Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Chapter 334 "The Purple Blood Technique" and "The Enchanting Maiden Technique"

Zhu Yijun has attended court for three consecutive days, which is unprecedented during the years he was bedridden.

But today, during court, the officials standing in the hall gradually noticed something was amiss.

The emperor on the throne seemed to have aged a few years compared to the previous two days.

Although he was still more energetic than when he was bedridden, his complexion was not as rosy as it had been two days ago, the wrinkles around his eyes were deeper, and even his back seemed a little more hunched than it had been two days ago.

The ministers observed this change, but none dared to ask questions directly.

Several cunning officials, under the pretext of concern for the emperor's health, tentatively asked a few questions, but Zhu Yijun brushed them off with a few words.

Seeing that the emperor was unwilling to discuss the matter further, the others wisely kept quiet, and no one dared to touch on the topic again.

Zhu Yijun knew perfectly well that this change stemmed from the essence extracted by Chen Zhan.

The terrifying scene of his essence being taken away still haunts his mind.

Chen Zhan's ability to control life, death, prosperity, and decline was too terrifying for him to speak of, nor could he.

After all, he was counting on Chen Zhan to help him fully recover his youthful physique.

The court session proceeded in an orderly manner, waiting for all the reports from various regions to be submitted.

Xu Long, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stepped forward from the crowd, bowed, and reported: "Your Majesty, I have something to report. Yesterday afternoon, the Imperial Preceptor Chen Zhan led a group to the residence of Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, and on the grounds that Prince Fu had privately arrested remnants of the Qi Family Army and acted arbitrarily with weapons, he beheaded Zhu Changxun and confiscated all the assets of his princely residence."

As soon as the words were spoken, the hall erupted in chaos.

A chorus of gasps and gasps rose and fell, and the faces of the officials were filled with astonishment.

Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, was notorious in the capital for his tyranny and domineering nature, but everyone knew that he was the emperor's most beloved prince.

Now someone actually dared to storm into the Prince's mansion and kill the prince inside; this is nothing short of treason!
The hall was noisy, but Zhu Yijun on the throne only twitched his lips slightly, his expression unusually calm, and he did not immediately express his opinion.

Unbeknownst to the officials, Xu Long's confidants had already secretly reported this matter to the palace yesterday.

At that time, he smashed a lot of porcelain in his palace in a fit of rage, trembling with anger, but he didn't even dare to issue an order to arrest Chen Zhan.

After a night, Zhu Yijun had calmed down and weighed the pros and cons clearly.

Xu Long presented a memorial detailing the matter. Zhu Yijun unfolded it, glanced at it, then slammed his hand on the armrest of his throne and shouted:
"How dare he! How dare he!"

The hall fell silent instantly. The officials, assuming the emperor was reprimanding Chen Zhan, echoed his sentiments.

"Your Majesty is wise! This Taoist priest is far too arrogant, daring to kill a prince without authorization, which is tantamount to treason. We beseech Your Majesty to order the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to jointly arrest him and execute him by slow slicing, so as to uphold the law of the land!"

"That's right! If such treacherous officials are not severely punished, they may shake the very foundation of the nation!"

A chorus of agreement rose and fell, but Xu Long stood there silently, his expression unusually calm.

A moment later, Zhu Yijun coughed twice, interrupting the ministers' agreement.

His gaze swept across the hall, and his tone suddenly turned stern: "I'm talking about that dog Zhu Changxun!"

The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The ministers were all stunned, their faces filled with astonishment, speechless.

"I have already issued an edict of self-reproach and pardoned all the remaining members of Qi Jiguang's army. On what grounds does Zhu Changxun have the audacity to arrest them privately? And he even dares to wage war in the capital, harming innocent people!"

"My Imperial Advisor did the right thing! These lawless and unruly members of the royal family are vermin of the Ming Dynasty and should be eliminated!"

Zhu Yijun understood perfectly well that his own life and the hope of returning to his prime were far more important than a son.

He could abandon even his most beloved son, so those distant relatives who had been with him for countless generations were even less important in his eyes.

“Over the years, members of the imperial family have multiplied unchecked, occupying thousands of acres of land without paying taxes. Local officials have colluded with each other to seize land, falsify population figures, and enrich themselves.”

"They have sucked the lifeblood of the Ming Dynasty and emptied the national treasury. The very foundation of the Ming Dynasty is on the verge of being shaken by these parasites!"

Zhu Yijun's voice echoed in the hall, carrying a pent-up resentment that had been suppressed for many years.

As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze suddenly locked onto Xu Long below, and his tone was resolute:
"Xu Long! From this day forward, you will fully cooperate with the Grand Preceptor. Collect all outstanding taxes, remeasure the land throughout the realm, and ensure that all tax arrears are fully paid. Investigate every official in the country, regardless of rank, thoroughly! My mind is made up; I will use the entire imperial family as an example to deter others!"

The last few words were spoken with a resounding force, and the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Among the court officials, there were already several members of the royal family standing there. Upon hearing this, their faces turned pale, and their hands, hanging by their sides, clenched tightly, but none of them dared to stand up and object.

Even the emperor's most beloved Prince Fu had just been executed and his property confiscated. If they went forward now, it would be tantamount to inviting bad luck and courting death.

The other ministers also remained silent.

Those officials with guilty consciences and unclear personal entanglements shrank back, not daring to raise their heads, for fear of being noticed by the emperor.

So we must start with him.

Officials who pride themselves on being upright and honest may not show it on their faces, but they are secretly delighted.

The purge of members of the imperial family and corrupt officials was something they had long hoped for, and now that the emperor was advocating for it, they were naturally happy to see it succeed.

Xu Long stood in the hall, his brows slightly furrowed.

This is the most offensive job in the world.

The sheer amount of resistance, assassinations, and exclusion one would face in investigating all members of the imperial family and officials across the land is unimaginable.

But the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot were powerful tools for the emperor to eliminate dissidents and monitor the world. He couldn't avoid this task, nor could he escape it.

Xu Long bowed deeply and replied in a deep voice:
"Sir, obey the order."

The court session ended in silence, and as the officials left, no one dared to approach Xu Long.

Nobody wants to get into this trouble right now.

Everyone knows that although the emperor entrusted Xu Long with the task, the real decision-maker was the mysterious "Imperial Preceptor," Huang Ting Daojun.

Many emperors of the Ming Dynasty were followers of Taoism.

However, this was the first time a Taoist priest had been appointed as the national preceptor and actually participated in government affairs.

Xu Long left the palace, his mind heavy with thoughts. Seeing Shen Tong waiting for him, he nodded and said:

"As expected, let's go."

Shen Tong understood and said, "This time, it's probably not just His Majesty who has made up his mind, but also a turning point for the entire Ming Dynasty."

The two of them could naturally guess that this was inextricably linked to the previous three edicts of self-reproach.

Whether it's the edict of self-reproach or the current crackdown on imperial relatives, it's all about money and soldiers.

If the pensions were truly distributed in full as stated in the edict of self-reproach, then the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty are not yet corrupt.

Moreover, although the Qi Family Army has been suppressed for more than 20 years, some of them were taken away by Qi Jiguang when he retired to his hometown. Many of those people are still alive and remain in the martial arts world.

With surplus troops and the reward system of Qi Jiguang's army, it would be easy to raise an army.

Moreover, Xu Long and Shen Tong had another conjecture.

If the whole thing is related to that person, given his strength, it's impossible for him to fight against ten thousand men on the battlefield, but he should be able to capture the leader of the enemy without fail.

Even if there are experts among the Later Jin, Chen Zhan most likely already possesses two relics.
They had seen the Soul-Slaying Dharma King use the relics.
Xu Long and Shen Tong walked out of the palace side by side. "Sigh, let's discuss the specifics of how to proceed after we meet that Daoist Lord."

Shen Tong nodded silently to the side, without saying a word.

The two said no more and headed straight for the Northern Garrison Command.

Before nightfall yesterday, the Imperial Guards had delivered all the silver confiscated from the Prince of Fu's mansion to the inn where Chen Zhan was staying. They also specially dispatched a team of elite guards to keep watch outside and prevent any accidents from happening.

This morning, Ding Baiying and his companions exchanged some of their silver for banknotes and set off for Jizhou to recruit the former Qi Family Army troops who had been scattered across various regions.

As for the emperor's edict of self-reproach, it has gradually spread throughout the country over the past few days.

Outside the gate of the Northern Garrison Command, Chen Zhan and Han Tiange stood side by side, waiting.

The Imperial Guards of the Zhenfu Division dared not neglect him and specially brought over two chairs, but Chen Zhan did not sit down.

Upon seeing Xu Long and Shen Tong in the distance, Chen Zhan slowly stood up: "Commander, how is it?"

Along the way, Xu Long and Shen Tong had already forced themselves to adjust their mindset and suppress their complex emotions.

Approaching, Xu Long calmly cupped his hands and said, "As Daoist Lord predicted, His Majesty has approved the investigation. I am willing to fully cooperate with Daoist Lord. How about we begin the investigation in the capital, as you wish?"

Chen Zhan nodded slightly upon hearing this, then asked in return, "Is there still a need to investigate?"

"What do you mean by that, Daoist Lord?"

Xu Long frowned slightly: "Taking people away directly isn't in accordance with the rules, is it..."

Even so, he knew perfectly well that none of the imperial relatives in this era were not sucking the blood of the Ming Dynasty; it was just a matter of degree. If a thorough investigation were conducted, no family could escape involvement.

"Aren't the files and records of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot enough?"

"Don't tell me that your Embroidered Uniform Guard never collects evidence of crimes committed by these imperial family officials."

Chen Zhan chuckled. He knew what the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot did all the time, not just him, but even ordinary people.

Xu Long: "."

Shen Tong: "."

"What? The commander can't bear it?" Chen Zhan's tone was somewhat sarcastic.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is no charity organization; they've done plenty of things like confiscating property and exterminating families. Now they're pretending to be compassionate?
“It’s not that I can’t bear to do it, Daojun. It’s a matter of great importance. It’s not difficult to deal with the imperial relatives and clansmen in the capital. We have enough evidence. But there are quite a few generals from our clan who are leading troops in the field.”

"I'm afraid it will cause a mutiny." Xu Long had many considerations. He knew the information on the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot; a conviction was certainly possible, but what about the consequences after a conviction?
"Mutiny? Kill them!"

"If the Qi Family Army could be annihilated even without a mutiny, why can't the imperial family be?"

Chen Zhan's answer was even simpler: the military strength of the entire Ming Dynasty was severely insufficient and scattered, and no general had the strength to besiege the city.

Even if he is, he is there.

Not anymore.

Xu Long and Shen Tong exchanged a glance, and without hesitating for long, Xu Long said, "Shen Lian, take my token and go to the Eastern Depot to gather troops. Lu Jianxing, go to the Southern Garrison Command and surround the Imperial Clan's residence at Dong'an Gate!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

The two men acknowledged the order in unison, then turned and left with their respective men.

Seeing this, Chen Zhan and Han Tiange exchanged a glance, and the two of them moved and headed straight for Dong'an Gate.

Many people in the imperial clan's residence at Dong'an Gate had already received the news.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was never short of informants, especially since the emperor's decree had been made perfectly clear in court. However, the news came so suddenly that even if the people wanted to leave, they had no time to pack up their belongings or sell their property.

Chen Zhan never intended to exterminate the entire family; his only purpose in this trip was to acquire wealth to supplement military expenses.

Anyone who dares to resist will only have themselves to blame.

A small number of astute individuals, sensing the deadly crisis through their intuition, believed that if they did not leave today, they would never have another chance.

They didn't bother packing their belongings, only casually choosing two servants to accompany them, before hastily fleeing the capital.

Only a dozen or so people managed to escape so decisively, which is less than one percent of the total number of members of the imperial clan.

Most of the imperial family members, however, still clung to a sliver of hope, sneering, "What kind of damned Imperial Preceptor dares to mess with members of the imperial family? He must be tired of living!"

But this idea was quickly shattered by the cruelty of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Most royal residences had guards, and some would even recruit martial arts practitioners to maintain appearances.

However, the highest cultivation level among these people is only the Acquired Realm.

Only someone like the Second Prince, who holds a fiefdom, harbors ambitions, and possesses exceptional martial prowess, can recruit innate masters.

After all, it's unlikely that someone at the Innate Realm would willingly become a lackey for just a little money.

The retainers at the Acquired Realm, along with some ordinary servants and guards, were utterly no match for the elite Imperial Guards.

The grappling hook flew through the air and accurately hooked onto the corner of the eaves of the courtyard wall, allowing the Imperial Guard captain to leap inside.

The Embroidered Spring Blade was drawn in response, its cold light flashing as it aimed directly at the one who resisted.

Crossbow bolts followed closely behind, their piercing sound cutting through the air, blocking all escape routes.

Hooks, embroidered spring knives, and crossbows—the three weapons of the Imperial Guards were used in turn, their coordination impeccable, their attacks fierce.

The Eastern Depot agents who came to provide support were even more ruthless than the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

They were already accustomed to handling shady cases, and had done even more of the dirty work of wiping out entire families and slaughtering entire households.

When the Embroidered Uniform Guards made their moves, they would try to avoid the vital points of the resisters, leaving them some room for maneuver. However, the agents of the Eastern Depot did not care about such things; every strike was fatal, and every move was a sure kill.

For a time, the sounds of crying, fighting, and breaking objects mingled together near Dong'an Gate, creating chaos.

The members of the imperial family fled in all directions, but were blocked by layers of troops and could not escape at all.

Chen Zhan and Han Tiange stood on the distant city tower, quietly watching the chaotic scene below. Xu Long personally directed and coordinated the operation from below. With a single command, the offensive of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot became increasingly orderly.

"I brought back the other relic."

Chen Zhan suddenly spoke, his tone flat and indifferent.

Han Tiange was taken aback upon hearing this, then a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes as she turned to look at Chen Zhan.

She did not forget their initial agreement: the relic would be lent to Chen Zhan to heal his injuries, and then returned to her afterwards.

However, things have changed drastically in recent days, and the situation has long deviated from what was originally expected. She no longer expected that the deal could still be carried out as originally planned.

Now that Chen Zhan has brought it up, it's clear he has no intention of breaking the agreement.

Of course, she was pragmatic and replied, "Has the senior discovered the cultivation method within the relic?"

Chen Zhan nodded: "The cultivation method does exist, but the relics have been dormant for too long, and most of them have been tainted by qi, blood and essence, making them indistinguishable."

"This"

Han Tiange naturally didn't think Chen Zhan was lying to her; in fact, even if Chen Zhan hadn't said anything, she wouldn't have dared to ask.

"I've copied down the incomplete version; you can judge for yourself," Chen Zhan said, pulling out a booklet from his pocket, which he hadn't signed.

Han Tiange took it with delight and quickly flipped through it.

Among them are lower-level martial arts techniques such as "Heart-Shattering Palm", "White Python Whip Technique", "Ghost Prison Yin Wind", and "Spiral Nine Shadows", all of which are complete.

Chen Zhan has already marked this part.

Next come the intermediate and advanced cultivation techniques.

This part pertains to the secret scriptures of the Holy Sect, which were once only practiced by the sect's high-ranking members.

Most of these secret manuals were later lost.

Han Tiange had never seen most of the mid-level and high-level cultivation techniques before, so he needed to examine them in detail, but this was not the right time.

However, Chen Zhan said, "Among the mid-level cultivation techniques, there are two that are not incomplete, but I do not recommend that you members of the Holy Sect cultivate them."

"Yes, Tiange will follow your teachings, senior. May I ask which two schools?"

"The Purple Blood Technique and the Charming Maiden Technique, the former is an extreme killing martial art, which requires the accumulation of evil energy through slaughter. Only by killing a hundred people can one obtain a wisp of purple blood true energy. The backlash is so painful that one cannot live in agony. Moreover, it is too bloody."

"The latter emphasizes absorbing yang energy to replenish yin energy, and can harm people invisibly during sexual intercourse. It requires the stimulation of acupoints with silver needles for cultivation."

That's about it.

The higher-level techniques were even more dangerous, but they were all destroyed and could not be cultivated.

Listening to Chen Zhan's instructions, Han Tiange nodded repeatedly.

These two techniques sounded rather sinister just from their descriptions, and she even had a feeling about them.

Saintess Zhenyue may be right.

The first Holy Lord was a bloodthirsty person; otherwise, why would he have left behind so many killing techniques, from the Qiongqi Demon Body to the two mid-level techniques now?

She wanted to ask one more question, about the relationship between Chen Zhan and the Holy Lord.

But Xu Long had already begun wrapping things up and asked Chen Zhan for instructions.

"Daoist Master, what should be done with the confiscated silver?"

"Send it to the Northern Garrison Command first, and have someone keep an eye on it."

"it is good."

Xu Long directed the carrying of boxes of silver, gold, and jewels to the Northern Garrison Command under the watchful eyes of the people of the capital.

Then they heavily guarded the area.

The imperial relatives and nobles in the capital alone had 500 million taels of silver confiscated, along with countless jewels and gold.

It was equivalent to the annual national tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty.

Last year, the national tax revenue was only a little over six million taels!

When this number was reported to Emperor Wanli, Zhu Yijun stared at the memorial for the full time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

What is this concept.

He naturally knew how much silver was left in the royal treasury.

This figure is at least five times the amount in his private coffers.

"Snapped!"

"Keep copying for me!"

"I knew you were greedy, but I never imagined you were this greedy—richer than I am!"

At this point, Zhu Yijun was no longer simply being coerced by Chen Zhan; he genuinely wanted to investigate and confiscate the property of all members of the imperial family and corrupt officials.

"How much silver is that?!"

"Enough for me to launch countless 'great expeditions'!"

"Damn it, damn it!"

Zhu Yijun quickly wrote out a handwritten edict and summoned a eunuch, instructing him to personally deliver this edict to Xu Long without fail.

The young eunuch quickly agreed and left.

(End of this chapter)