Gao Wu: My freshman internship was a battle on the front lines.

Chapter 149 What's the next step?

"Ye Feng," Ouyang Nan straightened up, looking at Ye Feng, "Say it again, how did you do that?"

Ye Feng recounted the general events that had transpired.

The people in the council hall were all seventh-level Martial Venerables, veterans who had fought against foreign races on the border of the Great Xia for half their lives.

What kind of movement and stealth abilities are needed to infiltrate a transport ship?

What kind of attack power would be needed to cut down five warships in one strike?

What kind of defensive power is needed to withstand a combined attack from ten people?

What kind of explosive power is needed to engage in a firefight with the main gun?

Every detail was converted into specific combat power parameters in their minds.

Each set of parameters tells them the same fact.

Ye Feng's current strength can no longer be measured by the "sixth rank".

"Good lad," the garrison commander's voice trembled slightly, "you have rendered a great service to Shanhe Prefecture."

The Director of the Night Watch walked over, adjusted his glasses, and without saying a word, simply patted Ye Feng on the shoulder.

Ouyang Nan smiled so broadly that all the wrinkles on his face smoothed out.

"Okay, okay, okay."

Zhou Wuwei stood at the back of the crowd.

He was still thinking about how to win over this young man.

Given Ye Feng's current strength and achievements, it's not a question of whether the powerful families need him or not.

The question is whether he needs a prestigious family.

Zhao Gongming sat in the main seat and remained silent.

His gaze fell on Ye Feng, his expression incredibly complex.

He recalled the murmurs from the audience when he announced Ye Feng as the Grand Commander of Shanhe Prefecture at the performance review meeting.

"An eighteen-year-old president? Are you kidding me?"

Who still thinks it's a joke now?

"Gentlemen," Zhao Gongming began, and the council hall fell silent.

"I'm happy as I am, but the matter isn't over yet."

He glanced around at everyone, his tone turning grave: "The advance team of the Machine Race has been completely annihilated. This news won't stay hidden for long. The central command in Kyoto will find out sooner or later. And the Machine Race's retaliation will come sooner or later."

The atmosphere in the council chamber instantly became heavy again.

The martial masters looked at each other, their expressions not very good.

"The agreement between the Machine Race and the Kyoto Central Hub has been signed," Zhao Gongming continued.

"That enclave has already been agreed upon by the Kyoto central government for the Machine Race. Now that we've wiped out their advance team, what will Kyoto think? We've openly disobeyed orders!"

"What do they think?" The garrison commander's temper flared again. "Let them think what they want! At worst, they can say I disobeyed orders and dismiss me! I've served for so many years, I've wanted to retire for a long time!"

The Night Watch Director, unusually, did not contradict him, and sounded weary.

"Dismissal is a minor matter. Those people in Kyoto won't just be dismissed and that's it."

"They're going to accuse us of undermining unity," Ouyang Nan sighed.

"Now, with the Wang family member breaking through to the half-step ninth level, the central government of Kyoto is practically their domain. Whatever the Wang family says goes. Who dares to object?"

No one responded.

Because what Ouyang Nan said was true.

The Great Xia Central Region has three ninth-tier invincible experts who are fighting against foreign races in the outer regions.

The head of the military.

The leader of the Night Watch.

They are all at the ninth-order invincible realm, but both are outside the domain.

Therefore, in recent years, power in the central government of Kyoto has gradually fallen into the hands of aristocratic families.

Among the aristocratic families, the Wang family is the strongest.

The Wang family patriarch, a half-step ninth-tier invincible realm, is considered the number one person in the Great Xia Dynasty.

Three invincible ninth-tier beings reside outside the domain, while within the Great Xia Dynasty, the Wang family patriarch holds the reins.

With a single word from him, he could decide the appointment of a city lord.

With a single sentence from him, he can decide the budget allocation for an entire government.

With a single word, he could give away the land conquered by the Great Xia to a foreign tribe.

"In the end," the garrison commander slammed his hand on the table, "it's still because our Shanhe Prefecture doesn't have a Martial God!"

These words were like a knife, piercing the heart of everyone present.

Of the eight prefectures of the Great Xia Dynasty, seven are guarded by martial gods.

Only Shanhe Prefecture did not have it.

Zhao Gongming is at the mid-stage of the seventh rank and has been stuck for more than ten years.

God of War.

He has mastered the Great Dao.

A true strongman recognized by heaven and earth.

Below the God of War, all are but ants.

This is not an exaggeration; it is the truth.

"If my Shanhe Prefecture had a Martial God, even just an early-stage Martial God," the garrison commander's voice was full of resentment.

"That old bastard from the Wang family still dares to bully us like this? The Kyoto central government dares to hand over our territory to the machine race? They'd better have ten times the guts!"

"Even a Martial God in the early stages might not be enough." The Night Watch Director shook his head.

"The Wang family patriarch is at the half-step ninth level. Even an early-stage Martial God would have no chance against him."

"At least he wouldn't dare to be so reckless," the garrison commander said.

Zhao Gongming leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed.

His mind was racing, analyzing all the possibilities.

How will the Wang family react?

How will the Mech race react?

We need to plan ahead for every possible outcome.

Zhao Gongming opened his eyes, about to speak.

The garrison commander suddenly turned to look at him.

"Lord of the Manor, you've been in the mid-stage of the seventh rank for over a decade now, haven't you? When will you break through to Martial God?"

Zhao Gongming's lips twitched slightly.

He gets asked this question several times a year. Every time he hears it, he feels like cursing.

"Do you think martial gods are as common as cabbages?" Zhao Gongming's tone was rather unfriendly. "You think you can just break through like that?"

The garrison commander patted Zhao Gongming on the shoulder and chuckled.

"Lord of the Manor, don't worry, I'm just worried for you. If you break through to the Martial God realm, our Mountain and River Manor won't have to put up with this nonsense anymore."

"that is!"

"Breaking through to the Martial God realm requires an understanding of the Great Dao, not simply the accumulation of qi, blood, and spiritual power. Lord, you've been stuck at the mid-seventh rank for so many years; your understanding should be nearly complete, right? Just one step away?"

Zhao Gongming took a deep breath to suppress his agitation.

"You make it sound so easy. The understanding of the Great Dao cannot be built up by simply spending time. Some people have an epiphany in a single day and become gods on the spot. Others cultivate diligently for a hundred years but still cannot find the way in. I have been stuck at the mid-stage of the seventh rank for more than ten years. It's not that I don't want to break through, it's that the opportunity has not yet come."

"An opportunity?" The garrison commander shrugged. "What opportunity? If you had a Great Dao Fruit, I wouldn't need three. Give me two, and I guarantee I'll break through to Martial God within three days!"

"Tch!" The chief of the Night Watch scoffed. "With that treasure, I could break through to Martial God level too!"

"You? You haven't even reached the mid-stage of the seventh rank. Giving you a Great Dao Fruit would be a waste."

"What do you care if I'm wasting my time? You should lose some weight first before talking about breaking through."

The two started bickering. The atmosphere in the council chamber eased slightly.

Everyone knows it in their hearts.

The Great Dao Fruit is a treasure they can't even dream of.

A single fruit of the Great Dao is priceless, yet unavailable for purchase.

In the entire Great Xia Dynasty, it might not produce even one Great Dao Fruit every few decades. All the Great Dao Fruits produced are controlled by the central government in the capital and used to reward those who have made great contributions to the court.

Shanhe Prefecture consistently ranks last in performance reviews; why should the imperial court grant them the fruits of the Great Dao?

"Alright, alright! If I had a Great Dao Fruit, I guarantee I'd break through to Martial God within three days." Zhao Gongming waved his hand, stopping the two bickering. "Do you have one? Stop dreaming, let's get down to business."

Zhao Gongming was not boasting.

Don't underestimate him just because he's only at the mid-stage of the seventh-tier Venerable. His accumulated experience is quite profound.

The only thing missing is an understanding of the Great Dao.

Ye Feng stood to the side, not saying a word, watching these seventh-level Martial Venerables worry about not having a Martial God.

He remembered the eighteen Dao Fruits in the Silver Moon Ring.

"Gentlemen," Ye Feng began, and everyone in the council hall turned to look at him, "you just said you need the Great Dao Fruit?"

There was a moment of silence in the council chamber.

"You have it?" The garrison commander's voice unconsciously rose.

Ye Feng reached into his robes and took something out of his spatial ring.

A fruit, the size of a fist, entirely golden, with its surface covered in intricate patterns.

The atmosphere in the council chamber had changed.

Spiritual energy was converging on the fruit, and the aura of the Great Dao spread out.

Every martial arts master present felt that resonance from the depths of their soul.

The Fruit of the Path!

The council chamber was completely silent. Everyone stared at the fruit, their eyes wide with astonishment.

The garrison commander swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

The Night's Watch Chief's glasses were practically askew.

All attention was drawn to the fruit.

Zhao Gongming stared at the Dao Fruit in Ye Feng's hand, his pupils dilating slightly.

"Everyone! How many Dao Fruits does Lord Zhao need to break through to the Martial God realm?" Ye Feng asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you have more?"