Yujing City—the capital of the Wusheng Empire—felt different from Zhenhua, Tianmen, or even Baishan. The city was vibrant. Alive. Bustling. Massive. People came and went in waves. Markets overflowed with patrons and shouting vendors. Inns dotted every district, each brimming with travelers.
Brothels and singing houses were even more common. Each district had five or six, and none were small. The larger ones stayed open day and night, always welcoming.
Residential areas were vast and numerous. Some estates had up to eight courtyards. Ministers, nobles, government officials, and wealthy merchants all maintained homes in Yujing.
And of course, there were the slums. Yujing had them too—but they were organized. Soldiers patrolled them heavily, ensuring the residents didn't cause trouble.
It was Xuan Tian's first time in the city. He had been observing it since his arrival this morning. Beyond ordinary citizens, the streets teemed with cultivators of all levels and stages.
He extended his senses, scanning for unstable immortal auras—but found none.
So they know better than to act up here. At least they have some restraint.
He also noticed the patrolmen. Not all were Wusheng soldiers. In fact, soldiers were the minority. Most patrols consisted of cultivators—members of the Alliance.
Xuan Tian had yet to see a single Enforcer, let alone catch one patrolling the city—a duty that once belonged to them.
Not a good sign for ICEB. Xuan Tian knew they were declining, but he hadn't expected it to be this bad.
Lingxu is quick and efficient, he thought. This is unsettling. Like they're getting ready for the next phase of their world domination plan.
If everything went according to schedule, and Han Zhaofeng failed to uncover any significant evidence about the Crown Prince—
Bai Xunli would be executed tomorrow.
Xuan Tian checked the time, it's around lunch time. He turned to Lin Qian, speaking in low voice.
"Doctor, I'll go to check on the prison. I need to map it out, if I want to rescue Captain Bai."
Lin Qian reached for her cup and nodded, "Understood, General. And us, what can we do to help?"
"You can stay here and enjoy your time, doctor. Keeping appearances."
Xuan Tian looked at Jing Xue, "You, continue to scan the city. Pay attention to any altercation, especially if it involves ICEB and the Alliance. If you do, send me a message."
"You're not to go wander off." Xuan Tian added a warning.
Jing Xue rolled his eyes. "I'm not some curious wolf-dog puppy. I know what to do. Don't worry. And I'll protect the doctor."
Xuan Tian nodded, agreeing, "Good. Keep that in mind. I'm off."
With that, Xuan Tian left.
Lin Qian was currently seated on the balcony of one of the larger teahouses. Jing Xue sat beside her, quietly scanning the city.
She is sipping tea and taking in the view—two things she hadn't enjoyed in a long time, not since her two friends went missing. She knew there wasn't much she could do right now. Rather than drown in helplessness, she chose to focus on what she could do: helping Xuan Tian, for now.
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Xuan Tian was in his usual mode for reconnaissance—completely invisible. In the past, he could only maintain this state for a day at most. Now, he could feel it lasting more than two. His cultivation had grown significantly. Thanks to the pearl core.
He was heading toward the Imperial Prison, where he believed Captain Bai was being held.
As he passed by the ICEB headquarters, he sensed a sudden shift in temperature—and the unmistakable presence of a dark cultivator's aura.
He halted.
Scanning the area carefully, he was surprised to find the dark aura coming from within the ICEB headquarters.
Dark aura was a sure sign that a cultivator was experiencing qi deviation. Before completely falling, there was a window of time when they could be stopped—and pulled back onto their original cultivation path.
Dark Cultivators were generally stronger than their counterparts of the same level, which was why most cultivators avoided them. Even more concerning, those who retained a sane mind were rare. Most went berserk, killing indiscriminately.
Very few Dark Cultivators existed in the Wusheng Empire. When they appeared, they were almost always hunted down.
Xuan Tian immediately changed course and entered the ICEB headquarters. The dark aura he sensed was extremely strong—at least High Immortal stage five.
If someone at that level was undergoing qi deviation, the body count would be catastrophic.
Xuan Tian couldn't afford to stay invisible. He needed all his power to face a Dark Cultivator of that caliber.
The Enforcers inside the HQ were too shocked by the situation to notice—or question—his sudden appearance.
The deeper he went, the louder the commotion became. He picked up speed.
When he arrived at the scene, he saw a young woman in an elegant red dress embroidered with golden thread being held by the neck—by a man visibly suffering from qi deviation.
When he heard the shouts of "Han Shengzun, don't!" his heart sank.
Han Shengzun—Han Zhaofeng, Head of ICEB—was an Immortal Saint.
Xuan Tian wasn't sure he could subdue Han Zhaofeng with his current cultivation.
The young woman was no longer moving. Her time was running out. Xuan Tian couldn't afford to overthink whether or not he was strong enough.
He needed to act—now.
But before he could do anything, someone already did. A shadow brushed past Xuan Tian and headed straight for Han Zhaofeng.
"Han Shengzun! Let the princess go!"
The Princess? There were only two princesses in the Wusheng Empire. One died in infancy, and the other… Mu Qingran?! And the one shouting—Captain Wu? Oh no. He's not strong enough!
Wu Zhenhai had been utterly shocked when he saw the state of Han Shengzun after he emerged from his study.
Han Zhaofeng, one hand still gripping Mu Qingran's neck, turned to face Wu Zhenhai. His eyes were dark brown streaked with ink-black veins, making him look eerie—inhuman.
He smirked, as if pleased to have found another prey. With a casual lift of his left hand, he deflected Wu Zhenhai's attacks with ease.
It was immediately clear—Wu Zhenhai was no match for Han Zhaofeng. Not even when Han was fighting with one hand, while the other remained locked around the princess's throat—he did all this without even moving from his original position—using only his left hand, which wasn't even his dominant one.
Before long, Wu Zhenhai staggered backward, coughing up blood.
"Captain Wu!" Luo Heng rushed forward to support him, helping him stay on his feet. He had just arrived after receiving word of a serious incident at ICEB HQ involving Han Zhaofeng.
Yan Zhen appeared beside Wu Zhenhai, twin crescent blades in hand, combat-ready.
Han Zhaofeng's twisted smile deepened. The black streaks in his dark brown eyes had grown thicker. If they turned completely black, there would be no turning back—Han Zhaofeng would be corrupted forever.
Yan Zhen's cultivation was even lower than Wu Zhenhai's. If he stepped forward, it would be suicide. But he had no choice. Both he and Luo Heng had to stop Han Zhaofeng before he killed Mu Qingran.
ICEB was already under fire. If Mu Qingran died at Han Zhaofeng's hands, it would be the final straw that broke the camel's back. ICEB would be dismantled completely, and the Enforcers would be executed.
Yan Zhen swallowed hard. He stepped forward—when…