Chapter 229

Before the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division office, the wind fluttered sharply.

When the three Demon Suppression Captains led Qin Shuo and dozens of Cloud Dragon Captains out in large strides, they saw two groups of people standing densely packed outside the gate.

On the left were experts of the Divine Catcher Division wearing black robes and waist tablets, their leader precisely——

Song Zhangfeng.

On the right stood a group of martial artists in martial robes with fierce auras, all wearing Zhenwu Hall insignia; the two leaders were respectively——

Zhenwu Hall Hall Master Lu Dingzhou, Vice Hall Master Baili Jingtao.

The two groups blocked the Demon Suppression Division gate, their formation grand and aura mighty, causing some unaware people to secretly feel a chill in their hearts.

As two of the three major violent organs of the Great Li Dynasty, the Zhenwu Hall and Divine Catcher Division wield far greater influence among the populace than the Demon Suppression Division.

Seeing both sides' forces now blocking the Demon Suppression Division gate, one could not help but wonder curiously,

what heaven-crushing crime had this Demon Suppression Division committed to provoke these two major violent organs to come knocking together.

Amidst the curious, shocked, or gloating gazes, Qi Shengzhao stepped forward first, speaking coldly:

"Song Zhangfeng, Lu Dingzhou, you two come to block the gate of my Demon Suppression Division office—what do you intend?"

Song Zhangfeng clasped his fists, his tone unyielding:

"General Qi, acting on orders from the Divine Catcher Division, we have come to apprehend Qin Shuo—Qin Captain."

His gaze fell upon Qin Shuo, his eyes dark and gloomy:

"The Divine Catcher Division's hidden agents personally witnessed Qin Shuo, outside the city, privately killing a court-appointed official, Demon Suppression Division Inspector Wang Lihu!

This is a grave crime of rebellion; my Divine Catcher Division must take him back for interrogation!"

As his words fell, the crowd erupted in commotion.

The name of the Divine Catcher Division's hidden agents is known to all.

They move without fixed trace, hiding in streets and alleys; even a random, insignificant street stall vendor could possibly be working for the Divine Catcher Division as a hidden agent.

These hidden agents usually conceal themselves in bustling markets, never drawing attention, yet they are the most important source of information for the Six Gates.

"The Divine Catcher Division and Demon Suppression Division are not subordinate to each other; you Divine Catcher Division wanting to arrest my Demon Suppression Division personnel……"

Chen Ao's voice thundered like lightning, he strode out from the crowd with large steps, his hand covering the hilt of his waist blade, tone cold and hard: "On what grounds?"

Song Zhangfeng's face darkened, he clasped his hands and said:

"General Chen, rules must not be broken.

No matter Qin Shuo's position, privately killing a court-appointed official is treason!

My Divine Catcher Division……must take him away!"

A group of Divine Catcher Division experts surged forward together, their aura condensing into sharpness, making all onlookers on the street feel their hearts stagnate.

"Must?"

Qi Shengzhao smirked disdainfully: "What gall do you, Song Zhangfeng, have to tell my Demon Suppression Division 'must'?"

Clang!

As Qi Shengzhao drew his blade, so too did his retinue of Cloud Dragon Captains,

instantly, an aura of slaughter several times fiercer than that of the Divine Catcher Division spread across heaven and earth, frightening the distant onlookers of the martial world into retreating en masse.

Speaking of bloodthirsty slaughter, among the three major violent organs, who can compare to the Demon Suppression Division that licks blood from the blade?

Those strong bandits, however fierce, how could they compare to even a fraction of demons?

Compared to the Demon Suppression Division's slaughter aura, the Zhenwu Hall and Divine Catcher Division combined still fall far short.

"General Qi."

Just as both sides stood with swords drawn and bows bent, the Zhenwu Hall Vice Hall Master Baili Jingtao suddenly spoke,

"Qin Captain not only killed the Demon Suppression Division Inspector Wang Lihu, he also shot dead three disciples of Mysterious Weapon Mountain.

Unaware of this, General Qi, do you know?"

Upon these words, everyone's expressions changed.

Even Qi Shengzhao and Chen Ao felt their hearts jump—this brat, just how much trouble has he stirred up?

Killing Wang Lihu alone would be bad enough; the two already had grudges entangled, plus the other party's relation to Xiao Yingqi, leaving room for mediation afterward.

But these other Mysterious Weapon Mountain disciples……

Baili Jingtao observed the expressions of the Demon Suppression Division crowd, then continued:

"Qin Captain shot dead Mysterious Weapon Mountain disciples without cause, intending to sow discord between the Dao Sect and the court, his intentions are nefarious.

My Zhenwu Hall oversees the sects of one province, responsible for maintaining relations between sects and the court.

This matter, Qin Captain must give my Zhenwu Hall and Mysterious Weapon Mountain an explanation.

Otherwise, this crime of sabotaging Dao Sect-court relations, I fear even the three generals cannot bear it."

Upon these words, even Qi Shengzhao couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

Wang Lihu's death could still be counted as self-inflicted due to colluding with the Xiao Family, but if the other Mysterious Weapon Mountain disciples were truly killed by Qin Shuo's involvement, then the Demon Suppression Division really cannot intervene.

The Demon Suppression Division, Zhenwu Hall, and Divine Catcher Division, the three major violent organs, are not subordinate to each other, their duties clearly divided.

The Demon Suppression Division only handles demonic affairs; all cases involving sects are under Zhenwu Hall's jurisdiction, this is clearly stipulated.

Just as Qi Shengzhao's thoughts raced, pondering how to respond to Baili Jingtao,

Suddenly, a voice with a hint of teasing sounded from behind:

"You all want to take me in for trial?"

Qin Shuo pushed through the crowd, left hand pressing on his waist blade hilt, coldly saying: "Then let's see if you all have the capability."

"How? Qin Captain wants to resist arrest?"

Song Zhangfeng's eyes sank slightly, his tone gaining several degrees of solemnity.

Although Wang Lihu was a Demon Suppression Division Inspector, he served under the Zhenwu Martial King, and he certainly would not lack understanding.

Other than that, the opponent is the real deal, a top-tier expert who has condensed the True Gang Furnace.

Such a person actually fell into the hands of this youth, who is barely past his coming-of-age; to say I am not wary would be a lie.

"Arrest me? You think you're worthy?"

Qin Shuo let out a cold laugh and continued:

"Wang Lihu colluded with the remnants of the Xiao Family, intending to frame me, plotting my murder—the evidence is solid!

What? Could it be that you all…

…also have ties with the Xiao Family?"

Upon hearing this, the people of the Divine Catcher Division and Zhenwu Hall fell silent for a moment.

Once demonic beings are involved, even Song Zhangfeng and Baili Jingtao must handle affairs with caution; to be framed with the charge of colluding with demons is no laughing matter.

But right now…

…this is the best opportunity to capture Qin Shuo.

If we miss this chance, next time we want to seize this youth, it won't be so easy.

Thus, Baili Jingtao spoke again: "Even if Wang Lihu colluded with the Xiao Family, you killed disciples of Mysterious Weapon Mountain without cause—are you not trying to provoke conflict between the imperial court and the Dao Sect? What is your intention?"

"Provoke conflict?"

Qin Shuo suddenly smiled, but his smile was cold:

"Those few disciples of Mysterious Weapon Mountain had been tailing Qin Shuo suspiciously since he left the city, and appeared together with Wang Lihu—you say, should they not be killed?"

"Besides, when I fought Wang Lihu, Hall Master Baili was right there in the crowd—why didn't you step in to stop it?"

"Or were you deliberately waiting for Qin Shuo to kill those Mysterious Weapon Mountain disciples, so you'd have an excuse to find fault with him?"

Although it was only a brief glance, with his keen Heavenly Wolf Divine Sense, it was naturally impossible for him not to notice Baili Jingtao's presence.

It was only because he was preoccupied with dealing with Wang Lihu that he paid no attention.

"Hall Master Baili had pressing matters at the time, merely a fleeting glance, no time to look closely." Baili Jingtao's face was black as iron.

"Hah! What a noble excuse of having pressing matters!" Qin Shuo sneered coldly.

"Enough talk, Captain Qin, come with us!"

Lu Dingzhou, who had remained silent until now, spoke.

Since learning that Qin Shuo had mastered a divine ability in an extremely short time, and then been hunted by the three Demon Kings, he knew this youth harbored a great secret.

A secret that could very well allow him to make a great leap forward, with hope of entering the Grandmaster realm.

Therefore, these days he has been closely monitoring Qin Shuo's every move, seeking an opportunity to seize him and extract what he wants.

Heaven rewards diligence!

Finally, he has seized the opportunity to act with just cause.

Qin Shuo's battle with Wang Lihu—Baili Jingtao had already told him in detail that the former's success was related to his possession of the Dalong Temple's Divine Step, enabling a sudden sneak attack.

If he had prepared in advance, he might not have lacked the chance to subdue him.

As Hall Master of Zhenwu Hall, governing the sects of one province, the martial resources he can seize are absolutely incomparable to Wang Lihu's.

Not to mention, he has mastered more than one top-tier supreme art.

If facing him head-on, he is confident he would not be inferior to Wang Lihu, and might even be superior.

As the imperial court, a superpower capable of suppressing the Five Great Dao Sects, its martial resources are naturally beyond ordinary comparison.

Even just Zhenwu Hall possesses nine top-tier supreme arts available for selection.

Ordinary martial artists mastering one art can already dominate a province, yet he has firmly grasped three.

If not for the need to condense these three top-tier supreme arts into True Gang to forge the strongest furnace, he might not have been stuck in the Furnace realm for over a decade.

Precisely for this reason, he covets the method by which Qin Shuo rapidly mastered divine abilities.

Once he obtains this method, gains the divine ability, ignites his furnace, and ascends to Grandmaster, success is imminent!

"What if I refuse?"

Qin Shuo's tone was cold and firm, his gaze indifferent as he looked down at the Zhenwu Hall Hall Master from the stone steps.

"Then you will have offended me!"