Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 645 Who says I don't want to be used as a tool?
Inside the training room, the air seemed to freeze, with only Liang Jin's long and steady breathing echoing.

He sat cross-legged, his five palms facing the sky, his consciousness sinking into the mysterious and unfathomable inner world within his body.

Suddenly, his tightly closed eyes snapped open!

A fleeting, indescribable glint of light flashed in the depths of his pupils.

He slowly raised his hand, with an almost reverent solemnity, and gently pressed it against his heart.

Where the fingertips touched, instead of the warmth of flesh and blood, a strange, bone-chilling coldness emanated from it!

It was as if an invisible, intangible yet tangible cold aura was hovering around his heart.

Like a lurking venomous snake, it tightly coils around the source of life.

Become!

The fact that this chilling aura lingers is the sign that you have officially entered the ranks of the perilous and unpredictable Heavenly Tribulation technique!

Liang Jin has been diligently cultivating today and has finally managed to consolidate the "heart-tribulation energy" that has been initially condensed.

At this moment, although this wisp of energy was as faint as a newly sprouted poisonous bud, it was already perceptible to him and could be initially guided.

This means that he is finally able to begin using this legendary secret technique.

Although it is still quite far from unleashing its full power.

All that's needed is time.

However, the more time is scarce, the faster time seems to pass.

It was almost dusk.

Liang Jin felt a chill run down his spine; the time had come!

He had to return to the Southern Imperial Guard camp immediately to prepare for his duty at the palace.

Tonight, within the walls of the Forbidden City, who knows what undercurrents will unfold?

The [Nine Void Boundless] opened and closed as usual, and nothing unusual happened except for the appearance of many more martial artists.

However, Liang Jin's intelligence panel has already updated with new information:
[Complete sect missions today: 4]

[Amount of information available: 4]

[Intelligence 1: Su Huanyue, the top courtesan of the Drunken Flower Pavilion, leans alone against the vermilion railing, gazing at her reflection in the mirror with self-pity. Tonight, her virginity, guarded for so many years, will be defiled by money; the highest bidder will win. She only knows that she will never find a good man in this life, but little does she know that Prince Zhao You of Shanyang has long been obsessed with her. Tonight at midnight, this prince will personally arrive at this brothel with a large sum of money, sparing no expense to possess this caged canary.]

[Intelligence 2: Deep within the Kunning Palace, Hua Nongying loathes everything about the palace; this magnificent cage suffocates her. She cannot understand those women who spend their entire lives here. But what troubles her most is the continued absence of the true Empress, Mu Congshuang! It's like a sword hanging over her head. If you can help her find Mu Congshuang, she will undoubtedly feel intense gratitude, as well as vigilance and fear towards you.]

[Intelligence 3: In a dilapidated courtyard in Dongwang Lane, the rogue Niu San was angrily pounding his head. Last night, with the capital in chaos, he had cowered at home, missing a golden opportunity to make a fortune. Today, seeing his bolder rogue brothers raking in the money by taking advantage of the chaos, jealousy gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake. At this moment, his eyes were bloodshot, and he secretly vowed that if there was further unrest tonight, he would be the first to rush out! His first target would be climbing over the low mud wall of shoemaker Zhang Laohan's house!]

[Intelligence 4: Deep within Anlefang, in the Zhang family's small house, Gao Lin, a runaway servant of the Changshan Prince's mansion, huddled in a corner, trembling with fear. He had inadvertently witnessed a shocking secret of Prince Zhao Xun that could lead to the extermination of his entire family! He knew that the Prince's henchmen could hunt him down at any moment. In despair, his only thought was to escape the capital! If you can help him escape this calamity, he is willing to offer everything, even his soul, in gratitude.]

"Four pieces of intelligence!"

Liang Jin was slightly surprised.

During last night's turmoil, he was ordered to stay at his post and did not leave his post without permission. It seems that he was also counted as having completed a "sect mission" and thus received an extra intelligence quota.

When his gaze swept over the contents of the intelligence report, even with his composure, he couldn't help but be startled, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light!

"The quality of today's intelligence is really high!"

Liang Jin muttered to himself, a hint of cold excitement in his voice:

"The two princes who are still free in the capital have both been implicated."

The first piece of intelligence was like illuminating the coordinates of Prince Zhao You of Shanyang in the fog. At this sensitive and tense moment, this prince, captivated by beauty, secretly went to a brothel—a blatant self-inflicted wound!

The second piece of intelligence allowed Liang Jin to roughly determine that Hua Nongying in Kunning Palace was very likely one of the people in the fake empress's group, and might even be the fake empress herself. At least with the related name "Hua Nongying," it would be much easier for Liang Jin to track down this group's whereabouts through [Thousand-Mile Tracking], or to directly arrest and interrogate them.

The third piece of intelligence was of no value to Liang Jin.

The fourth piece of intelligence, however, surprisingly involved Prince Zhao Xun of Changshan. And it seemed to touch upon a secret that Zhao Xun was trying to hide.

If we can grasp this secret, we will have more initiative.

"Having a cheat program is so convenient!"

A cold smile curled at the corner of Liang Jin's lips.

Liang Jin was initially unsure of what to do next, but now the features of the [Daily Intelligence] system have provided him with a clearer picture.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons and already had a clear plan of action in mind.

This time, he didn't immediately think of notifying Zhao Bao as he usually did.

In the past, he had no one else to rely on but Zhao Bao.

But these days are different!
His alter ego, Meng Xinghun, the Green-Clad Pavilion Master, had already quietly entered the capital with his elite troops.

A sharp blade lurking in the shadows awaits his command!

It would be most appropriate to let Qingyi Tower handle these "trivial matters".

Liang Jin glanced at the deepening twilight outside the window, and, not daring to delay any longer, got up to leave.

However, just as he was about to step out of the practice room, he paused slightly.

He frowned slightly, as if sensing something from a great distance.

"Oh?"

A hint of surprise flashed across Liang Jin's eyes:
"That old fox, the eunuch... he actually pulled this trick?"

Through the mysterious connection deep within his soul, he instantly learned some of the situation from his clone, Meng Xinghun.

However, Liang Jin was not too worried.

Each clone has its own way of dealing with things.

Without pausing, he moved with lightning speed, rushing towards the Southern Imperial Army camp.

…………

new house.

A martial arts arena.

The twilight was as red as blood, staining the sky crimson.

This once open training ground was now like a boiling pot of oil, bustling with noise and filled with a murderous aura!

Martial arts practitioners from all over the country and from all walks of life gathered here.

They carried swords or held unusual weapons, speaking in various dialects, and gathered in small groups, discussing animatedly.

Many of them looked weary from their long journey, but their eyes shone with a burning passion.

The air was thick with the smells of sweat, dust, and a restless energy called "ambition."

"Did you hear that? The Grand Eunuch has really gone all out this time! He's recruiting extraordinary talents from all over the world. As long as you have real skills, you can rise to prominence on the spot! Either you can join the Imperial Investigation Bureau, live off the government, and enjoy wealth and honor; or you can be transferred to the Northern Army, behead the Black Dragon Barbarians, and earn a title and a privilege for your family through military merit!"

A burly man with a face full of scars was spitting as he excitedly waved his fist.

"Yes! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! In the past, we roughnecks had to climb up the ranks from the county government to the prefecture government, and it would take forever to reach the capital. Now, the chance to rise to the top in one step is right in front of us!"

A lean man next to him rubbed his hands together, his eyes filled with greed.

"Once you enter the Imperial Enforcement Bureau, you'll have direct access to the Emperor! Wealth and glory will be within your grasp! If you can go north to fight the enemy, hehe, cut off a few barbarian generals' heads, and maybe you can even get a title to bring honor to your ancestors!"

Everyone chattered excitedly, their enthusiasm evident, as if a bright future was already laid out before them.

Hundreds of menacing martial artists gathered, like a pack of ferocious beasts ready to devour their prey.

The Southern Imperial Guard soldiers responsible for guarding the perimeter of the new residence were all tense, gripping their long halberds tightly, their muscles bulging beneath their armor, their eyes scanning every corner of the area warily, not daring to relax in the slightest.

The atmosphere was as heavy as a taut bowstring.

The agents of the police station moved through the crowd, expressionlessly registering names and hometowns, and directing the martial artists to demonstrate their skills in groups or to engage in duels.

The clash of swords and the shouts filled the air.

To win favor, the martial artists pulled out all the stops, making for an extremely intense scene.

Just as the noise reached its peak—

"boom--!!!"

A deafening roar suddenly erupted from the solemn council hall at the end of the training ground!

Immediately afterwards, the heavy, carved wooden door of the council chamber shattered inwards as if struck by a battering ram!
Amidst the flying sawdust, a figure, like a tattered rag doll with its strings cut, was sent flying like a cannonball, accompanied by a shrill scream and spurting blood mist, crashing heavily onto the bluestone slab in the center of the training ground!

"puff--!"

The man coughed up another mouthful of blood, then curled up and convulsed on the ground in agony, his face ashen and barely breathing.

The entire noisy training ground fell into a deathly silence in an instant!
All eyes were drawn to the figure lying in the pool of blood, as if by a magnet.

"It's...it's Baiyun Valley Master, Bai Tianfei!"

Someone recognized the man and gasped in surprise.

Bai Tianfei! Baiyun Valley is considered a prestigious and righteous sect in the martial arts world. As the valley master, he is renowned for his "Flowing Cloud Sword Technique" and is a true master!
Such a figure, who could shake the martial arts world with a stomp of his foot, was now being sent flying like trash, seriously injured and on the verge of death.

A chill instantly gripped everyone's hearts!
Countless horrified, fearful, and inquisitive gazes were directed at the wide-open council chamber doors, which resembled the maw of a giant beast.

"Humph!"

A cold, arrogant voice, filled with deep disdain, pierced through the darkness of the council hall like a sharp blade made of solidified ice, clearly echoing throughout the deathly silent training ground:

"Bai Tianfei, you charlatan, a fraudster with a hollow reputation, dare to compare yourself to my Xuanyuan Sect? You are utterly laughable!"

"Go back to your White Cloud Valley as soon as possible, train for another ten or eight years, so you don't embarrass yourself here!"

Before the words were finished, a slender yet upright figure, as graceful as a pine tree, slowly walked to the point where light and shadow met at the doorway.

His temples were slightly gray, his face was cold and stern, and his dark blue robe was spotless. He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes sweeping over the crowd below who were as silent as quails.

"It's Elder Yu Zhuoqun of the Xuanyuan Sect!"

Someone gasped, their voice trembling.

"Hiss... No wonder! They're from the Xuanyuan Sect! Those are true martial arts giants!"

"Bai Tianfei is really unlucky to have messed with such a behemoth..."

"Shh! Shut up! Do you want to die?"

……

Just as everyone was discussing it.

Standing at the entrance of the council hall, Yu Zhuoqun's eyes were icy as he scanned the crowd in the martial arts arena.

In an instant, no one dared to gossip anymore.

Under Yu Zhuoqun's icy, almost tangible gaze, the vast training ground was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; even breathing was deliberately suppressed.

Yu Zhuoqun's lips curled into a contemptuous smile, he snorted coldly, and flicked his sleeves.

"boom!"

The broken door was pulled shut again by an invisible force!
Once again, he shut out everyone's view of the council chamber. Yu Zhuoqun turned around and walked steadily back into the depths of the council chamber.

The lighting inside the hall was dim, but the atmosphere was a hundred times more somber than outside.

On two rows of rosewood armchairs below the hall sat more than a dozen figures who were equally renowned in the martial arts world.

There are renowned heroes, powerful gang leaders, and representatives of reclusive sects.

However, at this moment, these people, who usually trembled in the martial arts world with a stomp of their feet, all looked unusually ugly.

Their gazes toward Yu Zhuoqun were filled with anger, shame, fear, and deep resentment.

Yu Zhuoqun's sweeping insults just now targeted almost everyone present.

Bai Tianfei was just the first one who couldn't resist jumping out and ended up being slapped away.

Yu Zhuoqun ignored these gazes, which were filled with resentment or fear. The arrogance he usually displayed towards the outside world quickly vanished, replaced by a genuine respect.

He strode to the first empty chair on the left and stood respectfully with his hands clasped.

All eyes, including Yu Zhuoqun's, were focused with awe on the owner of the chair.

He was an elderly man with white hair and beard, and an exceptionally robust physique. Even when sitting upright, he appeared as imposing as a deep pool or a towering mountain.

He was dressed in a simple gray cloth robe, his eyes were closed, and his face was calm and still, as if he were an old monk in deep meditation, completely unaware of the commotion outside the door or the oppressive atmosphere inside the hall.

However, an invisible, mountain-like pressure silently permeated the entire council hall, centered on him.

He is Yan Tingfeng, the second-in-command and deputy leader of the Xuanyuan Sect!

Yu Zhuoqun's arrogance just now was nothing more than a test and a way to establish his authority with his tacit approval!

He is the true leader of the Xuanyuan Sect today!
Standing below the main seat, Zhao Bao had been observing this legendary second-rank grandmaster without making a sound.

He tried to sense the other person's presence, but found that Yan Tingfeng's presence seemed to blend into the surrounding air, becoming one with it, leaving no trace.

This state of returning to simplicity and unfathomable depths set off alarm bells in Zhao Bao's mind.

"I... am no match for him..."

Zhao Bao had already made up his mind.

Behind Zhao Bao, at the deepest part of the council hall, a person was reclining on a soft couch covered with gorgeous brocade.

He was thin and pale, with sunken cheeks and narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes that seemed half-open, carrying a languid weariness that went to his very bones.

He was dressed in a loose, dark purple robe, and two beautiful maids were gently fanning him with huge peacock feather fans.

This man was none other than Wang Jin, the powerful head of the Imperial Investigation Bureau!
Two people stood beside Wang Jin.

The person on the right is naturally Zhao Bao.

The man on the left was a slightly hunched, thin, dark-skinned old man wearing a faded blue shirt. He always had a kind and friendly smile on his face, like a kind old neighbor.

However, those who know him well know what a ruthless heart lies hidden beneath that smile.

He was none other than Wan Shanglou, the head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, known as the Smiling Yama.

At this moment, both Zhao Bao and Wan Shanglou looked at the Xuanyuan Sect with displeasure.

After all, to take action in front of the eunuch was already an offense!
Yu Zhuoqun seemed oblivious to the unfriendly glances cast at him by Zhao Bao and Wan Shanglou.

He bowed slightly, addressing Wang Jin on the soft couch, his voice regaining its outward respect, but his words were laced with barbs:
"We, the Xuanyuan Sect, are deeply honored by the Eunuch's sincere invitation and are naturally willing to serve and share his burdens. However..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his voice rising several decibels, with a hint of deliberate embarrassment:

"Recently, quite a few distinguished guests have wanted to invite my Xuanyuan Sect to 'reminisce' about the past."

"Lord Shen Wujiu, the God of Arrest from the Six Doors, Duke Mu, the Duke of Zhenguo, and several other princes and grandsons of the emperor in the capital..."

"Alas, this is truly putting us in a difficult position!"

These words were like pouring a ladle of cold water into a calm pan of oil!
Zhao Bao's face instantly turned ashen, and Wan Shanglou's smile froze for a moment, his eyes flashing even colder.

This Yu Zhuoqun dared to openly raise prices in front of the eunuch, and even had a hint of threat!
however.

Wang Jin, still half-closing his eyes on the soft couch, seemed not to have heard these treasonous words. He even adjusted his posture comfortably, letting the fragrant breeze from the maid brush against his cheek.

That skill in cultivating inner strength is unfathomable.

Zhao Bao keenly noticed that Wang Jin made a barely audible cough.

Signal!

Zhao Bao understood immediately.

Yu Zhuoqun was merely a mouthpiece pushed out by Yan Tingfeng. Given Wang Jin's status, he naturally disdained to directly argue with an elder.

And Zhao Bao is the mouthpiece and the sharp blade of the eunuch at this moment!
Zhao Bao took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and took a step forward, a cold, mocking smile on his face, his gaze fixed on Yu Zhuoqun:
"Elder Yu, you are mistaken!"

"The Xuanyuan Sect is renowned and prestigious, which I, Zhao, certainly admire. However..."

He deliberately dragged out his words, his gaze sweeping over the renowned martial arts figures present before finally settling on Yu Zhuoqun:

"This reputation must be maintained through genuine ability and family tradition."

"Leaving aside the distant past, let's talk about the recent past. Li Wei, the commander of the Six Doors in Ningzhou, is a distinguished disciple of your sect, isn't he?"

"He framed loyal officials, embezzled public funds, and oppressed the people, incurring the wrath of both heaven and man in Ningzhou! His reputation was so utterly ruined, yet in the end he was still... cough!"

Zhao Bao paused deliberately, his gaze seemingly casually drifting towards the silent figure opposite Yan Tingfeng:

"Was he righteously punished by a passing by, acting on behalf of Heaven?"

He then changed his tone, becoming even more scathing:

"Also, I heard that a few days ago on the official road outside Yongzhou City, Elder Yu seemed to have had some 'misunderstandings' with someone, and was even involved in a major battle?"

"According to Commander Wang, the scene at that time...tsk tsk, Elder Yu, you were the first to 'withdraw' and the one who withdrew the most 'cleanly and neatly'! Zhao Bao is ashamed to admit that he cannot match your ability to 'assess the situation'."

Zhao Bao's words were barbed and sarcastic, employing every possible means to mock and ridicule.

While exposing the wounds of the Li Wei case of the Xuanyuan faction, he also poked at Yu Zhuoqun's sore spot of deserting his post.

Even more insidiously, he twice deliberately and subtly directed his attacks at the man sitting in the first seat on the right opposite Yan Tingfeng, a man who remained silent and seemingly invisible.

The person had an extremely ordinary appearance; the kind of person you would easily lose in a crowd.

He sat there quietly, dressed in an inconspicuous gray cloth shirt, like a passerby who had wandered into this place by mistake.

However, no one in the entire council chamber dared to ignore his presence!

He is Meng Xinghun, the master of the Green Robe Tower from the Western Desert, whose fearsome reputation can stop children from crying at night!

When Zhao Bao’s gaze truly focused on Meng Xinghun, an indescribable chill instantly shot from his tailbone to the top of his head!

It felt like being stared at by a prehistoric beast!
Meng Xinghun did not possess the profound and majestic aura of a master like Yan Tingfeng; instead, he had a deep-seated, thick, and inescapable bloodlust and deathly stillness!

It was as if the very sight of him sitting there was a projection of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood!

According to intelligence from the intelligence agency, Meng Xinghun was notorious in the Western Desert, having stirred up countless bloody battles, leaving mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.

Zhao Baoxin!
This person is absolutely a killing god who crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood!
But the strange thing is...

When Zhao Bao tried to sense the depth of Meng Xinghun's internal energy, he found that the other party's aura was extremely restrained, and even seemed somewhat...ordinary.
He was far less unfathomable and despair-inducing than Yan Tingfeng.

This contradictory feeling left Zhao Bao feeling uncertain and uneasy.

Is it possible that the other party has cultivated some kind of miraculous concealment technique?
Or... just my imagination?
Zhao Baoding composed himself, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and revealed his true intentions, proclaiming loudly:
"On the contrary, aren't those true heroes who can clean house, eliminate treacherous officials, and face danger without fear and forge ahead more worthy of the eunuch's trust and our respect than some 'renowned figures' who only talk big and run away at the first sign of trouble?"

As he finished speaking, his gaze pierced Meng Xinghun once more, his intention all too clear.

Shifting the blame eastward, using someone else to do the dirty work!
Let's use the sharp blade of Qingyi Tower to curb the arrogance of the Xuanyuan Sect.

At the same time, it's also a chance to test and suppress this newcomer, the unruly Meng Xinghun!
Zhao Bao had barely finished speaking.

"Hahahaha!"

Yu Zhuoqun suddenly let out a piercing sneer. He pointed at Zhao Bao, making no attempt to hide the contempt in his eyes: "You little brat! You dare to show off your crude tricks of sowing discord in front of an old man like me?"

"When I was roaming the martial world, you were still wearing open-crotch pants!"

He then turned to Meng Xinghun, forcing a stiff but sincere smile:
"Moreover, what kind of person is Master Meng? His wisdom is as vast as the sea, and his insight is as clear as the smallest detail!"

"How could I be fooled by such clumsy tricks and be so easily used as a tool?"

As Zhuo Qun finished speaking, he looked at Meng Xinghun across from him.

A hint of apprehension flashed deep in his eyes.

Yu Zhuoqun witnessed the great battle that night and still feels lingering fear of Meng Xinghun's strength.

Finally, he also didn't forget to kick Zhao Bao while he was down:
"Young eunuch, you've risen to such a high position at such a young age. It seems the eunuch is showing you favor."

"But... the court is a deep and treacherous place, and the world is a dangerous place. With your limited skills, I'm afraid you're... not up to the task! It would be best if you learned more and spoke less!"

Several suppressed snickers suddenly rang out in the hall.

Those present were all seasoned veterans, and they naturally saw that Zhao Bao's intentions had failed, and he was instead ridiculed by Yu Zhuoqun in public.

Many people looked at Zhao Bao, the young eunuch, with undisguised contempt.

Even Wan Shanglou, who was standing next to Zhao Bao, frowned almost imperceptibly, his eyes flashing with dissatisfaction and reproach as he glanced at Zhao Bao!

Zhao Bao's face flushed red instantly, and a huge sense of humiliation welled up in his heart.

This is more than just embarrassing him.

Furthermore, in front of all the heroes of the land, he humiliated the eunuch!

His mind raced, desperately searching for a retort to defuse the awkward situation.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall became tense, Zhao Bao found himself in a difficult position, Yu Zhuoqun's smug expression deepened, and everyone's gazes shifted—

suddenly!

A calm, emotionless voice, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, rang out clearly, shattering all the noise and scheming:
"Who said..."

The voice came from the first person on the right, the gray-clad man who had remained silent as a stone.

Meng Xinghun slowly raised his eyelids. In the depths of his seemingly ordinary eyes, it was as if a cold star had suddenly appeared. His gaze calmly swept over Yu Zhuoqun's frozen smile and finally landed on Zhao Bao, whose face was flushed.

His voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a strange penetrating power, clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"I, the owner of this building, am no longer willing to be Lord Zhao's tool?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire council chamber fell into a deathly silence!

You can hear the needle drop!

All those astonished, incredulous, amused, inquisitive, and cold gazes instantly focused on Meng Xinghun's ordinary face!

Yu Zhuoqun's smile froze completely, as if he had put on a clumsy mask, his eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.

Zhao Bao suddenly looked up, his pupils shrinking, thinking he had misheard!
Even Yan Tingfeng, who had been seemingly detached and resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes!
Two beams of light, as solid as physical light, pierced through the darkness in an instant and shot sharply toward Meng Xinghun!

On the soft couch, Wang Jin, who had been lazily reclining, finally opened his phoenix eyes, which had been half-open.

For the first time, his deep, unfathomable gaze, filled with undisguised surprise and scrutiny, was fixed firmly on Meng Xinghun!
The air seemed to freeze completely at that moment.

(End of this chapter)