304: Long Yun's true purpose!

Li Shengyuan restrained his Qi to the absolute limit, following far behind Long Yun.

At first, Long Yun's trajectory seemed to confirm her previous claims.

She expertly avoided the main roads, weaving through complex alleyways, and finally arrived at a relatively orderly area in the city where the guards were noticeably stricter.

Standing here were several rugged yet imposing stone mansions, clearly the residences of the powerful figures or important generals of Green Rhino City.

Long Yun stopped behind the side of a mansion with two ferocious stone rhinoceros statues standing at the entrance. After vigilantly observing her surroundings, she took out a glowing bone talisman and tossed it at the wall.

Ripples moved across the wall, and it silently split open to reveal a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

She quickly flashed inside.

Li Shengyuan's gaze narrowed; this was a pre-arranged secret passage!

His figure turned like smoke, and in the split second before the gap closed, he followed right behind without any hindrance, using a more exquisite control of space.

His Qi blended perfectly with the surrounding environment; even if he were right next to someone, no one would be able to detect him.

Behind the door was a narrow, downward-sloping secret passage, with glowing fluorite embedded in the walls.

Long Yun did not stop, clearly extremely familiar with this place.

At the end of the secret passage was a hidden stone chamber. The room was simply furnished with only a table and two chairs, and a Rhinoceros Demon wearing the uniform of a Green Rhino City guard general, with a single horn on his forehead, was already waiting there.

This Rhinoceros Demon had a deep and steady Aura, surprisingly possessing Third Grade cultivation, but upon seeing Long Yun enter, he immediately knelt on one knee, his posture respectful.

"This subordinate greets Your Highness!"

The Rhinoceros Demon general lowered his voice, speaking to Long Yun in perfectly enunciated Human Race official language.

Your Highness?!

Li Shengyuan, in the shadows, had his pupils shrink slightly.

This title, within the Yao Race, especially in the context related to the Dragon Emperor, carried immense weight!

"General Xishan, please rise, no need for formalities." Long Yun's voice now appeared steady and dignified, like a completely different person from the cheerful and enthusiastic one during the day.

"How is the situation? Has there been any progress on the matter that Your Majesty ordered me to investigate?"

She really is one of the Dragon Emperor's people!

And of noble status!

Li Shengyuan understood in his heart, but still held his breath and focused, continuing to listen.

General Xishan stood up and reported with a grave expression, "Replying to Your Highness, according to the secret observations during this period and verification from several channels, the recent behavior of the King of Qingxi is indeed somewhat abnormal."

"His seclusion this time to break through the Bottleneck might be a cover; before entering seclusion, he secretly met with a guest."

"A guest? What is their background?" Long Yun pressed.

"Extremely mysterious. My subordinate inquired through many channels and only vaguely knows that it is from the Human Race, with an unfathomable Aura. I fear... it is an expert at the Second Grade level!"

General Xishan's tone was heavy, "The meeting place was a secret chamber deep within the palace. Except for the King of Qingxi himself and his trusted steward, no one knows the specific content of the conversation."

"But since then, there have been slight abnormalities in the movement of some supplies within the palace and the deployment of some personal guards, as if... they are secretly preparing for something."

Long Yun's breathing noticeably quickened for a moment, "A Second Grade Human Race... secretly meeting the King of Qingxi at this critical juncture... could it really be..."

She did not finish, but the shock and suspicion in her tone coincided with Li Shengyuan's inner guess.

It must be a core envoy sent by the Demon Cult Leader!

So they really did make contact!

Following Long Yun here actually saved him the time of investigating himself... Li Shengyuan thought to himself.

Moreover, her true purpose for coming to Green Rhino City this time must be to investigate the relationship between the King of Qingxi and the Demon Cult Leader.

In that case, the Dragon Emperor has long suspected him, right?

That also means the Dragon Emperor has not yet colluded with the Demon Cult Leader. If that is true, it is good news for Li Shengyuan.

However, the specific situation still needs careful investigation.

"Besides these, are there any other clues? Under the King of Qingxi's command, are there any generals acting abnormally, or having contact with individuals of unknown identity?" Long Yun continued to press, her thoughts clear.

"Yes!" General Xishan nodded.

"The deputy commander of the palace guard, 'Xili', and Elder 'Xiyan', who manages some of the mineral resource veins, have both had brief contact with some individuals with secretive movements who are not of our race."

"Those people mask their Aura very well, but the informants I planted reported that they occasionally exude a trace of uncomfortable, cold, and eerie Qi, not like ordinary Yao Race or Human Race Cultivators."

Cold, eerie Qi... that unique sinister feeling characteristic of the Demon Cult's Cultivation Technique!

Li Shengyuan nodded slightly in the shadows; this confirmed his own perception.

Long Yun was silent for a moment; the air in the stone chamber seemed to solidify.

She clearly realized the severity of the problem.

If the King of Qingxi really colluded with the Demon Cult Leader, intending to stir up waves in the Demon Domain, or even under the Dragon Emperor's rule, it would be a huge crisis that would shake the Foundation of the Sacred Dragon Domain!

"General Xishan, you have done well. Continue to monitor in secret, especially Xili and Xiyan, as well as any unusual movements in the palace. But be careful, do not alert the enemy."

Long Yun's voice returned to calmness, carrying decisiveness, "I need more concrete evidence, especially regarding the identity of that mysterious Second Grade Human Race, and evidence of what they are specifically plotting. Your Majesty needs to know exactly how far the King of Qingxi has gone."

"Yes, Your Highness! This subordinate understands!" General Xishan replied solemnly.

Long Yun took out a pre-prepared scroll from her bosom, which was a map marked with detailed terrain and guard situations of Lying Rhinoceros Valley and its surroundings.

"This is the overt goal of my trip. If there is an opportunity, I will personally sneak into Lying Rhinoceros Valley; on one hand to take that 'thick earth dragon rhinoceros fruit', and on the other hand..."

"To see if I can find any clues in the King of Qingxi's lair."

General Xishan took the map and said worriedly, "Your Highness, Lying Rhinoceros Valley is now heavily guarded. For you to sneak in alone is too dangerous! Why not let this subordinate..."

"No need."

Long Yun interrupted him, her tone firm, "I have my own judgment. You stay in your position; it is more useful. Remember, your task is to collect intelligence and evidence. At a critical moment, I might need you to coordinate from the inside."

"If I find concrete evidence proving that the King of Qingxi has betrayed Your Majesty, I will immediately send a message to His Majesty the Dragon Emperor. By then... I fear thunderous means will be required."

"This subordinate swears to serve Your Majesty and Your Highness to the death!" General Xishan knelt on one knee again.

"Rise. I should go. Those two traveling companions are still waiting for me at the inn; I cannot let them become suspicious." Long Yun said, preparing to leave.

"Your Highness, those two Human Race..." General Xishan hesitated to speak.

"Them?" Long Yun paused, her tone softening slightly, "They should just be ordinary herb seekers encountered by coincidence. Their Heart-Nature is not bad, but their cultivation is limited."

"Since I promised to take them along, I will protect them. This matter has nothing to do with them; there is no need to involve them."

Hearing Long Yun still defending the two of them as "ordinary travelers", the feeling in Li Shengyuan's heart in the shadows was somewhat complicated.

This Long Yun seems to have truly retained that rare sincerity and sense of responsibility!