"It's fine, I can still hold on," Chen Mo shook his head and said. "Although the Gu God Sect has been wiped out, that group of Barbarian Slaves haven't been found yet. If they were secretly smuggled out of the city, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack."
"Why don't we split up? You go back and assist the Princess in investigating the state mansion officials, and I'll wander around the city to see if I can find any clues."
"If there are any discoveries, contact imdiately through the Communication Talisman."
"Alright."
Zhong Lihe knew Chen Mo's prowess in handling cases and said nothing more.
Li Yuan and Ye Zi'e originally wanted to stay, but he found an excuse to send them off.
Watching everyone's departing silhouette, Chen Mo's eyes slightly narrowed. The matter had transford from public duty to personal vendetta, and he didn't want to involve others. Moreover, having others present might inevitably tie his hands.
Yu Youhan's figure slowly erged, raising a hand to toss over a Jade Scroll.
"Here."
"What is this?"
Chen Mo reached out to catch it, feeling sowhat curious.
Yu Youhan said indifferently, "Found in the Scripture Pavilion in the rear hill, it is of high grade and should be useful to you."
[Obtained Heavenly Rank Top Grade Cultivation Technique: Purple Cloud Heart Scripture.]
Watching the prompt flash before him, Chen Mo realized that this was likely the magic technique that old Taoist used to manipulate devotees.
After roughly inspecting it, he couldn't suppress his astonishnt. The creator of this technique was genuinely a genius, managing to think of utilizing emotions?
The seven emotions and six desires of man all originate from the Innate Qi, evolving after being tainted by earthly elents. Unlike the Supre Heart-Cleansing Mantra, this technique strips emotions away, using soul fire to refine and purify them, returning to the Origin for personal use!
Unlike the emphasis on refining oneself found in the Heart Clarity Spell, this technique is truly a thod of using beings as fuel!
Theoretically speaking, as long as the Origin absorbed is ample, it is indeed possible for the Divine Soul to remain unscathed.
Coupled with the Gu God Sect's practice of discarding the flesh, it might actually achieve a sort of 'eternal life'!
"Yin Tiankou excels at manipulating minds. If left to grow, he might beco the Gu Dao Supre, the entire Jiu Zhou would suffer imasurable consequences!"
"Could it be that the Emperor knew all of this in advance and thus sent to the Southern Border?"
"But how did he ascertain that I could thwart Yin Tiankou?"
Chen Mo constantly felt that the old Emperor was scheming against him, yet the Emperor hadn't hard him; rather, he continually created opportunities for him to establish rit. It seed more akin to... nurturing him?
"Nine parts odd out of ten."
"Could Wu Lie be intending to use against the noble families? If so, he might be overestimating my abilities."
Chen Mo's emotions surged, unable to untangle the confusion at the mont. Now, he could only see what the 'real culprit behind the scenes' knew...
He glanced up at the sky, where the sunset draped itself across the horizon.
"Empress, it's getting late. It's ti to act."
"Yes."
...
...
Inner City.
As dusk fell, the governnt office was bustling with people outside.
Knowing it was to welco the Princess, the state mansion officials dared not be negligent, promptly heading over from various governnt offices after work.
Entering the inner hall, two rows of square tables were arranged on the floor. Jiao Yu and others were already waiting here, heads bowed, looking pale and sowhat despondent.
Once everyone was gathered, a slow pace of footsteps sounded, and a figure clad in a fiery red gown entered the hall through the Chuihua Gate.
Everyone hurriedly knelt to pay respects.
"This official pays respects to Princess Xuanhuang!"
"May Your Highness be blessed with good health!"
Chu Yanli took the seat at the head with a bold deanor, slightly nodding, "Be seated."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Everyone responded and seated themselves.
Soon, a group of maids carrying trays filed in, setting dishes on the tables and filling the cups before each person with wine.
The air was filled with the aroma of wine, mingled with a unique fragrance.
"Lord Jiao..."
Kuang Yinghao cleared his throat slightly, reminding softly.
The Prefect Jiao Yu ca to himself, holding his wine cup with both hands as he stood, forcing a smile, "Years ago, when the Barbarian Tribe invaded, the people of the Southern Border were displaced. The Princess herself led the army to subdue the Southern Barbarians, saving countless lives from peril!"
"Afterwards, she guarded the border for several years, organizing defenses, ensuring no foreign threats dare advance to this day!"
"It could be said that without Her Highness's past sacrifices, there would be no today's prosperity in Bailu City, benefiting future generations, credit lasting for centuries!"
"Now that Her Highness personally inspects, this official feels privileged to behold such honor, truly a blessing of three lifetis! Let us raise our cups together to celebrate Her Highness's longevity!"
Following a silky smooth toast, Jiao Yu took a deep breath and drank his cup empty.
"To Her Highness! May Her Highness live a thousand years!"
The officials rose one after another, throwing their heads back to drink heartily.
The intense liquor ward their throats, flushing their cheeks a bit.
Chu Yanli spoke calmly, "This is a dicinal wine I've had prepared especially, how do you all find the taste?"
"Excellent wine!"
"For Your Highness to go to such lengths, this official feels humbled!"
"Indeed, I wondered why there was a dicinal aroma, smooth to the taste, with lasting potency..."
Though they spoke words of praise, they didn't notice the increasingly grim look on the faces of the few high-ranking officials from the state mansion.
The atmosphere intensified, and a Vice Envoy from the Taxation Bureau bravely asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, what dicinal ingredients were used to brew this wine, for it to taste so distinctive?"
"It's quite simple, I just added a few Gu Poison Worms," Chu Yanli replied casually.
"Gu... Poison Worms?"
The crowd was taken aback by the statent, uncertain if they'd heard correctly.
Chu Yanli, looking calm and composed, said, "Oh, I forgot to ntion, before Chen Mo eradicated the Tiannan State's residence, he captured a batch of Seven Absolute Gu, which I happened to mix in."
???
Before they could react, a Mariti Trade Bureau official suddenly collapsed onto the table.
Clatter—
Food fell to the ground everywhere.
"Uh..."
Grabbing his throat with both hands, his face turned blue-purple, yet not a sound ca out.
Soon, his body convulsed violently, black blood pouring from his orifices, before finally falling silent.
"Seems his drinking capacity is quite low, taking just a cup to knock him out cold."
Chu Yanli's rosy lips curved as she swept her gaze across the crowd, smiling broadly, "So, who will be next?"
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