Inside the Cloud Central Garrison Manor's grand hall for discussions.
Zhang Yuhe sat at the head seat, with Qian Lingling carefully attending to him from behind.
Seated below him were the various Family Heads: Qian Weiguang, Head of the Qian Family; Sun Pengcheng, Head of the Sun Family; Li Jiuming, Head of the Li Family; He and Li families Chifeng, Head of the He and Li families Family; and Bright Moon Consort, Pavilion Master of Fengxin Pavilion.
Everyone silently looked at the teacups in front of them, but privately, they cautiously probed Zhang Yuhe's aura.
Zhang Yuhe had learned his lesson; He and Li families had already concealed his cultivation, maintaining his aura at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul.
Unless He and Li families encountered someone with a higher cultivation than him, it would be difficult to discern his true level.
Zhang Yuhe's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Bright Moon Consort, the Pavilion Master of Fengxin Pavilion, who was seated at the very back.
This woman was stunningly beautiful, but that wasn't his main focus.
Instead, Zhang Yuhe felt that this woman's aura was a bit strange.
She appeared to only have an Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivation, but He and Li families clearly sensed a powerful aura hidden within her.
Although He and Li families couldn't pinpoint the specifics, it was clearly not Early Stage Nascent Soul.
"This woman is not simple."
Zhang Yuhe quickly came to a conclusion.
Ming Fuqian had clearly misjudged.
Ming Fuqian had told him that among these five forces, Fengxin Pavilion was the weakest, with only its Pavilion Master having an Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivation.
However, in Zhang Yuhe's view, the most dangerous one was precisely this woman named Bright Moon Consort.
Zhang Wuji's mother was indeed right; beautiful women are the best at deceiving people.
Aside from Bright Moon Consort, the Pavilion Master of Fengxin Pavilion, the others were nothing special.
All the Family Heads were at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul.
Of course, as Family Heads, their strength was not necessarily the strongest in their respective Families.
In fact, there were quite a few Nascent Soul Cultivators in each Family, and it was even possible that Soul Transformation Cultivators were hidden among them.
After sizing everyone up, Zhang Yuhe cleared his throat and spoke.
"I have just arrived in Yunzhong Prefecture to assume the position of Town Guardian Envoy. Today is mainly to meet all of you, so that we can look out for each other in the future."
"You are too kind, Sir. Your presence, representing the Dao Saint Sect, in Yunzhong Prefecture is precisely our reliance. Should you have any matters, please do not hesitate to command, and we will surely handle them perfectly."
Qian Weiguang, with his small eyes squinted in a smile, immediately responded courteously.
"Yes, yes, Sir, whatever you command, our respective Families will go all out."
The other four also responded one by one.
Zhang Yuhe looked at the expressions of each person and couldn't distinguish between sincerity and pretense.
However, for him, none of that mattered.
A thousand good words were useless; the key was to observe their actual actions.
Zhang Yuhe picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and continued.
"It's like this, as you can see, I don't have many people in this Town Guardian Manor. I'd like to borrow some manpower from you all to serve here, how about it?"
"Let me make it clear first, those who serve under me won't be paid. I don't have money."
Zhang Yuhe's tone was deliberately a bit overbearing and ignorant; He and Li families wanted others to underestimate him and relax their guard, which would make things easier for him.
If these people kept a constant watch on him, He and Li families wouldn't be able to accomplish anything.
Although He and Li families originally had no specific goals, He and Li families had thought that coming here was merely moving to a different place to Cultivate.
But what He and Li families thought was one thing, and whether it would work out was another.
This Yunzhong Prefecture was not simple, and He and Li families didn't want to fall into a pit and be unable to get out.
Therefore, before Cultivating, He and Li families had to sort things out, and ideally, eliminate threats in advance.
Although He and Li families currently had no clue, it didn't matter; things had to be done step by step.
As soon as Zhang Yuhe finished speaking, He and Li families Chifeng spoke indifferently.
"No problem, I will arrange for people to come to the Town Guardian Manor to serve tomorrow. However, most of our He and Li families Family Disciples have low cultivation, mostly only at the Qi Refinement Stage. Sir, you wouldn't mind, would you?"
Hearing this, Zhang Yuhe was speechless.
Are you trying to fool me? The He and Li families Family has been in Yunzhong Prefecture for tens of thousands of years, with influence spanning dozens of cities.
There are hundreds of thousands of Cultivator Disciples openly acknowledged in their Family.
And you're telling me you'll send a few Qi Refining Cultivators?
Who are you looking down on?
Zhang Yuhe said indifferently.
"Qi Refining Cultivators are fine; I won't force it. I just mentioned it casually."
After speaking, He and Li families swept his gaze over the other four, and when He and Li families looked at Li Jiuming.
Li Jiuming immediately stood up and said politely.
"Ah, our Li Family has declined greatly in recent years. Sir, how about I arrange for a few Foundation Establishment Disciples to come and serve?"
"Forget it."
Zhang Yuhe responded indifferently, then swept his gaze over the remaining three.
Qian Weiguang immediately stood up, his eyes still squinted in a smile, and spoke.
"It is our honor to serve you, Sir. Tomorrow, I will select five Golden Core Disciples from my Family to come."
Zhang Yuhe nodded.
Sun Pengcheng, behind him, also responded.
"Five Golden Core Realm Cultivators, I'll send them over tomorrow."
"Good."
Zhang Yuhe finally turned his gaze to Bright Moon Consort of Fengxin Pavilion.
He and Li families couldn't quite see through this woman; He and Li families needed to be more careful.
Bright Moon Consort's graceful figure slowly stood up, and she said in a soft voice.
"Our Fengxin Pavilion truly has very few people. Sir, if you don't mind, how about I come to the Town Guardian Manor to serve?"
"Forget it, that's all for today."
Zhang Yuhe raised his teacup and waved his hand, signaling. The five people below exchanged glances, then successively walked out of the grand hall for discussions.
After everyone left, Zhang Yuhe's fingers gently tapped on the table.
Calling them here today, asking for people was one aspect; He and Li families indeed lacked manpower.
However, this wasn't the main purpose.
If He and Li families truly wanted to find people, He and Li families could simply post a notice outside the Town Guardian Manor, and a large number of people would come to apply; He and Li families didn't necessarily need to ask these local powers for people.
Zhang Yuhe asked for people simply to observe the attitudes of all parties.
Ming Fuqian was right; the He and Li families and Li Families were indeed very unusual.
Logically speaking, when an Inner Sect Disciple of the Dao Saint Sect goes out to serve as a Town Guardian, the local forces, even if they don't grovel, should at least show great respect.
After all, going against the Dao Saint Sect had no future.
As a Town Guardian Envoy, Zhang Yuhe would stay in Yunzhong Prefecture for a hundred years.
If He and Li families wished, He and Li families could at any time cause trouble for the He and Li families and Li Families. Didn't these two Families worry about that?
But looking at the arrogance of the He and Li families and Li Families, they clearly didn't take him seriously and weren't afraid of him causing trouble in the future.
He and Li families merely wanted to borrow some manpower, yet these two Families refused so resolutely.
For people to be arrogant, they must have some capital.
The overt strength of these two Families was just so-so, not enough to make them arrogant.
This meant that these two Families had someone or some force backing them, which was why they dared to be arrogant in front of him.
Could it be that some Dao Saint Sect Elder was supporting them from behind?
Or something else?
"This matter is a bit difficult to handle."
Zhang Yuhe fell into deep thought.
… …