Chapter 261: Chapter 258: Li Ru’s Thoughts_1
"Your Majesty, apart from the accompanying ’Abyss Guardians’, everyone else is present!" After checking the numbers, Li Ru calmly reported, though a hint of sadness still lingered deep in his eyes.
After all, they were the ones he had personally nurtured, and he did have some affection for them!
However, this sadness quickly vanished. As the leader of the ’Abyss Guardians’, he could not possess the emotions of ordinary people, let alone humanity itself.
Everything about him belonged to the nation, and to Qin Wudao!
"Considering the Kylin Holy Land’s methods, they likely won’t survive. When we return, triple their pensions, restore their honor, and grant their descendants preferential rights!" Qin Wudao commanded solemnly.
He remembered the few ’Abyss Guardians’ who were always so diligent: they acted quickly and were utterly loyal. They were all talents of the Qin Dynasty. It was a pity to lose them in the Kylin Holy Land.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Ru said, cupping his hands in a salute.
Restoring their honor meant they would be registered as martyrs in the official records. Their children would have preferential selection rights in schooling and examinations.
The families of martyrs, in the Qin Divine Court, carried significant weight and were deeply respected!
"Go and find out where we are."
Qin Wudao looked around. Before him stretched a vast sea of trees, but the Spiritual Energy in the air was very potent, not inferior to that in the Kylin Holy Territory!
A Holy Territory is the domain where Saint-level powers reside!
"At your service!" Li Ru saluted, then turned into a streak of light and flew into the sky.
About an hour later, Li Ru returned with two young girls, around twenty years old. They looked identical, were dressed in gorgeous clothes, and their cultivation was at the early Heaven Realm stage.
Li Ru bowed respectfully and reported, "Your Majesty, I’ve confirmed that we are currently within the territory of the Taiyi Saint’s Court. This place is called Python Ridge, and the nearest city is White City!"
Qin Wudao glanced at the two girls, then said to Li Ru, "You, come with me!"
When they moved to the side, Qin Wudao created a barrier and asked curiously, "What’s going on with these two?"
"Your Majesty, when I went to gather information, I saw them being pursued and rescued them!" Li Ru said with a smile.
"Get to the point!" Qin Wudao said irritably. Others might not understand Li Ru, but how could he not?
One could count on Li Ru to kill. But to expect him to show mercy and save people? That was out of the question!
"Your Majesty, they are the daughters of the Clan Leader of White City’s largest clan, and those chasing them were subordinates of the Bai clan’s Grand Elder!" Li Ru explained calmly, though a cold glint would occasionally flash in his eyes.
"And then?" Qin Wudao asked, uninterested in such power struggles.
"Your Majesty possesses great talent and bold vision. Sooner or later, you will unify the East Border and march into the Middle Region. I was thinking of establishing a foothold in the Middle Region in advance to gather intelligence for when it might be needed!" As he spoke, Li Ru’s face lit up with excitement, and he added eagerly, "The Bai clan isn’t very strong; they only have a few Saint King experts. We can completely control the Bai clan and, under their name, vigorously develop our intelligence network..."
A grand blueprint for an intelligence network gradually unfolded through Li Ru’s explanation.
Qin Wudao listened with astonishment. This fellow... it hasn’t even been that long, and he’s already planning to expand the ’Abyss Guardians’ into an intelligence network spanning the entire Taiyi Saint’s Court.
However, according to Li Ru’s methods, the Bai clan would be doomed. The very lives and deaths of all their clan members would fall under the control of the ’Abyss Guardians’. But this was consistent with Li Ru’s way of doing things!
"Approved." After a moment of silence, Qin Wudao agreed.
He was no do-gooder. He would implement any plan beneficial to the Qin Divine Court. Besides, having come all the way to the Middle Region, it wouldn’t be right to achieve nothing.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Li Ru said with a smile. He was not at all surprised by this outcome.
Qin Wudao dispelled the barrier and walked towards the Bai sisters. The subtle, yet palpable, imperial might emanating from him made these two sisters, who had lived sheltered lives, deeply uneasy.
"What are your names?" Qin Wudao looked at the two of them and asked authoritatively.
"My name is Bai Xue!"
"My name is Bai Shuang!"
The Bai sisters glanced at each other and replied in soft, timid voices.
"Take us to White City then," Qin Wudao said, getting straight to the point. Since Li Ru had brought them here, he must have already arranged everything.
"Okay." The Bai sisters nodded, their expressions sorrowful.
Qin Wudao was not mistaken. Before they arrived, Li Ru had already poisoned the sisters. At first, they had vehemently refused to comply, but after experiencing a short but agonizing flare-up of the poison, they were forced to agree.
Li Ru had also told them that the Grand Elder had already betrayed their clan; if they didn’t cooperate, their father would die!
For their own sake, and for their family’s, they had no other choice!
The group headed out of the forest. About four hours later, they arrived before a colossal city. The city’s scale was comparable to the imperial city of a king-ranked power.
"Something’s wrong!" Li Ru said gravely after scanning the surroundings.
It was noon, which should have been the busiest time of day, so why were the city gates tightly sealed? Furthermore, a faint scent of blood hung in the air.
"Sir Li, you... you must save my father!" Bai Xue’s pretty face paled, and she pleaded.
"Don’t worry, I will do what I promised!" Li Ru comforted her, then turned to look at Qin Wudao, who nodded slightly.
"Minister Zhang and Minister Sima, you come with me!" Having received permission, Li Ru ordered decisively. Although his cultivation base was not as high as Zhang Jiao’s and Sima Yi’s, his official rank was higher. Moreover, as the leader of the ’Abyss Guardians’, he held significant power and authority, so he certainly had the authority to command them.
"Understood."
And so, Li Ru, along with Zhang Jiao and Sima Yi, ventured into White City.
Qin Wudao and the others did not accompany them. After all, this was about developing an intelligence agency, and it certainly couldn’t be associated with the Qin Divine Court. So, they found a teahouse to wait and enjoy some tea.
Not long after, the sounds of fierce battle erupted within the city.
The Bai clan wasn’t particularly strong. Their most powerful members were Clan Leader Bai Peichu and Grand Elder Bai Wandou, both Saint Kings of the Second Transformation. The others were mostly Saint Kings of the First Transformation.
But Zhang Jiao, a Saint King of the Fourth Transformation, and Sima Yi, a Saint King of the Sixth Transformation—suppressing Bai Wandou’s rebellion was exceedingly easy for them.
As evening approached, the setting sun stained the western sky the color of blood.
The sounds of battle within the city had completely died down. Bodies were continuously carried out and tossed beyond the city walls for the dogs to feast upon.
"Let’s go. We’re heading to the City Lord’s mansion!" Qin Wudao took a sip of tea, left a few Spirit Stones on the table, and then led his entourage out of the teahouse.
In the clan-dominated Taiyi Saint’s Court, City Lords were appointed by the major clan of their respective city. This granted them significant autonomy and severely weakened the centralized authority of the Taiyi Saint’s Court.
This was a longstanding issue. Although the Taiyi Imperial Family wished to change this status quo, every attempted reform triggered immense turmoil.
To this day, no effective solution had been found.
"Ah, you’ve paid too much!"
The Shopkeeper was an honest man. Seeing the extra Spirit Stones on the table, he hurriedly ran out the door, only to find the street empty, with no sign of Qin Wudao and his companions.
Strange! The Shopkeeper shook his head. He found that the faces of Qin Wudao and his group were rapidly fading from his memory, until he could no longer recall them at all.
Yet, the Spirit Stones in his hand were proof that it hadn’t been a dream; it had all really happened.