The Empress's No.1 Lackey
Chapter 582 - 582: 423. Zhao Douan mobilized troops, the court's army trampled the Daoist sect (5k)_3

"Sir, it seems to be the handiwork of this Junior Guardian Zhao. What exactly has he come here for?"

Luan Cheng stopped in his tracks, glanced at the black-charcoal-armed guard with double swords, sat down heavily, and sighed:

"He's here for the rebels. The bandit chief Zhuang Xiaocheng might be in the territory of Feng City."

Zhang Jian was shocked: "Such a thing... What about us earlier..."

Luan Cheng, with the look of a middle-aged scholar, shook his head bitterly:

"I'm afraid our prefecture has been used by the rebels, becoming a pawn pointing toward Junior Guardian Zhao. Alas, it no longer matters; the key is, Junior Guardian Zhao now commands the army to enter the city, which might spell trouble."

Zhang Jian was puzzled: "Why?"

Luan Cheng replied sternly:

"Zhuang Xiaocheng once held the prestigious title of Grand Tutor and Imperial Master. What kind of person is he? After Jian Wen's death, he escorted Jian Wen's widow and young son into the Martial World, creating a massive Kuangfu Society. How could such a person and means be easy to deal with?

Junior Guardian Zhao previously entered the city in disguise, only to be discovered instantly, losing the upper hand. Now arbitrarily summoning the army into the city further reveals his hesitation. Exposing his cards first, is it not like being on the losing side? How can he play this game?"

Zhang Jian thought for a moment and said:

"It's said this Junior Guardian Zhao is highly capable. Although not well-reputed, he has repeatedly defeated the rebels."

Luan Cheng smiled wryly and said:

"I don't doubt Junior Guardian Zhao's methods, but I'm clearer that he's ultimately just in his twenties. In the Capital, he held the advantages of local support, making it easier to deal with the rebels. Now, coming to Feng City, his opponent has become such an experienced character like Zhuang Xiaocheng..."

He shook his head, showing clear lack of confidence:

"After all, he's too young. How can youthful impulsiveness compete against an old fox?"

Thinking about it, he gritted his teeth and got up, saying:

"I'm going to the Golden Fortune Inn to have a word."

Immediately, Lord Prefect led several guards directly to the Golden Fortune Inn, but when he arrived, he did not see the military that had entered the city.

Inside the Golden Fortune Inn, a sickly scholar came out, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief:

"Cough, cough, cough, Lord Prefect, you came late. Mr. Zhao instructed me to wait for you, saying that if you arrived, I should pass on the message to have Lord Prefect go back and rest, responding to changes with constancy."

Luan Cheng was taken aback:

"Where has Junior Guardian Zhao gone? And the soldiers?"

The pale-skinned scholar smiled and said:

"Mr. Zhao left the city with the troops, saying he wanted to catch the night view of Zixiao Palace before dark."

Zixiao Palace... The cultivation site of Purple Rob Taoist Lu Zhengchun...

In the territory of Feng City, the local "Great Immortal" on the sacred mountain, with extremely high prestige, renowned across the entire Martial World, and even within the Nine Roads and Eighteen Prefectures of Yu Country, known as an old celestial-level figure.

"Not good!"

Luan Cheng's face suddenly changed, his lips trembled, vaguely guessing Zhao Douan's intentions.

...

...

Zixiao Palace is located on a namesake famous mountain north of Feng City.

It's said that a thousand years ago, someone witnessed divine lightning descending on the mountain and named it so, being one of the few famous mountains and rivers with extraordinary spiritual beauty within Marine Road.

Although far less than "Luo Mountain" to the south on Jiancheng Road, it is characterized by its steep cliffs, like a longsword reaching skyward, seeming to pierce the firmament.

Zhao Douan and his entourage rode fast horses from the army and only reached the foot of Zixiao Mountain near dusk.

"It's said that Zixiao Palace summons the glow of the earth, every night, peculiar rosy clouds emanate from the mountain top, illuminating the entire Daoist temple, extremely gorgeous and pleasing to the eye.

Many literati passing by have to specifically go to the temple to burn incense, converse and establish connections with the Purple Rob Taoist, staying overnight to witness the magnificent glow."

At the foot of the mountain.

Female detective Haitang reined her horse, looking up longingly at the temple on the mountain, which is almost palace-like in scale.

Gongshu Tianyuan snorted, raising his chin proudly:

"The place where our Heavenly Master Mansion is located is the central hub of earthly veins. Such earthly glow is no more than a spectacle, merely deceiving ignorant folk."

Knowing, not enough to boast about it... Zhao Douan squinted and said:

"If it's so great, why did the late Emperor reward it to this Wild Taoist?"

Haitang shook her head:

"That's unclear, perhaps he contributed treasures. However, Purple Rob Taoist Lu Zhengchun is most famous for his unique 'Forge Sword in the Furnace' method. Ordinary Daoists use pill furnaces for alchemy, fire pits for forging swords, but he takes a different approach, using pill furnaces for forging flying swords.

It's said that forging a single flying sword takes at least forty-nine days, and the flying swords produced, like pills, come in high, mid, and low grades.

High-grade flying swords possess minute spirituality upon emergence. Residing in the Daoist temple at Zixiao Palace for many years, he raised a large group of swordsmen as disciples, which is why he stands firm in the Martial World, not relying on the Daoist lineage of the Heavenly Master Mansion."

Zhao Douan laughed and said:

"I have not quite seen the Suppressing Object flying sword of the Daoist sect, only a Golden Crow flying dagger. It's just right to see which is stronger."

After speaking, he raised his right hand and swung it forward, as behind him, a large crowd of Iron Cavalry, led by Yuan Ji, silently advanced up the mountain path.

The steep peaks are inherently unfavorable for riding horses, but Lu Zhengchun, to facilitate devotees climbing the mountain, spent considerable money to open a wide and gentle mountain path that allows three horse carriages to travel side by side.

At dusk, no devotees could be seen on the mountain road, only a red sun hanging in the sky, boldly draping a crimson glow over the Iron Cavalry, as if veiling them with a killing aura.

The team reached halfway up the mountain, where a large platform was built for resting, with several pavilions constructed.

Zhao Douan and the group arrived at this place, only to see a large crowd of swordsmen dressed in Daoist robes and bearing longswords, arrayed and waiting.

They seemed to have long taken advantage of the terrain, hurriedly waiting to observe the troop, hence anticipating the wait.

Zhao Douan looked over; there were no fewer than a hundred Daoists carrying sword boxes.

The leader, suddenly sitting cross-legged in the pavilion, was now bathed in the red light of the sunset, shining on the face of a Daoist who was about thirty years old.

With a horsetail whisk in his hand, he had his hair tied with a boxwood hairpin, the style of his Daoist robe was also different from those around, appearing white-purple, and he wore somewhat shabby hemp shoes underfoot.

At this moment, the Daoist suddenly lifted his eyelid, flicked the horsetail whisk, and leisurely walked out of the pavilion, his gaze indifferently looking towards the front of the army, focusing on Zhao Douan.

"Halt, do not proceed!"

...

Wrong character first changes and then corrects

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