this the result you all wanted?"

Upon hearing Li Changsheng's words, an elder of the Canal Gang was furious and said, "Isn't it all because of you?"

If it weren't for Grandmaster Li Changsheng...

If it weren't for his performance of picking out all the masters in the canal gang as soon as he joined, it would be impossible.

The higher-ups of the Grand Canal Gang would not contact Yipintang in order to protect their wealth.

It must be said that although the members of the Canal Gang were not strong in terms of physical strength, their abilities in other aspects were top-notch.

They even discovered the relationship between Li Changqing and Li Changsheng. As a result, in order to seek protection, they had no choice but to contact Yipintang.

Apart from the Crown Prince.

No other family or power could possibly be an enemy of the Prince of Qin's Mansion at this time.

"Esteemed elders, I am also a member of the Canal Gang. You would rather believe outsiders than one of your own? This deeply saddens me, and the consequences will be severe."

"Don't interfere with what happens next. We'll discuss this after we've dealt with Yipintang."

Li Changqing's voice was not loud, nor was his tone sharp.

But everyone present could clearly sense the weight of his words.

If at this time, anyone dares to jump out and oppose it.

Then, in the next instant, that person's head will roll on the ground.

The higher-ups of the canal gang were even more acutely aware of this.

They simply accept their fate like lambs waiting to be born.

There was simply no other way to go.

"Wait another half hour. If no one comes, close the door immediately!"

Time passed slowly, and Li Changqing issued his final ultimatum.

……