Great Li Martial God

Hearing Han Meiyan's warning, Li Musheng raised an eyebrow, "It is fine. I came to this Great Xuan capital just to have a look around and take care of a small matter."

At those words, Han Meiyan studied Li Musheng for a moment, saw nothing unusual in his expression, and he did not look as though he were lying. Her heart gave a quiet stir.

She gave a slight nod, then did not linger, her figure shifting and becoming a blurred afterimage that slipped quietly away.

Li Musheng glanced in the direction she had gone, then shook his head gently.

Going to the Great Xuan imperial palace was, in his view, essentially just having a look around. That was not really a lie.

After Han Meiyan left, Li Musheng looked out the window at the sky.

Seeing that the sun had already set, he decided to wait a little longer and head to the Great Xuan imperial palace after dark.

After all, he had always been a fairly low-key person and not one for making a show of things, and nighttime operations were relatively discreet and less likely to cause a large stir.

Before long, night fell.

Li Musheng said a word to Shen Anran and the others, then took the simple map of Taixuan City and headed directly toward the Great Xuan imperial palace.

At the same time, the inn's proprietor, who had been dozing behind the counter, suddenly snapped his eyes open, then vanished from where he stood.

In the blink of an eye he was on the roof of the inn, looking in the direction of the Great Xuan imperial palace, and furrowing his brow deeply, "That was fast."

In the proprietor's field of view there was nothing at all. Not a trace of Li Musheng.

Seeing this, the proprietor moved to Li Musheng's room, confirmed it was empty, and could not help letting out a look of sincere admiration, "Truly deserving of his reputation as the Eighth Prince whose name shakes the world. His martial cultivation is genuinely terrifying."

In the next instant, his figure flickered and disappeared, and he came to the rear courtyard room, entering a secret passage that led underground beneath the inn.

"Your servant pays his respects to the Director."

The inn proprietor dropped to one knee before a middle-aged man sitting in meditation within the hidden chamber.

The Hidden Intelligence Bureau Director opened his eyes, "He has gone?"

"Yes, just a moment ago, heading in the direction of the Great Xuan imperial palace."

The proprietor answered, and the Hidden Intelligence Bureau Director gave a quiet nod, "He is taking it seriously, at least."

As he said this, his gaze shifted, and he asked, "What is the situation with the three demonic sects?"

At those words, the proprietor raised his head to look at the Hidden Intelligence Bureau Director briefly, then quickly lowered it again, "Our people have made contact with the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Ten Thousand Malice Demonic Sect. Those demonic cultivators have all agreed to your suggestion and are willing to join forces with us against the Great Xuan court."

The Hidden Intelligence Bureau Director's expression showed no change, clearly not the least bit surprised by this, "Reaching an understanding with those two demonic sects is enough. The three demonic sects are all caught on the same rope right now, their objectives identical. The remaining sect naturally will not refuse us either."

As he said this, the Director fixed his gaze on the proprietor and asked, "When do they intend to act?"

At those words, the proprietor shook his head, "Those demonic cultivators are extremely cautious. Moreover, their reason for gathering in the capital is entirely because of the Demonic Patriarch's Demonic Cores, and they have consistently refused to reveal their whereabouts or specific plans."

The Hidden Intelligence Bureau Director thought quietly for a moment, then waved a hand, "It does not matter. The three demonic sects have taken an enormous risk gathering in the Great Xuan capital, and with the Great Xuan court ready to shut the gates and trap them, they have already prepared for the desperate fight of a cornered animal."

"That means the disturbance will inevitably be considerable. Your people only need to watch closely for movement in the city. Whenever they make their move, we make ours and give them a hand."

At those words, the proprietor gave a nod of agreement, "As the Director instructs."

Then a subtle shift crossed the proprietor's face, and after a moment's thought he spoke, "Director, if those demonic cultivators really do succeed in gathering nine Demonic Cores and inherit the Demonic Patriarch's cultivation, bringing another great demon into the world, does that not carry the risk of bringing chaos to the martial world?"

The Hidden Intelligence Bureau Director glanced at the proprietor and was unperturbed, "If they succeed, it is actually more beneficial for us."

As he said this, he narrowed his eyes slightly, "And there is no need for you to worry. Even if the Demonic Patriarch were to return to life, he would not be invincible."

Then the Hidden Intelligence Bureau Director suddenly stood, "Since the Eighth Prince has already left, I should follow and go take a look at the Great Xuan imperial palace's experts myself."

...

"Where did I end up this time?"

In the pitch-black of the night, Li Musheng appeared soundlessly and swept his eyes over the surroundings.

Gold pavilions, jade towers, carved beams and painted rafters everywhere, extraordinary in their opulence, with palace after palace stretching out in a grand and impressive display.

Li Musheng had been following the map to find the Great Xuan imperial palace, and with his less-than-reliable sense of direction, had ended up here.

Looking down from the night sky above, the stretch of palaces below had been ablaze with lights, brilliant and dazzling against the darkness, and he had assumed he had found the Great Xuan imperial palace.

But coming down for a closer look, he found that while this complex of palaces was certainly extensive, the guards were surprisingly loose.

More importantly, the place was far too lively. Dozens of palace halls were filled with music, singing, and noise, a world completely apart from the curfew silence of the rest of Taixuan City.

"Easier to just find someone to show the way."

Li Musheng tossed aside the map in his hand with a resigned shake of his head, then dropped toward one of the livelier palace halls below.

...

"Come, come, drain this cup and there is another waiting..."

The sound of strings and zithers filled the palace hall without pause, graceful women danced, and a crowd of wealthy and well-born young men sat drinking and making merry with great enthusiasm.

"Who are they afraid of, exactly? Some bunch of demonic cultivators? This is the Great Xuan capital, the emperor's own doorstep. Would those kinds of riffraff dare cause trouble here?"

One of the young men in fine silk robes sneered aloud, then raised his cup toward a few friends around him from a distance.

Everyone around him was cradling a dancing girl with one arm while shouting their agreement with laughter, as though the court's restrictions meant absolutely nothing to them.

At that very moment, a plainly dressed young woman suddenly appeared at the entrance of the hall.

She was good-looking, with a natural air of authority about her, and swept a look over the hall before settling her gaze on the young man in fine silk who was seated at the head of the table.

But the woman only stood at the entrance and said nothing.

At the sight of her, the finely dressed young man's lifted wine cup and laughing expression froze instantly.

Then he scrambled to his feet, looking distinctly sheepish, and managed to ask in a somewhat subdued voice, "Elder Sister... when did you get back to the capital?"

"Just arrived."

The plainly dressed young woman answered mildly, then turned away, "Come with me. You will receive a hundred strokes of the rod when we get back."

With that, the plainly dressed young woman paid no further attention to the young man and simply turned and left.

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