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Four days later.

The front hall of Chongyang Palace.

The imperial procession stretched for hundreds of feet, with banners like a forest.

Three hundred imperial guards stood with swords drawn, exuding a chilling aura.

Prince Zhao Dexuan, a member of the imperial clan, stood with his hands behind his back in the hall, dressed in a python robe and crown, exuding an air of majesty. However, his slightly serious face hinted at a probing intent.

"Where is Master Xuanmo?"

He lowered his voice, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.

Ma Yu bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Your Highness, Junior Brother Xuanmo left the mountain three days ago to travel, and his whereabouts are unknown."

"Leave the mountain?"

Zhao Dexuan frowned slightly.

"I have been traveling for seven days since I set off from Lin'an! His Majesty has personally ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare the ceremonial guards and to confer upon Master Xuanmo the title of True Lord Protector of the Nation."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Seven Masters of Quanzhen.

"Such an honor is rare even for ordinary princes and nobles. Your Quanzhen Sect... has actually left us waiting in vain?"

Although the tone was calm, the three hundred imperial guards outside the hall all stepped forward half a step, their swords clanging.

The Seven Masters of Quanzhen exchanged a glance, their expressions calm.

Qiu Chuji stepped forward.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger. It is only natural for Junior Brother Xuanmo to travel around. When he left the mountain, he only said that he was going to do what he should do. As for his specific destination... we really don't know."

That's the truth.

Shen Mo left decisively, without even taking Li Mochou with him, leaving only the words "Cultivate well" before drifting away from the mountain.

Before leaving the mountain, he summoned the Seven Masters of Quanzhen to the back mountain.

"My fellow senior brothers."

Shen Mo stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the seven people.

"What I am going to do may attract the court's attention."

He spoke calmly.

"But fellow disciples can rest assured—the Quanzhen Sect only needs to tell the truth, and there is no need to conceal anything for me or bear any responsibility."

Ma Yu frowned: "What do you mean by that, Junior Brother?"

"If the imperial court comes to bestow rewards, it is most likely to test the attitude of our Quanzhen Sect."

Shen Mo looked at Qiu Chuji.

"Brother Changchun, you are the most upright. If the imperial court sends someone to ask, just tell the truth—the Quanzhen Sect is unaware of and has no involvement. What I have done has nothing to do with the Quanzhen Sect."

Qiu Chuji remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Since you say so, junior brother, then I won't try to persuade you any further. Just remember this—whatever you do, don't harm the innocent."

"nature."

Shen Mo raised his right hand.

A cyan sword aura condensed at his fingertips, only three inches long, yet it distorted the air.

"Fellow disciples, this is formed from innate true energy. I will leave it here—"

He flicked his finger.

laugh!

A cyan sword aura shot out and precisely embedded itself in the ancient stone in front of the hall.

The sword energy penetrated three inches into the stone without dissipating. Instead, it created ripples of blue on the stone's surface, flowing slowly and continuously.

"This sword energy can last for three days. If the person who comes is too aggressive, you senior brothers should lead him to this stone."

Shen Mo said calmly.

"Though I am gone, the sword's aura remains. This is my stance."

The Seven Masters of Quanzhen were shocked.

The ability to condense one's true energy without dissipating and retain it outside the body for three days—such a skill is probably something even Wang Chongyang back then might not have been able to achieve.

Wang Chuyi sighed.

"Junior Brother's mind is made up, so we won't say anything more. But you must be careful; the martial world is treacherous, and the imperial court is even more unfathomable."

"Thank you for your concern, senior brother."

Shen Mo clasped his hands in a salute, then turned and left.

That was a conversation that took place three days ago.

Now that Zhao Dexuan has come to their door with an imperial edict, the Seven Masters of Quanzhen naturally acted as Shen Mo instructed—to remain unaware, not to participate, and not to interfere.

Inside the hall.

Zhao Dexuan took a deep breath and turned his gaze to Tie Youxia.

"Deputy Envoy Tie."

"You previously reported that Daoist Xuanmo was 'upright in his conduct, punished evil and promoted good, and was a hero of our time,' which is why His Majesty issued an edict to bestow the title upon him."

His voice was steady, yet it carried a scrutinizing tone.

"Is the Taoist priest's current refusal to meet with us disrespectful to the Emperor's grace, or does he harbor other intentions towards the court?"

Tie Youxia bowed.

"What I have said is all true. The Daoist priest does indeed act with integrity, punishing evil and promoting good. As for whether he is willing to serve as an official... those who cultivate the Dao naturally roam the world, which is only natural."

Zhao Dexuan remained silent for a moment, then glanced at the Seven Masters of Quanzhen.

His true purpose for this trip was not simply to bestow rewards.

The Emperor's secret edict—to test the true attitude of Master Xuanmo and the Quanzhen Sect.

If Xuanmo is willing to accept the imperial appointment, then everyone will be happy.

If not... then we shall see whether this legendary Grandmaster of the Innate Realm is truly respectful to the imperial court or rebellious and unruly.

"I have heard some rumors."

Zhao Dexuan spoke slowly, his tone calm yet subtly sharp.

"Some time ago, thousands of Jin soldiers died suddenly in the Jin capital, their deaths gruesome. Rumors circulated in the martial arts world that it was the work of a Taoist priest..."

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring directly at Ma Yu.

"Esteemed Taoist priests, are you aware of this matter?"

These words were spoken casually, but everyone in the hall understood the implied meaning.

Zhao Dexuan was testing the waters—if Xuanmo had truly done this, did the Quanzhen Sect know about it? Were they involved?

Ma Yu frowned slightly, but her expression remained calm.

"Your Highness is joking. The capital of the Jin Kingdom is thousands of miles away. The disciples of the Quanzhen Sect have never been involved in court disputes, much less travel to foreign lands to kill people. Such rumors are mostly false."

Qiu Chuji also said calmly, "Rumors in the martial arts world should never be entirely believed."

Zhao Dexuan quietly looked at the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

"I have come here not only to read the imperial edict, but also to receive a verbal instruction from His Majesty."

His voice was steady, yet every word was like a hammer blow.

"His Majesty said: If Daoist Xuanmo is willing to serve the country, the court will treat him as a national hero. Rewards, salary, and position are all negotiable."

"But if Daoist Xuanmo's ambitions lie elsewhere..."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious.

"His Majesty also hopes that the Quanzhen Sect can make a clear statement—whether it is willing to be of one heart and one mind with the court, or whether it wants to remain aloof from worldly affairs."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became heavy.

This is the real test.

The imperial court did not want a simple answer, but rather to see the stance of the Quanzhen Sect.

If the Quanzhen Sect is willing to align itself with the imperial court, then everything will be easy to discuss.

If the Quanzhen Sect's attitude is ambiguous, or even if they have ulterior motives... the imperial court has plenty of ways to deal with it.

Ma Yu remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Your Highness, since our Quanzhen Sect was founded by our patriarch Wang Chongyang, we have always taken cultivation as our foundation and have never participated in court disputes."

"Although Junior Brother Xuanmo is a member of our sect, we will not interfere with his choices."

His tone was calm, yet it concealed a firm resolve.

"The Quanzhen Sect has always respected the imperial court, but those who cultivate the Tao are at home all over the world. How can they be bound by the imperial court all the time? If His Majesty insists that our sect make a statement... then we should be detached from worldly affairs and not care about worldly matters."

A glint of light flashed in Zhao Dexuan's eyes.

"Good! Well said!"

He suddenly stood up and glanced at the Seven Masters of Quanzhen.

"Now that I have conveyed Your Majesty's will, I will not linger any longer."

"only--"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming sharp.

"His Majesty has one more thing to say, which I will pass on to all the Taoist priests."

"If what Master Xuanmo has done is indeed unrelated to the imperial court, then so be it. But if it is discovered in the future that the Quanzhen Sect is secretly making any unusual moves..."

He spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Don't blame the imperial court for not remembering past favors!"

Upon hearing this, the imperial guards outside the palace stepped forward in unison, their swords clanging loudly.

The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.

Tie Youxia's expression changed: "Your Highness..."

But Zhao Dexuan had already turned away and said no more.

Just as he was about to step out of the palace gate.

The Seven Masters of Quanzhen exchanged a glance, their expressions calm.

Ma Yu spoke slowly.

"Your Highness, please wait."

Zhao Dexuan paused and turned around.

"Is there anything else?"

Ma Yu smiled slightly.

"Before Junior Brother Xuanmo left the mountain, he left behind something. Since Your Highness has already conveyed the Emperor's will, you may take a look at it and report back to His Majesty."

Zhao Dexuan frowned slightly.

The Seven Masters of Quanzhen didn't say much, but simply retreated slowly.

One step, two steps, three steps...

The seven people walked in unison, as if they had a tacit understanding, and slowly retreated to the ancient stone in front of the palace square.

Zhao Dexuan followed their gaze.

The next moment—

His pupils suddenly contracted.

Because on that ancient stone, blue ripples flowed slowly, like water rippling.

Within those cyan ripples, a sharp and extremely fierce sword intent could be faintly revealed.

The sword intent wasn't directed at anyone, yet it sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

Zhao Dexuan felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.