Chapter 666 - 666 Revised 33 Yu Chi You De_2
666: Revised: Chapter 33 Yu Chi You De_2 666: Revised: Chapter 33 Yu Chi You De_2 Xie Xuanyi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his face expressionless as he said, “Didn’t you think about suppressing the news?”
“A total of 314 were killed.”
Zong Bi’s voice trembled slightly.
After the Soul Stationing Technique took effect, he could not lie.
As the black sword intent rippled out from the center of his brows, Zong Bi’s trembling voice returned to normal.
He said slowly, “At first, I wanted to build a mansion specifically to keep the tributes, but this idea was rejected by Daoist Qian Yuan.”
“Why was it rejected?” Xie Xuanyi frowned.
“Each tribute is designated by Daoist Qian Yuan.”
Zong Bi lowered his eyes and said, “Every month, Daoist Qian Yuan would compile a list and send it to the City Lord Mansion.
I had to deliver the tributes to the Hehuan Sect according to this list, which was divided into two parts.”
One part was the living human cauldrons that needed to be sent to the Hehuan Sect.
The other part was the “Spirit Marrow Fruit” that Zong Bi had to refine himself.
Daoist Qian Yuan knew that Zong Bi detested this practice.
But to drag Zong Bi down with him…
the City Lord Mansion of Lingqu City had to participate personally in the refinement of the “Spirit Marrow Fruit.” This was the thing Zong Bi most loathed, yet was powerless against.
He did not let anyone else get involved in this matter; no one in the Zong family knew about it, not even his closest confidant, Yuchi Youde.
Xie Xuanyi said calmly, “Where is this month’s list?”
“In theory, it should have arrived ten days ago.”
Zong Bi was also a bit puzzled.
He muttered, “Daoist Qian Yuan seems to have vanished into thin air…
no matter how I try to communicate with him, there’s no response.
Perhaps it’s because we had a quarrel?”
Xie Xuanyi found another rattan chair to sit on, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips: “Continue.”
“Two months ago, the one in Ren Shou Palace announced their seclusion.”
Zong Bi said respectfully, “The Spirit Marrow Fruit was already an unnecessary tribute…
since that person announced their seclusion, there was naturally no rush in offering it.
I proposed to ‘rest’ for a while.
But Daoist Qian Yuan did not agree, and because of this, we had a quarrel.
Later, he sent the list to the mansion, but I ignored it and did not send the cauldrons as required.”
“What happened then?”
“After that…
Daoist Qian Yuan disappeared.”
Zong Bi muttered, “I was lucky.
Although the tributes were not offered on time, the Imperial City Department did not punish me.
Looking back now, it must have been related to your dispatch.”
“Heh.”
Xie Xuanyi sneered.
It was indeed related to his dispatch.
After Yuan Jimo was slain by him at Qu River… who else would come to hold Lingqu City accountable for the tributes?
“From today on, your life no longer belongs to you.”
Xie Xuanyi looked at Zong Bi, his voice stern and commanding: “As for the offering of the ‘Spirit Marrow Fruit’…
there’s no need to consider it.
If the Hehuan Sect sends any more messages, inform me immediately.”
“Yes.”
Zong Bi’s voice was respectful, without the slightest hesitation.
…
…
Upon leaving the City Lord Mansion, Xie Xuanyi’s mood did not lighten at all; instead, it became even heavier.
Upon reflection.
Zong Bi could certainly be considered a meritorious figure.
The victory in the Battle of Poison was not solely due to the united efforts of the Holy Land Families fighting the Demon Race Great Venerable… there were also many like “Zong Bi” who were willing to spill blood for Great Chu.
Once the Soul Stationing Technique took effect, Zong Bi no longer had any secrets before Xie Xuanyi.
He was a pitiable person.
After the great battle, he arrived in Lingqu City full of fervor, only to be forced into corruption in the end.
Lingqu City was bustling and lively.
Most of the people here had enough to eat, clothes to wear, and houses to live in.
Compared to Yuan Province.
This place was already quite peaceful.
But unfortunately…
this peace was merely a facade.
The number of “Spirit Marrow Fruits” Zong Bi refined over the years was not actually large, because Daoist Qian Yuan understood his temperament.
To drag Zong Bi into collusion with him, he had to proceed gradually…
If Yuan Jimo had not been killed by him, what would Lingqu City have become?
Perhaps Zong Bi would have completely submitted.
Or perhaps Ren Shou Palace would have lost patience.
All it would take was one imperial edict, and the Zong family would be razed to the ground overnight.
The new City Lord who came later might not necessarily do better than Zong Bi.
Xie Xuanyi returned to the courtyard.
He had found a Dan Box in the pavilion of the City Lord Mansion.
This Dan Box contained the “Spirit Marrow Fruits” that Lingqu City needed to offer regularly.
They were barely the size of a knuckle, seemingly pristine and spotless…
Only those who knew the truth of the refinement process knew the sinister aspect of these elixirs.
“Almost no medicinal power at all.”
Xie Xuanyi looked at the Spirit Marrow Fruit, a look of sorrow on his face: “They are purely for amusement…”
Anti-aging?
A Great Practitioner in the Yang God Realm, changing appearance only required a sweep of their Divine Thought for easy transformation.
For someone at the level of the Holy Empress, Spirit Marrow Fruits were completely unnecessary!
“Crack.”
Xie Xuanyi shook his head and crushed the Dan Box.
With this grip, it contained the Path of Destruction.
Both the Dan Box and the elixirs were shattered into powder, falling through his fingers.
After Emperor Chu’s collapse, the Northern Border Guardian was dismissed, and all old troops involved in the Battle of Poison were reassigned and dealt with.
Those who were wise enough to bow down were relocated to the Imperial City, and could still retain a place there.
Those stubborn “fools” would be devoured until nothing was left of their bones.
Whether it was the Spirit Marrow Fruit or the tribute…
what Zong Bi encountered was merely a test from Ren Shou Palace.
If he knelt in submission, he would be granted a lifetime of grace.
Just then.
Suddenly, a knocking sound came from outside the courtyard.
Xie Xuanyi opened the door, and the person standing outside was none other than Yuchi Youde, who had left the City Lord Mansion not long ago.
“Lord Xie.”
The tall man, wearing white scale armor and a long knife at his waist, bowed respectfully.
His voice carried respect: “I am Yuchi Youde, adopted son of City Lord Zong Bi, and the current Left Guard Captain of Lingqu City.
I admire your prowess, and I’m regretful that we couldn’t meet at the banquet tonight.
I have come to report something tonight.”
“…”
Xie Xuanyi silently watched the man before him.
In normal circumstances, this door would never have opened.
Even if the Left Guard Captain of Lingqu City, or even Zong Bi himself, came to seek a low posture, it would be useless.
If he didn’t want to see them, he wouldn’t.
However…
tonight was an exception.
Yuchi Youde did not know that in the pavilion of the City Lord Mansion, his conversation with Zong Bi, every word and action, was witnessed by Xie Xuanyi.
Xie Xuanyi decided to give the person in front of him a chance: “What is it?”
“This.”
Yuchi Youde hesitated a bit.
Standing outside the courtyard, he looked around, indicating that this was not a place to talk.
“Come in.”
Xie Xuanyi turned sideways to let him in.
Yuchi Youde quickly stepped into the courtyard.
Without a moment’s hesitation after entering, as soon as Xie Xuanyi had closed the door, he knelt down with a thud.
This action took Xie Xuanyi by surprise.
This guy kneeled so quickly?
“Lord Xie, as expected of the Da Sui Sword Immortal, the new master of Xuanshui, the Sword Champion of Great Chu!”
Yuchi Youde’s expression was sincere: “Youde has long heard of your great name, and seeing you today, your demeanor is indeed extraordinary and admirable…
With such grace, it is no wonder you are favored by the Holy Empress, granted titles and lands!”
Clearly, this guy was not good at flattery.
While the compliment seemed smooth on the surface, the latter half of it was rather awkward, making one feel speechless.
Truly a case of touching the sore spot.
“…”
The corners of Xie Xuanyi’s mouth twitched slightly: “Speak straight.”
Yuchi Youde also felt a bit embarrassed and instinctively touched his cheek…
After leaving the City Lord Mansion, he had been conflicted all the way.
He finally chose to “visit” Xie Zhen and lingered around the courtyard for a long time before coming up with this set of flattering words.
He had heard that Xie Zhen liked solitude.
Given his identity and status, he was afraid it would be hard to see him.
By heaven’s blessing, the meeting went much smoother than he imagined.
Receiving this response let him breathe a sigh of relief.
It seemed that Lord Xie did not buy into this set of flattery.
Good, good.
“Lord Xie, with the Southern Border Demon Cleansing approaching, I would not dare to disturb you without good cause…”
“It’s just that the demon cleansing doesn’t differentiate between inside and outside, and I’m afraid there’s a great evil spirit within Lingqu City itself.”
Yuchi Youde took out a Jade Scroll from his chest and reported solemnly: “The Left Guard Captain is responsible for patrolling the city.
This is the dossier I’ve compiled from my investigation.
Due to lack of strength, I could only act with caution, but now that I see you, I hope these cases of abnormalities can be redressed…”