Free Web NovelChapter 270: Chapter 270: Communication Skills
In fact, the anomaly in Tu Kui City on the night of October 18th had already reached the ears of the upper echelons of the Jingjiu Dynasty.
The ones responsible for handling it specifically were the Xuanqing Guard, while the local military garrison assisted in coordination.
Pang Ban, Commander of Xuanqing Guard, quickly made a decision upon receiving an urgent report slip from the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office, and sent a request for reinforcements to the Golden Sword Guard.
As the Golden Sword Guard verified the request, around noon on October 19th, another urgent report arrived from Tu Kui City. The report emphasized that three cultivator strong persons disregarded warnings and forcefully entered the restriction. These three cultivators were identified as coming from Valley of Love Flowers, Chang Baifeng, and Red Flame Sect. Soon after, based on their physical features, their identities were clearly established.
To be cautious, after discussions with Pang Ban, the Golden Sword Guard dispatched a Golden Sword Cultivator to secretly investigate the site of the anomaly in Tu Kui City on the afternoon of October 19th, then sent information back via Thousand-Mile Sound, determining that the location was highly likely a place of fortune long-hidden and newly revealed.
This so-called place of fortune might be something like the special land previously in Pingshun City, or could be a secret realm hiding treasures, or perhaps the inheritance or burial place of a deceased strong person. In short, any special place offering great benefits along with risks is commonly called a place of fortune.
Calculating it this way, the Xuanqing Guard’s reaction was still half a step slower than the various sects. There was nothing to be done, as there were too many intermediary links, too wide a coverage, and message transmission and analysis inevitably more complex than the sects.
However, the advantage was the Xuanqing Guard’s vast Document Library, rich in all manner of records—almost anything, if you wanted to find it, could be traced. On the night of October 19th, the Commander’s Office Document Library worked overnight and finally came up with a result, analyzing that the "place of fortune" in Tu Kui City was highly likely to be the tomb of the once-famous Sword Emperor Feng Bubai.
After that, based on Feng Bubai’s life deeds and other archival materials, candidates for the investigation were designated: foremost, those with high Soul Strength, and cultivation as high as possible while meeting the Soul Strength requirement.
Because the Sword Emperor was viewed with mixed opinions in history, neither wholly good nor evil, and his means were strange, often targeting souls with underhanded tricks. Thus, the three people sent to Tu Kui City were all in the Eighth to Ninth Layers of Primordial Pill Realm, with Soul Strength more than thirty percent higher than usual for that realm.
Now inside, these three were extremely fortunate that they could withstand and break free from the soul-tearing after escaping the illusion realm. Looking around, all nine accompanying sect cultivators had also passed this sinister trial of life and death.
Surprisingly, inside they even saw a Hundred Households of Xuanqing Guard, and he was lively and energetic.
He hadn’t fallen into the illusion realm nor died. At least it indicated this Hundred Households of Xuanqing Guard’s cultivation was solid and his Soul Strength much higher than usual.
When they heard him introduce himself as Shen Hao, Hundred Households Officer of Black Banner Battalion in Fengri City, the faces of the three Golden Sword Cultivators lit up in realization. ƒreewebɳovel.com
The Golden Sword Cultivators don’t frequent outside circles—even within the Jingjiu Dynasty they rarely get involved in affairs—but that doesn’t mean they’re out of touch. In particular, Xuanqing Guard’s news is always a key focus for each issue of the Golden Sword Guard’s official report. The name "Shen Hao" has appeared many times in Xuanqing Guard reports over the past two years, the most recent being the Jingxi Action not long ago, where it’s said although he’s merely a Hundred Households, he played a vital role in the operation.
In fact, not just the Golden Sword Guard, anyone who mingled in higher circles and stayed informed in the Jingjiu Dynasty knew that the name "Shen Hao" was an absolute "rising star" among the lower and middle ranks of Xuanqing Guard.
"You are Shen Hao?"
"I am, sir!"
The three Golden Sword Cultivators exchanged a smile, with the leader saying, "Seeing you safe, Hundred Households of Shen, puts our hearts at ease. Before we came, Senior Brother Pang and Lord Jiang repeatedly instructed us to find you and take you out if possible. You are highly valued—congratulations."
"I feel undeserving." Shen Hao quickly bent slightly and cupped his hands. Truthfully, hearing concern from those two big figures at such a time did move him—it meant they considered him one of their own, not just some tool to be discarded.
"Heh, it is known that Hundred Households of Shen is adept at unraveling clues, skilled in intelligence gathering. Do you have any information about this place to share?"
This was said in a clear voice, drawing attention from all the cultivators nearby, even those from Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute and Celestial Toad Sect who were about to leave.
Shen Hao was already prepared. He tentatively asked, "Do you three know the origins of this place?"
"We know some. Please tell us what you know first."
"Alright. I was accidentally drawn into this restriction, then trapped by the illusion realm. After struggling free, I met a powerful cultivator from Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, Nie Yun, Deacon Nie. By chance, Deacon Nie and I were once drinking companions, so he told me quite a bit about the place."
Upon hearing Nie Yun’s name, the expressions of the two Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute cultivators changed. Especially when they heard "drinking companion," they both twitched their lips, unsure if they wanted to laugh.
Next, Shen Hao narrated everything that happened with Nie Yun inside the Cloud Sword Domain, almost without concealment. These matters weren’t secrets, as Nie Yun had said before—the emergence of the Sword Emperor’s Tomb couldn’t be kept hidden; saying or not saying it made no difference.
"Because Deacon Nie wanted to go deeper into the tomb, and my own cultivation was shallow—I didn’t want to be a burden—so I asked Deacon Nie to send me out of Caiyuan Village. Afterwards, I stayed outside until yesterday when I met other cultivators entering."
"Who was it? Which sect?"
"It was a cultivator from Celestial Toad Sect, but I don’t know his name..."
Shen Hao was interrupted mid-sentence by a Celestial Toad Sect member nearby: "Was he using a sword, about twenties, dressed in white, handsome face?"
"Yes," Shen Hao admitted, then continued, "This Celestial Toad Sect cultivator, upon seeing me, demanded my storage bag. I refused, and when he was about to make a move, I brought out the token Deacon Nie had given me, which made him restraint himself." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
As he said this, Shen Hao took out the silver gourd given to him by Nie Yun.
"Lord Shen, may I see this gourd?"
The speaker was one of the two from Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute. Shen Hao nodded and handed the gourd over. After a moment, the other returned it, acknowledging that it was indeed a gift from Nie Yun.
With this gourd as proof, Shen Hao’s earlier words would hardly face any doubts. After all, while the Celestial Toad Sect cultivators were arrogant, they needed to be cautious in robbing Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute and Xuanqing Guard. That disciple’s choice to spare Shen Hao’s storage bag was reasonable. Even if the two nearby recognized exactly which "Celestial Toad Sect person" Shen Hao meant, they didn’t object—because in their impression, Yu Shengjue really was likely to behave like that.
As for an apology? Dream on. Even if the three Golden Sword Cultivators looked over, Celestial Toad Sect’s people didn’t change their expressions, remaining utterly calm. They’d never make a fuss over so little, and besides, they didn’t actually rob Shen’s possession anyway.
