185: Chapter 54: Passing the Sword 185: Chapter 54: Passing the Sword The law enforcers sealed the hall.
Still, the news of Xie Zhen’s assassination attempt spread quickly, and soon the whole mountain was buzzing with speculation.
The might of the Primordial Fire Explosion was felt even more than ten miles away.
Tomorrow is the opening of the Xuanshui Cave Heaven.
Who would assassinate someone at such a critical moment?
Jiang Qihu’s expression was dark as water at the main seat in the hall, holding the Ruyi Order, he reported the night’s incidents at the Sword Palace in full detail to his master.
Ye Qinglian also looked upset.
The female disciples of Baihua Valley showed signs of worry, and Yuan Yi’s face was particularly pale.
After a short while.
A law enforcer arrived with an order from Qi Lie, “Thank you for waiting, the seal on the hall has been lifted, if you would like, you may leave Golden Turtle Peak at any time.”
“The seal is a minor issue, the assassination is far more serious.”
The Family Head of the Xu Family from Binzhou stood up abruptly, his voice grave with concern, “How is Mr.
Xie faring?”
“…”
The law enforcer gave a wry smile and shook his head.
It seemed the situation was quite dire.
Many people left the hall, but instead of returning to their estates, they controlled their swords and headed to the site of the Primordial Fire Explosion at Lotus Peak.
Alas.
No one saw what had happened there.
The entire back mountain of Lotus Peak was shrouded in Huang Su’s sword energy.
“Everyone, rest assured, this case will be thoroughly investigated.”
Si Qi rode a crane, soothing the emotions of the visitors in front of the sword energy array patterns at Lotus Peak.
Today’s assassination was of an extremely vile nature.
Xie Zhen, a disciple of the Sword Palace, had been attacked within the territory of the Sword Palace…
Although currently there was no danger to his life, this was a provocation that the Sword Palace could not tolerate!
The dignitaries who came to Lotus Peak to investigate found an “interesting” detail.
The array patterns of sword energy were guarded by Huang Su.
Si Qi of True Hidden Peak was tasked with dealing with visitors.
While Qi Lie of Golden Turtle Peak was nowhere to be found, his presence unseen.
…
…
With a “bang,” the door of the residence specially prepared for Prince Jiangning on True Hidden Peak was kicked violently and burst open.
The guards responsible for looking after Prince Jiangning’s home, upon hearing the noise, rushed over without recognizing who it was, and in the next moment, they were sent flying by an invisible force, crashing into water jars, doors, and stone walls.
Amidst the dust,
a tall figure in a golden robe stepped slowly into the courtyard.
Qi Lie, expressionless, entered directly without even glancing at the surroundings after kicking open the front door and headed straight towards the interior of the estate.
The loud noise alarmed the entire Prince’s estate.
At the end of the small courtyard, two dark figures appeared.
These were protectors specially prepared by the King of Jiangning for Prince Jiangning with great effort!
Both were venerable Yin Gods!
Qi Lie’s steps did not falter, and as he continued forward, he lifted his sleeve.
A stream of golden sword energy flew out, circling around him once before finally hovering high just above his forehead.
The stance clearly indicated that he was ready to draw his sword at any disagreement!
The two protectors exchanged a look with complex expressions, unsure of what had happened.
“Qi Lie, have you gone mad!?” one of the protectors shouted in a low voice, “Is this how Golden Turtle Peak treats its guests?”
“If you two have any sense, better stay out of my way,” Qi Lie said expressionlessly, “Don’t block my path, or I’ll send you on your way right now.”
His words were unmistakably disrespectful.
The two protectors no longer hesitated and stepped forward together to act.
In the Jiangning Territory, they had suffered at the hands of Tang Fengshu and were left with a lot of frustration…
Now they faced another unreasonable man, Qi Lie.
After all, they were revered Yin Gods!
Wherever they went, they deserved respect!
With a boom!
Two strands of Taoist Realm, one black and one white, swept across the sky above the courtyard, with both Yin God Guardians joining forces, placing the entire Prince’s estate under immense pressure!
For a moment,
soil and stones in the courtyard cracked apart, each particle distinct, hanging in the air.
Qi Lie’s progress was slightly hindered, then killing intent flickered in his eyes, and with a thought, the golden sword energy shot out of its sheath, colliding directly with the intertwining black and white energies, creating a sound like tearing silk in the sky as three strands of Daoist Realm clashed in the air.
Qi Lie merely grunted,
while the two protectors’ faces changed dramatically, stumbling back and nearly falling to the ground!
To their disbelief, their joint attack, combining two Grotto Heavens, was broken by a single Flying Sword!
Even at two against one, they were at a disadvantage!
“Still wish to stop me?” Qi Lie said coldly, “Next sword, and one of you will die!”
The two protectors were as pale as death, looking utterly abashed.
Although Qi Lie’s strength was not on par with the Master of World Pavilion, Tang Fengshu,
he was absolutely a killer!
In the little creek of Jiangning, he’d only received a slap!
But here at True Hidden Peak, if he continued fighting, it was likely they would lose their lives!
“Qi Lie…
how dare you attack Prince Jiangning in the night?” one of the protectors struggled to speak, grinding his teeth, “Do you realize that the Prince of Jiangning and the Law Enforcement Head of the Sword Palace have been good friends for many years!”
“Get lost!” Qi Lie raised his hand and sent forth a sword strike.
This sword, becoming a dazzling golden light, shot directly at the protector’s forehead!
He was as good as his word!
He truly intended to take the life of one of the Yin God Guardians!
“Daoist Qi, please calm down…”
Just then, a sigh materialized out of thin air within the small courtyard.
The Yin God facing the pointed sword energy turned deathly pale, as his pupils shrunk to slits.
He stared at the Flying Sword just inches away, barely a hair’s breadth from advancing another inch to be nailed into his glabella.
The Flying Sword, firmly grasped by someone, with countless wisps of smoke converging at the entrance of the courtyard, took shape into the figure of a Taoist in a large robe.
Hum, hum, hum!
The Flying Sword trembled!
With golden blood flowing from the palm of his hand, the Master of Incense Fire House looked at the flying sword with pity and said softly, “Daoist friend, could you save me some face and let’s have a clear talk?”
Qi Lie watched the Taoist before him with a cold indifference, “I have given you enough face already.
You, as a member of the Taoist sect, followed the Jiangning delegation into the Sword Palace, silently observed the array patterns, and spied on the fortunes of the various peaks of the Sword Palace.
If I hadn’t given you face, do you think you would have been at peace until today?”
The counting of Incense Fire House looked somewhat unsightly.
So all the things he had done…
Qi Lie had been watching all along with the Sword Qi Decree in hand, only he had not revealed it.
However, the reason he hadn’t revealed it was not hard to guess.
Most likely, Qi Lie disliked the Princely Heir, wished for someone from the Taoist sect to take him away, and thus chose to suppress the matter silently.
“Daoist Zhu, just guard your Incense Fire House well, why bother coming to Da Sui Sword Palace to lose face?”
Qi Lie, expressionless, said, “Today, I am acting on the orders of the Law Enforcement, investigating a serious crime; anyone who dares obstruct will die!”
Qi Lie was usually mild-mannered when dealing with others at Golden Turtle Peak.
He seldom referred to himself as “this seat.”
But at this moment, those words “this seat” exerted immense pressure on everyone.
The Master of Incense Fire House sighed.
He knew that his visit tonight meant that Qi Lie represented not just Golden Turtle Peak but the Law Enforcement of the Sword Palace!
“A serious crime?”
Both Yin God Guardians furrowed their brows.
They were somewhat bewildered.
But then they understood why Qi Lie had come… The recent explosion of the Primordial Fire, he suspected it was done by the household of the Princely Heir!
There indeed was a case to investigate.
Xie Zhen had entered the Da Sui Sword Palace and only had a conflict with the Princely Heir.
Now he had suffered an assassination attempt.
Aside from the Princely Heir, who else could be the perpetrator?
“Why be angry, Daoist Qi?”
Master Incense Fire House, Daoist Zhu, sighed and said helplessly, “This is a misunderstanding, tonight’s assassination has nothing to do with the Princely Heir.”
“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, it’s not for you to decide.”
Qi Lie continued to walk forward, the golden Flying Sword breaking free from Daoist Zhu’s control and returning to float above its master’s head.
He entered the inner courtyard and saw the quiet chamber with its doors thrown open, the courtyard in complete disarray.
With just a glance, Qi Lie knew the reason why the two guardians and the Master of Incense Fire House had come forward to block him.
That night, the Prince Jiangning “made a fool of himself” on the grand hall, having his formation exposed by Xie Zhen.
Indeed, that was a huge blow.
To the major figures, the fact that Prince Jiangning carried the “Red Dragon” fortune was not a secret.
The Red Dragon’s favor is a blessing but also a backfire.
It must have been the recent backfire that left Prince Jiangning working hard to barely recover his “human form.”
“Brother Qi, this is truly a terrible piece of news.”
At that moment,
a door in the inner house’s pavilion was slowly pushed open.
The ashen-faced Prince Jiangning, now in fresh and splendid attire, asked softly, “I heard that Xie Zhen…
has just been assassinated?”
“…”
Qi Lie noticed that the way Xie Sheng addressed him had changed.
Previously, with the gifting of the Golden Cloud Mysterious Thunder, it was all “Brother Qi.”
But now, he had taken the initiative to call him “Brother Qi.”
“How regrettable, I’m in poor condition and cannot personally visit to check.”
Xie Sheng sighed and chuckled, “What is more regrettable is…
I hear Xie Zhen seems not to be dead, merely hanging on to half his life.”
The killing intent that had just dissipated in the courtyard began to consolidate again at this moment.
Qi Lie’s golden Flying Sword atop his head flared with light.
“Heh…”
Xie Sheng looked up at the brilliant golden radiance and asked with a smile, “Would you dare to strike with your sword?”
Without a word, Qi Lie.
The golden Flying Sword flew out in a flash.
“Unacceptable!”
Daoist Zhu broke out in sweat, rushing forward and using all his strength to land a punch on the golden sword energy.
The blow sent him rebounding from the golden sword energy, but fortunately, the powerful punch caused the Flying Sword’s trajectory to veer, just grazing the face of Prince Jiangning and tearing apart half of the estate’s rooftree instantly.
Dust and rubble flew everywhere.
The golden Primordial Sword flew back to hover above Qi Lie’s head.
Qi Lie’s cold voice broke the silence, “Perhaps you should try provoking me again, and see if you have the same luck with the second sword?”
The house fell into a brief silence.
Then,
came a light chuckle.
“I know the Sword Palace despises me.”
Prince Jiangning’s expression was more relaxed than ever before.
He casually said, “Whether it’s Huang Su or you, you all actually look down on me…
even Si Qi from True Hidden Peak only pretends to be civil on the surface, but keeps his distance deep inside.”
“I do not care about all this.”
Xie Sheng sat down slowly on the collapsed, broken stone steps in front of the pavilion.
He calmly said, “The Sword Palace can’t tolerate me, and I can’t tolerate the Sword Palace.”
“I just regret that Xie Zhen will not be able to participate in tomorrow’s grand competition, otherwise I would personally show you…”
“That you have bet on the wrong person, you have been shortsighted.”
At that moment, Daoist Zhu stood in front of Prince Jiangning.
“Your Highness, please don’t say anymore.”
He sighed deeply, “Tonight’s assassination attempt has nothing to do with the Jiangning royal mansion; Golden Turtle Peak is welcome to investigate and gather evidence as they wish.”
The Master of Incense Fire House earnestly said, “The talismans I left in this compound can prove that His Highness has been within the courtyard the whole time, without any interaction with anyone else…
Daoist Qi, please do not act rashly, drawing your sword now would only exacerbate the situation, needlessly creating enmity with Jiangning and the Taoist sect, while the real culprit remains beyond the law.”
“You don’t need to teach me how to investigate a case.”
Qi Lie eyed the Taoist before him with detachment and said coldly, “I came here tonight just to tell His Highness, the ‘Golden Cloud Mysterious Thunder’ of the past few days has been completely destroyed.
If the investigation of today’s case finds even the slightest collusion between the assassin and the Jiangning royal mansion or the ‘forces’ behind the mansion, I, Qi Lie, will deliver the second sword.”