Yuan Tiangang's Identity, Evil Sect Assault

Liu Ruyan.

Ren Xiaoyao had no favorable impression of this Saintess of the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult.

After Liu Ruyan's failed assassination of Princess Taiping, she had been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison.

No one knew how Liu Ruyan had later bewitched Ren Ruohai into privately releasing her from the Heavenly Prison.

That was what ultimately made Ren Xiaoyao the scapegoat.

Ren Xiaoyao also understood clearly that the Great Evolution Tome was extremely important to Liu Ruyan. Otherwise, she would not have chosen to lie low within the Imperial Observatory while the Imperial Court was hunting her at the crest of the waves.

Therefore, Liu Ruyan would surely return to the Imperial Observatory and obtain the Great Evolution Tome through Ren Xiaoyao's hands.

Ren Xiaoyao had to make preparations in advance against every possible encounter.

Several days later, Ying Huai and Fang Yuan came to Sun Gazing Peak again.

"Xiao Ren, why do I feel that something about you has subtly changed after only a little over a month apart?"

When Ying Huai saw Ren Xiaoyao, curiosity appeared in his eyes.

As an important minister trusted by the Empress, Ying Huai's ability to judge people was naturally first-rate. He immediately noticed that the despondency previously surrounding Ren Xiaoyao had been swept away, replaced by a manner neither servile nor overbearing.

Ren Xiaoyao scratched his head and said, "What change could there be? I'm still the same as before."

Next, Ren Xiaoyao used his Spiritual Sense to examine Fang Yuan. He discovered that the power within Fang Yuan's body was far stronger than Song Duanyang's, roughly comparable to his own.

At that moment, Fang Yuan only felt as though a pair of invisible eyes were staring at him from behind.

A martial artist's instincts made him vigilant, yet he could not find anything wrong no matter what. He merely furrowed his brow tightly.

Ren Xiaoyao asked, "Lord Fang Yuan, I heard that you are the foremost expert in the Facing Heaven Pavilion. Are you also in the Grandmaster Realm?"

Fang Yuan nodded.

Ying Huai said with a smile, "Xiao Ren, don't underestimate Fang Yuan. Though he is still in the Grandmaster Realm, one foot has already stepped into the True Man Realm. In three to five years, he will likely become a True Person."

Ying Huai's eyes were full of admiration for Fang Yuan. Then, he began speaking of his past with Fang Yuan.

In his early years, Fang Yuan had merely been a sixth-rank military captain. He had been implicated in a major case involving the slaughter of a foreign delegation and had nearly become a scapegoat, his head falling to the ground.

Back then, Ying Huai had stepped forward and cleared Fang Yuan's name.

From then on, Fang Yuan had followed Ying Huai. After many years, their bond had become like that of father and son.

"Half-Step True Person?"

Ren Xiaoyao nodded.

At that moment, Li Chunfeng also walked over. When Ying Huai saw Li Chunfeng, his expression turned solemn as he said,

"Chunfeng, the matter you asked me to investigate has basically been confirmed. After Yuan Tiangang left the Capital City, he indeed came into contact with the Demonic Sect. However, he did not get along well with the Devil Master, and they ultimately parted on bad terms. As for where Yuan Tiangang is now, the trail has gone cold."

Yuan Tiangang.

Ying Huai and Li Chunfeng had brought up this person again.

Even Ren Xiaoyao and Fang Yuan became curious.

They knew that Yuan Tiangang was connected to an enormous secret.

Seeing this, Ying Huai said, "This matter will cease to be a secret sooner or later. Telling you now is not much of a problem."

Then Ying Huai said quietly, "This began thirty years ago, when Empress Tianyuan was still Empress Tianyuan..."

It turned out that Yuan Tiangang had once been Empress Tianyuan's master and the previous Director of the Imperial Observatory. He excelled at the art of divination. The reason Empress Tianyuan had been able to become Great Gan's first Son of Heaven as a woman was also due to Yuan Tiangang's schemes behind the scenes.

Yet after Empress Tianyuan attained the Son of Heaven Position, she did not reward her teacher. Instead, she turned against Yuan Tiangang, stripped him of his position as Director, and secretly imprisoned him within the Golden Light Chan Temple.

According to Ying Huai's deduction, this time it had been the Devil Master of the Demonic Sect who secretly dispatched forces to rescue Yuan Tiangang from the Golden Light Chan Temple.

"Yuan Tiangang knows far too many of Empress Tianyuan's secrets. Given Empress Tianyuan's temperament, merely imprisoning Yuan Tiangang was already an act of regard for their bond as master and disciple. Now that Yuan Tiangang has slipped out of her control, Empress Tianyuan will not tolerate him continuing to live."

Ying Huai spoke quietly.

Though he was deeply trusted by the Empress, he also knew of her cruelty and bloodthirst.

To eliminate dissidents, the Empress had practically slaughtered the royal family clean over the years since ascending the throne.

The rolling heads numbered far more than tens of thousands.

"Mm."

Li Chunfeng nodded as well and said,

"But this matter is not so simple. Merely relying on the Devil Master alone, he could not completely infiltrate his forces into the Capital City. No one knows how many powers are involved behind this."

"Anything involving a struggle for Imperial Power has always been like this."

Ying Huai sighed helplessly. "I just don't know how many people will die because of this."

Then Ying Huai changed the subject and said,

"However, I came to find you this time because of another matter. According to intelligence from the Facing Heaven Pavilion, the Evil Sect of Northern Pasture Sea has come to the Central Plains. I remember that the previous generation's Evil Sect Master died by your hand. Thus, according to my judgment, that Evil Sect will very likely be coming to seek revenge against you."

"When you wander the world, sooner or later you have to pay your debts."

Li Chunfeng's eyelid twitched, and his expression did not look good.

"What is your strength now, exactly?"

Ying Huai asked.

"I remember that back then, you were clearly invincible under heaven. Even the Director was no match for you; only Luo Mengshen could barely suppress you. What exactly happened to you later that your realm not only failed to advance, but regressed?"

"An accident happened, naturally."

Li Chunfeng gave a bitter smile and said, "I failed when attempting to break into the Heavenly Human Realm and went astray. Though I luckily retrieved my life from the jaws of death, my strength declined greatly. Now, I am only comparable to a Grandmaster."

Li Chunfeng was unwilling to mention those past events too much.

Then Li Chunfeng looked at Ying Huai and said, "I will make proper preparations during this period. That Evil Sect from Northern Pasture Sea is merely in the Grandmaster Realm, equal to me. I still have some confidence in fighting him."

After Ying Huai left, Li Chunfeng instructed Ren Xiaoyao not to wander about carelessly during this period.

Although officials and soldiers were stationed at the foot of Fulong Mountain year-round, they would be of no use if they truly encountered a Grandmaster Realm expert.

Half a month passed.

During this time, Ren Xiaoyao did not dare slacken. He continued cultivating diligently.

Although his realm remained Dao Realm Double Heaven, the intensity of Ren Xiaoyao's spiritual power had increased considerably.

Using Fang Yuan as a benchmark, it was roughly equivalent to two Fang Yuans.

The killing power of the Pure Yang Void-Breaking Gang Sword had grown even stronger.

One day, Bai Su hurried to Sun Gazing Peak again, saying that the Director had summoned Li Chunfeng on urgent business. Li Chunfeng did not delay after hearing this and followed Bai Su to meet the Director.

Li Chunfeng did not return until dusk.

Just as Ren Xiaoyao finished a day of cultivation and prepared to stretch lazily,

Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense discovered a familiar figure arriving at Night Gazing Peak.

That person was Liu Ruyan.

"She finally came!"

When Ren Xiaoyao detected Liu Ruyan's trail, the stone hanging over his heart finally fell.

After all, this Demonic Maiden would come looking for him sooner or later.

Now that Ren Xiaoyao had discovered Liu Ruyan's trail first, he held the initiative.

"Young Master!"

Liu Ruyan slipped into Sun Gazing Peak and headed straight for Ren Xiaoyao's room. Upon seeing him, her face blossomed with a coquettish smile as she tried to throw herself directly into his arms.

Ren Xiaoyao stepped back, avoiding Liu Ruyan. "Saintess, if you have something to say, say it. Don't get handsy."

Liu Ruyan gave a chuckle, looked at Ren Xiaoyao's handsome face, and said,

"Sooner or later, you will be my man. What does it matter if I hug you once? Besides, didn't I already tell you? We are going to comprehend the method of Dual Cultivation together."

Ren Xiaoyao was speechless. "I never agreed to that. Nor am I interested in the method of Dual Cultivation."

"What? You don't want to restore your acupoints? You don't want to practice martial arts?"

Seeing Ren Xiaoyao's bashful appearance, Liu Ruyan liked him even more. She smiled and said, "Follow Elder Sister, and Elder Sister will not mistreat you. You will have endless joy."

Then Liu Ruyan changed the subject. "As for the Great Evolution Tome I asked you to find earlier, have you found any clues?"

Ren Xiaoyao shook his head and said,

"I'm just an ordinary person. I cannot access the Imperial Observatory's secrets, so there is nowhere to begin. Besides, I don't even know what the Great Evolution Tome is."

Liu Ruyan was not angered by the lack of clues regarding the Great Evolution Tome. She merely smiled and said,

"The Great Evolution Tome is one of the Imperial Observatory's supreme martial arts. The previous Director of the Imperial Observatory, Yuan Tiangang, cultivated the Great Evolution Tome. It is said that Yuan Tiangang cultivated only half a volume of the Great Evolution Tome, yet that alone made him the Number One Under Heaven at the time. After Yuan Tiangang, the next person to cultivate the Great Evolution Tome was Li Chunfeng, and he likewise became the Number One Under Heaven!"

As she spoke, Liu Ruyan's eyes naturally filled with longing.

Ren Xiaoyao, however, frowned upon hearing this.

Because he had never heard anyone mention the Great Evolution Tome before.

Even Song Duanyang, Bai Su, and the others on Sun Gazing Peak knew nothing of it.

But how could Liu Ruyan, the Saintess of the Illusory Moon Demonic Cult, know so much?

It was at this moment.

A middle-aged man in a Purple Robe appeared at the foot of Fulong Mountain.

The man was slender in build and effeminate in appearance, but a three-inch scar crossed his face, making his entire person look incomparably savage and vicious.

As the location of the Imperial Observatory, Fulong Mountain had a Huben Guards camp of around two hundred men stationed at its foot.

These two hundred Huben Guards were all martial artists of considerable strength.

They had two primary duties.

The first was to guard the Imperial Observatory and prevent petty villains from causing trouble.

The second was to monitor the Imperial Observatory.

After all, the Imperial Observatory had the Director, a True Person Realm expert, along with Song Duanyang and Li Chunfeng, two Grandmasters. Those were three Super-Rank Realm experts. Should they harbor any unusual thoughts, they would pose an enormous threat to the Empress.

She had to keep them under control at all times.

This was also the primary reason the Empress had moved the Imperial Observatory out of the Capital City.

The Imperial Observatory was too unstable.

The previous Director, Yuan Tiangang, had deluded himself into wanting to wield the Imperial Regalia alongside her. The chief disciple of the current Director had become the Devil Master of the Demonic Sect. With these two outrageous examples of rebellion, the Empress naturally could not fully trust the others within the Imperial Observatory.

At this moment, the officials and soldiers stationed below Fulong Mountain also noticed the man in the Purple Robe.

At once, a Huben Guard on night duty rushed forward and shouted, "Who are you? Fulong Mountain is where the Imperial Observatory's official residence lies. Get lost at once!"

In this Huben Guard's experience, ordinary people would have already been frightened out of their wits by such a rebuke.

Yet the man in the Purple Robe merely chuckled and raised his head to look at the Huben Guard.

The next moment, the long sword at the Purple Robe man's waist left its sheath. Before the Huben Guard could react, his head rolled to the ground.

The pungent scent of blood spread through the Night Sky.

In an instant, all the Huben Guards reacted and rushed to surround the man in the Purple Robe.

The Huben Guards had all retired from frontline battlefields and rolled through heaps of corpses. Which one of them was not incomparably fierce? They were not frightened by this sight. More than two hundred Huben Guards gathered together like fierce tigers returning to the mountains, swiftly surrounding the Purple Robe man.

Huben Guard Centurion Gongsun Sun roared at the Purple Robe man, "Where did this rebel come from? You dare assassinate a Huben Guard? Do you know that this crime is treated as rebellion and warrants the execution of nine clans?"

Hearing this, the Purple Robe man gave a sinister smile and said,

"I am Northern Pasture Sea Evil Sect Master Lian Wanhe. Hasn't your Central Plains Empress Tianyuan wanted to execute my nine clans long ago? Yet am I not still living perfectly well?"

As his words fell, Evil Sect Master Lian Wanhe mockingly looked toward Gongsun Yang.

With several slashes of his sword, more than ten Huben Guards were dead or wounded.

Though these Huben Guards were the elite among Great Gan's elite, they could not help but feel chills run down their spines.

This Evil Sect was truly too powerful!

However, Lian Wanhe did not continue his massacre. Instead, he declared loudly,

"I came here today to avenge my Evil Sect's former Sect Master. The one I want to kill is Li Chunfeng. If you wish to be buried alongside Li Chunfeng, then come and die!"

At this moment, none of the Huben Guards dared step forward.

They understood in their hearts that hunting down Lian Wanhe was no different from courting death. They could only watch as Evil Sect Master Lian Wanhe charged toward Night Gazing Peak.

Centurion Gongsun Sun drew a deep breath and roared, "Immediately head to the Capital City and report this to the True Martial Sect and the Facing Heaven Pavilion! Something major is about to happen at the Imperial Observatory!"

At the same time.

Gongsun Yang looked at the corpses of the Huben Guards lying on the ground.

Beyond anger, his heart held a sense of helplessness born from being an ant.

Too powerful!

This Evil Sect was so powerful that it drove people to despair!

A Martial Dao Grandmaster was this terrifying!

At this moment, Evil Sect Master Lian Wanhe also arrived below Night Gazing Peak.

He took out a portrait from his robes. The portrait depicted an incomparably handsome youth—it was Ren Xiaoyao.

The Evil Sect Master shook his head and muttered to himself, "Openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing at Chencang. Who would have thought that my target was not Li Chunfeng, but a youth? Ren Xiaoyao, you are destined to die with your eyes unwilling to close."

Then the Evil Sect Master transformed into an afterimage and rushed toward Night Gazing Peak.