From Chen Li's point of view, Hua Jianxin was the only one who had fought against the Devil Lord, and she knew how powerful the Devil Lord was. He trusted Hua Jianxin very much. Hua Jianxin said that the Devil Lord was repelled by an old beggar, so he reported it truthfully.
Chen Li sighed and said, "The White-robed Guards have been investigating for several months. It's rare to see an old beggar who could repel the Devil Lord. It's either the leader of the Beggar Sect or a crazy Daoist who has gone wild. Both of them are elusive and hard to find."
Jiang Changsheng asked, "That's it?"
So many people had died, and they had caused such a huge commotion. It was ridiculous for it to end just like that.
Chen Li shook his head and said, "It's just that the matter has ended. When His Majesty comes back, he will certainly question me. I have resigned from my position as a member of the government and was transferred to the Revenue Department as a servant. Even though I was demoted, it can be considered as saving my life."
Jiang Changsheng nodded and did not continue asking.
Chen Li looked at Hua Jianxin and said, "You have two options. First, I can send you out of the capital right now. Second, when His Majesty comes back to question you, you can return safely if Eunuch Li and the leader of the White-robed Guards are executed."
Hua Jianxin shook her head and said, "Your two paths will make me visit heaven earlier. Thank you for your kindness."
Chen Li was silent and revealed a guilty expression.
It was his invitation that caused Hua Jianxin to fall into such a predicament, but he could not resolve it.
"Then you intend to…" Chen Li asked.
Hua Jianxin said, "I will follow Daoist Master Changsheng from now on. You don't have to worry anymore. As for the White-robed Guards, I don't care anymore."
Right now, she was studying the Jade Pure Meridian Cutting Needle every day and only wanted to become stronger.
That night, the Devil Sect chased after her, but no one could help her. She did not want to experience that powerlessness and despair again.
Chen Li looked at Jiang Changsheng.
Jiang Changsheng smiled and said, "Let her stay. As long as she doesn't go down the mountain, nothing will happen."
Chen Li felt that it was reasonable and nodded in agreement.
As Hua Jianxin was by their side, he did not express his depression to Jiang Changsheng like he did in the past. He left not long after.
After Chen Li left, Jiang Changsheng asked, "Which faction do you think Chen Li belongs to?"
Hua Jianxin pondered for a moment and said, "He cares about the people and is a person of integrity. He only recognizes reason and disdains factional conflicts. He does not belong to any faction."
"How did you meet?"
"Back then, when he became the top scholar, His Majesty had high hopes for him and sent me to secretly protect him for several years. Because of some coincidences, we became familiar with each other."
Hua Jianxin answered. She was curious about what Jiang Changsheng wanted to do, but she did not dare to ask.
For such an expert to reside in the capital, it was definitely not as simple as cultivating.
Jiang Changsheng no longer asked and waved for her to leave. Then, he cultivated in his room.
His next goal was to reach the fifth level of the Dao Technique.
After reaching the fifth floor, he would meet with Heaven Arrival realm expert in the palace and carry out the bold plan in his heart.
When fighting against the Emperor, one could not fight recklessly and could only focus on cultivation.
At most, he would make him suffer to death.
Jiang Changsheng silently reminded himself not to be arrogant at any time. He had to be absolutely confident before he attacked.
…
In the resplendent hall, Jiang Yuan sat on the dragon throne with an imposing manner. With the crown on his head, he exuded the domineering aura of an emperor. All the civil and military officials in the hall lowered their heads, not daring to look at him. Even the princes were the same.
Eunuch Li stood diagonally beneath Jiang Yuan and bowed as if everything had nothing to do with him.
Jiang Yuan sneered and said, "Why? Are all of you mute? More than 200 people have died in the city, and one member of the White-robed Guards has gone missing? Can you be any more ridiculous?"
The Minister of Justice, Yang Che, went forward and knelt down. With tears in his eyes, he cried and said, "Your Majesty, seventy-three members of my Yang Family have died. Even my brother… please make a decision!"
Another civil official also walked out and knelt down as he shouted, "My Hong Family has lost 102 people. There must be someone behind the Devil Sect. During that period of time, the White-robed Guards disappeared and the imperial guards pretended to be dead. It was useless to beg them. There must be an important official giving orders behind this. Your Majesty, investigate carefully!"
Soon after, other officials knelt down.
The Second Prince, Jiang Ming, frowned, and so did the Crown Prince, Jiang Qian.
Jiang Ming's backer was the Hong Family, and Jiang Qian's backer was the Yang Family. They had left the capital with the Emperor, and their respective backers had been attacked. They felt that it was the influence of the other princes.
Jiang Yuan snorted, and it sounded like a dragon's roar. Everyone felt as if a hammer had struck their hearts, and the noise in the hall stopped abruptly.
He slowly stood up and his true qi stirred his dragon robe. His aura was visible to the naked eye, as if a translucent dragon was winding around his body.
Everyone became nervous, and the generals were secretly shocked. Meng Qiuhe, who had left Longqi Temple, was also in the hall. He was also shocked.
"The Emperor has such power…"
Meng Qiuhe thought in shock. As the martial arts top scholar, he thought highly of his martial arts skills and looked down on the princes and the Emperor. However, after seeing him today, he realized that the Emperor who defeated the vast world was not an ordinary man.
Jiang Yuan glanced at everyone and said in a cold voice, "So many people have died in the imperial city. I want the same number of heads from you."
Everyone felt apprehensive when they heard that. Jiang Yuan really dared to kill people. No matter how high ranking the official was, they could be beheaded!
"Summon Zong Tianwu."
Jiang Yuan spoke again. Eunuch Li immediately raised his head and repeated his words in a loud voice. After the eunuchs outside the hall heard him, they repeated his words one after another.
Zong Tianwu was the current supreme expert in the martial arts world. He suppressed all the heroes in the world and reached the peak of the martial arts world with absolute martial arts.
The civil and military officials looked at each other and turned to look outside the hall. Outside the throne room was a flight of hundreds of stairs, and below it was the imperial gate of the inner city and the huge martial arts plaza.
A figure rushed over like a ghost. He seemed to be constantly teleporting as he walked dozens of feet with each step. In less than five breaths, he entered the hall. After entering the hall, his footsteps slowed down. It was no longer as strange as before. Instead, he strolled forward like a mortal.
He came to the hall and bowed.
He did not kneel.
Zong Tianwu was dressed in a white robe. He had white hair, white eyebrows, and a white beard. He had a strong physique and there was arrogance between his brows. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the civil and military officials on both sides.
Jiang Qian frowned. He did not like his gaze.
Jiang Ming stared at Zong Tianwu passionately.
"From today onwards, the Sky Martial Supervisor will be established. Officials of the fifth-rank and above can elect two disciples to enter the Sky Martial Supervisor to train in martial arts. Other than imparting martial arts, the Sky Martial Supervisor also has to investigate the case of the Devil Sect."
"Skt Martial Supervisor, you will only listen to my orders!"
Jiang Yuan spoke haltingly. A great deal of power fell on Zong Tianwu, causing the civil and military officials to look at him with jealousy and worry.
Zong Tianwu cupped his hands and said, "I accept your order."
…
In the 19th year after the founding of the dynasty, just as the New Year ended, a bloodbath was set off in the capital. 200 high-ranking officials were killed on the streets to appease the public's resentment.
When Chen Li visited Jiang Changsheng and mentioned this matter, he was extremely excited. He called His Majesty's dragon might mighty, but the only pity was that Eunuch Li was still alive.
He even told him about the Sky Martial Supervisor. Right now, the Sky Martial Supervisor was the most terrifying existence in the capital because they were the emperor's blades. They were as powerful as generals in the dynasty. After they were convicted by the Emperor, they wanted to escape, but they were captured by Zong Tianwu. It was said that they could not even withstand a single move.
Jiang Changsheng was extremely curious about Zong Tianwu. He wondered how powerful this supreme martial artist was.
Other than that, Chen Li also brought along a batch of medicinal ingredients, including the last ingredient to detoxify Daoist Master Qingxu's poison.
Speaking of which, it was strange. Daoist Master Qingxu was inflicted with the poison of the Devil Sect, but even the Devil Lord could not cure it. When they developed this poison, no one could cure it even if they tried to.
After Chen Li left, Jiang Changsheng began to refine pills. He only used an ordinary small cauldron to refine pills in the courtyard.
The Devil Lord walked out of the room and came to Jiang Changsheng's side. He and Hua Jianxin watched him refine pills together.
The art of concocting elixirs had always been a legend in the martial arts world. Most people concocted elixirs like a doctor burning medicine. There was nothing mysterious about it.
Jiang Changsheng used his spiritual power to control the fire. All the medicinal ingredients in the medicinal cauldron automatically condensed into a medicinal pill. Moreover, it was suspended in mid-air without touching the bottom.
This scene made the Devil Lord and Hua Jianxin swallow their saliva.
Too amazing!
When he had nothing better to do, Jiang Changsheng liked to concoct pills for fun. His alchemy skills had reached great success, so he succeeded in one try.
After he was done, he went to look for Daoist Master Qingxu.
Along the way, the disciples bowed to him in respect.
When they arrived at Daoist Master Qingxu's courtyard, Jiang Changsheng met his master.
Ever since he brought the Devil Lord up the mountain, Daoist Master Qingxu hid himself in the courtyard and never went out again. The disciples who usually delivered food were the only people who could see him.
Daoist Master Qingxu was still seated under the tree. He did not train and merely stared at the old tree in a daze.
"Master, I have made an antidote that will definitely cure your poison."
Jiang Changsheng smiled and waited for Daoist Master Qingxu's surprised and moved expression.
However, Daoist Master Qingxu was expressionless and did not even turn his head.
Could it be that he had gone stupid from the poison?
Jiang Changsheng was worried and took two steps forward.
"Give me the antidote." Daoist Master Qingxu raised his hand and reached out to Jiang Changsheng.
Jiang Changsheng immediately took out the antidote and muttered in his heart, 'So arrogant.'
He did not care so much. In any case, it was Daoist Master Qingxu who saved him when he was young and gave him a place to live. Perhaps it was all the Emperor's scheme, but when he was betrayed, he could tell that some people really wanted to kill him.
Daoist Master Qingxu took the antidote and consumed it without any hesitation.
After he consumed the antidote, he stood up and turned to Jiang Changsheng. "Disciple, I am preparing to leave the mountain."
Leave the mountain?
Jiang Changsheng was stunned.
Eldest Senior Brother had run away, Second Senior Brother had run away, and now Master was also running away?
Just as he was about to speak, Daoist Master Qingxu shook his head and said, "I wanted to protect you for five years, but you are strong enough now. Even the people in the palace might not be able to take you down. I am relieved. It is time for me to leave."
Jiang Changsheng frowned and asked, "Where are you going?"
Daoist Master Qingxu answered, "To my home."
With that said, he walked forward and brushed past Jiang Changsheng.
"I'll leave Longqi Temple to you from now on."
After Daoist Master Qingxu said that, he disappeared from the corridor.
Jiang Changsheng frowned. This old man wanted to escape?
He hastily chased after him. No matter how he persuaded him, Daoist Master Qingxu merely continued forward. When he reached the entrance of the mountain, he stopped and watched as Daoist Master Qingxu descended the mountain.
He left just like that?
He did not even pack his things?
Jiang Changsheng did not know how to explain to the other disciples, so he simply returned to his courtyard and focused on his cultivation.
Two days later.
People from the imperial court came. Eunuch Li was escorted all the way to Jiang Changsheng's courtyard by a group of imperial guards. The one leading the way was Qing Ku, followed by many disciples.
Hua Jianxin and the Devil Lord hid in the room while Jiang Changsheng walked to Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li raised his hands, and there was an imperial decree in them.
He smiled and nodded at Jiang Changsheng. Then, he pulled open the imperial decree and said, "According to the Emperor's edict, Daoist Master Qingxu is getting on in years and is no longer capable of serving as the abbot of Longqi Temple. From today onwards, Daoist Priest Changsheng will be the abbot of Longqi Temple and enjoy a fourth-grade salary from the imperial court. He will also be in charge of the incense yard!"