"The results of the Eye of Omniscience are out, with Qin Le Yin and Shuiyun Palace leading the pack, Niruo and Shuangli Palace in second place. Followers who perform well will receive the Sword Holder's commendation by name, and may even increase points for their side..."

The Radiant Points Chart was posted only at noon, yet by afternoon, Xian Chanchen of the Yanjing Statistical Department had obtained a copy.

Looking at the 'brilliant commentary' on Qin Le Yin, he couldn't help but laugh out loud—though he could only vaguely guess that the Sword Holder was being sarcastic about Qin Le Yin, others would be confused, but he knew what impact this chart would have once spread out.

The Sword-seeking competition, virtually every major Imperial Court official knew about it, they just didn't know the details. They all without exception wanted to meddle in this 'boring game,' yet under the Sword Holder, the Imperial Family, and Cha Huan's protection, the Imperial Academy has nearly become a nation within a nation in Yanjing, and the court couldn't touch it at all.

But the chart posted by the Sword Holder was equivalent to showing a clear path to the court, to everyone—it wasn't that the court didn't dare do anything to the Imperial Family, but that there truly were no people left in the Imperial Family.

Even the court operatives who planned the assassination of the previous emperor never expected that in just two short years, the members of the Imperial Family would kill each other to extinction, with even the outer district's heroes subtly having intentions of establishing their own regimes. No matter what, the seven Sword Masters couldn't die further; this was not only the Sword Holder's demand but also the court's bottom line.

If even the Sword Masters all died, it would mean entering an era of competition among many powers—the Holy Sword no longer strictly required direct bloodline of the Imperial Family; anyone who could rule most of the Radiant domain and had a bit of Imperial blood could gain recognition from Radiant.

Just like Emperor Lie a thousand years ago, who fought from the outer district to Yanjing, changed his surname to Ming, continued the Imperial bloodline, and seized the Holy Sword, which was Radiant's only complete bloodline cleansing in history.

Since Emperor Lie, even when power was held by strong officials, no one dared to completely eradicate the Imperial Family, and as long as the Imperial Family wasn't extinct, once an emperor decided not to endure further, not retreat, and directly activated the Holy Sword, it meant the ruling class would undergo another thorough bloodline cleansing.

A unified dynasty could survive for a millennium without collapse due to the bloodline cleansing capability under the Holy Sword Radiant system. An emperor always had ways to create an ideal nation, although at the cost of his own life.

Controlling the emperor meant controlling the Holy Sword. The court, failing to control the emperor now, naturally felt anxious.

And now, the Sword Holder made a curious gesture: he proactively disclosed the identities of the Sword Masters and the Scabbards.

Don't get it wrong, individuals like Qin Le Yin, Niruo, or Mie Tangya's identities weren't secret; anyone interested could find out whose loyal dogs they were.

But knowing was one thing, the Sword Holder making it public was another. It's like when your father bought a Little Tyrant game console when you were young; knowing it could play games was one thing, and seeing your father inviting you to play games together was another.

Simply put, the Sword Holder unlocked the court's operational permissions. Before this, the court dared not do anything at all, not knowing the Sword Holder's emperor selection criteria nor the role of the Scabbards in this game.

If the court showed goodwill to a certain Scabbard, it might incur the Sword Holder's displeasure; if it threatened a Scabbard, it might instead earn the Sword Holder's respect...

But now that certain Scabbards' identities were made public by the Sword Holder, it meant that besides the court, many others would show goodwill or even invest in the Scabbards. It's human nature; who doesn't know that the most profitable investment in the world is in the emperor? While they might not invest directly in the emperor, investing in the emperor's investors isn't bad either!

Now even if the court participated and wooed the Scabbards, the Sword Holder couldn't say anything—for he himself made it public, so how could he deny allowing me to curry favor with the future master's close dog?

As for threatening the Scabbards, naturally no one would do it. On the chart, Ming Shuiyun had 3 points, Qin Le Yin had 2 points, which already showed the Sword Holder's stance: the Sword Masters and Scabbards were equally important.

If you threatened a Scabbard, it was highly likely that the Scabbard would rather his whole family perish than succumb to threat, and when the emperor ascended to the throne, he would retaliate by killing your whole family...everyone is just trying to make a living, why must it be to the death?

"Did you need something from me?"

Qin Yueyang came to Xian Chanchen's office, sat down, and asked.

The Raccoon Slave quickly restrained the smile on his face, nodded seriously: "Yes, three days later, you're supposed to submit the new card design concept, right? Let me have a look now."

"You did say, it's in three days." Qin Yueyang said calmly.

"Can't give it to me now?"

"Why do you need it now? Are you going to die in three days?"

Xian Chanchen was at a loss for words, almost slammed the table in anger. But his eyes rolled, and he sneered: "Ah, alright then, you call the shots, you have a brother destined to be the future Chief Minister, how could I dare to offend you?"

The Raccoon Slave never spoke kindly; surely good words were reversed words, Qin Yueyang knew this long ago. He glanced at the Radiant Points Chart in the Raccoon Slave's hand and reached out: "Is that related to my brother?"

Xian Chanchen handed him the chart, and after a while, Qin Yueyang nodded indifferently: "My brother is also fighting on another front."

"Be careful not to hold back Qin Le Yin then." The Raccoon Slave said sarcastically: "Rest assured, no one will mess with you, but plenty of good things will befall you: beautiful women, money, luxury cars, casinos, dignitaries... Qin Le Yin only has two family members, you and a sister studying at the Imperial Academy. The sister is protected by him, so you're the biggest weak point."

Qin Yueyang nodded slightly: "I understand, thank you for the inspector's reminder."

"Do you think I'm reminding you?" Xian Chanchen revealed a twisted smile: "No, I'm preparing to push you into the fire pit... Hasn't your trade consortium always failed to break into the National Relief Association? Here's your chance."

Since the Poetry and Qin families formed the Steam Trade Consortium, Shi Huaifeng has been trying to infiltrate the National Relief Association. However, even with the Unrivaled List selling well, this business union still hasn't opened its doors to them—they are unwilling to accept 'foreign merchant' funds.

Infiltrating the National Relief Association is an important task of the Radiant Four Guards, and in the past, the diplomatic affairs of the Poetry and Qin families were always handled by Shi Huaifeng and Qin Le Yin. Now, with Qin Le Yin in school, the negotiation task naturally falls to Shi Huaifeng.

Qin Yueyang instantly understood the Raccoon Slave's implication: "You suggest I handle negotiations with the National Relief Association myself?"

"You're the younger brother of the nation's future Chief Minister, maybe even the crown prince's brother." Xian Chanchen propped his feet on the desk, "Shi Huaifeng is a merchant; they can use excuses. But when you come and show them your name, they have no reason nor dare to refuse you."

"But if they have hidden agendas..."

"Even if they have hidden agendas, the people behind them absolutely won't pass up this chance to woo you." The Raccoon Slave inspector smiled: "Everyone is yearning for a new emperor, knowing his accession means reshuffling the situation, everyone is eager to seize maximum benefits in the next reshuffle... These days, every investment carries risks, but what's important is whether the returns justify the risks."

"But, have you really prepared yourself? Water Milk Smoke, Sea Wave Powder, Yanjing Feast, the Wheel Rotation... Compared to those Yanjing millionaires, I am just a clueless rustic, the secret pleasures I understand, merely superficial for them in daily life."

Xian Chanchen raised an eyebrow, smiling all over: "Can you really... remain unbreached? How about you discuss with Qin Le Yin first?"

Qin Yueyang remained composed, stood up and said: "Inspector's reminders are deeply remembered by Yueyang. However, since Brother Shi is short of ability, and I am the suitable candidate, I naturally cannot refuse."

"Moreover..."

He turned and left, leaving a sentence before shutting the door:

"Such trivial matters don't need to trouble my brother; I can solve them myself."

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