Chapter 507
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [Unknown]
Chapter Title: Kill the Chicken to Warn the Monkeys
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Lu Yang's tactic of killing the chicken to warn the monkeys was undoubtedly extremely effective, especially after the Three Dukes' disciples confirmed that the "evidence" he provided was indeed genuine.
"What investigation? It's clearly just eliminating rivals!"
At the Junior Tutor's residence, Junior Guardian Li Tai'an slammed the table, his face full of disbelief.
"How could Ning Haohe possibly be a Demon Sect spy assassinating His Majesty?"
However, no matter how he voiced his doubts, the "evidence" provided by Lu Yang was laid out right before them. It clearly bore the divine sense imprints of Chen Yuanli and Ning Haohe. Such imprints could only be left by the individuals themselves—impossible for anyone else to forge. With them present, it truly was ironclad proof.
"Could it be a forced confession?" the Junior Tutor asked in a low voice.
The Junior Guardian subconsciously shook his head.
"Unlikely. Haohe is my close friend, always steadfast in will. He's not the type to break under torture—"
His words cut off abruptly.
Not the type to break under torture? Then how to explain the ironclad proof staring them in the face?
In that instant, the Junior Tutor, Junior Guardian, and Junior Preceptor couldn't help but exchange uneasy glances.
In the end, it was the Junior Tutor who broke the silence.
"This Imperial City Division sweep across the entire city comes not just with evidence, but also endorsements from the Empress and the Crown Prince. The procedures and formalities are utterly flawless."
Li Tai'an slammed the table again.
"I knew that demon dragon was up to no good!"
"I'm not so sure."
The Junior Tutor shook his head.
"The Imperial City Division is merely a blade. The ones truly wielding it—and targeting our people—are the Empress and the Crown Prince."
If it had been just the Imperial City Division, they never would have tolerated Lu Yang arresting officials like this, no matter how solid the evidence or legal the process—they would have stopped it outright. But with the Empress and Crown Prince backing it? That demanded careful consideration. They couldn't act rashly.
Just then, Li Tai'an's expression shifted subtly.
Amid their conversation, he had been probing the Imperial City Division's movements with his divine sense. Now, he detected something amiss.
"Not good! That demon dragon has gone to the Five Armies Governor's Mansion!"
Inside the Five Armies Governor's Mansion.
Lu Yang strode calmly into the spacious hall and sat without ceremony at the head seat. Below him sat the five Capital Camp Governors named by the Empress.
"Greetings, Lord Du Huan."
"Rise."
Lu Yang smiled faintly. He could read the petty schemes in the eyes of the five governors below. Empress Xiao had shared their dossiers during their earlier Dao discussions.
In brief: three were die-hard loyalists to Emperor Jiayou, while the other two were disciples of the Three Dukes. It was a silent understanding between the Emperor and the Three Dukes. Thus, even with the Empress and Crown Prince's backing, commanding these five was no simple matter.
Fortunately, Lu Yang had no intention of bothering with that.
The Five Armies Governors, paired with the Emperor's tally and seal, could manifest the [As If the Emperor Were Here] status—enough to suppress any official position, including the Crown Prince's.
Impressive indeed.
But only within the Dao Court system.
Strip away the Dao Court framework, and these five were mere third-grade officials at the peak of mid-Foundation Establishment.
In plain terms, they were tough only among their own kind.
Experts at infighting, amateurs at external battles.
Dealing with them was even simpler than handling the Capital Heaven Minister of Military Affairs. The latter at least required Lu Yang to form hand seals and cast a spell. These five? He just needed to—
"[String Puppets]!"
A burst of intense radiant light swept through, like a gale brushing their faces. In an instant, it blew away all suspicion from the Five Armies Governors' expressions, leaving only unwavering loyalty.
At that moment.
"Halt!"
A streak of escaping light plummeted from the sky, crashing into the Five Armies Governor's Mansion. It parted abruptly, and Junior Guardian Li Tai'an stepped out from within.
"If it isn't Lord Junior Guardian."
Lu Yang smiled and proactively rose to salute.
"I wonder if Your Excellency has some issue with this official's handling of the Demon Sect spy purge? Rest assured, Lord Junior Guardian—raise any problems, and this official will see to it that his subordinates correct them!"
Li Tai'an's face darkened at once.
"Lord Du Huan. The Five Armies Governor's Mansion concerns grave matters. Those who hold the posts of Five Armies Governors are inevitably loyal ministers and valiant generals. Do you truly believe they would collude with the Demon Sect?"
"How could I?"
Lu Yang feigned shock and waved his hands hurriedly.
"Your Excellency misunderstands. I'm merely here to convey the Empress and Crown Prince's orders to the Five Armies Governors."
"Orders? The Five Armies Governors heed only imperial edicts—not palace decrees!"
The Junior Guardian had no patience for bandying words with Lu Yang. He turned directly to the two Capital Camp Governors who were disciples of the Three Dukes and said gravely,
"Come with me back to the Junior Guardian's residence first."
With that, he turned to leave.
Yet the next instant, his movements froze.
The two Capital Camp Governors showed no sign of stirring. Li Tai'an glanced back and saw expressions on their faces he had never witnessed before.
"Lord Junior Guardian."
"Since we were commanded to oversee the capital's five armies, we bear the duty to serve the nation loyally. With His Majesty absent, we must naturally heed the Empress's decree."
Li Tai'an was dumbfounded.
"You!"
In that moment, a chill surged from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head. His eyes widened in horror as he stared at Lu Yang. Only after a long pause did he whisper cautiously,
"'World Venerable?'"
Lu Yang: "…?"
Who the hell are you cursing?!
On the other side, though, Li Tai'an grew ever more convinced his guess was spot on.
No helping it—it was too similar!
Whether Ning Haohe or these two Capital Camp Governors, they were all people Li Tai'an trusted absolutely—beyond any doubt, his own.
Yet Ning Haohe had suddenly confessed, sparking this city-wide wave of arrests. Even these two governors had chosen to side with Lu Yang. This utter lack of prior warning in their shifts of character and allegiance made it impossible for Li Tai'an not to think of the World Venerable's handiwork.
What's more... the World Venerable had form!
He had done it once before! The current Tianwu imperial clan had profited from it, but the previous dynasty's Zouyu royals surely had plenty of curses for him.
Boom!
The next instant, Li Tai'an's figure vanished from the spot.
Stay any longer, and he feared he might suddenly awaken and blurt out nonsense like, "Eureka! To think I am the World Venerable's incarnation!"
Lu Yang made no move to pursue.
'With the Five Armies Governor's Mansion in hand—and combined with the imperial tally held by the Empress—Tianwu City is now fully under my control.'
Boom!
Lifting his gaze, Lu Yang spotted a faint starlight flashing in the vault of heaven. Though dim and fleeting, it had manifested for a brief moment:
[Heavenly Fire]!
Lu Yang knew full well this meant that with Tianwu City—the central hub of Jiangdong—now in his grasp, [Heavenly Fire]'s attention on him was growing. It was still far from the point of "seeking gold," but the momentum was favorable. To take the next step, he needed to seize all of Jiangdong.
Yet the Three Dukes remained an obstacle.
'Pity—mere killing won't suffice.'
Lu Yang shook his head. The Dao Court's essence lay in its offices; individuals meant nothing. If he had gone all out just now, he might have slain Li Tai'an.
But with Li Tai'an dead, the Junior Guardian office would endure.
Within the Dao Court's official hierarchy, the Junior Guardian position passed down through generations without need for imperial appointment. A new one could seamlessly assume the role.
This was the terror of the Dao Court. No matter how strong you were, unless you transcended the entire system, you had to play by its rules. And that was what the Dao Court loved most: dragging you down to their level, then crushing you with their wealth of experience.
Of course, Lu Yang wasn't without ways to force a breakthrough.
He still had one chance to falsely wield [Covered Lamp Fire]. Deployed here, he could wipe out the Three Dukes' disciples in one go and suppress their offices.
But what would that achieve?
At best, control of Jiangdong. Yet to prove the [Heavenly Fire], his aim was the four realms of the world—that was when the chance to falsely hold a golden position would come.
'In the Dao Court, only names and vessels matter... or rather, positions within the official system are paramount.'
Fortunately, he had secured half already.
'With the Five Armies Governor's Mansion under my thumb, and once I obtain the imperial tally from the Empress—without the Three Dukes intervening—I'll stand at the pinnacle of the Dao Court system.'
'Then I can sweep them all up in one net and brand these Three Dukes' disciples as rebels!'
As for evidence? Let the freshly captured Capital Heaven Minister of Military Affairs—and those two Three Dukes' disciples among the Five Armies Governors—handle the confessions.