Too Magical

In Chen Li's opinion, only Hua Jian Xin had fought against the Devil Master, so she knew best how strong the Devil Master was. He trusted Hua Jian Xin very much. Hua Jian Xin said that the Devil Master was repelled by an Old Beggar, so he reported it truthfully.

Chen Li sighed, "The White-Clothed Guard has been investigating for several months. There are not many Old Beggars who can repel the Devil Master. Either he is the leader of the Beggar Gang, or he is the Mad Taoist who has already gone mad. Both of these people are elusive and hard to find."

Jiang Changsheng asked, "Is that how this matter ends?"

So many people died, and it caused such a big commotion, yet it ends like this? It's too absurd.

Chen Li shook his head and said, "It's just the end of the incident. When His Majesty returns, he will definitely question us. I have resigned from my official duties and been transferred by the family head to the Ministry of Revenue as a minor official. Although it is a demotion, it is also considered saving my life."

Jiang Changsheng nodded and did not continue to ask.

Chen Li looked at Hua Jian Xin and said, "You have two paths now. First, I can send you out of Jing City now. Second, wait for His Majesty to return and question you. If Eunuch Li and the leader of the White-Clothed Guard are brought to justice, you can safely return."

Hua Jian Xin shook her head and said, "Both of your paths are asking me to obey fate. Thank you for your kindness."

Chen Li was silent, with a look of guilt on his face.

It was his invitation that put Hua Jian Xin in such a predicament, but he could not solve Hua Jian Xin's predicament.

"Then what do you plan to do..." Chen Li asked.

Hua Jian Xin said, "I will follow Daoist Changsheng from now on. You don't have to worry about me anymore. As for the White-Clothed Guard, I no longer care about them."

She is now studying the Jade Purity Severing Meridian Needle every day, just wanting to become stronger.

That night, the Devil Sect chased her, but no one could help her. She didn't want to experience that kind of powerlessness and despair again.

Chen Li looked at Jiang Changsheng.

Jiang Changsheng smiled and said, "Just let her stay. As long as she doesn't go down the mountain, nothing will happen."

Chen Li thought it made sense and nodded in agreement.

Because Hua Jian Xin was beside him, he couldn't express his depression to Jiang Changsheng as he used to. He left after sitting for a short while.

After Chen Li left, Jiang Changsheng asked, "Which faction do you think Chen Li belongs to?"

Hua Jian Xin pondered for a moment and said, "He cares about the people, is very stubborn, only recognizes the truth, and despises factional disputes. He doesn't belong to any faction."

"How did you two meet?"

"Back then, he passed the imperial examination with the highest score. His Majesty had expectations for him and sent me to secretly protect him. I protected him for several years, and due to some coincidences, we became familiar."

Hua Jian Xin replied, she was curious about what Jiang Changsheng wanted to do, but she didn't dare to ask.

Such an expert living in Jing City must be more than just cultivating the Dao.

Jiang Changsheng stopped asking, waved his hand to signal her to step back, and then he practiced his skills in the house.

The next goal is the fifth level of the Dao Follows Nature Skill.

After reaching the fifth level, he will meet the Heavenly Connection in the palace and then carry out the bold plan in his heart.

Fighting with the emperor cannot be done recklessly, cultivation must be the priority.

At worst, he will outlive him.

Jiang Changsheng thought silently, warning himself not to be arrogant at any time, and to only act when he has absolute certainty.

Inside the resplendent golden palace, Jiang Yuan sat imposingly on the dragon throne. Adorned with the imperial crown, he exuded the domineering aura of an emperor. The civil and military officials filling the hall all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze, even the princes were no exception.

Eunuch Li stood diagonally below Jiang Yuan, his body slightly bent, as if everything was unrelated to him.

Jiang Yuan sneered, "What? Are you all mute? Over two hundred people died in the city, yet only one White-Clothed Guard is missing from the Imperial Guards and White-Clothed Guards? Can you be any more absurd?"

The Minister of Justice, Yang Che, stepped forward and knelt down, his voice filled with tears as he cried out, "Your Majesty, seventy-three members of my Yang Family have died, even my younger brother... Please, Your Majesty, deliver justice!"

Another civil official also stepped out and knelt down, shouting, "One hundred and two members of my Hong Family have been lost. There must be someone behind the Devil Sect pushing things forward. During that time, the White-Clothed Guards collectively disappeared, and the Imperial Guards all played dead. No matter how we begged them, it was useless. There must be a high-ranking official giving orders behind this. Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly!"

Immediately afterward, other officials also knelt down.

The Second Prince, Jiang Ming, frowned deeply, as did the Crown Prince, Jiang Qian.

Jiang Ming's backer was the Hong Family, and Jiang Qian's backer was the Yang Family. They had left Jing City with the emperor, and their respective backers had been attacked. They suspected that factions of other princes were behind it.

Jiang Yuan snorted coldly, his voice like a dragon's roar, causing everyone's hearts to feel as if they had been struck by a hammer. The clamor in the hall came to an abrupt halt.

He slowly stood up, his True Qi causing his dragon robe to billow, his aura visible to the naked eye, as if a semi-transparent dragon was coiling around his body.

Everyone became tense, and the military generals were secretly shocked. Meng Qiuhe, who had left Dragon Arising Temple, was also in the hall, and he felt a sense of awe in his heart.

The emperor actually has such power...

Meng Qiuhe thought in shock. As the Martial Arts Champion, he prided himself on his martial prowess and looked down on the princes and the emperor, but after seeing him today, he realized that this emperor who had conquered such a vast empire was no ordinary man.

Jiang Yuan scanned everyone and said in a cold voice, "So many people have died within the imperial city. I want the same number of heads to atone for their crimes."

Everyone felt a chill in their hearts. Jiang Yuan was truly capable of killing people, and no matter how high an official was, they could be beheaded!

"Summon Zong Tianwu."

Jiang Yuan spoke again, and Eunuch Li immediately raised his head and repeated his words in a loud voice. The eunuchs outside the hall heard this and followed suit, repeating the command one after another.

Zong Tianwu, the current Martial Arts Supreme, suppressed all the heroes of the world and reached the pinnacle of the martial world with absolute martial prowess.

The civil and military officials exchanged glances, and they all turned their heads to look outside the hall. Beyond the Golden Luan Hall was a staircase of hundreds of steps, leading down to the inner city's imperial gate, and then to the vast martial arts training square.

A figure arrived like a ghost, as if constantly teleporting, covering several yards with each step. In less than five breaths, he entered the hall. After entering the hall, his pace slowed down, no longer as strange, but instead walking forward like an ordinary person.

He came to the hall and bowed in salute.

He did not kneel.

Zong Tianwu wore a white robe, with white hair, white eyebrows, and a white beard. His body was sturdy, and his eyes revealed arrogance, squinting as he looked down upon the civil and military officials on both sides.

Jiang Qian frowned, disliking his gaze very much.

Jiang Ming, on the other hand, stared at Zong Tianwu with fervent eyes.

"From today onwards, establish the Heavenly Martial Bureau. All officials of the fifth rank and above may recommend two children to enter the Heavenly Martial Bureau to learn martial arts. In addition to teaching martial arts, the Heavenly Martial Bureau will also investigate the Devil Sect case."

"The Heavenly Martial Bureau will only take orders from me!"

Jiang Yuan said each word with emphasis, and the immense power bestowed upon Zong Tianwu caused the civil and military officials to look at him with jealousy and concern.

Zong Tianwu cupped his hands in salute and said, "I accept the command."

……

In the nineteenth year of the Kaiyuan era, the new year had just ended when a bloody storm swept through Jing City. Two hundred officials, both high and low, were beheaded in the streets to quell public anger.

Chen Li visited Jiang Changsheng, excitedly recounting the event, praising His Majesty's mighty dragon might, only regretting that Eunuch Li had not died.

He also spoke of the Heavenly Martial Bureau, which had become the most feared entity in Jing City, for they were the Son of Heaven's blade. Even mighty generals from the founding era, when convicted by the Emperor, could not escape Zong Tianwu's capture, reportedly unable to withstand even a single move.

Jiang Changsheng became extremely curious about Zong Tianwu, wondering just how strong this Martial Arts Supreme was.

Besides relaying events, Chen Li also brought a batch of medicinal herbs, including the final ingredient needed to cure Qingxu Taoist Priest's poison.

Strangely enough, Qingxu Taoist Priest was afflicted by a Devil Sect poison that even the Devil Master could not cure. Their purpose in developing this poison was to ensure that no one could ever counteract it.

After Chen Li departed, Jiang Changsheng began to concoct the antidote. He refined the elixir in the courtyard, using only an ordinary small cauldron.

The Devil Master emerged from the room and stood beside Jiang Changsheng, watching him refine the elixir with Jian Xin.

The art of alchemy had always been legendary in the martial world. Most people's attempts at alchemy resembled nothing more than a physician brewing medicine, lacking any mystical qualities.

Jiang Changsheng controlled the fire with his spiritual power. Within the cauldron, all the medicinal ingredients, once refined, autonomously coalesced into a pill, suspended in mid-air without touching the bottom.

This scene made the Devil Master and Hua Jianxin gulp audibly.

Too miraculous!

When idle, Jiang Changsheng enjoyed playing with alchemy, and his skills had reached a high level, so he succeeded on his first try.

Once refined, he went to find Qingxu Taoist Priest.

Along the way, the disciples greeted him with respectful bows, filled with awe.

Arriving at Qingxu Taoist Priest's courtyard, Jiang Changsheng saw his master.

Since he brought the Devil Master up the mountain, Qingxu Taoist Priest had secluded himself in the courtyard, never venturing out again. Only the disciples who delivered meals had seen him.

Qingxu Taoist Priest was still sitting cross-legged beneath the tree, not practicing his skills, but staring blankly at the old tree.

"Master, your disciple has concocted an antidote, which will surely cure your poison," Jiang Changsheng said with a smile, anticipating Qingxu Taoist Priest's complex expression of surprise and gratitude.

However, Qingxu Taoist Priest remained expressionless, not even turning his head.

Has the poison made him stupid?

Jiang Changsheng was somewhat worried and took two steps forward.

"Bring the antidote here," Qingxu Taoist Priest said, raising his hand towards Jiang Changsheng.

Jiang Changsheng immediately took out the antidote, muttering inwardly, How arrogant.

He didn't dwell on it too much. In any case, Qingxu Taoist Priest had saved him when he was young and given him a place to live. Perhaps it was all part of the Emperor's scheme, but when he was being passed around by treacherous people, he clearly heard that some of them genuinely wanted to kill him.

Qingxu Taoist Priest took the medicine and swallowed it directly, without hesitation.

After taking the medicine, he stood up, turned to look at Jiang Changsheng, and said, "Disciple, your master is preparing to descend the mountain."

Descend the mountain?

Jiang Changsheng was stunned.

His eldest brother ran away, his second brother ran away, and now his master was also running away?

Just as he was about to speak, Qingxu Taoist Priest shook his head and said, "I originally wanted to protect you for five years, but now you are strong enough. Even the Heavenly Connection in the palace may not be able to defeat you. I am relieved, and it is time for me to leave."

Jiang Changsheng frowned and asked, "Where are you going?"

Qingxu Taoist Priest replied, "To where I belong."

After speaking, he stepped forward, brushing past Jiang Changsheng.

"Dragon Arising Temple will be entrusted to you from now on."

Qingxu Taoist Priest left these words behind and then disappeared into the corridor.

Jiang Changsheng frowned. Did this old guy want to run away?

He quickly chased after him, but no matter how he tried to persuade him, Qingxu Taoist Priest only moved forward. When they reached the mountain gate, he stopped and watched Qingxu Taoist Priest descend the mountain.

He just left like that?

Without packing anything?

Jiang Changsheng didn't know how to explain it to the other disciples, so he simply returned to his courtyard and focused on cultivation.

Two days later.

The imperial court sent someone. Eunuch Li, escorted by a group of Imperial Guards, arrived at Jiang Changsheng's courtyard. Qing Ku led the way, followed by many disciples.

Jian Xin and Devil Master hid in the house, while Jiang Changsheng walked in front of Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li raised his hands, holding an imperial decree.

He smiled and nodded at Jiang Changsheng, then opened the decree and said, "By the Emperor's edict, Qingxu Taoist Priest is old and unable to continue serving as the Abbot of Dragon Arising Temple. From today onwards, Daoist Changsheng will be the Abbot of Dragon Arising Temple, enjoying a fourth-rank salary from the imperial court, and may manage the incense courtyard. This is the decree!"