Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 834: Chapter 830: Methods

They were channeling their energy, ready to dash out, but stopped abruptly at the sight of four middle-aged men in gray robes.

”Bang bang bang bang!”

Dull thuds resounded consecutively.

Four clouds of red mist instantly spread out. Two clouds that reached the middle of the avenue were illuminated by golden light, dazzling and vivid.

The two clouds of red mist still in the shadows were not as conspicuous.

The ”sizzle sizzle” sound was incessant.

It was the sound of corrosion against the walls and ground, leaving small, honeycomb-like pits all over the ground.

”Demon Clan scum!” Li Cunren snorted, ”Death Soldiers!”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”They have made it such that I must die.”

Li Cunren said, ”How did they hide here, could they have deceived everyone?!”

Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the Duke Yun Mansion opposite, shook his head, and remained silent.

The most likely scenario is that they infiltrated Duke Yun Mansion, then climbed over the wall and came down in a short and concealed manner.

If they came from elsewhere, it would be hard to evade the Prince Consort Mansion’s guards patrolling.

As the red mist gradually dissipated, several guards approached to check.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Wait a moment, don’t come closer!”

The guards stopped and looked over.

Even two guards of the Eldest Prince stopped and looked towards Chu Zhiyuan.

Li Cunren said, ”Brother-in-law, are there still assassins?”

”The danger still lingers.”

”They’re all dead, and the danger isn’t cleared yet?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”Let’s wait and see.”

Li Cunren said, ”Perhaps there’s another wave of assassins hidden, or they’ve jumped over the wall.”

He snorted, ”Is it Duke Yun Mansion’s problem?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I haven’t had much interaction with Duke Yun Mansion, should be no problem, right? Isn’t he your brother’s man?”

”Duke Yun...” Li Cunren pondered, ”A very genial person, doesn’t show his strengths or weaknesses.”

The Eight Dukes’ Mansions all belong to the military merit lineage, they are his supporters.

Duke Yun Mansion is no exception.

But Duke Yun Mansion has somewhat declined, unremarkable under his command.

Duke Yun Mansion certainly won’t ally with the Demon Clan, but there’s fear of being infiltrated covertly by them.

This is almost an impossible thing.

But assassinating at the entrance of Prince Consort Mansion is also nearly impossible.

The red mist slowly dissipated, eventually leaving only a few wisps. As they were about to vanish, they suddenly brightened.

Forming strange patterns in the air, then bursting into red light.

”Boom!”

In the muffled roar, a raging force surged, instantly knocking several guards in front of the mansion gate flying.

”Bang bang bang bang!”

They were thrown up, slamming into the golden studs on the vermilion gate.

The fist-sized gold studs made them gasp in pain as they landed, bent like shrimp.

”Ugh...”

”Humph!”

Various noises squeezed out from their throat.

The old eunuch next to Li Cunren suddenly stepped forward, his purple robe abruptly puffed up.

He channeled his energy to block the incoming force, stepping back a step.

”Whoa!” Li Cunren looked in surprise at the guards on the ground.

Seeing them only groaning but not bleeding, he breathed a sigh of relief, ”Pretty impressive!”

Being able to make the close attendant eunuch step back a step shows the power’s ferocity.

Chu Zhiyuan looked solemn.

Li Cunren said, ”Now what?”

”The danger is eliminated,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Brother, have you heard of this before?”

Li Cunren shook his head, ”I’ve heard of the previous one, but this one is the first time I’ve seen... Seems like previous assassinations didn’t use full force.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The last time Madam was assassinated, it was probably this kind.”

”Hmm...” Li Cunren thought for a moment, nodding, ”It’s very likely.”

Li Miaotan, being a Venerable, should be able to avoid such Jade and Stone Burning attacks.

But this latter one is unpredictable and even more powerful.

Li Cunren’s face darkened, ”Daring to assassinate near Prince Consort Mansion, these Demon Clan are truly arrogant!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”They’ve always regarded us as mere slaughter objects.”

”Brother-in-law, you need to strengthen the guards,” Li Cunren said, ”I’ll have Father send a few more Imperial Guard experts over!”

”Thank you, Brother.”

Chu Zhiyuan did not refuse.

The current guards at Prince Consort Mansion indeed aren’t strong enough.

This time the assassination wasn’t discovered; one reason is that they are hidden well, and have unique ways to conceal their presence.

Since when did the Demon Clan have such methods, similar to the Demon Clan’s ways?

Another reason is the guards’ lack of strength.

Even the number of guards is not enough; otherwise, they could be seen appearing.

While they were talking, Li Miaotan appeared gracefully.

She was like a lotus emerging from water, her eyes clear and bright, the refreshing and pleasant aura enveloping around.

She approached lightly in a wide dark green robe, ”Brother, why are you leaving so soon?”

”Discussing things with Brother-in-law,” Li Cunren said, ”You’ve had quite a long nap.”

Li Miaotan rolled her eyes at him, glanced outside, ”What happened just now?”

Li Cunren’s face immediately darkened, ”There was a Demon Clan expert trying to assassinate Brother-in-law.”

”A Demon Clan expert entered the Imperial City? And even dared to attempt assassination here?” Li Miaotan exclaimed, ”Evading the Demon Extinguishing Order at the city gate, and the surveillance of Fengtian Palace?”

”Is there a loophole, or is it collusion from inside and out?” She shook her head slightly, ”When did the Imperial City fall to such a state?”

Li Cunren’s face grew more grim.

Li Miaotan directly pointed to the crux.

The first barrier a Demon Clan expert should not pass is entering the Imperial City.

Now, not only did he manage to enter the Imperial City, but he also knew the location of the Prince Consort Mansion, and even evaded their guards.

What are the City Guards doing?

Where is the Demon Extinguishing Order at the city gate?

And, what about Fengtian Palace?

Multiple layers of defense and surveillance all failed. It’s hard not to suspect collusion, intentionally using a borrowed knife to kill.

What exactly is this about?!

Li Miaotan said, ”Brother, thoroughly investigate this.”

”I will immediately go back and investigate rigorously!” Li Cunren said coldly, ”This matter will not be muddled through!”

Li Miaotan snorted, ”What if it’s someone under your command?”

”Will punish without leniency!”

”I hope you can do it, Brother.”

”Rest assured, Twelfth Sister, I will definitely give Brother-in-law an explanation!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Brother...”

Li Cunren waved his hand, ”Brother-in-law, you don’t need to say more, I will handle it myself... In an hour, have them wait for you at South City Gate?”

”East City Gate,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

Li Cunren nodded, frowning as he walked out.

The guards on the ground had already climbed up, and four guards followed him out.

Li Miaotan withdrew her gaze, looking towards Chu Zhiyuan, sizing him up.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Don’t worry, the thing I fear least is an assassination.”

Li Miaotan said, ”These Demon Clan truly went mad, daring to break into the Imperial City to assassinate.”

Precisely because it’s unexpected, it’s easier to succeed.

”Seems like the Phoenix Bloodline greatly provokes them.”

Li Miaotan chuckled softly, ”My Phoenix Bloodline suppresses them, in my presence, their strength is weakened by thirty percent.”

Chu Zhiyuan realized.

He carried Heavenly Dragon Power himself; Demon Clan experts should not be weakened in his presence.

If the Phoenix Bloodline can do it, then his Heavenly Dragon Power should be able to as well.

However, he immediately thought, his Heavenly Dragon is indeed different from the Phoenix Bloodline.

The Phoenix Bloodline allows her to have a Phoenix phantom, closely integrated with herself.

Whereas his Heavenly Dragon Power, the Sky Dragon is in the void above, far from himself.

Is this the key to bloodline suppression against the Demon Clan?

”Husband, are you going to assassinate the Demon Clan expert?”

”Brother intends to avenge a Military Marquis’s son, I’ll take the chance to kill a wave of Demon Clan, with Xiao Zheng and Yuzhen accompanying me.”

”I’ll go as well.”

”Won’t your aura give you away?” Chu Zhiyuan said.

”I have a treasure that can also hide my aura.”

”That’ll do,” Chu Zhiyuan agreed.

An hour later, he appeared with Li Miaotan at the East City Gate.

Fu Zheng and Li Yuzhen accompanied them.

The other tributes did not act.