The news about the Southern Cliffs City Castellan's murder reached the Luo Tong Royal City in no time at all.
In the Royal City−Duke Wei's Mansion.
When Duke Wei Bi heard the news, the surrounding furniture was crushed into powder due to his anger.
"Find the culprit even if you have to flip the Luo Tong Kingdom over−don't leave any stone unturned, you must discover who this murderer is!" Wei Bi roared in fury.
The hearts of Duke Wei Mansion's guards quivered in fright as they promptly acknowledged the order.
"Also, throw those Southern Cliffs Castellan Manor guards into the dungeon and interrogate them one by one. This bunch of dog slaves, several thousand of them could not protect my brother, so what's the use of keeping them?!" Wei Bi's anger continued to burn.
"In addition, kill those guards that rushed into the room and saw Wei Yang's death at that time!" With overwhelming killing intent, Wei Bo continued to bark out orders.
Kill those guards who saw Wei Yang's death? Doesn't that also mean those guards that saw the body of Wei Yang's concubine?
Duke Wei Mansion guards immediately understood their master's orders, and they left the room after replying, 'yes, Duke'.
After the guards had left, Wei Bi's eyes were blood red as he gritted his teeth and spat each word out with hatred, "If I find out who did it, who killed my younger brother, I will cut you into a million pieces and feed it to the dogs!"
While Wei Bi was boiling in hatred, Huang Xiaolong was still making his way back to Luo Tong Royal City.
Two months later, Huang Xiaolong finally arrived.
And the first place Huang Xiaolong stopped at was not Tianxuan Mansion, but the Cosmic Star Academy.
Entering the Principal's room, Xiong Chu wasn't there, only Sun Zhang was in the room. Huang Xiaolong took out the emerald green Iron Crocodile beast core from the Asura Ring.
Sun Zhang nodded his head. Looking at the emerald Iron Crocodile's beast core, he was laughing as he said: "Indeed, this is the Iron Crocodile's beast core, and you're now officially a Third Year student. Me and Xiong Chu would recommend you for the inner courtyard, but we still need to discuss this matter with the inner courtyard Elders before we make the final decision. Then again, with your talent, joining the inner courtyard shouldn't pose much of a problem."
Each year, the number of places allocated for students entering the inner courtyard was restricted to ten. But, the chosen student candidates were not decided by Sun Zhang and Xiong Chu. A meeting was held with the inner courtyard Elders, and each candidate must obtain nine out of ten votes of approval.
Huang Xiaolong nodded. For him, it wasn't important whether or not he entered the inner courtyard. The reason he wanted to advance into the Third Year was so that he could win the overall Academy competition.
However, when Huang Xiaolong turned around to leave, Sun Zhang suddenly spoke: "The Southern Cliffs City Castellan and his little concubine were killed by you, right?"
Huang Xiaolong turned back to look at Sun Zhang, and a tiny light of surprise flickered across his eyes. How did Sun Zhang know?
Sun Zhang smiled, "Don't look at me like that. It is just a guess, but I did not expect that it really was you."
Then, Huang Xiaolong realized that it must be due to the timing. When he went hunting for Iron Crocodile, it coincided with the Southern Cliffs City Castellan's death, and thus, Sun Zhang made such assumption.
"I heard Wei Yang's little concubine has a great figure– her butt was big, is that so?" In the next moment, another question popped out from Sun Zhang's mouth.
Huang Xiaolong was taken aback for he did not expect this question from Sun Zhang. Huang Xiaolong shook his head. Why was this Sun Zhang asking such a question?
"That's right, I killed them." Huang Xiaolong frankly admitted.
It wouldn't matter anyways if he confessed.
Of course, Sun Zhang wouldn't publicize the matter to the outside world.
Huang Xiaolong turned around and left the room, ending the conversation.
Sun Zhang's mouth was opened as if there were many questions he wanted to ask, but seeing Huang Xiaolong leaving, he could only shake his head and mutter under his breath: "This kid!"
Leaving the Academy, Huang Xiaolong returned to Tianxuan Mansion.
Fei Hou came to see him after getting the news of his return. Huang Xiaolong asked about matters regarding Tianxuan Mansion for the last couple of months with Fei Hou replying, answering them one by one. When these matters ended, Fei Hou suddenly said: "Sovereign, there were many instances of conflict between our Nine Tripod Commerce and the Clear Cloud Pavilion in recent days."
Clear Cloud Pavilion was the biggest trading house of Cloud Sea Kingdom. It was established over a hundred years ago and its numerous branches covered a vast extent of the land. Even within the Luo Tong Kingdom, they had no less than a dozen branches. There were also many forces under their wing.
At that time, when a great treasure appeared in the Enlightenment Lake, Clear Cloud Pavilion also mobilized many people venture over.
"What kind of conflict?" Huang Xiaolong asked.
Fei Hou replied respectfully, "Two weeks ago, the Clear Cloud Pavilion Big Dawn County's branch disciples came to our Big Dawn's Nine Tripod Commerce, claiming that they wanted to buy one million copies of Nine Tripod's publication. When our Big Dawn branch disciple said they didn't have the supply, the Clear Cloud Pavilion's disciples attacked and injured our disciples."
A light glinted in Huang Xiaolong's eyes. Asking for a million copies of Nine Tripod, it was obvious that the other side clearly came to make trouble.
"Are you sure that their disciples made the first move, injuring our people?" Huang Xiaolong asked.
"Yes, I am sure!" Fei Hou said with conviction. "After the Clear Cloud Pavilion's disciples injured our people, they even slandered our Nine Tripod Commerce, claiming that we should shut down if we can't even provide one million copies and insulting us with questions like what is the purpose of doing business this way and such. During this past two weeks, the Clear Cloud Pavilion Big Dawn disciples would go to our shop to make trouble every day, and they're even injuring our people!"
"Every day they come, clamoring that the Nine Tripod Commerce must supply them with one million copies!"
Hearing this, Huang Xiaolong's eyes became cold. These Clear Cloud Pavilion disciples came to his Nine Tripod Commerce Big Dawn County branch every day, making trouble and hitting people. Evidently, they didn't put the Tianxuan Mansion in their eyes. Or perhaps, they don't put him, Huang Xiaolong, and the Marshal Mansion in their eyes!
"Did you investigate clearly what forces this Clear Cloud Pavilion has in the Luo Tong Kingdom?!" Huang Xiaolong inquired.
Fei Hou answered: "I have investigated the matter clearly; Clear Cloud Pavilion dared to act so arrogantly because they were backed by the Prime Minister, Wu Feng, Duke Wei Bi, and other high officials such as Li Jian! This all stems from jealousy of our Nine Tripod Commerce's profit!"
Prime Minister Wu Feng!
The coldness in Huang Xiaolong's eyes increased. No wonder this Clear Cloud Pavilion dared to behave with outright brazenness−behind them was the Prime Minister Wu Feng!
In the Luo Tong Kingdom, Marshal Haotian stands at the top of the military chain of command, and he was a three-generation Marshal with the highest status and position only below the King. However, this Prime Minister Wu Feng represents the main political force, and just like Marshal Haotian, he was a three-generation minister. Although his position wasn't as high as Marshal Haotian's, the gap was negligible.
Within the Luo Tong Kingdom, one led the political arena and the other spearheaded the military, and both sides were never harmonious! Prime Minister Wu Feng has cautioned King Lu Zhe many times over, claiming that Marshal Haotian holding military power was a great risk to the Luo Tong Kingdom, and he even proposed to have Marshal Haotian's military authority and position revoked.
There was a high probability that this problem with the Clear Cloud Pavilion was secretly planned by the Prime Minister.
The rise of the Nine Tripod Commerce these past few years, and its bountiful annual profit that was close to a hundred thousand gold coins caused many to go green with envy.
"So, it is this old fogey!" Huang Xiaolong sneered coldly.
But, Huang Xiaolong did not expect that other than Prime Minister Wu Feng, Duke Wei Bi was also one of Clear Cloud Pavilion's supporters.
He had just killed his blood sibling, that Southern Cliffs City Castellan, Wei Yang.
"What about the other branches? Did similar events take place?" Huang Xiaolong asked.
"Not at the moment." Fei Hou replied. "Sovereign, how about I make a trip personally to Big Dawn County to settle this matter?"
Huang Xiaolong nodded: "Tomorrow, you're going to come with me."
Huang Xiaolong had intended to make a trip himself.
If he allowed this matter with Clear Cloud Pavilion to fester, not only would it be detrimental to Nine Tripod Commerce's future development, it would also affect Huang Xiaolong's and Marshal Haotian's reputation.
"Sovereign plans to go as well?" Fei Hou was surprised before acknowledging his decision with respect.
After he decided to go to Big Dawn County, Huang Xiaolong requested Fei Hou to send people to monitor the movements of Prime Minister Wu Feng, Duke Wei Bi, and the other ministers' related to Clear Cloud Pavilion.
Fei Hou noted Huang Xiaolong's instructions respectfully.
After Fei Hou left the main hall, his parents Huang Peng and Su Yan walked in.
"Xiaolong, I heard there were some problems with the Commerce at Big Dawn County's branch?" Huang Peng asked as he took a seat, whereas Su Yan looked at Huang Xiaolong with a worried expression.
Both of them came in search of Huang Xiaolong after hearing there were people causing troubles for the Nine Tripod Commerce, feeling concerned.
Huang Xiaolong reassured them: "Just some small issues. Due to the Commerce's rapid expansion, some people became jealous. The fact that they're causing troubles for us are within expectations. It is very normal. Father, Mother, don't worry about this. Tomorrow, Fei Hou and I will travel there and resolve this matter."
Both of them nodded.
"Xiaolong, you must pay attention to your own safety." Su Yan said: "Maybe, their goal was to lure you over."
Su Yan's reminder struck a chord in Huang Xiaolong. If the Clear Cloud Pavilion was making trouble in such a blatant manner, could there really be a hidden plot?
"Very well, Mother, I will pay attention." Huang Xiaolong nodded.
After talking with their son for a while, Huang Peng and Su Yan left the main hall.
Huang Xiaolong remained in the main hall alone, pondering the words his Mother had just said.
If the Clear Cloud Pavilion has a hidden plot against him, then, what would they do? Lure him over and then kill him? A sharp, cold glint flitted across Huang Xiaolong's eyes.
It was a beautiful night tonight.
Huang Xiaolong activated the God Binding Ring and entered the ancient battlefield. After swallowing a Fire Dragon Pearl, he commenced his practice.
Even while rushing back and forth performing the class advancement task, Huang Xiaolong did not relax his cultivation. Five months had passed and Huang Xiaolong had already broken through to mid-Tenth Order, just half a step away from peak mid-Tenth Order.
Not long from now, he could break through to the peak mid-Tenth Order.
But, he was still quite far off from reaching late-Tenth Order.
Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the ancient battlefield, Huang Xiaolong ran the Asura Tactics repeatedly while the twin dragons, one black and one blue, devoured the netherworld spiritual aura gushing down from the void.
The netherworld battle qi coursed along his meridians and surged in his Qi Sea.
Due to the continuous enhancement from the Fire Dragon Pearls he had consumed, the battle qi in running along his meridians and Qi Sea had completely turned ink black with a hint of a purple glow.
Despite that, Huang Xiaolong could not confirm if his netherworld battle qi had transformed into another type of battle qi altogether. The one point he was sure of though, was the fact that the current netherworld battle qi was at least a grade higher than before he started practicing using the Fire Dragon Pearls.
Because the power he felt from them were on different levels.
As Huang Xiaolong continued running Asura Tactics, the battle and killing intent lingering in the ancient battlefield tempered his soul and will. It was close to a year since he refined the God Binding Ring, and he had been practicing in this ancient battlefield every single day. The benefits were obvious.
The carnage qi intertwined within the spiritual energy in the ancient battlefield not only sped up Huang Xiaolong's cultivation, but it also strengthened his soul and toughened his will. Marshal Haotian and Fei Hou both said it was difficult to step into the Xiantian realm. Not only did one need one's battle qi to be strong enough to break the Xiantian barrier, it required the support of a tough soul and will to be successful.
If the soul and will were weak and the attempt of breakthrough failed, the battle qi in the meridians and Qi Sea would inversely flow, damaging one's cultivation.
The night passed.
Huang Xiaolong stopped running the Asura Tactics technique, stood up, then began practicing the God Binding Palm.
One of the things Huang Xiaolong noticed was that while practicing the God Binding Palm in the ancient battlefield, it required half the effort yet provided twice the result.
Only after spending some time practicing the God Binding Palm did Huang Xiaolong exit the ancient battlefield space.
When he appeared in the main hall, Fei Hou was already waiting for him.
Marshal Haotian was present too.
Seeing Huang Xiaolong arrive, Marshal Haotian and Fei Hou walked up to greet him.
Permitting both of them to rise, Huang Xiaolong said to Marshal Haotian, "Haotian, you're going to come with us to Big Dawn County."
"Me too?" Not only was Marshal Haotian surprised by Huang Xiaolong's command, Fei Hou was too.
With these small matters, Fei Hou alone was more than sufficient to handle them. Now, not only was the Sovereign coming along, but he even told Marshal Haotian to go as well?
"I feel this Clear Cloud Pavilion's matter is not as simple as it seems to be on the surface." Huang Xiaolong asserted.
"Not so simple?" Marshal Haotian and Fei Hou exchanged a look between them.
"Sovereign, you're saying the Clear Cloud Pavilion acted deliberately with the aim of baiting you over to Big Dawn County?" Haotian asked in a solemn voice.
Huang Xiaolong nodded: "Although I can't confirm this, it is better that we act with caution. However, on the way, Fei Hou and I will move in the open while Haotian, you stay hidden in the dark."
"Yes, Sovereign!" Both of them acknowledged respectfully.
Then, two silhouettes were seen leaving Tianxuan Mansion in the direction of Big Dawn County.
Traveling from Luo Tong Royal City, the Big Dawn County was not far, separated only by one other county in between.
Five days later, Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou arrived in the Big Dawn's County City.
Big Dawn County was one of the several bigger counties of the Luo Tong Kingdom, and it boasted the best growth amongst them. The Big Dawn's County City was bustling and prosperous, almost at a level comparable to the Luo Tong Royal City.
The streets of Big Dawn County City were filled with an endless stream of people.
Entering the city, Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou headed straight to the Nine Tripod Commerce shop.
An hour later, the two of them appeared at the front entrance of the Nine Tripod Commerce.
The entrance of the Nine Tripod Commerce Big Dawn County branch was a two-floor structure built in the shape of an arch, and the architecture was similar to old European buildings. The design was specifically requested by Huang Xiaolong.
Every Nine Tripod Commerce branch located throughout the Luo Tong Kingdom was constructed in the same style.
The people of the Nine Tripod Commerce branch weren't informed of Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou's visit. Therefore, no one came out to welcome Huang Xiaolong's arrival.
When Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou entered the hall, the sight of a Nine Tripod Commerce disciple sitting on a chair with a forlorn expression entered their eyes. Moreover, his right arm was wrapped in a bandage, evidence of his injury.
Noticing that there were people entering, this Nine Tripod Commerce disciple raised his head listlessly and when he saw it was Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou, his dispirited expression was replaced with surprise. He quickly stood up from the chair and rushed up to Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou: "Young Lord, Steward Fei Hou!"
All the Nine Tripod Commerce disciples could recognize Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou.
Huang Xiaolong allowed this disciple to rise and speak.
"Where is Li Bin?" Huang Xiaolong asked.
Li Bin was the overseer for Nine Tripod Commerce Big Dawn County.
"Supervisor Li Bin is healing inside the inner hall. This subordinate will go inform the Supervisor and the others immediately!" That disciple replied respectfully.
Seeing Huang Xiaolong nodding his head, that disciple saluted and quickly ran into the inner hall to inform Supervisor Li Bin and the others. A short while later, that disciple returned with a big group of people. Leading them was a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and broad shoulders. This was Li Bin. However, when Li Bin came out, he was leaning on a wooden crutch and limping weakly, whereas the other disciples behind him were mostly wounded and bandaged.
Limping over, Li Bin and the rest of the disciples walked out with their eyes shining after seeing Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou in front of them.
"Greetings Young Lord, Big Steward Fei Hou!"
All of them knelt down in salute before Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou.
Huang Xiaolong looked at these people who were injured, yet still kneeling before him in greeting, and a cold light glinted in his eyes. Before he arrived, he had no idea that Li Bin's and these disciples' injuries were so severe.
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