Chapter 505 506: Could This Be the World-Honored One?
Chapter 506: This Can't Be the World-Honored One, Right?
Lü Yang's demonstration of killing the chicken to scare the monkeys proved highly effective—especially after disciples of the Three Dukes confirmed the authenticity of the "evidence" he provided.
"This isn't investigating a case—it's purging dissenters!"
At the Shaofu Residence, Shaobao Li Taian slammed the table in disbelief: "How could Ning Haohe possibly be a Demon Sect spy who attempted to assassinate His Majesty?"
Yet no matter how much he questioned it, the "evidence" Lü Yang provided lay plainly before them, clearly bearing the divine sense imprints of Chen Yuanli and Ning Haohe. Such imprints couldn't possibly be forged unless applied by the individuals themselves. With this, the evidence was indeed ironclad.
"Could they have been tortured into false confessions?" Shaofu murmured.
Shaobao instinctively shook his head: "Unlikely. Haohe is my close friend—he's always been strong-willed. He wouldn't yield to torture..."
His voice trailed off abruptly.
Wouldn't yield to torture? Then how to explain this ironclad evidence before them... For a moment, Shaofu, Shaobao, and Shaoshi exchanged uneasy glances.
Finally, Shaofu broke the silence:
"This city-wide sweep by the Imperial City Bureau comes not only with evidence but also the endorsement of Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince. The procedures are flawless."
Li Taian immediately pounded the table: "I knew that demonic dragon harbored ill intentions—"
"I'm not so sure."
Shaofu shook his head: "The Imperial City Bureau is merely a blade. The true wielder targeting us must be Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince."
Had it been just the Imperial City Bureau acting alone, they would never have allowed Lü Yang to arrest officials so freely—even with solid evidence and proper procedures, they would have intervened. But with the Empress and Crown Prince backing him, they had to tread carefully.
Suddenly, Li Taian's expression changed.
While conversing, he had been monitoring the Imperial City Bureau's movements with his divine sense and now detected something amiss: "Trouble! That demonic dragon has gone to the Five Armies Command Headquarters!"
Inside the Five Armies Command Headquarters.
Lü Yang strode calmly into the spacious hall and unceremoniously took the seat of honor. Below him stood the five capital garrison commanders personally named by the Empress.
"Greetings, Commander Du Huan."
"At ease."
Lü Yang smiled faintly, seeing through the five commanders' hidden thoughts. During their earlier discussions, Empress Xiao had briefed him on these men.
In short, three were diehard loyalists of Emperor Jiayou, while the other two were disciples of the Three Dukes—an unspoken compromise between the Emperor and the Three Dukes. Thus, even with the Empress and Crown Prince's backing, he couldn't command these five.
Fortunately, he had no intention of trying.
The five commanders, wielding their official positions alongside the Heavenly Son's Talisman, could manifest the [Imperial Presence] authority, suppressing all other officials—even the Crown Prince.
Impressive indeed.
Yet only within the Dao Court's system... Outside it, these five were merely third-rank officials at mid-stage Foundation Establishment perfection.
In essence, bullies at home, weaklings abroad.
Dealing with them was even simpler than handling the Minister of Military Affairs of the Capital—the latter at least required hand seals and spells, while the former only needed—
"[Puppet on Strings]!"
A brilliant radiance swept forth like a gale, instantly stripping the commanders' faces of suspicion and leaving only loyalty in its wake.
Just then—
"Halt!"
A streak of light descended from the sky, crashing into the headquarters before splitting apart to reveal Shaobao Li Taian.
"Ah, if it isn't Lord Shaobao." Lü Yang rose with a smile and bowed slightly. "To what do I owe this visit? Has the Imperial City Bureau's investigation into Demon Sect spies been unsatisfactory? Fear not—please voice any concerns, and this humble official will ensure immediate corrections!"
Li Taian's expression darkened:
"Du Huan... The Five Armies Command is of utmost importance. Those appointed as commanders are invariably loyal subjects and fine generals. Do you truly believe they'd collude with the Demon Sect?"
"Perish the thought!"
Lü Yang feigned shock, waving his hands. "You misunderstand, my lord. I merely came to convey orders from Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Orders? The Five Armies obey only imperial decrees, not palace edicts!"
Seeing no point in further discussion, Li Taian turned to the two Three Dukes-affiliated commanders and said sternly, "Come with me to the Shaobao Residence at once."
He turned to leave.
Yet in the next instant, he froze.
The two commanders hadn't budged an inch. When Li Taian looked back, he saw expressions on their faces he'd never witnessed before:
"Lord Shaobao."
"As commanders entrusted with the capital's defense, our duty is loyalty to the state. With His Majesty absent, we must follow Her Majesty's edict."
Li Taian stood dumbfounded.
"You—"
A chill shot from his soles to his crown as he stared at Lü Yang in horror. After a long pause, he cautiously ventured:
'World-Honored One?'
Lü Yang: ".?"
Who are you calling that?!
Yet Li Taian grew increasingly convinced of his own theory.
What else could it be?
Both Ning Haohe and these two commanders had been utterly trustworthy allies in his mind—beyond reproach.
Yet now? Ning Haohe suddenly confessed, triggering mass arrests across the city, while two commanders defected to Lü Yang. Such abrupt personality shifts could only remind him of that damned World-Honored One.
Moreover... the World-Honored One had precedent!
He'd done this exact thing before! While the current Tianwu imperial family benefited, the previous Zouyu lineage surely had choice words about it.
"Boom!"
Li Taian vanished instantly.
Staying longer risked him suddenly realizing—'Aha! Turns out I'm a World-Honored One incarnation!'—and he wanted none of that.
Lü Yang didn't bother pursuing.
'With the Five Armies Command secured and the Empress's Heavenly Son's Talisman complementing it, Tianwu City is now under my control.'
"Boom!"
Looking up, Lü Yang glimpsed a fleeting starlight flicker across the heavens—brief but unmistakable:
[Heavenly Fire Above]!
He understood—with Tianwu City, the Jiangdong region's heart, now in his grasp, [Heavenly Fire Above]'s attention toward him grew. Though far from seeking gold, the trend was favorable. To advance further required controlling all of Jiangdong.
Yet the Three Dukes remained obstacles.
'Pity—killing them won't suffice.'
Lü Yang shook his head. The Dao Court's essence lay in official positions—individuals meant nothing. Had he gone all out earlier, he might have slain Li Taian.
But Li Taan's death wouldn't erase the Shaobao position.
In the Dao Court's system, the Shaobao title passed down through generations without imperial appointment—a new Shaobao could seamlessly take over.
This was the Dao Court's terror: no matter how strong you were, unless surpassing the entire system, you played by its rules. Their specialty? Dragging you to their level and beating you with experience.
Of course, Lü Yang could force his way through.
He still held one chance to falsely wield [Overturned Lamp Flame]. Using it here to massacre Three Dukes disciples and suppress their positions remained an option.
But what would that achieve?
At best, he'd control Jiangdong—yet to Achieve [Heavenly Fire Above], his goal encompassed all four regions. That would be the time to falsely hold a golden seat.
'In the Dao Court, names and vessels—or rather positions within the official system—are paramount.'
Fortunately, he'd already secured half.
'With the Five Armies Command under my control, obtaining the Empress's Heavenly Son's Talisman will make me the highest authority when the Heavenly Son and Three Dukes are absent.'
'Then I can round them all up, branding these Three Dukes disciples as rebels!'
As for evidence? Let the recently captured Minister of Military Affairs and those two Three Dukes-affiliated commanders handle the confessions...