Chapter 247

The news that Chen Mu defeated Chu Xiaotian stirred up Zhenzhoucheng for a full day.

As night fell, Chen Mu, clad in the official robes of an Inspector, stepped slowly out the front gate of the Town Martial Bureau amid respectful greetings from a group of on-duty guards.

Just as he crossed the threshold, a boy of about five years old emerged from a shadowed corner, ran timidly over, and raised a letter, shouting with slurred speech.

"Brother, here."

Before Chen Mu could react, he shoved the letter into Chen Mu's hand and turned to sprint away, vanishing around the street corner.

"..."

Chen Mu watched the boy disappear, his peripheral vision sharply catching a blurred figure flicker and vanish from a distant wall.

He did not rashly pursue, but continued walking calmly while quietly activating the "Listen to the Wind" skill.

As he walked, Chen Mu unfolded the letter and scanned its contents.

His pupils contracted sharply, yet his face remained calm; he swiftly folded the paper and tucked it into his robe.

The message was extremely brief, only two lines.

The Jing'an Prince calls Liang Tianzong, the former head of the Sword Storage Palace, his maternal uncle.

Liang Tianzong suffered severe injuries in his youth; half a year ago, the old wounds reactivated. Though he survived thanks to his Earth Altar Realm's "See the Divine, Unbreakable" cultivation, his remaining lifespan is short.

These two lines seemed simple, yet the information they conveyed to Chen Mu was earth-shattering.

Like a lightning bolt cleaving through fog, he suddenly awoke to the truth.

Who was the Jing'an Prince secretly manufacturing Blood Locust Stone for?

The answer was obvious—it was to extend Liang Tianzong's life!

"Who sent this letter? How did they learn such a secret? And why deliver it to me now?"

Several questions surged instantly into Chen Mu's mind.

Suppressing his inner shock, Chen Mu remotely monitored the scene; the "Listen to the Wind" skill spread like an invisible spiderweb, locking onto the figure that had just appeared on the wall and was now fleeing rapidly.

Though Chen Mu appeared to stroll casually through the streets, his spirit was already attached to that swift-moving figure.

Across several streets, he "listened" as the figure moved through alleys, finally slipping into an unremarkable courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, the figure whispered a report to someone.

"Young Master, Chen Mu received the letter."

Then another, slightly more composed voice replied, "Good. Now we wait to see what Chen Mu does."

Young Master?

Chen Mu was startled.

Someone who knew the Jing'an Prince's connection to Liang Tianzong, and was called "Young Master"…

Could the one who sent the letter be Wu Wu Youqing, the Jing'an Prince's eldest son?

Had Wu Wu Youqing betrayed his own father?

Or was this an internal scheme within the Wang Fu—a righteous act of Wu Wu Youqing sacrificing kin for the greater good?

Chen Mu could not yet see through Wu Wu Youqing's plan.

But regardless, the message delivered was perfectly timed and immensely useful!

As for its authenticity, Zhao Fuzhou would verify it.

Thinking of this, Chen Mu no longer hesitated; after returning to his lodging, he immediately took out the Twin Bamboo Shard and transmitted this critical information.

Zhao Fuzhou's reply came quickly.

【Wait for my message】

Indeed, less than fifteen minutes later, the Twin Bamboo Shard flashed with light, and Zhao Fuzhou sent confirmation.

【True—the Jing'an Prince's mother was Liang Tianzong's niece】

The information was confirmed!

Chen Mu no longer felt shock—only a deep, solemn reflection upon uncovering the truth.

Zhao Fuzhou immediately sent another message.

【Emergency situation—tomorrow at dawn, the Sword Storage Palace will be attacked. The force dispatched is the Jiangnan Dao military. If you're interested, come watch!】

An army mobilizing to crush a sect with centuries of lineage—Chen Mu naturally did not wish to miss such a spectacle.

【Good】

After replying, Chen Mu put away the bamboo shard.

Then, at midnight, he slipped out of the city, moving like lightning toward the location of the Sword Storage Palace's mountain gate.

…

Dawn was just breaking.

Tens of thousands of Jiangnan Dao troops, armor gleaming, spears and blades like a forest, advanced silently and grimly into the Sword Storage Palace's mountain gate like a steel flood.

The disciplined soldiers swiftly deployed, surrounding the main peak of the Sword Storage Palace entirely, advancing layer by layer from below to seal every escape route.

The Sword Storage Palace disciples had never seen such a scene; all were terrified and panicked, retreating to the square before the main hall, faces pale, whispering among themselves, utterly confused about what was happening.

Chen Ze was equally bewildered; instinctively gripping his sword hilt, he prepared to lead his disciples in a charge—but was sharply halted by Chen Liping.

"Father, what's happening?" Chen Ze asked urgently.

Chen Liping did not answer; his Solemn Countenance scanned the panicked disciples, then he said firmly, "Keep everyone under control—do not move rashly!"

As he spoke, he muttered softly, a voice barely audible.

"The inevitable has finally come…"

"Father!" Chen Ze tried to ask again.

But Chen Liping ignored him; he straightened his robe and stepped alone from the crowd toward the front of the troops, facing a muscular, aura-wreathed general—

Deputy Commander of the Jiangnan Dao Expeditionary Force, ranked fifteenth on the Master List, nicknamed "Mad Blade" Jia Youyang.

Chen Liping stepped forward first, bowing deeply with a calm voice, "I did not know General Jia had arrived at our Zangjian Palace with a great army—what is your purpose?"

Jia Youyang's face was expressionless; he gave a cold smile. "What is my purpose? Master Chen, you know very well."

He wasted no words, sweeping his hand sharply as he gave a stern order.

"Search them!"

His voice boomed like a bell, echoing across the mountains and fields.

"Anyone who resists—kill on sight!"

Chen Liping's body trembled slightly, then he turned swiftly, channeling his true energy to project his voice across the entire mountain.

"All disciples of Zangjian Palace, listen! Lay down your weapons! Do not fight! Obey all orders!"

At these words, several elders showed shock and fury; the disciples erupted in unrest, tension and panic spreading rapidly.

But seeing their master submit, and facing the cold blades and powerful bows and crossbows surrounding them, the unrest gradually subsided—each disciple, filled with humiliation, resentment, and confusion, slowly lowered their weapons.

"A wise choice."

Jia Youyang glanced at Chen Liping, then slashed his hand downward.

Hundreds of elite soldiers immediately moved—searching, binding, securing.

But when they reached the forbidden rear mountain zone, they met resistance—intense combat erupted, accompanied by furious shouts.

"Chen Liping!"

"You coward!"

"The centuries-old foundation of Zangjian Palace is being destroyed by your hands!!"

A hoarse, thunderous roar of rage exploded from the rear mountain.

Three Supreme Elders, led by Xiong Zengming, their hair standing on end, their true qi surging like three mad lions, shielded a frail, pale-faced old man at the center as they broke through the encirclement.

The old man was Liang Tianzong, the former master of Zangjian Palace.

A group of twenty-odd men killed a squad of soldiers, repelled several military officers attempting to block them, and shot away like streaks of light toward the mountains' edge.

"Think you can run?"