Chapter 4

Losing interest, Ying Zheng turned his attention to the Qinglong Society.

Although in the Heavenly Dao Golden List, the Qinglong Society was only mentioned in passing.

Yet Ying Zheng still developed considerable interest.

Nothing else.

The main reason was that Hua Xi, an Earthly Immortal Realm cultivator, was merely the head of the Qinglong Society's Eleventh Hall.

If that's the case,

doesn't that mean the Qinglong Society has at least ten more Earthly Immortal Realm hall heads?

If true, then what manner of being would the Qinglong Society's leader be?

One Earthly Immortal, he could ignore.

But if twelve—or even more—then he could not afford to overlook them!

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao stiffened.

His feet seemed glued to the ground, unable to move.

As Qin Huang Ying Zheng's favored minister,

though his martial cultivation was low,

his memory was his strength!

The moment he saw the Qinglong Society, he recalled his memories.

But the result was blank.

Therefore,

upon hearing Ying Zheng's order, he froze in place.

"Why haven't you acted yet?"

Ying Zheng glanced at Zhao Gao, standing motionless.

His brows furrowed involuntarily, his tone turning sharp.

"Your Majesty... I... I have no records on the Qinglong Society. I beg Your Majesty's punishment."

Sensing the emperor's displeasure,

Zhao Gao inwardly groaned and bowed low to apologize.

"I give you three days. If my desk lacks records on the Qinglong Society by then, you may go and plead guilty yourself!"

Ying Zheng gave a light snort, speaking indifferently.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I shall act at once!"

Zhao Gao briefly relaxed.

He bowed respectfully and hurried away.

Only when he reached the palace courtyard did he lift his sleeve to wipe sweat from his brow.

His back was already soaked through with cold sweat.

"Hahahaha! The first name on the list is from my Great Ming!"

In the Great Ming palace, Zhu Houzhao laughed heartily twice.

Immediately after, his expression returned to normal.

He sighed regretfully.

"Pity—Yihua Palace cannot be brought under my control."

Thinking of this, Zhu Houzhao felt a headache coming on.

Compared to other imperial dynasties,

his role as Great Ming Emperor was truly humiliating.

Internal troubles, external threats.

His authority was far from absolute.

Though not as powerless as Emperor Liu Xie of Han,

enforcing edicts and ensuring obedience remained fraught with difficulty.

"Your Majesty need not worry—at least Wu Dang has shown signs of softening."

"If we can win over Zhang Zhenren, others will dare not stir up trouble."

At that moment,

a soft, feminine voice sounded from the corner.

"I hear Zhang Zhenren's hundredth birthday is in a month."

"Do you think I should pay him a personal visit?"

Hearing this reassurance,

Zhu Houzhao's expression brightened slightly.

"This plan is viable, but Your Majesty is of imperial stature—I fear..."

"No matter. You shall accompany me. Zhang Zhenren's matter cannot be taken lightly!"

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand to cut him off.

In Tang, Huan Yin Fang.

"I never imagined such an extraordinary woman existed in this world—I underestimated the talents of the world."

The Empress lazily yawned.

Her beautiful eyes flickered with a spark of rivalry.

In terms of talent, she deemed herself no weaker than Hua Xi.

It was just that most of her time had been spent managing Qidi.

Thus, her cultivation was slightly inferior to his.

Thinking of this.

The Empress suddenly recalled the description on the Heavenly Dao Golden List.

After pondering for a moment, she called out to the curtain's exterior.

"Ruxue, notify the Nine Heavens Holy Concubine to investigate the Qinglong Society."

"I shall see just how remarkable this Qinglong Society truly is!"

With a Land Immortal as its hall master.

Undeniably, this was a grand move.

The entire Huan Yin Fang—no, indeed, the entire Tang Empire.

Those who reached the Land Immortal Realm were exceedingly rare.

This naturally stirred some curiosity in the Empress.

Of course.

More than anything, she wanted to see Master Hua Xi with her own eyes.

004-Top Power Ranking of the Nine Provinces—Nineteenth Place!

"At the bottom? Clearly, the Nine Provinces are teeming with hidden dragons and tigers! The water is deeper than I imagined!"

"I wonder where the Dalongshou Society ranks?"

On a nameless peak.

A slender figure, veiled, murmured softly to herself.

If Yao Yue and Lian Xing were here, they would recognize her at once.

This was their long-lost master, Master Hua Xi!

The moment she finished speaking.

The Heavenly Dao Golden List, which had previously stood still, changed once more.

Almost instantly.

It drew the gaze of all beings across the Nine Provinces.

【Top Power Ranking of the Nine Provinces—Nineteenth Place, Kuihua Old Ancestor, Cultivation: Early-stage Land Immortal.】

【Identity: Eunuch of the Song Huang Palace.】