Chapter 339: Chapter 62 The Death of Jiang Li
The Imperial College Sacrificial Officer might not boast a reputation that shakes the world, yet he was certainly not someone to be taken lightly—at least, the Zong Zheng wouldn’t dare to slight him.
Although he had come bearing an Imperial Decree, one of his objectives was indeed to undermine the Sacrificial Officer’s face. Yet he made sure everything he said and did was within the bounds of propriety, lest he give them a foothold.
So, although they approached with imposing momentum, the Zong Zheng and his entourage nonetheless made their way to the mountain on foot.
This, however, afforded Jiang Li ample time.
By the time Jiang Li obtained the Bright Pearl, the Zong Zheng had only just led the Southern Heavenly Department’s people halfway up the mountain to the Imperial College’s gate.
Beyond the gate lay a plaza, with a solemn and austere three-zhang tall sage’s stone statue in the center, before which all passing scholars bowed deeply in salute.
The Zong Zheng, looking at the statue, gave an order, "Cui Xiangzhong, go below the Master’s statue to proclaim the Emperor’s decree, and then take some men to invite the Jiang family’s child to the Southern Heavenly Department for questioning. Remember, it’s an invitation; do not be discourteous."
Standing by the Zong Zheng’s side, a middle-aged man with a refined scholarly demeanor and a clean-shaven face, upon hearing the command, intuited its meaning and replied, "Your subordinate understands."
The proviso ’do not be discourteous’ holds as long as the other party isn’t discourteous either. If they are, then naturally any course of action goes.
That is, leave no pretext.
As for how to make the other party discourteous and initiate conflict, that would depend on the skill of his subordinates present.
Without delay, Cui Xiangzhong led three of his subordinates to the base of the sage’s statue, took out the decree, and pronounced with both hands, "Today, a member of the royal clan perished beneath Qiong Mountain. The Emperor decrees that the Southern Heavenly Department thoroughly investigate this case. All related persons must comply with questioning and may not resist."
Cui Xiangzhong’s realm was not low, and, aided by his True Qi, his voice spread in all directions, reaching the halls around the plaza, ensuring that every lecturer and scholar heard the Emperor’s command.
Inside the Wenchang Hall on the other side of the plaza, the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer also heard Cui Xiangzhong’s proclamation. He closed his eyes slightly and said, "A mere commoner’s insolence."
Seated below him were two Confucian scholars waiting together. Upon hearing the Sacrificial Officer’s words, one of them, a scholar wearing a tall hat, said in a deep voice, "Teacher, your student will go and warn the lecturers and scholars..."
"No need; let them go," the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer interrupted with a wave of his hand.
Announcing the Emperor’s decree publicly was not only about having the moral high ground but also a signal—it was time to investigate Jiang Li.
The time had come to choose sides.
Many might think that someone from the Jiang family had recently overstepped their bounds, drawing the Emperor’s displeasure. If they knew that the royal clan member had died while attempting to assassinate Jiang Li, then they could surmise that the Ji family was suppressing the Jiang.
The two scholars who understood the intricacies were both inwardly turbulent.
Both could discern the Zong Zheng’s purpose, let alone the Sacrificial Officer who was their teacher. Yet the Sacrificial Officer, despite understanding the intent, chose to let it unfold, evidently wanting to see everyone’s choices.
Or perhaps, the teacher had other plans...
The scholars pondered inwardly while maintaining their composure.
For they, too, might be under the watchful eye of the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer.
At that moment, a majestic Qi Mechanism approached the Wenchang Hall; the Zong Zheng had arrived.
Simultaneously, the people from the Southern Heavenly Department were making their way towards where Jiang Li was.
’Such petty behavior,’ mused the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer with a smirk.
With the Zong Zheng personally attending, he could ensure that Jiang Li would obediently follow him. Yet he preferred to send four from the Southern Heavenly Department ahead to fetch Jiang Li.
Clearly, it was a provocation for Jiang Li to take action first, allowing them to then use forceful measures.
If the Zong Zheng were present, then Jiang Li might not dare make a move.
’Let that old fool suffer a bit.’
The Imperial College Sacrificial Officer thought so, utterly unflustered.
It seemed the Zong Zheng was still unaware of Jiang Li’s methods. With the intelligence that could draw praise from the Sacrificial Officer, Jiang Li wouldn’t be trapped so easily.
By the way, one could also further observe Jiang Li’s wit.
On the other side, Cui Xiangzhong, with a stormy presence, led his people straight to the pavilion where Jiang Li was, without taking a single wrong turn on the way.
It was apparent that there were spies for the Southern Heavenly Department among the Imperial College’s menials.
If Elder Tian Ji could manage that, naturally so could the Southern Heavenly Department.
Of course, it was also possible that someone had already covertly chosen their side and was guiding Cui Xiangzhong and his men.
Ming Yang, waiting outside, was expecting Zhong Shenxiu and the senior to bring back the medicine and also to guard Jiang Li to prevent any further mishaps. However, before the medicine arrived, trouble came first.
"Southern Heavenly Department’s case-handling."
Cui Xiangzhong preempted with a commanding tone, "Would Ming scholar please step aside and let us question the involved individuals?"
Cui Xiangzhong had earlier augmented his voice with True Qi to announce the Emperor’s decree. Though the distance was considerable, Ming Yang, with his cultivation, could still hear it.
He could guess Cui Xiangzhong might harbor malicious intentions and immediately responded, "Brother Jiang is currently resting and is not suited for questioning. Why not question me instead? I am also involved, and in fact, I was the one who killed the assassin. In terms of connection, I might be even more deeply involved than Brother Jiang."
Since Cui Xiangzhong carried the Emperor’s decree, Ming Yang was not in a position to obstruct him, but indirectly saving Jiang was certainly an option.
Indeed, as one of the leading scholars of his generation in the Imperial College, even though he had previously been roundly deceived by the Heir of King Lu Ji Chengye, now faced with a dire situation, he was still capable of some shrewdness.
Nevertheless, having been previously informed of their purpose, and knowing that Jiang Li was the primary target, how could Cui Xiangzhong be so easily deterred?
"How should the investigation be conducted? The Southern Heavenly Department has its own regulations. There’s no need for Scholar Ming to trouble himself over this—unless—"
Cui Xiangzhong advanced aggressively with intimidation, directly throwing a heavy accusation, "Is Scholar Ming trying to defy an Imperial order?"
The three men behind him simultaneously put their hands on their swords, their intent to kill palpable.
Faced with this situation, Ming Yang felt cornered; he could sense that if he continued to resist, they would force their way in.
Trading blows was not a big deal per se, but he feared that clashing with them could affect Jiang Li’s healing process.
Just as Ming Yang hesitated, the doors to the attic quietly opened.
Yet, none of the five people present noticed, not even the members of the Southern Heavenly Department who were facing the attic directly. The opened door remained unseen to them, as did the emergence of anyone from within.
Cui Xiangzhong remained unrelentingly assertive, trying to push Ming Yang aside, and his three companions also bolstered his momentum. It seemed that in their eyes, the attic remained closed, with no door opening and no one appearing.
A maid in a light yellow dress stepped out of the building, her hands clasped in front of her, portraying the modest beauty of an average household yet exuding an air of nobility.
"That woman Ji Lingguang fails to command her subordinates properly," she lamented, not too swiftly nor too slowly circling to the rear of the Southern Heavenly Department officials, her voice tinged with a mocking tone, "Next time I see her, I must thoroughly mock her. As for now—"
She gently brought her hands together, between her palms emerged strands of electric light, intertwining, forming a Thunder Talisman out of thunder and lightning.
Displayed upon the talisman was the figure of a great beast resembling an ox but with no horns and only one foot, its body wrapped in lightning runes—the very form of the Kui Niu.
And that Zong Zheng, his main cultivation was the Kui Niu Transformation.
With the domineering and fierce nature of the thunder, and at such close range, even ordinary people would instinctively feel terror, yet everyone present remained utterly unaware, as if they were in another world.
"Go."
The maid flipped her hand and pushed forward, sending the Thunder Talisman straight into Cui Xiangzhong’s back.
Just as Ming Yang, concerned about affecting Jiang Li’s healing, stepped aside to avoid interference, he suddenly noticed a Thunder Talisman fly out from inside Cui Xiangzhong’s body, and thunder exploded with rage.
"Fourth Grade Killing Move!" Ming Yang exclaimed in shock, "How is this possible?"
Inside Cui Xiangzhong’s body, there was actually a concealed Fourth Grade Killing Move!
Fourth Grade Killing Moves are known to sap the caster’s own power, generally only remarkable young successors possess one for self-protection. Cui Xiangzhong was neither young nor remarkable, and most crucially, had no significant background. How could he possess a Fourth Grade Killing Move?
Ming Yang’s shock was destined to go unanswered, as he had no means, nor time to stop the killing move.
Having just used the Junzi Wind, Ming Yang now had no way to deploy his own life-saving techniques. Even if he could, it would be futile to try to stop it.
The dominance and speed of Thunder Technique were well known throughout the land.
As Ming Yang spoke, the raging thunder had already shattered everything in its path and burst into the attic.
And Jiang Li, he had been asleep just before.
Against such an unfair sneak attack, he had no chance to react.
"Angh!"
The thunder obliterated everything inside, and a belated strange roar echoed within the surge of thousands of thunder lights. Amidst the light, the phantom of a huge beast shattered the attic as its overpowering Qi Mechanism flung everyone present, causing them all to vomit blood.
Being injured by just the Qi Mechanism alone confirmed it was undoubtedly a Fourth Grade Killing Move.
"Ugh!"
Within the wild roars, a piteous scream rang out sharply, followed by the eruption of starlight forming an array. However—
It paled in comparison to the might of the thunder.
"It’s over." Ming Yang’s face wore a color of defeat.
Jiang Li surely also possessed a Fourth Grade trump card, but this starlight was not as powerful as the thunder; obviously, it was just the remnants of an exploded force, indicating Jiang Li had perished in that sudden onslaught.
It happened here within the Imperial College, at a time when no one else could have anticipated—the promising Jiang Li, a man destined to become renowned across the heavens, had fallen so abruptly, yet it seemed so inevitable.
How could a Sixth Rank withstand a Fourth Grade Killing Move?
"How dare you!"
A furious shout came from the direction of Wenchang Hall, and an overwhelming surge of Qi Mechanism rolled in.
At the same time, the sky quaked, accompanied by a sonorous chant, and ripples vibrated in the space, revealing the image of a goddess at their center, with phoenix eyes harboring malice, her floating veil concealing coldness.
With her gaze cast down, the Kui Niu phantom seemed unable to withstand the pressure and crumbled away, thousands of thunderclaps lost their light and thunder amidst continual annihilation.
With a gentle summoning gesture, four glowing lights flew out from the ruins, landing in Tianxuan’s hands.
Daoist, Magician, Qi Refiner, True Person.
The appearance of the four Dao Fruits also signified the death of cultivators.
The goddess in the sky grasped the glowing lights, surrounded by stars.
At the same time, the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer and the Zong Zheng, among others, had arrived.
Looking at the vanished attic and those Dao Fruits in Tianxuan’s hands, even with the experience of the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, he was taken aback.
Jiang Li—was he really dead?