Chapter 289: A Dress Rehearsal
Today was about discussing how to resolve the issue of ‘potential riots from cultivators entering the Capital City’ at the Northern Garrison Command. After Hua Changxi teleported back to the Dan Yuan Secret Realm, she didn’t dally. She exited the secret realm directly, then flew down Dan Yuan Peak. Amidst various overt and covert glances, she quickly left the Medical Affairs Department.
At the entrance of Number Ten Qihuang Hall, Tang Yufeng saw Gu Jin Fan staring intently at Hua Changxi’s departing back and walked up with a smile.
“Since the Royal Family didn’t choose to make a move at the first opportunity, Hua Changxi’s visit to the Northern Garrison Command today will likely just cost her some resources.”
He said, with a look of emotion.
“I just didn’t expect the Royal Family to be so lenient.”
In the past, if anyone dared to provoke the Royal Family, they would absolutely use thunderous means to suppress them. Now, the once supreme imperial power is truly beginning to wane, and its decline is faster than they imagined.
Gu Jin Fan’s eyes flickered. She hadn’t expected it either.
Was the Royal Family afraid of Hua Changxi?
Of course not.
While Hua Changxi was an unpredictable factor, when facing the Royal Family, she was still in a position of being passively beaten.
The Royal Family’s choice not to pursue the matter was undoubtedly a wise move.
Although the Royal Family still held sway in the current situation of the Medical Affairs Department, they lacked follow-up power. None of the core personnel in either the Qihuang Pavilion or the Spiritual Realm Pavilion were royal scions.
This meant that no matter how the Royal Family vied for power, they would not hold a core position after the Dan Sheng Hall’s revival.
In such a scenario, all struggles became meaningless.
For the Royal Family to suppress Hua Changxi would yield no practical benefits beyond venting anger. Instead, confronting Hua Changxi would likely result in severe damage.
She knew that Hua Changxi was very likely the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall. If the Royal Family truly moved against Hua Changxi, she would most likely mobilize the Vermilion Bird Army.
Even though the Vermilion Bird Army was not yet fully regularized and its numbers were small, it was one of the four most legitimate armies in the Four Spirit Realm.
If the Royal Family clashed with the Vermilion Bird Army, well, even if the Royal Family’s deep foundations gave them an initial advantage, the Vermilion Bird Army was under the command of the Vermilion Bird Emperor. Once the Vermilion Bird Emperor appeared, it would be equivalent to the Royal Family offending one of the four supreme Emperors of the Four Spirit Realm. For the Royal Family, this would be an absolute disaster. Even if the Vermilion Bird Emperor did not pursue the matter, his followers would not let the Royal Family off the hook.
Gu Jin Fan believed that the Royal Family, having ruled the Great Jin for a thousand years, had accumulated some luck, preventing them from underestimating Hua Changxi and making a wrong decision.
She was pleased to see this situation of peace between the Royal Family and Hua Changxi.
Regardless, because of Hua Changxi’s existence, the direction of many things had deviated from the trajectory of her previous life.
Especially the public recruitment of disciples by the Four Great Sacred Lands this time, it could definitely be considered a milestone in pushing the Four Spirit Realm into a full-fledged cultivation era.
With the cultivation era beginning, there would be more and more human cultivators.
After the first Spiritual Energy Tide, when the Demon Race’s strength surged and they launched their first beast tide, humanity would not suffer such a devastating defeat as in her previous life.
As long as the foundation of human cultivators remained, it would not be so easy for outer realm cultivators to invade.
Seeing Gu Jin Fan’s silence, Tang Yufeng continued on his own, “Hua Changxi was shouting that day that she didn’t want to bear the responsibility of cultivators entering the Capital City alone. I wonder if the Imperial Guards can invite people from other Sacred Lands to intervene?”
Gu Jin Fan finally reacted, “The other Sacred Lands will definitely intervene.”
Tang Yufeng was surprised, “You’re that sure?”
Gu Jin Fan turned to look at him, “What do you think constitutes a pillar of strength? Since the major Sacred Lands decided to publicly recruit disciples, they will certainly bear the corresponding responsibilities.”
Tang Yufeng sensed Gu Jin Fan’s reverence for the major Sacred Lands and was somewhat surprised. He smiled, “It’s just that the other three Sacred Lands have been too low-key, and I don’t know much about them. Since they are willing to show themselves now, I will have to pay close attention to them in the future.”
Gu Jin Fan’s expression shifted, “Actually, Hua Changxi has the demeanor of a successor from a Sacred Land, she’s just too unconventional.”
Tang Yufeng didn’t dislike Hua Changxi either, and even admired her. He also sighed, “Yes, they say the rigid break easily. Sometimes, I can’t help but worry for her.”
Hearing this, Gu Jin Fan also sighed inwardly. She still hoped that Hua Changxi, whose fate of early death had been changed by her rebirth, could go higher and further.
On the other side, after leaving the Medical Affairs Department, Hua Changxi headed straight for the Northern Garrison Command.
The Northern Garrison Command was easy to find; she had gone there with Pang Shaoyu and even stumbled upon the Floating Light Sword and the Floating Light Sword Art found by the Imperial Guards in a ruin.
The Northern Garrison Command was adjacent to the Heavenly Department. Perhaps because the Heavenly Department managed all matters related to the Spiritual Energy Revival and held too much authority, the Royal Family was not entirely at ease, so they placed the Northern Garrison Command next to the Heavenly Department for convenient surveillance.
Just as Hua Changxi walked onto the street leading to the Northern Garrison Command and was about to approach the government office gate, a commotion arose from the street corner. She turned her head and saw a troop of cavalry with a terrifying aura marching in unison towards them.
These cavalrymen wore black armor, donned Kirin masks, and exuded a dense aura of killing intent, making it impossible to look directly at them.
The Demon Suppressing Army!
The Heavenly Department was next door, so the appearance of the Demon Suppressing Army on the street was not surprising, but Hua Changxi still showed a look of surprise.
It wasn’t for any other reason than the Demon Suppressing Army was ostentatiously escorting a massive Tiger Demon, and it was a Nascent Soul stage demonic beast!
Although the Tiger Demon was bound by iron chains and covered in wounds, its public display was brazen. Wasn’t the Demon Suppressing Army afraid of the Tiger Demon suddenly erupting and harming the citizens of the Capital City?
“Is this the demonic beast that appeared in Nanxiang County and devoured several villages and towns?”
As soon as the Tiger Demon appeared, many Imperial Guards rushed out from the Northern Garrison Command government office.
“It seems likely.”
“It has to be the Demon Suppressing Army. They captured the Tiger Demon with just one move.”
“I heard that in the past few months, many demonic beasts have appeared in Nanxiang County, and many people have died.”
“It’s not just Nanxiang County; many places outside the Capital City have seen Great Demons, devouring people everywhere. Wherever demonic beasts appear, people die in large numbers. Only the Capital City is relatively peaceful now.”
Hua Changxi frowned as she listened to the Imperial Guards’ discussion. Had things already become so chaotic in various regions?
“Roar~”
A piercing beast roar pulled Hua Changxi’s thoughts back.
Hua Changxi followed the sound and saw that the Tiger Demon, chained up, had indeed erupted. While fending off the Demon Suppressing Army’s attacks, it continuously tore at the thick chains binding it.
It was unclear if this troop of the Demon Suppressing Army had just fought a battle and hadn’t recovered their strength, but after the Tiger Demon erupted, it directly sent a large group of people flying.
“Hoo~”
Unable to break free from the chains immediately, the Tiger Demon opened its massive maw and spewed a waterfall of flames towards the crowd on the street.
“Whoosh~”
A colorful halo flew out from the crowd, transforming into a transparent, colorful spiritual cloth that blocked the flames.
Then, a golden character ‘Suppress’ flew out, enlarged in the air, and covered the Tiger Demon, pinning it firmly to the ground.
The next moment, a giant hammer conjured from spiritual energy flew out and struck the Tiger Demon heavily.
The cracking sound of bones breaking echoed continuously. In an instant, the Tiger Demon, which had been raging moments before, became weak and on the verge of death.
Simultaneously, almost the instant the colorful halo flew out, in a place imperceptible to the human eye, a slender spiritual needle quietly entered the Tiger Demon’s body, directly shattering its Demon Core.
The citizens on the street, terrified by the Tiger Demon’s sudden outburst, thought they were doomed. To their surprise, the Tiger Demon died in the blink of an eye.
Amidst the people’s shock and fear, Jing Le, Tong Yao, and Yan Zhenzhen emerged one after another. The three exchanged glances and simultaneously looked towards Hua Changxi, who was outside the Northern Garrison Command government office.
Hua Changxi hadn’t expected that the people sent by the three Sacred Lands would be Tong Yao and the other two. She nodded at them, waited for them to approach, and without saying anything, they turned and stepped into the Northern Garrison Command government office together.
Away from the Imperial Guards at the entrance, Hua Changxi finally spoke, “Was this whole spectacle meant to test our strength?”
Tong Yao: “It should be a rehearsal. Although the citizens of the Capital are not unfamiliar with cultivators and know that demonic beasts are causing trouble and eating people in various regions, they don’t know the specific details, and many haven’t seen it with their own eyes.”
“The Demon Suppressing Army escorting this Tiger Demon from the South Gate today, coupled with the Tiger Demon’s sudden outburst, is enough to ignite the fear in the hearts of the Capital’s citizens.”
Jing Le added, “Having witnessed the terror of the Tiger Demon firsthand, once cultivators from outside engage in conflict, it will surely trigger panic and resistance among the Capital’s citizens.”
Yan Zhenzhen tugged at Hua Changxi’s sleeve, signaling her to look back.
Hua Changxi looked towards the outside of the government office and saw the leader of the Demon Suppressing Army escorting the Tiger Demon remove his mask, revealing a stern and majestic face.
Yan Zhenzhen: “That’s the First Prince, the Right General of the Demon Suppressing Army, Chu Junling.”
“The scene just now was not only intended to ignite the public’s fear but also to show us how dangerous demonic beasts are, and the danger posed by cultivators is even greater.”
“Because cultivators can hide more deeply within crowds, people are less guarded. If they commit a crime, it will be harder to find them.”
