Wind and Rain City, Martial Saint Institute.
At this mont, Martial Saint Fang Yan, holding a scroll of books, arrived at a courtyard leisurely and unhurriedly as if he were a refined scholar.
He was invited into the inner courtyard by Yan Lie, who received him as if he were a disciple.
In the inner courtyard, the Dean of the Martial Saint Institute, one of the Four Great Giants of Wind and Rain City, Wu Tianya, was examining three scrolls of paintings.
Any knowledgeable person present could recognize that these three paintings each depicted an Innate Divine Beast: Bifang, Yinglong, and the Chongming Bird.
Moreover, the paintings were so lifelike that they looked almost real.
So with sharp perceptions could even touch upon the true essence within the paintings, as if they were facing these Innate Divine Beasts that were near extinction.
Upon seeing these three scrolls of Divine Beast Pictures, Fang Yan slightly started and chuckled bitterly, "I would never have expected the Dean to possess such treasures; they are countless tis more valuable than this Divine Bird Record in my hands."
"Divine Bird Record?"
Wu Tianya glanced at Fang Yan, "It is said that the Pisces Star Lord compiled this volu specifically to study avian Divine Beasts. Although the descriptions of these Innate Divine Beasts are not profound, obtaining this scroll is quite fortuitous."
"In many respects, we martial artists are quite similar to cultivators, yet in reality, we are different. Cultivators follow a path of emulating the heavens and the earth, aiming to replace the Heavenly Heart with their own and to control the operation of the Heavenly Dao with their own Dao, ultimately grasping the Power of Dao. We, on the other hand, imitate the Innate Divine Beasts, constantly evolving ourselves to beco the darling of the Heavenly Dao, much like how a fish learns to wield tools to swim..."
Fang Yan, filled with sentint, added, "But once we beco the fish that swims jubilantly in the water, we lose the ability to soar in the sky or run on the Earth."
"That is true, but it also depends on what kind of world it is. What if the world itself is made up of boundless seas with no land to speak of?"
Wu Tianya spoke calmly, "The path we cultivate may ultimately evolve us into Innate Divine Beasts, whose potential can never surpass these darlings of the heavens and the Earth. But... who can guarantee that Innate Divine Beasts aren’t the true dominators of this world? Even the creator at his peak didn’t dare to provoke many of the Innate Divine Beasts."
Hearing Wu Tianya’s words, Fang Yan nodded, "The Dean indeed has profound insights, seeing through the essence of the Martial Way."
Wu Tianya shook his head, gestured for him to take a seat, then posed a question, "Your visit here surely isn’t just to discuss Innate Divine Beasts with , is it?"
"Not entirely."
Fang Yan deliberated over his words before saying, "Not long ago, Gu Jinlai stirred trouble in the Outer City District. At first, I didn’t quite understand why, but now that I think it over... The Dean, along with the City Lord, the Hall Master, and the Military Leader—are you doing this in response to so unfavorable public opinion?"
"You’re quite perceptive," replied Wu Tianya, not denying it.
"Hehe, to understand the situation within the city, we must make our guesses," Fang Yan said while smiling, "But Dean—or perhaps I should say, City Lord—aren’t you afraid that handling things this way might backfire?"
"It won’t," said Wu Tianya.
"That might not be certain. Are you aware that Gu Jinlai has been away from Wind and Rain City for several days now?" Fang Yan continued, "Recently, he’s been ransacking households and exterminating clans in the Outer City District, seizing countless assets. Even for us, it’s a considerable fortune, yet our upper ranks have turned a blind eye. Anyone would overthink in such a situation. If one were to ponder carefully, Gu Jinlai should realize there’s sothing off and gradually co to understand that he’s being used as a pawn..."
"What are you trying to say? Gu Jinlai left Wind and Rain City to capture a criminal."
"Capturing a criminal shouldn’t take this long," Fang Yan retorted, "If I were Gu Jinlai and realized I was being exploited, I’d also think about the consequences of my actions if I lost the backing of the Dean and City Lord... Then, I’d conjure up so plausible excuse, take all the assets, and never return to Wind and Rain City."
He laughed, adding, "Even the slightest hint of trouble could prompt to make that decision. A powerhouse with the Battle Power of Peak Heavenly Beings can live comfortably anywhere. Not to ntion possessing such a wealth of resources."
"Heh..."
Wu Tianya shook his head, "You’re too impatient and eager to defend the Thunder Origin Sect. You’re just too anxious."
Fang Yan looked at Wu Tianya in surprise, quickly realizing sothing, "I’ve overthought it. It seems everything is well within the control of the Dean and City Lord."
"The assets seized by the Zone Master Mansion are being monitored. There’s no need for you to worry about that. As for Gu Jinlai not arriving until now... he encountered so minor troubles, or misunderstandings, in Hai Feng City. However, the City Lord has already sent soone to resolve it," Wu Tianya stated confidently, as if everything was under control.
"This..."
Fang Yan was taken aback. But before he could say anything, a Divine Thought quickly traversed the Void and descended upon the Martial Saint Institute. It then ford a ssage from City Lord Zhao Hua, "Martial Arts Academy Master, co to the City Lord Mansion imdiately for a eting."
Upon hearing this transmission, Wu Tianya’s brow furrowed slightly.
From the tone of City Lord Zhao’s ssage, the situation seed sowhat serious, didn’t it?
"Martial Saint Fang, you may leave," Wu Tianya said, and without another word, he stepped into the Void, soaring up and instantly shuttling through the Void towards the City Lord Mansion.
Although Wind and Rain City had Four Great Giants, followed by nine Martial Saints and three National Guardian Devas—a total of sixteen powers—the upper echelons maintained a certain understanding among themselves.
Otherwise, the order of Wind and Rain City would be difficult to maintain.
The Holy Dynasty would not allow soone incapable of controlling the situation to sit upon the City Lord’s throne for long.
Therefore, summoned by Zhao Hua, it wasn’t long before Wu Tianya, Cao Wudao, and Jin Fantian had all hastily arrived.
After entering the courtyard, Zhao Hua didn’t waste any ti and went straight to the point, "This matter, it’s actually related to Gu Jinlai."
Having said that, he handed over three sets of docunts he had prepared earlier to the three n.
The three of them took the docunts and quickly probed them, and soon, a look of surprise appeared on their faces, "Li Yang Cave Heaven? Is Gu Jinlai from the Li Yang Cave Heaven? Suspected to be a cultivator posing as a martial artist?"
However, this surprise lasted only a mont before their expressions changed simultaneously, "The Deputy Army Commander of the City Guard Army in Hai Feng City, Lei Yuan of the Martial Saint Realm, is dead!? Suspected to have been killed by Gu Jinlai!?"
Martial Saint!
In the Holy Dynasty, they belong to the highest echelons, and below at the local level, each is a Sealed Border Official.
But now...
Suspected to be dead!?
And Gu Jinlai is the perpetrator!?
"According to an account from a Deva of the Yunhai Comrce in Hai Feng City, Gu Jinlai was suspected by Lei Yuan to be one of the refugees from the Li Yang Cave Heaven. Subsequently, he led people to intercept Gu Jinlai and his group, resulting in... no further news. After two days, the Hai Feng City authorities deduced that Lei Yuan must have perished."
As Zhao Hua spoke, his gaze turned to Wu Tianya, "You never inford beforehand that Gu Jinlai had the capability to slay a Martial Saint? To prevent even Lei Yuan, who had cultivated the Thunder Origin Divine Body, from escaping... Gu Jinlai must have the strength of at least a Top Martial Saint."
Top Martial Saint!?
Even Wu Tianya felt a bit moved by those words.
"Before I selected Gu Jinlai as the blade to clear the Outer City, I t him more than once... he was a Martial King."
Wu Tianya spoke with certainty, "Could there have been a mistake during that period?"
Imdiately following, he said, "The side from Hai Feng City claims that Lei Yuan was killed by Gu Jinlai; is there any proof of this?"
"There is no proof."
Zhao Hua shook his head, "They are rely speculating based on Lei Yuan’s disappearance."
At their level, many things only require reasonable speculation, and seldom so much proof.
Their own will is above all else.
"So, is it possible that Gu Jinlai is sohow related to the people from Li Yang Cave Heaven, and the actual perpetrator is a hidden expert from Li Yang Cave Heaven? Hai Feng City, knowing this, places the bla on Gu Jinlai with the intent to take him down openly and justly?"
Wu Tianya discussed, "After all, he is still the Zone Leader of our Wind and Rain City. Hai Feng City would need a plausible reason to take action against him."
"There’s a great possibility for that."
Zhao Hua nodded in agreent.
"But if this matter involves the Li Yang Cave Heaven..."
The Saints and Martial Saints all started pondering.
They were considered tycoon-level individuals in Wind and Rain City, practically dominating one area each throughout the Holy Dynasty, but...
Against the Li Yang Cave Heaven, they were sowhat lacking.
"The experts of Li Yang Cave Heaven should have been eradicated in a battle thirty-six years ago. Such big fish would undoubtedly be watched by the Demon King, and possibly even the Demon Emperor and Demon Gods, so it’s uncertain if they could escape. From this, we can deduce that even if soone from Li Yang Cave Heaven did escape, they probably wouldn’t be too strong. Lei Yuan’s death could be due to a Killing Move or trump card possessed by Li Yang Cave Heaven, or Gu Jinlai himself."
As Zhao Hua spoke, he paused for a mont, "As one of the strongest Grotto Heavens in the past, it’s not odd to have a trump card capable of annihilating a Martial Saint in one fell swoop."
"If they truly have such a trump card, why did they watch half a year ago as Liu Feihua died? That person was one of the ten True Inheritors of Li Yang Cave Heaven, tasked with the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Li Yang Cave Heaven."
Jin Fantian inquired.
They were obviously aware of the matter concerning Liu Feihua, the true inheritor of Li Yang Cave Heaven.
"Since it’s a trump card, it must not be used lightly unless it’s a life-and-death mont,"
Wu Tianya said, "Or perhaps, such a trump card can only be used once, that is, when everyone is about to be caught in one fell swoop. At that ti, the matter with that true disciple... didn’t threaten to exterminate their lineage, so they would rather watch Liu Feihua die than play their hand."
Hearing Wu Tianya’s explanation, everyone found it convincing and nodded in agreent.
It was very likely the case.
"We were planning to wait until Gu Jinlai had finished purging the Outer City District... which would be at most a month later, then we would deal with him directly, using him to block the criticism from the families behind the nine Martial Saints and the three Great National Guardian Devas. But now, it seems... we might have to observe a little longer. As for Hai Feng City, let’s block their moves for now."
Zhao Hua said, "After all, this concerns the legacy of Li Yang Cave Heaven."
Understanding Zhao Hua’s aning, Wu Tianya, Jin Fantian, and Cao Wudao imdiately grasped his intent.
"The legacy and treasures of Li Yang Cave Heaven..."
"At the very least, we need to clarify whether they still possess a trump card in their hands, and if so, what its power might be."
"Then we wait."
The top-level officials exchanged knowing glances and quickly reached a consensus.
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