Chapter 623: 581 Make a Move
Nowadays, the new cultivation technique has started to take shape. However, it requires a substantial amount of rare medicinal materials for practice.
"Master, we have encountered problems with our medicinal material procurement. Over at Citong, three entire ships of pre-ordered materials have all gone missing, and even Sister Sun Chaoyue has disappeared halfway and has not returned yet," Chang Yuqing reported solemnly.
"Something happened at Citong? Xiaoyue has gone missing?" Zhang Rongfang’s expression remained unchanged. "Has anyone been sent to respond and investigate?"
"The force that launched the surprise attack over at Citong was the White Ten Sect army from overseas in the West.
We dispatched some peripheral members to respond, but I’m afraid they aren’t sufficient. Therefore, I came to report this and hope to receive the Blood Jade Dispatch Order within the temple," Chang Yuqing bowed his head in response.
The Blood Jade Dispatch Order, in fact, is the kind of black-red jade pendant that Zhang Rongfang previously gifted to his sister and the others.
The holder of the jade pendant can mobilize up to five top experts below the rank of Grandmaster and supervisor within the temple.
Zhang Rongfang closed his eyes to sense.
"Xiaoyue is fine; she should still be on her way back. If you’re worried, you can mobilize skilled personnel from the Earth Character Institute to respond."
"Yes!" Chang Yuqing nodded in acknowledgment. "Time is of the essence, and I will go immediately."
"Go ahead." Zhang Rongfang nodded.
With a swoosh, as soon as Chang Yuqing finished speaking, he transformed into a shadow-like blur and descended the steps, dashing off into the distance.
The Human Immortal Temple has now completely perfected its power structure.
The experts within the temple are divided into three main groups: Heaven, Earth, and Human.
Among them, the Celestial Character Institute primarily consists of the top fifty experts, most of whom are Super Grade Three Emptiness, and the top ten or so are all Grandmasters.
They were gathered from across the Great Spirit within the past year by the Human Immortal Temple, consisting of failed Super Grade experts and Cultivation of Literature experts who were converted.
These former failures, after being transformed into Bloodlines and regaining their youth, saw their strength skyrocket.
The Earth Character Institute comprises those ranked fifty-one to one hundred, all of whom are Super Grade experts.
The Human Character Institute includes all those transformed into Bloodlines.
Apart from the three institutes, there are ordinary people, most of whom are affiliated with the external forces near the Human Immortal Temple.
The structure of the three institutes forms the main body of the Human Immortal Temple.
Besides this, it also has the administrative structure of a regular Daoist temple, responsible for managing everyday matters like food, living, and other miscellaneous duties.
"What about you? Why have you come here?" Zhang Rongfang looked at the Shadow Daoist at this moment.
"Master, the information you were seeking about Chen Junchen has been found," Shadow Daoist bowed respectfully.
"Speak."
"Yes." The Shadow Daoist cleared his throat. "As for Chen Junchen of the Confucian teachings, he is regarded as a once-in-a-century genius by the Confucian School. His record of battles over dozens of matches only shows one defeat, and that was the final one against Imperial Tutor Damir.
But according to the records, Damir’s victory was extremely lucky. He wielded the First Demon Soldier, Emperor Kun, with blessings from various gods and buddhas, surrounded by powerful Spirit Generals, alert and poised.
We do not know the specifics of that battle, but Chen Junchen undoubtedly did not perish. This is what we could ascertain.
After withdrawing from the Great Capital, he vanished. Inside the Confucian school, there was a rumor that he was looking for the legendary Light from the Heavens, and hasn’t been seen since."
The Shadow Daoist paused for a moment, then continued, "Currently, among the seven branches of the Confucian school, three have completely integrated into the academy. Among the Seven Gentlemen successors holding the Seven Sages Sword, the one ranked first, Chen Qinsu, has officially ascended to the position of Grand Secretary in the Cabinet.
We discovered through hidden channels that his true identity is one of Chen Junchen’s three sons left behind. If you wish to uncover more clues, perhaps starting with this person is the best approach."
"Chen Qinsu?" Zhang Rongfang pondered slightly.
Since acquiring messages from Chen Junchen and Emperor Kun at Taoyuan, he has been searching for traces of both everywhere.
Throughout the year, many clues were found, but upon verification, they all turned out to be false.
A new clue has now presented itself.
"This matter—handle it personally. Within the Celestial Character Institute, you can mobilize two people to assist, and find an answer within a month, understood?" Zhang Rongfang commanded.
"I will not disappoint you," the Shadow Daoist bowed his head.
"Then take your leave." Zhang Rongfang signaled with a wave of his hand.
Swoosh!
The Shadow Daoist indeed vanished into a shadowy blur in an instant.
Rongfang remained the lone figure on the Human Immortal Platform.
He exhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and opened the attribute panel.
After a year, the attribute panel had slightly changed.
The most critical change remains in the innate characteristics.
In the span of a year, his life value has increased from 1130 to 1502.
Similarly, the new talents belonging to the progenitor of the Blood Race began to gradually emerge.
With just one more innate trait left, he can finally enter a complete form, activating the full Blood Race progenitor lineage.
The four newfound innate abilities have yet to be used, so Zhang Rongfang is unsure of their efficacy in combat, but...
He knows he has grown much, much stronger than a year ago.
’What do you intend to do if you find Chen Junchen’s whereabouts?’ Bailin’s voice resounded in his mind.
’Just curious, that’s all.’ Zhang Rongfang smiled, ’Alright, let’s continue exploring. We’ve already mapped out the surroundings based on the Mosang God’s platform. Next, we should attempt to go upwards.’
Over the past year, he has climbed some distance upwards but not extensively.
This time, he had explored the cliff walls over dozens of kilometers around, only climbing a few kilometers upwards.
So, he plans to try climbing higher and see what lies further ahead...
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Cituogang Port.
Large fires blazed at the port, with thick plumes of smoke and flames reaching the sky.
Large heaps of bodies were piled together, forming human oil torches, which turned into four large illumination facilities at Cituogang Port.
At the docks, in front of the largest human oil torch basin, two rows of Western armored shield soldiers in white armor stood guard, flanking several high-ranking individuals observing the torch basin.
Among these high-ranking individuals, the highest-ranked was a tall, white-haired man dressed in a black cross robe with a golden cross mark on his brow.
The man’s short, pale hair was slicked back, with clear eyebrows and eyes like an eagle’s, constantly emitting an imposing and solemn aura.
This individual was the commander of the White Cross Alliance Army invading the Great Spirit, the chief judge of the White Ten Sect Inquisition—Aurelon Hills.
"Indeed, as you both mentioned, the Spirit Kingdom... has grown weaker...."
Aurelon turned and looked at the bald man standing silently behind him, a man dressed in a gray gown.
"Master Yuan, the intelligence you provided significantly reduced our losses. These contributions will naturally be recorded in the meritorious deeds book."
The bald man was the Master of the True Buddha Temple who had previously fled the Great Capital.
On his round face appeared a sinister smile.
"No need for merits; I just want all the members of the Great Dao Teaching to be executed!"
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