Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 561: Chapter 557 Invitation

An imposing middle-aged man said in a deep voice, ”Your Majesty, is it possible that the Fourth Prince will take this opportunity to force us to sign the Tri-Court Joint Suppression Agreement?”

The crowd nodded in agreement.

If it were them, they would surely seize the opportunity to extract benefits and wouldn’t help for free.

The people of Da Meng and the people of Da Jing surely hold different weights in Chu Zhiyuan’s heart.

The two courts are enemies, and Chu Zhiyuan might be eager for the people of Da Meng to be killed.

This letter might be partly out of goodwill, but mostly for self-interest.

Li Hongzhao nodded, ”Do you think we can agree to the tri-court alliance to exterminate the Evil Sect?”

”Naturally, it is impossible.” The round-faced elder firmly said, ”The Evil Sect cannot be completely wiped out; this agreement is just an empty document, which instead could allow them to exploit a loophole.”

Signing this agreement would mean Da Jing’s experts could enter Da Meng.

Though Da Meng experts could also enter Da Jing, for Da Meng, spies are formidable enough and well-versed with Da Jing.

Da Jing’s spies, however, are tightly constrained—this agreement would be an immense opportunity for them.

Da Jing might even take the opportunity to sway people’s hearts and unsettle Da Meng’s experts.

Da Jing is too lenient with the martial arts sects, causing them to thrive, whereas Da Meng’s martial arts world does not enjoy such a relaxed environment.

If these Da Meng experts learned about Da Jing’s martial arts environment, it’s inevitable they’d have second thoughts.

These fellows, each reckless, if greed takes hold, they are capable of anything.

Unless absolutely necessary, they are not willing to sign this agreement.

They have always believed the Evil Sect is just a minor nuisance, not that important.

This time, the frenzied assassination attempt on Chu Zhiyuan showcased its prominence, but the time was too short to change the officials’ ingrained perspectives.

Li Hongzhao waved his hand.

An elderly eunuch, white of beard and hair, picked up a stack of documents from the table, descended the steps, and handed them to the leading old man in a purple robe.

The old man in a purple robe took them, flipped through, frowned, and passed them to the person beside him.

Once everyone had seen them, their expressions turned serious.

The round-faced man in a purple robe said anxiously, ”Your Majesty, has the Evil Sect already grown so powerful?”

Li Hongzhao said, ”Chu Zhiyuan previously mentioned in his letters to me that the Evil Sect had become alarmingly expansive and had reached a terrifying degree of devouring the common people, and I was half-skeptical. Now it seems he wasn’t exaggerating.”

”It’s unimaginable, that it has decayed to such an extent!”

”People fear danger, each sweeping the snow from before their own doors, even feigning ignorance to avoid trouble!”

”Those martial arts sects are also feigning ignorance!”

Their expressions became increasingly grave.

Li Hongzhao obtained this document from the Wind Listening Platform.

The Wind Listening Platform is the court’s most secretive force, with extensive reach.

Unlike the spies of the Six Ministries and the military, the information from the Wind Listening Guards comes from various sources, reaching all levels, without being confined to a single layer or location.

The intelligence gathered by the Wind Listening Platform is not always precise, but it is free from bias.

It can reveal the general situation without being misleading.

Li Hongzhao said, ”After reading this, my lords, do you still think we shouldn’t exterminate the Evil Sect?”

”Your Majesty, this old minister still believes that the Evil Sect cannot be eradicated and will persistently revive.”

”If they are not suppressed, they will further grow, and at this rate, all the common people will be devoured by them.”

”Suppressing them will also cause complaints among the martial arts sects, which isn’t conducive to public stability. This old minister believes that the Evil Sect should be combated but deferred for about a decade.”

”I second the motion. Minister Zhang’s words have merit. Once Your Majesty’s base is solidified, then this matter can be addressed; acting now is too hasty.”

”However, I believe that this matter should not be delayed any longer. The Fourth Prince of Da Jing has already inflicted heavy damage on them; otherwise, the Evil Sect wouldn’t be acting so frantically. Now is the best time to exterminate them; in a few years, they will surely recover their primordial energy, and who knows how many lives will be lost by then.”

”Did the Fourth Prince really inflict such damage? Since they have many refuges, the Fourth Prince might have only severely damaged Da Jing’s, and Da Meng and Da Zhen are out of reach.”

”The most significant number of Evil Sect members are in Da Jing, as Da Jing is more lenient with the martial arts sects, which is advantageous for the Evil Sect’s subterfuge! They should indeed have suffered a significant blow this time, hence their frenzied actions.”

Li Hongzhao said calmly, ”If we collaborate with Chu Zhiyuan to exterminate the Evil Sect, what do you think the chances of success are?”

”This old minister still believes, even though this Fourth Prince’s divine might is unmatched, he still cannot eradicate the Evil Sect.”

”He has already destroyed the main altars of the Heavenly Heart Sect, Yuding Sect, and Huaisu Sect; the Heavenly Heart Sect is one of the top Great Sects in the Evil Sect.”

”The Evil Sects are too numerous to be completely eradicated!”

”Following the vine to the melon, these Evil Sects are interconnected.”

”Your Majesty, I still believe the Fourth Prince is inadequate.”

Li Hongzhao gently shook his head, ”It seems you all don’t understand Chu Zhiyuan.”

A long-faced, purple-brown-haired middle-aged man said slowly, ”Your Majesty believes he can do it?”

Li Hongzhao nodded slightly.

”Your Majesty overestimates this Fourth Prince, does he not?” The round-faced old man in a purple robe said in a deep voice, ”No matter how strong he is, he’s only just entered the realm of Great Grandmaster.”

Li Hongzhao chuckled softly and shook his head.

A summer insect cannot discuss ice.

Without being a Great Grandmaster, it’s hard to comprehend Chu Zhiyuan’s might.

Unafraid of the Emperor’s Sword, Chu Zhiyuan’s Great Grandmaster status is unlike others’.

A middle-aged man in a purple robe said in a deep voice, ”Your Majesty, just how powerful is the Fourth Prince?”

Li Hongzhao said, ”He might possess five to eight-tenths of the Emperor’s Sword’s power.”

The faces of the crowd changed drastically.

”Hmm... how should I put it?” Li Hongzhao thought for a moment and said, ”Let’s put it this way, without the Emperor’s Sword to stop him, he could wipe out all of Da Meng’s Great Grandmasters in one breath.”

”That powerful?!”

The senior ministers in purple robes all changed expressions, looking at Li Hongzhao in amazement.

Li Hongzhao chuckled softly, ”To have reached this position and succeeded the great unification, I owe part of it to him. If it weren’t for his exceptional talent constantly suppressing me, I wouldn’t have continually improved and timely stepped into the realm of Great Grandmaster.”

The crowd nodded.

They all knew this matter, which is why they understood why Li Hongzhao held Chu Zhiyuan in such high regard and could correspond directly with him.

They all understood the characteristics of the Phoenix Bloodline.

Phoenixes, reborn from tribulation, improve faster the more setbacks they suffer.

The greatest fear is smooth sailing.

But possessing the Phoenix Bloodline makes one extraordinarily talented, surpassing others in the world.

His Majesty happened to go to Da Jing and encountered Chu Zhiyuan, thus becoming increasingly resilient, becoming the youngest Great Grandmaster in Da Jing’s history.

This can indeed be said to be a great fortune.

It’s as if Heaven wants His Majesty to succeed the throne, chosen by fate to be Emperor.

Therefore, their support for the Emperor was also a following of destiny.

Li Hongzhao said, ”Perhaps no one in this world understands Chu Zhiyuan better than I do. Outsiders think he’s just a Great Grandmaster, but they don’t know how strong he truly is. Outsiders think he cannot eradicate the Evil Sect, but I believe he can.”

”Is Your Majesty planning to agree to his Tri-Court Suppression of Evil Sect Agreement?”

”If I forcibly agree, you all and the ministers would feel indignant and discontent, so... let’s continue to observe, there’s no need to rush.”

”...Your Majesty is wise, then let’s first ask him to help eradicate the Evil Sect monsters in Tianjing City.”

They also wanted to see and observe Chu Zhiyuan’s capabilities, to decide whether to agree to this agreement.

”Mr. Su.”

”Your Majesty.” Su Qiuyan’s figure appeared.

”Please convey a message to him and invite him to assist us.”

”Understood.” Su Qiuyan nodded.

Li Hongzhao said, ”The Ministry of Rites is to send people to invite experts skilled in tracking to the capital to assist.”

”Yes.” A purple-robed elder responded in a deep voice.

Li Hongzhao sighed and shook his head, ”If the Evil Sect really causes havoc, our Da Meng’s reputation would be in jeopardy.”

They all nodded.

Su Qiuyan reappeared, cupped his fists, and said, ”Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has temporarily left Tianjing and returned to Yujing.”