Chapter 848

Hu Xiaotian secretly rejoiced in his heart—no corpse in sight, could it not mean that Ji Feihua wasn't dead? Given Ji Feihua's abilities, perhaps she could calmly escape the palace; deep down he did not wish for Ji Feihua to die.

Li Yuncong said: "You know that this secret passage connects to the Jade Pool; Ji Feihua also knows this. The Zajia, because of him, specially searched every secret passage thoroughly, yet found no trace inside the passage."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Perhaps he is already dead; it's possible his corpse was eaten by fish."

Li Yuncong shook his head and said: "Others also know this secret passage; during this period, Quan De'an also entered the passage to search."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Wasn't Ji Feihua seriously injured at that time?"

Li Yuncong said: "Indeed he was seriously injured; nobody in the world could escape the joint attack of myself, Hong Beimo, and Mu Rongzhan." Having said that, he immediately realized he had misspoken—Ji Feihua had not still escaped from their three‑way pincer attack. He then said: "With such severe injuries, even if he didn't die then, his meridians would surely be severed and his martial arts completely ruined."

Hu Xiaotian said: "With you saying that, he very likely died in the Jade Pool."

Li Yuncong shook his head and said: "He isn't dead, and he has been here!" At this moment his expression was extremely solemn, with not a trace of joking.

Hu Xiaotian instinctively glanced around, as if Ji Feihua were lurking nearby; feeling certain that no one was hiding beside them, he then asked: "Why are you so certain?"

Li Yuncong said: "Because an extremely important item has been stolen from this Cangshuge!"

"What item?"

Li Yuncong said: "A Buddhist sutra!"

Hu Xiaotian's heart stirred.

Li Yuncong whispered: "The Banruo Boluomiduo Xin Jing!"

Hu Xiaotian widened his eyes, almost shouting out, "Damn!" Could it really be such a coincidence? Could the old eunuch have precognition, knowing I wanted to ask him for that sutra, so he preemptively said Ji Feihua stole it? On second thought, that's utterly impossible. When Master Yuanshi raised this matter, no one else was present—meaning only he and I knew about it. Master Yuanshi is still at Lingyin Temple; he could not possibly have leaked this. As for me, that's even more impossible. In other words, Li Yuncong is not deceiving me.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why would he steal a Buddhist sutra?"

Li Yuncong said: "That sutra was personally transcribed by the Emperor Taizong."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Even so, that is not a reason for him to risk returning to steal it."

Li Yuncong said: "Longtian Temple has repeatedly sent envoys begging the court to return this sutra, but the court has never agreed. To Longtian Temple, this sutra carries extraordinary significance; if someone were willing to return it to them, it would be a great favor to Longtian Temple."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You mean he wants Longtian Temple's help? Longtian Temple has always been loyal to the emperor and patriotic—how could it possibly aid him in rebellion?"

Li Yuncong said: "Longtian Temple certainly would not help him rebel, but he is seriously injured; if he wishes to restore his martial arts quickly, he must seek aid from a first‑rate innate master. Such masters are few and far between in the world, and Longtian Temple happens to have one."

Hu Xiaotian whispered: "You mean Ji Feihua is likely hiding in Longtian Temple?" He secretly wondered: Could the innate master Li Yuncong spoke of be Master Yuanshi?

Li Yuncong said: "Perhaps there is such a possibility."

"If you have noticed this, why not report it to the Emperor? All it takes is an imperial decree to find out whether Ji Feihua is really hiding in Longtian Temple."

Li Yuncong said: "Longtian Temple has done me a favor; the Zajia certainly cannot throw Longtian Temple into the fire pit."

Hu Xiaotian did not know what he meant by "throwing into the fire pit."

Li Yuncong said: "The Formless Divine Skill you study is actually just the most basic technique; the Zajia told you that before."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Didn't you say the Formless Divine Skill is the most profound internal cultivation method in the world?"

Li Yuncong said: "Although the Formless Divine Skill is exquisite, its cultivation process involves the notion of nine tribulations; that is, to cultivate the Formless Divine Skill one must undergo nine life‑and‑death trials, passing each before the skill can be perfected."

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in shock: "Why didn't you say that earlier?"

Li Yuncong said: "Back then I was only trying to help you dispel the alien true qi in your body. Moreover, when choosing the lesser of two evils, I didn't have the leisure to dwell on it. Now that I have time, I will certainly explain it clearly."

Hu Xiaotian gave a hollow, cold laugh; this old eunuch is still so treacherous—clearly he has set a trap for me, yet he pretends to be looking out for me.

Li Yuncong said: "Precisely because the Formless Divine Skill must endure nine tribulations, that senior in our palace recently created the *Wujian Jue* based on the Formless Divine Skill. One could say it removes the risks of cultivation from the foundation of the Formless Divine Skill, though its power is consequently discounted. The arts practiced by the Zajia and by Ji Feihua differ, but their ultimate source is entirely the *Wujian Jue*."

Hu Xiaotian then recalled that Li Yuncong had mentioned before: the eunuch expert who created the *Wujian Jue* divided it into two parts and passed them to two people. He whispered: "Lord Li, why did you bring this up to me?"

Li Yuncong said: "The Zajia wants you to sneak into Longtian Temple and find Ji Feihua!"

Hu Xiaotian quickly shook his head: "Impossible! I am now the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard; anything I do requires the Yongyang Prince's approval."

Li Yuncong chuckled: "Do you think she let you become Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard for no reason?"

When Li Yuncong asked that, Hu Xiaotian became alert: indeed, Qiqi had no reason to suddenly appoint him Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, claiming it was for his convenience in entering and leaving the palace, yet that five‑colored coiled‑dragon gold tablet already carries enough weight—could Qiqi have other intentions?

Li Yuncong said: "Have you ever heard that the Emperor has a secret treasury?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've heard of it, but no one knows where it is." Suddenly he recalled the secret stone cavern he and Qiqi had discovered beneath Piaomiao Mountain—could that be the old Emperor's secret treasury?

Li Yuncong said: "The Emperor indeed possesses a secret treasury."

Hu Xiaotian's spirits lifted at once; he whispered: "I've heard that the Emperor's secret treasury is far richer than the state treasury—does he intend to take all the gold out of it?"

Li Yuncong said: "I don't know that, but one thing the Zajia can be certain of: your father definitely participated in the matter of the Emperor's secret treasury. However, he is tight‑lipped; even when facing the danger of extermination of his clan, he never revealed a word."

Hu Xiaotian had long suspected this might involve his father, for his father was formerly the Minister of Revenue of Dakang, in charge of the state treasury's yearly accounts; the Emperor wanted to line his own pockets, harming the public to enrich himself. Thus he first had to get past this obstacle.

Li Yuncong said: "The Emperor will personally go to Longtian Temple to fast and chant sutras for a month; first, to deliver the souls of his recently deceased relatives; second, to pray for blessings upon Dakang."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You want me to follow you there?"

Li Yuncong said: "Actually, even if I don't let you go, the Yongyang Prince will surely send you; the Zajia merely reminds you that if you can accompany the trip, don't forget to help the Zajia accomplish one thing: find the Banruo Boluomiduo Xin Jing."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What's in it for me if I find that sutra?"

Li Yuncong said: "If you find the sutra, the Zajia will tell you the method to survive the tribulation."

Hu Xiaotian said: "How do I know you're not deceiving me?"

Li Yuncong said: "Deceiving you would be pointless; you just said a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring, and now is the time for you to repay that kindness."

Hu Xiaotian said: "This matter entails great risk; acting behind the Emperor's and the Yongyang Prince's backs would be treason. Lord Li ought to give me some encouragement, so that Xiao Tian may have the courage to take the risk."

Li Yuncong gave a cold smile, looking at him: "This brat is really hard to deal with; I want him to work for me. I can't give him no benefits, nor can I give him no threats." He lowered his voice: "Go on, tell me what benefits you want."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I want Lord Li to hand over two people to me."

Li Yuncong nodded and said: "Go ahead!"

"One is the little palace maid Baobao from the Lingyu Hall; the other is Murong Feiyan from the Shen Ce Fu!"

Li Yuncong's brows furrowed at once; he lowered his voice: "The Baobao you mention isn't exactly an important figure. The Zajia can agree to find her and return her to you, but as for Murong Feiyan… don't you know she is Mu Rongzhan's daughter?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "For you, old man, that shouldn't be difficult."

Li Yuncong slowly shook his head and said: "The Zajia cannot handle the matter of Murong Feiyan; Mu Rongzhan is a difficult person to speak with, and furthermore, getting involved in his family affairs is something the Zajia would rather avoid."

Hu Xiaotian already knew that what Li Yuncong said was all true; he could only fall back on a lesser request: "Lord Li, could you at least help me inquire about Murong Feiyan's whereabouts?"

Li Yuncong said, "That can be promised to you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "When will you hand Baobao over to me?"

Li Yuncong narrowed his eyes and said, "Don't be anxious; in any case, Zajia will certainly handle what they promised you, and don't forget what you promised Zajia."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If His Majesty goes to Tianlong Temple this time to fast and chant sutras without taking me, I also have no way."

Li Yuncong said, "You are so clever, and Yongyang King trusts you so much; accomplishing this is not difficult."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If Ji Feihua really fled to Tianlong Temple, with my mediocre martial arts meeting him would only be a death sentence; my death wouldn't matter, but if His Majesty's safety were implicated, wouldn't that be trouble?"

Li Yuncong said, "Even if Ji Feihua is still alive now, he can only be a cripple; although Zajia suspects he is in Tianlong Temple, we have no definite evidence, only saying he might be hiding there; this matter is known to both you and me, and cannot be told to a third person."

Hu Xiaotian's heart stirred; Li Yuncong obviously had other calculations, otherwise he would not choose to keep this matter secret; he whispered, "Why?"

Li Yuncong said, "Hong Beimo and Tianlong Temple have long-standing grudges; if he learns of this news, he will surely exploit it, possibly bringing disaster upon Tianlong Temple; Tianlong Temple has done favors for Zajia, and Zajia cannot allow such a thing to happen."

Second Update uploaded; tonight I have to accompany my son to watch a movie, a rare relaxation. Currently I cannot determine whether I will be able to write an update in the early hours; it depends on my condition when I return. However, Zhangyu will strive to write another update, and will announce it on the public WeChat platform; please follow Zhangyu's public WeChat account Stonesquid (to be continued~^~).