Chapter 159: Like a Thunder Pool (Request Subscription)

Wan Yi, north city, Zhaoxing Tower.

Zhaoxing Tower was one of the finest inns in Wan Yi, notable for its exorbitant prices and even more exalted patrons.

It had no grand hall—only private rooms of varying sizes, each equipped with soundproofing arrays, routinely powered by star-crystals or human Qi. It was the favorite haunt of Wan Yi's elite.

Five stories tall.

The higher the floor, the greater the prestige.

On the fifth floor, there was only one hall; on the fourth, two halls: Ruyi and Xianyun.

At the second watch, a middle-aged man in an immaculately clean blue robe arrived early, gave instructions, ordered a pot of tea, fruit, and pastries, and began waiting quietly, sipping tea occasionally and glancing at the water clock now and then.

"One guest for the Ruyi Hall."

The server's voice below made the middle-aged man's ear twitch; his expression brightened slightly—the main guest had arrived.

A few breaths later, the server led in the young man, Xu Jin. The middle-aged man waved for the server to leave, glanced at Xu Jin, and froze.

In the next instant, he rose instinctively, clasped his hands in greeting, yet inwardly wondered: how could a disciple who had only recently entered the Dao Academy possess such overwhelming aura?

The weight of his gaze was more terrifying than any true noble he'd ever met!

"Your Grace Xu has finally graced us with your presence." As he welcomed him, the middle-aged man subtly sent a transmission via the Zhaixing Token: "Xu Jin has arrived."

"Enough with the pleasantries. Tell me—what is this matter that concerns my future and my family's safety? Why warn me not to misstep?" Xu Jin said coldly.

"Your Grace, please do not be angered. I merely used a little persuasion to ensure you'd come. Of course, I come with utmost sincerity." The blue-robed man smiled as he poured tea for Xu Jin.

"Just speak plainly. If you're warning me not to misstep, spare the formalities."

"Forgive me, Your Grace, but I only sought to meet you. And indeed, we covet something in your possession. If you are willing to part with it, within half a year, you shall receive a hereditary third-rank marquisate!" the man promised.

"Additionally, twenty thousand Dao Merits and two thousand strands of starlight will be granted as cultivation resources, as modest compensation."

"A hereditary third-rank marquisate?"

Xu Jin sneered. "As I understand, no title is granted without merit; only extraordinary or extraordinary feats earn hereditary titles. How, in half a year, will you grant me this?"

"Your Grace need not worry—my master has promised, and you shall not be shortchanged."

"Then what is it you want?" Xu Jin asked.

"You must have guessed. The only thing on you worth this price is that one item." The blue-robed man smiled.

"Crimson Scale Heart?" As he spoke, Xu Jin reached into his chest and pulled out a gleaming crimson scale.

"Your Grace is indeed astute!" The blue-robed man stared at the Crimson Scale Heart, his eyes burning with greed.

"Empty words mean nothing. If you fail to grant the title in half a year, won't I have been tricked out of my Crimson Scale Heart for mere twenty thousand Dao Merits and two thousand strands of starlight?" Xu Jin challenged.

"Your Grace, my master's name is guarantee enough."

"Then who is your master?" Xu Jin leaned forward slightly.

The blue-robed man smiled, preparing to send a Zhaixing transmission reporting Xu Jin's willingness to negotiate—but needing assurance.

At the very moment he was about to send the starlight message, another starlight transmission arrived.

【Xu Jin is still within the State Academy. Who are you meeting? Do your duty.】

The instant he received it, the blue-robed man's face turned deathly pale.

In that same instant, he clenched his teeth hard.

Opposite him, Xu Jin sneered. Vast spiritual force surged instantly, and the self-destructing blue-robed man collapsed into unconsciousness, murmuring in his sleep: "Wu Zongguan sent me."

"Who is Wu Zongguan?"

At this moment, the Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, disguised as Xu Jin, revealed his true form and employed a spiritual soul technique to interrogate him.

But the blue-robed man's poison had already taken effect; blood began seeping from his seven orifices.

"A death servant!"

Cheng Yuexiao sneered. "Too bad he met me."

As he pulled the man into the dream realm, he had already seen Wu Zongguan's true face.

Theoretically, if Wu Zongguan appeared again, Cheng Yuexiao would recognize him.

But Cheng Yuexiao had no intention of waiting.

The next instant, he stepped out through Zhaoxing Tower's window; starlight streaked across Wan Yi's sky.

One breath later, Cheng Yuexiao landed in the courtyard of Wan Yi's Chunyu Bureau headquarters and walked calmly toward the main hall.

Almost simultaneously, dozens of men surged from all directions, weapons drawn—but upon seeing Cheng Yuexiao, they instantly retracted their starlight, bowing low in salute.

"Where is Luo Bing? Summon him to me."

Luo Bing was the Grand Director of the Chen Guo Chunyu Bureau.

Cheng Yuexiao then sat directly on the Grand Director's throne beneath the Chunyu Bureau's signboard, took out a tea set, brushed his hand over it, and the water boiled.

"One pot of tea. If it's not served, the Grand Director of the Chunyu Bureau will be replaced."

The Chunyu Bureau officials immediately panicked; Luo Bing's Zhaixing Token was flooded with messages within moments.

Fifty breaths later, Luo Bing arrived in full official robes, hurriedly bowing low. "Grand Master, forgive me—I was attending to imperial affairs and arrived late."

"Good. This pot yields three cups. I've only drunk two."

Hearing this, Luo Bing's sweat intensified—he knew the Grand Master meant every word. He was lucky to have arrived in time.

The Grand Master could truly replace him.

The next instant, starlight burst from the Grand Master's palm, coalescing into the faint image of a slightly plump, blue-robed old man, only his profile visible.

It was the face he had seen in the dead man's dream.

"This man is named Wu. He is a steward of a powerful family in Wan Yi. Within two pots of tea, find his whereabouts. Otherwise, you are unfit to remain Grand Director of the Chunyu Bureau." Cheng Yuexiao spoke, then replaced the water and began brewing tea anew.

In an instant, the tea was ready.

Meanwhile, Grand Director Luo Bing had summoned all dozens of his top subordinates, showed them the old man's projection and identity details, and gave them the simplest, most direct order.

"Find his identity within fifteen breaths. If you fail, I'll kill you before I die myself!" Luo Bing barked.

The Grand Master was usually mild-mannered, but once he gave an order, it was absolute.

Instantly, the Wan Yi Chunyu Bureau erupted into chaos.

All manner of unseen informants were mobilized by Chunyu Bureau officers.

Servants and maids in noble households suddenly began acting strangely.

After nearly half a watch, as the Grand Master drank his fifth cup of tea, several intelligence reports converged before Luo Bing.

After reading them, Luo Bing exhaled deeply, wiped his brow, then stepped cautiously to his usual desk and whispered, "Grand Master, we found him. Wu Zongguan of the Fourth Prince's Xinquan Prince Mansion."

Along with the report came several documents and a rough sketch.

The Grand Master glanced once, swept his sleeve, and vanished the tea set. "You still have the capability to hold this post. Rest now."

"Your servant dares not."

The next instant, Cheng Yuexiao shot into the sky and vanished.

Long moments passed before Luo Bing raised his head, summoned his subordinates, and transformed from a lamb into a wolf. "Investigate! Find out what this is about—why did we anger the Grand Master?

Damn it, if they don't want to live, I still do! Get to the bottom of this!

Stay away from this from now on!"

The Chunyu Bureau officials scattered once more.

Meanwhile, the Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had transformed into starlight and landed directly within the Xinquan Prince Mansion.

Guards who spotted his intrusion were instantly flung aside; only when a Personal Guard Squad Leader arrived did they recognize him as the Grand Master.

The Grand Master walked straight toward the sound of weeping in a side courtyard, his brow furrowed.

Inside a side courtyard, a plump blue-robed old man lay stiff on the ground, surrounded by a group weeping over him.

Anyone who examined the body would find it still warm—he had died moments ago.

Cheng Yuexiao's face was as cold as water as he watched silently.

One after another, officials from the Prince's Mansion appeared at the courtyard's entrance, then knelt without rising.

First came the Prince's Military Advisor, then the Deputy Commander, followed by the Mansion's Ceremonial Officer and Chief Secretary—all knelt, silent.

After half a pot of tea, the Grand Master suddenly asked, "Where is Prince Xin?"

"Your Majesty, Prince Xin has entered the palace to pay court to the Emperor."

"Clever."

"What was his position?" Cheng Yuexiao pointed at the corpse.

"Wu Zongguan was the inner mansion steward of the Prince's Mansion. He personally managed Prince Xin's daily affairs and was a veteran sent by the palace."

"Where is the Prince's Chief Steward?" Cheng Yuexiao demanded.

"O-Old servant is here!"

A thin old man crawled forward on his knees and bowed his head.

"Were you aware of this?"

"Old servant knows not what offense he committed against your divine might. Please, Grand Master, enlighten me!" The Prince's Chief Steward bowed his head.

Hearing this, Cheng Yuexiao sneered. "How bold."

The Chief Steward dared not speak. Cheng Yuexiao turned to the Mansion's Chief Secretary. "Before Prince Xin entered the palace, did he leave any message?"

The Chief Secretary knelt and replied, "Prince Xin instructed that he was misled and erred. He leaves all judgment to your discretion."

"Given that, I'll spare Prince Xin some face—I won't go to the palace."

"The family responsible for this shall be exiled to the Sands of the Star Realm."

At these words, the Chief Secretary gasped in horror—this was too cruel!

Even after death, they were not spared?

The Chief Steward was also stunned and immediately bowed his head. "Grand Master, Wu Gui served the palace his entire life. Please—"

"Enough noise!"

With a flick of his sleeve, the prince's chief steward was instantly flung into the air, blood spurting from his mouth.

"As chief steward of the prince's mansion, you failed to discipline your subordinates—you deserve to die!"

"Great National Master, spare my life!"

Crash!

Without any visible motion from Cheng Yuexiao, the chief steward's head shattered outright—he died on the spot!

"Send Wu Gui's entire family to the Ministry of Justice. Say they attempted to murder a True Disciple of the Dao Academy—exile them to the Sandsky Realm, and no amnesty shall ever apply. Do you understand?"

"Your servant understands!" The prince's chief secretary responded at once, not daring to hesitate.

"Tell your Prince Xin, and all of you who handle affairs—listen well!"

"Prince Xin, I cannot kill him—but I can imprison him, or send him to the Star River Battlefield!"

"And as for you—all of you—I may not kill Prince Xin, but can I not kill you?"

"If you dare lay another hand on my Dao Academy's True Disciples, it won't be just two chief stewards dead!"

"One more incident, and not one of you will escape—I will cleanse you all!" Cheng Yuexiao roared.

All the prince's officials knelt prostrate on the ground, trembling, none daring to speak.

"Tell Prince Xin—you yourselves must apologize to that True Disciple. Make him satisfied, if you can."

"Tell Prince Xin—if even one member of my True Disciple's family suffers harm, I will cut off one of his arms!"

"Yes, Your Servant will surely deliver the message to His Highness," the prince's chief secretary stammered.

"And if even one member of Wu Gui's family goes missing during exile, you—each of you officials—will be substituted in their place!"

"One missing, you replace one; two missing, you replace two!"

"I will supervise this personally!"

With that, Great National Master Cheng Yuexiao soared into the air and vanished instantly.

After a long while, the prince's chief secretary, the military advisor, and other officials slowly rose, staring at Wu Gui's corpse, then at the chief steward's corpse, then at the grim fate awaiting Wu Gui's family. The military advisor suddenly said, "Too cruel!"

"The Great National Master is too cruel!"

"Prince Xin merely—"

"Shut up!"

The chief secretary glared fiercely at the military advisor, then glanced nervously at the sky before struggling to rise. "Send word to His Highness—the Great National Master has left. The matter is resolved!" He then stared blankly at the sky.

This was a test—and a probe!

Not merely Prince Xin's probe!

Behind Prince Xin, only nobility, only the imperial family, could stand!

And the result of the probe was horrifyingly brutal!

The Great National Master's bottom line had surpassed even before!

Like a thunderous taboo!

At the Foreign Affairs Hall of the State Dao Academy, Xu Jin and his six companions stood before a row of weapon racks in the innermost chamber of the third-tier Star Weapon Vault.

"Each month, our Chen Kingdom's alchemists produce over a thousand third-tier Star Weapons—but among them, no more than three are third-tier supreme-grade. Many third-tier supreme-grade weapons are worth as much as fourth-tier Star Artifacts. Choose freely—each of you may take two."

Xu Jin carefully examined the inscriptions on each third-tier supreme-grade Star Weapon—he had once considered purchasing one himself.

During his last journey to the Fire Radiance Star Realm, his second-tier arm shield had shattered, but out of frugality, he had thought of saving up to buy a fourth-tier Star Artifact instead.

Now, being given two free was a blessing.

In the end, Xu Jin selected a third-tier supreme-grade Shadow Panther Boots and a third-tier supreme-grade Sixfold Arm Shield.

Third-tier Star Weapons only grant basic attribute bonuses.

Only Star Artifacts carry special abilities.

But the defensive power they provide is indeed formidable.

A normal third-tier Star Boot boosts speed by thirty percent; the third-tier supreme-grade Shadow Panther Boots boost it by over thirty-five percent. The same applies to the third-tier supreme-grade Sixfold Arm Shield: a normal third-tier arm shield can barely withstand a full-force strike from a Star Refining ninth-rank cultivator.

But a third-tier supreme-grade arm shield can withstand a full-force strike from a Star Condensation early-stage cultivator.

These two items would greatly enhance Xu Jin's combat power.

If he could bring these two new Star Weapons into the God-Slaying Battlefield, Xu Jin estimated he could advance two more stages!

"Once you return, take the Divine Calm Golden Core pill as soon as possible. You may also consume two top-grade Star Refining pills in succession—don't fear wasting them!"

"At this moment, every bit of increased power counts."

"Of course, adequate rest is essential!"

"You needn't be overly anxious—return, train well, and rest well," said Left Sacrificial Master Meng Yanhui, then dismissed the seven disciples.

Some did not return to their quarters but went straight to the fourth-tier Star Power Secret Realm of the Plucking Star Tower to train urgently.

Xu Jin did not go. Instead, he returned first to his small courtyard—to give instructions and to await news from the Great National Master.

That threat was what weighed heaviest on his mind.

When Xu Jin returned to the courtyard, he saw Qing Fan trembling nervously outside the door. His Mingji Star Pattern shifted, and he immediately understood why.

The Great National Master was waiting for him inside the courtyard!

(End of Chapter)