128: Chapter 128 Undercurrents Within the Palace

The Capital, Ningxiang Pavilion.

Even in the late hours of the night, this gold-consuming den remained brightly lit. The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments blended with the heavy scent of rouge and wine, enough to make one's bones feel soft.

Warden Wen Ruoxu gave a long stretch and staggered out from the pile of rouge.

His brocade robe was slightly open, revealing a sturdy chest.

He fanned himself with a jade-ribbed folding fan and hummed a little tune, his steps unsteady—the very image of a playboy hollowed out by wine and women.

"The girls in the capital are so much more sensible than the common beauties arranged at home. That figure, tsk tsk..."

Warden Wen Ruoxu smacked his lips, reminiscing about the warm fragrance and soft jade he had just enjoyed.

As for the matter of tricking Chen Ran into a blind date?

He had long since cast it to the back of his mind.

Better a Fellow Daoist die than oneself.

Besides, Chen Ran spent all day in that sunless place like the Celestial Prison; he might even have to thank him if this blind date turned out successful.

He just wondered if he'd get to drink at their wedding?

Warden Wen Ruoxu thought without any burden as he wobbled into a deserted deep alley.

A sudden cold wind swept in from the street corner without warning.

The wind was very cold.

Warden Wen Ruoxu shivered, and most of his drunkenness vanished.

He stopped in his tracks, the cynicism on his face completely retracted.

His right hand rested seemingly casually on the folding fan at his waist as his gaze swept forward.

In the empty street ahead, a figure had appeared.

The person wore a set of unmarked black night-traveling clothes and a mask on their face.

"Friend, blocking the way in the middle of the night isn't a very good habit."

Warden Wen Ruoxu narrowed his eyes, the True Qi of his Floating Life Like a Dream Art circulating secretly within him.

There was no response.

The masked person stood there silently. Even their breathing and heartbeat were barely audible.

Warden Wen Ruoxu wanted to speak again.

The next moment.

The masked person moved.

No nonsense, no opening stance.

Raising a hand and joining fingers like a blade, they slashed through the air!

"Roar—!"

A tiger's roar exploded from the ground.

Violent True Qi surged out from the body, condensing in mid-air into a fierce tiger descending a mountain. The tiger opened its bloody maw and pounced down with a tragic Evil Qi!

"Tiger Vision?!"

Without a second thought, Warden Wen Ruoxu retreated violently.

Boom!

The gale howled, and the bluestone slabs on the ground shattered inch by inch.

Countless gravel pieces were swept up by the Saber Qi, striking the walls on both sides with a series of dense explosions.

The True Qi inside Warden Wen Ruoxu's body circulated frantically.

His figure flickered, narrowly avoiding the strike.

Bang!

The Saber Qi slashed heavily where Warden Wen Ruoxu had originally stood, plowing a trench several meters long directly into the bluestone ground!

Gravel splattered and dust filled the air.

Warden Wen Ruoxu stabilized himself over thirty meters away. Looking at the saber mark, a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"My friend, let's talk this out! I am Warden Wen Ruoxu of the Wen family. I don't know how I have offended Your Excellency?"

Warden Wen Ruoxu shouted loudly.

He asked himself if he had done anything heinous lately. Could it be that the old man at home had sent someone to catch him and take him back for marriage?

Impossible! The old man at home would never use such lethal force!

With that strike just now, if his reaction had been half a beat slower, he would have been split in two.

The masked person still did not answer.

They slowly turned their head, the eyes behind the mask extremely cold.

Then, they raised their hand again.

Clang!

A crisp saber ring sounded.

The masked person drew a pitch-black long saber from their waist.

As the blade left its sheath, the surrounding temperature plummeted. A thick Aura of blood-red Evil Qi soared into the sky.

"Again?!"

Warden Wen Ruoxu cursed inwardly, calling the person a lunatic.

He didn't dare hold back any longer and snapped his folding fan open.

"Floating Life Like a Dream, A Grand Dream!"

Warden Wen Ruoxu shouted low, and the folding fan turned into a sky full of afterimages. Each afterimage contained a feminine and eerie True Qi.

The two fought in a blur.

Bang, bang, bang, bang—!

Dull sounds of collision echoed in the night sky.

True Qi overflowed, and the surrounding stalls and signs were ground to pieces. The courtyard walls on both sides collapsed in sections.

The more they fought, the more alarmed Warden Wen Ruoxu became.

The cultivation of this masked person was unfathomable!

He was, after all, at the Peak of the Fourth Rank Aperture Condensation Realm, only one step away from the Third Rank Return to Truth Realm.

But in front of the opponent, he was actually reduced to mere defense!

The opponent's saber technique was broad and powerful, fierce and unmatched.

There were no fancy techniques, only the crushing weight of pure power and speed!

When his folding fan struck the opponent, it only produced the crisp sound of metal clashing; he couldn't even break their defense.

"Where the hell did this monster come from?!"

Warden Wen Ruoxu's blood surged, and the skin between his thumb and forefinger cracked.

"Friend, let's talk! You want money or your life... wait, if you want money I'll give it, but my life is a no-go!"

While struggling to hold on, Warden Wen Ruoxu shouted for mercy.

The masked person remained unmoved.

The long saber swung faster and faster, each strike heavier than the last!

Boom!

Another hard clash.

A power like an overwhelming mountain poured into his body through the folding fan.

Warden Wen Ruoxu let out a muffled groan and was sent flying, crashing heavily into a green brick wall.

Crash!

The brick wall collapsed, burying him in the ruins.

Cough, cough...

Warden Wen Ruoxu coughed violently, spitting out a large mouthful of blood.

He struggled to climb up, his face pale.

Then he froze, seeing that in the night before him, there was no longer any sign of anyone.

It was as if everything before had been an illusion; if not for the pain in his body, he might have actually believed it.

Warden Wen Ruoxu slumped in the ruins, gasping for air.

"What the hell... was that all about?"

He touched his aching chest, feeling a wave of lingering fear.

With that last strike, the opponent had clearly shown mercy.

"Could it really be someone from home sent to warn me? But this is way too ruthless!"

Warden Wen Ruoxu's brow furrowed.

He shook his head, endured the sharp pain, and vanished from the scene in a flash.

...

The next day.

Celestial Prison, Demon Suppression Division.

Chen Ran arrived on time for the roll call as usual.

His expression was calm, and he carried freshly bought meat buns in his hand.

As soon as he entered the Jailers' breakroom, Chen Ran stopped.

Warden Wen Ruoxu sat in a chair with a bruised and swollen face, one leg in a thick splint, and crutches leaning nearby.

That romantic face of his now had a black eye and blood at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, Brother Wen, what happened? Which brothel did you go to last night to get beaten up by some girl's lover?"

Chen Ran stepped forward, feigning surprise.

"Don't even mention it."

Warden Wen Ruoxu winced as he moved, the pain making him gasp.

He waved his hand helplessly: "I didn't check the almanac before leaving last night. I ran into a lunatic who started hacking at me without a word. "

"If I hadn't run fast, you'd be attending my funeral feast today."

"Oh? In the capital, someone dared to commit such an assault in the street?"

Chen Ran suppressed a smile and said solemnly: "Brother Wen didn't see the person's appearance? Do you want to report it? I know a few people over at Six Doors."

"Report it my ass!"

Warden Wen Ruoxu rolled his eyes: "Sigh, forget it. Just my damn luck. I hope I never find that person."

He paused, looking puzzled: "But it is strange. Do you think it could be the old man at home sending someone to warn me? Tired of me being idle all day, so he found someone to beat me up to vent his anger?"

"It's possible."

Chen Ran nodded in deep agreement: "Brother Wen is, after all, a descendant of the Wen family's main line."

"You spend all day lingering in brothels and even resist marriage alliances. It's normal for your Elders to be unable to stand it and send someone to teach you a lesson."

"It's called 'tough love'."

"Sigh, life is unbearable."

Warden Wen Ruoxu gave a long sigh and slumped in his chair.

"No way, I'm going home to demand medical expenses!"

Seeing Warden Wen Ruoxu's miserable state, Chen Ran's anger dissipated.

Last night he had used [Painted Skin] to disguise his form; Warden Wen Ruoxu couldn't recognize him at all.

This beating would serve as a lesson.

Let's see if he dares to casually trick people into blind dates again.

However, after last night's test, he also gained an understanding of his own combat power. With his current level...

He could basically walk horizontally within the Aperture Condensation Realm.

Even if he encountered a Martial Artist of the Third Rank Return to Truth Realm, with all his means deployed, he might not necessarily lose.

...

After a few casual words, Chen Ran began his daily patrol.

The Celestial Prison had become quite lively recently.

The First Prince, Wei Yanxi, had promulgated new policies to rectify the officialdom.

Many corrupt officials had fallen from grace, had their official robes stripped, and were thrown into the Celestial Prison.

These lords, who were usually high and mighty, were now crying and howling in their cells.

Some shouted of their innocence, some begged for mercy, and some were so frightened by the Evil Qi that they lost control of their bowels.

Chen Ran had no interest in these dog-eat-dog dramas.

He only cared about how much participation he could squeeze out.

However, the cultivation of these officials wasn't high; most were ordinary people or low-level Martial Artists, so the rewards were limited.

Chen Ran's goal today was the Jia Ward on the fourth floor of the Celestial Prison.

That was where the truly important prisoners were kept.

Passing through the dark and damp corridors, he arrived at the fourth floor.

The Evil Qi here was more than ten times thicker than on the floors above.

The air was filled with a nauseating smell of blood and rot.

Ordinary Jailers didn't dare stay long, as it was easy for the Evil Qi to erode their sanity.

Chen Ran walked to a cell.

Inside the cell, an old man with disheveled hair sat cross-legged on the ground.

He was thin as a lath, and the nails on his ten fingers were shockingly long, like ten sharp daggers.

Hearing footsteps, the old man looked up, revealing a mouthful of withered yellow teeth, and gave Chen Ran a strange laugh.

Chen Ran remained expressionless as illusory text appeared before his eyes.

[Prisoner: Liu Kuchan]

[Realm: Peak of the Fourth Rank Aperture Condensation Realm]

[Guilt Value: High]

[Status: Cultivation Sealed]

[Cultivation Technique: Heavenly Silk Puppet Technique]

"The Thread-Pulling Old Monster, Liu Kuchan."

Chen Ran muttered to himself.

This guy was proficient in Puppet arts and had eerie methods.

Chen Ran ignored the strange laugh, performed a routine check of the cell's Seal, and dropped a few portions of prison food.

"Behave yourself, don't play any tricks," Chen Ran said coldly.

[Daily patrol of the Celestial Prison, participation increased]

[Guarding a Forbidden Ground for important prisoners, participation increased]

The notification sounded in his mind. For the heavenly book of prison suppression,

as long as he ground it out bit by bit, once his participation increased, he estimated he could take down this Cultivation Technique in a while.

Chen Ran nodded with satisfaction.

He turned to leave and continued deeper.

Soon, he arrived at a cell in the deepest part of the fourth floor.

Seeing the scene in front of the cell, Chen Ran stopped.

Outside the cell stood a pale-faced, beardless eunuch wearing a python robe.

The eunuch held a whisk and bowed slightly, his attitude extremely respectful.

"Someone from the palace?"

Chen Ran's brow furrowed slightly.

The Celestial Prison was a restricted area; unauthorized personnel were not allowed entry.

Especially for a Jia Ward cell. For this eunuch to appear here, he clearly held an edict from above.

When Warden Wen Ruoxu saw the eunuch, his expression changed.

"Brother Chen, let's go, let's go, let's look elsewhere."

Warden Wen Ruoxu lowered his voice and pulled Chen Ran to leave.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ran asked.

"That's someone from the palace. Getting involved with them means trouble."

Chen Ran didn't resist and followed the pull back. The moment he turned, he quietly activated [Skynet].

Invisible Mental Energy spread out, enveloping the cell.

The conversation clearly entered his mind.

"Senior Shen, the First Prince has long admired you."

The eunuch's voice was shrill and laced with flattery: "As long as you give the nod, the First Prince will immediately secure your release."

"Not only that, the First Prince promises that if you are willing to come out and assist him, the position of National Preceptor will surely be yours."

Inside the cell, there was dead silence.

After a long time, a raspy and flat voice spoke.

"Not interested."

The smile on the eunuch's face froze.

He straightened his body, his tone turning cold: "Senior Shen, you should think carefully. The First Prince is currently at the height of his power and is deeply favored by His Majesty."

"If you refuse to do things the easy way, don't think about ever stepping foot out of this Celestial Prison for the rest of your life!"

"Are you threatening me?"

The raspy voice sounded again.

This time, it carried a heart-palpitating chill.

The next moment.

A terrifying Aura soared from within the cell!

The Aura was invisible and intangible, yet it was like a great mountain pressing down on the eunuch.

Thump!

The eunuch's knees slammed heavily onto the ground.

He trembled violently, cold sweat instantly soaking his python robe, and even breathing became difficult.

"Get out."

A single word was spat out from the cell.

The eunuch felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty; he scrambled up and stumbled out.

Passing by Chen Ran and Warden Wen Ruoxu, he glared at them fiercely.

"You two pieces of trash! Why aren't you going in to see if that prisoner is trying to rebel! If anything goes wrong, I'll have your heads!"

The eunuch cursed in his shrill voice and ran off without looking back.

Chen Ran looked at the eunuch's pathetic retreating figure.

He turned and asked Warden Wen Ruoxu: "Brother Wen, who exactly is locked in that cell? To not even care about someone from the palace?"

Warden Wen Ruoxu sighed: "The person inside is called Shen Jixuan."

"Shen Jixuan?"

"That's right."

Warden Wen Ruoxu lowered his voice: "This Shen Jixuan was a top expert who shook the world decades ago. Rumor has it he specialized in the Divine Soul and abandoned his Physical Body; his strength is unfathomable."

"To capture him back then, the imperial court and major Sects paid an extremely tragic price."

"Even if his cultivation is currently sealed and he's locked in the Celestial Prison, there are still countless eyes watching him from outside. The First Prince wanting to recruit him is also because he values his strength and influence."

Warden Wen Ruoxu patted Chen Ran's shoulder: "Brother Chen, take my advice. It's better for small fry like us to stay far away from bosses of this level. When gods fight, Mortals suffer."

Chen Ran nodded thoughtfully.

Shen Jixuan.

An Ancient Path-Abandoning Cultivator.

Specializing in the Divine Soul.

If he could get his hands on the Cultivation Techniques from him, his combat power could increase by another notch.

"Divine Soul secret arts, truly terrifying..."

Chen Ran smiled and gradually left the cell area.

...

At the same time.

Three hundred miles outside the capital.

A hidden valley.

A secret base of the Black Crow Cult.

Inside the main hall, the lights were dim.

A Black Crow Cult Elder knelt on the ground, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"Cult Leader, Six Doors has been investigating too closely lately."

The Elder's voice trembled: "Several of our bases near the capital have been raided, and many believers have been captured and thrown into the Celestial Prison. If this continues, our Foundation in the capital may be destroyed."

Seated at the very top of the hall was a middle-aged man.

He wore a dark gold robe and had a handsome face.

The Leader of the Black Crow Cult, Ye Wuya.

Ye Wuya toyed with a luminous cup.

"Six Doors..."

He gave a light laugh: "It seems the imperial court really thinks our Black Crow Cult is easy to bully."

"Cult Leader, what should we do now?" the Elder asked cautiously.

Ye Wuya drained the wine in his cup.

"Since the court wants to play, this seat will play with them."

He stood up and looked down at the Elder, his tone grim: "Pass down the order. Activate all the hidden agents lurking in the capital."

"In a while, it will be time to let the imperial court suffer a bit."

"Doesn't Six Doors like to catch people? We'll start by taking a knife to Six Doors."

"I heard there's a female constable in Six Doors named Lin Wan who has been very prominent lately?" Ye Wuya asked casually.

"Yes, this woman is the daughter of a high-level official in the Demon Suppression Division. She acts high-profile and has raided several of our bases recently," the Elder replied.

"Very good."

Ye Wuya sneered: "Use her to sacrifice to our flag. This seat wants to see how ugly the imperial court's face will be when the famous constable of Six Doors lies dead in the street."