Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 559 - 559 0374 Taichang Temple Minister_2

Chapter 559: Chapter 0374: Taichang Temple Minister_2 Chapter 559: Chapter 0374: Taichang Temple Minister_2 Luo Xia and the others all looked grave; Qi Tian’s reminder sobered their previously excited hearts. They had initially thought the appearances of Liu Ziyan and Meng Fandong were sporadic incidents, but now they were forced to admit Qi Tian was correct. Perhaps in the future, more and more Gold Core masters would emerge. Not to mention anything else, just the spirit stone veins currently controlled by the Imperial Master Mansion alone was a huge fortune to trigger anyone’s greed. Though the spirit stones mined from there were all of low grade, they were still scarce cultivation resources. If available in large quantities, they would attract covetous looks. Given the current power of the Imperial Master Mansion, defending these mines would indeed pose a certain difficulty.

“Qi Tian, your words have reminded me. Should Master Hao and I stay permanently at the Imperial Master Mansion? In case a Gold Core master directly rushes to the Imperial Master Mansion, we may not be able to rescue them in time from the County Master Mansion,” Luo Xia asked.

Hao Wenxi said, “I have another concern. Even if Luo Xia and I stay permanently at the Imperial Master Mansion, what if two Gold Core masters suddenly appear? Even if they are both at the Gold Core First Level, it would be more than enough for us to handle.”

Both Luo Xia’s worries and Hao Wenxi’s concerns could potentially happen. As far as Qi Tian was concerned, there was hardly any solution. He sighed and said, “Our top priority is to make every possible effort to contact the Mansion Master. We cannot simply rely on Message Paper Cranes like we used to, people must be sent to the Capital City.”

Luo Xia and Hao Wenxi nodded in agreement, with the former saying, “Why don’t I go to the Capital City?”

Hao Wenxi quickly intervened, “You can’t go. If you leave, I might not be able to hold down the Imperial Master Mansion by myself. Qi Tian can’t leave either; he has to stay in Lubei County and cannot easily be absent. Qi Tian, I think it would be better for the Great Elder to lead a team, taking one or two Elders with him, to pay a visit to the Mansion Master in the Capital City?”

After a brief hesitation, Qi Tian nodded and said, “Let me entrust you with this task. It’s up to the Great Elder to decide who he wants to bring with him.”

After Luo Xia and Hao Wenxi returned to the Imperial Master Mansion, they relayed the matter to Great Elder Chen Chen, who agreed without hesitation. Despite the certain risks of going to the Capital City at this time, he was, after all, the Great Elder of the Imperial Master Mansion and still had a considerable official status and position. Not to mention that he himself was at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Even though he had been repeatedly defeated lately, that was because he had encountered Liu Ziyan. Without Liu Ziyan, even when confronting Chen Wenbo, who was at the Half-Step Golden Core, he would still be able to fight back.

The Great Elder immediately selected several familiar Elders with a certain degree of strength, who were either at the eighth or ninth levels of Foundation Establishment. Including him, a total of five people set off that very day.

Luo Xia and Hao Wenxi stayed at the Imperial Master Mansion. The two of them dared not be negligent in the slightest and took turns on duty every day, guarding against possible attacks on the Imperial Master Mansion.

What Qi Tian and the others did not expect was that the first piece of news they received was not about another Gold Core master, nor a message from Mansion Master Xiao Xiaowu, but an envoy dispatched from the imperial court. The envoy was indeed an official one, as the bearer of the imperial edict was Li Dan, the Taichang Temple Minister.

Li Dan was a true civil servant, completely without any cultivation realm. He was already very old, over seventy years old, with white hair and white beard, and walked with a trembling gait. Under the protection of the Guard Army, he entered Lubei County and headed directly for the County Master Mansion.

Lubei County Town was still under curfew. Following Qi Tian’s orders, everyone who entered and exited the town was rigorously checked. When Li Dan came to deliver the edict, he was immediately blocked outside the city gate.

Huo Yong, the captain of the Guard Army who escorted Li Dan, was not a mortal like Li Dan but a mighty Half-Step Golden Core cultivator. Given his distinguished status, he would receive the utmost respect not just from a gatekeeper but even a provincial official. He could hardly believe that he was stopped by a gatekeeper for inspection.

Huo Yong was furious. With a wave of his hand, two guards went forward to seize the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper truly wanted to surrender without a fight. Offending the commander of the Guard Army and the imperial envoy from the court would undoubtedly have serious consequences. However, he was not willing to let the Guard Army capture him without putting up any resistance. On one hand, even if the Guard Army were to release him later, he would surely face severe punishment first. On the other hand, he was currently on guard at the city gate under Qi Tian’s order. The County Master was someone who could bury an entire County Magistrate’s family without a second thought. How many heads would he dare to disobey the County Master’s order?

With a rustling sound, the gatekeeper drew out his weapon, followed by the other gatekeepers pulling out theirs as well.

Huo Yong snorted coldly, knowing he could kill the several doorkeepers guarding the gate with a single slap if he wished. However, given his identity and status, such an action would be beneath him. He waved his hand and instantly more of the Guard Army rushed forward, intending to arrest the gate officer and the doorkeepers.

At that moment, Li Dan coughed softly and said, “Everyone, stop.”

“Everyone halt,” commanded Huo Yong hurriedly, turning around to reassure Li Dan, “Sir, please don’t worry, I shall take control of the city gate immediately.”

Li Dan replied, “General Huo, our primary mission here is to deliver the Imperial decree. All other matters should be secondary.”

Understanding Li Dan’s point, and aware that Li Dan didn’t want any extra troubles to spring up, Huo Yong ordered, “Everyone, withdraw.”

With the help of two guards, Li Dan dismounted and then wobbly walked up to the gate officer, asking him politely, “May I ask how to address you?”

The gate officer looked at Li Dan, the man in the python robe and jade belt, and knew straight off that he was a bigwig, a very big one. And yet here he was addressing him politely as “brother”. The officer stuttered shocked as responding, “I humble myself before you, sir.”

Li Dan continued, “As an official ordained to deliver a decree, I wonder how I and my escorts can enter the city?”

The gate official replied, “Let me go and consult with the County Official. He will make the decision.”

The County Official arrived in haste, he dared not delay any further, and immediately rushed to the County Master Mansion to meet Qi Tian.

After receiving the information, Qi Tian called over Guan Xun and instructed him to go to the city gate and invite Li Dan and his party over.

Shortly after, Li Dan’s decree-delivering troop arrived at the County Master Mansion with a strong aura. If it were anywhere else, upon receiving an imperial decree, the gates would be wide open, a banquet with incense would be laid out, and all officials, high and low, would be kneeling in reception at the gates.

However, Li Dan and Huo Yong only saw a small door opened within the gate of the County Master Mansion. Besides Qi Tian, who stood on the steps in front of the door, no other personnel appeared.

Huo Yong snorted in dissatisfaction. If it weren’t for his prior arrangement with Li Dan, he would have commanded the Guard Army to take Qi Tian down. Disrespecting an imperial messenger was equivalent to disregarding the monarch and committing treason.

Li Dan dismounted from his horse, smiled at Qi Tian, and said, “His Majesty grants mercy. This time Qi Tian, the County Master, is allowed to receive the imperial decree while standing.”

A hint of sarcastic smile appeared at the corner of Qi Tian’s mouth. “Long live the Emperor? What bullshit. The Emperor Tian Rui has been neglecting the government for a long time now. Would he suddenly step in for him?” He thought to himself. However, Qi Tian still bowed towards the direction of the Capital City and said, “Thank you for the Emperor’s favor.”

In fact, even without Li Dan’s words, there wouldn’t have been an issue with Qi Tian receiving the decree while standing. Emperor Tian Rui has always been treating cultivators preferentially. Although the Imperial Master Mansion has always been suppressed by the Guardian National Master Manor and the National Master Manor, Emperor Tian Rui has never personally intervened nor given similar instructions.