As for eating it and immediately breaking through, thereby earning the favor of the Court or Yuanchu Mountain, Chu Lingguang didn’t even consider it.
’Since Yuanchu Mountain and the Court control all the cultivation Skills, making it difficult for anyone to break through the True Martial Realm into the Qi Refining Realm, it means they have no shortage of such masters. Otherwise, why would obtaining these Skills be so difficult? Guo Wei himself had once said that his own talent was considerable. The reason he was stuck at the third layer of the True Martial Realm wasn’t a lack of aptitude, but the absence of a corresponding cultivation Skill. Clearly, if Guo Wei were to obtain such a cultivation Skill, breaking through the True Martial Realm to reach the Qi Refining Realm shouldn’t be difficult for him. And Within the Great Yuan Territory, while people like Guo Wei aren’t numerous, they aren’t exactly rare, either. At the very least, every Governor probably has similar aptitude.’
Just like that, Yang Lijun quickly disappeared from Chu Lingguang’s sight.
WHOOSH!
Not long after she left, several auras shot out from the dense forest beside the main road, darting past.
Quite a few gazes swept toward the tea stall.
One of them met his gaze, looking slightly puzzled.
’It’s him!’
Chu Lingguang recognized the man at a glance.
This was Tang Mang, the master from Celestial Fragrance Pavilion. Over a year ago, he had escorted Guer Khan to set up an ambush on a mountain outside South City.
Back then, Chu Lingguang had used his Celestial Master Technique and formidable Sea of Consciousness Power to evade detection by both Tang Mang and his falcon. Guer Khan had tried to use Xie Xiaohuan as bait to lure him out of the city, but Chu Lingguang had seen through the plot. He relied on his Celestial Master Technique to escape the trap, and after Tang Mang left, he was so incensed that he tailed Guer Khan’s party and killed every last one of them.
Guer Khan was a prince of the Turkic Nobility.
Although the Turkic have an abundance of princes, his death still caused a stir. The Court even assisted the Turkic in investigating the murderer, but the search ultimately yielded nothing.
He never expected to see Tang Mang again, trailing Yang Lijun.
’Over a year ago, my power was insufficient; facing this man, I had to hide silently in the grass, not daring to even breathe. Now, my strength has surged. While I still wouldn’t dare to oppose the Court or Yuanchu Mountain, killing a master from Celestial Fragrance Pavilion would be no great burden. Rumor has it that Celestial Fragrance Pavilion has a powerful backer, possibly even connected to Yuanchu Mountain. But after entering the Court, I’ve come to feel that’s highly unlikely. Yuanchu Mountain already controls the Great Yuan Dynasty, so why would they bother creating a clandestine faction specifically to oppose it? In the face of absolute power, Yuanchu Mountain has no need for underhanded schemes. Even if there is some shred of a connection, it’s likely with just a single powerful figure from there. I’m more inclined to believe the force behind Celestial Fragrance Pavilion is the Demon Sect, not some master from Yuanchu Mountain. In short, I don’t dare touch that heart, but I have no problem going after someone from the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.’
"Chu Lingguang, is that really you?"
However, just as Chu Lingguang was preparing to mount Little Red Horse and give chase,
Hu Yanlin and a group of members from the Demon Suppression Bureau arrived at the tea stall, blocking his path.
"Well, if it isn’t the Martial Runner-up Scholar. Long time no see," Chu Lingguang said with a jeer.
He knew Hu Yanlin was hostile toward him.
’Come to think of it, back when I was studying at the academy in Qiling Prefecture, I knew an acquaintance—the second-ranked candidate on the North City Rankings—who was also named Hu Yanlin. Just like with Tuoba Yunhong and Yun Hong, the two had similar names. But that Hu Yanlin from North City, like Emperor Yue Xuan and Chen Jin, hadn’t participated in the last Provincial Examination; he was still biding his time. As for the man before me, he’s several years older than both me and Yan Zhen. He had achieved a top-tier score in the Imperial Examination two cycles ago, but in his bid to become the Martial Champion Scholar, he deliberately held back for three years. Unexpectedly, he then lost to Yan Zhen in the most recent Palace Examination, ending up as the Martial Runner-up Scholar. And he blamed me for it, believing that I colluded with Yan Zhen, costing him the title of Martial Champion Scholar. For this reason, we both remembered each other well.’
"Hmph. Were you just with an Official from Mazhou Prefecture named Yang Lijun? Where is she now?"
Hu Yanlin seethed at being called Martial Runner-up Scholar.
"I don’t know."
Seeing his attitude, there was no way Chu Lingguang was going to tell him anything.
Besides, Hu Yanlin’s rank was beneath his.
"The Demon Suppression Bureau is conducting official business. I must ask for your cooperation. Yang Lijun may be connected to the Wolf Demon. I need to know her whereabouts."
He Mingxuan presented his Identity Token.
His rank of Vice Capital City Commander was equivalent to Chu Lingguang’s. And because he was from the Demon Suppression Bureau, the title carried significant weight; he enjoyed benefits on par with a fourth-grade official.
So, Chu Lingguang pointed north.
"Was she carrying anything?"
He Mingxuan asked again.
"A wooden box. A group just went after her. They moved secretively and seemed to be of no ordinary origin."
Chu Lingguang answered truthfully.
’The Demon Suppression Bureau represents the Court.’ He was glad he hadn’t taken the wooden box; otherwise, if He Mingxuan came demanding it, he’d have no choice but to hand it over.
"A wooden box?"
"Thank you!"
Since they were all in service to the Court, He Mingxuan didn’t make things difficult for Chu Lingguang. Hearing that someone else was targeting Yang Lijun—and with the Wolf Demon’s aura nearby—he dared not delay. He led Hu Yanlin and the rest of his squad in fiery pursuit.
"Little Red, I’m going to have to push you today."
Chu Lingguang mounted Little Red Horse, activated his Consciousness Manipulation Power, and followed after He Mingxuan’s group.
The mounts of the Demon Suppression Bureau were all Han Gao Steeds, which possessed Beast Blood. Chu Lingguang’s Little Red Horse was merely an ordinary warhorse. Without using his Consciousness Manipulation Power, he would never be able to keep up.
When He Mingxuan and his men saw Chu Lingguang catching up to them on an ordinary warhorse, they were all quite surprised.
With a jealous look, Hu Yanlin explained to He Mingxuan how, during the final round of the Imperial Examination, Chu Lingguang had used his Consciousness Manipulation Power to ride a Han Gao Steed and leave everyone else in the dust.