Chapter 45

Chen Hang got up, walked forward with big strides, pulled the lock, and opened the door.

Seeing him come out, Rong Jin hurriedly lowered his head, his face revealing respect. After not seeing him for a few days, he no longer had that hidden arrogant look, and his attitude was much more humble.

Just like Rong Tuo in "Water-Sky Cloud Fall," seeing the fox-embracing girl in the Six Geng Nine Cloud Carriage from afar... After one meeting, Rong Tuo lost his Dao heart, and no matter what, he could not generate any desire to forge ahead, never leaving the Rong Kingdom again.

And a few days ago.

That scene where Chen Hang turned wine into a sword.

Similarly made Rong Jin's liver and gallbladder split. When facing him, he unconsciously lowered his attitude to a humble place.

"The day after tomorrow is the 15th, the day the Great Morning Assembly begins. My Imperial Grand Uncle asked me to invite you to the Fengxian Palace for a chat to discuss the matter of suppressing the national traitor Tong Gaolu."

"Will Tong Gaolu still come to the morning assembly?" Chen Hang asked.

"... Sir, you don't know, this traitor is quite capable of enduring. He has always pretended very well in front of the outside world, and everyone still thinks he strictly observes the etiquette of a subject!"

Mentioning Tong Gaolu, Rong Jin couldn't help but gnash his teeth:

"If I had known he was so disloyal, back then at Yandang Pass, my Rong family should have taken ruthless action! Directly beat him to death! Where would today's disaster come from? A mere horse slave, daring to talk about seizing the heavens?!"

"Fellow practitioner Rong Tuo is at the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation, fellow practitioner Rong Xuantao is at the sixth layer of Qi Cultivation, plus you and a group of imperial palace retainers, and you actually can't do anything to Tong Gaolu, who is at the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation? It seems this person is indeed extraordinary."

Chen Hang shook his head and said: "You also shouldn't underestimate this horse slave. One moment of carelessness during a Dharma battle, and you lose your own life."

Rong Jin's face flushed red, he turned his face away, and changed the subject awkwardly, saying:

"Sir, you haven't eaten or drunk these past few days. I heard from the palace maids that you haven't touched a single bit of food. Although we Qi Cultivators can survive by eating Qi, this mortal food is clear, sweet, and delicious. It is also a pleasure to enjoy. Why don't you have some, Sir?"

At the Qi Cultivation realm, one can draw spiritual energy from the void of heaven and earth, which can not only strengthen the Embryonic Breathing but also serve as food and water to quench thirst and fill the stomach.

But Chen Hang still felt that his cultivation time in the True Dharma Realm was insufficient, so how could he spare the mind to enjoy fine wine and delicacies?

Seeing Chen Hang's indifferent attitude toward this, Rong Jin's eyes rolled, and he suddenly laughed a few times, as if he had thought of something extremely wonderful.

"Since you don't like the desires of the mouth, Sir, what about beauty?"

Rong Jin lowered his voice and said: "My Rong Kingdom's inner court has countless stunning beauties, plump or slender, each one full of charm. It's not that I'm boasting, but even if you combine Dan Su and Zheng Kingdom, they are far inferior to my family!"

"What do you mean?"

"If you are willing, Sir, I can have the painters draw their appearances, and if you like any, you can pick a few to take away."

Rong Jin said earnestly: "If these mortal women can carry your bloodline, Sir, I think it would be their great fortune. This matter is not just my intention, but my Imperial Grand Uncle and the others also have this idea."

"Do you treat people like cattle and sheep, as tradable goods?"

Chen Hang thought of the various encounters of himself and his predecessor, and a rare impatience arose in his heart. He just looked at him coldly and faintly, raised his eyes, and said:

"I have sworn in this life to climb and seek the supreme immortal Dao. If I don't succeed, I will become benevolent! How can the pleasure of mere flesh and skin shake my will!"

Rong Jin's expression stiffened, his eyes widened suddenly, and he became at a loss.

He had expected that even if Chen Hang refused, he would make some excuses, but he didn't expect this person to be so uncompromising and decisive.

Rong Jin hurriedly bowed to apologize, acting humble. Chen Hang just nodded faintly, and then the two went downstairs and walked into a carriage pulled by four divine white horses.

Chen Hang's original intention was to set up an escape light and fly away directly, but since the guest follows the host, he was too lazy to arrange it.

Once inside the carriage, it was silk blankets and brocade, extremely luxurious. In the corner, a beast-eared copper furnace was slowly spraying exotic fragrance, rich and pure.

Seeing Chen Hang and Rong Jin sit down, the driver whipped the horses, and the carriage began to move.

Along the way, Chen Hang was somewhat curious about the origin of the Rong Kingdom, and Rong Jin, in order to please him, was naturally willing to say everything he knew.

After he spoke in detail, Chen Hang was also somewhat surprised.

The Rong Kingdom's founding ancestor was originally a disciple of a small sect in the Southern Region. Later, the sect was destroyed, and the sect master and elders all died in battle, so he had no choice but to hide his name and come here.

At that time, this territory still belonged to the Liang Kingdom, but the Rong Kingdom's founding ancestor was a cultivator at the third layer of Foundation Establishment, only one step away from opening the Purple Palace. If he wanted to seize someone's foundation, what Embryonic Breathing or Qi Cultivation cultivator could stop him?

However, not long after the Rong Kingdom was established, the founding ancestor also passed away silently in one night due to previous injuries.

But fortunately, his descendants were competitive, breaking through Qi Cultivation and achieving True Qi. Although it was only the first layer of Foundation Establishment, it was enough to suppress the situation on all sides.

Thus, the Rong Kingdom enjoyed the country for more than three hundred years, until this time when the Rong Kingdom's Foundation Establishment ancestor died of old age, which gradually caused Tong Gaolu to develop thoughts of disloyalty, and his arrogance began to grow.

"Does he, Tong Gaolu, not dare to fight with Foundation Establishment cultivators? The gap between Embryonic Breathing and True Qi... how huge is it exactly?"

Hearing this, Chen Hang couldn't help but ponder deeply.

And at this moment, the carriage arrived at a towering palace.

Rong Jin hurriedly invited Chen Hang to get off the carriage and led him into the palace.

As soon as he entered the palace gate, he saw several people sitting in the main hall, divided by host and guest. Besides Rong Tuo and the others, there were two new faces.

Seeing Chen Hang enter, Rong Tuo and Rong Xuantao stood up and walked forward quickly to welcome him.

"Are you comfortable these past few days, Daoist friend? Don't blame this old man for not entertaining you well."

Rong Tuo stroked his long beard that reached his abdomen and laughed.

"How could I dare." Chen Hang bowed.

"Come, come, let me introduce someone to you, Daoist friend. This is Huang Zaichen, a retainer of my Rong family, whose cultivation is at the fourth layer of Qi Cultivation."

After inviting Chen Hang to sit at the upper left seat, Rong Tuo smiled and pointed to a man with a jade face and red lips, dressed as a scholar, introducing him to Chen Hang.

After being pointed at, Huang Zaichen hurriedly stood up and performed a Daoist salute to Chen Hang.

"I have met Daoist friend Huang." Chen Hang returned the salute.

"This is Sima Yu. Although he is a mortal, he is loyal and is currently the Dragon-Tiger Grand General of the Imperial Guard."

Rong Tuo pointed to another middle-aged man wearing armor. Although he was still smiling, the warmth in his tone had decreased a lot.

The man named Sima Yu also bowed to Chen Hang, his expression excited, his face flushed red.

It seemed that because he was a mere mortal, he was able to attend a banquet among Qi Cultivators, which he felt was a great honor, almost going crazy.

"Since everyone has arrived, let's discuss how to deal with the national traitor Tong Gaolu at the Great Morning Assembly the day after tomorrow!"

A fierce look flashed in Rong Tuo's eyes, and then he began to talk eloquently.

Everyone in the hall was solemn, and Sima Yu was particularly serious, far different from usual.

Only Chen Hang listened for a while and felt bored.

Are Dharma battles between low-grade cultivators like them not two armies facing each other in battle? Where did all these schemes come from?

And finally, it was decided to ambush Tong Gaolu on the way into the palace, and everyone would work together to kill him.

Hearing this, Chen Hang only felt that he had truly come in vain today, listening to a pile of nonsense.

However, following another sentence from Rong Tuo, Chen Hang frowned.

"Wait, Daoist friend, you still want to let Sima brother lead the crossbowmen to ambush him first? This is too whimsical."

Chen Hang laughed: "We are all Qi Cultivators, how can these mortal means be useful? If Tong Gaolu sets up an escape light, can mortal arrows shoot into the blue sky? This move will only cause Sima brother to die in vain and implicate many innocent soldiers. It is inappropriate."

"How could I not know, but this is also a helpless move."

Rong Tuo sighed: "It's good to consume one point of Tong Gaolu's Embryonic Breathing, it's better than doing nothing..."

"And the lives of the soldiers?"

"They eat the monarch's salary, so naturally they should be loyal to the monarch's affairs and worry about the monarch's worries!" Rong Tuo was dismissive:

"If they die, they die. It's just a few hundred mortals. Lowly lives, how can they be worthy of your concern, Daoist friend? Sima Yu, this matter is handed over to you to lead and arrange! You must succeed!"

As soon as his voice fell, Sima Yu had already happily accepted the order, his expression extremely excited.

Seeing that this person was truly courting death, Chen Hang didn't persuade him much, just laughed and skipped over it.

"However..."

Rong Tuo suddenly became serious: "There is one more thing you need to know, Daoist friend. This is the main event today, and it cannot be neglected!"

"Please speak." Chen Hang said faintly.

"That Tong Gaolu, he has an extremely powerful Daoist art." Rong Tuo took a deep breath: "It is a Daoist art for refining the flesh..."

Hearing this.

Chen Hang also restrained his expression, his eyes sinking slightly.

The day after tomorrow.

Mao hour (5-7 AM).

The daylight had not yet fully broken.

Outside a magnificent and majestic mansion, many high-ranking officials, nobles, generals, and ministers in red and purple were waiting, a lively scene of carriages and horses.

"Brother, listen to the movement outside. My Tong family is truly prosperous now! Even that old thing, the Minister of Personnel, who prides himself on being noble, is waiting bitterly outside the door. Hahaha, I wonder if he ever thought there would be such a day when he made things difficult for me?"

Inside the mansion.

Two people were walking side by side. One of them suddenly laughed and said to his companion.

"You kid also—"

His companion was just about to speak when he suddenly frowned and stopped his steps.

"Brother, what's wrong with you?"

"Just now there seemed to be some kind of bad feeling, strange, strange."

His companion also shook his head in confusion:

"Since practicing the Daoist art on the 'Earth Palace Golden Chapter,' this body of mine... is this the first time it has felt this uncomfortable?"