A short while later, Xu Yang and the others followed Wu Ming to a side hall. Once inside, they introduced themselves to one another and took their seats. Liu Yuan immediately asked Wu Ming, "Fellow Daoist Wu, please tell us the full story. That way, we'll know what we're dealing with."
Wu Ming gave a bitter smile at Liu Yuan's question. "This is truly a family disgrace. I never wanted others to know about it, but now I'm helpless and have no choice but to seek Senior Qing Yuanzi's help." He then explained everything in detail.
Xu Yang listened, his face showing dawning understanding. He had known about this for some time. It was the very same rebellion by Prince Fu that he had encountered before entering the world of cultivation. Over the past year or so, Prince Fu's forces had grown at an alarming rate, and even Wu Ming, the emperor, had been forced onto the back foot.
The reason was that cultivators had joined Prince Fu's side—and not just a few. They were powerful, too, and had slaughtered all the Rogue Cultivators Wu Ming had recruited. Fortunately, Wu Ming himself was a fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivator. Otherwise, Prince Fu would have captured him long ago.
With no other choice, Wu Ming had sought Qing Yuanzi's help. He knew that each time he called in this favor, there was less of it left. If he hadn't been truly out of options this time, he would never have asked Qing Yuanzi for help.
After hearing the details, Liu Yuan felt a weight lift from his heart. He immediately told Wu Ming with complete confidence, "So that's what happened. Those Rogue Cultivators are truly audacious. The cultivation world expressly forbids cultivators from interfering in worldly disputes, yet they dare to disregard that rule."
At that moment, Li Qingqing, seated nearby, said coldly, "How did these Rogue Cultivators get so bold as to openly defy the ironclad laws of the cultivation world? Could there be something suspicious going on?"
At Li Qingqing's words, Liu Yuan, Xu Yang, and the others immediately turned to look at Wu Ming. His expression changed, and he hurriedly said, "Rest assured, Immortal Maiden. I've already sent my best men to investigate. There's absolutely nothing suspicious."
"These Rogue Cultivators acted as they did because Prince Fu, that traitor, promised them that once he succeeded, he would give them some of the Spirit Stones collected by the Wu Kingdom."
With a sharp SMACK, Liu Yuan slammed his hand down on the armrest of his chair and smashed it to pieces. His face flushed with anger. "That Prince Fu! He dares to give Rogue Cultivators the Spirit Stones meant as tribute to the sect, openly stealing from the sect's coffers. He deserves to die!"
Xu Yang, Li Qingqing, and the others were all furious as well. Seeing this, Wu Ming quickly tried to calm them. "Please, seniors, contain your anger. Once Prince Fu is captured, I'll have him hacked into a thousand pieces."
Liu Yuan's anger eased somewhat. He sat down again and asked Wu Ming, "Where is Prince Fu now? How many Rogue Cultivators does he have under him, and how strong are they?"
"Reporting to you, Senior, Prince Fu is currently thirty li north of the capital. There's an Imperial Manor there, and he's staying inside. He has five Rogue Cultivators under him: two at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, two at the eighth, and one at the seventh," Wu Ming replied respectfully.
"Oh, they're right outside the city. They must be quite confident! Very well, let's rest first. Tonight, we'll pay the Imperial Manor a visit and see what exactly they're relying on," Liu Yuan said with a cold laugh.
He then turned to Xu Yang and the others. "Fellow junior brothers and sister, what do you think? If no one has any other ideas, we'll go pay them a visit tonight." Xu Yang thought helplessly, You've already made up your mind. What opinion could I possibly have?
Xu Yang was the first to speak up. "I have no objections, Senior Brother. I'll follow your orders." The others all nodded in agreement.
Liu Yuan nodded in satisfaction and said to Xu Yang and the others, "Since that's settled, let's go rest and gather our strength. Tonight, we'll give those Rogue Cultivators a surprise."
Seeing this, Wu Ming immediately stood up. "Then I'll have quiet rooms prepared for all of you, seniors." He left the side hall to arrange their lodgings.
After Wu Ming left, Liu Hao's eyes shifted as he said, "We arrived at the palace in such a conspicuous manner today. That traitor Prince Fu must know about it by now. Who knows whether those Rogue Cultivators will flee? Why don't you send someone to keep watch at the Imperial Manor, Senior Brother?"
Liu Yuan was immediately tempted by the suggestion. He turned to Xu Yang and the others, then said to Xu Shaoyang, "Junior Brother Liu has a point. Why don't you go, Junior Brother Xu?"
Xu Shaoyang's face turned ghastly. He knew Liu Yuan was retaliating against him, but he couldn't refuse the proposal. After all, Liu Yuan was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and the leader of this mission.
With no choice, Xu Shaoyang gritted his teeth and agreed. A trace of schadenfreude flashed through Liu Hao's eyes, while Liu Yuan nodded in satisfaction. Xu Shaoyang then reluctantly flew off on his sword toward the Imperial Manor.
Watching the scene, Xu Yang could only shake his head. With a formidable enemy at their doorstep, his own people had started fighting among themselves first. Liu Yuan was far too narrow-minded and lacked the generosity to tolerate others. Xu Yang didn't think Liu Yuan could outmaneuver Huo Lian.
At that moment, Liu Hao turned to Xu Yang. "Junior Brother Xu, you should think things through more carefully from now on. Don't be as inflexible as Junior Brother Xu." Xu Yang replied solemnly, "Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother Liu. I'll be sure to seek guidance from both senior brothers in the future."
Liu Hao laughed heartily, stood up, and patted Xu Yang on the shoulder. Then he said to Liu Yuan, "Senior Brother, it seems Junior Brother Xu knows what's what!" Liu Yuan cleared his throat. "All right, Junior Brother, that's enough." He shot Liu Hao a look, then glanced at Li Qingqing.
Liu Hao looked sideways at Li Qingqing. Seeing her glaring at him with a face like frost, his expression changed at once, and he clamped his mouth shut. Xu Yang, watching from the side, was taken aback. He hadn't expected Liu Yuan and Liu Hao to be wary of Li Qingqing. It seemed her background was no simple matter.
Xu Yang's thoughts stirred. He was just about to say a few words to Li Qingqing and build a connection when Wu Ming entered the side hall and said, "Seniors, the quiet rooms are ready. Please, come this way." As he spoke, Wu Ming suddenly noticed that someone was missing. He hurriedly asked Liu Yuan, "Senior Liu, where has Senior Xu gone?"
"Oh! We discussed it just now and decided to send someone to the Imperial Manor to keep an eye on the enemy's movements. Junior Brother Xu has already gone to watch them," Liu Yuan replied.
Hearing this, Wu Ming said admiringly, "I see. You seniors have thought of everything. I'm impressed. Now, please come to your rooms!"
Wu Ming led the way, and Xu Yang and the others followed him to their rooms. Then the four of them went their separate ways and entered their rooms to rest.
Xu Yang glanced around. The room was decorated with extravagant splendor, its furnishings exquisite beyond compare. He couldn't help shaking his head and thinking, No wonder Wu Ming's cultivation is so poor. He cares far too much about these worldly possessions and spends all his time indulging himself. Naturally, he has no mind left for cultivation.
Xu Yang sat down on the bed and was about to meditate, adjusting himself for the battle that night, when a knock suddenly sounded at the door. His expression froze. He rose and went to the door. An old eunuch stood outside. The moment he saw Xu Yang, he bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Immortal. I've come at His Majesty's command to deliver you a gift."
Xu Yang stared at the old eunuch in surprise. "Oh? What is it?" The eunuch quickly raised both hands, holding out a Qiankun Bag. "This servant doesn't know. The gift is inside this Qiankun Bag."
Xu Yang's brows lifted. He took the Qiankun Bag and waved for the eunuch to leave. The old eunuch bowed at once and turned to go.
Holding the Qiankun Bag, Xu Yang returned to his room. Once seated on the bed, he sent his divine sense inside and saw more than twenty Spirit Stones. His face lit up. He immediately took one out and turned it over in his hand, examining it.
He then transferred the Spirit Stones inside into his own Qiankun Bag, feeling quite pleased with Wu Ming's generosity. Xu Yang's Qiankun Bag hadn't held a single Spirit Stone; he had absorbed them all. At last, he had some Spirit Stones back in his bag.
Suppressing his delight at receiving the Spirit Stones, Xu Yang began circulating his cultivation technique, adjusting his condition for the battle that night.
Time passed quickly. Night fell, and Xu Yang slowly emerged from his meditative state. He was now brimming with energy, Gang Qi surging through his body. His eyes shone with vitality; he had reached the peak of his condition.
Xu Yang rose and pushed open the quiet room's door. He stepped into the courtyard and looked up at the sky. Thick clouds blanketed the heavens, completely hiding the moon. All around them was pitch-black darkness; he couldn't see his own hand in front of his face.
Seeing this, Xu Yang thought, Tonight really is a night for murder beneath a dark and windy sky. The only question is, who'll kill whom? I'd better be careful, or I might end up capsizing my boat here.
At that moment, Xu Yang's ears twitched. He heard movement from the other quiet rooms and turned around at once. Liu Yuan, Li Qingqing, and the other two emerged from their rooms.
Liu Hao and Liu Yuan both wore faint smiles. Even Li Qingqing, usually cold as ice, had a changed expression. Clearly, Wu Ming's generosity toward them had been quite substantial, leaving all three very pleased.
After Xu Yang stepped forward and greeted the three, Liu Yuan spoke up. "Let's set off now. The sooner we deal with the traitor, the sooner we can return to the sect and report to Master." Xu Yang and the others immediately agreed. They flew off on their swords and headed straight for the Imperial Manor.
Inside a lavishly decorated hall, Wu Ming watched the four streaks of swordlight disappear into the distance. He murmured to himself, "I hope these cultivators can succeed in one fell swoop. Otherwise, all those Spirit Stones I handed over will have gone to waste."
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