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"No need for conditions; I will send someone to deliver some compensation to you later."

It was the voice of the Ancestral Dragon.

"Ancestor?" Ao Guang responded in a trembling voice in his heart.

"Ao Bing's death is insignificant. Let True Man Taiyi take Nezha away, and let's put this matter aside for now."

Having received clear instructions from his ancestor, Ao Guang's last remaining doubts vanished.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the murderous intent and humiliation surging within him. The massive dragon head lowered slightly towards Chu Feng, and he said in a deep voice, "This matter will be discussed later."

Then, he turned to True Man Taiyi, his voice returning to its icy tone. "For the sake of Yuanshi Tianzun, I will spare that wretched child for now! But Nezha must come to the gates of my Dragon Palace and kowtow to apologize! Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

He remained silent about guarding the sea eye, only making the bare minimum demands.

The shrewd and astute True Man Taiyi immediately bowed and said, "Thank you for your magnanimity, Dragon King! I will take my unworthy disciple to apologize!"

Having said that, she rolled up auspicious clouds, took the still bewildered Nezha, and hurriedly flew towards the East Sea Crystal Palace.

The Great King of Shang, Chaoge.

The new policies have been in effect for several months. Di Xin implemented them forcefully with a thunderous approach, and the atmosphere in the court has been greatly improved.

However, the reforms threatened the interests of the old aristocracy, and undercurrents still surged.

In the south of the city, in front of a fertile field, the sound of weeping shook the heavens.

Dozens of farmers knelt on the edge of the field, glaring angrily at a group of arrogant servants.

The leader was a fat man with a face full of scars, dressed in a brocade robe.

He was Fei Zhong, the nephew of Fei Min, the current prime minister.

"Stop crying! I've taken a liking to these hundred acres of fertile land; that's your good fortune!"

Fei Min kicked an old farmer to the ground, his arrogance reaching its peak. "The land deed is here, officially certified! If you dare to make another sound, you'll all be thrown into jail!"

Just then, the sound of armor clanging came from the end of the street.

A troop of royal troops clad in black armor rushed in, led by a man with three piercing eyes, exuding an imposing aura—it was none other than Grand Tutor Wen Zhong!

"Take it down!"

Wen Zhong glanced at the land deed, then asked the farmer, his face ashen, without uttering a single unnecessary word.

"You dare!"

Fei Min was held down by the armored soldiers, struggling and roaring, "My uncle is Fei Zhong! If you dare to touch a hair on my head, my uncle will definitely not let you off!"

Before he could finish speaking, a cool voice came from behind Wen Zhong.

"Under the new policy, even princes are subject to the same laws as commoners. What is a mere nephew of the prime minister worth?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a Daoist priest wearing a Bagua robe, with a thin face and sharp eyes like an eagle, slowly walking out.

It was Shen Gongbao!

Shen Gongbao glanced coldly at Fei Min: "Take him down and imprison him in the imperial prison to await His Majesty's judgment! All his land and property must be inventoried, registered, and returned to their rightful owners!"

"Yes, sir!"

The royal soldiers obeyed orders without question and dragged away the wailing Fei Min.

Upon hearing this news at the Prime Minister's residence, Fei Zhong burst into tears and rushed into the palace, where he cried out to Di Xin, who was reviewing memorials.

"Your Majesty! Shen Gongbao is using his position to settle personal scores, targeting this old minister! My nephew, though unruly, was also framed! I beg Your Majesty to do justice for this old minister!"

Di Xin put down the bamboo slips in his hand and expressionlessly threw a dossier in front of him.

"See for yourself."

Fei Zhong opened the document with trembling hands. Inside, written in black and white, was a record of Fei Min's entire process of extortion and plunder. The land deeds and witness testimonies were all complete and irrefutable!

"Smack!"

Di Xin slammed his fist on the dragon table, his voice booming like thunder. "The land deed is forged, and the witnesses are all there. How dare you still try to deny it here?"

Considering your long service as a minister of two dynasties, I will spare you for now, but I will deduct your salary for three years and send you to reflect on your mistakes in seclusion!

If this happens again, you'll be punished for both offenses! Get out!

Fei Zhong was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. Cold sweat instantly soaked through his court robes. He scrambled out of the room, his hatred for Shen Gongbao now boundless.

One wave subsides, another rises.

Urgent report from the North: North Marquis Chong Houhu, wielding considerable military power, is openly refusing to pay the new taxes, citing the barrenness of the North as the reason. His words also show considerable disrespect for Chaoge.

In the imperial court, the ministers were indignant, debating endlessly between those advocating war and those advocating appeasement.

"His Majesty!"

Shen Gongbao stepped forward and declared loudly, "I am willing to personally go to the north and, with my silver tongue, persuade Chong Houhu to submit to the emperor."

"No!"

Wen Zhong immediately tried to dissuade him, saying, "The people of the North are known for their fierceness, Chong Houhu is an even more unruly individual."

The Imperial Advisor is frail and weak; this journey will be extremely dangerous, and he may very well meet with misfortune!

Upon hearing this, Shen Gongbao smiled calmly.

He looked at Wen Zhong and the generals, whose faces were full of worry, and suddenly his figure swayed.

"Roar--!"

A deafening roar echoed throughout the hall!

To everyone's utter astonishment, Shen Gongbao transformed into a giant black leopard, several meters long, with glossy black fur and an aura of unparalleled ferocity!

He stepped into the air, his body leaping forward like a black lightning bolt, instantly appearing at the entrance of the main hall a hundred feet away, and then returning to his original position in the next instant, transforming back into human form.

The entire process was extremely fast, leaving only a faint afterimage.

Shen Gongbao straightened his Daoist robe and smiled at the dumbfounded Wen Zhong: "Grand Tutor, do you think I am still weak and frail?"

The entire court was deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned by this move!

Who would have thought that this imperial advisor, who usually only gets things done with his words, was actually a supernatural being with extraordinary abilities!

In the northern border, at Chong Houhu's camp.

Outside the central command tent, hundreds of elite armored soldiers, each wielding a sharp blade, stood on either side, exuding a murderous aura.

This was Chong Houhu's way of intimidating the envoy from Chaoge.

Shen Gongbao, dressed in a Daoist robe, walked alone, seemingly oblivious to the menacing array of swords, and calmly entered the central command tent.

"A mere doctor like you dares to come to my military camp alone? You've got some nerve!"

Inside the tent, Chong Houhu, clad in heavy armor, sat in the main seat, his face filled with disdain.

Shen Gongbao sat down in the guest seat without any ceremony, staring directly at him. "Lord Marquis, you are openly resisting taxes. Do you perhaps wish to emulate Ji Chang of Xiqi and experience the taste of rebellion?"

"Presumptuous!"

Chong Houhu flew into a rage, slamming his fist on the table. "I, the Marquis, have guarded the northern frontier with great merit and hard work! Who do you think you are, daring to threaten me?!"

Shen Gongbao's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes suddenly turned cold.

He slowly took something out of his sleeve and shook it in the wind.

A golden light flashed, and a rope, like a serpent emerging from its hole, instantly bound Chong Houhu tightly before he could even react!

"I am an imperial envoy of the Emperor, acting on behalf of Heaven to inspect the realm. I have the authority to execute first and report later!"

Shen Gongbao stood up and walked to Chong Houhu, who was unable to move. "Lord Houhu, would you like to test which is sharper, my magic weapon or my power to act first and report later?"

Chong Houhu was utterly terrified!

He possessed superhuman strength, yet he was utterly powerless against the ropes!

The more he struggled, the tighter the Binding Demon Rope tightened, almost embedding itself into his flesh.

Only then did he realize that the Daoist priest in front of him was not some weak and scholarly doctor at all, but a killing god who could easily take his life!

"I dare not... I dare not! Imperial Preceptor, spare my life! This Marquis... I submit!"

Chong Houhu was completely speechless and had no choice but to give in.

Shen Gongbao withdrew the Binding Demon Rope, sat down again, and softened his tone. "Since Your Excellency knows you were wrong, I am not an unfeeling person. Considering Your Excellency's meritorious service in guarding the northern border, I can reduce your new taxes by 30%."

Chong Houhu was delighted upon hearing this.

"However," Shen Gongbao changed the subject, "The Yellow River waterway has been in disrepair for many years and requires 100,000 troops to assist in its repair, with taxes paid in kind. Does Your Excellency have any objections?"

Sending troops and manpower is more of a loss than paying taxes!

But Chong Houhu, seeing Shen Gongbao's ambiguous smile, dared not utter a single word of "no".

"I will leave the decision entirely to the Imperial Advisor! I will have no objection!"

"That's excellent."

Shen Gongbao nodded in satisfaction, but a warning glint flashed in his eyes. "I hope Your Excellency will not feign compliance, otherwise, the next one to come may not be this humble Daoist, but the Grand Tutor's Black Qilin."

Upon hearing this, Chong Houhu trembled in fright and repeatedly said he dared not.

When the news reached Chaoge, the court officials were shocked!

This newly appointed Grand Preceptor, without sending troops or using force, single-handedly made the powerful and arrogant North Marquis obediently submit!

What swift and Tongtian measures! What extraordinary abilities!

For a time, Shen Gongbao's prestige in the court rivaled that of Grand Tutor Wen Zhong...