Chapter 659
Imperial Secrets! The Holy Maiden
The divine sense and spiritual perception of those in the Refining Spirit Realm are originally formless, without substance, and without shadow!
It is merely a manifestation of intention.
Even the sharpest swords and blades cannot harm divine sense.
This is why the combat power of a Sword Saint is so terrifying.
In the blink of an eye, the flying sword slashed through the air, killing the enemy from a thousand miles away.
Killing someone with intention is far more terrifying than killing them with a weapon.
It is invisible and intangible, silent and stealthy, making it impossible to defend against.
Ordinary martial artists simply cannot withstand a single sword strike from a sword saint.
Chen Jie was able to fight the Sword Saint and defeat Jian Wuming because of his incredibly powerful divine sense.
If the Sword Saint can condense his primordial spirit, so can he.
Therefore,
Only when the difference in their spiritual power is not too great can he cross the border and kill his opponent.
Otherwise, he wouldn't even be qualified to fight a Sword Saint.
To damage an opponent's spirit and destroy their primordial spirit, besides using one's own spirit, one can also use a spiritual weapon!
That's right,
After being refined, a spiritual weapon also possesses the power to kill a Martial Saint.
Chen Jie's understanding of spiritual weapons initially came from the memories of 'Yan Kong' and 'Wuji Sword Saint'.
When he was studying the starry sky statue in the Martial Saint Sect, he felt the vast and boundless divine power emanating from the statue.
That immense divine power suppressed his very soul, causing it to tremble.
This is the belief of a martial artist: when one holds reverence in their heart, countless thoughts will be added to the totem of their faith.
Divine thoughts are actually the manifestation of spiritual power within the sea of consciousness.
The forging of spiritual artifacts is imbued with the same belief; it is a manifestation of resentment.
"The Overlord Bow and the God-Devouring Arrow! Truly excellent items!"
Chen Jie nodded slightly.
I never expected that this trip to the Korean Peninsula, before even starting the attack on Busan, would yield such great results.
"Tell me! How did you obtain these things?"
Chen Jie lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked Yan Jiuyou, who was kneeling on the ground.
"These dozens of boxes are worth more than the entire wealth of your Nine Nether Sect. With your strength, it's impossible for you to have acquired so many gold coins, silver bricks, and jewels!"
"With all this stuff, you still went to ambush me?"
He didn't believe a nouveau riche would be willing to take such a big risk.
“These things were never ours to begin with; the Netherworld Sect intercepted tribute silver from various places and gold coins from overseas merchant groups.”
"Many of them were offerings from various princes of the Great Qian Dynasty. After being robbed, they were sent out of the Great Qian Dynasty and hidden in our Nine Nether Valley."
"Those ten million silver notes are the reward for intercepting and killing you; they were just sent from the Great Qian Dynasty not long ago."
"I originally thought they would send silver dollars, but instead they sent a bunch of useless silver notes. These things don't circulate in Korea."
Yan Jiuyou answered with her head down.
“That’s true. Silver notes have only been introduced recently and have not yet become the common currency in Goryeo. They’re not very useful to you.”
Chen Jie looked at the silver bricks and jewels, and sneered, "You actually dared to intercept and kill an important official of the imperial court! This is a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire family and nine generations of your relatives!"
Yan Jiuyou quickly replied:
"No, thirty years ago, the sect leader of the Netherworld Sect was someone else. He was hunted down by the 'Sword Master of the Shocking Clouds' of the Imperial Palace for leading his men to intercept and kill several princes and important officials of the court."
"The current sect leader of the Netherworld Sect has changed, and it seems to be related to the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty."
"I don't know the specifics. It involves too many things. Our Nine Nether Sect is just a small sect. We only handle our own affairs and dare not ask about anything else."
After listening, Chen Jie frowned slightly.
this moment,
He then realized that the Netherworld Sect, Shaolin Temple, the Imperial Palace, and the Great Qian Imperial Family had always been engaged in open and covert struggles.
The struggle between the Netherworld Sect and the Imperial Palace was irreconcilable.
"It's understandable that the Netherworld Sect wants to seize power; they need to accumulate enormous wealth. But what are the Overlord Bow and the God-Devouring Arrow for? Why are they here with you?"
Chen Jie looked at the God-Devouring Arrow in his hand again, his brows furrowed deeply.
The Nine Nether Sect ambushed him halfway, but instead of using the God-Devouring Arrow, they used the 'Vulcan Cannon'?
This just doesn't make sense!
"Of course, it's to deal with the Martial Saint level experts in the Imperial Palace! They probably don't even know the purpose of the God-Devouring Arrow."
Yan Jiuyou remained silent, but Jian Wuming beside her answered:
"The previous emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, Li Zheng, reigned for thirty years, but do you know how many of his brothers were killed?"
"This involves the struggle for the throne; it's ruthless and merciless!"
"Of Emperor Li Zheng's twenty-eight brothers, only six survived. Nineteen of them died in assassinations, and the other three princes also perished along the way. The truth remains unknown!"
"The inner palace is actually divided into several factions; it is not a monolithic entity."
Chen Jie was taken aback upon hearing this.
This was the first time he had ever heard that the Imperial Palace was actually divided into several factions.
Why haven't I heard anyone else say this?
Even Cao Shaoqing, Kou Yin, Guan Shanyue, and others, including Li Aoshuang and Li Lingyue, had not mentioned it to him.
"Those princes were all assassinated? No wonder the royal family kept all the news under wraps. It's certainly not a glorious thing for members of the same clan to kill each other."
"The royal branches of the Great Qian Dynasty are all qualified to vie for the throne. Who would assassinate them? Could it be someone from the inner palace?"
Chen Jie turned his gaze to Cao Shaoqing and Kou Yin.
but,
Judging from their blank expressions, they were clearly unaware of the secrets of the inner palace.
Although they were the chief stewards of the inner palace, the inner palace was divided into the Imperial Household Department and the Foreign Affairs Department.
The two were the chief stewards of the Foreign Affairs Department, and the affairs of the Imperial Household Department were not of much concern to them.
Moreover, more than thirty years ago, they were not yet the Grand Eunuchs.
"Not from the Imperial Guard!"
Jian Wuming shook his head and said, "It should be someone from the Netherworld Sect, or an expert from within the Great Qian royal family. However, apart from Emperor Li Zheng and others involved, no one knows the truth about this secret right now."
"Of course, nobody cares about the truth!"
The previous generation of princes of the Daqian Dynasty were all assassinated.
No wonder the Ninth Prince, the Thirteenth Prince, the Eighth Prince, and others have always protected their own interests and those of the major families behind them, and have never backed down.
Because if they retreat, all that awaits them is death.
This was a secret of the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty, which greatly shocked Chen Jie.
He even felt that his thoughts were somewhat confused.
It seems I underestimated the cruelty of Emperor Li Zheng's ascension to the throne.
This explains why, even though the Great Qian Dynasty was on the verge of collapse, the major aristocratic families of Great Qian chose to stand idly by.
Many powerful families even sided with foreign enemies or rebelled internally.
Because the former royal family had killed them too ruthlessly, they were filled with hostility towards the royal family.
The imperial power of the Great Qian Dynasty was supreme.
The emperor was not only a symbol of status, but also a ruler who controlled the affairs of heaven and earth, and whose words were law.
Was Chen Jie's decision to let the Crown Prince Li Heng inherit the throne right or wrong?
Although he upheld the dignity of the royal family and claimed the moral high ground, could the Li family's empire truly represent the moral high ground?
this moment,
Chen Jie was filled with a myriad of thoughts, and his ideas underwent a complete transformation.
He pondered to himself, what direction should the Great Qian Dynasty take next?
"Take all these gold coins, silver bricks, jewelry, and silver notes with me, and telegraph the 'Holy King' battleship to dock at Hongcheng Port to provide support," Chen Jie ordered.
Jian Wuming suddenly asked in a low voice, "What should we do with these three guys from the Nine Nether Sect? Should we—?"
After saying that, he made a 'kill' gesture.
Although the Netherworld Sect and the Kunlun Sword Sect had some history, Jian Wuming wouldn't object if Chen Jie insisted on killing the three of them. "My lord! Spare us! You promised us that if we cooperated in taking you back to the Nine Nether Valley, you would spare our lives!"
Yan Jiuyou, the second-in-command, and the third-in-command jumped up in fright after hearing Jian Wuming's words.
With their lives hanging in the balance, they didn't care about their disheveled state and immediately began begging for mercy.
“That’s right, I did say that as long as you bring me to the Nine Nether Valley, I will not kill you.”
Chen Jie nodded slightly, but pretended to be somewhat troubled and said, "But if we let you go like this, we'll be in trouble. We'll face even more ambushes next."
Puff-!
The second-in-command immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Chen Jie and begging for mercy:
"Sir, we can swear to God that we will never reveal what happened today to anyone."
"From now on, the three of us brothers will live in anonymity and retire from the martial world."
Yan Jiuyou suddenly sighed and said to the second-in-command:
"Second brother, get up! Where do we think we can survive?"
"Even if this lord lets us go, we will still die."
"This ambush mission failed, and we lost all our money. The Netherworld Sect will not let us go."
"Even if we flee to the ends of the earth, we can't escape being hunted down."
The atmosphere became incredibly heavy at that moment.
Even if Chen Jie lets them leave, given the strength of Yan Jiuyou and the other two, they are indeed doomed.
Not only will the Netherworld Sect not let him go, but even the Japanese will definitely not let them live easily.
“My lord! You are a hero of the world, the totem of the Great Qian Dynasty. The soldiers under your command are all loyal and righteous. We are not qualified to be your soldiers.”
"But we can become your servants, just please give us a way to live!"
The third leader suddenly spoke with a serious expression.
servant!
It means selling one's life, handing over everything to the other party, and willingly being driven by them.
To put it simply, a martial artist's servant, or death warrior, is someone who is ready to die for their master at any time.
"Alright! I'll make an exception and take you as servants. I happen to need a group of powerful servants under my command."
"You three have good martial arts skills, so I will take you under my wing."
"I've subdued the most ferocious fish in the ocean, and I've also tamed the most powerful beasts. I don't care about a few of you."
"Remember, since I dared to take you in, I naturally have the means to control you!"
"If you have ulterior motives, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Chen Jie exuded a powerful aura that sent chills down people's spines.
finished,
He shouted to all the guards:
"Load everything into the carriage, we'll set off immediately. Hopefully we can reach Hongcheng by tomorrow evening!"
With so many more boxes, the warhorses were used to haul goods.
The pace of everyone's journey to Hongcheng naturally slowed down.
-
The Great Qian Dynasty, in the Jiangnan region.
Huainan Province, on the banks of the Yangtze River.
This place boasts beautiful scenery and is situated on Taihu Lake, which is adjacent to the Yangtze River.
The surrounding area was filled with magnificent and luxurious pavilions.
This is not the official residence of the Great Qian Dynasty, nor is it a temple or a Taoist monastery.
Several mazes were set up around Taihu Lake.
Ordinary people can't get inside at all; it's shrouded in mist everywhere, making it difficult to see the scenery of Taihu Lake from a distance.
It's a large area, but it's a private residence.
On the roads surrounding Taihu Lake, many disciples dressed in black were constantly patrolling and guarding the area.
There are even many hidden sentries in the shadows.
There was an arrow tower every hundred meters or so along the road, responsible for lookout and guard duty.
The entire area was under heavy security.
Pfft—Pfft—!
Suddenly, a falcon flew in from afar and landed on the pavilion on Taihu Lake.
next moment,
A slender, delicate hand emerged from the pavilion.
As if it possessed a spirit, the falcon gently landed on this slender hand.
"The Nine Nether Sect's attempt to ambush Prince Chen Jie in Qingyang County, Goryeo, has failed!"
A woman leaned against a wooden chair in the pavilion, looking at a secret document tied to the falcon's leg, and murmured to herself.
The entire Taihu Lake shimmered under the afterglow of the setting sun.
The surrounding fog has dissipated, and from a distance, some fishing boats can be seen passing by at the entrance of the Yangtze River.
Surprisingly, all fishing boats automatically avoided the entrance to Taihu Lake.
There seemed to be a natural barrier preventing the fishing boats from getting close.
Everything around seemed peaceful and serene, making it a place one would want to linger.
Sunset, evening glow, lake water, mountain reflections, fishing boats, pavilions, a woman in white—!
White cranes occasionally take flight over the lake, splashing water.
All of this gives one the feeling of a dreamlike fairyland.
It's as if there's no human warmth here, and the surroundings seem unreal.
"Holy Maiden! Are you really planning to go to Goryeo?"
“That Prince Qian, Chen Jie, is no ordinary fighter. He single-handedly suppressed the entire Kunlun Sword Sect.”
"The Ximen Tang army marched north and swept through the allied forces of the Eastern Empire, driving the Japanese to the Korean Peninsula."
"The Holy Ancestor has sent a letter informing us that he has issued a Netherworld Kill Order, and all the major families and reclusive martial arts masters in the Jianghu will launch an ambush to kill Prince Qian, Chen Jie."
"Goryeo is not peaceful at this time. Is it worth it for you to go there in person?"
"Your 'Ruthless Technique' has not yet reached its peak, and you have not yet broken through to the fourth stage of the 'Sitting in Oblivion'—Simplicity!"
"If my mind is disturbed and the 'Path of Ruthlessness' is ruined, then it would be a great loss."
In the pavilion on Taihu Lake.
The incense, reserved only for the imperial palace, burned slowly, and a wisp of smoke drifted along with the evening glow.
In the middle of the pavilion, seven elderly women sat cross-legged.
Their skin was like the bark of an ancient pine tree, their white hair was sparse, and they looked like they had lost all their teeth.
They looked like they were ready to go to their coffins at any moment.
but,
Their eyes, however, were incredibly sharp, like razor-sharp blades, filled with boundless killing intent.
It seems ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment, ripping out a person's heart.
These seven old women are none other than the 'Seven Absolute Techniques of the Netherworld Sect'!
All seven were super strong individuals at the Quasi-Saint level, like seven incomparably sharp battle blades.
Sitting in the middle of the seven old women was a woman dressed in white, with a silver hairpin in her hair and a string of purple beads around her waist.
Her five fingers were like white jade, appearing bloodless and flawless.
Other than that,
Outside the pavilion, a dozen or so girls stood.
They wore the same court attire of the Great Qian Dynasty, just like palace maids, and their figures and appearances were all of the highest caliber.
but,
You can tell from the aura they exude.
They seemed to possess an aloof, otherworldly air about them. (End of Chapter)