Chapter 199 Great Victory
While guiding Xiao Ruoling in her sword practice, Chu Zhiyuan was constantly introspecting himself, pondering the strange power contained within the Tongtian Grass—the strange power that hindered his introspection.
This power should have been absorbed by him, yet he felt nothing. However, his introspective range expanded once again, increasing by thirty meters. When was this power absorbed by him?
Why did he feel nothing unusual?
After much thought, he concluded that it must have been annihilated and devoured by the Dragon Transformation Art.
His Divine Dragon Thought should be able to suppress this power.
Unfortunately, he was not yet a Grandmaster, unable to freely utilize his Divine Dragon Thought. He could only rely on the martial arts of the Subduing Dragon Sect to strengthen the power of the Subduing Dragon Sutra, making the Great Heavenly Dragon Fist even more astonishing and the Dragon Transformation Art even more formidable.
Xiao Ruoling's progress was gratifying, giving both Zeng Yuan and him great confidence. After returning to Listening to the Waves Pavilion in the Qing King's Mansion, he sat on the couch.
In one breath, he broke through the fourth layer of the Bronze Tower, stepping into the fifth heaven of the Grandmaster realm as a matter of course. He was all smiles.
The Tongtian Grass was indeed powerful.
He wondered what the Mortal Shedding Pill would be like. Could it allow him to take another step forward into the sixth heaven? He felt that it would become increasingly difficult afterward, with a sense of being unable to sustain it. It was easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. People's hearts were all like this.
Thinking that he could only rely on slow and steady progress, he couldn't help but have a headache.
If progress stagnated and became extremely slow, he really didn't know how he would spend his time, no longer as fulfilled and motivated as he was now. He feared it would be like drifting through life, not as happy. He carefully examined himself.
In the fifth heaven, his Gang Qi was both thick and pure, a world of difference from the first three layers. Swords and blades could no longer harm him. In the first three layers, he could still be injured by divine weapons.
In the fifth layer, he was no longer afraid of divine weapons. No matter how sharp the weapon, it could not break through the barrier of Gang Qi, only a Gang-Breaking Divine Weapon could. Even in the ninth heaven, a Gang-Breaking Divine Weapon could still break through Gang Qi.
Reaching the fifth heaven, he finally had a true sense of being a Grandmaster, a fundamental difference from the Innate realm. ..
Yujing City became increasingly lively.
The thirty-six experts who came in response to the conscription order arrived in Yujing one after another.
In the Ministry of Rites, Chu Zhiyuan had been absent for the past few days, leaving all matters to be handled by Gao Lingfeng, keeping him extremely busy. Gao Lingfeng was happy to do so.
The power of the Left Vice Minister was vastly different from that of an Assistant Minister.
All matters of the Zongwu Department were decided by the Left Vice Minister, and Chu Zhiyuan had already delegated full authority to him. He acted on behalf of the Left Vice Minister.
In the Zongwu Department, there was no one to restrain him. He began to implement strict laws and severe punishments.
Any martial arts expert who violated laws and regulations in Yujing City would be severely and swiftly punished. Only a record was needed; it was not necessary to submit everything to the Zongwu Department for judgment before taking action. This was delegating most of the Zongwu Department's power to the Zhenwu Department.
Although the Zhenwu Department was busy, they did not feel annoyed at all. Instead, everyone was full of energy, as if they were tireless. They experienced an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
Acting smoothly and freely, without having to be restrained in everything.
Chu Zhiyuan knew about these changes, but he did not rashly deny them. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures were taken.
At this crucial moment of encircling and suppressing the Jade Cauldron Sect, he turned a blind eye. Everything would be discussed after the Jade Cauldron Sect was surrounded and suppressed.
"Great Victory in the Northern Border!"
"King Ying has recovered Fuyuan Town, and the Northern Border defense line has been consolidated!"
"King Ying's training of the new formation has achieved miraculous results, a surprise attack on the Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry, killing two thousand-man commanders of the Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry, a great victory at Fuyuan!" Chu Zhiyuan was having dinner with Xiao Ruoling at Xianyun Tower when he heard the discussions outside.
On the high platform in the courtyard of Xianyun Tower, the two veiled women were still performing, captivating him. Xiao Ruoling was also mesmerized.
The more perceptive one was, the more shocked they were by their singing.
Ordinary people who heard it would only find it pleasant, even more pleasant than ordinary singers. Hearing the discussions outside, Xiao Ruoling looked at Chu Zhiyuan.
Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "As expected, Tenth Uncle is confident in taking back Fuyuan Town."
"I didn't expect such a great victory." Xiao Ruoling sighed: "This time, the people of our Great Jing must be overjoyed." Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
Not only in Yujing City, but the people in various parts of Great Jing also liked to discuss politics.
They often had lengthy discussions and their own opinions. They especially valued military achievements and paid close attention to the victories and defeats on the border.
They could talk about a battle for months or even years, repeating it over and over again without getting tired, with endless insights. The last time Fuyuan Town fell, the impact was too bad, and the world was shaken.
"By the way, that General Li, he..." Xiao Ruoling frowned slightly, realizing that she had almost forgotten about General Li Haoyuan. His punishment seemed to have been completely forgotten.
Suddenly hearing this news, she remembered General Li.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "It still depends on this victory. If there was no this victory, Li Haoyuan's crime would be great. With this victory, it is not too great a crime."
"It can be like this..." Xiao Ruoling didn't understand: "Merit is merit, and demerit is demerit. How can the court be so muddled?"
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "Ruoling, you need to think carefully about the key to this, which will be of great benefit to your future governance of the Yaoyue Palace."
Xiao Ruoling slowly nodded, pondering: "Merit and demerit cannot be offset, but they cannot be completely not offset?"
"Merit and demerit not being offset is reason, merit and demerit being offset is sentiment," Chu Zhiyuan said: "Absolute justice is absolute injustice. Sentiment and reason are like two feet. Sometimes you take the left foot first, and sometimes you take the right foot first, but you can't walk on one foot, otherwise you won't walk fast and you'll fall."
"Hmm..." Xiao Ruoling pondered, thinking about the subtle mysteries: "It's really not easy to handle, you really need to be a little confused."
While the two were talking, Chu Zhiyuan suddenly smiled.
Xiao Ruoling followed his gaze and saw Li Hongzhao, who was walking slowly into Xianyun Tower with a gloomy face.
Li Hongzhao had changed into an ink-green robe, covering her graceful curves. Her beautiful face was as cold as ice, and one could feel the chill on her from a few steps away. Chu Zhiyuan and Xiao Ruoling were sitting in an elegant room on the third floor.
He suddenly leaned out and waved.
Using sound transmission into the secret, he sent his voice directly to Li Hongzhao's ear: "Ninth Highness, here."
Li Hongzhao looked up and saw Chu Zhiyuan at the window.
Her face darkened again, her gaze turned away, and her body began to turn back, preparing to walk out.
Chu Zhiyuan laughed.
She was not prepared to come over, avoiding him to avoid being ridiculed.
"Ninth Highness, are you afraid?" Chu Zhiyuan once again used sound transmission into the secret, his voice filled with laughter.
Li Hongzhao stopped in place, the steps she was about to take stopping. After thinking about it, she suddenly turned around and continued up to the third floor, then came to the outside of Chu Zhiyuan's room.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "Ruoling, let's welcome the Ninth Highness."
Xiao Ruoling covered her mouth and smiled as she got up and opened the door, seeing Li Hongzhao standing outside.
Li Hongzhao's gloomy face disappeared, becoming smiling, radiant, and charming.
