Imperial Capital.
Inside the Department of Immortal Suppression, Wu Neng sat upon the seat of authority.
In ordinary times, it would be the representatives of the major factions coming to report.
But today, those seated below were exclusively members of the Department of Immortal Suppression.
It had been ages since Wu Neng had felt as relaxed and at ease as he did today.
"Reporting to the Commander. Qi Wunian has sent another transmission requesting reinforcements."
A man could be seen kneeling on one knee.
This man was named Zhao Guang, a figure of unwavering loyalty.
Seeing the smile plastering Wu Neng's face, he hurriedly lowered his head.
"The major factions are in a crisis. Our reinforcements are already near the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, and we have enlisted helpers from numerous great powers.
Shall we take action immediately?"
"Have the people from the Grand Tower shown themselves yet?" Wu Neng asked with a smile.
"No."
Zhao Guang replied,
"Heavenly Lord Ning An was a spy for the Grand Tower, just as Your Honor predicted.
The Grand Tower certainly won't miss this chance to eradicate the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
In doing so, they can acquire all the Mountain's secret Corpse Stitching techniques, as well as the corpses of numerous strong cultivators.
Benefits like these would be enough to sustain them in seclusion for a thousand years."
"Since the Grand Tower hasn't appeared, then we do not move.
If Qi Wunian asks again, just stall him with another excuse."
"Then what about our people..." Zhao Guang paused for a moment, stunned.
Wu Neng, however, did not address this.
He simply said,
"The Sword Pavilion, the Changsun Clan, the Heavenly Monarch Dao Sanctuary, and even that Li Clan of Azure Cloud...
These factions always assume that once they join my Department of Immortal Suppression and wield its authority, they can act with impunity, believing they have truly become the dignitaries of our Dynasty.
Even if every last one of them dies on the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, give it a few years, and the experts from their sects will still come scrambling back, eager to enjoy this power."
"There will always be new faces next year."
At this point, Wu Neng frowned slightly.
"Where is Li Chang'an?"
Zhao Guang dared not speak further and could only reply,
"Reporting to the Commander. Li Chang'an is in the Heavenly Palace Peach Garden.
You ordered your subordinate to find a way to arrest and imprison him, but... when I went to the Peach Garden to find him, I was obstructed by the imperial concubines.
I dared not act rashly against them.
My Lord, without concrete evidence, I fear that... even if he were actually thrown into prison, those concubines would find every possible means to rescue him."
"...."
Wu Neng remained silent for a moment. "Did he... cross the line?"
"He did not." Zhao Guang gave a wry smile.
"The man has a dignified appearance and the air of a true gentleman.
The concubines are practically dying to spend a spring night with him, yet aside from chatting about the world and reciting poetry, Li Chang'an hasn't even touched a single hand of a concubine."
"Hmph!" Wu Neng's jaw muscles went rigid.
With two of the Li Clan's Void Refinement cultivators about to perish on the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, the clan was entering a period of inevitable decline.
Even the Crown Prince would not be able to stop him from making a move against that self-important brat, Li Chang'an.
Yet, Li Chang'an had spent all these years in the Imperial Capital without committing a single offense.
Wu Neng hadn't found even a sliver of a chance to arrest him.
"Did you not even have a chance to slip an aphrodisiac into his wine?"
"He... he doesn't drink. He refuses anything offered by others, claiming it's unclean."
...
[Your descendant, Li Chang'an, has been favored by the palace concubines for many years.
However, as he has a wife at home, he has never dared to forget her.
Acquired Trait: Chaste of Heart.]
[Strictly abides by his duty. Mental Disposition +5%, Comprehension +5%.]
[The more he guards his chastity, the more he is adored by beauties.
Acquired Trait: Handsome Man.]
[Attraction to women increased by 30%.
Success rate of forming marriage bonds with women increased by 30%.
Attack power of women against him reduced by 30%.]
In the Heavenly Palace Peach Garden, a fragrant breeze wafted through the air, and peach blossoms carpeted the ground with no one to gather them.
The Human Emperor now struggled even to maintain his own life force, yet the major factions continued to send a ceaseless stream of concubines, hoping to display their "loyalty" and forge ties with him.
At this moment, a dozen or so concubines sat beneath the pavilion.
Amidst their dignified airs, there was a subtle hint of flirtatious posturing.
The "Jade-Faced Gentleman," famous throughout the Imperial Capital, sat beneath the peach trees.
Having accepted the concubines' invitation to enter the Peach Garden as a musician, he rested his hands on his zither, wearing a faint smile as he shook the fallen peach blossoms from his shoulders.
"I ask for the forgiveness of you noble ladies. Songs of romance are reserved solely for my humble wife."
His song concluded, Li Chang'an had his servants pack up his instruments.
Under the reluctant, longing gazes of the palace concubines, he departed without taking a single peach blossom with him, heading toward the outside of the palace.
A member of the Hall of Heavenly Principles approached his side.
"Reporting to Lord Chang'an: that scoundrel Wu Neng still shows no intention of sending aid to the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
Just moments ago, Zhao Guang from the Department of Immortal Suppression came looking for you.
This subordinate suspects that Wu Neng is truly intent on suppressing you."
Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Li Chang'an's brows furrowed slightly.
Originally, when he came to the Imperial Capital, he had held many aspirations.
Back in the Azure Cloud Prefecture, he had been the one mediating on all sides to ensure the region remained safe and sound.
With chaos now rising across the world, he had thought he could fully display his abilities here in the Capital.
Yet, the Imperial Capital was a filthy place; simply staying true to one's original principles was exceptionally difficult.
"The Department of Immortal Suppression possesses immense power.
If we were able to uncover the connection between the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems and the Grand Tower, then the Department can certainly do the same."
Li Chang'an held a folded iron fan in his right hand, tapping it rhythmically against the palm of his left.
As he walked, the length of each step did not deviate by even a hair's breadth.
"This man intends to use all the major factions of the Department of Immortal Suppression, including our Li family, as mere bait to lure the Grand Tower out of hiding.
Only in this way can he maximize his benefits."
"In his eyes, factions like ours are ultimately outsiders. To him, we are expendable."
"Especially my Azure Cloud Li Clan."
Li Chang'an exhaled a long breath.
"We sit in possession of the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
He is afraid.
He fears that my Li Clan is becoming too powerful, that we are too favored by the Imperial Family, and that we will rise straight to a higher rank.
If that happens, there will be no place left for his Department of Immortal Suppression in this world.
This silent treatment and suppression stem from nothing more than the jealousy in his heart."
The subordinate at his side sneered.
He didn't know what sort of thing this Wu Neng of the Department of Immortal Suppression was supposed to be, but he knew one thing: the Department was blind.
Leaving aside the Master of their Hall of Heavenly Principles, the Hall itself had reached a new height of power after several hundred years of development.
They were simply biding their time in the shadows.
If truly provoked, they could instantly throw the world into chaos, just like during the era of Crown Prince Sheng!
"Find a secluded place and send a Dark Crow transmission.
Say that the two Old Ancestors of our family have likely lost their lives."
As soon as Li Chang'an spoke, the subordinate was stunned. "Huh? Isn't that inauspicious?"
Hearing this, Li Chang'an continued, "After all these years, our method of Dark Crow transmission has long been known to others. Since Wu Neng is watching us, let us satisfy him."
Seeing the subordinate's worry, Li Chang'an smiled.
"Rest assured. With my grandson Xinnian holding the fort back home, Wu Neng—being so far away in the Imperial Capital—lacks the ability to suppress my Li Clan's status in the Azure Cloud Prefecture."
"Just who this fire will burn is still an unknown variable."
"If he wants to play the fisherman, he must first prove he is worthy of the role!"
---
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