Zuo Yanfei and Tang Ruowei thought it over, growing more wary. Then Tang Ruowei reached out and took the older sister's hand. "This city is even larger than the imperial capital of Shangxuan." Just then, people from the Dingguo Dynasty arrived as well. An old man in a black official robe embroidered on the chest with a white crane, the Vast Sea, and the rising sun entered the courtyard, accompanied by two armed guards. While Tang Ruowei was still hesitating, Bai Qiuran turned his head and flashed an utterly guileless, kindhearted smile. "Of course. Guzhou has ten countries, while Cangzhou has only three. In terms of national strength, Dingguo is definitely stronger." "Then, Master, shall we head to the imperial palace now?" Divine Martial Heavenly Army sounded like the name of a military force, but in fact it was one of the five great sects of the Righteous Path Alliance, just like the Azure Nether Sword Sect. "Just call me Ruowei." But thinking back, when she had first met Bai Qiuran, he had seemed like a proper knight-errant. Yet the more time Tang Ruowei spent with him, the more she realized that once you got to know him, he became increasingly unrestrained in his speech—and increasingly lewd. Standing behind Zuo Yanfei, Tang Ruowei watched the scene with a complicated expression, wanting to speak but holding back. Tang Ruowei froze for a moment, then instinctively turned to look at Bai Qiuran, but he was gazing up at a nearby red pillar and whistling, pretending not to notice his disciple's stare. Damn it, Master, you can't do this! Tang Ruowei looked around. Most of these people were martial artists on par with the Qi Refining Stage, but apart from her, there were also several cultivators who had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage. Among them were the spirited older sister over there, dressed in armor with her black hair tied in a high ponytail, and a man and woman standing side by side farther away. Cultivators could alter their physiques, so all these cultivators were quite good-looking. "I believe everyone here knows why they have come, so I'll get straight to the point. We place no restrictions on your methods. You may work together or act alone; if you choose to cooperate, you can discuss the distribution of the reward among yourselves. His Majesty has added to the bounty once again. Anyone who captures the Crown Prince's murderer, dead or alive, may claim not only the reward listed in the original notice, but also a third-grade immortal herb that has been treasured in the state treasury for many years. The identity of the culprit will be determined by our state enshrined cultivators. We want to see the living, or at least the corpse. That is all." Seeing him like this, Tang Ruowei muttered to herself, "Then let's head to the imperial palace now." After checking the token, Tang Ruowei smiled. "I've heard so much about you." "As expected of the Azure Nether Sword Sect's techniques—I can't understand a word." "I don't know." But for Tang Ruowei, who had already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, this was a piece of cake. She simply released her Kun Ling Sword and sent it circling around her. The two inspectors were immediately awestruck and ushered her inside with great respect. "Hello." Noticing the strange look on Tang Ruowei's face, Zuo Yanfei seemed to misunderstand something. She smiled at Tang Ruowei and said, "It seems this junior brother Bai is very important to you, Miss Tang..." "Uh, he's..." After reaching the imperial palace gates and asking a few passersby for directions, Tang Ruowei found the place where she could apply for the bounty to capture the Crown Prince's murderer. The reigning emperor had personally issued the bounty, so they naturally couldn't let just any riffraff take part. Applicants were screened at the entrance and had to pass the inspection before being allowed inside. "Yes. I'm Tang Ruowei, a disciple of the Azure Nether Sword Sect. May I ask who you are, Sister?" "A pleasure to meet you. I've long admired the Azure Nether Sword Sect." "Miss, are you from the Azure Nether Sword Sect?" Each of the Righteous Path Alliance's five great sects excelled in its own way. The Azure Nether Sword Sect, led by Jueyunzi, had peerless attack power among cultivators of the same level. Of the other four sects, the Heavenly Saint Buddhist Sect had the best defenses, the Profound Law Academy had the highest technical prowess, the Xiandu Yulou had the deepest pockets, and the Divine Martial Heavenly Army had the most members. As she looked at the rows of Dingguo-style buildings surrounding them, Tang Ruowei sighed. Tang Ruowei was astonished, wondering how this fellow had become so adept at acting young. Zuo Yanfei nodded, only half understanding. Zuo Yanfei smiled. When Tang Ruowei entered, the cultivators noticed her too. The others glanced at her, then looked away without paying her any further attention, but the spirited older sister walked over to her. Beyond the gate lay a courtyard, where several other people had already gathered besides Tang Ruowei and Bai Qiuran. "I am Dingguo's Minister of Justice. Greetings, Immortal Elders and heroes." In the Divine Martial Heavenly Army, aside from the Command Flags of its various battalions, there were hardly any Magic Treasures. Instead, they used divine weapons that surpassed ordinary mortal arms. Their disciples also fought more like mortal-world generals, wielding sabers, spears, axes, and halberds, and specializing in close-quarters combat. "Is this your junior brother?" Bai Qiuran said as he walked. "Oh, right, Ruowei. From this moment on, your trial officially begins. I won't help you from here on out. You're on your own." Tang Ruowei asked. When it came to internal ranks and sect administration, the sect used the old military system in its entirety. Its studies focused on military law and battle formations, and its techniques reflected its style: bold, sweeping, and relentlessly advancing. "Mm, I see." Bai Qiuran replied expressionlessly. The sect had been founded by a human general who survived the war between humans and demons. Its name came from the banner of one of the armies of humanity, whose sects had been rearranged into military units during the later stages of the war. The ordinary people living near the Divine Martial Heavenly Army's headquarters called its members Divine Generals because of their fighting style. The spirited older sister held up a token and smiled. "I am a First-Class Soldier of the Divine Martial Heavenly Army, Zuo Yanfei." "Oh, so you're with the Divine Martial Heavenly Army." Bai Qiuran helpfully "explained." "Sister Zuo, my senior sister practices a special technique. The circulation of her True Essence occasionally gets... sluggish. She'll be fine once she gets used to it." "All right." Zuo Yanfei smiled, then looked at Bai Qiuran, who stood behind Tang Ruowei. "I'm surnamed Bai. Sister Zuo can just call me Little Bai." "Yes, Sister. I came along with my senior sister to gain experience. I'm dull-witted, and Master said I could only go out and see the world by following her." "What's your name, Sister?" The black-haired woman with the high ponytail held out her hand to Tang Ruowei. The imperial capital of Dingguo, Baiyuan City.
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