Chapter 1806: Chapter 1791: The National Master Xuanzhi’s Decision
As soon as Marquis Guo Zhang of Haiyuan issued the order, the Great General of the Marquis Haiyuan led the direction, and thirty thousand imperial guards of the Marquis Haiyuan surged forward like a tidal wave.
Swords, spears, and halberds glittered with spirit light, and the crossbows flashed with cold light, immediately encircling Ye Zhen and the ten thousand troops behind him tightly.
Moreover, Ye Zhen had previously daringly ordered an attack on the troops of the Marquis Haiyuan guarding the ancient teleportation formation, causing significant casualties among the ten thousand-strong garrison, and resulting in the capture of the entire garrison.
Thus, the Great General of the Marquis Haiyuan exercised extreme caution, ordering the thirty thousand imperial guards to form military formations during the encirclement.
A moment later, around the ancient teleportation formation, killing qi soared into the sky. Previously, the Commander Zheng Dangshi, who had audaciously broken the legs of the Right General Wu Chong of Haiyuan, turned extremely solemn.
Immediately, Zheng Dangshi intended to command his troops to form a defensive formation to counter any unforeseen circumstances, but Ye Zhen stopped him.
"Very well!"
Watching the three thousand imperial guards of the Marquis Haiyuan surrounding them, Ye Zhen sneered, "Since the Marquis Haiyuan demands an explanation from me, fine, I will give you one now."
With Ye Zhen’s words, Commander Zheng Dangshi, Liuu Feng, and their subordinates were stunned.
No way?
Our lord is going to admit defeat so quickly?
This is completely unlike our lord’s character.
Marquis Guo Zhang of Haiyuan was also surprised, not expecting that his encirclement would make Ye Zhen surrender and offer him a concession.
Although Ye Zhen’s tone was somewhat strange, it was still rather satisfying.
However, the Prime Minister of the Marquis Haiyuan distinctly noticed something different, his eyes closely observing Ye Zhen.
Under the eyes of the crowd, Ye Zhen casually threw out two array plates, and at the radiance of the spirit light, High Grade Spiritual Stones were embedded in the array plates.
Everyone recognized them as small-scale teleportation formations used for communication.
Ye Zhen’s actions didn’t stop, his fingers flicked, and a Shadow Capture Jade Slip flew up, controlled by Ye Zhen’s divine soul, hovering in mid-air, capturing the surroundings of the ancient teleportation formation.
Especially the flags of the Heavenly Patrol Department and the armies of the Marquis Haiyuan encircling their people from the Heavenly Patrol Department, with their ominous armies, swords, spears, and crossbows shimmering with spirit light, all recorded within.
The Prime Minister of the Marquis Haiyuan was the first to respond, his expression anxious as he shouted at National Master Xuanzhi, "National Master, quickly seize that Shadow Capture Jade Slip."
The Prime Minister of the Marquis Haiyuan had reacted, but National Master Xuanzhi hadn’t, as his esteemed status meant that usually only the Monarch of the Marquis Haiyuan, Guo Zhang, could summon him.
The Prime Minister of the Marquis Haiyuan couldn’t command him; it was impossible!
So, despite the Prime Minister’s urgency, National Master Xuanzhi remained immobile, causing the Prime Minister of the Marquis Haiyuan to jump in agitation.
"Your Majesty, we’re a feudal state, according to the Law of Great Zhou..."
With the Prime Minister’s shouts, even a dense-minded Marquis Guo Zhang of Haiyuan understood what was happening. The encirclement of the troops from the Heavenly Patrol Department was setting a trap.
This Shadow Capture Jade Slip once sent out would be hard evidence of rebellion.
This rebellion, reported by the Heavenly Patrol Department, with solid evidence, could result in serious consequences for the Marquis Haiyuan, even if proven a misunderstanding, they would suffer significantly.
If an outsider residing within your house attempts to kill your loyal watchdog, what would your reaction be?
Would you punish the outsider or punish the loyal watchdog?
The answer couldn’t be clearer.
Currently, the Heavenly Patrol Department was the loyal watchdog of Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long, while Marquis Guo Zhang of Haiyuan was the outsider dining at Great Zhou’s table.
If this matter were reported, even thinking with one’s feet, one would know whom Ren Venerate Emperor would punish.
"National Master, please quickly retrieve that Shadow Capture Jade Slip." Having reacted, Marquis Guo Zhang of Haiyuan spoke as swiftly as possible to National Master Xuanzhi.
The latter nodded, and by the time Marquis Guo Zhang of Haiyuan fully realized his orders were foolishly presenting evidence.
Even if enraged, embarrassed, immediately order, "Imperial Guards, disperse the encirclement at once!"
However, Ye Zhen wasn’t foolish; he gave them no opportunity.
As soon as the Prime Minister of the Marquis Haiyuan spoke, Ye Zhen had already collected the recorded spirit shadow in his hand, simultaneously releasing the distinct pressure of a Dao Realm expert from National Master Xuanzhi.
Instantly, it caused those soldiers with low cultivation to collapse to the ground, and meanwhile, National Master Xuanzhi’s aura locked onto Ye Zhen.
Accurately speaking, it locked onto the Shadow Capture Jade Slip within Ye Zhen’s hand.
However, just as National Master Xuanzhi moved, three hundred Sacrificial Guards behind Ye Zhen moved swiftly, with the leader Yii Jue letting out a sharp shout.
"Who dares act presumptuously before the Left Chief Priest Ye Zhen, the Inherited Divine Messenger of the Ancestor God Temple, and the Left Chief Priest of Barbarian Spirit Hall?"
At the stern shout from Sacrificial Guard Leader Yii Jue, the Dao Realm National Master Xuanzhi, who had intended to act, was startled.
"Set up the War Spirit Altar of Barbarian Spirit Hall, prepare to summon the War Spirit!" Entrusted with Ye Zhen’s safety, Sacrificial Guard Leader Yii Jue showed no signs of relaxing.
Yii Jue was one of the rare Realm King experts within the Barbarian Spirit Hall, ranking in the top ten in terms of cultivation, reaching the sixth stage of the Realm King Realm, and ranked in the top five in combat power among Realm King experts within the Barbarian Spirit Hall.
He was a confidant recruited by Princess Changle through various means, later assigned to be Ye Zhen’s Sacrificial Guard.
At that time, Princess Changle had only one request: if Ye Zhen was in danger, protect Ye Zhen at all costs.
Especially a few days ago, when Ye Zhen was unexpectedly attacked by West Patrol Xio Qiangu, Ye Zhen relied on his ability to escape, leading Princess Changle to attack Xio Qiangu in rage.
Princess Changle flew into rage over this matter, scolding Ye Zhen’s guard leader Yi Jue relentlessly, and issued strict orders.
This led to Yi Jue’s extreme reaction today.
However, the entire Haiyuan Principality’s forces, along with the Dao Realm National Master Xuan Zhi, were intimidated by Ye Zhen’s guard leader Yi Jue.
Just as National Master Xuan Zhi was about to act, he immediately restrained his aura, looking with great apprehension at the three hundred sacrificial guards fiercely protecting Ye Zhen.
In Great Zhou, the Heavenly Patrol Department is notorious, but that’s only among the officials and nobles, as it specifically investigates their crimes.
In martial artists’ circles, the only two forces that are renowned are the Heavenly Temple and the Ancestor God Temple.
The Heavenly Temple is more lenient, with complex relationships; even if one offends a person from the Heavenly Temple, there’s room for negotiation.
But the Ancestor God Temple operates differently.
It’s known for its vengeful nature!
Previously, when Ye Zhen blocked the door of the War Soul Hall, the hall shamelessly sent Dao Realm experts to deal with Ye Zhen, partly because of this.
The National Master Xuan Zhi is a Dao Realm loose cultivator, hired at a high salary by the Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom as a National Guardian Master. But to break through to Dao Realm as a loose cultivator over thousands of years, his experience is not to be underestimated.
He knows clearly who can be moved against and who cannot.
Otherwise, how could he have lived until now?
On this Great Zhou territory, the personnel from the Heavenly Temple and Ancestor God Temple should be avoided whenever possible.
But if he encounters someone who bullies too much, National Master Xuan Zhi has dealt with them.
However, that is limited to ordinary Heavenly Temple experts and Ancestor God Temple priests.
Someone like Ye Zhen in front of him, with the titles of Left Chief Priest, Inherited Divine Messenger, and guarded by three hundred sacrificial guards willing to protect to the death, would immediately erect an altar to summon War Spirit for protection at a single disagreement.
That person can be likened to Nine Heavens Divine Thunder.
Even a loose cultivator like himself, despite being in Dao Realm, would be terribly unlucky to step into this mess, risking his life.
Hence, upon witnessing this spectacle, National Master Xuan Zhi froze on the spot, not daring to intervene.
It’s a joke, interfering with the Ancestor God Temple sacrificial guards protecting a crucial figure is akin to inviting disaster by one’s death.
While National Master Xuan Zhi held back from acting, the King of Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom Guo Zhang was unwilling.
National Master Xuan Zhi was hired by him at a high salary to oversee the principality, but his momentary negligence allowed Ye Zhen to exploit the situation and retain evidence that could be used against him.
Feeling regretful and depressed, his only thought was to snatch back and destroy the Shadow Capture Jade Slip.
Without evidence in Ye Zhen’s grasp, even reporting to the Heavenly Patrol Department would be baseless.
However, seizing the slip required skill.
If you send a large number of troops to encircle, do you really consider the Heavenly Patrol Department’s divine hunters fools?
That way, the Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom would be confirmed as rebelling.
But sending experts with overwhelming force to snatch the slip from Ye Zhen in a flash would be a different matter regardless.
Even if the Heavenly Patrol Department wants to retain evidence, it’ll be impossible.
Thus, the Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom would rid themselves of this trouble.
Yet, frustratingly for the King of Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom Guo Zhang, National Master Xuan Zhi, whom he relied on for such moments, faltered at the critical juncture.
Seeing the final opportunity slipping away, the King of Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom Guo Zhang anxiously urged, "National Master, you’ve been receiving endless tributes from my Haiyuan Principality, why aren’t you acting? Quickly!"
Spurred by King Guo Zhang’s urging, National Master Xuan Zhi’s brows furrowed instantly into a character 川.
If it were simply a Wind Patrol Envoy under the West Patrol’s command, relying on strength to snatch a small item, he might still do it.
But against the sacrificial guards of the Ancestor God Temple, who have already set up an altar to summon War Spirit, this is the sacrificial guard’s desperate act.
To confront someone of the status of Left Chief Priest or Inherited Divine Messenger.
He still doesn’t wish to die; he hopes to venture further down the Martial Arts path.
He doesn’t want to be endlessly pursued by the Ancestor God Temple across the world!
In an instant, National Master Xuan Zhi made his decision.
With a thought, high grade spiritual stones and various heavenly materials and earthly treasures poured down like a mountain, piling up before the King of Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom Guo Zhang.
"Marquis Guo, as for the National Master of the Haiyuan Principality, I am no longer worthy, and I return seven-tenths of the tributes and heavenly materials. The three-tenths used are my deserved share for overseeing the principality and resolving sea problems these years!
From now on, I, Xuan Zhi, have no relations with your Haiyuan Principality, and you should find someone better suited for the position of National Master."
"Farewell!" With a clasped hand, National Master Xuan Zhi tossed out the National Master’s Imperial Seal and turned to leave.
King of Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom Guo Zhang was petrified on the spot!
How could this happen?
