Illusion (1)

The fact that the Palace Master of the Jade Void Palace personally went to Great Capital —he didn't know what that meant.

But one thing is certain: unless something major happened, Grandmaster Uncle Jin Yuyan would never have gone that far.

"What about the cooperation mentioned earlier in suppressing uprisings in the surrounding areas?" Zhang Rongfang came to his senses and continued.

"Nothing will change. Prefecture Lord Shangguan will remain in charge of this area, which will not affect this operation," the old steward replied.

"I understand." Zhang Rongfang suddenly became preoccupied.

He always felt that the Great Dao Sect seemed to be in a period of transformation and explosion, but because he was not a true high-ranking member, he was unaware of many of its actions and information.

"These are turbulent times," he thought, but he still decided to stay here and diligently accumulate strength.

No matter how the situation changes, as long as he stays hidden and remains in hiding, he will be fine.

After viewing the house, he went to see another large mansion gifted by the Shangguan Family.

He had already arranged where people would stay in both houses. The manpower that had just arrived from Citong could use this place as their main base.

After lunch, Zhang Rongfang received a report from Official Messenger from the Prefectural Office.

The troops from the Jade Void Palace responsible for suppressing uprisings in the surrounding area are ready to depart. They are stationed in the Peach Tree Forest on the southern outskirts of the city.

Zhang Rongfang quickly packed his luggage and headed to the meeting point a little early.

Outside the city, beyond Peach Tree Forest where many peach blossoms were in bloom, lay a wide expanse of weedy ground.

At this moment, First Squad of people and carriages are gathering here.

From a distance, there were probably over a hundred of them.

Most of them were tall and strong martial artists.

The most eye-catching among them was a burly old man who was three meters tall.

A height of three meters is extremely rare, even among martial artists.

Most martial artists are typically a little over two meters tall.

Therefore, this three-meter-tall white-haired old man attracted the attention of many passersby outside the city.

Zhang Rongfang rode closer on horseback from a distance, accompanied by two servants carrying luggage and other items. Apart from that, there was nothing else.

When he was about 100 meters away, he noticed the unusually tall, white-haired old man.

The other party has a very strong presence.

At first glance, it seemed as if he was the only person standing on that open space, which was about the size of a football field.

Everyone else became mere background figures.

Coming to his senses, Zhang Rongfang looked again and realized that there were two other people standing behind the unusually tall old man.

One of the two was a woman with a face like a peach blossom, bright eyes, long legs, and a red dress, exuding an air of nobility.

One was an elderly man with white hair and beard, exuding a serious and orthodox air, like Grand Academician.

The three of them stood among hundreds of people, like magnets, constantly attracting a massive amount of attention and gazes from those around them.

Apart from the three, Zhang Rongfang glanced around and, thanks to his keen eyesight in the Dark Light Vision, quickly discerned that this hundred-man team was composed of extremely elite personnel.

Everyone starts as a martial artist of a certain rank.

So many Entering the Ranks artists who have reached the rank of master may not look impressive, but if they were all equipped with powerful weapons, such as high-powered firearms and Crossbow...

The threat posed, in open areas, could very well far exceed that of a Grandmaster.

Having made a rough assessment, Zhang Rongfang quickly rode closer. He dismounted, took a few steps forward, and clasped his hands in a respectful gesture towards the three-meter-tall old man.

"Junior Zhang Ying greets the seniors."

"Stand at the back," the three-meter-tall old man replied indifferently.

"Yes." Zhang Rongfang didn't waste any more words.

Leading his horse, he joined the hundred-man rear guard.

"That's just how Feihe Prefecture Lord, please don't take it personally."

The only woman in the red dress approached softly.

"This time, he is the main team, and Shang Dingye and I are the support. My name is Ning Hongli. You must be the disciple that Yue Sect Leader just accepted. You are truly majestic and extraordinary."

She introduced herself with a soft laugh.

"This junior greets Senior Ning." Zhang Rongfang politely clasped his hands in greeting.

"You're welcome. I brought you along this time to broaden your horizons. Observe and listen more, and do less," Ning Hongli said with a smile.

"This junior will remember." Only when Zhang Rongfang got closer did he realize that the difference in their qi and blood between these three people and the rest of the people around them was like a complete disconnect.

If the grandmasters he had encountered before were like furnaces of qi and blood, then the three people before him were furnaces at least several times larger than those furnaces.

Compared to the Grandmaster stationed in Qingchuan Prefecture who had tested him the previous night, Zhang Rongfang sense that the three people in front of him, even the seemingly weakest Ning Hongli, were much more dangerous than the previous one.

As for the former Sea Dragon King Kong Wu, he was still a notch below the Grandmaster from last night.

Aside from these, the most crucial point is that Zhang Rongfang also vaguely sensed a certain additional threat emanating from these Grandmasters of the Great Dao Sect.

It's hard to describe what that feeling is like.

You should know that, based on his current perception, even if a grandmaster came, they would have to fight to know who would win or lose.

But these three people in front of him made him feel like he had thorns in his back even before the fight started.

This is incredible.

Unable to see through the three people, he naturally became polite and courteous, maintaining a good attitude.

The team waited in place for another ten minutes or so.

Even though everyone had arrived, Shangguan Feihe, who was leading the group, remained standing in the same spot, waiting with his eyes closed.

No one dared to object; everyone whispered among themselves, waiting for the team to set off.

"Feihe Prefecture Lord is an extremely punctual and rule-abiding person. He dislikes nothing more than someone breaking the rules. Zhang Ying, you must remember this." Ning Hongli whispered a reminder to Zhang Rongfang beside her.

"Yes, I will certainly remember that." Zhang Rongfang nodded and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Just remember that. If there's anything you don't understand or don't get to know, feel free to ask me. Your master and I had a very good relationship when he came here. Since you're his disciple, you should get closer to me," Ning Hongli said with a light laugh.

"Yes." Zhang Rongfang understood. No wonder this female master was so good to him; it turned out she had connections left by Lao Yue.

Several more minutes passed.

"Time is up."

Shangguan Feihe opened his eyes, took out a pocket watch from his pocket, and glanced at it.

"Set off."

He said in a deep voice.

The many leaders behind them responded with shouts, the carriages started moving, and the entire procession began to slowly accelerate towards the outskirts of the city.

"There are six places that need to be dealt with this time. They are all rebels who took advantage of True One Western Sect's actions to stir up trouble and create chaos."

Ning Hongli explained softly to Zhang Rongfang, her gaze as gentle as if she were looking at her own nephew or niece.

"These weeds and insects that grow out of the soil are always disobedient. You cut one wave and another comes. It seems that there are also hidden masters causing trouble among them. They have secretly killed several masters sent by the Shangguan Family."

"The Sixth Division?" Zhang Rongfang felt something was off about what the other person was saying.

But he quickly came to his senses.

The people Shangguan Family's team are all experts from local Great Clans. Among them, Shangguan Feihe himself is said to be Spirit Person.

These Spirit Noble were completely different from the Bei People Man People, who were considered inferior by the Great Ling.

They were powerful and influential families who owned vast tracts of land.

'Putting aside strength and realm, just looking at their status, this is simply a powerful family suppressing a peasant uprising head-on.' Zhang Rongfang quickly realized this.

The interest groups represented by the Great Dao Sect have never been primarily composed of ordinary people.

The groups vary from place to place.

Now, in the Jade Void Palace, it can be seen from the Twelve Clan Estates that the entire Jade Void Palace is dominated by clans and families.

Soon, the caravan sped up, heading along the Official Road toward the first destination— Yu De Town.

At this slow pace, it's estimated that several days have passed since they arrived in Yu De Town.

Zhang Rongfang also wanted to observe how much improvement his Golden Toad Skill, now at the third level of the Sun Chasing Skill, could bring him.

In October, the Great Ling Imperial Clan Ceremony began.

Great Capital, Worthy Virtue Palace.

Yue Dewen slowly walked out of the palace gate, looked at the busy palace maids and guards outside who were carrying various items needed for the ceremony, shook his head, and walked outside with his big belly.

He's been exhausted these past few days because he's been busy with the festival, and he hasn't even had time to go back to fishing or have tea.

He felt like he had lost weight, and since he was eating vegetarian food every day, the amount of meat he ate wasn't even enough for a leg of lamb, which made him somewhat unhappy.

What troubled him even more was that His Majesty was becoming increasingly addicted to pleasure.

They partied every night, and even a few days ago, on the eve of the festival, they were still having Heavenly Demon Dance with the guys from the Western Sect at night.

It is said that dozens of beauties are sent out to be ruined every night.

This is a far cry from the diligent and ambitious Ling Zhi Emperor of the past.

He sighed.

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Yue Dewen did not take the chariot that was supposed to pick him up. Instead, he used his movement technique to head towards the fish farm on the outskirts of the Great Capital, which was his usual haunt.

'It's been a long time since I've gone fishing, and I haven't had any of that rice wine over there for half a month. I'll drink dozens of kilograms of it this time. I'm taking Xiao Zhi to the countryside soon, and I don't know when I'll be able to drink it again.'

Yue Dewen's simple thoughts were about eating, drinking, and having fun.

But to outsiders, he still appeared in his Grand Master's attire, exuding an air of nobility and authority.

Rainy Sunny Fish Manor was a favorite haunt of his. It was run by a wealthy family surnamed Li, who had been with the restaurant for decades.

Old Man Li was also a fishing enthusiast, and he would occasionally go fishing with Yue Dewen and the others.

Arriving at the fish restaurant with practiced ease, Lao Yue pushed open the gate and entered the courtyard, casually asking in a low voice.

"Hey, when is your Grand Pavilion Lord coming back? You're so boring, I feel really unsafe without Grand Pavilion Lord."

The elder from the Snow Rainbow Pavilion, who was secretly responsible for protection, remained silent, pretending not to hear.

Such an inquiry shouldn't have prompted a response in the first place. In fact, if it weren't for the Grand Pavilion Lord's own personality, most of the other protectors wouldn't engage in much conversation. Some Society Master keep their distance to avoid affecting their judgment or distracting them.

"Boring." Receiving no response, Yue Dewen complained and went into the house in the courtyard. Several workers were dragging out the newly mended fishing nets. When they saw him enter, they all greeted him respectfully.

With practiced ease, Yue Dewen grabbed his fishing gear and leisurely left the yard, heading towards the small lake where he kept fish.

I looked up at the sky; the sun was blazing hot.

He sighed, realizing he'd been sighing more and more lately.

His health was deteriorating, which was why he felt increasingly powerless.

This time, taking Xiao Zhi away from the turmoil was a plan he had already made.

No one can be powerful forever. At a certain point, you have to give up what you have to give up.

"You have to give to receive." "Tell me, is your Grand Pavilion Lord planning to cause trouble this time? Two of the military commanders at the Snow Rainbow Pavilion are incredibly ignorant. They think they've found a powerful backer and want to go against their former superiors. Tsk tsk, even a dog knows to guard the house!"

Reaching the lakeside, Yue Dewen skillfully attached the fishing line to his fishing rod, then baited it and cast it out.

"Um?"

No one answered.

Not only did no one answer, but even the faint sounds that had been there just moments before had vanished.

Yue Dewen frowned slightly.

Something feels off.

He looked around.

A small, emerald-green lake, a clear sky.

A hot wind blew past me, the surrounding grass swayed, but there were no insects chirping or birds singing.

"Hehehe, which friend is joking with Lao Yue? This joke isn't funny at all." A glint flashed in Yue Dewen's eyes. He straightened up and put down his fishing rod.

"To be honest, I was all prepared to retire completely and go back to my hometown, to live a life of seclusion. And then they pull this trick on me at the last minute?" His gaze slowly turned serious.

As Great Grandmaster and a top-tier figure, his perception of hostility and killing intent is far more acute than ordinary people imagine.

Moreover, the murderous intent that suddenly appeared around them was so intense that even insects and birds dared not utter a sound.