Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Zhou Qingfeng holds a central position of power in the Sword Tower, and his every word and action can influence the overall direction of the Sword Tower.

However, the Sword Tower is so great, with a history spanning tens of thousands of years and a profound foundation. Such a top-tier power with a long history often has a complex and intricate internal factional structure, and its daily operations are governed by even stricter rules and regulations and legal systems.

Although Zhou Qingfeng has absolute authority within his jurisdiction.

However, when it comes to broader powers such as military power, financial power, and the power of appointment and dismissal, power barriers are encountered.

Because power in the Sword Tower is hierarchical and domain-based, different types of power are held by different departments or individuals.

It is naive to expect others to obey you completely or act recklessly and lawlessly because of your status.

Because power is accountable only to the person who grants it, the exercise of power is limited. It must be carried out according to prescribed procedures and rules, and one cannot arbitrarily exceed one's authority. Even in high-level power structures such as the Privy Council and the Censorate, an individual's power is subject to rules and constraints from other power holders.

To achieve absolute power in the Tower of Swords, one needs to control financial power, military power, and the power of appointment and dismissal—these three powers must be combined into one.

Achieving absolute power requires a gradual process of accumulation.

Zhou Qingfeng rose to the top in one step, reaching a height that others could not reach even after ten lifetimes of struggle; what he lacked was precisely the accumulation of experience.

He has connections in the Privy Council, but they are of a slightly lower rank and are not the military representatives of the Sword Tower on this trip, so they certainly do not know the details of the operation.

The Privy Council holds military power, and all its actions are military secrets. Military officers are responsible for their own duties and should just mind their own business.

Apart from military officers directly involved in the operation or those indirectly involved, no one else is allowed to interfere; this is the rule.

Zhou Qingfeng had virtually no way of finding out if the Sword Tower had orchestrated the first attempt to lure Cai Nianxiong into a trap.

Firstly, the First City Lord is extremely busy, and such trivial matters would certainly be handled and executed by his subordinates. The First City Lord could not possibly be concerned with such details, and asking would be pointless. On the contrary, it would make the First City Lord think that Zhou Qingfeng was interfering with the military's actions.

Secondly, by approaching the military representative of the Sword Tower at Ravenburg and inquiring proactively, he knew that others would be bound by strict rules and would keep the matter secret. Even if Zhou Qingfeng used his status to pressure them, they could still report to a higher-ranking military officer for a decision.

Therefore, Zhou Qingfeng currently has virtually no way of verifying whether the Sword Tower faction was behind the attack.

However, compared to the low probability of the Sword Tower Privy Council making a foolish mistake, other forces are clearly more motivated.

For example, if the Northern Allied Forces controlled Cai Nianxiong, it would be equivalent to controlling Cai Guozhong.

For example, Vision Church's Partridge Di was also ambitious and wanted to plot a coup to seize power.

Even Ning Cha and Fan Li, members of the resistance, were among Zhou Qingfeng's suspects.

However, once the matter is over, it is over. Dwelling on it will not do Zhou Qingfeng any good; it will only distract him from his work and make him feel sluggish.

Now all he needs to do is focus on bringing Cai Nianxiong home and safely handing him over to Cai Guozhong, and then find out Ye Tingxiu's whereabouts from Cai Guozhong.

Then this matter has absolutely nothing to do with him anymore.

The four of them rode their warhorses across the wilderness.

They sped through swamps, jungles, and mountain roads, making their way towards Sancha Mountain.

If you encounter demons or monsters out hunting for food, avoid them in advance and leave the battle.

While on the road, Zhou Qingfeng took the opportunity to contact Jin Wei. Thanks to the positioning function of the communication bracelet, the two were able to clearly know each other's location and direction.

"Cui Yu, I'm heading towards your location now. Have you found Cai Nianxiong yet?"

“Jiang Dong, I have found him now, but the situation is unexpectedly complicated and I can’t take him back immediately. I’m in a temporary hiding camp. Come find me and we can talk in detail.”

"Okay, see you later."

Zhou Qingfeng was relieved to learn that Cai Nianxiong was still alive; his real fear was that the boy might be dead by the time they reached him. The group quickly made their way to Sancha Mountain. Once they were fully inside the primeval forest, the speed of their warhorses gradually decreased. Zhou Qingfeng and his group decisively abandoned their warhorses, no longer conserving their energy and mana, and used their Devouring Fiend Body to traverse the forest, which was tens or even hundreds of feet high.

As dawn broke, Zhou Qingfeng arrived at a swamp. Looking around, he saw only a solitary hunter's hut. The ground was covered with black silt and sewage, and white miasma floated in the air. The dense, towering trees gradually thinned out, and the surrounding view was much clearer than in the lush, leafy forest, making it easier to observe enemy movements.

Zhou Qingfeng raised his wrist, and the communication bracelet projected two small red dots, confirming that Jin Wei was in the hunter's cabin.

Jin Wei knew that the young master had arrived, so he opened the door of the wooden house in advance: "Brother Jiang, come in and talk."

Zhou Qingfeng stepped into the small house and glanced at the simple and old-fashioned decorations inside.

As Ning Cha entered the house, she turned to Zhan Fu and Zhan Qi and said, "You two stay outside on guard and alert us immediately if there are any problems."

"Yes." Zhanfu and Zhanqi clasped their hands in response and went to stand guard in front of and behind the hunter's hut.

"This is Ning Cha, one of the leaders of the resistance," Zhou Qingfeng briefly introduced. "This is Cui Yu."

Jin Wei clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Miss Ning, Cui Yu greets you."

Ning Cha clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Mr. Cui, Ning Cha is very polite."

Zhou Qingfeng said, "Cui Yu, let's get down to business. You said you found Cai Nianxiong, but where is he?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Wei scratched his head, baring his teeth as he struggled to find the right words. After organizing his thoughts for a moment, he finally said, "Well... I followed Cai Nianxiong's trail all the way, and when I caught up with him, I found him being attacked by a group of swamp water ghosts."

"Fortunately, he had more than a dozen helpers by his side. These helpers were all dressed in red robes, ranked in the Devouring Fiend Realm, and claimed to be followers of the Vision Cult. They came specifically to help Cai Nianxiong find his mother. I helped Cai Nianxiong deal with the swamp water ghost, and then explained my purpose: I wanted to take Cai Nianxiong home."

“But Cai Nianxiong resolutely refused, saying that he was determined to take his mother back. He was determined and refused to go home with me no matter what. I tried to take him away by force, but he was stopped by the Vision Church. I tried to resolve the issue peacefully, but they did not accept it.”

Zhou Qingfeng frowned deeply: "How did Cai Nianxiong get involved with the Vision Cult? Was he kidnapped by Vision Cult members, or was he being controlled by magic?"

Jin Wei said, "No, Cai Nianxiong voluntarily joined the Vision Sect, and it was he who asked the Vision Sect to send people to help him find his mother. The Vision Sect said that it was because of the brotherhood among fellow believers and the spirit of mutual support that they sent more than a dozen helpers from the Food Demon Realm to accompany him."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng's quick-witted and intelligent mind began to work rapidly. Based on the fragments of intelligence he had just obtained, he quickly connected them to Partridge Di, the master of the Vision Church. Perhaps Cai Nianxiong's repeated departures from home to search for his mother were a scheme orchestrated by Partridge Di.

It makes sense. Partridge Di was able to rise to the position of general and become the head of the Vision Church. His wisdom and strategy were undoubtedly above average. Such a courageous and resourceful person would have considered the possibility of failure if he were plotting to seize power. He would not have left no tricks up his sleeve.

The key move they left behind was most likely Cai Nianxiong.

Zhou Qingfeng's sharp eyes narrowed, and he quickly said, "Where did Cai Nianxiong go? Quick, chase after him!"