Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 416: Chapter 413: First Entry

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Chu Zhiyuan bid farewell to Gao Jiuqu.

On the way back, he kept pondering over his conversation with Gao Jiuqu.

Gao Jiuqu had already given a hint.

There would be a second rebellion in Jihai Town.

The first was in Daliu Camp, so what about this time?

More importantly, is Wentian Cliff truly so formidable?

Is the Wentian Secret Technique really so powerful?

His mood was heavy.

After walking ten meters, he passed a small alley and quickly glanced into it.

In the shadows of the alley stood a young man in a gray robe, leaning against the wall.

As Chu Zhiyuan passed by, the young man seemed to inadvertently raise his arm, spreading his hand, with four fingers curled and his pinky pointing up.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded and continued walking without stopping.

His lips moved slightly, and Guo Chi, hearing his voice transmission, nodded in understanding.

He quickly disappeared into the crowd and returned moments later with a letter in hand.

”Princely Heir.” He presented the thick envelope to Chu Zhiyuan.

Zou Fang took it, opened it, and pulled out the ten sheets of stationery inside, handing them to Chu Zhiyuan with both hands.

Chu Zhiyuan took them, flipping through as he walked, casually glancing at them before handing them back to Zou Fang.

The pages were densely packed with names, neatly arranged with detailed introductions following each name.

After finishing all ten pages, Zou Fang shook the stationery and the envelope gently, turning them into powder that drifted away.

Chu Zhiyuan walked with his hands behind his back, deep in thought.

The Heavenly Hidden Sect had previously sent people to Jihai Town to gather information, and now the information has returned.

It contained the list of over a hundred people from Daliu Camp, including names of squad leaders and experts, along with their backgrounds and some accomplishments.

The Inspection Department also had a roster of Daliu Camp, but reading it made little difference.

This list obtained by the Heavenly Hidden Sect was truly useful.

Through this list, they could determine what kind of misfits were in Daliu Camp, deciding whether to suppress or appease them.

After reviewing these, Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but marvel at the prowess of the Heavenly Hidden Sect.

Their ability to gather information surpassed that of the Inspection Department, doing so without anyone noticing.

Meanwhile, he marveled at the complex makeup of Daliu Camp.

It included Martial Arts Sect disciples, disgruntled individuals from the Western and Northern Territories, as well as descendants and relatives of various dignitaries.

Truly ordinary people were almost nonexistent.

These didn’t concern him much; what concerned him the most was the presence of cult members from the Evil Sect.

The military should be most wary of cult members from the Evil Sect, as they are very challenging to conceal.

Cult members from the Evil Sect are fanatical and extremist, each being a cultivation fanatic, thinking nearly of nothing but cultivation.

Such individuals are very conspicuous, and more importantly, their cultivation methods aren’t through personal toil but through evil paths.

Either through killing or consuming.

How could such individuals hide themselves for long? Are the people around them all blind?

Having cult members infiltrate only shows how poor the military discipline and order are.

Upon finishing the list, only two words emerged in his mind: Exterminate them!

In this camp, there were innocents, but nine out of ten were beyond redemption.

From a part, one can gather the whole.

Such was Daliu Camp; what about other camps in Jihai Town? Are they stronger than Daliu Camp, or equally matched?

Or even inferior to Daliu Camp?

——

Wanghai City

A small city located on the East Sea Coast, yet bustling and lively thanks to maritime travelers.

Not far outside the city was a military camp, the Jihai Military Town.

Jihai Town governed twelve camps, each with three to four thousand soldiers, guarding the coastal strategic points of both Wanghai City and Jiren City.

That day, a young scholar strolled leisurely through the West City Gate of Wanghai City.

He carried only a bundle, and his face bore a sickly look, as though he had just recovered from a serious illness.

After entering the city, he first found a Guanglai Inn to stay in.

While checking into the inn, he inadvertently revealed the silver notes inside his bundle.

At least five silver notes of a hundred taels each were seen by the helper, the innkeeper, and passing travelers.

He seemed to notice suddenly and quickly closed the bundle, wrapping the silver notes securely.

In the middle of the night, two masked men in gray robes inserted a bamboo tube, blowing knockout smoke in, then slipped in through the window, locating the bundle on the table.

Upon opening the bundle and seeing the five silver notes of a hundred taels each, they looked toward the scholar who was facing the wall with his back to them.

They exchanged a glance and approached the scholar, with the shorter man in gray robes raising his palm high and striking down fiercely.

The blow landed precisely on the scholar’s back, right at the location behind the heart.

”Bang.” The short man in gray robe flew upward, crashing into his startled tall companion.

The tall companion quickly dodged him, turning to flee.

But then he froze in place.

The sallow-faced young scholar stood before him, gently tapping his shoulder with a palm.

He was immediately immobilized.

The short man in gray robes who had been thrown fell to the ground and was also tapped on the shoulder by the young scholar, freezing in place.

Like lifting chicks, the young scholar carried both men to the bed.

He sat back on the bed again, quietly observing the statue-like duo with interest.

Moments later, the two began to tremble lightly, their sweat quickly soaking their gray robes.

The young scholar took out a scroll, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to slowly peruse it.

Ignoring the pleading gazes of the two gray-clad men, under the lamplight, time seemed to stand still.

He turned the pages one by one.

Meanwhile, the two gray-robed men shook increasingly violently, like sieves shaking.

Both were drenched in sweat, even soaking the gauze covering their faces.

The young scholar had no intention of removing their face coverings; he simply continued to turn the pages.

Only after finishing the scroll did he seem to remember the two, gently tapping their shoulders.

Their bloodshot eyes immediately showed a look of relief.

The young scholar tapped the tall man in gray robes again, saying calmly, ”Answer my questions. After you answer, he will answer next. If you two have differing answers, we’ll go another round... Does my soul-searching hand feel good?”

Their eyes showed fear.

The tall man in gray robes hurriedly said, ”I was blind, blind! Great hero, please ask, I shall tell you everything I know and say whatever you want, fear not to deceive, ... Great hero, please spare my life!”

The young scholar replied calmly, ”Let’s see how sincere you are. How many gangs are there in Wanghai City?”

”Well, this...”

”Start with the big ones, then the small ones, the more detailed the better.”

”Yes, as far as I know, there are six major factions in the city: the Green Bamboo Gang, the Purple Bamboo Gang, the Divine Bull Sect, the Flying Tiger Sect,...”

The young scholar nodded lightly, slowly nodding, and continued asking about the city guard of Wanghai City, inquiring about their governance.

As well as the officials at the outlying camps and their reputations.

...

He asked exhaustive questions, leaving the tall man in gray robes with a parched throat yet not daring to speak too much.

Afterward, the young scholar launched a barrage of questions, including some previously asked.

After an hour, the short man in gray robes began answering.

Answering mostly the tall man’s questions, and some new ones.

After both finished their answers without apparent mistakes, they saw the young scholar nodding in satisfaction, and they sighed in relief.

Suddenly, the young scholar lightly flicked his fingers, sending two small stones into their foreheads.

They saw darkness and died instantly.

Chu Zhiyuan released his fingers and shook his head.

What a complex Wanghai City.

A jumble of fish and dragons, chaotic management.

This was not the fault of the Jihai Town General, but the mistake of the city guard of Wanghai City.

In the East Sea Realm, the military is ineffectual, and the civil servant system is equally a mess.

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