Becoming a saint begins with the infinite accumulation of destiny.

Chen Shisheng didn't practice for long.

Then Li Huan summoned a carriage, and he headed to a restaurant in the central area of ​​the inner city.

The inner city is mainly divided into three parts. The core area at the very center is where the main core members of the three families live. It is surrounded by a high wall, which isolates it from the outside world.

Secondly, there is a ring-shaped commercial area surrounding the central area, and finally, there is the outer perimeter where martial artists like Chen Shisheng usually reside.

His destination this time was the central circular commercial area.

The entire inner city is like a sliced ​​onion, with layers upon layers of wrapping around each other.

Before long, the carriage slowly drove into the commercial district.

The sounds outside the car suddenly became noisy: vendors hawking their wares, pedestrians talking, and the low bleating of various vehicles, horses, cattle, and sheep.

Upon arriving at their destination, Chen Shisheng alighted from the carriage. Servants were already waiting outside the restaurant to lead the way, taking him straight up to a private room by the window on the third floor.

As soon as I entered, I saw that there were already some people inside, all of them martial artists who had broken through to the Bone Forging stage in the courtyard.

Several people knew him and nodded at him from afar as a greeting.

Chen Shisheng found a place to sit down. Because he had been away from home for a long time, some people around him did not recognize him. They would only glance at him from a distance before looking away and talking to their friends.

"...What are we doing here?"

One person's tone was slightly dissatisfied.

They were all martial artists who had forged their bones, but now that the time had come, the leaders still hadn't shown up, which made them feel truly humiliated.

"It was Liu Ming and his group who made the call this time. This matter concerning the Earth Dragon Cult might really be a bit serious."

One person sighed.

Chen Shisheng recognized this person. His name was Wang Badao. In addition to the Wild Bull Fist, he was also skilled in a set of Turtle Back Kung Fu. His defensive power was extremely amazing. His skin was so tough that it could even withstand some small sword and knife damage. He was very powerful.

His family was in the land transport business, with dozens of horse-drawn carriage teams. They were well-informed and knew a great deal about what was happening outside.

"It's just a low-level sect... just bewitching some lower-class people. If the three major families were to step in, set up soup kitchens outside the city, and distribute some of the abandoned farmland in the town, it would collapse in no time."

The man retorted.

It's obvious that someone in his family has held official positions, and he has been influenced by the art of sowing discord and appeasement, speaking eloquently about it.

"This time is different. The Earth Dragon Sect has clearly become a force to be reckoned with. From top to bottom, the sect has a well-organized system with clear division of labor, resembling a local power."

Wang Badao looked dejected and his face was full of sorrow as he spoke again.

"A few days ago, when my family was traveling on the main road, we saw villagers offering incense, setting up temples and erecting monuments for them. What's even more frightening is that these people outside the city strictly adhere to their religious doctrines and disregard the law."

"When my family's horse caravan passes through, they are charged fees at checkpoints along the way before being allowed to pass. Isn't this just using the guise of taxation to collect taxes?"

"Is that so?!"

The others were all amazed.

Chen Shisheng frowned as he listened from the side.

In times of chaos, these grassroots cults are more likely to rise and cause greater harm.

He remembered that in the late years of many dynasties in his previous life, the latest developments were various religious sects spreading their teachings everywhere, but in reality, they were secretly carving out their own territories and establishing themselves as kings.

However, the Great Yuan Dynasty has long since collapsed, and local vassal kings have declared independence. Many small sects have not even had time to develop before they were defeated by the local garrisons.

Unexpectedly, not long after the Prince of Fu's defeat at the front, the Earth Dragon Cult suddenly appeared in Wuhe City.

This speed of follow-up must be backed by someone!

Soon, after waiting for about fifteen minutes, they were free to continue.

Liu Ming and Li Huan arrived late.

"I apologize, I happened to run into an acquaintance on the way and chatted for a few minutes, which delayed me a bit. Please forgive me."

The one speaking was Liu Ming.

He was dressed in a blue cloth robe, with a well-proportioned and strong figure and a handsome face. In his hand, he held a folding fan with a jade handle inlaid with a silver lotus flower pattern, with a red silk ball hanging from the end, which swayed as he spoke.

And besides his senior brother Li Huan, this person was accompanied by others.

There was also a woman with a beautiful face and a curvaceous figure. She wore a light pink fringed gauze dress with specially made hollowed-out tulle on her chest, revealing a deep cleavage.

Her lower body was also covered by a skirt that only covered the upper part of her thighs, completely showing off her two long and beautiful legs.

There was a slight redness around both knees, I don't know if it was from an injury or something else.

This woman was none other than Wang Lian, the woman who had been beside Zhu You earlier.

Chen Shisheng was slightly taken aback. Judging from the actions between the two, Liu Ming and Wang Lian clearly had something going on.

"We just arrived too."

The person who had complained earlier quickly replied, his face full of flattery.

The resentment I felt just moments ago has completely vanished.

"Now that everyone is here, what do you all think of my previous proposal to cooperate with the wealthy families in the city? If there are no problems, let's finalize this matter."

Liu Ming had the appearance of a refined young nobleman, and his every move was gentle and elegant, and his speech was soft and clear.

The mutual assistance among wealthy households he mentioned refers to forming alliances with wealthy households in the city to help each other.

This is different from ordinary secondment. The relationship between the two parties is closer, and the secondment is exclusive to one major partner. Apart from the major partner, secondment to other major partners is not allowed.

However, at the same time, large investors will also offer an extremely high and favorable price as compensation.

This is somewhat similar to an exclusive contract.

Of course, that's not the most crucial point.

Most importantly, it allows you to get to know various martial arts circles and expand your network of contacts.

As the Wen family's top bone-forging martial artist, Liu Ming is the most powerful among them, second only to the instructors.

He is also recognized throughout the compound as a prodigy in dirt handling, with unlimited potential for the future.

This can be seen from the selection of participants at the garden party. Many wealthy people had this intention: to take the opportunity to get to know Liu Ming and lay the foundation for their future friendship with a martial arts master.

"I have no objection."

"Me too, this couldn't be better."

Of the dozen or so martial artists present, after a moment's thought, one of them was the first to speak up in agreement.

"I have no objection either."

Chen Shisheng suddenly felt that the voice sounded familiar, and turned around to look.

They discovered that it was Zhou Qing, whom they hadn't seen in a long time.

He's broken through to the Bone Forging stage too?

Chen Shisheng was slightly surprised.

He almost took a temporary post in the Zhou family back then, but he never expected that Zhou Qing would break through to the Bone Forging stage.

He couldn't help but look at the fortune mark above this person's head: "Heaven rewards diligence." The effect of this fortune mark was indeed quite powerful.

As if sensing the gaze, Zhou Qing glanced slightly in their direction.

After hesitating for a moment, he smiled amicably, then turned his head to talk to the others, no longer looking in their direction.

Chen Shisheng didn't care about these things; he was only surprised by the man's breakthrough, and his thoughts were not on this at all.

Soon, everyone present agreed to the matter.

Chen Shisheng had no objection.

Anyway, if the big spenders offer a high enough price, it's not impossible for him to resign from his position in the outer city's gang.

He never considered himself a pedantic person. He knew exactly when to give up something and when to take it, and he was by no means someone who lingered on the past.

Moreover, he is increasingly aware of the scarcity of exotic beast meat.

All things considered, Wen Fengling's family gets eleven catties of exotic beast meat per month, the outer city gangs get about five catties in total, and the Wen family's main family gets a subsidy of three catties per month.

After a month, he had only collected about 20 jin of exotic beast meat.

It can only basically maintain his blood and qi circulation needs.

Now is the crucial time for him to strengthen his bones; he needs to prepare at least twenty kilograms every month.

He's now living off the money he robbed from the mountains.

Chen Shisheng sold all the tickets he had obtained from the bandits on the black market in the city at a price of one to three, earning about three hundred taels of silver.

There was no other way; he couldn't go to the bandits' headquarters, so he could only sell at a low price.

Therefore, finding a reliable temporary post that provides him with a stable source of exotic beast meat every month is particularly important.

Moreover, as the others have said before, the exclusive job offers more than just exotic beast meat; it also allows you to build connections and resources.

Chen Shisheng never valued this aspect much, but he had connections in terms of information, especially when the situation inside and outside the city was gloomy, bandits were causing trouble, and cults were inciting people.

Sometimes, intelligence is also needed.

"In that case, please go back and wait for news. I will have someone inform you when the time is right."

Liu Ming said politely.