242: Chapter 242 Princess Anping's Breakthrough

"... You ... !"

This time, it was Zhao Xuejun's turn to glare at Sun Lingyue.

"Lingyue, stand down!"

At this moment, Luo Ningshuang spoke up.

"Yes!"

Sun Lingyue gave Zhao Xuejun a provocative look before stepping behind Luo Ningshuang.

A short while later.

After the Zhenwu Guard finished cleaning up the battlefield, they retreated.

"Big Brother, why did you speak up for those imperial lackeys?" Zhao Xuejun questioned Zhao Azure Dragon with dissatisfaction.

Zhao Azure Dragon said: "This time, the Zhenwu Guard is targeting Governor Dongfang Tao and the Lotus Sect. The leader, Sikong Mingyue, is a Gang-Refining Expert. Even Dongfang Tao and the Lotus Sect are temporarily avoiding her edge, so it is unwise to offend the Zhenwu Guard!"

"Isn't it just the Zhenwu Guard? What is there to be afraid of?" Zhao Xuejun said, somewhat dismissively.

"You are still thinking too simply!"

Zhao Azure Dragon shook his head: "A Gang-Refining Expert coming to Yunzhou in person shows the imperial court's determination to clean up the region. But now, Dongfang Tao has become honest and distanced himself from the Lotus Sect. The Lotus Sect has even hidden its high-level members. If Sikong Mingyue cannot complete the cleanup mission, who will she turn her gaze toward? Now, all the Blood Refining families and forces in Yunzhou are actively retracting their claws to avoid being targeted. If you go and provoke the Zhenwu Division, wouldn't that be inviting disaster upon our Zhao Family?"

Upon hearing Zhao Azure Dragon's explanation.

Zhao Xuejun's face suddenly turned pale: "They wouldn't retaliate against us, would they?"

"That shouldn't happen!"

Zhao Azure Dragon shook his head: "However, you must think three times before acting in the future. Do not be as reckless as you were today. Otherwise, if the Zhenwu Division labels us with the charge of colluding with the Lotus Sect, our entire Zhao Family could be wiped out by the Zhenwu Division!"

The Zhao Family they belonged to was also one of the Blood Refining families.

On the other side.

Sun Lingyue rode her horse to Luo Ningshuang's side: "My Lady, letting that woman go like this, isn't it letting her off too easily?"

"That pair of siblings comes from the Zhao Family, one of the top ten Blood Refining families in Lingzhou!" Luo Ningshuang said meaningfully: "For such a small matter, even if we arrested her, we would have to release her before long!"

"Oh, I see!" Sun Lingyue nodded, feeling a bit discouraged.

Meanwhile.

Yunzhou City.

Sikong Mingyue summoned four Blood Refining subordinates and asked in a low voice: "Have you found any evidence against Dongfang Tao?"

"Reporting to My Lady!"

A Blood Refining subordinate said: "That Dongfang Tao has managed the entire Yunzhou City like an iron barrel; it is truly difficult to find any evidence against him. Whenever we find a slight clue, as soon as we investigate further, the trail is immediately cut off. It is extremely difficult to find evidence against him using normal means."

Sikong Mingyue was not very satisfied with her subordinate's answer: "What about the Lotus Sect?"

Another Blood Refining subordinate said: "We have already found the Lotus Sect's lair, but by the time we arrived, it was already deserted. Now, the Lotus Sect leader and the high-level members have all gone into hiding. It is truly too difficult to find them!"

"Damn it!"

Sikong Mingyue cursed inwardly; progress on both sides was not going smoothly.

How could she complete the mission?

If not for Dongfang Tao's deep background, she could have arrested him outright.

But as it was, she could not directly arrest Dongfang Tao.

"How is the progress of the teams sent out?" Sikong Mingyue asked again.

The third Blood Refining subordinate said: "The team led by Luo Ningshuang is making very smooth progress. On the way to executing the mission, the Lotus Sect sent two Mid-stage Marrow Refining experts and four Bone Refining experts to assassinate her. As a result, she counter-ambushed them, killing one Mid-stage Marrow Refining expert and the four Bone Refining experts. The other Marrow Refining expert fled directly. We just received a message via carrier pigeon from Luo Ningshuang; the Lotus Sect members she went to clean up have already been exterminated, and she is leading her team back!"

"Finally, some good news!"

Sikong Mingyue said indifferently: "If I remember correctly, this Luo Ningshuang is also on the hidden dragon ranking, though her ranking is relatively low. Now that she can counter-kill a Mid-stage Marrow Refining expert, it seems her strength has improved rapidly recently. By the way, what position does she hold now?"

That Blood Refining subordinate said: "She is currently the Division Chief of the Zhenwu Division in Linjiang Prefecture!"

Sikong Mingyue showed some appreciation: "Her rank is a bit low. Assign her a few more tasks. If she completes them well, when the matter in Yunzhou is over, I will transfer her to the Royal Capital!"

"Yes!"

Linjiang Prefecture.

Chen Hu was idle again.

Suddenly, the image of Jingang Temple flashed in his mind.

He decided to head to Jingang Temple and wipe them out.

Thus, he directly used Near and Far to arrive outside Jingang Temple.

Scanning with his Spiritual Sense, Chen Hu could not help but show a look of astonishment.

This Jingang Temple was built quite magnificently.

But at this moment, the temple had become empty.

Clearly, after learning that the team sent to cause him trouble had been wiped out, the people of Jingang Temple had fled in advance.

"Damn it, these bald donkeys run even faster than dogs!" Chen Hu could not help but curse inwardly.

Suddenly.

Chen Hu's heart moved.

Jingang Temple had existed for so many years; they must have accumulated a lot of wealth.

It was unlikely they could take all their wealth with them.

So, were the things they couldn't take buried on the spot?

Thinking of this.

Chen Hu activated his Spiritual Sense to search underground around Jingang Temple.

He really did find a treasure hiding spot.

With a flash, Chen Hu arrived inside this secret chamber.

With a wave of his hand, he collected everything in this secret chamber.

The space in this secret chamber was not small, and there were two types of items inside; one type was gold, silver, and jewelry.

Added together, they were worth over 5 million taels of silver.

The other type was various grains.

All the grain added together amounted to 300,000 shi.

300,000 shi was equivalent to over 30 million catties.

However, Chen Hu felt that Jingang Temple's gold, silver, and jewelry were more than just this.

So, he used his Spiritual Sense to search the vicinity of Jingang Temple again.

Hard work pays off.

Chen Hu dug out many boxes containing gold, silver, and jewelry from the ground five miles away from Jingang Temple.

They were worth over 8 million taels.

Then, he found treasure worth over 20 million in a cave with a sealed entrance more than ten miles away.

Unfortunately, he did not find any Spirit Medicine or exotic beast meat.

They must have been taken away by the monks of Jingang Temple.

Although Chen Hu had already found quite a lot of things, he still spent time searching the surrounding area.

Unexpectedly, in a valley cave more than thirty miles away from Jingang Temple, he found another 130,000 shi of grain, and jade artifacts and Buddha statues worth over 6 million taels.

"Should be gone now, right?"

After taking these things away, Chen Hu continued to search for a while.

After finding nothing more, he used Near and Far to return to Linjiang Prefecture.

In the afternoon.

Chen Hu went outside the city.

After understanding the situation, he found that his subordinates had recruited another 15,000 refugees for him.

He estimated that by the evening, the number of refugees could exceed 20,000.

This made Chen Hu very satisfied.

Not long after returning to the Fierce Tiger Gang.

Princess Anping sent someone to invite him.

Arriving at the back courtyard of the government office.

Chen Hu discovered that Princess Anping had actually broken through to the Early-stage Bone-Refining Realm.

So, he smiled and said: "Congratulations to the Princess on your Breakthrough!"

Princess Anping chuckled and said: "Many thanks, Young Master Chen, but compared to Young Master Chen, I am still far behind!"

She had long since discovered that Chen Hu's cultivation was not just at the Early-stage Bone-Refining Realm.

She even suspected that Chen Hu had already reached the Organ Refining Realm, but she could not determine whether it was Early Stage, Middle Stage, or Late Stage.