Chapter 294: Chapter 17 Night Fell
Elder Tian Ji controlled the finances, and the Dinghu Sect’s financial power had always been in his hands; he also managed all external transactions.
Elder Tian Ji was indeed an astute person. He used this authority to build connections and create an intelligence network. Wherever the Dinghu Sect’s elixirs and swords were sold, his eyes and ears would follow.
Especially in recent years, due to the existence of Ochre Whip, the production of the Dinghu Sect’s elixirs had greatly increased, and naturally, there were more businesses to deal with. Now, in Divine Capital, the Dinghu Sect also had many family businesses.
It wasn’t that Elder Tian Ji had eyes and ears everywhere in Divine Capital, but he could receive news from most places instantly.
This included the three visits by Zhang Zhixuan and also...
"People from Daode Sect have arrived near Divine Capital; Dan Xuzi is also here," Elder Tian Ji said.
With two important figures from the sect in Divine Capital, especially Zhang Daoyi, who was a desirable target, it was natural that Daode Sect would have people following them.
Even when Jiang Li and Yuan Zhen were about to face off, it was possible that Daode Sect, just like Tianxuan, had high-rank cultivators secretly paying attention through some means.
However, the Dan Xuzi mentioned by Elder Tian Ji was not someone who would show himself easily. His arrival today must be due to the duel between Jiang Li and Yuan Zhen.
"Dan Xuzi is known throughout the world for his Alchemy Dao. His arrival is surely to enhance Yuan Zhen’s strength," Elder Tian Ji said expressionlessly to Tianxuan.
"So?" Tianxuan’s Phoenix Eyes slightly moved.
"He is your disciple," Elder Tian Ji said.
The implication was clear: it was time for Tianxuan to also help Jiang Li sharpen his blade before the battle, to boost his morale.
Although Elder Tian Ji favored Yun Jiuye to take over the Sect, he still knew right from wrong and naturally wouldn’t hope for Jiang Li to die at the hands of Yuan Zhen.
In fact, if it weren’t for the Daode Sect’s protection, given his temperament, he might have secretly made a move against Yuan Zhen, ensuring his certain defeat.
So... should she go?
To tell the truth, Tianxuan was quite curious about the Demon Cleansing True Qi that Jiang Li possessed. The Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique might contain the profound mystery of heaven and earth’s transformation.
But doing so would expose that she, Tianxuan, had been secretly spying on Jiang Li, wouldn’t it?
Didn’t she care about her own face?
Tianxuan thought about it and gently shook her head, saying, "I trust Jiang Li. What he needs now is peace of mind, not last-minute preparations. All we need to do is support him in Divine Capital, ensuring that other high-grade cultivators do not dare to act."
"What about those of the last four grades?" Elder Tian Ji asked with a slight movement.
Honestly, he felt that Tianxuan was being a bit too detached. They were mentor and disciple, yet she chose to stand by and watch.
"Jiang Li can handle those of the last four grades," Tianxuan said indifferently, "Moreover, Divine Capital is currently in turmoil due to Zhang Zhixuan’s arrival, and we are being watched by others. It’s best not to act if it can be avoided. Let Jiang Li prepare at Iron Pillar Temple."
That was indeed the truth.
But Elder Tian Ji still felt it would be best to ensure Jiang Li was not disturbed.
’Tianxuan Junior Sister is still so indifferent... Well, she is Jiang Li’s mentor, so let’s do as she says. In any case, with her clever calculations, she definitely won’t let anything happen to Jiang Li. Also, this way, there’s no need to worry about her neglecting the threat from the Jiang family due to mentor-disciple affection.’
Elder Tian Ji gave Tianxuan a deep look and said, "I hope everything goes as you say, smoothly."
"Everything will certainly go smoothly," Tianxuan said with ease, "You continue to keep an eye on Zhang Zhixuan’s movements and inform me immediately if anything happens."
With her constant vigilance, how could Jiang Li possibly run into trouble?
With that cunning disciple’s abilities, it would be good enough if he didn’t cause trouble for others.
And with people guarding Jiang Li, it wouldn’t be convenient for Jiang Li to act incognito. If those guarding Jiang Li discovered his secrets, it wouldn’t be easy to handle, would it? Surely they couldn’t just silence them?
Receiving such a response, Elder Tian Ji turned and left.
Tianxuan then closed the door again and cast a round of Round Light, illuminating the surroundings of Jiang Li.
Silently, Jiang Li returned to Iron Pillar Temple.
At this moment, it hadn’t even been five minutes since he disappeared.
And in such a short span of time, a Sixth Rank from Southern Heavenly Department, along with an Eighth Rank, quietly died in Dragon Abyss Lake.
Feng Yunjie’s body exploded into a mist of blood, his remaining head was thrown into the lake, and as for his apprentice Little Gao, he was buried alongside his boat by the tide of Five Vile Qi that arose when Jiang Li drew his sword—gone before his master.
With the Five Vile Qi acting as a barrier, theoretically, only the bearer of the Three Corpses God Dao Fruit would know of Feng Yunjie’s death aside from Jiang Li himself.
After all, one of that person’s Divine Skills was inside Feng Yunjie.
"It’s the Si hour, still many hours before nightfall."
Jiang Li glanced at the sun and calculated the precise time, then strolled through the Daoist Temple in a leisurely fashion.
Everywhere he visited, his first priority was to check the terrain. This good habit was one that Jiang Li had never forgotten. He had toured the place last night using Dream Butterfly, and today he was doing it again with his physical body to ensure there were no mistakes.
Due to Tong Yuanzi’s instructions, the Taoists within the temple all stayed behind closed doors, silently reciting scriptures. They weren’t just avoiding contact with the Fourth Prince; even Jiang Li, a stranger, was kept at a distance.
For a while, the temple was quiet.
Jiang Li wandered around and paused for a moment by the iron pillar behind the temple before returning to the room where he resided.
On the way back, he passed by the courtyard of the East Wing Room. As he walked past, he seemed to glance into the yard unintentionally and met a pair of gentle eyes.
The Fourth Prince was dressed in a loose Dao Robe, his hair done up in a Taoist knot, reading Daoist books under a large tree in the courtyard.
Upon seeing Jiang Li, he smiled and gestured, exuding an air of detachment from the worldly life.
As for Meng Xiwu, Jiang Li did not see him. It was unclear whether he was still harboring plans for Jiang Li or had shifted targets to seek out Zhang Daoyi.
Jiang Li also nodded with a smile, then the two shifted their gazes, and Jiang Li slowly walked away from the courtyard.
"If he really had no flaws, if I hadn’t known that you, Yin Yuanzhen, were here to obstruct my promotion, I might have actually believed you were earnest in pursuing the Dao." Jiang Li thought to himself as he flipped through the Karma Collection.
Even the Karma Collection didn’t reveal anything unusual about the Fourth Prince’s expressions or demeanor, which showed the level of his acting skill.
Not just him, but many within the court officials, and even among the princes and princesses within the palace, probably believed that the Fourth Prince was wholly devoted to the Dao.
"Utterly disrespectful."
Below in the courtyard, the Fourth Prince looked down at the Daoist books in his hands, his gaze ice-cold.
There was not a hint of respect for the Royal Family in Jiang Li’s manner, facing his own smiling gestures, he actually nodded back with a smile, naturally, without the slightest hesitation.
You see, before Jiang Li joined the Dinghu Sect, he was a member of the Jiang family; by all rights, he should have been taught propriety from a young age, and even with his current status, it should have left some imprint on him.
Unfortunately, it did not.
The Fourth Prince’s assessment of Jiang Li was not wrong at all; he was someone who revered nothing, seemingly harmless but with no sense of awe in his heart.
"Just wait for nightfall," he muttered to himself, with a slight closing of his eyes.
...
...
As time slowly passed, nightfall came without notice.
Jiang Li, who had been sitting in meditation for half a day, slightly moved his right hand, and the Great Circle Sword he was sacrificially cultivating atop his knee retreated back into his body, replaced by the Mo Wu Sword.
The night had fallen.
The people who wanted to visit Jiang Li had been turned away at the door for an entire day; some might lose patience and want to take advantage of the cover of night to see why Jiang Li was so arrogant.
Although this could impact Jiang Li’s preparation for battle, the law doesn’t punish the masses. For these kinds of people, it was not uncommon to harbor such thoughts.
The people from the Southern Heavenly Department should have discovered Feng Yunjie’s death by now, and action might be taken.
Those who intended to harm Jiang Li, seeing this opportunity, could possibly stir the waters. Any small incident with Jiang Li could result in his utter failure.
At the same time...
Jiang Li could also use a certain prince to test his sword.
Whether the Fourth Prince was human or ghost, one test would reveal it all. I refuse to believe that he would still hide his true colors at a critical juncture.
This was an opportunity, a chance.
After nightfall, it would be a time when fish and dragons mingled.
"Whoosh—"
Suddenly, the night wind picked up, and a voice came riding the breeze.
"Wang Qianfeng from the Divine Capital Wang family, I’ve heard of the esteemed name of the Dinghu Sect’s true inheritor and have specially come to learn from your eminent techniques."
The sound of the wind quickened, and a young master came riding it, his clothes fluttering, displaying a carefree and poised demeanor.
The Divine Capital Wang family, known for Wind Control, had members serving in the Qintian Bureau; should any place suffer from wind calamities, a magic practitioner from the Wang family would be dispatched to quell it.
Jiang Li, hearing this person’s words, lightly snapped his fingers, materializing a spectral compass for Divination.
"Not an enemy."
Seeing the result, he waved his sleeve, and the direction of the wind outside suddenly changed.
From the original easterly wind to a westerly, the gusts grew fierce like a storm, sweeping the dashing young master back the way he came.
"Now you have learned, you may return," Jiang Li said indifferently.
He was not yet finished speaking when Wang Qianfeng had already vanished without a trace.
"Plop—"
A sound echoed from afar, as if something had fallen into water.
"The illusion array of the Iron Pillar Temple is broken, truly letting just anyone come in," Jiang Li shook his head, "the temple master doesn’t even care to manage it."
It seemed he couldn’t make the character of Lawless Freedom appear unless he dealt with these visitors tonight.
"Du Shaobao from the Du Family, please impart your teachings."
Another voice rang out, approaching from afar, charging towards him with an intense, murderous momentum, like a thousand troops in an unstoppable advance.
The compass in front hurriedly moved again, rapidly performing Divination.
The Du Family, a Military Merit Family, had served in the military for generations and held substantial influence among the military officers; it was rumored they had already pledged allegiance to a certain prince. If a member of the Du Family made a move, it should also be out of a desire for instruction.
"But you are not from the Du Family."
Jiang Li stated indifferently, pushing his hand forward, as clouds from the half-opened window surged out, forming into a giant Dragon Claw and striking down.
The oncoming figure felt the claw as though it brought heaven and earth in motion; its reach was inescapable, leaving no room to hide.
"Boom!"
A claw struck down, leaving deep claw marks on the ground, along with a splatter of crushed flesh.
"Young people have no martial virtue, yet you try feigning identity for a sneak attack," Jiang Li scoffed with disdain.
When it comes to sneak attacks, he could be this fool’s ancestor.