59: Chapter 59 Royal Secrets

When Chen Fan returned to the Fuwei Inn, the atmosphere in the lobby was still heavy.

As soon as he stepped inside, he noticed several gazes converging on him.

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing, Master Liu Cang, and several Elders from other Schools were sitting around a table, discussing something in low voices.

Chen Fan remained silent, preparing to return to his room.

"Jinzhong, come here," Master Liu Cang called out to him.

Chen Fan paused in his tracks and had no choice but to walk over, bowing to everyone.

"Sit," Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing pointed to an empty stool nearby.

Chen Fan sat down as instructed, keeping his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, saying nothing.

Only an Elder with a Guansi accent could be heard saying with a face full of wonder, "taizus record of ascension... I have lived for sixty years and have only heard of such a divine object from the mouths of storytellers."

"It's more than just a divine object." Master Liu Cang's breathing was a bit heavy; he picked up his teacup but forgot to drink. "Rumor has it that it contains the secrets to reaching the Immortal Realm!"

The Immortal Realm.

These words made the hearts of every Martial Artist present skip a beat.

As the leader of the Righteous Alliance in Xiushan Prefecture, Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing clearly knew more. He spoke slowly, breaking everyone's reverie.

"The talk of Immortals is too ethereal. But the taizus record of ascension is indeed The World's Number One martial arts secret manual."

His fingers lightly tapped the tabletop.

"Our Righteous Alliance leader, Xue Dange, Great Grandmaster Xue. You all should have heard of his name."

Everyone nodded in unison.

Xue Dange, the current Martial Forest Alliance Leader, a 2nd Grade Peak Great Grandmaster, the publicly recognized leader of the martial path in the Jianghu, and The World's Number One.

"Alliance Leader Xue once said," Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing continued, "if he could catch a glimpse of the complete version of the taizus record of ascension, it would be the greatest Opportunity of his life."

Hiss.

The sound of people drawing in cold air echoed through the lobby.

Even a figure as formidable as Alliance Leader Xue held this secret manual in such high esteem!

Master Liu Cang couldn't help but smack his lips, his face full of longing.

"To make Alliance Leader Xue say such things, this taizus record of ascension is truly extraordinary."

Chen Fan listened quietly, waves of shock surging in his heart.

He finally understood the value of this imperial secret manual.

No wonder the White Lotus Sect went to such lengths, not even hesitating to expose themselves to steal this manual from the mansion.

No wonder the Xiushan Princes Mansion was so tense, even willing to join forces with the Righteous Alliance.

This was no longer a simple Jianghu vendetta; it involved the core secrets of the entire Great Shang Dynasty, and perhaps even... the secret of Immortal Ascension.

It turned out he had been at the very center of the storm all along.

This made him couldn't help but become curious about this legendary imperial secret manual.

Just what kind of manual could make the world's Martial Artists flock to it like ducks?

...

For the next two days, all was calm in Xiushan City.

The Righteous Alliance and the mansion seemed to be preparing in secret, waiting for the optimal moment.

Chen Fan was happy to have some leisure.

During the day, he sparred with his Senior and Junior Brothers from the Longxing Sect in the inn's backyard, familiarizing himself with this 8th Grade Martial Artist's body.

The cultivation of Chen Jinzhong's body was much stronger than when he was the Black Wind Demon.

After all, an 8th Grade Martial Artist from a prestigious Righteous Path School was not something a self-taught rogue like the Black Wind Demon could compare to.

In the evenings, he would occasionally be dragged by a few Junior Brothers to the city's entertainment houses to listen to music and admire the beauties of the Great Shang Dynasty.

Life seemed to have returned to a certain peaceful track.

Chen Fan enjoyed this feeling.

Going with the flow, for only by not contending.

He didn't want to get caught up in the vortex of the struggle for the secret manual; he just wanted to live a stable life.

Unfortunately, the tree wants to be still, but the wind does not stop.

On the morning of the third day.

A messenger from the mansion brought the latest news.

"It is time to act."

In the lobby of the Fuwei Inn, Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing unfurled the letter; the short sentence carried the weight of an impending storm.

"The mansion's personal guards have completely blockaded the four gates of Xiushan City, allowing entry but no exit."

"Now, it's our turn."

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing stood up and looked around at the assembled members of the Righteous Alliance in the lobby.

"Target: all suspicious White Lotus Sect strongholds in the city!"

"Depart!"

With the order given, the Righteous Alliance's forces split into a dozen small teams, flowing like trickles of water into the streets and alleys of Xiushan City.

A purge against the White Lotus Sect thus began.

Chen Fan was assigned to a small team composed of Longxing Sect Disciples.

To his surprise, Zhang Shan was also assigned to his team.

"Senior Brother Chen." Zhang Shan, carrying a simple longsword on his back, took the initiative to walk to Chen Fan's side, his face carrying the purity unique to youth.

"Junior Brother Zhang," Chen Fan nodded.

"In this operation to besiege the Heretics, please give me more guidance, Senior Brother Chen." Zhang Shan cupped his fists, his attitude humble.

Although he was a Genius favored by Elder Tianchi, he didn't have the slightest air of arrogance.

"I wouldn't dare give guidance; let's just look out for each other," Chen Fan replied.

Teaming up with the child of destiny—he didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse.

This kid was a martial Genius and likely had Luck on his side; the probability of him dying was low.

But for those around him, it was hard to say.

Under the leadership of a Longxing Sect Junior Martial Uncle, the team began searching a residential area in the west of the city.

The intelligence provided by the mansion was very detailed, even marking several courtyards where the White Lotus Sect members might be hiding.

They acted swiftly, searching two courtyards in succession, but both were empty.

"It seems they got wind of it beforehand and fled." The Junior Martial Uncle leading the team frowned.

"Junior Martial Uncle, didn't the intelligence say this was one of their important strongholds?" a Disciple asked.

"An important stronghold is exactly why they would have multiple escape routes."

The group continued forward, heading toward the next target location.

It was a Dyehouse located deep in an alley.

The Dyehouse doors were tightly shut, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of dye.

"Be on guard," the Junior Martial Uncle signaled.

Two Disciples stepped forward and kicked open the Dyehouse doors with a bang.

With a creak, the doors swung open.

The courtyard was empty.

Colorful fabrics hung from bamboo poles for drying, swaying in the wind like funeral banners.

The atmosphere was somewhat eerie.

Everyone drew their weapons and cautiously entered the courtyard.

Chen Fan followed at the back of the team, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

This place was too quiet.

Abnormally quiet.

"Search separately!" the Junior Martial Uncle ordered.

Everyone immediately dispersed, rushing into the various rooms of the Dyehouse.

Chen Fan and Zhang Shan were grouped together, responsible for searching the main house.

The two of them, one after the other, stepped into the dimly lit room.

Several huge dye vats were placed in the room, and the smell in the air was even more intense.

"Senior Brother Chen, look!" Zhang Shan suddenly pointed to a wooden box in the corner.

It was a very ordinary wooden box, covered in dust.

But on the side of the box, there was an inconspicuous lotus mark carved with a Sharp Weapon.

The lotus mark was the symbol of the White Lotus Sect.

However, the moment Chen... Fan saw that mark, his body suddenly tensed up.

Something was wrong!

He had seen this mark before!

This was no ordinary White Lotus Sect mark!

This was a secret sign specifically used by that enchantress Su Xin to signal an emergency evacuation!

It's an ambush!

"Watch out!"

The moment Chen Fan blurted out the words, a sharp "crack" suddenly came from the floorboards beneath his feet!