Zhang Feng led Wei Xinyuan and Wang Guci across the street quickly and went straight to City Lord's Residence in the center of Crossing Peak Stronghold.
After Jiang Zhongtian led the army to Tooth-Copper City, the defense and daily general affairs of the entire important town were handed over to the Heavenly Heart Sect Elder Chu Tiankuo to take charge of it.
The three of them walked to the City Lord's Residence door. The ones guarding the door were not Heaven Patrol Office guards, but four Heavenly Heart Sect inner disciples wearing dark gray Martial Garment.
Zhang Feng stopped at the foot of the steps, raised his hands to straighten Flowing-Water-Pattern Robe on his body, and calmed down the anger he had just felt when East City's house was empty.
In front of ordinary Rogue Cultivator and small sect disciples, he can put on the airs of the Returning to the Profound Realm Overhaul and run rampant.
But when he arrived at City Lord's Residence's door, he was about to face Heavenly Heart Sect, the most powerful Elder who ranked Hidden Dragon Ranking's 263rd, and he did not dare to show any arrogance.
Nine Rivers Sect is ultimately defeated by the Heavenly Heart Sect and Ten Thousand Swords Valley in Qing Province, relying on the Heavenly Heart Sect to survive. On the surface, the two companies have a cooperative relationship, but in fact they have a clear hierarchy of superiority and inferiority.
After passing the news, a Heavenly Heart Sect Steward walked out of the door and led the three of them through several courtyards to a secluded greenhouse in the backyard.
Zhang Feng raised his hand to signal Wei Xinyuan and Wang Guci to wait in the corridor, and then he stepped across the threshold.
In the Nuan Pavilion, a fine Silver-Thread Charcoal was burning. A tall, middle-aged man wearing a dark gray Elder robe was leaning on a large chair covered with thick White Tiger leather, closing his eyes and meditating.
He has a square face, broad shoulders, and his short silver-gray hair is meticulously combed. Even with his eyes closed, the pressure from his upper position is overwhelming.
It is Enforcement Hall Elder Chu Tiankuo of the Heavenly Heart Sect.
"Elder Chu."
Zhang Feng changed his overbearing attitude outside, put on a somewhat polite smile, and cupped his hands towards Chu Tiankuo who was sitting on the chair.
Chu Tiankuo didn't even raise his eyelids, he just said "hmm" from his nose as a greeting.
Zhang Feng didn't care, he took two steps forward and stood three steps away from Chu Tiankuo.
He first asked with concern, "I heard that Elder Chu was injured outside Tooth-Copper City a while ago. I wonder how he is doing now?"
Chu Tiankuo then slowly opened his eyes.
Those gray-green eyes were as deep as two ancient wells, and there was no trace of emotion at all. He glanced at Zhang Feng and said in a calm voice, "Lao Zhang Elder is worried and won't die."
"The sect sent Spirit Medicine to save his life. The foundation is still there. Saving this life is not a problem."
"I don't go to the Three Treasures Hall for anything. Zhang Elder is not in the sect to clean up his cultivation, so he came to Crossing Peak Stronghold. But what's the important matter?"
Hearing that Chu Tiankuo's life was safe, Zhang Feng took advantage of the situation and sat down on the wooden chair at the bottom, with his body only touching half of the chair surface, and sighed:
"I can't hide it from Elder Chu. I came here because of something really troublesome."
"The last time I visited you in the military camp, I mentioned that my junior brother Li Chengyan disappeared in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains a few months ago. His Life Tablet was shattered a while ago. The sect was furious and sent me out to investigate the real culprit."
"Based on the clues you gave me last time, I have focused on Heaven Patrol Office's Commander named Yi Yang."
At this point, Zhang Feng put his palms on his knees and deliberately omitted the humiliating experience of being shot to the knees by Jiang Zhongtian at the corner of the official road five days ago and being labeled as a collaborator. He only recounted the incident of blocking Yi Yang on the official road from beginning to end.
After finishing speaking, Zhang Feng sighed and said angrily:
"Elder Chu, if this guy named Yi had no evil intentions, why would he abandon Heaven Patrol Office's errands and abscond with his tail between his legs in fear of crime?"
"Junior brother Li's death is probably his fault!"
"I'm not familiar with Crossing Peak Stronghold, and I don't have many people under my command. I shamelessly came here today just to ask Elder Chu for a favor. Use Heavenly Heart Sect's spies in the city to help me find out where this kid is going!"
In the main seat, Chu Tiankuo listened quietly, his high eyebrows moved, and his face showed an unexpected look as if he had heard about this for the first time:
"Is there such a thing?"
"That Yi Yang, when I pointed out his cultivation in the military tent a few days ago, he seemed to be an honest and responsible person. I didn't expect to act so arrogantly, even Zhang Elder dared to refute him."
Chu Tiankuo responded like this, but there was no movement in the depths of his gray-green eyes.
Even he was vaguely aware of the sound of "Heavy Mountain" Divine Power landing on the mountain road outside the city five days ago.
Although he was recovering from his injuries on the bed at the time, Divine Sense could clearly sense that Jiang Zhongtian was fighting with a Returning to the Profound Realm warrior.
Now listening to Zhang Feng's evasive remarks, Chu Tiankuo still doesn't understand. It must be that this old boy was blocking people outside the city and was bumped into by Jiang Zhongtian. He punished him and deliberately concealed it for fear of being embarrassed.
But see through it without telling it off. He needs someone to run errands for him now, and there is no need to expose Zhang Feng's scars.
Chu Tiankuo raised his right hand and touched Black-Jade Enforcement Token on his waist:
"Heavenly Heart Sect and Nine Rivers Sect are united. Li Elder has been poisoned. I, Heavenly Heart Sect, should do my best."
"Let's do this. The four gates of Crossing Peak Stronghold are jointly guarded by my sect's disciples, and there are hidden stakes in each city."
"I will send an order and ask the disciples below to check the records of entering and exiting the city gate in the past few days."
"Elder Let's drink tea and rest for a while in the side hall. As soon as there is any news, I will have someone notify you."
Seeing Chu Tiankuo's immediate response, Zhang Feng's tense face relaxed, he stood up and cupped his hands and said:
"Then Elder Chu won't have to worry about it. I'll just wait in the side hall and won't disturb Elder's rest!"
After Steward led Zhang Feng and the three of them back to the side hall, the gentle look on Chu Tiankuo's face completely disappeared and he shouted to the door:
"Here comes someone."
A man in black Steward quickly walked into the hall and knelt on one knee.
"Go and find out where Heaven Patrol Office, named Yi Yang, went, who he met, and who he left the city with in the past three days."
"After you find out, come directly to me and don't alert Nine Rivers Sect people."
"As you command!"
Steward in black took orders and stood down.
The meeting hall became quiet again, Chu Tiankuo leaned on the back of the large chair, closed his eyes and rested.
This wait lasted for two full hours.
The sun was turning to the west, and rapid footsteps could be heard in the corridor outside the hall. The black-clothed Steward had left and returned, walked quickly to the main seat, bowed, and then whispered something into Chu Tiankuo's ear, reporting something quickly.
After a while, Chu Tiankuo opened his eyes and waved his hand:
"I know, go down and get twenty Spirit Crystal and go to the accounting office to withdraw it."
Steward withdrew gratefully.
Chu Tiankuo was sitting alone in the empty hall, with his fingers on the armrests of the chair. He didn't immediately summon Zhang Feng in the side hall, his mind was spinning rapidly.
Yi Yang and Lu Qinglan got together?
This was beyond his expectation.
In the night attack outside Tooth-Copper City a few days ago, the Grandmaster ancestor of the Lu Family, who was accompanying the army, stood aside and allowed Shang Yu to shoot down the camp with five arrows. It was clear that he wanted to kill people with a borrowed knife and eliminate the descendants of Lu Zui.
Chu Tiankuo has been working in Qing Province for more than a hundred years, and he knows all about the dirty things inside the four major families. According to the news circulating in the sect, that old guy Lu Zui, escaped from the Lu Family's main line back then, but took away a lot of good things. I heard that Lu Family's ancestral Spirit Weapon armor is in his hands.
But that night, when Shang Yu's Thunderlight Arrow bombed down, Chu Tiankuo was closest to Lu Zui.
When Lu Zui hit the arrow hard, only Profound Transformation Realm's protective body True Qi and Mountain-River Fist were stimulated, and there was no slightest fluctuation in Spirit Weapon's armor!
If Azure Cloud Flowing Light Armor had protected him, Lu Zui would never have been shot through the chest by an arrow and ended up being seriously injured and escaped into the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains.
"That's it..."
Chu Tiankuo's gray-green eyes lit up, and he tapped his fingers heavily on the armrest.
Lu Zui, that old fool, loves his granddaughter to the core, and even left the life-saving Spirit Weapon soft armor to Lu Qinglan before setting off!
Now Lu Zui's whereabouts are unknown, Lu Qinglan is a little girl of the True Astral Realm, guarding one thing is enough to make Profound Connection Perfection and even Grandmaster is jealous of Spirit Weapon's armor and dares to follow Yi Yang into the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains. Isn't this a childish way of spending money in the busy city?
Not only that, Lu Zui, as a Profound Transformation Realm warrior who has lived for nearly two hundred years, all the Spirit Crystal, Pills, and secrets accumulated throughout his life and left by the Lu Family's lineage are in the hands of his grandfather and grandson.
If I could take this opportunity to swallow the rich inheritance left by the Lu Family's grandson together with the Spirit Weapon soft armor...
His authority within the Heavenly Heart Sect will rise to a higher level, and he will also be able to make up for all the losses caused by the defeat of Tooth-Copper City!
In the blink of an eye, a poisonous plan to kill someone with a borrowed knife was formed in Chu Tiankuo's mind.
He straightened his robes, stood up, and walked towards the side hall.
In the side hall, Zhang Feng was pacing back and forth restlessly. When he saw Chu Tiankuo pushing the door in, he hurriedly stepped forward to greet him:
"Elder Chu, but there is news?"
A gentle smile appeared on Chu Tiankuo's face, and he stretched out his hand to motion Zhang Feng to sit down:
"I have made Zhang Elder wait for a long time. This boy named Yi is indeed cunning. After a lot of trouble, the disciples finally found out his details."
"According to our sect's secret investigation, Yi Yang was no longer in the city three nights ago."
"And he didn't go alone. He was accompanied by Lu Zui's granddaughter, Lu Qinglan."
"The two of them are most likely going to the depths of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains."
"Lu Qinglan?" Zhang Feng frowned into a knot, with a look of confusion on his face, "Why did he get involved with Lu Zui's granddaughter? Could it be..."
Zhang Feng's face changed slightly when he was speaking, "Is Lu Zui not dead yet?!"
A few days ago, Jiang Zhongtian was on the mountain road saying that Lu Zui's life or death was uncertain. Zhang Feng still thought it was just a show. He was chased by two Shaman Kingdom Profound Mystery Fifth Stage and took an arrow from Grandmaster. How could he survive?
Chu Tiankuo shook his head, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip:
"Who is Lu Zui? He is a strong Profound Transformation Realm who has only half a foot to step into the threshold of Grandmaster. He is extremely strong with Mountain-River Fist. How can he die in the hands of the Shaman Kingdom barbarians so easily."
"He must be hiding somewhere in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains to recover from his injuries."
"That Yi Yang bumped into you Zhang Elder on the mountain road. Knowing that no one in the city could protect Jiang Zhongtian after he went on an expedition, in order to survive, he naturally had to find a way to find a stronger backer."
"He accompanied Lu Qinglan into the mountains to look for someone. As long as he finds Lu Zui and is protected by the old man Profound Transformation Realm, if you try to touch him again, Elder, it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven."
After listening to this sensible analysis, Zhang Feng slapped the table with his hand, causing the wooden table to buzz:
"What a cunning little beast! His abacus failed!"
"But he really thinks that he can save a dog's life by getting into the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains? Lu Zui cannot save itself. Whether he can breathe or not is a matter of two questions!"
"The time limit given to me by my ancestor is running out. I can't wait in the city for him to find a backer. I will take people into the mountains right away and before he finds Lu Zui, I will tear off his head and bring him back to the sect for business!"
Seeing Zhang Feng's murderous look, Chu Tiankuo put down the tea cup and sighed:
"Elder Since he is determined to enter the mountain, I can't stop him."
"Speaking of which, this Yi Yang also has an old grudge against me, Heavenly Heart Sect."
"On the night of Crossing Peak Stronghold's turmoil half a month ago, Han Ji Elder under my sect died tragically in the city. I suspect that this matter is also related to this Yi Yang, but there is no proof."
"I am seriously injured now, and I still have to sit down and stabilize the overall situation of City Lord's Residence. I really can't get away."
"To capture Yi Yang, we have to rely a lot on Zhang Elder." Chu Tiankuo said, taking out a neatly folded black soft armor from Storage Ring and handing it over.
"This 'Black-Iron Crow Armor', although it is only Supreme-Grade Treasure Artifact, can still be of some use in the battle of the Profound Connection Realm. It can be regarded as the reward paid by Chu to Zhang Elder in advance."
"I just ask Zhang Elder to spare him a breath after he captures Yi Yang, and let me interrogate a few words about the cause of Junior Brother Han's death. How about that?"
Zhang Feng looked down at Black-Iron Crow Armor on the coffee table, breathing heavily, and his eyes were shining brightly.
In the spectrum of weapons, armor is ten times harder to find than swords.
A piece of Supreme-Grade Treasure Artifact-level armor has a high price on the market. It can fetch a high price of three to four hundred Spirit Crystal at least. It can add a little more vitality in the battle of the Profound Connection Realm!
He was originally going to go into the mountain to kill Yi Yang to report to his ancestor, but now he did something by the way and was able to get a top-quality defense Treasure Artifact for free!
Zhang Feng was afraid that Chu Tiankuo would regret it, so he stretched out his big hand like a cattail fan, grabbed Black-Iron Crow Armor into his hand, put it away close to his body, and said with excitement on his face:
"Elder Chu What are you talking about! Your business is my Zhang Feng business!"
"Elder is recovering peacefully in the mansion, but within ten days, I will break off Yi Yang's limbs and carry him back like a dead dog to Elder for punishment!"
"Without further delay, I will take people out of the city and into the mountains!"
Zhang Feng Lei Li Feng walked, carrying the precious soft armor, turned around and strode out of the side hall, greeted Wei Xinyuan and Wang Guci on the corridor, and hurried out of City Lord's Residence.
Chu Tiankuo stood at the door of the side hall, with his hands behind his back, watching the three figures of Zhang Feng disappear around the corner of the courtyard door.
The wind blew through the courtyard, bringing with it a chill.
Chu Tiankuo The kind smile on his face faded away little by little, and only bottomless calculation remained in his gray-green eyes:
"Idiot."
"Han Ji is the real Dharma Body Realm. Even Blue-Faced Divine General Dharma Body was smashed to pieces and burned. So how could Yi Yang have done this without some evil tricks?"
"It's perfect for you, a reckless man like you Returning to the Profound Realm, to explore his trump card."
"When you fight Yi Yang and the seriously injured Lu Zui in the mountains, both of you will lose. Then I will follow you into the mountains to clean up the mess."
"The mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole follows behind. The secrets of Yi Yang, as well as the Spirit Weapon legacy of the Lu Family's lineage, are all in my pocket..."
Before he finished speaking, Chu Tiankuo's expression suddenly changed, and there was a muffled sound in his chest.
"Pfft--"
He arched his waist suddenly, and a large mouthful of black bruises mixed with fine gold threads sprayed on the blue bricks under his feet. Chu Tiankuo covered his chest and coughed violently. Every time he coughed, his face became paler.
He opened his palms and looked at the few strands of dark aura in his palms that were thinner than hair but were firmly penetrated into Meridians. For the first time, a trace of powerlessness appeared in his eyes and he sighed:
"Is this the strength of the previous generation Hidden Dragon Ranking that topped the list and entered Martial Grandmaster?"
"With an arrow shot thousands of miles away, the remaining Qi alone can destroy 30% of my cultivation..."
"Shang Yu..."
Chu Tiankuo bit his back molars, swallowed two Pills to suppress the injury, and murmured to himself with fear in his eyes:
"It's really... so powerful that it makes people despair!"
"I hope this injury won't delay my journey into the mountains..."