Chapter 226: Entering the Palace

The old Daoist glanced around at the scene before his gaze settled on Li Huafeng. He sighed softly. "Who did this? Where is your senior brother?"

"It was Clear Void Poison King and Fang Chen from Grand Xia!" replied Li Huafeng hurriedly, his voice filled with resentment. "They killed Senior Brother Wei, and it was Fang Chen who cut off my legs!"

"Grand Xia? Is he from the same place you were born?" The old Daoist furrowed his brow, then his gaze fell on the corpse of the middle-aged Daoist not far away. He approached and examined it carefully.

"Master, can I still cultivate without my legs?" asked Li Huafeng with concern.

After inspecting the middle-aged Daoist's corpse, the old Daoist looked at Li Huafeng. "You can still cultivate without your legs; it will just be a bit more troublesome."

"That's great!" Li Huafeng's eyes lit up. Even if he had become a cripple, since he could still cultivate, he could still have a promising future, even without his legs!

"What about Clear Void Poison King? Did he flee after killing your senior brother and these people?" The old Daoist frowned. "Where are the cultivation techniques and scriptures you purchased?"

"Master, Fang Chen took away the cultivation techniques too. And he silenced the Clear Void Poison King, too. I implore you to swiftly kill Fang Chen, Master. If he’s allowed to develop freely, it may be detrimental to our Clear Sky Monastery in the future!" Li Huafeng pleaded urgently. "The hatred between him and me runs too deep!"

The old Daoist's brow furrowed even more. "Was your senior brother killed by the Clear Void Poison King or Fang Chen?"

Li Huafeng didn't hesitate, and barked, "Both of them are responsible!"

"But the wounds on his body... he was clearly stabbed by this dagger, which is yours," the old Daoist said as he gestured, and the dagger flew into his hand.

Li Huafeng's expression froze, and he hurriedly said, "They took away my dagger...."

The old Daoist made a stabbing motion. "They took your dagger and then used it to kill your senior brother? Why would cultivators do that?"

Seeing Li Huafeng speechless, the old Daoist sighed softly. "When I first came to Grand Xia and found you, I thought you were a promising talent who could add to my Clear Sky Monastery's strength. But alas, I didn’t expect you to be so vicious as to find it within you to kill your own senior brother."

Li Huafeng hastily defended himself. "Master, it's not what you think. I, your disciple, am truly innocent...."

Li Huafeng knew he could hardly trick his master, but he also believed in his seven chimes aptitude; it should be enough to propel the old Daoist overlook what he had done. After all, his master was now down one disciple, his late senior brother; he believed the old Daoist wouldn't want to lose another promising disciple!

"I will go find Fang Chen,” said the old Daoist. “Since he was able to kill the Clear Void Poison King, then it means his capabilities are not weak. However, as long as he's not at the Foundation Building Realm... I have ways to deal with him. But... you've murdered your fellow disciple and intended to deceive me. I'm afraid I cannot let you off the hook. However, considering your outstanding talent, I can use you as a test subject for alchemy. I'll spare your life for now." the old Daoist chuckled. "Take him back."

"Yes, Master," several young Daoists approached and took Li Huafeng away.

Test subject?!

Li Huafeng cried out in horror, "Master, I was wrong... Master!"

Ignoring him, the old Daoist turned and walked away emotionlessly.

***

The capital city of Grand Xia. The Fang Manor.

Although the Fang family had already relocated to the southern region, this manor still belonged to the Fang family, and no one dared to intrude without permission. Elite guards of the Valiant Saber Guards were often stationed here.

Nowadays, everyone was well aware that the new emperor, Xia Yuan, was supported by Fang Chen, and Huang Sihai, who was the commander of the Valiant Saber Guards, and who was once one of Fang Chen's four Dragon Generals.

The fifth prince and Minister Jiang were also closely associated with the Fang family. Since the day immortals descended to select disciples from the masses, whether it was the various factions or the common people, everyone became deeply aware of Fang Chen's transcendent status in Grand Xia.

So it went without saying that no one dared to offend those of the Fang family. Even the mice running out of the Fang manor, no one dared to accidentally step on them.

Looking at the boxes of martial arts secret manuals, Tie Ma couldn't help but exclaim, "Did you guys plunder the Frost Water Empire with the lord?"

Xu Ge stared at him with a triumphant look. "Nonsense! We can’t call it plundering! Do you see that group of Nightmare Knights? The leader is Ji Lengxing, a direct descendant of the Ji family. He seems to be Ji Lengyue's brother. They voluntarily handed over these martial arts manuals."

Tie Ma glanced at Ji Lengxing with a look of shock on his face.

"By the way, I've achieved the Qi Core Stage," added Xu Ge suddenly.

Tie Ma glanced at him and suddenly smiled. "So have I."

Xu Ge looked puzzled. "Impossible!"

"My talent has always been better than yours. I ascended to the Qi Core Stage earlier than you did," replied Tie Ma replied half a smile.

Ji Lengxing suddenly approached Zhao Yan, respectfully asking, "Master Zhao, may I go see Ji Lengyue?"

Zhao Yan glanced at him and smiled faintly. "You need the lord’s approval for that. Wait for him to return."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly looked toward the direction of the main gate. "The lord is back. You can ask him yourself later."

Everyone hurriedly turned toward the main gate, greeting. However, when they laid their eyes in Fang Chen’s direction, they were dumbfounded. Not by Fang Chen himself, but by the “creature” they saw behind him.

"Don't be afraid. His name is Liu Mu. He’s the kid taken in by the Heavenly Southern Sect a while back," said Fang Chen with a faint smile.

Liu Mu kept his head hung low. He was clearly all tense and nervous. He had become self-conscious. He was trying his best to prevent the greenish poison from oozing out of the lumps on his body, especially the big one on his back.

"It's him?!" Xu Ge exclaimed. "Wasn't he taken to the Heavenly Southern Sect? Why does he look like this?"

Tie Ma's expression turned serious. He knew something must have happened.

Zhao Yan didn't mind the foul smell emanating from Liu Mu's body. He walked slowly to Liu Mu's side, intending to examine the lumps on his body. However, Liu Mu immediately stepped back with a shriek. “Ah...!”

He watched Zhao Yan in fear.

Zhao Yan was slightly taken aback and looked toward Fang Chen.

"He harbors a deadly poison within him. If you touch even a bit of it, you might lose your life. Even spiritual energy can only slightly resist the erosion of the poison," explained Fang Chen.

"What a pitiful child." Zhao Yan sighed. "Lord, what kind of horrible person would do this to a child, turning him into this? Was it someone from the Heavenly Southern Sect?"

"He was captured by a demonic cultivator. It's unusual for someone who was supposed to go to the Heavenly Southern Sect for cultivation to fall into the hands of a demonic cultivator. That's why I'm going to visit the Heavenly Southern Sect to get an explanation," said Fang Chen.

"Is there any way to get rid of the lumps on his body?" asked Zhao Yan.

Fang Chen shook his head slightly. "There’s none for now."

Everyone’s faces turned complicated. If even Fang Chen couldn't find a solution, who else could?

Glancing at the boxes laid down on the floor, Fang Chen ordered, "Bring these martial arts manuals with you. Follow me to the palace.”

In the Grand Xia Imperial Palace.

The civil and military officials stood solemnly in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Hearing that Fang Chen was about to enter the palace, the young emperor, Xia Yuan, was all excited in his fitted dragon robe.

Xia Yuan's former palace maid, Xiang Zhen, was now the chief female official in the palace. She was permitted by Fang Chen to serve by Xia Yuan's side.

Seeing Xia Yuan’s eagerness, Xiang Zhen reminded him in a low voice, "Your Majesty, all the civil and military officials are present. You should act more mature."

"I know." Xia Yuan nodded and straightened himself up a little, trying to act like an adult.

The eunuch's voice was heard outside the hall, announcing, "The Duke of Grand Xia has arrived!"

The ministers turned their attention to the entrance. Li Guozhu's expression was somewhat unnatural, but he quickly resumed his usual demeanor.

Fang Chen entered the hall slowly, giving Xia Yuan a slight smile before bowing respectfully. "Fang Chen greets Your Majesty."