"Investigate! Thoroughly investigate! Send people to every county in the state. I want to find out exactly who is causing trouble!"
Chu Yuan coldly said. The delay in choosing the event was because he has not yet assembled a full army of ten thousand. Although there are tens of millions within the Imperial Dynasty, it was clearly not enough to support Chu Yuan in establishing a powerful army.
Eunuch Wei received the royal command and hurriedly retreated.
Just one day later, Eunuch Wei brought back news, "Your Majesty, according to the spies' report, after the imperial edict was issued, indeed it attracted many spectators nationwide. Many people left their respective counties on the same day, making their way towards the capital at your command. The local government offices also facilitated their journey, but none of these people made it to the capital."
"They have likely met with unexpected mishaps." Lu Qianfu's face was grim, "Someone does not want your Majesty to form a divine martial army, fearing that it would threaten them. The only people capable of this are..."
"General Shangguan Qingyun, Prime Minister Li Yun."
Chu Yuan chuckled, "The warriors from the various counties who have been cut off, I almost know who did it, it was Shangguan Qingyun's own forces, the stealth guards!"
"I have heard a long time ago, even before Shangguan Qingyun rose to power with the late Emperor, he was a local lord with a mysterious and powerful force at his disposal. Could it be the stealth guards?"
Lu Qianfu said gravely.
[Choice 1: Deploy a large army to protect the warriors from each county along the way until they safely arrive at the Imperial City. Destiny Points: ???]
[Choice 2: Take the initiative to attack, exterminate the Stealth Guards, eradicate future troubles. Destiny Points: ???]
[Note: The unknown reward will depend on the completion of the task.]
"Oh?"
Chu Yuan looked at the divine-level choice before him, noticing that the Destiny Points reward was labeled with question marks. This made him wonder, regardless of whether he chose option one or two, the amount of Destiny Points he could earn was uncertain.
"That's right, Stealth Guards." Chu Yuan had already made his choice, his eyes twinkling with a killing intent, "Are you interested in joining me to wipe out the Stealth Guards?"
To protect the warriors from each county along the journey would be a colossal task. For this reason, Chu Yuan chose to eliminate the Stealth Guards and cut off Shangguan Qingyun's wings.
"The Stealth Guards are hidden. It might be challenging to find their hideouts."
Lu Qianfu, who had been recovering from illness in the capital for thirty years, had no idea where the Stealth Guards might be.
"I know where the Stealth Guards are hiding. Come with me."
As Chu Yuan chuckled coldly, he seemed to teleport, instantly disappearing from the city wall.
Yang Manor.
In a secluded corner of the Imperial City, dozens of miles away from the Royal Palace, there was a vast estate surrounded by a tall wall. Inside, there were many houses, and numerous large trees that obscured the sunlight were planted.
At first glance, the buildings within Yang Manor resembled a small city.
Although this place was secluded, it was very close to the city wall of the capital.
At this time, many people were going in and out of Yang Manor, shuttling various carriages, bustling with activity.
Yang Manor was a property bought by a merchant with the last name Yang in the capital, and his business extended throughout the country with many people transporting goods in and out every day.
"Loyal and Brave Marquis, the Stealth Guards are hiding here."
At this moment, Chu Yuan and Lu Qianfu had already appeared near the outskirts of Yang Manor.
"Yang Manor?" Lu Qianfu said, "The owner of Yang Manor has a huge business, and some of it extends to surrounding countries, specializing in various rare treasures. Could it also be in collusion with Shangguan Qingyun?"
"Yang Manor has people moving goods day and night, and it seems busy. The incoming and outgoing people are too many. It seems impossible to hide soldiers, but Shangguan Qingyun knows the truth that big hide in the market, small hide in the field. But unfortunately, he exposed himself to me."
Chu Yuan knew the Stealth Guards were hiding in Yang Manor because in his past life, when the four allied countries attacked the Imperial City, the Stealth Guards suddenly made their move, attempting to collaborate inside and outside.
He didn't act immediately but stood outside Yang Manor, quietly watching. This time's choice of Destiny Points reward was obviously higher the more perfectly it was completed, so Chu Yuan had to treat it seriously.
Night fell silently.
Today's night is full of stars with a full moon. Though it is late at night, Yang Manor hasn't cooled down. There are still a lot of goods coming in and out.
But when the night was deepest and people were most tired, Chu Yuan saw dozens of black figures—one by one, these black-clothed figures were moving.
"Kill!"
Chu Yuan's expression was cold and ruthless. With a single word, he had stepped forward, appearing in front of those black-clothed figures like lightning. A ray of Soul Origin light passed through his palm, and he immediately slapped these dozens of figures.
Without even a scream, these dozens of individuals had instantly transformed into dry skins in a moment.
That's right, the dry skin was human skin!
Their flesh and blood and soul origin were all absorbed by Chu Yuan's Great Devour Technique. Suddenly, Chu Yuan felt a warm power enveloping him. His original spirit had condensed a little more.
"What a domineering Divine Ability!"
Lu Qianfu's gaze became focused, he naturally recognized this as a genuine Divine Ability.
His gaze flickered again. Chu Yuan had already entered Yang Manor. People he encountered, no matter who they were, were absorbed into human skins by his Great Devour Technique, progressing without obstruction, without even giving them a chance to scream or alert others.
In the deepest part of Yang Manor, where the towering trees sheltered, there were clusters of houses. Inside those houses, figures of people could be seen.
If a powerful person with profound spiritual cultivation stood here, they would feel a surge of strong aura shooting straight into the sky, distorting the starry sky. However, a Formation was set up within Yang Manor, perfectly concealing this fluctuation.
"The Stealth Guards total three thousand, the real elite trained by Shangguan Qingyun. At present, there are two thousand one hundred here. Obviously, the rest of the forces have been dispatched to cut down the warriors from each county."
Chu Yuan's eyes seemed to have turned into devouring eyes. In his sight, the wooden houses were tiny points of light. The stronger the strength, the brighter the light.
Among the three thousand divine abilities, the Great Devour Technique ranked high, possibly even within the top ten.
"The weakest elites here are all at the Soul Forge level. There are more than three hundred in the Original Spirit Realm, and there are even a dozen or so masters of Divine Abilities—including one..."
In Chu Yuan's eyes, one beam of light was as dazzling as a raging sun, "His strength should be around the sixth or seventh level of Divine Abilities."
"Shangguan Qingyun has actually cultivated such an elite force!"
Lu Qianfu was also deeply shocked, even feeling a chill, "If this elite suddenly made a move in the Imperial City, even a hundred thousand Forbidden Army would have difficulty restraining them. It would definitely be a catastrophe. Your Majesty is planning to eradicate this potential trouble at its roots!"
"This is the force Shangguan Qingyun has been cultivating for decades. Moreover, Shangguan Qingyun will never imagine that I have found the hiding place of his Stealth Guards."
Chu Yuan clenched his hand fiercely. Suddenly, the Great Devour Technique, the Devouring Palm activated. And what he saw was a palm print, stretching hundreds of meters, slamming towards the middle of those houses in the sky.