Chapter 92: Higher Empire
Upon learning that Fang Chen was preparing to leave for the capital city, Huangfu Jie ran over in haste. "Were the culprits really killed, my lord?” he asked, completely shocked and in disbelief.
When he heard the news from Jue Panshi, he couldn’t believe it. The culprits who had destroyed the Heavenly Sword Villa had actually been killed after a single night of Fang Chen’s arrival!
Fairy Yu and Abbess Qing He were equally puzzled.
Yuan Zhuang and company were stupefied as well. They had planned to show everyone their skills and experience in investigation and dazzle them all when they managed to uncover the culprit’s whereabouts... But who would have thought that Fang Chen would deal with the whole thing overnight...?
Fang Chen nodded. "They’re definitely dead.”
Hearing that, the others still found it hard to believe, but they could only trust Fang Chen’s words.
“I plan to leave today,” Fang Chen said. “Yuan Zhuang and the others will stay and cooperate with Commander Jue to handle the various sects in the Southern Immortal Prefecture.”
Fang Chen then looked at Huangfu Jie. “Since you’re about to break through to the Qi Core Stage, take this and head back and cultivate in seclusion.”
Huangfu Jie sighed lightly, then said, "It's a pity we didn't have a chance to fight..." He then clasped his fist and said, "I’ll return to Profound Blade Sect immediately and enter seclusion. I won’t come out unless I break through to the Qi Core stage. Have a safe journey back, my lord. We shall meet again in the future!”
Fang Chen smiled. "No need for a farewell."
An hour later, Yuan Zhuang and others watched as Fang Chen and the two ladies left on horseback.
Yuan Chen turned to Jue Panshi and said lightly, "Divine General Fang instructed us to cooperate and set the small sects in the Southern Immortal Prefecture straight. Commander Jue, you’re most familiar with the area. Where should we begin?”
Jue Panshi glanced at him, pondered for a second, then answered, “I have a list back at the station. Let’s start with those third-rate factions on the list.”
He knew that Yuan Zhuang and his men had been left by Fang Chen because of the mission Fang Chen had assigned them. If he failed to handle things well, Yuan Zhuang would without a doubt immediately report to Fang Chen.
He naturally didn’t want to piss Fang Chen off.
On the way back to the capital, Abbess Qing He seemed hesitant to say something, but in the end, curiosity won over, and she couldn't help but ask, “Did you really kill the Spirit Blood Sect cultivator, my lord?”
Fairy Yu’s ears pricked up. She had heard about the Spirit Blood Sect more than once and was very curious about them.
"He is most definitely dead. The cultivators of the Spirit Blood Sect he brought with him should also be dead. However...” A trace of worry flashed in Fang Chen's eyes, "this is just the tip of the iceberg. Grand Xia might be safe for the time being, but after a while, the Spirit Blood Sect will likely send someone to investigate what had happened."
Abbess Qing He's eyes flickered slightly. "Why... why don’t I return to the sect and ask my master for help? As long as we wipe out the Foundation Building Realm cultivator of the Spirit Blood Sect in Grand Xia, they won’t be able to discover anything.”
Fang Chen looked at Abbess Qing He with some surprise. "What do you mean?"
"For the sake of secrecy, the disciples of the Spirit Blood Sect mostly operate independently. The higher-ups of the Spirit Blood Sect are not informed of which empires each group leader plans to use to refine Blood Spirit Pills. That’s to prevent any form of corruption. The cultivator responsible for Grand Xia is likely the leader of a small group of cultivators.” Abbess Qing He hesitated for a moment before she continued, "My master once killed a Foundation Building cultivator of the Spirit Blood Sect and that was what she learned.”
Fang Chen's expression changed. "I see..."
It seemed as though Abbess Qing He’s sect wasn’t weak. Her master managed to kill a Foundation Building Realm expert from the Spirit Blood Sect and obtained such important information from him.
As long as they killed the Foundation Building cultivator in charge at Grand Xia, Grand Xia would be worry-free for a long time!
"Will your master help Grand Xia? This is, after all, a great risk," Fang Chen asked, staring at her.
Abbess Qing He blushed. "I don't know, but I can try. My master should be willing to help..."
"Alright, let's do this; I'll have Li Daoye and Tie Ma accompany you on your way back to your sect. Your cultivation level is too low, and it's good to have some assistance in case of danger along the way," Fang Chen said.
Abbess Qing He nodded. "Alright."
*
Back in the capital, a group of mysterious people appeared at the bustling east city gate. They were about a hundred, all of them clad in mysterious black armor, and they were all armed to the teeth. Their horses left shallow marks on the hard bluestone ground as they made their way into the city.
Seeing the unfamiliar yet imposing troops, the commoners were shocked, but those who were more experienced knew who they were, and exclaimed, "They’re from the higher empire!"
"These are the Nightmare Knights from the higher empire! Rumor has it that any one of them has strength comparable to a peak Qi Manipulation Stage martial artist!"
"Hiss..." Someone took a sharp breath, and the martial artists in the surrounding area conversed with each other animatedly. They revealed looks of astonishment from time to time as they spoke.
Even five years ago, when the Grand Xia was at its peak, Qi Manipulation Stage martial artists were rarely seen! The entire capital couldn't muster a hundred of them even if it tried back then, and now, in the current state of Grand Xia, that was even more so!
The person leading the troops was a young man clad in purple robes. He sat astride a warhorse, heavily armed. His waterfall-like black hair cascaded over his shoulders.
When he heard the whispers that filled the air, a look of disdain flashed through his eyes.
The next moment, a group of Grand Xia officials rushed over, led by the minister of rites, Tao Mingsheng. Hundreds of officials of varying ranks followed closely behind.
Among the people who arrived were scholars from Guhe and Yizhou.
Long Huixin was delighted. "It's the people from the higher empire. The members of Longdu definitely reported Grand Xia!”
Tao Mingsheng approached the young man in purple and immediately knelt down to pay his respects. The officials from Grand Xia followed suit. "I, Tao Mingsheng, the Minister of Rites of Grand Xia, pay my respects to you, distinguished guest from the higher empire!"
Seeing that the officials had fallen to their knees, the rest had no choice but to follow, and everyone who was watching this unfold kneeled as well.
Except for the young man in purple and his group, everyone was on their knees.
In one of the towers in the Imperial Palace, Xia Yu and his mother, Consort Hua Gui, stood behind the emperor and empress. The princes and princesses along with other concubines stood around them.
"The people from the Frost Water Empire have arrived, and they’re definitely up to no good." The emperor stared at the young man in purple and the Nightmare Knights not far away, his face showing a touch of solemnity.
The empress couldn’t help but worry. They had just dealt with the threat of the Longdu Empire and killed Viscount Xian Yu when the Frost Water Empire sent their men to the capital of Grand Xia. It was very possible they were there to mete out punishment.
Frost Water Empire was the empire Longdu served, and the Grand Xia, Guhe, and Yizhou Empires were the same. In recent years, Longdu had been increasing their tributes every year and they earned the favor of the Frost Water Empire. On the other hand, Grand Xia had been reducing their tributes year after year, arousing the great dissatisfaction and discontent of the Frost Water Empire.
The emperor glanced at the empress and snorted coldly. "This is all because of that nephew of yours."
The empress's face changed slightly.
Seeing that, the other concubines gloated secretly.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Consort Hua Gui stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, there's no need to worry. Fang Chen was the one who started all of this, so he should be the one to make amends to Frost Water Empire!”
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