Chapter 938: Chapter 932: Victory
Imperial Capital, Immortal Suppression Department.
Zhao Guang led his men back, only to find the Department in a state of utter disarray.
In the room where the leaders of the major factions used to gather, Wu Neng sat completely alone.
“Reporting to the Commander: that scoundrel, Holy Monk Yidian, harbored treacherous intentions all along—he is actually a member of Grand Tower! However, Grand Tower is no ordinary organization.
Holy Monk Yidian had long intended to rebel against the Peerless Hall. Violating the Peerless Hall’s orders, he took his men and fled. He is no longer a threat to our Imperial Dynasty.”
“None of the Four Great White Robe Elders of the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems survived, and the True God is nowhere to be found.”
“Congratulations, Commander! This is a complete victory!”
Wu Neng remained silent, causing cold sweat to stream down Zhao Guang’s face.
What complete victory?
According to Wu Neng’s scheme, there should have been no survivors at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
That way, no one would have ever known what truly transpired inside.
Whether it was the Li Clan or the other four major forces, they would have had no choice but to smash their teeth and swallow their anger in silence.
After all, under those circumstances, whatever the Immortal Suppression Department claimed would have become the accepted truth.
In that scenario, the Department would still have been filled with people from the four major forces, while the Li Clan—having lost two Void Refining cultivators—would have been completely squeezed out.
But now…
Qi Wunian had disobeyed orders on the battlefield, and the members of the various major forces had escaped.
The truth was going to be made public. In the future, who would still dare to join the Immortal Suppression Department?
Furthermore, of the four Commanders within the Department, one had effectively been lost due to these indirect causes.
They hadn’t even managed to bring back the Three Corpses.
Just as Zhao Guang was bracing himself for the Commander’s rage, Wu Neng let out a sudden, boisterous laugh that sent a shiver down Zhao Guang’s spine.
“Good, good, good! Well done, Min Tiange! To think you stretched your hand all the way into my Immortal Suppression Department!”
Wu Neng stood up and helped Zhao Guang to his feet. His face was brimming with smiles, yet the sight made Zhao Guang dare not look him in the eye.
Wu Neng said, “Do not be afraid; this is a good thing. If Holy Monk Yidian had continued to lie in wait, he could have delivered a fatal blow when my Immortal Suppression Department was at its weakest.
Now that he has been rooted out, it is no different from destroying another Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems. Moreover, since Holy Monk Yidian has also rebelled against Min Tiange, my Immortal Suppression Department has one less enemy at the Integration Realm to worry about.”
“In the past, my Immortal Suppression Department existed without the Five Great Forces. So what if they are no longer at my disposal now? What real damage has been done?”
“Even without them, there will still be others who will fight tooth and nail for this kind of authority. Within a few days, they will come flocking back to my Immortal Suppression Department.”
Hearing this, Zhao Guang breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then.
A subordinate approached to report, “Reporting to the Commander: Li Chang has arrived.”
“Li Chang?”
Wu Neng raised an eyebrow. “He still has the leisure for this? Zhao Guang, regarding the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems… did those two Void Refining cultivators from the Li Clan…”
Zhao Guang hurriedly interjected, “There were no survivors left in the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, and among those who escaped, there was no news of the Li Clan’s two Void Refining experts. However, there were no other Li clansmen involved either; the Li Clan’s Corpse Ancestor only brought fifty zombies and evil spirits with him.”
Zhao Guang grumbled inwardly.
This Lord Commander was capable in many ways, but he was incredibly petty and exceptionally suspicious.
The Li Clan had been heavily relied upon by Crown Prince Feiheng in recent years.
The Commander was terrified that the Li Clan’s authority would grow too heavy, fearing that once the Crown Prince became the new Human Emperor, the Li Clan would bewitch him and bring chaos to the world.
However, this was ultimately the Crown Prince’s affair, and perhaps a lesson for the Commander.
“It is a pity.” Wu Neng sighed deeply. “A pity that the Li Clan’s two Void Refining cultivators lost their lives, yet this has given the Blue Moon Immortal Sect an opportunity to take advantage.”
“What?”
Zhao Guang’s heart skipped a beat. Others might not be aware, but he had been close to the Li Clan recently.
Numerous accidents had occurred during the campaigns at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems and Grand Tower, and the shadow of the Li Clan loomed behind every single one of them!
Zhao Guang even suspected that Holy Monk Yidian’s defection was the result of the Li Clan playing tricks behind the scenes!
He had previously thought the Commander had a talent for kicking iron plates, but this… this was something else entirely.
It was bad enough that the Commander had plotted to entrap and kill their two Void Refining experts, but to think he had also arranged for the Blue Moon Immortal Sect to invade the territory under the Li Clan’s jurisdiction?
Zhao Guang’s back was drenched in cold sweat.
After the expedition to the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems and Grand Tower, he had spent the last few days deeply researching the affairs of the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
The more he scrutinized the details, the more terrified he became.
These Li clansmen were not kind-hearted pushovers.
Years ago, when they had only just established themselves, they already dared to make an enemy of the entire Azure Cloud Region.
When the Wu Tribe attacked, not a single member of the Li Clan retreated. Even against the Tian Xing and the Zhao Clan…
What kind of sheer audacity and courage did that take?
If the Azure Cloud Li Clan were truly pushed into a corner, Zhao Guang suspected they might even open the gates to let the Wu Tribe from the Southern Border into the Dynasty. That would be the true calamity!
While he was dripping with sweat, he saw Li Chang’an walk in from outside the door.
Seeing Li Chang’an’s usual smile and the way he nodded at him, Zhao Guang finally breathed a sigh of relief, only to be stunned a moment later.
Li Chang’an broke with his usual demeanor; upon entering, he offered none of his customary polite greetings.
Under Wu Neng’s displeased gaze, he slowly took a seat in the guest area and proceeded to pour himself a cup of tea.
In the past, Li Chang’an had always maintained a gentle and mild appearance, yet right now, both Wu Neng and Zhao Guang could palpably feel his sense of relaxed ease!
Li Chang’an acted as if there were no one else around.
In over a hundred years of handling the family’s court affairs within the Immortal Suppression Department, he had never felt as unburdened as he did today.
“Being like that heartless, damn brat of mine… it really feels refreshing.”
Li Chang’an let out a long breath.
In the past, no matter how furious he felt inside, he had always forced a smile to face a narrow-minded man like Wu Neng.
But today, that was no longer necessary.
Both he and Wu Neng were well aware of what had transpired at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
The rift between them had grown beyond any hope of healing, and he saw no further need to engage in false civility with Wu Neng.
“Li Chang’an, didn’t you already return home?” Zhao Guang asked, silently praying in his heart that the Blue Moon Immortal Sect hadn’t actually gone to the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Whatever he feared, that was exactly what came to pass.
Li Chang’an moved with gentle deliberation, arranging the tea cups with meticulous care, his motions as graceful as if he were composing a painting.
“This humble one made a trip back home and couldn’t wait to return here. I should have arrived in the Imperial Capital sooner, but unexpectedly, the Blue Moon Immortal Sect barged into my Azure Cloud Prefecture.”
Hearing this, Wu Neng’s eyes narrowed slightly. He then sighed,
“The Blue Moon Immortal Sect? My Department has some knowledge of them; that sect possesses two Void Refining cultivators.
I must also blame my own dereliction of duty. During the campaign at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, Holy Monk Yidian rebelled.
To think he actually forged my orders and repeatedly sent back letters claiming that victory was already assured.”
To the side, Zhao Guang pursed his lips.
Wu Neng continued to spout nonsense.
“Every message sent by my Immortal Suppression Department cultivators within the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems was intercepted by that scoundrel, Holy Monk Yidian.
As a result, your Five Great Forces suffered heavy losses. This included your Li Clan; losing two Void Refining cultivators at the mountain is truly a loss of key pillars for our Imperial Dynasty.”
“Chang’an, rest assured. The Immortal Suppression Department will not forget a single loyal subject who serves our Imperial Dynasty.”
“Zhao Guang!”
The sudden call made Zhao Guang freeze for a moment. “Yes, Lord Commander.”
“I want you to send a message to the Blue Moon Immortal Sect. If they attempt any misconduct in the Azure Cloud Prefecture, my Immortal Suppression Department will pay them a visit immediately!”
“Yes… Lord Commander.” Zhao Guang’s forehead furrowed tightly.
“There is no need for Lord Commander to concern himself with that.”
Li Chang’an waved his hand.
“Petty scoundrels like the Blue Moon Immortal Sect… if more of them were to come, it might actually be a good thing for my Azure Cloud Prefecture.
I did not come here today to discuss the Blue Moon Immortal Sect. Rather, I am here to address the matter of my family elders losing their lives at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, and the compensation the Imperial Dynasty owes us.”
“Lord Commander, there is one thing you said that was correct: the responsibility lies with you.”
Li Chang’an placed a jade slip on the table. “Lord Commander, have a look. If you find it reasonable, please send the compensation to my Azure Cloud Li Clan without delay.”
“….”
Li Chang’an never beat around the bush. His meaning was crystal clear, causing Wu Neng’s expression to change instantly!
Not mentioning it anymore… that meant the Blue Moon Immortal Sect had already been dealt with!
But Wu Neng had no time to dwell on that. He picked up the jade slip, the veins on his hand bulging visibly.
“Compensation: For the death of two Void Refining cultivators, we require two Supreme-grade Dharma Treasures, a number of Fourth Grade Spirit Medicines and Spirit Materials, and one Fourth Grade Spirit Item…”
“For the death of eight Divinity Transformation realm and forty-two Nascent Soul cultivators, we require four Low to Mid-grade Dharma Treasures, a number of Fifth Grade Spirit Medicines and Spirit Materials, and three Sixth Grade Spirit Veins…”
“We also require one Earth Tier Cultivation Technique to sustain our family’s foundation…”
An astronomical price—an absolutely astronomical demand for compensation!
“Li Chang’an, are you here to make a fool of This Seat?” Wu Neng’s expression gradually turned dark.
“Commander, oh Commander… only you truly know what you have done.”
Li Chang’an didn’t even spare Wu Neng a glance, simply toying with his teacup in silence.
“If too much is said, then that last shred of ‘face’ will be torn away completely. There are plenty of people in the Imperial City keeping an eye on you.”
“You…”
Wu Neng had barely finished speaking.
Li Chang’an interjected,
“The Human Emperor has been ailing recently. My family’s Great-Grandaunt was summoned to accompany me to the Imperial Capital and has already entered the Palace.
Furthermore, one of my family’s Spirit Boats is currently en route to the Northern Border. Detained aboard that Spirit Boat is a member of the Blue Moon Immortal Sect, along with some ‘friends’ of my Azure Cloud Prefecture who received certain letters.
Before they arrived at my Azure Cloud Prefecture, some rather interesting events occurred—events I imagine the Lord Commander would find quite intriguing.”
“Are you threatening me?” Wu Neng’s face turned livid.
“I wouldn’t call it a threat.”
Li Chang’an slowly stood up, walked to the doorway, and paused.
He slowly raised his head to gaze at the spiritual energy drifting above the Immortal Palace.
There were clouds amidst the Heavenly Palace, yet the eaves of the Immortal Suppression Department blocked the bright radiance of the rising sun that pierced through them.
Only half of that brilliance illuminated his figure, leaving his expression cast in a gloomy shadow beneath the overhang.
“Lord Commander, you are the Master of the Immortal Suppression Department. Your strength is formidable, and I imagine there are few in the Imperial Dynasty who would dare to provoke you.”
“But please remember this: even a rabbit will bite when cornered!”
“You may look down on me, Li Chang. Within this Department, I can bow and scrape before you, obeying your every command. But if you seek to harm the lives of my elders or endanger my family, I will risk my very life to tear you to pieces.”
“Remember: if there is a next time, I will spend my entire life ensuring that you regret it.”
Li Chang slowly walked away.
Zhao Guang stared at Li Chang’an in shock, wondering where this fellow had found such audacity.
In the Immortal Suppression Department, Li Chang had never once lost his temper with anyone, nor had he ever even raised his voice. Yet today… that killing intent was undeniably real!
“Bastard! Bastard!!”
The sounds of smashing and crashing rang out once more within the Immortal Suppression Department.
Zhao Guang lowered his head as he watched Wu Neng fly into a violent rage.
After a long while, Wu Neng walked over to the only table that remained intact.
Gritting his teeth, he picked up the jade slip and handed it to Zhao Guang.
“Go to the treasury. Give him whatever he wants.”
“Lord Commander, this… this compensation… is simply too much.”
Zhao Guang’s eyes were filled with bewilderment.
He saw a look of helplessness in the Commander’s eyes; he could not recall how long it had been since the Lord Commander had last yielded to anyone.
He only heard Wu Neng grit his teeth and say, “Give it to him!”
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