Chapter 473

Ning Ning Shuhong naturally wouldn't let Zhu Shishi suffer his "poisonous hands," but despite all her efforts, she was still snatched away. Seeing Pei Ye ultimately couldn't avoid being suppressed by Wang Wang Shousi.

However, Seeing Pei Ye had just learned that this ten-year-old child had actually broken into the Sixth Life Realm a few days ago, and he suddenly understood why she was so highly valued by the sect.

Two hours later, the three sat by the sword field, feeling refreshed. The sparse stars and bright moon hung high, and the wind passed through their sword-practice robes, carrying away the scorching heat from their muscles and bones.

"Actually, it's just that your realm is limited. Except for Zhu Shishi, I really didn't expect anyone else to have entered the Sword Academy without having entered the Upper Two Realms." Wang Wang Shousi laid his sword across his knees, resting his hands on it and letting them hang. "True Qi is always the most intimate energy for a sword, but conversely, it also limits its use. After the Upper Two Realms, True Qi leaves the body, and only then can the sword be considered completely liberated—you don't even know True Qi techniques, do you?"

"I have fought with Seventh Life sword practitioners before, and I did have that feeling, but it was only after coming here that I felt it was a chasm."

"Who have you fought with?"

"Seventh Life..." Seeing Pei Ye pondered for a moment. "Those in this realm who fought me seem to have all been killed by me."

Wang Wang Shousi was speechless again, while Ning Ning Shuhong next to him squinted and looked at him.

Wang Wang Shousi calculated his own pitiful experience of life-and-death struggles, tilted his head, and said: "I do not behead the nameless under my sword."

Seeing Pei Ye then said: "I remember now, there was the ten-year sword head of Great Kongdong, called Xixi Tianji."

Ning Ning Shuhong raised an eyebrow: "I have heard of him."

Wang Wang Shousi said: "I suppose he was also someone who didn't know how to use a sword."

Seeing Pei Ye thought about the opponents he had encountered since coming to the Sword Academy and did not refute this.

"In any case, step into the Upper Realm sooner so we can have a satisfying fight. To be honest, before coming here, I hadn't felt a needle-like threat from my peers for quite a while."

"I have?"

"You do. You, Ning Shuhong, and my two fellow academy students—each one stings more painfully than the last."

"Fine, actually, it's almost time."

Ning Ning Shuhong, however, leaned against a tree and sighed softly: "How can Yi Yi Jian ever be truly satisfying? It's always playing house; it gets boring after too much of it."

When Seeing Pei Ye sparred with this bright woman, he always felt he was facing a beast that hadn't woken up. When she drew her sword, you knew it had stood up, but it was just yawning and coping; some kind of violent power was still sleeping in her body.

Seeing Pei Ye couldn't help but nod, thinking of the Yi Yi Jian that "tries to win," and the determination of holding the resolve of "I must kill him"—the whole person is in two completely different states. Even after wandering in the limits of life and death for so long, he would feel somewhat unaccustomed to his "frailty" in a normal state.

Wang Wang Shousi looked at the two classmates who were smiling at each other and pondered: "So, my potential has actually never been developed? I have taken first place in the Sword League for nine consecutive sessions, but that's actually only half of my true strength?"

"No, you are probably the kind of flower-vase that is only suitable for Yi Yi Jian," Ning Ning Shuhong said.

Wang Wang Shousi sighed: "It's fine. In another... less than two months, there will be something that isn't playing house. At that time, let me see the true level of the Ning direct disciple."

He turned back to look at Seeing Pei Ye: "I guess you don't know again, right?"

Seeing Pei Ye was indeed blank: "What?"

"'Changan Jade Winter Sword Collection.' It will be held after the first snow in December. It is the last sword path grand event in the Divine Jingcheng this year," Wang Wang Shousi said. "Sword practitioners newly arrived in the capital must make an appearance at a first-class sword collection so that others know of such a person. Emei has no ringing sword this year; Ning Shuhong will definitely go all out."

Seeing Pei Ye realized, then couldn't help but ask: "What if it doesn't snow in December?"

"." It will be held even if it doesn't snow."

Seeing Pei Ye thought of the white snow piling up into balls, thin frost hanging on the branches, and drinking wine while practicing Yi Yi Jian under the pale sky—it was indeed a joyous thing.

"Is there nothing before that?"

"Of course there is. In a place like the Divine Jingcheng, can there be a shortage of sword societies? Like over at West Pool, I see various poetry and martial arts societies every day. Whoever shows off, everyone will be spreading your name the next day," Wang Wang Shousi sighed. "The Divine Jingcheng is a place full of fame and profit, but unfortunately, there are also many people fighting for it."

"Does Brother Wang want to go?"

"Of course. How can one enter a treasure house and come back empty-handed? When I have time, I will go stroll around. The Jin Wu Sect still relies on me to make a name for itself in the Divine Jingcheng."

Seeing Pei Ye sighed: "I'd better keep a low profile."

The two chatted idly, while Ning Ning Shuhong supervised Zhu Zhu Shishi's sword moves next to them. Until the bright moon climbed higher and Zhu Zhu Shishi started yawning, the three stood up and parted ways.

Only Seeing Pei Ye remained sitting under the moon.

The sweat on his body had dried completely. In the late-night Divine Jingcheng, the sky reflected a faint light. Insects and birds were sparse in early winter, and only the sound of swords from those still practicing could be heard from far away in the sword field.

Seeing Pei Ye closed his eyes and sat quietly for a while. In this coldness, he gripped his sword and stood up, raising his hand to slowly thrust out an unfamiliar sword style.

It was completely different from all the sword styles he had practiced before. It was not as lifelike as Jade Jade, not as thunderous as Snow Collapse, nor was it like the Snow Sword, which was like a dream.

As the sword thrust out, a cold vastness spread in all directions. This was not the temperament of the Divine Jingcheng; it was further north. This was also not the temperament of Xincang Mountain or Jade Jade Mountain; it was further east than that.

That was the vastness and coldness spanning dozens of prefectures. Riding a horse in such a desolate place was like being the only living creature between heaven and earth.

Seeing Pei Ye chose to try this sword on such a night precisely for this reason.

It was the most frank and simple sword. He didn't encounter any threshold. After the intent reached his hand, the unique True Qi circuit formed instantly. This sword was first a defensive sword style, which could be released without much True Qi or strength. And once it took shape, it immediately merged between the states of "ethereal" and "condensed."

"Early Moon Chuyue Chuyue Beiyu" 【Cloud Cold】

For Seeing Pei Ye, this was absolutely a novel and profound treatment. This was also the spring sword among the four "Court-Transmitted" techniques the woman had chosen for him. The meaning of the sword was exactly as the words suggested—in the first or second month, not later; it was Chuyue Chuyue Beiyu, not South Rain.

The temperament of this sword pulled Seeing Pei Ye out of the game of calculations between cicadas and sparrows. It had almost no traps or changes in moves; it was just frank, clear, and even casually exposed. It reminded Seeing Pei Ye of the unique copying and packaging of this sword manual.

If the "Jade Jade Sword" always wins through unpredictability and catching people off guard, this one was closer to a "face-up" sword, so the thinking and logic behind it were completely different.

Seeing Pei Ye slowly savored this sword, and countless new Yi Yi Jian ideas began to sprout in his mind simultaneously. The so-called "expanding the sword field" was exactly this.

That night, Seeing Pei Ye flipped through the sword manuals in his memory and learned three styles of this new sword.

Jingzhao Prefecture, candlelight flickering.

Li Zhao walked in with an old case file. Di Jiu was slowly drinking a cup of tea in front of the desk.

"My lord, found it." Li Zhao spread the case file on the table, his expression somewhat heavy.

Di Jiu moved his eyes over:

【In the ninth month of the Renshen year, transferred to be the Zhonglang General of the Left Jin Wu Guard, in charge of the office's personal guards, supervising the street patrols in the capital, assisted by two Guo-Yi officers.】

Di Jiu continued to look; the next line was: 【In the seventh month of the Jimao year, due to excellent performance and receiving favor, promoted to General of the Left Jin Wu Guard.】

"According to what you said, the transfer of officials above the fifth rank in the Jin Wu Guard nine years ago... there is only this one."

". Yang Yang Juhu." Di Jiu closed his eyes and tapped the table lightly. "Nine years ago, he served as a Zhonglang with real power, directly leading the personal guards. Two years ago, he was promoted to General. What is this person's background?"

"Over the years, the rotation of personnel between the Forbidden Army and the border army has occurred. This person returned to the capital from the northern border, and his original position was a real-power military officer of the fourth rank," Li Zhao whispered. "The appointment document says 'transferred,' but in reality, for him, returning to the capital was a demotion."

"Was he not doing well at the northern border?"

". That, however, cannot be investigated."

Di Jiu nodded indifferently: "An outsider, and rising so fast... very good, we have found the right person."

"."

"Did anyone return with him?"

". Three levels above and below, none were seen."

Di Jiu slowly frowned.

His approach to the investigation was very simple. The Taiping Cao Gang suddenly rose nine years ago, and its rise must be inseparable from the connivance or even support of the Divine Jingcheng's surveillance system. And nine years ago was exactly when the patrol power shifted from the Jingzhao Prefecture to the Jin Wu Guard. The changes in the Jin Wu Guard's officials during this period were definitely worth noting.

Di Jiu already roughly knew the shadow behind Yang Yang Juhu, who came from the northern border, but how was he linked to the Taiping Cao Gang?

And the "Winter Prison" was established during his tenure. At that time, he had just taken the position of Zhonglang and should have been on unstable footing. How could the Divine Jingcheng have a place that would make him feel safe enough to set up this private prison?

Di Jiu tapped the table slowly, closing his eyes and thinking about these things, the candlelight flickering on his face.

Li Zhao stood quietly to the side; he had long since learned to remain silent when this lord was thinking.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of Di Jiu tapping the table suddenly stopped, and he opened his eyes: "Show me the information on that 【Taiping Partridge】 Qiu He Tianyu again."

Li Zhao was startled and immediately flipped it out: "It is still very scarce, very superficial."

However, Di Jiu did not examine it carefully as he had several times before. He took it, opened it, and browsed through it page by page: ". We have always said that all of this person's fame in the Jianghu is tied to the Taiping Cao Gang, and the rest is extremely scarce, right?"

"Mm."

"But how can a cultivator who has reached the Tuan Shen realm of the Mystic Gate suddenly appear?" Di Jiu flipped through page by page until he stopped at one page and pointed: "Look, tracing back, before the Taiping Cao Gang was established nine years ago, news of this person began to decrease, but it could still be seen. But twelve years ago, there was nothing at all."

Li Zhao frowned: ". And so?"

"Three years, Li Zhao, you are not sensitive enough," Di Jiu sighed, closing the book. "Three years, isn't that exactly the rotation period for the Forbidden Army and the border army?"

Li Zhao's eyes widened suddenly.

Di Jiu stood up and coughed twice: "Let's go, to the Ministry of War."

"Now? Why don't you rest a bit and wait for dawn?"

Di Jiu shook his head: "No waiting, knock it open."

When the two arrived at the Ministry of War, many public offices were indeed still dark. The minor official who came to answer the door froze in place when he saw the scarlet robe. Di Jiu did not need anyone to lead the way; he asked for the keys and headed straight to where he wanted to go.

The Ministry of War's archive library contained all military transfers since the founding of the dynasty. Quick file searching was Di Jiu's innate talent. Before a single candle had burned out, he had already found what he wanted.

Military transfer files from the northern border twelve years ago.

However, the two flipped through the entire volume and did not find the name Qiu He Tianyu. Li Zhao was blankly frowning, but he saw Di Jiu stand up and check several more files, then sit back down, flipping through them again with a calm expression. This time, he stopped his finger on the name "Wang Wang Biehe."

".?"

"This person entered the northern border army at a young age, served until thirty-six, reached the fourth rank, cultivated into the Ziyi realm, had no record of military discipline violations, and was clearly an orphan. How did he suddenly 'resign and return home'?" Di Jiu said slowly. "Returning home is one thing, but a Tuan Shen cultivator actually disappeared just like that, and the name 'Wang Wang Biehe' was never heard again."

". Are you saying?"

"Qiu He Tianyu is forty-eight this year, and his cultivation has also stepped into the Tuan Shen realm."

"."

"So it wasn't that they colluded for profit after arriving in the Divine Jingcheng, nor was it that the Taiping Cao Gang and the Jin Wu Guard attracted each other. They were originally comrades, supporting and trusting each other—that is truly normal." Di Jiu put the file back and stood up slowly, leaning on the table. Although his face was full of fatigue, his eyes were burning bright. "Now let's guess, where would this 'Winter Prison' be?"