403: Li Xuan's sinister intentions

A moment later, a flash of decisiveness crossed Li Zhong's eyes. He looked up at Li Xuan and said in a heavy voice:

"State Lord Li has a point. Situ Jun's speed of advancement is indeed suspicious. The Northern Frontier is a desolate and cold place with scarce resources. It is truly abnormal for him to have such progress. We should indeed send someone to the Northern Frontier to investigate and see if he is truly involved with that Deity Transformation Heavenly Tribulation, as well as to clarify the reason for his rapid advancement in Cultivation."

Seeing Li Zhong relent and agree to thoroughly investigate Situ Jun, Li Xuan felt secretly delighted. However, he maintained a steady and solemn expression on his face and hurriedly said:

"This matter concerns the safety and reputation of our Tianqi. Commander Li, whatever manpower or resources you need for the subsequent investigation, just say the word. As the State Lord, I will certainly cooperate fully and will never shirk my responsibilities."

"Then I thank State Lord Li."

Li Zhong nodded slightly and continued in a calm tone:

"After traveling for days, I am also somewhat exhausted and need to rest for a while before making further arrangements. If State Lord Li has no other business, you may take your leave first."

Seeing this, Li Xuan did not dare to disturb him further. He hurriedly rose and bowed, respectfully saying, \"Commander Li, please rest well,\" then turned and quickly left the side hall.

Stepping out of the side hall's main gate, a cold morning wind blew against him, but Li Xuan did not feel the cold at all. A subtle curve formed at the corner of his mouth, and a hint of calculation and triumph flashed in his eyes:

"Situ Jun, oh Situ Jun. You are arrogant because of your talent and have repeatedly disregarded me. Your advancement in Cultivation is so conspicuous. Now that Li Zhong is personally investigating, whether or not you are truly related to the matter of Undergoing Tribulation, as long as I can use this to expose the secret of your advancement, throw your situation into chaos, or even pull you down from your position as the City Lord of the Northern Frontier, it will satisfy my heart's desire. This time, I'll see how you can still stand firm in the Northern Frontier."

The wind swept past the palace walls, picking up fallen leaves on the ground and quietly dissipating into the morning light... As the sky just began to brighten, a thick fog like milk flowed through the streets of the Tianqi Royal Capital.

After an unknown amount of time, the eastern horizon gradually turned the color of a fish's belly, and the clouds were quietly torn open.

Strands of weak golden light, like sharp swords, pierced through the mist. With a hint of exploration, they fell on a corner of the palace walls, dyeing the mottled wall surface a warm orange.

Before long, more sunlight broke through the shackles of the clouds, coming down like pouring crushed gold, penetrating the gradually thinning morning mist and enveloping the entire royal capital in a brilliant golden glow.

The Spiritual Flowerss in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom. Their petals, stained with morning dew, were crystal clear under the sunlight, with a faint fragrance floating in the air. As the wind blew, the petals swayed gently, leaving shadows like crushed gold on the ground, quiet and beautiful.

Shortly after, at Mysterious Clarity Master's residence in the back mountains of the palace, a sound transmission talisman silently flew into the sky, heading toward the Northern Frontier.

At this time, Northern Frontier City had already shed the cold of the night and welcomed the morning bustle.

The walls of Northern Frontier City were dozens of chang high, all built from hard Profound Iron Green Bricks. After years of wind and rain, they remained towering and upright, like a crouching giant beast guarding the thousands of people inside the city.

Atop the city walls, the autumn wind whistled, kicking up dust and the Black Brocade Robe on Situ Jun's body. The hem of his robe fluttered and snapped in the wind, making his figure appear even more upright and slender.

Situ Jun stood on the city wall, looking down at the city with a calm gaze.

The streets were bustling with traffic, and the passing commoners looked peaceful. Some pushed small carts selling breakfast, the steam rising; some carried loads on poles, walking hurriedly; and children chased and played in the streets, their crisp laughter echoing in the morning air.

Occasionally, a Cultivator would fly past on a sword, their posture light and graceful, yet they always strictly followed the rules of Northern Frontier City and never disturbed the commoners.

Wisps of smoke from ordinary households also rose, winding through the streets and alleys, a scene of stability and harmony.

Beside him, a Guard stood with head bowed, reporting on city defense matters in a soft but clear voice:

"City Lord, the Defensive Arrays of the four major city gates have been reinforced, the new recruits are speeding up their training, and the warning outposts ten miles outside the city have changed shifts with no abnormal activity."

Situ Jun listened quietly, his gaze occasionally sweeping across the distant horizon and the commoners below. Whenever he heard a key point, he would nod slightly and give a few soft instructions:

"The grain reserves should be increased. The autumn wind is getting colder; remember to replenish the winter supplies for the warning outposts. Do not let the brothers freeze."

The Guard hurriedly bowed and complied, not daring to be the least bit negligent.

Just then, a light green sound transmission talisman sped from the horizon, carrying fine specks of spiritual light, and landed steadily in Situ Jun's open palm.

The moment his fingertips touched the sound transmission talisman, the cool, jade-like sensation was felt. Situ Jun's eyes darkened slightly, but his face remained calm and rippleless. With a slight pressure of his fingers, he crushed the Jade Slip.

A wisp of pure Spiritual Power, carrying dense information, flowed through his fingertips into his Sea of Consciousness. Lines of characters flowed clearly within his Sea of Consciousness:

"Li Zhong has returned to the Royal Capital, determined to thoroughly investigate the person Undergoing Tribulation; Li Xuan's advice directly points to the master's Cultivation advancing too quickly, making him highly suspicious..."

Lines of information flowed rapidly through his Sea of Consciousness. Every word was like a cold needle piercing Situ Jun's heart.

His face remained calm and rippleless, and there was even a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, as if he had only received a trivial matter. However, a bone-chilling cold light quickly flashed in the depths of his eyes, a light mixed with anger and mockery.

He had long expected that the tribulation event at Nether Crow Ridge would attract the attention of the Qintian Division. As the commander of the Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry, Li Zhong was meticulous and would sooner or later focus his attention on the person undergoing the tribulation.

He just hadn't expected that Li Xuan would be so impatient to jump out and use this matter to point the finger directly at him.

It seemed Li Xuan had held a grudge against him for a long time, and now that he had found an opportunity to cause trouble, he naturally wouldn't let it go easily.

"City Lord, has something happened?"

Seeing that after he crushed the Jade Slip, although his expression didn't change much, the aura around him had quietly darkened, the Guard beside him hurriedly asked cautiously.

Situ Jun slowly withdrew his gaze and flicked his fingers, causing the residual aura of Spiritual Power in his palm to dissipate without a trace.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the anger and gravity in his heart. His tone was indifferent, as if everything just now was merely an illusion:

"It's nothing, just some trivial matters. Proceed with the city defense as planned. For specific details, you can ask Commander Zhu; make sure everything is implemented properly and do not be negligent."

"Yes, your Subordinate understands."

The Guard bowed and left, following Situ Jun's instructions to implement the city defense matters.

On the city wall, Situ Jun was once again alone.

The autumn wind still whistled, whipping his robe. The cold was bone-chilling, but it could not disperse the anger and gravity in his heart.

He looked up into the distance, where the mountains of the Northern Frontier rose and fell in succession, shrouded in mist like a natural barrier guarding Northern Frontier City.

The Late Golden Core Stage Cultivation he revealed to the outside world was originally meant to deter those with ill intentions, but now it had become the biggest point of suspicion for others to attack him. This storm had come faster and more ironically than he had anticipated.