Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1162: Chapter 1158: Inquiry

As for whether the Giant Spirit Sect and Wanxiang Sect will clash, he doesn’t care much.

When the two sects engage, they are bound to collide with more information.

Gathering this information is the fundamental task of Zhu Lingyun’s clone.

Instigating a war between the two sects was just a casual move; it would be best if successful, but it doesn’t matter if it fails.

Unexpectedly, it went smoothly; just a light provocation succeeded.

He was sitting on the bed, observing the situation of the Giant Spirit Sect through Zhu Lingyun, when a knock on the door came from outside.

Stepping forward to open the door, the Dean of the Heavenly Sword Branch, Gu Junqi, was standing outside with a smile.

”Uncle Master.” He stepped aside to invite him in.

Gu Junqi waved his hand: ”No need to go in, Prince Zhuang has invited you.”

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised.

He originally thought he wouldn’t have any interactions with Prince Zhuang in the near future.

Prince Zhuang is one of the Eight Great Kings, his status is too high for the current him to reach.

Unless as a messenger, only the Sect Leader of Heavenly Sword Sect is qualified to communicate with Prince Zhuang.

Gu Junqi turned around to walk outside, saying: ”The people from the Prince Mansion are already waiting, let’s go.”

”Should I change my clothes?” Chu Zhiyuan looked down at his attire.

”What you’re wearing is sufficient.” Gu Junqi continued to walk outside.

Chu Zhiyuan did not insist and followed, asking: ”No idea what it’s about?”

”Didn’t say.” Gu Junqi replied: ”No matter what it is, you just need to remember four words.”

He suddenly stopped and said slowly: ”Be cautious and act prudently!”

”Yes.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly.

Gu Junqi continued walking forward, already crossing through a moon gate: ”But don’t be too worried, after all, our relationship with Prince Zhuang is extremely good, even if you say something wrong, it won’t matter.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said: ”Uncle Master, with you saying this, I truly don’t know how to respond.”

Gu Junqi chuckled and said: ”Alright, don’t mind my words, just follow your heart.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: ”I’ll try to speak less, and avoid speaking whenever possible.”

”Exactly!” Gu Junqi agreed deeply.

A person like Prince Zhuang is meticulous and profound, extremely sharp.

In front of him, what should be done most is to be laconic, not speaking is best, if speaking is unavoidable, speak less.

Casual remarks could be seen through by him in a few sentences.

Seeing through is just the first step, the second is control, invisible manipulation, even influencing one’s attitude and stance.

This is what is truly guarded against.

The two arrived at the front hall.

At the steps of the front hall, there was already an elderly man in a green robe, tall and slender, with a fair face and no beard, and a gentle and jade-like temperament.

He stood with his hands behind his back, seeing Chu Zhiyuan and Gu Junqi appear, hurried forward a step, made a fist salute, and smiled: ”Is it Mr. Chu?”

Chu Zhiyuan made a fist salute: ”It is indeed Chu, apologies for making you wait, Mr. Ma.”

He instantly recognized this person was an Inner Official.

With his cultivation reaching Nine Transitions Venerable, truly astonishing.

This is the foundation of the Eight Great Kings Mansion.

”This is Mr. Ma.” Gu Junqi smiled and said: ”Quickly go with Mr. Ma.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded: ”Yes, Mr. Ma, please.”

”Mr. Chu, please.” Ma Quande extended his hand, his expression respectful.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head internally.

This Nine Transitions Venerable, as one of the top strongmen of the world, is too humble.

Completely lacking the aura of a Nine Transitions Venerable.

But he can be humble, suppressing pride, as for himself, he must be tactful.

This respect from a Nine Transitions Venerable is not something everyone can enjoy.

The two left the branch, entered the bustling street, activated their movement techniques, weaving like fish among pedestrians, quickly arriving at the outside of the Prince Zhuang Mansion.

This time, he didn’t change his appearance, entering the mansion openly and freely.

Chu Zhiyuan noticed outside the mansion, there were still several gazes from shadows and dark places examining him.

These gazes were different from the previous ones, belonging to the Prince Mansion Guards.

Clearly, in a few days, the Prince Zhuang Mansion had resolved its internal issues.

He could only marvel at not being one of the Eight Great Kings for nothing.

Upon entering the mansion, directly led by Ma Quande into the front hall, no report was necessary.

Inside the front hall, besides Prince Zhuang standing with hands behind, there were four men seated on chairs beside him.

One elder, one middle-aged, and two young men.

They sat solemnly, listening to Prince Zhuang with a look eager to hear.

”Greetings, Prince.” Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward, fist saluting, respectfully bowing.

Currently, I am not yet qualified to be arrogant; in front of Prince Zhuang, I can only greet him respectfully.

Song Shoufang waved his hand: ”Mr. Chu, sit down and speak.”

”Yes.” Chu Zhiyuan sat down at the lowest position.

Song Shoufang introduced him.

Among the four in the hall, one was the secretary of the Prince Mansion, Zhou Jin, who was that elder.

Another was General Wei De of the City Guard, Zhao Wuyou, commanding the entire Imperial City’s City Guard.

The remaining two young men were Deputy Director Huang Zhengyang of the Evil Extermination Department and Deputy Director Qi Chunyu of the Demon Hunting Bureau.

They seemed unremarkable, overshadowed in front of Song Shoufang.

However, Chu Zhiyuan knew that outside, each of these four was an influential figure, whose mere stomp could shake the ground three times.

Song Shoufang said, ”I invited you all here this time to clarify the current situation; you are the frontline, most familiar with these evil demons.”

He glanced at the other four, and said gravely, ”You all have well-connected information; who is presently the most effective in exterminating evil outside the Imperial City?”

They all looked towards Chu Zhiyuan.

Indeed, they were well-informed and had certainly heard of Chu Zhiyuan’s reputation.

Being a distinguished disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect was already enough to draw attention.

Under normal circumstances, the City Guard couldn’t kill even one evil demon in a month.

Moreover, the experts of the Martial Arts Sect had long withdrawn, no longer assisting or concerning themselves with the Court’s rewards.

Yet, Chu Zhiyuan, going against the tide at such a time, upon arriving at the Imperial City and witnessing such chaos, resolutely assisted the City Guard.

This, naturally, earned him goodwill from the City Guard’s leadership.

After all, he genuinely saved the City Guard’s lives and alleviated their pressure.

General Wei De, Zhao Wuyou, solemnly clasped his fist: ”I have always wanted to meet Mr. Chu; finally, we meet today.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and clasped his fist: ”Greetings, General Zhao.”

”These past days, we owe much to Mr. Chu for your assistance,” Zhao Wuyou said, ”We underestimated the madness of these evil demons!”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Song Shoufang said, ”Xiao Chu, tell us first, what do you think these evil demons intend to do?”

Chu Zhiyuan hesitated, looking at the other four.

Zhao Wuyou smiled and said, ”Mr. Chu, just speak freely.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Your Highness, esteemed seniors, in my view, these evil demons perceive this as a rare opportunity, perhaps the opportunity of a lifetime or even of ten thousand lifetimes. They wish to achieve the greatest extent!”

”What is the greatest extent?” Song Shoufang asked.

Chu Zhiyuan replied, ”To breach the Imperial City, break into the Ten Thousand Treasures Building, ransack the Imperial City completely.”

”Ha! Ridiculous!” Song Shoufang let out a cold laugh.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”From my observations, they have already begun coordinated actions on a significant scale... lacking a sufficiently powerful leader, like a dragon without a head, leading to a lack of cooperation and unity, thus failing to form a major threat until now.”

Song Shoufang frowned: ”Coordinated actions have begun?”

His gaze turned to the remaining four.

Zhao Wuyou sighed deeply, shook his head, and said nothing.

Seeing him like this, Song Shoufang knew Chu Zhiyuan was right.

He found it incredibly absurd. While these evil demons were vicious and deserving of death, and their destructive power was strong,

for the Court, they were always the weak ones being exterminated.

But now, these evil demons dared to break into the Imperial City?

His gaze turned again to the two Deputy Directors of the Evil Extermination Department and the Demon Hunting Bureau.

They were silent, gently nodding.

Song Shoufang frowned: ”Has it deteriorated to this extent?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Saying what shouldn’t be said, this incompetence of the Court is also to blame.”

He knew he ought to be cautious, but feeling resentment, he couldn’t resist saying it.

The evil consequences today are all thanks to the Court’s ineptness, neglect, and causing the demons to grow increasingly bold, with swelling ambitions.

Song Shoufang remained silent with a stern face.

The other four all glanced at Chu Zhiyuan, admiring his courage for daring to say such words.

Chu Zhiyuan knew he oughtn’t say more than this.

Song Shoufang looked at the two young men: ”What does the Evil Extermination Department propose we do?”

Deputy Director Huang Zhengyang from the Evil Extermination Department said seriously, ”I will mobilize our forces over a thousand-mile radius, inside and out, to exterminate the demons within a hundred-mile radius of the Imperial City!”

Song Shoufang asked, ”How many experts from the Evil Extermination Department are available?”

Huang Zhengyang replied, ”At least three hundred Venerable Level experts!”

”Hmm, what about the Demon Hunting Bureau?” Song Shoufang looked at Deputy Director Qi Chunyu.

Qi Chunyu slowly responded, ”I will also order the experts of the Demon Hunting Bureau within a thousand miles to return and exterminate the demons!”

”Hmm, very good.” Song Shoufang nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Zhao Wuyou: ”How is the City Guard planning to act?”

Zhao Wuyou said, ”Your Highness, the City Guard is still primarily focused on defense.”

”Hmm.” Song Shoufang agreed.