Under the sa starlit and moonlit sky.
A flat-bottod governnt ship used for internal river transportation was andering its way southward along the vast and surging Grand Canal.
Leading them were constables sent from the local governnt office, rowing small boats to clear the path, constantly shouting harshly to scatter any shortsighted water bandits and rchant vessels.
With imposing authority and grand spectacle.
"Marquis, that Inner Official Lv has probably made his move by now.
Although he is quite advanced in age, he is after all a fourth realm ’Military Dao Dharma Image’ Military Leader.
He even has a record of commanding the ’Red Eyebrow Camp’ of thirty-six battalions as a Border Army Supervisor in the past, and slaying a first realm Dharma Body practitioner of the Yellow Seal Mage.
Taking down Zhou Jinhuan, just a re Dao General, should be effortless for him if he catches him unprepared."
At a scenic spot on the bow of the official ship, a small table was set up with a clay stove simring spring water upon it, where two individuals were sitting, savoring tea and admiring the moonlight.
The person in the seat of honor was dressed in a Marquis robe and a jade crown, with a wiry fra that belied his actual age.
However, there was a vertical line in the middle of his brows that looked like the edge of a sword blade, seemingly piercing straight into the sky—the "Innate Strange Phenona·Sky-Reaching Pattern"!
Marquis Lingxiao of Guangyang, a descendant of the nobility, was one of the one hundred and four marquises conferred at the founding of Great Yan.
Opposite him sat a person dressed as a Confucian Scholar with a single long black beard, exuding the aura of a distinguished personage.
This was Zhou Xianchen, the strategist who had followed the Marquis of Guangyang for many years and whom the Marquis Mansion respectfully referred to as Mr. Zhou.
While it was difficult to assess how adept he was at sches and power tactics, he was a rare scholar capable of utilizing "Dragon Energy" to perform the "Literary Scene Ascending Dragon Skill."
He was also well-versed in Confucianism’s Chenwei Studies, proficient in predicting fortune and misfortune, success, and disaster.
Despite the pleasant river scenery of the Grand Canal at the mont, the topic of their conversation was sowhat of a mood killer.
"Marquis, once Inner Official Lv captures Zhou Jinhuan, whether he accidentally kills him or decides to imprison him,
the entirety of Long Water Camp and even Dengzhou Prefecture will fall into your hands, smoothly inheriting the vast enterprise left behind by the Xue family.
Controlling the trade routes of the Tanhuan and Moluo countries would be more than enough to build the foundation of a kingdom.
Here, Mr. Zhou uses tea in lieu of wine to toast to your imminent success!"
Mr. Zhou lifted his cup filled with green tea, and Marquis Lingxiao raised his own cup as well.
However, what he had in his cup was not the sa tea but a milky white liquid exuding a sweet, rich creamy fragrance.
But this milk did not co from ordinary cows or sheep, but from people!
And not just any people, but robust won who had cultivated into Daoist Soldiers and achieved non-human bodies.
There is a saying that describes the exertion of great strength as "using even the energy from breastfeeding," and the nobles commonly believe that a person’s natural physical strength is proportionate to the duration of breastfeeding.
The longer the breastfeeding period, the more robust the body becos, and the better the aptitude for learning military skill would be.
As a result, many noble households would employ a group of wet nurses, and a few particularly powerful and influential ones would even privately keep Daoist Soldier wet nurses.
This was solely to lay the best martial foundations for their descendants, continuously from childhood until old age.
For the nobility with wealth, leisure, and heritage, every aspect of consumption had long since reached levels beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Marquis Lingxiao of Guangyang drained his cup of breast milk in one gulp, and he was in high spirits:
"Haha, Mr. Zhou, there’s no need for such formality. This ti we owe it all to the planning of my adoptive father.
No, the key was the tily death of that boy Xue Donglou, which allowed to co to the fore. He died at just the right ti, wonderfully indeed!"
Mr. Zhou did not forget to offer flattery:
"That Xue Donglou was nothing more than a boastful individual of great ambition and little talent, becoming unduly complacent over trivial matters, long due to step down.
If the vast resources of the Pri Minister’s mansion had been supplied to you years ago, I fear you would have already been on the verge of becoming a Martial Saint."
Clearly, this Lingxiao was the close confidant Military Leader that Xue Jiexi referred to for handling the aftermath.
Only under the pretext of an event as significant as "Age Star traversing the sky" could Emperor Jianming be persuaded, allowing such a figure to be rightfully sent to govern the locality.
On the surface, there seed to be no connection between the nobility and civil servants, with frequent intense conflicts occurring between them.
However, this Lingxiao had long secretly pledged allegiance to Pri Minister Xue, and upon hearing the news of Xue Donglou’s death, he decisively accepted Xue Jiexi as his adoptive father.
Now, not only was he about to be decreed to take over Zhou Jinhuan’s Long Water Camp, but he had also taken on the role of "Turbid River Chief," overseeing all the defense affairs along the river.
Initially, this position was one of two safeguards set up by Zhou Wenrui to protect his imperial throne.
So-called emperor’s strategems include: one, valuing oneself; two, establishing authority; three, bestowing favors; and four, maintaining balance.
He would never fully trust his subjects, whether Yang Officials or Yin Officials.
Unfortunately, Zhou Wenrui, celebrating his own sches for consolidating power, would probably never imagine that this safeguard had already failed before it could be locked.
Only Nie Renxiong, who was about to take office as the City God, was left as a last resort, though its effectiveness remained uncertain.
The highly pleased Marquis Lingxiao of Guangyang looked towards Ninghai State’s direction.
"Zhou Jinhuan was ousted from Yunjing City and has been stuck in the backwater location of Dengzhou Prefecture for years.
Despite his notable martial arts talent, he is out of touch.
I’m afraid he’ll think it was just common imperial family infighting when Inner Official Lv crushes his martial arts skills, dying in confusion... pity, tsk tsk..."
At this mont, Mr. Zhou hesitantly spoke up:
"Marquis, there is a question I cannot keep to myself any longer.
Inner Official Lv has spent his life in the Imperial City, witnessing the dirtiest and darkest aspects of the world. He should understand the principle that new emperors bring new courts.
No matter whom he allies with, it’s almost impossible for him to gain greater power than that of being the Grand Eunuch of the Treasure Bureau.
What exactly could be so tempting, to make such an old castrated cur take such risks for us, to extract chestnuts from the fire and do such a montous deed?"
Upon hearing this, Marquis Guangyang was slightly startled before he burst into uproarious laughter, as if he had thought of sothing extrely amusing.
He laughed for quite a while before slowly explaining,
"You and I both know that the Imperial Decree he holds is real, the Emperor truly wants to confine his own son, and it’s true there is no deep father-son affection towards Zhou Jinghuan.
The only thing that’s fake is the ’verbal edict’ to strip him of his Military Skill, which is also the basis on which Inner Official Lv dares to take such a risk.
Upon returning, one need only say that the Prince has ard forces and places too much importance on himself, defying the decree and being disobedient. Emperor Jianming, the old man, might not get so angry after all.
This is to execute first and report afterwards.
As for the so-called great profit...
What else could it be for? A crippled man is still after those few extra inches."
Zhou Xianchen, who had suddenly understood what was implied, instantly had a face full of fascinating expressions.
Zhou Wenrui is famously known for not being greedy for wealth, not indulgent, and not lustful, so naturally, those concubines and palace maids who live like widows in the palace...
Mr. Zhou did not dare to think any further.
Only to hear Marquis Guangyang continue to say,
"Although this Marquis does not know which concubine is his true love, that old eunuch probably wants to experience being a real man before he dies.
As for our Emperor who devises strategies day and night... Ahahahaha..."
Speaking of a powerful fourth realm Military Leader who can regenerate limbs and transform back into a man, it is probably only the Sect that has the ability and audacity to help him with that.
Indeed, the heart of an Emperor is treacherous, and the sches of demons are lengthy."
...
On the beaches of Ninghai State, Wang Yuan and Zhou Jinghuan, who were directly facing Inner Official Lv, certainly did not share the ease and comfort of Lingxiao and the other party.
In their eyes, heaven and earth suddenly turned blood-red, and their mouths and noses were filled with a thick scent of blood.
The cold wind howled, mixed with blood-colored icy splinters, and countless ghost faces resembling apes or mountain demons revolved around the old eunuch, emitting shrill and terrifying screams.
Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp...
A Dao General in the pinnacle of the third realm "Spirit Communication Transformation" that has reached great success can touch the domain of the mind and comprehend a hint of the fourth realm’s Military Dao Dharma Image—the initial form of "Military Skill Extre Intent."
From inheritance to developnt, gradually breaking free from the shackles of existing Military Skill and forming one’s own unique "long board."
And those fourth realm Military Leaders who have condensed the "Dharma Image of the Military Dao", based on a lifeti of painstakingly cultivated Military Skill, have already embarked on their unique paths.
Not only can they slay a Yellow Seal Mage of the sa realm after leading troops,
But even alone, they can exert full suppression over cultivators of a lower realm.
Their Qi-Blood is as luminous as the grand sun, fierce as blazing flas; in their presence, Evil Ghosts cannot approach, and the "Yin Road" cannot be opened.
"Retreat!"
Realizing the malevolent nature of this person, Wang Yuan imdiately pulled Zhou Jinghuan and powerfully retreated while casting white Papern with a wave of his hand.
These Papern swayed in the air and grew upon the wind, instantly transforming into countless paper soldiers and generals.
Whiz! Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!...
Under the boost of True Qi from a Realm Mage, each of them moved with the speed of the wind and their every action was as sharp as a blade’s edge.
"A Realm Mage? King Jing truly has impressive ans to have recruited such talent.
However, it’s just a minor trick!"
Inner Official Lv’s Qi-Blood surged within his body, his vigor penetrating his brow, his eyebrows suddenly turning blood-red.
This was the "Red Eyebrow Military Art" from the thirty-six camps’ Red Eyebrow Camp—a Taoist Military Skill.
He casually raised his hand and threw a punch.
Boom!
The paper soldiers and paper generals were instantly pierced with nurous holes by an invisible Yin Poison Ice Force, turning into scraps of waste paper and fluttering down like snowflakes.
The prototype of the "Red Eyebrow Military Art" is a forceful and swift Red Eyebrow Mountain Demon, awakening the innate divine ability "Bone lting and Blood Condensing," which is both exceedingly cold and fiercely ruthless.
Inner Official Lv took a step forward and was about to pass through the fluttering Papern to capture Zhou Jinghuan.
Just as Wang Yuan controlled the yin wind to pull his Big Cousin into a flying retreat, he drew his sword and shouted low:
"Explode!"
Though hundreds of Papern were destroyed, the "Thunderclap Fire Talismans" drawn on them exploded simultaneously.
In an instant,
A torrential Fla Stream engulfed the entire beach, even lting the grit into flowing glass all around.
However, a sound that was neither urgent nor slow continued to rise amidst the fierce flas:
"Not enough."
The old eunuch pushed his palms forward and an icy wind more chilling than the coldest winter day rose tumultuously from around him, and the terrifying blast of air instantly blew away the Fla Stream, molten lava, and sandstone.
Even the atmosphere above everyone’s heads was shaken, scattering the wispy clouds.
In the next mont, the unstoppable Inner Official Lv turned into a blood rainbow, shooting towards the two.
"King Jing dares to defy the decree and show utmost disrespect to the Emperor! Don’t bla this old servant for getting tough!"
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