Chapter 617: Inspecting the World

Ennobled as a Marquis on the very day of his nineteenth birthday!

This event would surely be recorded in the annals of history and become a celebrated tale.

And the Emperor clearly wished to add even more splendor to this tale:

"Come, bring the item up."

Soon, a eunuch holding a long, rectangular box made of red sandalwood walked beneath the imperial dais, arrived before Li Fei, and handed the box to him.

Li Fei took it subconsciously.

"Inside this is a seventh-grade protective garment—the Golden Thread Jade Qilin Armor."

The Emperor did not make Li Fei guess, stating the answer directly.

Hearing this, almost every martial arts grandmaster present felt a surge of envy!

A seventh-grade protective garment is a rare treasure of the world!

Both seventh-grade protective garments and exotic weapons can only be crafted from seventh-grade exotic beasts, and a seventh-grade exotic beast is already among the top three grades, with strength at its weakest comparable to a martial arts grandmaster.

It is no longer a thousand years ago, when all sorts of exotic beasts roamed everywhere.

Let alone top-three-grade exotic beasts, even the number of middle-three-grade exotic beasts is pitifully small, with supply failing to meet demand.

The imperial family naturally possesses the largest exotic beast farm in the entire world!

Many exotic beasts in the world are nearly extinct, with only the imperial family still keeping them in captivity; one such beast is named the Cloud Dream Golden-Clad Beast.

The Cloud Dream Golden-Clad Beast is an exotic beast with mixed metal and water attributes, of the upper sixth grade.

Its skin and flesh can be used to craft the Cloud Dream Golden-Thread Garment, an excellent defensive sixth-grade protective garment unique to the imperial family.

Back when Li Fei won that wager on Great Luo Peak, the Crown Prince gave him exactly that: a Cloud Dream Golden-Thread Garment.

It was just that the garment was completely destroyed after his battle with True Person Qingyu and could not be repaired at all.

A sixth-grade protective garment can effectively withstand high-level internal force and is useful even against martial arts grandmasters, as their conventional methods also rely on internal force.

Originally, Li Fei was still lamenting the loss of that sixth-grade protective garment, wondering when he would be able to acquire another.

He never expected the Emperor to gift him a seventh-grade protective garment directly!

If a Cloud Dream Golden-Clad Beast advances one more grade, it can evolve into a Cloud Dream Golden-Qilin Beast, becoming a lower seventh-grade exotic beast!

Seventh-grade exotic beasts already possess supernatural abilities, so items made from this grade of beast also possess different miraculous properties, often referred to as "divine garments" or "divine weapons."

Every divine garment or weapon can bring great benefits to a martial arts grandmaster; they are items many martial arts grandmasters seek but cannot obtain!

In fact, let alone a seventh-grade protective garment, many martial arts grandmasters in this world do not even have a sixth-grade one to wear, yet Li Fei, a Dao Foundation stage martial artist, is already able to wear a seventh-grade one.

How could one not be envious and jealous?

The First Imperial Prince, watching the wooden box in Li Fei's hands, secretly clenched his fists.

What he wore was only a sixth-grade Cloud Dream Golden-Thread Garment; he had no divine garment to wear.

The Golden Thread Jade Qilin Armor in Li Fei's hands is the only one currently in the imperial treasury; to have another, the imperial family would have to kill one of the few remaining Cloud Dream Golden-Qilin Beasts.

The First Imperial Prince had long coveted this Golden Thread Jade Qilin Armor, always thinking of finding an opportunity to perform a meritorious service so he could request it from his Imperial Father.

But now, this divine garment has fallen into Li Fei's hands.

"Li Fei, how is this gift?"

On the imperial dais, the Emperor asked with a smile.

Li Fei bowed: "Your subject is deeply moved to the core, I know not what to say!"

"Ennobled as a Marquis at nineteen, it is enough to be recorded in the history books; a divine garment for a heaven-gifted talent is just right."

The Emperor laughed, appearing to be in a good mood.

"Imperial Father."

Just at this moment, the Crown Prince suddenly stepped out of the ranks:

"For such a heaven-gifted talent, this son is willing to dress the Marquis of Jing'an!"

Upon hearing this, the officials had varied expressions.

Some secretly marveled that this Crown Prince really knew how to seize every opportunity, and was truly capable of setting aside his status to win people over.

Others sneered in their hearts.

The First Imperial Prince twitched the corner of his mouth, and the Third Imperial Prince had a playful expression.

It was the Crown Prince who had brought Li Fei into Moyuncheng and personally introduced him to the Emperor.

Now that Li Fei has been ennobled as a Marquis at nineteen and received a divine garment from the Son of Heaven, the Crown Prince has stepped out again to dress him.

It can be said to have a beginning and an end, and it also serves to remind everyone, making them remember that Li Fei was introduced by him.

"Very well."

The Emperor nodded in agreement, his smile remaining, though his eyes shifted slightly.

The Crown Prince walked smilingly to Li Fei's side, winked at him, and then opened the wooden box, taking out a dark golden robe with cloud patterns on it.

This robe did not look like "Qilin armor" at all, but the material gave one a sense of the extraordinary; it was clearly very soft, yet it exuded a metallic luster.

Li Fei felt the wooden box in his hand lighten, roughly estimating that this divine garment weighed no less than one hundred jin.

Although the Crown Prince was not a master, he did practice martial arts, so picking up something weighing one hundred jin was still easy.

He helped Li Fei put on the dark golden robe.

With the robe on his body, Li Fei immediately appeared even more dazzling!

Li Fei estimated that this divine garment required the input of internal force to reveal its mysterious properties, but since he was in the palace hall, it was not convenient for him to study it.

"Many thanks, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Fei bowed to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince held his hand and smiled: "Marquis of Jing'an, there is no need for thanks."

Afterward, he returned to the ranks.

"Marquis of Jing'an."

The Emperor called out this title for the first time.

"Your subject is here."

Li Fei cupped his hands.

"Are you satisfied with this birthday today?"

The Emperor asked with a smile.

Hearing this, many of the officials also showed expressions of envy.

Ennobled as a Marquis before the throne, gifted a garment by the Son of Heaven, congratulated by the court, and his name recorded in history.

What other birthday could compare to today?

Li Fei naturally bowed and expressed his gratitude once more.

However, he actually had regrets in his heart.

Whether it was being ennobled as a Marquis or receiving the divine garment, it certainly made him feel refreshed and moved.

But the thing he truly wanted, he had not yet obtained.

He wanted to clear the name of Shangguan Xiao and vindicate Hao Yi!

But today, he had already received the utmost favor before the throne; if he were to take the initiative to ask for something else, anyone would think he was ungrateful and arrogant due to his favor.

So Li Fei could only bury his regrets deep inside.

The Emperor looked at Li Fei's expression and revealed a smile with deep meaning:

"Last time you attended the morning court, you once said you wanted to reinvestigate a case."

Li Fei's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he suddenly looked up at the Emperor.

"At that time, I made an agreement with you: if you could uncover the case of the missing Longevity Pill and retrieve it for me, I would give you a chance to reinvestigate that case. This matter, I still remember."

The Emperor said slowly.

In the ranks of the officials, Duan Qi, a member of the Zhige Pavilion, wanted to speak but hesitated, wanting to say something, but ultimately held back.

Back then, Li Fei was only a level 9 secret inspector, and he could speak freely; now, the other party is the youngest Marquis in history, deeply favored by the Emperor, and not someone he can easily shake.

"In the case of the missing Longevity Pill, you investigated very well at the Great Luo Sect. Although the lost Longevity Pill could not be recovered, you ultimately performed a great service for the country. Although you did not extend my life, you extended the life of the country!

In this case, since you wish to investigate the case, I will give you a chance."

The Emperor said thus.

These words caused many people's expressions to change.

It was only right that Li Fei receive rewards for his great service.

But a Marquis of Jing'an was already enough to signify his merit!

Later, the Emperor gifted Li Fei a divine garment; this garment came from the imperial treasury and was considered the Emperor's own private property. It was his freedom to gift it to whomever he pleased, and no one could say anything.

But to reach this point, with the Emperor continuing to reward Li Fei, it made many people unable to accept it!

But the Emperor's next words made these restless officials shut their mouths:

"More than ten days ago, I held the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony at the Altar of Heaven, but encountered assassins. Does the Marquis of Jing'an know of this?"

Li Fei was startled and nodded:

"Your subject has heard of it."

"Good. You investigated the Longevity Pill case very well, and I am very gratified. What I want is your courage and loyalty in sparing no effort to solve a case!

This assassination case at the Altar of Heaven has been investigated by the Zhige Pavilion and the Inspectorate for half a month, yet it remains unsolved. I intend to hand it over to you to investigate as well!"

After the Emperor finished speaking, he glanced at the eunuch before the throne.

The other party immediately took out the imperial decree that had been prepared and read it aloud:

"The Marquis of Jing'an, Li Fei, is peerless in loyalty and courage. He is appointed as an Imperial Envoy to investigate the case of the Longevity Pill, showing not the slightest slack, fearing neither the powerful nor the dangerous, and has deeply won my heart!"

Li Fei is specially appointed as the Blue Patrol Special Envoy of the Supervisory Cabinet, granted the rank of a Level 15 official, to investigate the assassination case at the Temple of Heaven.

"You shall patrol the world and share the burdens of the state for Us!"

Upon hearing this imperial decree, even the First Imperial Prince's expression changed completely.

Even when Li Fei was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Jing'an, he had not been this uncomposed!

When it came down to it, a marquis was merely an honorary title; while it certainly carried status, it could never be higher than his own as an Imperial Prince.

Li Fei being enfeoffed as a marquis overnight was certainly an enviable display of imperial favor, but no matter how deep that favor was, or how much the Emperor liked him, the Emperor could never treat him like his own son.

Therefore, the First Imperial Prince had remained relatively calm.

But now, the Emperor had appointed Li Fei as the Blue Patrol Special Envoy of the Supervisory Cabinet, a Level 15 official—this was real, tangible power!

The full title of the Blue Patrol Special Envoy is:

Special Envoy for Patrolling the World on behalf of the Great Blue Dynasty!

In terms of official rank, a Level 15 official is the pinnacle of the fourth-tier seated officials, just one step away from a Cabinet official, and equal in rank to the Garrison Commander of a prefecture.

But in terms of power, the Blue Patrol Special Envoy is far beyond what a Garrison Commander can compare to!

The Supervisory Cabinet has the duty of overseeing officials across the world; the supervision of local officials is carried out by the local Supervisory Courts, the General Supervisory Court, and the Supervisory Department.

However, the central Grand Secretariat still conducts random inspections of officials across the various regions, and this is the duty of the Blue Patrol Special Envoy.

Simply put, one can view the Blue Patrol Special Envoy as an "examiner" sent to the regions by the central Grand Secretariat.

This "examiner" can travel to any region at will and randomly inspect any official or case!

This is the power of the Blue Patrol Special Envoy!

Li Fei had not expected the Emperor to give him such an appointment.

Although he was not directly ordered to reinvestigate the case of Shangguan Xiao, the Emperor used the Temple of Heaven assassination case as the reason to appoint him as the Blue Patrol Special Envoy.

And this reason was one that made it difficult for anyone to refute.

The Temple of Heaven assassination case was no easier to investigate than the original case of the missing Longevity Pill; it was equally a hot potato!

And the "fearless of power, unafraid of danger" trait that Li Fei had displayed during the Longevity Pill case truly made him the only candidate for investigating the Temple of Heaven assassination!

Looking across the Zhige Cabinet and the Supervisory Cabinet, who else would dare to withstand the pressure of a True Lord, not hesitate to offend the ancestral grounds of Daoism, and refuse to yield an inch while insisting on investigating the case?

Only Li Fei!

Thus, this appointment as Blue Patrol Special Envoy was given in a way that left everyone speechless.

"Your subject accepts the decree!"

Li Fei's somewhat excited voice rang out within the great hall.

At this moment, he once again became the most dazzling presence in the entire hall!

Nineteen years of age, enfeoffed as a marquis before the throne—

Patrolling the world!

Third update added, requesting monthly tickets.

(End of this chapter)