1153 - 1160
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
After seeing the 4 people of Zhang family and Huaiyuan Palace walking out of the crowd and kowtowing in front of Zhang Tie, some smart ones finally understood why Zhang Clan enjoyed such a privilege in the opening ceremony of Iron-Dragon Sect. Zhang Clan was the only family that received two golden invitation cards and had 4 juniors being enrolled as the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect. In the beginning, they all thought that Fire Dragon Hermit especially favored the branch of Huaiyuan Palace in Jinwu City. Now they knew that they were of the same family. Of course, Fire Dragon Hermit would treat them better. That might also be the reason that Fire Dragon Hermit selected his bounty land in Youzhou Province.
Zhang Tie's disciples absolutely confirmed Zhang Tie's identity. Before the "amazing" feeling faded away, they had become extremely excited when they remembered so many legends and stories about Zhang Tie.
The Supreme Court had already canceled off Zhang Tie's order for arrest while the truth of the tragedy in Fuhai City was gradually exposed. In this situation, Zhang Tie's halos became more brilliant. It was really their great honor to have such a master.
However, their master looked too young. Given his look, he was definitely the type of youngest fellow apprentice among his disciples. Becoming an earth knight at such a young age, he was definitely a top talent among the top 7 sects in Taixia Country, not to mention the other human countries. With such a great master, they would definitely have a bright future.
"Stand up!" Zhan Tie told his two nephews and two disciples from Huaiyuan Palace genially. The four people then picked themselves up in a restrained way. Closely after that, Zhang Tie's voice turned solemn, "Later on, we're just master and disciples in Iron-Dragon Sect as usual. Two of you are my nephews, the other two are clan disciples of Huaiyuan Palace. You share the same blood and forebears with me. However, I have to treat you as same as all the disciples; sometimes, I will even treat you stricter. In front of the other disciples, you're forbidden to seek for any special treatment or become arrogant and ruin the friendship between disciples; otherwise, if I find that, I will punish you severely and drive you out of the sect. Am I clear?"
"Clear!" The 4 juniors answered in unison.
After becoming a master for so long, Zhang Tie had been adapted to this role. As the master of Iron-Dragon Sect, he was always dominating; as an earth knight, he was always commanding. Each of his movement was shocking. With these words, Zhang Tie wanted to warn Zhang Chengxu, Zhang Chengze, Zhang Yueshan and Zhang Yawei; meanwhile, he wanted to imply the other disciples to not treat the 4 people specially by flattering them in the public or bullying them secretly because of jealousy. Anyone who dared play any trick would be labeled as ruining the friendship between disciples. The moment Zhang Tie said it, all the others had understood it, including Zhu Dabiao.
Although he was once Zhang Tie's friend, he knew that he was just Zhang Tie's disciple in Iron-Dragon Sect. Previously when Zhang Tie was a black iron knight, Zhu Dabiao might feel a bit uncomfortable with this master; however, Zhang Tie was already an earth knight, who was qualified to be his master now. If not that Zhu Dabiao came from the Yanzhou Provincial Governor's Clan, he would be not qualified to be Zhang Tie's disciple at all. How could one become the disciple of an earth knight so easily? In Taixia Country, the more talented ones could be masters regardless of age. If Zhu elders or his father knew that he dared neglect Zhang Tie based on the former friendship between him and Zhang Tie, they would immediately rush in Iron-Dragon Sect to break his leg before Zhang Tie punished him.
A beggar would envy another beggar who was luckier than him one day; a LV 9 fighter would envy a LV 10 fighter who was more powerful than him. Everybody could be jealous about the others who were better than them in one aspect; however, if one person was much better than another one in one aspect that the latter couldn't even dream about catching up with the former, the latter would not envy the former one anymore. Like that a beggar would not envy a king who lived better than him, a LV 9 fighter would not envy an earth knight who was much more commanding than him although he might hope that he could also be a knight one day.
Watching the familiar, young yet secret, commanding face on the golden chair, Zhu Dabiao respected Zhang Tie sincerely; neither did he envy Zhang Tie. He just sighed with emotions that there were so many wonders in this world. This young man who saved him out of the shadow demon's dungeon became his master. This might be pre-destined.
Zhang Tie slightly raised his arm while Zhang Chengxu, Zhang Chengze, Zhang Yueshan and Zhang Yawei from Huaiyuan Palace who were related to him by blood immediately moved back into the crowd by lowering their bodies. At the same time, Zhang Chengxu and Zhang Chengze silently received the hand towels from two senior sister apprentices on their sides and wiped out their tears by them. Although they felt complex, they both guessed that their father Zhang Yang must have known that Fire Dragon Hermit was their uncle. Therefore, their father especially brought them to the opening ceremony of Iron-Dragon Sect.
Zhang Tie looked around his disciples. When he moved his eyes onto Zhu Dabiao, Zhu Dabiao also looked up at Zhang Tie. Zhang Tie revealed a faint smile. Zhu Dabiao hurriedly lowered his head out of respect.
"Dabiao!" Zhang Tie called genially.
Zhu Dabiao's fat belly quivered all over at once as he hurriedly walked out of the crowd and bowed towards Zhang Tie like what a disciple should do in front of his master, "I'm here!"
"Taixia Country is going to experience a great chaos. In the future, if you don't have a great battle strength, how could you protect yourself when in danger? You're born to be alive. However, in the road of cultivation, no pain, no gain. You could not be indolent in cultivation. If you have questions, you could ask your senior brothers and sisters. Don't lag behind!" Zhang Tie said genially.
Zhu Dabiao was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. Now that Zhang Tie talked to Zhu Dabiao independently although in the tone of his master, it indicated that Zhang Tie had not forgotten about the friendship between them. However, in this situation, given the positions in the sect, their friendship became a master's sincere care about his disciple.
Zhang Tie told Zhu Dabiao about similar words before. However, when Zhu Dabiao heard that at that time, he burst out into laughter. On the same evening, he even invited Zhang Tie to play women in brothels such as Peony Pavilion. At that time, he just treated Zhang Tie's words as a sincere suggestion. However, after a few years, when he heard similar words on such an occasion, Zhu Dabiao was deeply moved as his eyes turned red. Zhang Tie was both his good master and bosom friend. 'If not care about you sincerely, who would talk about it to you?' Zhu Dabiao was not an idiot. Of course, he could identify whether Zhang Tie's words were sincere or not. "I see, master, I will bear your words deep in mind and never lose your face!"
"I don't care about my face. Even if I lost my face, I would still not lose a hair!" Zhang Tie sighed with emotion, "After being wanted by the Supreme Court of Taixia Country as a scapegoat and being blamed and hated by almost everyone across Taixia Country, ordinary reputation damage couldn't touch my heart at all. As long as you could survive dangers in the future, I will be reassured. Sometimes, one is alive and could give hope to one's family and friends count most!"
"Yes, I see, master!"
When Zhu Dabiao moved backward, he could feel a special "energy" from his back. Needless to say, it was from his male cousins, one of the Zhu Clan being enrolled by Zhang Tie. Although being male cousins, they didn't get along well with each other since young.
Zhu Dabiao just killed his time; by contrast, his male cousin was ambitious to be the pillar of Zhu Clan since young. One was flying in the sky, the other was climbing on the ground. They were not on the same channel at all. Actually, his male cousin disliked Zhu Dabiao as he always felt that Zhu Dabiao wasted one precious opportunity of Zhu Clan.
Even though fellow apprentices of a sect would compete with each other. On this occasion, undoubtedly, those being named by Zhang Tie were especially taken care of by their master himself. Even though Zhu Dabiao was average and even hindered the other disciples, given Zhang Tie's special care about him at this present, Zhu Dabiao immediately became special among the 121 disciples.
Therefore, his male cousin was amazed and jealous of him. By contrast, Zhu Dabiao felt like having a cool drink of a huge bowl of iced plum soup in the hottest days of a year.
"Liu Xing!"
"I'm here, master!"
The moment Zhang Tie called Liu Xing, Liu Xing walked out of the crowd at once.
"In the next a few days, you need to supervise your junior fellow and sister apprentices to cultivate hardly. When I'm not on the airboat, everything will be hosted by your Uncle Master Bai!"
"Yes, master!"
"Alright, take them off!"
Zhang Tie wove his hands while all the disciples left the room orderly. During the minutes in the room, they were shocked so much that they could not recover their composure for quite a long while.
After all the disciples left, Bai Suxian who had been standing on Zhang Tie's side immediately pouted her mouth as she told Zhang Tie in a jealous way, "Have you noticed how your female disciples look at you?"
With a tender and enchanting exclamation, Zhang Tie immediately embraced Bai Suxian with his arms and had her lie on his legs. A 30 seconds deep kiss made Bai Suxian soft all over. With face blushing like red clouds at sunrise and sunset, Bai Suxian's eyes shimmered like flowing waves.
"Stop having a bee in your mind. The airboat will fly towards Zhongzhou City. If I don't come back, just wait for me in Zhongzhou City for a few days!"
"What are you going to do there?" Bai Suxian put her arms around Zhang Tie's neck as she slightly bit Zhang Tie's ear and exhaled as fragrant as an orchid. It seemed that Bai Suxian had almost become blood-boiled.
"I have to complete something!"
Zhang Tie threw a glance at the wall clock and found that it was almost 5 pm…
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"Have Cui Li and Bai Suxian left Xuanyuan Hill?"
Han Yuanhong asked a subordinate when his eyebrows raised in the Treasures Complex of Gold and Power Market.
Noticing the master's expression, the one replied meticulously, "Yes, half an hour ago, Bai Suxian, Cui Li and the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect had already boarded their airboat at the airport in the north of Xuanyuan Hill. Closely after that, the airboat left Xuanyuan Hill for the north…"
"Do you know where they are heading for?"
After being a bit awkward, the one replied, "Hmm…I've not received the latest intelligence yet. Master, do you want to send a decree and have all the strength of Gold and Power Law keep a close eye on that airboat?"
The master's decree reflected the power and influence of masters in Gold and Power Law. After a master sent the decree, all the token owners, mountain owners, general directors and directors of Gold and Power Law across Taixia Country and abroad would coordinate with each other so as to meet the requirements and tasks in the master's decree. In Gold and Power Law, the master's decree was already a senior mobilization order.
In a federal organization like Gold and Power Law, the master's decree was not limitless. Master was neither major master nor Emperor Xuanyuan. One master could only send a few master's decrees just like the tokens in his hand. The more they were used, the less there would be. After using up all the master's decrees, the master had to exchange for it with his donation points in Gold and Power Law. The donation points in Gold and Power Law could not be made that easily.
After a short consideration, Han Yuanhong shook his head as he said, "Cui Li is not stupid. He knows that he could not defeat me in Xuanyuan Hill; therefore, he could only escape far away. Whatever, he has to return to Iron-Dragon Sect. We have enough time to deal with him!"
There was another reason that Han Yuanhong didn't mention. Just now, the general steward of Lord Guangnan's manor in Xuanyuan Hill came to the Treasures Complex in Gold and Power Market and bought some vials of medicaments. Although that general steward didn't meet Han Yuanhong or talk with him, Han Yuanhong was clear that the general steward was here on behalf of Lord Guangnan's manor in Xuanyuan Hill to not want his dad to offend Lord Guangnan openly. Therefore, he just ignored this thing for the time being.
Not until now did Han Yuanhong feel that Cui Li, as an earth knight, could pose any threat to him.
After waving his arm to let the subordinate leave here, Han Yuanhong looked outside the window and found it was already about 5 pm. He thought, 'My father should have already set for the Sincerity Garden. Of course, the master of the royal prince doesn't invite my father only for a drink. In Xuanyuan Hill, everybody knows that the hedge around Sincerity Garden was the shortest. Very few people could enter it. The Emperor Xuanyuan is still missing; the royal prince acts as regent; the three top chancellors make a tour inspection far away from Xuanyuan Hill. Of course, my father, as one of the 9 ministers will be relied heavily on by the royal prince and the master of the royal prince. According to the current situation, my father could reach a higher position in the imperial court in the future. By then…' Han Yuanhong fleered.
…
Most of the people would have supper between 5 pm and 7 pm. Therefore, the master of Sincerity Garden invited Han Zhengfang to have a drink during this period.
If Han Zhengfang just paid a visit to his ordinary friend, as long as he could arrive there during this period, he would not be regarded as discourteous; however, at the invitation of the master of the royal prince, Han Zhengfang dared not be late at all; neither would he lower his own position. Therefore, he arrived at the gate of Sincerity Garden by his Faerie-dragon limo at 5:15 pm.
When Han Zhengfang got off, a humpbacked old servant, who had been waiting for him at the gate, pushed open the hedge door and invited Han Zhengfang in.
"Thanks…" Han Zhengfang said like a gentleman.
Trees, flowers, grasses and stones scattered in the garden disorderly. Stray cats were running back and forth. Even the path that led to the inside of the garden was unevenly paved with stones. Besides, there were pits here and there, which were filled with rainwater a few days ago.
"Watch out, these ants are carrying food for tiding over winter. Don't step on them!" The humpbacked old servant reminded Han Zhengfang about the cluster of ants before Han Zhengfang's foot as if he didn't know about the identity of Han Zhengfang.
Han Zhengfang lowered his head as he saw an army of ants carrying two fingernail-sized bloody items in the gap of two stones. They looked like gills; however, as they were covered with dust, Han Zhengfang was not sure what they exactly were.
The finance minister raised his foot and strode over those ants meticulously.
In the eyes of outsiders, everything in Sincerity Garden looked disordered like a wasteland; however, in the eyes of Han Zhengfang, everything in this garden had reached the supreme realm like great arts concealing itself. Everything in the garden contained a Buddhist mood including the weeds, woods, a lonely flower among weeds, a piece of broken stone on one side of the hedge and a small water pit on the path. The essence of the great laws enlightened by the master of this garden was buried in this extremely unpretentious garden. Without reaching a realm, nobody could discover the specialty of this garden. Those who could figure out the specialty of this garden understood that this was the most valuable garden across Taixia Country; even the imperial garden in the imperial palace could not match this one. Even 100 courtyards of dignitaries couldn't match a cluster of weeds in this garden. If a knight cultivated in this garden, his cultivation speed and insight might improve unconsciously.
The universal laws lay in nature; the sincerest heart was close to the universal laws. It was not just a lip service. Without such an immortal means being resonated to the universal laws, how could Meng Shidao become outstanding among billions of people in Taixia Country as the master of the royal prince and the leader of the Gobbling Party?
…
When Han Zhengfang entered the Sincerity Garden, some sparrows which were tweeting on a roadside tree outside Sincerity Garden flew away as they frolicked with each other.
Han Zhengfang sensed that those sparrows flew off at such a coincidental moment. As there were so many secret knowledge in Taixia Country, it was hard to prevent them. Additionally, his 2nd son was still missing which made Han Zhengfang fretful unconsciously. Therefore, when Han Zhengfang entered the garden, he targeted on those sparrows with his knight's consciousness and wanted to check their destination.
Those sparrows fell on the eaves of an attic over 200 m away as they capered and tweeted over there.
Han Zhengfang became reassured at once as he mocked himself and shook his head slightly, 'I'm oversuspicious. It's just some birds; nothing to worry about.'
The master of Sincerity Garden was waiting for Han Zhengfang under an old walnut tree beside the pond with a stony table and two stony benches. There were a bottle of spirit and some dishes on the stony table.
…
Han Zhengfang didn't care about those trivial sparrows any more. However, two more sparrows were paying attention to those sparrows who flew over there from the gate of Sincerity Garden over 500 m away from Sincerity Garden.
Although those sparrows' dance and frolic on the eaves looked meaningless in Han Zhengfang's eyes, it was meaningful in the eyes of the two sparrows in the far.
The two sparrows over 500 m immediately flew off the treetop and flew around that huge tree where they once rested on. At the sight of this information, two swirling doves miles away immediately turned around and flew towards the north of Xuanyuan Hill. After they flew less than 100 m away, the bizarre arcs that they drew in the sky were caught by some more doves in the distance…
The information chain composed of doves and sparrows soon reached dozens of miles away.
Sparrows could only fly about 20 miles per hour and had a poor endurance. Doves couldn't fly fast either. If Zhang Tie only depended on some doves or sparrows to pass the information in Xuanyuan Hill, when he received the information outside Xuanyuan Hill, it would be too late. However, doves and sparrows existed everywhere in Xuanyuan Hill. They were not eye-catching at all. What counted most, birds had very good vision. As long as there were enough doves and sparrows, they would be able to form a complete information chain and a specific monitoring network in Xuanyuan Hill.
Even sage-level knights could do nothing to such an information chain.
This was how the Great Wilderness Sutra made people scared and greedy. Such a realm of controlling animals was already unpredictable.
…
7 minutes later, before Han Zhengfang warmed up his seat, a white dove had flown over the shimmering Heavenlyqin Lake and rested onto Zhang Tie's shoulder after flying around him for a short while. Closely after that, the dove cooed as it rubbed its furry head against Zhang Tie's face.
Zhang Tie stretched out his hand and fed this dove with a small handful of swollen, crystal wheat which had been soaked in water.
This dove brought Zhang Tie a message what Zhang Tie was waiting for, namely, Han Zhengfang had already entered Sincerity Garden!
Given the passing time of the message, Zhang Tie knew that Han Zhengfang had just entered Sincerity Garden for less than 10 minutes.
Zhang Tie sneered. When the dove ate up the small handful of wheat and flew off his shoulder, Zhang Tie made a bizarre hand gesture. Closely after that, the All-spirits Pagoda in his mind sea quivered all over while two great wilderness seals flew out of Zhang Tie's hand.
At this moment, the sunglow had already tinged the entire Xuanyuan Hill in the far with golden red…
The mysterious strength of the great wilderness seals immediately spread across thousands of square miles…
Numerous wild swans resting nearby the wetland of Heavenlyqin Lake looked up at the sky at the same time as a dominant strength was summoning them…
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
The east of Heavenlyqin Lake was a wetland with plenty of water and lush grass that covered over 600 square miles. Too many birds were resting here; especially wild swans.
Under the golden light of setting sun, Heavenlyqin Lake was shimmering while some deluxe cruisers were parking on the lake nearby the wetland.
Before each sunset, the 600 miles' reed catkins, high grasses and flying nightingales would become a scenic spot nearby Xuanyuan Hill.
On the deck of a 100 m-longer white cruiser, those knights who had a conflict with Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian on the Golden Water River that day were appreciating the lakescape and the wild swans on the lake and in the sky pleasantly.
Yue Peng who was severely wounded by Zhang Tie didn't come here. Evidently, the female knight who once stayed with Fang Xinyi had already become a pair of lovers with the other male knight.
"Brother Chuzhi, when did you get junior sister apprentice Yuling? How fast you are! Given such a fast speed, brother Chuzhi must have got hang of a secret method. Why not share it with brother Jiguang and me? Look, brother Jiguang and I are still single!"
"Chuzhi" and "Yuling" were that pair of "wild mandarin ducks" that Zhang Tie saw in the reeds on that evening a few days ago. When they saw the two people fall in love with each other so fast, the others couldn't stand making a joke to spice up the atmosphere. Although the male knight made a joke orally, he was looking at Fang Xinyi as if he was implying something.
As long as she didn't see Bai Suxian, Fang Xinyi was indeed like a charming, elegant fairy. At this moment, she just watched the dancing wild swans on the lake with a faint smile. Her beautiful facial contour, slim and snow-white neck and swaying hair were fatal to the other two male knights. Both of them wanted to pursue her.
"Hahaha, of course, there's a secret method; however, only the sky, the earth, I and Yuling know it. If I told you about that, it would not work anymore!" The male knight called Chizhi replied in a dissolute way. The other two knights didn't know what the so-called secret method referred to; however, Yuling threw a glare at Chuzhi bashfully.
Both Yuling and Chuzhi understood the so-called secret method.
"Ahh, what if Yue Peng was here? Younger brother Yue Peng is most poetic and talented. Facing such a nice lakescape, he could definitely make a good poem!"
"Younger brother Yue Peng might need a few more days' rehabilitation. That day, I felt that Cui Li was too vicious; however, on the second day, I was told that Cui Li had already shown his mercy. You might have already heard about it. At Qian Gate of Gold and Power Market, Cui Li kicked a foreign knight to death, who was even a prince of a major country on a subcontinent. Because of this event, Cui Li almost had a fight with Han Yuanhong, the master of Gold and Power Market. Fire Dragon Hermit was not afraid even in Xuanyuan Hill; he's indeed vicious and powerful!" A knight sighed with emotion while shaking his head.
"Don't mention about these unhappy things. Based on our talents, as long as we try our best to cultivate, we will definitely promote to earth knights one day. No need to admire him. Although Fire Dragon Hermit is powerful, a lot of people in our sect are more powerful than him. The powerful ones in Taixia country are as countless as the stars over the sky! Additionally, Gold and Power Law is just so-so. Even some barbarians from subcontinents could attend such a Treasures Meeting. The piece of God's Star has already been bought before we saw it. All the other treasures are average. There're only a few secret items; all of them have been opened. Nothing to be curious about. It could never match our Treasures Meeting in Taiyi City."
"Hahaha, fine, we will not talk about these unhappy things. Although Master Cai is not here, the waves sound and crane tweets here are also natural music. Oh, Xinyi, what are you looking at?"
After realizing that the subject was shifted to her, Fang Xinyi didn't behave distantly anymore; instead, she turned around as she parted her hair and revealed a faint smile. All of a sudden, all the others moved their eyes onto her, "When I looked at these wild swans, I couldn't help thinking about one thing. It's said that wild swans are most soulful. As long as two wild swans fall in love with each other, they would not depart from each other until death. If one dies, the other will be extremely anguished and even commit suicide for love. If everyone could be as soulful as wild swans, all the lovers in this world would have a perfect soul destination!"
"After hearing Xinyi's words, I feel that I should learn from wild swans!" The knight called Chuzhi watched Yuling as he said with a playful smile. Whether he wanted to learn something from wild swans or treat sky as the quilt and the earth as the bed. However, only the female knight called Yuling could sense his meaning.
Yuling threw a glare at Chuzhi as she turned around and looked at Fang Xinyi, "Xinyi, what's your criteria about a good man?"
The other two male knights pricked up their ears at once.
Fang Xinyi smiled as she recited some lines, "Graze black cattle in the morning, return in the evening with wildflowers; insert wildflowers onto your gray hair and enjoy the colorful sunglow together with you!"
After hearing Fang Xinyi's reply, all the other knights' hearts pounded as it was really out of their imagination that Fang Xinyi could favor such a legendary figure. That man's poem the Beloved Ones had fascinated so many beauties, but…
Before the others said anything, the lakescape became abnormal…
In the horizon, all the wild swans on the lake stretched out their necks and tweeted at the same time, which sounded like the siren of a million ton-level ship, causing the eardrums of travelers on the cruisers to quiver.
Closely after that, all the wild swans suddenly flapped their wings and slid over the lake before lying off. Large flocks of wild swans flew off at the same time in the distance along the 600 miles' reed catkins.
At least tens of thousands of wild swans rested here. As a result, the scenery that tens of thousands of wild swans flew off at the same time was like white clouds, leaving travelers on the cruisers dumbfounded. In the sunglow, so many wild swans flew towards the same direction. In less than 1 minute, no wild swan could be seen over the lake anymore.
Although being far away from the bank, all the knights had good sight. They saw large flocks of wild swans flying off the water too.
"What's happening? Why all the wild swans are flying away? Theoretically, the wild swans should have a rest as the sun is setting. Is there an earthquake? It's said that birds would make abnormal responses when an earthquake is coming." A knight on the cruiser muttered.
"It shouldn't be an earthquake. Otherwise, the other birds should also have sensed it; however, look, all the other birds over this wetland are still resting there!"
"Yup, it's really strange…"
Fang Xinyi faintly frowned her beautiful eyebrows as she said, "Let's go take a look…". Soon after her words, Fang Xinyi had flown off the cruiser. All the other knights also flew off after exchanging a glance with each other out of great curiosity.
At the same time, all the wild swans in another two lakes nearby Xuanyuan Hill flew off towards Xuanyuan Hill. The travelers on the cruisers in the three lakes exclaimed about such a wonderful scenery.
Of course, such an abnormal phenomenon was eye-catching. After flying for a short while, Fang Xinyi and her partners had already seen some more knights chasing after the wild swans. They were shocked so much as they wondered why so many wild swans suddenly flew off at the same time.
Wild swans flew very fast; the three lakes and the wetlands where wilds swans rested were also close to Xuanyuan Hill. Therefore, those wild swans soon arrived at Xuanyuan Hill.
When they arrived at Xuanyuan Hill, Fang Xinyi and her partners were really startled by what they saw. So many wild swans were gathering here from all directions in an order.
Over 10,000 people would look endless. There were at least 100,000 wild swans in the sky which looked like moving clouds in the sky.
After sensing the no-fly zone above Xuanyuan Hill, all the knights that followed wild swans here could only suspend outside the no-fly zone as they watched the wild swans entering the air territory of Xuanyuan Hill smoothly.
Wild swans could fly fast and reach above 6,000 m high. Therefore, people on the ground could easily see all the wild swans as long as they looked up.
The abnormal phenomenon in the sky attracted the attention of everyone on the ground of Xuanyuan Hill. Watching the army of wild swans flying over, the ground of Xuanyuan Hill started to become disordered.
…
All the drivers on the roads stretched out their necks and watched those wild swans flying across in front of them as they widely opened their mouths. Some cars even collided with the vehicles on their sides, causing a traffic jam at once.
…
A team of Hua fighters at the border of Xuanyuan Hill watched the abnormal phenomenon for quite a while before reporting it to their superior. When a knight walked out of barracks and became stunned by what he saw for a few seconds, he also started to swear loudly.
"F*ck, this dad is a common knight, not a sage-level knight. Look at these birds. What do you want me to do? Fly in the sky and shoot them off or wail the air raid siren? Such an abnormal phenomenon might happen once in a few years. Just wait for a while!"
The abnormal phenomenon mentioned by this knight referred to that when Zhang Tie promoted to a black iron knight a few years ago. However, that knight didn't know that this time was utterly different than that time, although it was aroused by the same person.
…
Under the gaze of so many people on the ground of Xuanyuan Hill, over 100,000 wild swans gradually divided into 12 huge flocks like 12 clouds in the sky. When the onlookers were extremely startled, the 12 clouds started to change their shapes slowly.
Due to constant traffic accidents, some roads had been jammed. Those drivers directly got off their vehicles and looked up at the sky on the roads. When a taxi driver watched the 12 clouds gradually changing their shapes, he muttered, "I feel those birds are going to form 12 words. I find the first one might be Finance, the fifth word is Zheng!"
The 12 clouds were indeed changing their shapes. The first word was Finance and the fifth word was Zheng.
In a few minutes, the 12 clouds had changed into clear and powerful words as if a celestial being painted them in the sky by a huge hand. Anyone could see them clearly as long as they were not illiterates. At the sight of the 12 huge words in the sky, everyone on the ground changed their face at once. Even the knight who lost his temper outside his barracks had turned pale in a split second.
The 12 words formed a sentence.
——Finance Minister Han Zhengfang is the master of Heavens Reaching Church
Like the largest and commanding banner and advertisement, this sentence composed of over 100,000 wild swans directly slashed towards the emperor's imperial city like a huge sword from outside.
After being empty, chaotic, intense and furious, the knight general standing in the camp finally recovered his free-thinking ability. Only after 2 seconds' consideration, he had confirmed that a major event was going to happen in Xuanyuan Hill today whether the sentence in the sky was real or not.
"Fall in…" A roar drifted across the barracks.
…
Something big was indeed going to happen in Xuanyuan Hill!
Suspending in the sky near the border of Xuanyuan Hill, Zhang Tie just watched the wild swans flying towards the emperor's imperial city calmly and resolutely.
There were dozens of knights and an airboat within miles. All of them were watching Xuanyuan Hill in the distance while changing their face sharply; however, nobody could imagine that the culprit was right on their side.
After all the wild swans entered the no-fly zone of Xuanyuan Hill, Zhang Tie knew that his plot had succeeded. No power could prevent what would happen next…
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
——Finance Minister Han Zhengfang is the master of Heavens Reaching Church.
At the sight of the 12 words in the sky, all the people on the ground were dumbfounded as the army of wild swans flew towards the emperor's imperial city.
The finance minister was a powerful shadow knight high in dignity, one of the 9 ministers in Taixia Country. It could be said that the finance minister was the controller of the economy and agriculture of Taixia Country. The daily needs of people, commerce, finance, agriculture, forestation, livestock farming and fishing across Taixia Country were related to finance minister.
Heavens Reaching Church was the cancer of the peace in Taixia Country; additionally, it colluded with demons. After the holy war broke out, Heavens Reaching Church increased their frequency in launching riots across the country. Evidently, Heavenly Reaching Church had become the largest threat facing the inside of Taixia Country after demons.
In Heavens Reaching Church, the most mysterious figure was the master. It was said that nobody across Heavens Reaching Church knew the identity of the master of Heavens Reaching Church besides very few core figures. The impression that the master of Heavens Reaching Church left to the public was that he was exceptional adept in trickery and was almost almighty. The catastrophe of bloody figures in Zhongzhou Province a few months ago proved the terror of Heavens Reaching Church and the power of that mysterious master of Heavens Reaching Church. Now that Heavens Reaching Church could build a bloody sea in one of the 9 immortal provinces, what else couldn't they do?
However, the 12 huge words composed of over 100,000 wild swans in the sky above Xuanyuan Hill during the Treasures Meeting told everyone across Taixia Country even all the humans that the dignified finance minister of Taixia Country in Xuanyuan Hill was the very master of Heavens Reaching Church, who colluded with demons to exterminate Taixia Country.
Wherever the wild swans flew over, the corresponding traffic on the roads would be paralyzed. At the same time, emergency bulge calls could be heard across the camps surrounding Xuanyuan Hill.
…
In a small courtyard of Xuanyuan Hill, a criminal hunter had just washed his face and was ready for supper at home. Right then, he heard noises near his house. He then rapidly walked out of his house. When he looked up at the 12 huge words that were moving orderly in the sky, he immediately changed his face as he shouted, "Darling, take our kids; hide in the basement and lock the cover from inside. Don't come out of there no matter what happens outside…"
After saying that, before his wife responded, this criminal hunter had rushed out of the room. He picked up his walking saber, iron ruler; putting on his official hat and fastening his waistband. Without eating any food, he had rushed out of the door of his courtyard before closing it from outside.
"Ahh, darling, the supper is ready. Where are you going…" The woman asked as she walked out of the kitchen with a tray of dish. However, the man had disappeared. When the woman came to the courtyard, she noticed the 12 huge words in the sky too. Closely after that, her hand quivered, causing the tray of fragrantly fried peanuts dropping onto the ground together with the tray. The tray broke into pieces, spraying the peanuts everywhere.
When she remembered what her husband told him before leaving, the woman hurriedly returned to the room and prepared some food and drinks before coming into the basement together with her 3 kids in a flurried way.
…
The traffic started to be jammed which even caused small chaos. At this moment, some drivers who were close to their homes yet were blocked on the way directly dropped off their vehicles and escaped towards their own homes.
Nobody was an idiot.
Everybody could sense that a major event was going to happen in Xuanyuan Hill.
Although it was not the time to close their doors, many stores had ended their businesses in advance wherever the 12 huge words flew over…
…
Suspending in the sky, Zhang Tie didn't feel guilty at all at the sight of chaos on the ground as such chaos would come sooner or later. It was much better for him to arouse it in advance than to wait for Heavens Reaching Church and Han Zhengfang at Xuanyuan Hill when they were ready for that. Compared to those places which had been afflicted by the bloody figures across Zhongzhou Province, this chaos was nothing serious.
It was a fatal plot that Zhang Tie designed for Han Zhangfang. Being similar to that plot that Han Zhengfang designed for Zhang Tie in Fuhai City, Zhang Tie was also screwing him by the stress of the public. It was karma. It was the one who screwed Zhang Tie being screwed by Zhang Tie himself this time.
If Han Zhengfang the finance minister of Taixia Country was not the master of Heavens Reaching Church, the 12 huge words in the sky could only badly annoy Han Zhengfang and make Xuanyuan Hill chaotic for a few days; no matter how destructive was this basin of sewage, it could not kill such an influential chancellor in Taixia Country.
However, the truth was that Han Zhengfang was the master of Heavens Reaching Church and the remnant of bloody soul temple. The 12 huge words in the sky were not sewage, but the fact was that Han Zhengfang was mostly afraid of being exposed to the public. It was as effective as unveiling the mole in the hinterland of the enemy.
Han Zhengfang couldn't stand being investigated; especially when everybody across Taixia Country and all the humans knew that he might be the master of Heavens Reaching Church, even if nobody proved that, with the overall strength of Taixia Country, Han Zhengfang's secrets would be unveiled rapidly. This event was much more influential than the tragedy in Fuhai City. In order to reassure people in the country and for the safety of Taixia Country, the Supreme Court had to figure out this event.
What would Han Zhengfang do when he suddenly knew that his real identity was exposed to the public in Taixia Country?
Han Zhengfang would never explain it; because it was useless for him to explain. Neither would he just wait for Taixia Country to prepare everything well for dismembering his body one piece after another. From now on, Taixia Country had become Han Zhengfang's enemy state. He was the very one whom hundreds of millions of people in Xuanyuan Hill and emperor's imperial city abhorred the most. Xuanyuan Hill was not where he sent his order anymore; instead, it would become his graveyard which was ambushed with enemies in every direction. The first thing that Han Yuanhong would do was to escape!
Before all the powers in Xuanyuan Hill made response to it; before the top three chancellors of Taixia Country came back; before the other 8 ministers of Taixia Country came here to besiege him; before the military of Taixia Country set nets above and snares below, he had to escape away from the dangerous Xuanyuan Hill at the fastest speed. If not, from now on, the longer he stayed in Xuanyuan Hill, the better the powers on all aspects of Taixia Country would prepare and the fewer chances that he would survive himself.
Han Zhengfang was having a drink of Meng Shidao in Sincerity Garden. Therefore, the master of royal prince became Han Zhengfang's biggest obstacle to escape.
The 12 huge words in the sky would never be seen by Han Zhengfang and Meng Shidao until they reached above the emperor's imperial city. Because the eyes and ears of the royal prince and Han Zhengfang in Xuanyuan Hill would inform the master of the royal prince and Han Zhengfang about the latest news as fast as possible.
Given the efficiency, the power of royal prince in Xuanyuan Hill was definitely higher than that of Han Zhengfang's. The master of royal prince might be able to receive this news a few minutes earlier than Han Zhengfang. At least he would not receive it later than Han Zhengfang. Because only Han Zhengfang's lackeys and members of Heavens Reaching Church would inform him about this news. Those in Gold and Power Law and the system of Finance Minister's Mansion who were not fully loyal to Han Zhengfang would not inform him about this news as fast as possible. When they didn't collude with Heavens Reaching Church and demons, if they informed this to Han Zhengfang timely which was proved to be false, Han Zhengfang would not appreciate them because nobody liked crows; conversely, if Han Zhengfang was proved to be the master of Heavens Reaching Church, they were destined to die; even their family members would suffer a death penalty. Very few people who could directly contact big figures through remote-sensing crystals were idiots.
'Would the master of royal prince let Han Zhengfang go on purpose?' Zhang Tie asked himself. Although he set the plot, he could not make the decision for the master of the royal prince. However, no matter what, there were only three possibilities in Xuanyuan Hill. Whatever, at least one public enemy of Zhang Tie's family and Huaiyuan Palace would be killed. Therefore, Zhang Tie had succeeded in his plot.
'If the master of royal prince let Han Zhengfang go on purpose when he learned that Han Zhengfang is the master of Heavens Reaching Church, his reputation and meritorious services for Taixia Country would become a joke. How could a person who had a drink with the master of Heavens Reaching Church and let the latter go after knowing the latter's real identity be qualified to be the master of the royal prince? After Meng Shidao fell down, the Gobbling Party would fall down and would not pose any threat to Huaiyuan Palace anymore. Meanwhile, Han Zhengfang and Han Yuanhong would become the eyesores of the imperial court of Taixia Country. Even if I don't kill them myself, numerous powerhouses would like to chop off their heads one after another.'
'This is the first situation that might happen today.'
'As for the second situation. The master of royal prince could choose to kill Han Zhengfang in the emperor's imperial city. Meanwhile, the master of royal prince would stir up a big enemy for the Gobbling Party. If Heavens Reaching Church didn't revenge the Gobbling Party after their master was killed by the leader of the Gobbling Party, it could be disbanded right away. I don't care which one would laugh at the end, the Heavenly Reaching Church or the Gobbling Party. Given the overall strengths and potentials of the two parties, I would not feel strange even if their animosity lasted hundreds of years after their death. The Gobbling Party is deep-rooted in Taixia Country with numerous supporters in and out of imperial court; the Heavens Reaching Church colludes with demons as the remnants of the weird bloody soul temple. If the two parties fought each other, it would be a splendid show. I will just watch the show together with Huaiyuan Palace.'
'The third situation could barely happen, namely, Han Zhengfang and Meng Shidao both get severely wounded. Han Zhengfang is still able to escape out of Xuanyuan Hill. At this moment, I will give a favor to Meng Shidao. Ordinary earth knights are unable to kill a shadow knight; however, as a divine dominator and a powerful earth knight, I'm absolutely qualified to kill an injured shadow knight…'
'Is it worthwhile to set such a fatal plot with 5 trouble-reappearance fruits and my preparation in Xuanyuan Hill?'
Zhang Tie felt it was very worthwhile.
The army of wild swans flew towards Xuanyuan Hill. Zhang Tie just waited for the result…
Before the 12 huge words reached the emperor's imperial city, Zhang Tie arranged those wild swans to fly across Gold and Power Market in the periphery of Xuanyuan Hill.
In normal times, as the host of Gold and Power Market and the bright golden master of Gold and Power Law of Taixia Country, Han Yuanhong would not just stay in Gold and Power Market like a steward, except for late days. According to Zhang Tie's intelligence, during the period of Treasures Meeting, Han Yuanhong stayed in Treasures Complex every day and controlled the overall situation of the Treasures Meeting; additionally, he was collecting a great number of silver secret items…
Honestly, Zhang Tie was really worried that Han Zhengfang had too few faithful lackeys in Xuanyuan Hill. If Han Zhengfang received this news too late and was easily arrested by the master of royal prince through some arrangement, it would not be interesting at all.
When the wild swans flew across Gold and Power Market, at least his son would tell him about the news.
'How would Han Yuanhong look like and respond when he saw the abnormal phenomenon in the sky?'
'I'm really looking forward to that…'
Gold and Power Market was the fuse that Zhang Tie set for this fatal plot…
Chapter 1157: Lighting the Battle Flames in Xuanyuan Hill
Translator:WQL
Editor:Aleem
Han Yuanhong was dominating the auction of some silver secret items in the Secret Items Pavilion of Gold and Power market.
What the Imperial Affairs Ministry entrusted Han Yuanhong's father to do should actually be done by Gold and Power Law. As the master of Gold and Power Law, according to the result of the discussion between Han Yuanhong and Han Zhengfang, even if they were just pretending to complete the task, Han Yuanhong had to try his best to collect silver secret items in the Treasures Meeting for the Imperial Affairs Ministry.
Even pieces of God's Star could be sold in this Treasures Meeting, not to mention silver secret items.
The silver secret items being auctioned in the Treasures Meeting mainly came from two sources: first, like that of the piece of God's Star, after some major knight clans declined, facing the 3rd holy war, treasures such as pieces of God's Star and silver secret items could not bring prosperity to their clans any more; conversely, they might incur threats to their clans. Therefore, these clans would choose to auction these treasures left by their forebears for something more practical in case that these treasures were robbed away.
Second, silver secret items came from very few lucky dogs. These lucky dogs were basically knights. When most of the knights were spending great efforts in seeking silver secret items, these lucky dogs had one or two silver secret items. Those lucky dogs with one silver secret item would like to exchange it for something more practical, such as urgent cultivation resources like earth-element crystals; those with two silver secret items would keep one silver secret item for themselves while exchanging the other one for cultivation resources or something that they needed.
The silver secret item being displayed on the counter of the auction house was a short sword.
After wiping out the spiritual mark of its owner, this short sword suspended in a special crystal showcase whose volume was about 64 cubic meters as it was constantly changing its shapes between a colorful, brilliant short sword with sharp sawteeth and a real, colorful double-headed snake which constantly swam in the crystal showcase.
The greater part of the audiences were representatives of major clans across Taixia Country. These major clans would never think that they had enough silver secret items. These representatives would always be followed by one or two juniors of their clans who were taken out to see the world. It was the first time for many juniors to see the real object of silver secret items. Therefore, they were all dumbfounded as they whispered to each other.
Because Gold and Power Law was an organization that Emperor Xuanyuan used to compete with the other 6 top clans in Taixia Country, the Treasures Meeting of Gold and Power Law was generally ignored and resisted by the other 6 top clans in Taixia Country. Although the 6 top clans also assigned knights to attend the Treasures Meeting for the sake of the face of Gold and Power law, those major clans and forces on subcontinents were more passionate about this.
The original owner of the silver secret item was an earth knight. He wanted to exchange this silver secret item for water-element crystals that he demanded urgently.
The starting price was 200 water-element crystals. When it rose to 1200 water-element crystals, the rising speed evidently slowed down.
One water-element crystal could be exchanged for 6 earth-element crystals, namely, 1,200 water-element crystals were equal to 7,200 earth-element crystals. It was already a big figure. Even those major clans of Taixia Country could not easily afford such a great number of element crystals. Whatever, no clan could plant these element crystals in their own land. All the element crystals had to be gained from Earth-element Realm; additionally, the more advanced the element crystals were, the more difficult it would be to gain them. Compared to silver secret items, element crystals were the urgent strategic resources of all the clans and sects.
When it rose to 1200 water-element crystals, the bidders started to raise the price meticulously as they communicated with their clan elders or heads through remote-sensing communications devices simultaneously so as to confirm their bottom lines.
"1290 water-element crystals...1290 water-element crystals, is there any higher quotation..." A beautiful female auctioneer shouted on the platform.
When Han Yuanhong implied his assistant to raise the figure to 1,300, loud chaos suddenly drifted from outside the auction house of the Secret Items Pavilion, causing him to frown unpleasantly.
'Who dared make trouble in the Treasures Complex? Does anyone want to imitate Cui Li?'
With a loud noise "bang", a side door of the hobby of the auction house was pushed open forcefully from outside, attracting the attention of many people in the auction house.
A guy with a long face and sparse beard broke inside in a flurried way regardless of the others' looks. He came all the way to Han Yuanhong's side as he approached Han Yuanhong's ear and whispered to him, "Master, there's an emergency outside...you...you'd better take a look outside!"
"What's the matter?" Han Yuanhong asked as he continued, "Does anyone dare make trouble in the Treasures Complex?"
"Erm...almost like that. Master, you will know it when you come outside..." The guy with the long face and sparse beard looked embarrassed as he didn't know how to say.
Watching the strange expression of this guy, Han Yuanhong immediately walked out of the auction house unpleasantly with a killing intent, followed by that guy with the long face and sparse beard.
...
The moment Han Yuanhong left the auction house, he had seen hundreds of people gathering in the courtyard of Treasures Complex. When Han Yuanhong exited, the noise suddenly disappeared.
Han Yuanhong felt that everybody else was looking at him. The onlookers' eyes even contained something strange, which looked extremely weird. Even some knights of Gold and Power Law who were responsible for maintaining orders in Treasures Complex looked at him in a strange way as if they were surrounding to watch a surging hidden force among the mass.
The surrounding bizarre eye lights and weird atmosphere made Han Yuanhong's heart pound unconsciously. However, as an earth knight who had seen the world, he could not be flurried by such a scene.
Han Yuanhong didn't see anyone stirring up trouble here, he looked up at the sky along the finger of that guy with the long face and sparse beard.
——Finance Minister Han Zhengfang is the Master of Heavens Reaching Church
The 12 huge words in the brilliant, crimson sunglow were flying over here from afar, striking terror in Han Zhengfang's heart.
Each huge word was over 1,000 m long. They flew above 6,000 m in the air territory of Xuanyuan Hill like a celestial being's calligraphy. Being composed of over 100,000 wild swans, when they were still 10 miles away from the air territory above Gold and Power Market, everybody in Gold and Power Market could already see them clearly.
Han Yuanhong's body rocked twice as if he was going to fall down. At the sight of 12 huge words, he felt that his head was split open by a huge ax falling off the sky. In a split second, Han Yuanhong's eyes sparkled as his head buzzed.
'It's over!'
It was the first whim that occurred to Han Yuanhong's mind. Han Yuanhong didn't even have time to consider why the 12 huge words could appear in the sky in this manner. Compared to the reason and process of the appearance of the 12 huge words, the result was more terrifying for Han Yuanhong.
In a split second, Han Clan's power and prestige would disappear. In the blink of an eye, Xuanyuan Hill would become the graveyard of Han Zhengfang and Han Yuanhong.
Han Yuanhong finally understood why those people in Gold and Power Market watched him with strange looks.
There was a proverb in Taixia Country that the son had to pay off his father's debt; there's another proverb that the son would inherit the undertakings of his father. If his father was the master of Heavens Reaching Church, undoubtedly, Han Yuanhong himself was also the remnant of Heavens Reaching Church. Anyone who could kill Han Yuanhong, the young master of Heavens Reaching Church would have reputation and fame at the same time.
Only dignitaries could enter Treasures Complex. At this moment, there were at least 20 earth knights in the courtyard of Treasures Complex. No matter how powerful was Han Yuanhong, he didn't feel that he could resist so many earth knights at the same time.
A few minutes ago, Han Yuanhong was still commanding in his Gold and Power Market; however, at this moment, Han Yuanhong felt that he became a fat piece that was thrown into a wolf pack.
It was pretty quiet inside Treasures Complex. At the same time, many onlookers' eyes grew increasingly perilous while a surging hidden force was going to break out at any time.
'I could not waste time anymore.' Han Yuanhong made his determination almost in a split second. After so many years' experience, Han Yuanhong immediately worked out a way to stabilize the current situation for the time being.
"It's a blasphemy!" Han Yuanhong roared with a solemn look as his face turned completely pale. He looked straight into the eyes of the onlookers with fearless, bloody eyes as he said, "Moles of demons and Heavens Reaching Church must be manipulating this plot as they want to slander my father and me in order to make Xuanyuan Hill chaotic. I will prepare for it right now and request the Supreme Court to carry out an overall investigation about this event!"
After saying that, Han Yuanhong rolled his sleeves furiously as he turned around and walked towards his office in Treasures Complex.
After exchanging a glance with each other, many knights who wanted to arrest Han Zhengfang just now became a bit hesitated. If it was really a blasphemy manipulated by the Heavens Reaching Church and demons, they would offend the finance minister of Taixia Country and Han Clan as a whole once they jumped out to fight Han Yuanhong at this moment; additionally, after this event, they might even be counterattacked by Han Clan with the excuse that they colluded with demons and Heavens Reaching Church.
The great meritorious service might also be a great trouble.
When the others became hesitated for a few seconds, Han Yuanhong had already disappeared.
After exchanging a glance with each other, nobody in Treasures Complex dared move.
...
Han Yuanhong was still clenching his fist. As a result, his knuckles turned white with raised green tendons while slightly shaking.
He pretended to be stable; however, only he could feel that the firm ground felt as soft as cotton. So far, his brain was still chaotic while golden sparkles were flickering in front of his eyes.
He just pretended to be furious and calm in front of the public so as to seek for more time for him to escape.
Of course, both Han Yuanhong and Han Zhengfang didn't have any mental preparation against the 12 huge words in the sky; neither did the official forces in Xuanyuan Hill make any preparation about that. If the official of Taixia Country had long known the background of Han Yuanhong and Han Zhengfang and was ready to arrest them, the 12 huge words were completely redundant which would frighten away the snakes. Because this was an emergency for everybody, it was of great significance for Han Yuanhong to strive for one more minute to escape.
After entering his study in Treasures Complex, Han Yuanhong closed the door from inside. At this moment, only that guy with the long face and sparse beard still closely followed Han Yuanhong with a resentful look so as to express that he was loyal to Han Clan.
"Master, this might be a vicious plot set by demons and Heavens Reaching Church or the revenge of Cui Li and Bai Clan..." The guy with the long face and sparse beard racked his brain and wanted to display his talent at this moment; however, he didn't notice Han Yuanhong's bad look. Unimaginably, he almost hit the truth although he just fabricated some reasons.
"You've really done too much for me over these years!" Han Yuanhong said genially.
The guy with the long face and sparse beard felt being flurried as he hurriedly lowered his body while raising his sparse beard pleasantly, "Master, it's my honor to serve you..."
Soon after the word 'you", Han Yuanhong had already slightly pressed his palm on his head and turned his brain into a paste. Before this guy with the long face and sparse bear straightened up his body, his two eyeballs had already jumped out of his eye sockets as he immediately fell onto the ground like a dead dog.
Han Yuanhong threw the last glance at this guy with a glassy-eyed look. 'Previously, this guy was not a member of Heavens Reaching Church; as he's a bit smart and could be loyal to me, I just kept him alive as my lackey and eye in Gold and Power Market. Over these years, this guy has done too many things for me; if this guy fell into the hand of the Supreme Court, he might ruin our plan. Of course, he could not stay alive.'
'I've got some more subordinates in Xuanyuan Hill; however, given the emergency, I couldn't care too much about that.'
After killing one person, Han Yuanhong rapidly came to a wall of the study. He pressed some places on the wall, revealing an entrance of a hidden tunnel leading to the underground space. Han Yuanhong immediately jumped inside...
As he left there too hurriedly, Han Yuanhong didn't even close the door of the hidden tunnel.
Actually, even if he closed the door of the hidden tunnel, it wouldn't work anymore. If any knight wanted to look for the cave in this study, any blow would expose the entrance of the hidden tunnel. Although nobody dared be that presumptuous in Treasures Complex in normal times, many people dared be that presumptuous today for sure...
...
After a few minutes, after receiving no response from inside the study, the three earth knights in uniforms who were assigned by the Supreme Court here to "invite" Han Yuanhong to the Supreme Court for an interrogation broke the door of the study into pieces while more people surrounded to watch what happened inside.
After catching sight of the corpse in the study and that entrance of the hidden tunnel, the face of the earth knight who broke the door turned solemn at once...
"Catch up with him..."
The three earth knights immediately jumped into the entrance.
All the onlookers inside Treasures Complex were in an uproar at once...
Before the three earth knights of the Supreme Court arrived, Han Yuanhong, the son of Han Zhengfang had killed one person and escaped far away, which lit the battle flames in Xuanyuan Hill at once.
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
When the golden sun set in the west, the night fell. Only 1/3 of turbid wine was left in the bottle unconsciously under the old peach tree in the Sincerity Garden, emperor's imperial city…
Xuanyuan Hill was very large. The wild swans had not reached Gold and Power Market yet; therefore, Han Yuanhong had not heard the noise drifting from outside the auction house.
Meng Shidao and Han Zhengfang were having a drink on both sides of the stony table while talking with each other.
The so-called stony table was actually a time-honored stone mill composed of two parts.
The edge of the stone mill was already worn. The hole in the middle of the mill had been blocked by sundries. The lower mill was close to the ground. Therefore, its feet had been covered with mosses. Such a worn stone mill would be abandoned by well-off families. However, in Sincerity Garden, it was treated as the stony table for receiving guests. Very few people across the emperor's imperial city could have a seat on the side of this stone mill.
The master of royal prince might take over the position of prime minister, one of the top three chancellors of Taixia Country in the future.
When Han Zhengfang talked and drank with the master of the royal prince, he gradually felt that master of the royal prince was most interested in the economy of Taixia Country that he was responsible for.
Prime minister was responsible for the political affairs across Taixia Country. This position could help the royal prince pretty much; prime minister could assist the royal prince to control the overall situation of Taixia Country. Compare to the general inspector who was responsible for supervision, education, etiquette and sacrifice and defense secretary, the prime minister was more influential to all aspects across Taixia Country. Of course, the royal prince hoped that he could be assisted by his master in the most important position. Meanwhile, it would meet the interests of the Gobbling Party.
If the master of royal prince took over the position of prime minister, the Finance Minister's Mansion would become the immediate subordinate of the master of the royal prince. The master of royal prince might want to pass this signal to Han Zhengfang through this meeting.
'I wonder what condition could that guy in the east imperial palace provide so as to have Di Longtu, who was the current prime minister, abdicate voluntarily? Di Longtu is bad-tempered. He would not consider modestly decline as a virtue on this point. Whether could I grasp an opportunity during this process? If I could have Di Clan fight the master of the royal prince, it would interesting.'
When Han Zhengfang was thinking about something evil, he looked and said sincerely. Han Zhengfang treated well-known master of the royal prince who was going to be the immediate superior of Finance Minister's Mansion pretty politely; at the same time, he maintained his dignity and moral courage as the finance minister of Taixia Country.
"According to the statistics about the consumption of edible salt among all the provinces that the Finance Minister Mansion made 3 years ago, there were over 0.1536 trillion people in Taixia Country. Over 80% of these people are in the 9 immortal provinces, 36 upper provinces and 72 major provinces in Taixia Country. One of such provinces would have about 10 billion people. Although the medium and lower provinces have large land areas, they have fewer people; additionally, most people settled in nearby cities. There's still a great development potential in the field. Fanzhou Province has the least population. Fanzhou Province is a barren and cold land. It contains less than 100 million people. Besides those uncivilized barbarians, each wild province would usually have millions of Hua people and descendants, at most 10 million people. However, many criminals usually escape to wild provinces so as to avoid the arrest of the Supreme Court."
Han Zhengfang put his drink down. After hearing the master of royal prince's question about population statistics in Taixia Country, he immediately uttered a lot of figures. Actually, these figures were classified in Taixia Country. Low-rank officials could not touch these figures at all.
"Migrating criminals to open up wasteland in wild provinces is a national policy of Taixia Country. The ruling party actually forgive those criminals in this way. Most of the people who violate rules by force are cunning and evil. Although they are toxic in Taixia Country, as long as they are not heinous, the Supreme Court would just drive them into the wild provinces so as to survive themselves; meanwhile, they could contribute to the wasteland reclamation in Taixia Country. Additionally, these guys could also deal with those barbarians in those wild provinces. After 100 years, when some descendants of these criminals could be something, they would build cities and seek for paying allegiance to the imperial court so as to make their ancestors illustrious. By then, Taixia Country could update those wild provinces to establish provinces and assign one provincial governor and some able men over there to have them under control!" The master of royal prince really had special discernment about national policies.
"Master of the royal prince, what a unique analysis!" Han Zhengfang replied with a smile as he nodded, "It also benefits from the grant morality of His Majesty!"
The two people raised their glasses once again. As Zhang Tie had imagined, when their glasses touched, the master of royal prince received the emergency remote-sensing message from the royal prince, which was about what was happening outside the emperor's imperial city.
Although being earth-shaking, this news didn't influence the mood of the master of the royal prince at all. Even his hand which was holding the glass remained unchanged. Meng Shidao was still drinking and chatting with Han Zhengfang as if nothing had happened.
1 minute later, the master of royal prince received another message from the royal prince; however, he still didn't make any response to it.
Not until a few minutes later when Han Yuanhong left the auction house after hearing the uproar outside Gold and Power Market did the master of royal prince notice that the hand of Han Zhengfang became stiff suddenly.
The master of royal prince put down the drink as he looked at Han Zhengfang with a smile and that glass of wine in Han Zhengfang's hand as he asked casually, "Zhengfang, did you receive the same message from your subordinate?"
The thunder-like question caused a faint ripple in Han Zhengfang's glass.
Han Zhengfang's face remained unchanged. After bottoming up the glass of wine, he replied with the same smile, "I've indeed received a message just now; I wonder about the message that the master of royal prince refers to?"
"I've just received the message from the royal prince. As Xuanyuan Hill is holding the Treasures Meeting lately, someone evil guys grasped this opportunity to bewilder the public by using animal controlling skill. They say you're the master of Heavens Reaching Church!" The master of royal prince said casually as if he just took it as a rumor and didn't care about it at all.
"I've also received the report from my subordinate!" Han Zhengfang let out a sigh, "When one reaches a high place, he would always feel cold. I'm afraid that I've offended too many people as a finance minister. Perhaps, the remnants of Heavens Reaching Church want to mess up the overall situation facing Taixia Country. Therefore, they used such an insidious means. It ruined our good moods here!"
"These evil forces are indeed disgusting!" The master of royal prince nodded as if he sympathized Han Zhengfang's encounter very much.
"These evil forces seize the opportunity to make troubles. After hearing this rumor, I'm afraid that my family members have already become chaotic. In order to reassure my family members and avoid from accidents, Zhengfang has to bid a farewell to you. Thanks for your hospitality, master of the royal prince!" Han Zhengfang stood up in a calm way.
The master of royal prince also stood up as he said with a smile, "Zhengfang, don't worry about that. Royal prince has already assigned the able staff men of Imperial Affairs Ministry to comfort your family members in the Finance Minister's Mansion. Therefore, your mansion would never be bothered by those evil forces. Those evil forces want to mess up the overall situation facing Xuanyuan Hill by targeting at the finance minister in such an insidious way. It's already a bit chaotic outside the emperor's imperial city. The Zodiac Guards have already blocked the emperor's imperial city. Considering that those evil forces might have other means, the royal prince is summoning the 9 ministers and me to negotiate about the counter-measures in the imperial palace so as to stabilize the overall situation. As Zheng fang is here, at the order of royal prince, we should enter the imperial palace together!"
'Enter the imperial palace?' How could Han Zhengfang be mired in the desperate place at this moment? There are sheer terrors in the emperor's imperial palace. As long as those secret tricks were triggered in the imperial palace, Han Zhengfang would fall into the hell. Even sage-level knights from top 6 sects could not come out of there completely, not to mention Han Zhengfang. If Han Zhengfang agreed to enter the imperial palace at this moment, he would have no chance to survive himself any longer. If he was really slandered by the evil forces, of course, he dared enter the imperial palace together with the master of the royal prince to meet the royal prince at this moment so as to clarify his innocence while not afraid of being investigated. But the problem was that Han Zhengfang knew that it was not a blasphemy but a truth. As the finance minister of Taixia Country, he knew clearly how many means could Xuanyuan Hill and the emperor's imperial city use to figure out his event.
'What a smart royal prince!'
'I should never enter the imperial palace.'
'I've got no chance to fabricate a lie anymore! Little time left!'
'How could it suddenly reach this step? Who's on the back of this event?' If possible, Han Zhengfang really wanted to take a look at the 12 huge words moving in the sky which sent him into eternal damnation.
'Are the top 6 sects dealing with me and Taixia Country or is it the inferior means of burning the bridge after crossing it adopted by demons? Who else in Taixia Country could send me into such a poor situation in the blink of an eye besides the two parties?'
As he didn't know who screwed him on the back, Han Zhengfang felt a chill invading each of his cells from his head to his toe, causing his heart to turn icy gradually.
At this moment, Han Zhengfang suddenly realized that his 2nd son who was still missing might have already been killed.
After finding that Han Zhengfang remained still, the master of royal prince's eye light turned profound and heart-piercing abruptly.
With a stone table in between, Han Zhengfang and Meng Shidao looked straight into each others' eyes while their smiles gradually faded away. At this moment, a withered peach leaf fell onto the stone stable while a solemn killing intent filled the entire Sincerity Garden in a split second…
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
As this solemn killing intent gradually spread over Sincerity Garden, the fish in the pond near the two people instantly sneaked into the bottom of the pond; some birds on the treetop flew off in a flurried way; even the stray cat's meows disappeared. As a result, the entire Sincerity Garden seemed to be frozen.
"Master of the royal prince, if you allow me to return home, Zhengfang will definitely appreciate you in the future!" Han Zhengfang's voice suddenly turned a bit hoarse; meanwhile, his imposing manner also started to be aggressive and domineering like an iceberg that came out of the sea level.
Han Zhengfang who had been well behaved since he entered the Sincerity Garden didn't treat the master of royal prince in a respectful and restrained way anymore. In a split second, he started to talk with the master of the royal prince on the equal footing.
Master of royal prince looked at Han Zhengfang as he said, "If you leave Sincerity Garden safe and sound today, how could you stay in Xuanyuan Hill any longer? Your appreciation is my poison!" After saying that, the master of royal prince let out a sigh suddenly. Closely after that, he shook his head and looked at those riprap beside the pond as he muttered one sentence that made Han Zhengfang confused, "Alas, I've not imagined that it would come so fast!"
"Does the master of royal prince know why Emperor Xuanyuan is missing?" Han Zhengfang suddenly asked Meng Shengdao with a sneer.
"No, I don't." Master of royal prince shook his head as he answered in a distant way.
"Because Emperor Xuanyuan knows that Taixia Country would definitely be exterminated by demons in this holy war. Although the tunnel leading to the Earth-elements Realm in Military Province and Lion Fortress beneath that tunnel could successfully prevent the army of demons from entering the core territory of Taixia Country, this time, they can't. Because demons' army has already found another way to reach the territory of Taixia Country by detouring the tunnel in Military Province in the Earth-elements Realm. This time, the strength of the demon army is hundreds of times more greater than that in the former two holy wars between humans and demons. The demon corps on those subcontinents are just a small part of the demon army!" Han Zhengfang smiled more genially when he watched the master of the royal prince who remained as casual as usual, "As Emperor Xuanyuan knows that Taixia Country would not have a chance to win this holy war, he has left for the underground world before the holy war broke out. He wants to look for the legendary Xuanyuan Hill which might bring Taixia Country and Hua people the last bit of hope!"
When he heard "Xuanyuan Hill", the master of royal prince's eyes shot out a shrewd light.
Meng Shidao knew that the Xuanyuan Hill mentioned by Han Zhengfang didn't refer to this nominal capital of Taixia country and center of humans where they were in. Actually, the name of the capital of Taixia Country originated from a legendary supreme item called Xuanyuan Hill among Hua people. In the most mysterious history of Hua people, Xuanyuan Hill was the origin of Hua people. One day, Xuanyuan Hill fell onto the earth from the sky. Closely after that, the forebears of Hua people walked out of this Xuanyuan Hill and came to this world. In the ancient legend, Xuanyuan Hill was a huge cube which carried mysterious abilities. This cube was the real sacred and immortal item of Hua people. Because of the existence and legends of Xuanyuan Hill, some people in Taixia Country called Hua people as immortal people.
Xuanyuan Hill was actually a huge cube; instead of the nominal human city where they were. Only very few Hua people knew this secret. Meng Shidao was one of them.
Emperor Xuanyuan was missing as he was looking for the real Xuanyuan Hill. Even the royal prince didn't know this secret, not to mention the master of the crown prince!
Watching the silent expression of the master of the crown prince, Han Zhengfang took in a deep breath as he continued, "In order to look for Xuanyuan Hill, Emperor Xuanyuan has already been mired in a desperate situation and completely lost his contact with the outside world. Nobody knows whether he's still alive or not. He might never come back. Master of the crown prince, why not leave a chance for yourself and your clan at this moment?"
"Even the crown prince doesn't know it, how do you know that?"
At this critical moment, Han Zhengfang had already displayed his bearing as the master of a sect as he became not that scared anymore, "There was an item of Bloody Soul Temple that really came from Xuanyuan Hill. I presented that item to Emperor Xuanyuan by setting a plot through Gold and Power Law in the excuse that Gold and Power Law gained it by accident. The "Xuanyuan God Sutra" that Emperor Xuanyuan cultivated was metaphysical. As a result, Emperor Xuanyuan has special senses about the items in Xuanyuan Hill. With this item as a lure, I have Emperor Xuanyuan enter a desperate situation himself and sweep the largest obstacle of demons in Taixia Country."
"What's the relationship between you and Bloody Soul Temple? As the lacky of demons, what benefits could you gain?" Meng Shidao asked.
After hearing Meng Shidao's questions, Han Zhengfang burst out into laughter suddenly which sounded a bit miserable and indignant, "Hahahaha, at that time, Bloody Soul Temple just grasped the building method of the bloody sea; however, imperial households and the top 7 sects in Taixia Country joined hands to exterminate us. What crime has Bloody Soul Temple committed? Why would we suffer such a great loss? Almost all the members of Bloody Soul Temple had been slaughtered. The so-called reason that bloody sea violated the universal laws and that disciples of Bloody Soul Temple made troubles everywhere across the country didn't exist at all. When did our Bloody Soul Temple kill innocent people for building bloody seas? Although there were some belials in Bloody Soul Temple who make troubles across Taixia Country by the secret methods of Bloody Soul Temple, it's nothing strange at all. Major sects and clans always have tens of millions of disciples of different qualities, even so, more than one disciples of Taiyi Fantasy Sect are being wanted by the Supreme Court. Why not exterminate Taiyi Fantasy Sect? We built the bloody sea only for an experiment. All the blood in the bloody sea came from animals. We didn't kill any human for building it. By contrast, although you call yourselves decent sects, you arranged moles among the disciples of Bloody Soul Temple and cast greedy eyes on the secret methods of our Bloody Soul Temple. Meanwhile, being afraid that our bloody sea could grow more powerful, you even joined hands to exterminate our Bloody Soul Temple. As the sutra-preach elder of Bloody Soul Temple, how could I not revenge such an animosity? Cooperated with demons, so what? In this word, the winner would become the king while the losers would become bandits. If demons win this holy war, I will be the human emperor of Taixia Country in the future. The justice would be on my side. Only after 200 years, the pettifoggers would nail the top 7 sects and the imperial households of Taixia Country onto the pillar of stigma as rebels and traitors!"
"I've not imagined that the finance minister of Taixia Country is the sutra-preach elder of Bloody Soul Temple!" Master of crown prince let out a sigh with emotion as he looked up at the sky. Closely after that, he shook his head.
In Taixia Country, some sects had sutra-preach elders, some didn't have. The duties of sutra-preach elders of each sect were greatly different from each other. Some sutra-preach elders were only responsible for preaching some ordinary classics to their disciples through enlightenment; some sutra-preach elders could grasp the most important secret methods of their own sects; some sutra-preach elders were appointed by the masters of the sects, whose identity would be known by many people; some sutra-preach elders had their own inheritance system, in which situation, even though the masters of the sects didn't know who were the sutra-preach elders of their sects; namely, the inheritance system of sutra-preach elders were independent of the sects. sutra-preach elders fulfilled their duties silently. Undoubtedly, Bloody Soul Temple accepted the second inheritance system of sutra-preach elders, which was also the most mysterious kind.
The second kind of sutra-preach elder was the most mysterious figure in a sect. This person got hang of the most important classic secret methods of a sect. Benefited from this mode, if the sect suffered a catastrophe one day, the sutra-preach elder of this sect could serve as a kindling to reinvigorate the sect one day.
The kindling of Bloody Soul Temples was not only preserved but also turned into a big blazing fire of Heavens Reaching Church that almost burned Taixia Country as a whole into ruins.
"You designed the tragedy in Fuhai City, right?"
"The Zhang brat ruined the great plan of our Heavens Reaching Church in Youzhou Province. His potential was really terrifying. If he grew up, he would definitely become the stumbling block of my great undertaking. I had to have forethought. Therefore, I set a plot to eliminate him!" Han Zhengfang smiled as if he was saying something trivial, "I just did something which master of royal prince also wanted to do yet felt bashful to do! I've not imagined that Zhang brat could escape from my plot and gain a great fame. I really underestimated him.��
"The enmity between me and Huaiyuan Palace is not for private benefits but for the universal laws. Therefore, I would never use your mean method!" Meng Shidao genially persuaded Han Zhengfang, whose qi grew stronger, "If you fold your hands for capture and could clarify all the plots that you and demons have set in Taixia Country over these years for the sake of numerous lives, I swear to keep you alive in front of the crown prince!"
Han Zhengfang suddenly let out a sigh as he said, "According to your words, the master of crown prince still determines to keep me here?"
"Yup, I have to!"
"If so, master of crown prince, you could…go die!"
Han Zhengfang's eyes turned bloody at once while two bloody spiritual strikes, which could mess up the mind sea of a heavenly knight, flew out of his eyes like bloody lightning bolts before booming into the head of Meng Shidao in a speed which was much faster than that of lightning bolt.
What an unavoidable spiritual strike!
This was the most powerful and irresistible trump card among all the secret methods of Bloody Soul Temple——Soul-Killing Bloody Spiritual Sword.
This strike could already reach the level of a heavenly knight.
The soul-killing bloody spiritual sword hit Meng Shidao. The aftermath of this strike swept over the entire Sincerity Garden which became deadly silent. All the fish at the bottom of the pond and the ants in the nests were killed in a split second.
When the soul-killing bloody spiritual sword hit Meng Shidao and made his body turn stiff, Han Zhengfang's punch arrived too. Being as powerful as a meteor that flew from the outer space, this punch broke through the void and passed by the stone mill between the two people, shattering all the trays, bowls and iron bottles on it. Like being blown over by a wind constantly for hundreds of millions of years, everything was dried, weathered and turned into dust and memories…
Han Zhengfang, the former finance minister of Taixia Country or a shadow knight, revealed a terrifying battle strength and power that should be owned by a heavenly knight at his full efforts in a split second…
With a remaining faint dumbfounded look, Meng Shidao's chest was penetrated through by that punch, sending him to fly off…
Han Zhengfang didn't care whether Meng Shidao was alive or dead. He instantly strode over 100 m away only by one step. After another step, he strode out of the wooden hedge of Sincerity Garden by one foot…
However, before he started the 3rd step, Han Zhengfang had to stop.
The street outside the wooden hedge had disappeared at this moment. Although he had crossed over the wooden hedge, he entered the Sincerity Garden once again.
Han Zhengfang looked back and found that the street was on his back. Besides that humpbacked old servant who had disappeared, everything in front of his eyes was as same as that when he came to the Sincerity Garden at the beginning.
After leaving the Sincerity Garden, he entered the Sincerity Garden once again. It seemed that the sense of space had disappeared. The low wooden hedge felt like an impassable heavens reaching abyss.
Master of the royal prince was still standing beside that stone table being composed of the stone mill under the old peach tree while looking at Han Zhengfang genially with a small dough figurine whose chest was penetrated through. Meng Shidao said, "I've not imagined that you've long promoted to a heavenly knight. You've really buried your secrets deeply!"
Face turning slightly pale, Han Zhengfang looked up at the sky. The Sincerity Garden and the sky both remained unchanged.
"Semi…sage…realm…" Han Zhengfang uttered the three words hardly.
"I'm sorry…" Master of the crown prince replied bashfully.
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"What's that…"
When a bloody qi rushed into the sky from the Sincerity Garden, many people in the emperor's imperial city became amazed. Few people could promote to knights; few knights had witnessed the battle between heavenly knights; especially between one heavenly knight and one semi-sage knight.
Therefore, when that bloody qi rushed into the sky, many people in the emperor's imperial city thought that there was a performance today. As Xuanyuan Hill was holding the Treasures Meeting, it was predictable that there was some festive program in the emperor's imperial city. Additionally, such things happened before.
However, those people who saw this bizarre scenery from afar soon realized that it was not a festive program but a major event.
The bloody qi that rushed into the sky from Sincerity Garden was abnormal and overbearing like a big heavenly fire. With a bizarre light, the bloody qi was constantly changing into various bizarre fierce beasts as if it wanted to get rid of an invisible bond.
There was a moment when the bloody qi was going to break the bond; however, closely after that, a looming huge, pitch-dark stele appeared above the bloody qi, suppressing it once again.
Everybody across the emperor's imperial city could hear tens of thousands of muffled thunders rolling over the ground from the direction of the Sincerity Garden, causing an earthquake within 13 miles around Sincerity Garden. The closer it was to Sincerity Garden, the fiercer the earthquake would be. All the people living nearby Sincerity Garden had escaped out of their houses out of fear. Closely after that, they were all evacuated by the imperial forbidden army in the emperor's imperial city. As a result, the soldiers of Imperial Guards soon covered 13 miles around Sincerity Garden.
"Far-ancient Immortal Stele!" A knight-level general of the imperial guards exclaimed as he looked up at the words on the 100 m higher classic huge stele above Sincerity Garden while standing outside Sincerity Garden.
Of course, this was not the real Far-ancient Immortal Stele, but an incarnation like battle qi totem.
It seemed that the entire Sincerity Garden was covered by a grey mist. The grey mist was constantly twisting as if tens of thousands of swirls and hidden flows were surging in the mist. People couldn't see clearly what was happening inside the mist. Given the heavy earthquakes, they could sense that it was not peaceful inside.
"Let me take a look inside…" A brave earth knight of Imperial Guards gritted his teeth as he rushed towards the grey mist. However, the moment he approached the mist, he had been bounced back. The grey mist was covered with a strong, irresistible force field. The earth knight tried twice; however, the greater the strength he exerted, the greater the rebounding energy would be. When the earth knight was bounced back for the 3rd time, he almost got injured.
"No more try. It's close to a sage-level strength. Even heavenly knights could barely access to it by force…" Along with this sound, the commander-in-chief of Imperial Guards arrived with a solemn look. With double pupils in each eye, his eyebrows were so long that they reached his temples.
As one of the 9 ministers in Taixia Country, the commander-in-chief was shocked too much by the intensity of the earthquake as he watched the changing grey mist over Sincerity Garden.
'Master of the royal prince has already promoted to semi-sage. The familiar finance minister Han Zhengfang is already a heavenly knight.' The heart of commander-in-chief of Imperial Guards pounded.
"You hurriedly go to the Golden Water River and assist the Zodiac Guards to safeguard Golden Water River. Without the consent of the royal prince, nobody is allowed to leave the emperor's imperial city at this moment. I'll be responsible for this place…" The commander-in-chief immediately sent an order.
"Yes, sir…" The other knights around Sincerity Garden immediately left at the order.
Some black iron knights and earth knights couldn't even interfere with the battle between a heavenly knight and a semi-sage knight. If Han Zhengfang was able to escape out of the realm of Meng Shidao, these knights outside Sincerity Garden could never resist Han Zhengfang. Therefore, they'd better play their role in the best place; instead of increasing casualties in vain.
Based on Han Zhengfang's arrangement in Xuanyuan Hill over these years, Han Zhengfang should have some accomplices in the emperor's imperial city. At this critical moment, the remnants of Heavens Reaching Church could never escape away from the emperor's imperial city anymore.
Almost the moment those subordinate knights of commander-in-chief of Imperial Guards turned around, they had seen a knight's battle qi totem rushing into the sky from the Golden Water River in the far.
Someone wanted to cross Golden Water River and had already started a battle with Zodiac Guards. What the commander-in-chief of Imperial Guards was concerned about had immediately come true.
The commander-in-chief of Imperial Guards didn't care about what happened over Golden Water River anymore; instead, a brilliant light gradually came into being in his hand and turned into a huge 3.3 m-long saber which carried a strong killing intent.
When the commander-in-chief of Imperial Guards held the huge saber in one hand in an imposing manner, he kept a close eye watch on the changing grey mist in the Sincerity Garden with a pair of brilliant eyes…
At the order of the royal prince, the two generals of God's Will Army and Feather Army had already been on the way here at the highest speed, followed by their powerful subordinates. Only after a couple of hours, nothing to worry about no matter how Heavens Reaching Church made arrangements in Xuanyuan Hill.
…
The bloody sea dashed to the sky in the Sincerity Garden.
In the semi-sage realm, there was no concept of size or space. Everything visible was incarnated by the four elements. The mysteries in the realm could only be known by the sage, whether true or not.
If it happened outside Sincerity Garden, Han Zhengfang's surging bloody billows had long covered 60 square miles. However, at this moment, Han Zhengfang's surging bloody billows still failed to break out of this tiny Sincerity Garden.
Han Zhengfang had to use his most powerful means as a heavenly knight. Because he knew that even if he could break out of the semi-sage realm of Meng Shidao 2 hours later, he couldn't leave Xuanyuan Hill anymore, because it would only take the generals of the top 4 armies of Taixia Country 3 hours to arrive at Xuanyuan Hill after receiving the message about the chaos facing Xuanyuan Hill.
As the emperor's imperial city counted most. The powerhouses on the back of emperor's imperial city would not leave there at this moment. As long as one of the generals of the top 4 armies arrived, Han Zhengfang would have no hope to survive anymore.
The bloody billows turned more and more black and increasingly fiercer. A virtual immortal beast which looked like tortoise and dragon roared towards the sky like a living being, arousing extremely high bloody billows, shocking thunders, and bloody lightning bolts. Additionally, various ferocious beasts being incarnated by the bloody billows were constantly charging at the people above the bloody billows and the invisible barrier which bounded off this bloody sea. Each ferocious beast was more powerful than the images incarnated by common black iron knights' battle qis.
Suspending still above the bloody sea, Meng Shidao was wrapped in a colorful light, hair and beard swaying in the air, he was lifting a mountain-like virtual far-ancient immortal stele like a deity and shattered Han Zhengfang's strike one after another.
"Mercy is the heart of universal laws; virtue is the body of universal laws; etiquette is the tool of universal laws; righteousness is the driving force of universal laws; universal laws are looming with various images and objects. It contains true essences and trust. Universal laws are innominate; just follow the universal laws…"
In the sky, as master of royal prince recited the sutras on the Far-ancient Immortal Stele, the sound in the entire semi-sage realm grew increasingly louder. Everything in the realm started to resonate and rock together with this sound. Those beasts which were more ferocious than the battle qi images of common knights were successively flying out of the bloody billows before turning into bloody waves and falling off in the next second among the sutras that filled the entire realm.
Thunders stroke onto the head of the immortal beast in the shape of a tortoise and a dragon which was manifested by the heavenly knight using the secret method of combining blood with life when the immortal beast was brewing storms in the bloody sea.
The bloody sea caught fire…
The immortal beast's roar became more earth-shaking.
…
The earthquake in the emperor's imperial city and the battle qi totems which were rushing into the sky from the Golden Water River indicated that more and more people were involved in today's chaos. Of course, Han Zhengfang and Han Yuanhong were not the only members of Heavens Reaching Church in Xuanyuan Hill; therefore, all the other members of Heavens Reaching Church had exerted their full efforts to escape away from the emperor's imperial city, arousing many turmoils.
Not only the emperor's imperial city was rocking, but a loud boom also drifted from the underground space of Gold and Power Market soon after the three earth knights assigned by the Supreme Court entered the secret tunnel in Treasures Complex, causing the ground over Gold and Power Market rock for a short while. Additionally, the ground of a 4-storey building miles away from Treasures Complex in the west rose and fell like doughballs, causing the 4-storey building to collapse completely. Some people who were buried inside started to scream miserably…
The strong airflow that was sent out of the entrance of the secret tunnel broke all the windows in the study, causing the onlookers dumbfounded.
"Alchemist's bomb. There is an alchemist's bomb underground!" Someone shouted, scaring away all the onlookers who were waiting there for the result. None of them could imagine that there was an alchemist's bomb beneath Treasures Complex.
A few minutes later, the three earth knights who had just rushed into the hidden tunnel exited the hidden tunnel with embarrassed looks. Thankfully, they all survived although getting injured.
"Pass my order, block all the sewers that lead to the outside of Xuanyuan Hill!" An earth knight roared.
Soon after the roar, a louder boom drifted from a place miles away from Gold and Power Market. Closely after that, hundreds of meters high flame rose up from the ground over there…
At the sight of this scene, the three earth knights of Supreme Court changed their faces once again.
"What's that place?" An earth knight caught a staff of Treasures Complex as he asked loudly.
"That…is a materials warehouse that Gold and Power Law built outside Gold and Power Market…" The staff in Treasures Complex was scared too much by the series of accidents as he replied in a flurried way.
As the night gradually fell, Xuanyuan Hill was gradually in chaos.