Chapter 292: The Ghost Gate is About to Open
With the Royal Family and the Central Sacred Land contributing, the four great Sacred Lands of Pills, Artifacts, Talismans, and Formations providing resources, and Hua Changxi, Tong Yao, Jing Le, and Yan Zhenzhen stationed at the four city gates in the southeast, northwest, and center, preliminary plans were made to prevent potential unrest caused by cultivators entering the Capital City.
More than half a month has passed since the four great Sacred Lands began displaying spiritual artifacts. After entering September, cultivators from various regions wishing to join a Sacred Land are expected to arrive in the Capital City successively.
To ensure the stability of the Capital City, the Royal Family wants to finalize all arrangements quickly. Currently, only the specific amount of resources to be supplied by the four great Sacred Lands has not been determined.
To expedite the process, Xue Xian wasted no time. He summoned his confidants and handed them a list of personnel movements from the Imperial Guards, the Five City Military Command, and the Six Doors. Then, while Hua Changxi, Tong Yao, Jing Le, and Yan Zhenzhen were in the adjacent empty room discussing matters, he secretly entered the palace.
Upon meeting the Emperor, Xue Xian reported the entire process of discussions with the five great Sacred Lands regarding the issue of cultivators entering the Capital City.
The five great Sacred Lands actively cooperated, and the Emperor was very pleased.
However, Hua Changxi’s proposal to “prohibit cultivators from flying and fighting within the city, and to publicly announce the respective responsibilities of the Imperial Court and the five great Sacred Lands” caused the Emperor to fall silent for a moment.
Prohibiting cultivators from flying and fighting within the city would be beneficial for the Royal Family’s management of the Capital City.
However, publicly announcing the respective responsibilities of each party would put the Royal Family in a passive position.
The five great Sacred Lands were united; if one faced trouble, the other four would not stand idly by. However, there was no strong connection between the Royal Family and the five great Sacred Lands. If the Royal Family encountered any problems, the five great Sacred Lands might not necessarily intervene.
Should any uncontrollable event occur, the Royal Family would most likely bear the brunt of the public’s blame.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes. While Prince Shou was indeed too extreme in many matters, his assertion that Hua Changxi was a troublemaker was not wrong.
“I agree to the prohibition of cultivators flying and fighting within the city.”
“I can also agree to publicly announce the responsibilities of each party, but if the Imperial Guards, the Five City Military Command, and the Six Doors encounter problems they cannot resolve, the five great Sacred Lands must provide assistance.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Xian quickly agreed and returned to the Northern Garrison Command with the Emperor’s instructions.
During this time, Chu Junling also returned to the Heavenly Department with Wu Liyun.
On the way, Chu Junling asked Wu Liyun, “What kind of person do you think Hua Changxi is?”
Wu Liyun was silent for a moment: “Hua Changxi is very straightforward. She’s truly not someone with deep schemes; she doesn’t have many hidden motives.”
Chu Junling’s eyes flickered: “She doesn’t have hidden motives because all her plans are laid out in the open.”
Wu Liyun disliked indirect speech and actions, and she smiled, “I think this is quite good.” Her tone carried a hint of envy.
Daring to lay everything out in the open was not something everyone could do; it required strength to support it. She also wished to possess the same confidence as Hua Changxi.
Chu Junling frowned: “But once many things are laid out in the open, there is little room for maneuver.”
He now understood why Uncle Prince Shou disliked Hua Changxi so much. Hua Changxi’s way of doing things, where everything was placed in the open, must have caused Uncle Prince Shou considerable loss of face.
At this moment, they arrived at the Heavenly Department’s council building.
Chu Junling said no more and quickly entered the building. As soon as he stepped through the entrance, he saw Chu Junyi walking out from inside, surprised, “Why are you back?”
Chu Junyi glanced at him, showing no intention of answering.
However, Chu Junling grabbed Chu Junyi’s arm and said sternly, “Don’t forget your identity.”
Chu Junyi shook off Chu Junling, his voice cold, “I know very well who I am.” With that, he left without looking back.
Seeing this, Chu Junling’s expression grew even more displeased.
Wu Liyun watched this scene, sighing inwardly. The First Prince and Chu Junyi were direct cousins, yet they were always at loggerheads whenever they met.
Chu Junling suppressed his anger and looked at Wu Liyun, “Chu Junyi’s return now likely means something has happened at the Central Gate. Go and gather some information.”
Wu Liyun nodded in agreement and quickly departed.
After she left, Chu Junling took a deep breath, composed himself, and hurried into the building.
“Back so soon?”
Wei Zhenjie had just met Chu Junyi and learned that the Ghost Gate had been vibrating frequently recently, suspecting it might open soon. He was in a somber mood when he saw Chu Junling stride in.
After respectfully saluting, Chu Junling replied, “The people from the other Sacred Lands were very cooperative.” He then explained the outcome of the discussions between the five great Sacred Lands and the Royal Family regarding ‘cultivators entering the Capital City.’
Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Wei Zhenjie’s face: “Very good. Using the resources of the four great Sacred Lands to support the five thousand Demon Suppressing Army, we’ve made a profit this time.”
Chu Junling looked at Wei Zhenjie and reminded him, “Minister, the four great Sacred Lands have not yet finalized the quantity of resources they will supply.”
Wei Zhenjie smiled: “Maintaining the stability of the Capital City is the responsibility of the Demon Suppressing Army. No matter how many resources the four great Sacred Lands provide, it’s a profit.”
Chu Junling hesitated for a moment before asking, “Minister, I just saw Chu Junyi. He is stationed at the Nine Netherworlds; has something happened there for him to return?”
Wei Zhenjie glanced at him and did not conceal anything: “The Ghost Gate might be opening.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Junling’s expression trembled, and he anxiously said, “If the Ghost Gate opens, the Demon Race, Ghost Race, and Soul Race from the Nine Netherworlds will be able to directly enter the Central Gate.”
Wei Zhenjie sighed heavily: “Who says otherwise?”
Chu Junling added, “We haven’t completely secured the Central Gate yet. Once the Ghost Gate opens, the Central Gate will likely fall into chaos.”
“The Central Gate is crucial for the stability of the Demon Prison and absolutely cannot be lost. Minister, I am willing to lead the Demon Suppressing Army to guard it. Please approve.”
Wei Zhenjie listened and smiled at Chu Junling: “With you and Junyi managing the Demon Suppressing Army, it saves me a lot of trouble. Let Junyi worry about the Central Gate; you, my boy, should focus on handling matters in the Human World.”
Upon hearing this, a hint of dejection crossed Chu Junling’s eyes.
He and Chu Junyi were the Left and Right Generals of the Demon Suppressing Army, respectively, yet the Minister had only taken Chu Junyi as his disciple.
Towards him, the Minister only showed regard; but towards Chu Junyi, the Minister showed both care and guidance.
How unfair!
Wei Zhenjie: “Didn’t you say the matter of cultivators entering the Capital City isn’t fully settled yet? Then hurry back to the Northern Garrison Command and keep an eye on it.”
Seeing Wei Zhenjie dismiss him, Chu Junling could only suppress his dissatisfaction and withdraw.
As he retreated to the doorway, Wei Zhenjie spoke again: “The matter of ‘cultivators entering the Capital City’ is not trivial. You must handle it with care. Remember, you represent the Central Sacred Land, not the Royal Family.”
Chu Junling’s brows furrowed even tighter: “Yes.”
By the time Xue Xian and Chu Junling both returned to the Northern Garrison Command’s council hall, Hua Changxi, Tong Yao, Jing Le, and Yan Zhenzhen had also finalized the amount of resources they would provide.
Given that the ‘cultivators entering the Capital City’ incident arose from the Sacred Lands recruiting apprentices, and that cultivators entering the Capital City from various regions would also promote exchange and development among cultivators, the four of them were very generous, and the resources provided were not insignificant.
Xue Xian looked at the quantities of resources the four had proposed, and his heart skipped a beat. Only one thought echoed in his mind: the four great Sacred Lands are indeed wealthy and powerful!
Chu Junling also glanced at them, and his heart stirred slightly.
The Royal Family knew some details about the Divine Wood Secret Realm of the Dan Sheng Hall; however, they had no understanding of the other three great Sacred Lands.
Judging by their contributions this time, their resource reserves were definitely no less than that of the Dan Sheng Hall!
Having served in the Demon Suppressing Army for many years, Chu Junling knew clearly how many resources the Heavenly Department distributed annually, calculated in the trillions, yet he had never found the source of these resources.
The depth of the Sacred Lands’ foundations was as vast as the ocean!
