Chapter 543: Chapter 178: Secrets! Fan Wu’s Origin, the Jade Pendant, and the Pawn Shop! (A 10,000-word Chapter asking for subscriptions)_1
The Imperial Palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty had stood proud in the Imperial City for thousands of years, having existed since the previous dynasty.
However, it had undergone damage from wars and was subsequently rebuilt after the conflict.
That was when it transformed into the Imperial Palace of the Great Zhou.
The palace was renovated to be grand and majestic. Although its outer walls were not as exaggerated as the city walls of the Imperial City, they were significantly taller and much sturdier than those in many other places.
For many who saw the Imperial Palace of the Great Zhou for the first time, their initial reaction was to feel the guards were exceedingly strict!
So strict that it was almost suffocating!
Every guard at the palace wore heavy armor that looked to weigh at least a few dozen pounds. The long spears in their hands were no less than ten feet long.
The thick armor exposed only their eyes, making them appear like ferocious beasts.
It was enough to make anyone’s heart falter at a glance!
Although Yun Jiuqing had been to the Imperial City several times before, she had never come as close to the Imperial Palace as she did today. At most, she would just take a look from afar, not daring to approach it.
But today was clearly different from before; she was here today thanks to the influence of Daoist Priest Fan and His Highness the Prince of Nanjun.
She was worthy of a visit to the Imperial Palace.
"These people seem really scary..." Yun Jiuqing wasn’t sure if it was an illusion or something else, but she felt as if numerous gazes were locked onto her the moment she was about to enter the palace.
She could sense the guards in heavy armor staring at her, as if they were guarding against a thief.
She shivered involuntarily.
Yun Jiuqing could tell that these were not cultivators—there was no fluctuation of mana in them. However, the evil Qi and murderous intent emanating from them suggested that their strength was not much less than that of the ordinary cultivators.
Moreover, their numbers were great, and their spears formed a forest, each one over ten feet long and frightfully terrifying.
Under the guidance of Hu Banban,
she entered the Imperial Palace.
"Sirs..." After entering the palace, even Hu Banban dared not speak loudly. He could only lower his voice to caution Fan Wu and others, "The rules within the palace are very complex, especially when meeting the Emperor, they become even stricter."
Hu Banban swallowed nervously and said weakly, "Once we pass through the gate up ahead, weapons are not allowed inside, not even a wooden sword."
Reason told him that he should not have said such things because Daoist Fan Wu was carrying a large sword on his back.
Could his words be misconstrued by Daoist Fan Wu as being targeted at him?
Hiss—
He should... shouldn’t be, right?
At this moment, Hu Banban’s heart was drumming with tension, as one could well imagine the psychological pressure that Fan Wu had put on him.
"That’s fine," Fan Wu replied as if he could read Hu Banban’s mind. He did not make things difficult for the eunuch, "We will just follow the rules of the Imperial Palace."
"Good... very good!" Hu Banban, almost sweating from fear, instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness...
Thank goodness Daoist Fan Wu, despite being fearsome, was reasonable and did not trouble an old eunuch like him.
Hu Banban nearly shed tears of relief!
Daoist Fan Wu was truly a good person!
Upon reaching the gate ahead, another group of guards clad in heavy armor suddenly became vigilant. They pointed their long spears at Fan Wu and his party, quickly forming a spear formation.
"Halt!" one of the guards called out to Fan Wu and his companions, "No knives, spears, clubs, swords, talismans, or magic artifacts are allowed inside!"
"Daoist Fan Wu, His Highness the Prince of Nanjun, these people are just this rigid. Please do not take it to heart," Hu Banban said nervously after witnessing the scene, his eyelids twitching.
He feared that the blunt behavior of the guards might cause dissatisfaction among Fan Wu and the others.
Especially Daoist Fan Wu!
He knew the consequences could be severe if someone like Daoist Fan Wu became upset. What those consequences might be... he didn’t even dare to imagine.
"It’s no bother,"
Fan Wu shook his head. He removed the Demon-slaying Sword from his back and said to the Old Blue Ox, "Stay here and take good care of the Demon-slaying Sword."
"Moo~" The Old Blue Ox, whether understanding or not, made such a sound in response.
Indeed!
Fan Wu had brought the Old Blue Ox with him, which might be the most widely traveled ox in the world.
"Oh, right!" Fan Wu glanced at the Destiny Coffin and could tell that most of the guards had their eyes on it. A moving big red coffin in broad daylight was simply too conspicuous.
It was clearly a strange creature!
How could it not draw the unwavering attention of the palace guards?
Fan Wu said, "You stay as well, keep Old Blue Ox company."
Meanwhile...
Both Xing Fengzi and Yun Jiuqing had already laid down all their weapons, magical treasures, and talismans.
Seeing them seemingly not a threat, the palace guards who had formed a spear formation to block Fan Wu and company’s path finally dispersed one by one.
Entering the Imperial Palace felt like journeying into a dangerous land, having to overcome numerous challenges to reach the final destination.
