Luckily, at just this time, Guan Shan finally rushed into Jin Botao's office with a stack of documents and, with a bang, dumped them all in front of Jin Botao. He was panting slightly.

"These are the current situations in the surrounding twenty-seven cities! But apart from Ming State... My friend in Ming State told me that their Underground City has been completely sealed off, as if it's about to collapse! So, if that kid really has disappeared, the most likely place is in Ming State City..."

He was a Grandmaster, and to see him in such a state, it was clear he had really tried his best.

But after hearing this, Jin Botao's eyes shimmered with a flash of brilliance.

Ming State Underground City? That brat actually dared to go into Ming State Underground City? How capable does he think he is? Did he have garlic or spinach for breakfast this morning...

Immediately, Jin Botao stood up, pacing back and forth, pondering for quite some time. Then, he asked Guan Shan, "Didn't that girl Ouyang Yue keep pestering you before, asking you to tell her about Wang Zhan's whereabouts?"

Guan Shan was stunned for a moment. Ouyang Yue's father and he were good friends, so he had a good relationship with Ouyang Yue. Consequently, he nodded directly.

"That's correct..."

Unexpectedly, Jin Botao immediately waved his hand and said, "Then tell Ouyang Yue that that guy is in Ming State City right now! Whether he's dead or alive, she needs to confirm it. Also, tell her that his name is Wang Zhan..."

Guan Shan had some hesitation on his face. "State Governor... State Governor, why do I feel like you're trying to shift the trouble onto someone else?"

It was just a suspicion. When did he have evidence proving Wang Zhan was in Ming State?

But Jin Botao immediately snorted and glared. "Shift trouble? Like hell I would! Since Ming State is the calmest now, there's a ninety percent likelihood that Wang Zhan is in Ming State City! She wants to find him, so let her go find him! When has anything in this world ever been one hundred percent sure? Besides, she has several Martial Kings from the Federal Martial Arts Academy by her side. Are you still afraid she'll get into trouble?"

Guan Shan was still somewhat hesitant and could only give a bitter smile. "The problem is Ming State City is so chaotic; that kid probably wouldn't dare to go, right?"

Jin Botao sneered in his heart. I don't care if he dares to go, but I sure as hell wouldn't!

Of course, Jin Botao knew. No matter where Wang Zhan was, since Ming State City was the quietest city and there was absolutely no news coming from its depths, then the probability of Wang Zhan being up to something inside would shoot up! Because this kind of scene was practically a continuation of his past experiences with the Quan State Underground City, just taken a step further. After all, before, the Internal Affairs Department of Quan State Underground City had some use. Of course, the current Ming State Underground City's Internal Affairs Department had become useless and completely lost contact.

So, to ensure the Underground Cities in the other Southwest states didn't go into an uproar, they needed to first figure out what exactly had happened in Ming State! To figure it out, they needed to send someone with the qualifications to intervene. After all, who else possessed such unique conditions as Jin Botao, who could actually agitate a few Martial Kings...

「And so,」

No matter if Jin Botao was intentionally or unintentionally trying to shift the trouble, Guan Shan had no choice but to begrudgingly inform Ouyang Yue about this news. Because it was clear that if he didn't pass on the message, Jin Botao, having already made up his mind, would probably try to frame him.

Better to sacrifice a friend than die oneself. After all, I, Guan Shan, am just a Grandmaster!

So, when Ouyang Yue found out about this information, she almost burst out laughing.

Ha, this is great! That guy is actually in Ming State! This news couldn't be more wonderful! But I hope he's not dead; otherwise, what will happen to my plans?

Regardless of Ouyang Yue's concerns, she was overjoyed.

Oh my, why am I so delighted at his misfortune!

Joking aside, she still turned to Guan Shan and solemnly confirmed, "Uncle, are you sure that guy is really in Ming State?"

Guan Shan looked at her face, which was desperately trying to suppress a grin, as well as the pairs of eyes belonging to her senior martial siblings. Although they looked young, they were all powerful Martial Kings capable of dominating a region.

He suddenly realized, Why did it seem that Ouyang Yue's senior martial siblings were more serious than Ouyang Yue herself? And even more concerned? What was going on here?

Meeting the gazes of the Martial Kings, Guan Shan knew he couldn't keep up the pretense. Steeling himself, he continued to spin his tale... or rather, he coughed, then nodded, "Exactly, I've checked. There's entry information for that boy in Ming State, and he's also left his personal information. His name is Wang Zhan, currently an exchange student at the Federal Martial Arts Academy…"

Ouyang Yue became interested at once, still mulling over the fact that Wang Zhan was an exchange student.

Unexpectedly, the expressions on the faces of her several senior martial siblings behind her grew more solemn, and they began to communicate privately using voice transmissions:

"An exchange student? Do you guys know who Wang Zhan is? It sounds like he's something…"

"How would I know! We just came back to the Federation on this rare vacation. Before we could even catch our breath, our Little Junior Sister dragged us here to do hard labor..."

"Don't ask me, I don't know either. But he's just an exchange student. Could it be that Little Junior Sister has really taken a liking to him? This status is too awkward. By the way, what's his original martial arts academy? If they are not well-matched…"

"Not well-matched, my ass! Let me tell you, our Little Junior Sister has been secretive and glum these past few days, and I noticed she has been staring at the computer screen every day. She must be smitten. That boy has some skills…"

"So what do we do now? Do we set off secretly to meet this boy without telling Little Junior Sister, or do we let Little Junior Sister make the decision?"

Finally, one of them, a young man with a plain appearance but a loyal expression, immediately spoke up. "Why are you thinking so much? It's not your business. Of course, it should be left to Little Junior Sister to handle. Of course, if you're not afraid of death and of being targeted by Little Junior Sister in the future, I won't stop you..."

With these words, the several Martial Kings whom Guan Shan had observed exchanging glances suddenly became completely still. They resumed the demeanor of composed and self-assured experts. Each of them hastened to declare that this matter had nothing to do with them.

But little did they know, they were all secretly thinking…

That's right, let Little Junior Sister solve Little Junior Sister's problems! If she really is interested, being from one of the four major academies is good enough. Even if he's not well-known, we can still cover for him…

Exactly. After all, Little Junior Sister is already twenty-one this year. Although her romantic awakening is a little late, we can't delay her marital affairs. Senior Brother makes an excellent point…

However, these fellows had their ideas, and Ouyang Yue naturally had hers!

When Guan Shan left, she jumped up with excitement. Then she casually threw herself onto a mild-mannered senior sister with an unremarkable figure, playfully grabbed her a few times, and then exclaimed joyfully, "Now I've finally found you! Let's see where else you can run!"

With that, the three male Martial Kings and two female Martial Kings in the venue exchanged glances, a tacit understanding passing between them.

A grown daughter cannot be kept at home! Little Junior Sister had indeed reached the age for romance...

Only in Ouyang Yue's mind, thoughts of how to compel Wang Zhan to compensate were swirling constantly!

That damn bastard! He actually slept in her bed, and the next day, after taking his fill, he just left! It was simply too outrageous! Did he know that her blanket was unique and couldn't be bought even if she wanted to? The problem was, Wang Zhan had left so decisively, as if after taking full advantage, he didn't spare another thought for the situation, never looking back. So much so that even she, Ouyang Yue, had started to feel abandoned. It was simply outrageous, grossly unfair! So Wang Zhan must pay! As for how he would compensate... that was to be decided later.

「And so,」

Just as the actions of Wang Zhan had caused a storm in the Southwest states, prompting all the State Governors to quietly gather to discuss how to deal with the aftermath, Ouyang Yue and her party of six, including five Martial Kings, had quietly left Quan State City. They were preparing to delve into the famous Ming State Underground City, which was ranked first in the Southwest and was well-known throughout the Federation.

「At the same time.」

It wasn't just the people at the center of the situation who noticed the signs of what was happening. After all, the matter had become too big, and it seemed to be getting bigger. Naturally, it caught the attention of countless spies within the Federation. Among them, the most notable were the noble families! Especially those noble families whose interests were directly tied to the unfolding events, such as the Lu Family in Jing State. Because even Jing State had already received news of the changes in the Southwest. The Lu Family, already alerted by the news sent back by Lu Pan, a scion of their family, was now treating the matter with even more vigilance and seriousness. Even though they might not have been very concerned at first, they now realized that things were not simple.

So, the Family immediately sprang into action.

Following this, in Zone A where the Jing State Lu Family resided, almost all the key figures had returned, seating themselves before the head of the Family!

He was a bespectacled, scholarly-looking man. If it weren't for the very noticeable calluses on his hands, many people might have mistaken him for a scholar from remote antiquity or more recent ancient times.

When it was eight o'clock in the evening and all who were supposed to return had done so, Lu Yu, the head of the Lu Family, finally looked around and began to speak.

"Everyone, a few days ago, a message came from Lu Pan, a disciple from a collateral branch of the seventh line of our Family. He reported that martial arts capable of suppressing our Lu Family's techniques have appeared. After investigating with the council of Elders, we found this to be true! Over thirty finishing moves from our Lu Family have quietly appeared in the Federation's Four Great Libraries!..."

In the room, everyone present was inwardly stunned. Among them were Martial Emperors, Martial Kings, Grandmasters, additional Grandmasters, and even top-tier Martial Generals, but for a moment, they couldn't come to terms with the news Lu Yu had delivered.

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