Elderly Martial Saint: Sixty Times the Cultivation Speed ​​at the Start

Yi Yang walked out of the side hall of the Judgment Hall and stopped at the corner of the corridor.

He raised his hand to straighten his clothes and then brushed off the dust from Qingfeng Ridge that was stuck to his cuffs.

The confrontation between Yi Yang and Xiao Zhengyan in the Judgment Hall just now appeared to be a case of each taking a step back, but in reality, neither of them let go.

Xiao Zhengyan preserved the reputation of the Punishment Department, and Pei Zongyue detained the person in the Judgment Hall, preventing anyone from taking him away, which bought time for Yi Yang.

As for Zhou Yang and the other two, Yi Yang thought they were just going to live a few more days.

"A bunch of old foxes."

Yi Yang cursed under his breath.

He originally thought that by becoming the commander of the Zhenfu Guard, his credentials would be strong enough to save him a lot of trouble in getting things done.

Only today did I realize that each of the four departments and one guard in the palace has its own territory and rules, and every deputy chief inspector is scheming for their own benefit.

The higher one's position, the more entanglements one becomes.

Even in a case of blatant leaks, these people would first consider which side has more influence before even declaring themselves worthy of execution.

This is really troublesome.

Yi Yang didn't dwell on Zhou Yang and the other two; those three heads were only temporarily on their heads and wouldn't run away.

The altar beneath Zenryo Temple is the real problem.

The underground altar has been operating for many years, and behind the three hidden doors are several True Qi Realm experts, one of whom has reached the late True Qi Realm stage, making him a formidable force.

The Nine Evils' stronghold, which they've maintained for over a hundred years, won't be moved just because of his one nighttime raid.

But rumors are always unpredictable. Every extra hour of delay carries the risk of leaks.

When Ding Xiang's case is closed, the Nine Evils' accomplices planted in the prefectural city will also retreat.

"Take care of the most important things first."

With that thought, Yi Yang turned and left the Hall of Judgment, heading straight for the Netherworld Division.

He walked through two corridors and encountered several guards from the Punishment Division.

The group, who had been talking in hushed tones, all stopped when they saw Yi Yang approaching.

Some people were staring at the commander's token at his waist, while others were paying attention to Xuan Yuan behind him.

The expressions on their faces indicated that what had just happened in the side hall had already spread outside, likely initiated by the Punishment Department.

Upon seeing these ordinary patrol guards, Yi Yang remained calm and nodded to them.

He didn't need to put on airs with these minor characters; that would only make him seem petty.

The guards handled the luggage respectfully, their movements impeccable; clearly, they dared not underestimate a deputy chief inspector.

The two passed each other without Yi Yang looking back.

He couldn't be bothered with what the Punishment Division was saying inside.

Yi Yang quickened his pace and headed straight for his destination.

By the time the outline of the Youquan Division's main hall came into view, Yi Yang's breathing had already calmed down.

The guard at the gate recognized him, clasped his hands in a salute, and turned to report inside.

Not long after, Liu Qing walked out of the palace gate.

She was still dressed in a dark gray outfit, her hair neatly tied back. Upon meeting, she first bowed, her expression more respectful than usual, and said:

"Lord Yi."

The last time the two met, Liu Qing treated him only in a businesslike manner.

Now that Yi Yang has been appointed Commander of the Zhenfu Guard, her official rank and treatment are equivalent to that of the Deputy Chief Inspector, so her manners have naturally changed as well.

"Is Lord Yan inside?"

"exist."

Liu Qing stepped aside to make way and pointed out:

"Miss instructed that you do not need to wait when you arrive at Youquan Division; you can go straight in."

Yi Yang nodded and stepped into the hall, only to find that there was no one else inside.

Yan Wuyuan, dressed in a dark purple outfit, leaned against the main seat with several volumes of documents beside her.

She raised her light amber eyes, scanning from the hem of Yi Yang's clothes to the top of his boots, and then stopping at his slightly disheveled collar.

Mud stains from Qingfeng Ridge still remain there.

A playful smile appeared on Yan Wuyuan's lips as she said:

"Commander, what are you doing digging in the dirt like this?"

Yi Yang glanced down at the hem of his robe. He had straightened it once before leaving the mountain, and after returning to the city, he was summoned to the Judgment Hall by Pei Zongyue. However, he was in a hurry to get on the road at the time, so he inevitably left a few traces.

He didn't beat around the bush, taking two steps forward urgently and saying, "Sir, I've come to ask for your help. I've discovered something terrible at Qingfeng Ridge."

Hearing the urgency in Yi Yang's tone, Yan Wuyuan's languid demeanor turned solemn as she inquired:

"What happened?"

Yi Yang didn't beat around the bush and told everyone the location of Shanruo Temple, the underground passage mechanism in the abbot's room, and the scope of the underground altar.

When he mentioned the three hidden doors, he slowed his speech and said with lingering fear:

"I sensed that there were at least three True Qi Realm experts behind those three doors."

"The one with the highest cultivation level has even reached the late stage of True Qi."

The other two are difficult to categorize, with even the weakest possessing Qi at the early True Qi stage.

The hall fell silent.

Yan Wuyuan, who had been leaning back, sat up straight at some point.

She tapped her fingers three times on the armrest, an old habit of hers when she was thinking things through, which Yi Yang had figured out after observing her for the past few months.

Yi Yang continued, "The abbot of Shanruo Temple appears to be only at the third level of internal energy cultivation. Every few days, he disguises himself as a medicine merchant and goes out, carrying a black cloth bag with him. That cloth can block spiritual detection."

"The temple is very close to the gentle slope where Ding Xiang's body was found."

"There are no traces of a battle between True Qi Realm experts on the gentle slope. Ding Xiang must have died elsewhere, which is why his body was moved there."

After saying that, Yi Yang took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and laid it on the table.

The paper shows the location of Shanruo Temple and the gentle slope of Qingfeng Ridge, as well as the layout of the underground main hall.

The three hidden doors, four bronze pillars, the altar patterns, and the stone steps leading up and down were all clearly marked.

After reading it, Yan Wuyuan did not speak immediately. After thinking for a moment, she said:

I've passed by Qingfeng Ridge twice.

I've passed by Qingfeng Ridge twice.

Her amber eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yet I never noticed anything unusual."

Yi Yang was not surprised by this.

From the outside, Zenruo Temple looks like a dilapidated temple, and the underground passage has materials that prevent exploration.

No one went into the main room to turn the oil lamp, and even a True Qi Realm expert passing overhead couldn't detect the situation underground.

Yan Wuyuan picked up the simple drawing that Yi Yang had made on the table, her gaze lingering on the underground altar:

"It's impossible for a few monks to operate in Qingfeng Ridge for over a century and evade the repeated inspections by the Heavenly Patrol Bureau."

"There are people in the Sky Patrol Bureau who are tipping them off, and they're not low-ranking."

She flipped the paper over.

"The Exorcism Division investigates all traces of evil spirits around the prefectural city every year, while the Punishment Division is responsible for patrolling the official roads. To completely bypass the routes of both divisions, the messenger must at least have access to official documents from the patrol chief."

"Ding Xiang's transfer to Qingfengling a year ago was not a spur-of-the-moment decision."

Yi Yang sat at the lower end of the table, his hands resting on his knees, and asked:

"Sir, what was inside the black cloth bag that the abbot took back?"

Yan Wuyuan put the blueprints back on the table and guessed:

"The fabric used to block detection isn't cheap. The things the Nine Evils protect using this method are either materials used for alchemy at the altar or tokens for transmitting messages." She paused. "We'll know the specifics once we take over the stronghold."

She looked at Yi Yang and suddenly asked:

"Did you disturb the people inside when you went down?"

Yi Yang shook his head and explained in detail how he used the "Hidden Breath Formless Technique" to suppress his qi, how he used the Yi Wood True Qi to repair the marks on the door latch and bed legs, and even how he patched up the small hole in the window paper.

After listening, Yan Wuyuan's eyes flashed with approval, and her smile deepened.

"Careful enough."

"If you act on the spot, killing a few monks is easy. But once the underground forces leave, Ding Xiang's case will remain unsolved, and the other hidden forces in the prefectural city will hide even deeper. That would truly be a wasted effort."

Yi Yang breathed a sigh of relief; the reason he was so anxious was precisely because of this.

Yan Wuyuan stood up and walked to the map on the side of the main hall, took down the map of the Qingfeng Ridge area and spread it out:

"The abbot of Shanruo Temple said he would return in two days?"

"right."

"Then we shall make our move at midnight three days from now."

Yan Wuyuan made arrangements by pointing to the location of Shanruo Temple:

"After the host returned, nothing happened for the first two days, so he relaxed his guard. The third night was the perfect time to strike."

Yi Yang asked, "How many people will the Youquan Division send?"

"The people from Youquan Division will seal off the mountain roads and underground exits in advance."

Yan Wuyuan turned around and announced her plan:

"Then you will lead the Zhenfu Guard to storm the altar head-on."

"I'll handle that late-stage True Qi cultivator inside."

Yi Yang frowned and thought to himself:

"There are two more True Qi Realm cultivators underground, but their exact cultivation levels have not yet been determined. Although the Zhenfu Guard is an elite force, even they can die if they encounter a leader-level figure."

Yan Wuyuan seemed to sense his concerns and asked:

"Not confident?"

Yi Yang pondered for a few moments. He had now reached the mid-stage of True Qi, Xuan Yuan had recognized him as its master, and he also possessed the Azure Dragon Blade Aura.

He can take on two True Qi Realm incense masters as long as they haven't reached the later stages.

Ning Xiong is in the early stage of True Qi.

With the addition of the Twelve Linked Spear Formation, the Zhenfu Guards would be able to trap a mid-stage True Qi Realm cultivator. In that case, I would probably only need to deal with a True Qi Realm incense master, which wouldn't be a problem.

"Can."

"The two incense masters are to be handed over to me and Ning Xiong; the Zhenfu Guard will keep the rest in check."

Seeing that Yi Yang nodded confidently about his abilities, Yan Wuyuan thought to herself that she had not misjudged him.

Yi Yang understood why she made this arrangement.

Even with Yan Wuyuan leading the elite troops of Youquan Division, they were still able to take down Shanruo Temple.

Now that the frontal assault has been handed over to Zhenfuwei, the credit will naturally go to him, the newly appointed commander.

The capture of a stronghold of the Nine Evil Cult, which had been operating for over a hundred years, was enough to quell much of the controversy in the prefectural city.

He remembered this favor.

"Thank you, sir."

"Don't thank me yet."

Yan Wuyuan suddenly asked, "You went to the Judgment Hall just now because of Zhou Yang and the other two?"

Yi Yang paused, surprised that she had learned of this news less than half an hour after he left the side hall.

It's unclear whether it's from her own intelligence network or from the information provided by the Yuquan Division.

Without hesitation, Yi Yang recounted how Xiao Zhengyan stormed into the side hall, fought for control, and how Pei Zongyue was detained in connection with the case.

After listening, Yan Wuyuan leaned back in her chair and pointed:

"Xiao Zhengyan is protective of his own; everyone in the prefectural city knows this."

"But he will not protect those in the Punishment Department who commit crimes; however, he will draw his sword against anyone who dares to overstep his authority."

"You acted impulsively today. Taking a step back is the right thing to do."

"Keep pushing him, or he might really turn on you."

"Moreover, that old fox Pei Zongyue knew perfectly well that Xiao Zhengyan had this kind of temper."

"But they deliberately handed the personnel over to you for disposal, clearly wanting to test your capabilities as the newly appointed commander."

Yi Yang shook his head and said nonchalantly:

"I'm not afraid of him."

"I'll take Zhou Yang and the other two's heads sooner or later. It's not worth leaking information about Shanruo Temple for these three good-for-nothings."

"First, sever the roots of the Nine Evil Cults, then come back to settle accounts. The order cannot be reversed."

Yan Wuyuan looked at him for a moment, the smile on her lips not fading: "You are more composed than those young people."

"If you're still as impulsive as you were at seventeen or eighteen when you're sixty, you've wasted all these years."

After Yi Yang finished speaking, he added another sentence.

"It can get to me sometimes, it depends on the person."

"I can tell."

Yan Wuyuan supported her chin with the back of her hand.

"Once Shanruo Temple is taken over, it will inevitably expose the traitor within."

"Not only the Punishment Department, but also the Exorcism Department, the Knowledge Department, and even the Judgment Hall, can all potentially lead to someone falling into trouble."

"You are the commander of the Zhenfu Guard, so you must be prepared to be watched by all sides."

Yi Yang paused for a moment before asking, "What if the mole has risen to the level of deputy chief inspector?"

"What should we do?"

Yan Wuyuan narrowed her amber eyes, her voice filled with murderous intent as she spoke:

"The evidence is conclusive; there is no room for mercy."

Her tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight: "Even if it's Xiao Zhengyan, I'll kill him without hesitation."

"Anyway, the Chief Inspector won't care."

"The esteemed official has held the position of Chief Inspector for nearly a century; he wouldn't care about a mere Deputy Chief Inspector."

There was a moment of silence in the hall after these words were spoken.

Yan Wuyuan stepped down from the main seat, came to Yi Yang, and raised her hand to pat away the remaining dirt on his shoulder.

The movements were casual, but the distance between them was quite close.

"Three days later, you will come with me to Qingfeng Ridge."

"You should avenge Ding Xiang yourself."

Yi Yang nodded.

"it is good."

He turned and walked towards the palace gate.

Then Yan Wuyuan's voice came from behind.

"Oh, right."

"Yuexin has been practicing very diligently lately. In another half month, she should be able to advance to the first level of internal energy."

Yi Yang stopped in his tracks and exclaimed in surprise, "So fast?"

"With martial arts prowess combined with the Mysterious Heaven Dao Heart Book, this speed isn't unusual."

Yan Wuyuan picked up the dossier on the table again and said in a lazy tone:

"Once she breaks through, I will personally take her to the Beast Ridge Mountains for training."

Yi Yang looked back at her for a moment, then said solemnly:

Thank you.

These two words are more serious than the previous one.

Yan Wuyuan lowered her head and opened the file, no longer looking at him.

"Don't mention it."

"Let's resolve the issue at Shanruo Temple first."