Little Sorcerer, Divine Doctor
Chapter 66 - 1 Qi Zi Feng Mang

Chapter 66: Chapter 1 Qi Zi Feng Mang

Yujing City, the capital of Great Zhou, is the largest city in the southwestern region of the Wuji Continent.

A few days ago, inside the Emperor Hall of Great Zhou, nearly a hundred civil and military officials were attending the morning court.

A thousand years ago, Great Zhou was established through martial might, and Martial Arts has always been the foundation of the nation. Therefore, at this morning court, there should have been predominantly military officials. However, in recent years, due to the decline in Martial Artist talents within the country, the court scene has unexpectedly reached a point where civil and military officials each hold half the sky.

Among the civil servants, the newly rising Elder Chen and Scholar Zhao led the group, while from the military, the Marquis Weiyuan and the Martial Saint General Mansion were the leading figures.

"Reporting to Emperor, there has been a surge of refugees in multiple areas within Great Zhou, and it’s uncertain how to accommodate them," spoke Elder Chen, the head of the civil officials, moving forward as he spoke. Today’s morning court had an unusual atmosphere.

"Order the local officials to accommodate the refugees nearby, do not recklessly expel them. Have the causes of this refugee surge been ascertained?" Emperor Ye Chengtian, in his prime years, possessed a fierce demeanor and a stern face, exuding an air of authority.

"Your servant has ordered an investigation. In recent years, the active Beast Blood Cloud has been the cause. The areas where the Beast Blood Cloud appears are barely livable for humans and livestock. The most recent occurrence is in Bizhou Village, located in the central region, which is under the jurisdiction of the Martial Saint General, I believe that the General himself bears an inescapable responsibility," implied Elder Chen, directing the blame towards Martial Saint General Yun Bahe, who was meditating with his eyes closed.

Underneath Elder Chen’s words was the suggestion that the Martial Saint General had been negligent in supervising, failing to even manage his own territory.

Elder Chen held significant prestige among the civil officials. As soon as he finished speaking, a few civil officials who caught his cue stepped forward one after another, beginning to denounce collectively.

Ye Chengtian’s face showed helplessness as it all started again.

He glanced at Marquis Weiyuan remaining composed on one side, and Scholar Zhao who seemed to rejoice in the misfortune of others.

"Martial Saint General... Martial Saint General," the group of civil officials spoke till they were out of breath—not realizing their words were like punching cotton, as Martial Saint General Yun Bahe had no reaction for a long while.

All one could hear was a faint snoring sound.

The snore came from a septuagenarian with a tall stature, a lion’s nose and tiger-like eyes, and a face covered with white beard, appearing to be no younger in age.

He was the famously respected Martial Saint General of Great Zhou—Yun Bahe.

In all of Great Zhou, perhaps only General Yun dared to audaciously sleep in the court.

Emperor Zhou Ye Chengtian coughed loudly, and only then did Yun Bahe’s beard tremble as he woke up as if from a dream, loudly saying, "If there’s business, present it; if not, court is dismissed. Your servant has nothing to present. Given my advanced age, standing long is unsuitable. I respectfully request to leave the court early, may the Emperor discern wisely!"

After Yun Bahe said this, he left the court straight away.

Leaving a group of civil officials staring helplessly, "Yun Bahe, you old rascal?!" Elder Chen was furious, blowing his beard and glaring.

But his anger was futile because even the current princes of Great Zhou were personally trained in Martial Arts by the old General, who had instructed Martial Arts to several generations of emperors in Great Zhou.

Although this old fellow has been increasingly frail over the years, his imposing aura still remains.

However, the Martial Saint General Mansion has had no successors for many years, with only one disabled son and a widowed daughter in the house.

Marquis Weiyuan had to stand up, "Emperor, your humble servant believes that the matter of the Beast Blood Cloud still requires pursuit. Recently, not only the Magic Temple but also some Bounty Hunters have joined in hunting the Beast Blood Cloud, and it’s rumored that other countries are also tracking down the Beast Blood Cloud. Your servant believes we should not fall behind in this matter."

With the increasing activity of the Dutian Beast Blood Cloud, a saying began to circulate on the continent that the Demon Beasts within the Beast Blood Cloud possess extraordinary magic power, and their flesh and even soul stones have become coveted treasures among Martial Artists and Mages.

Those officials sneered upon hearing this, "Hunting, you put it nicely but the Beast Blood Cloud appears unpredictably, even the Magic Temple is said to have only killed a small portion of it. If Marquis Weiyuan and Martial Saint General have such capability, they could well dispatch someone there."

Marquis Weiyuan fell silent for a moment.

The Beast Blood Cloud, needless to say, also harbors extremely dangerous Demon Beasts, where the creatures bred from it are all exceptionally formidable. It’s said that the Magic Temple had to dispatch Sky Level Mages to successfully kill them.

Although Great Zhou has no lack of Martial Artists capable of confronting Beast Blood Demon Beasts, most of these Martial Artists are outsiders and do not obey the Dynasty.

There indeed are a few hermit experts within the court, but these capable individuals are only responsible for protecting the Royal Family’s safety and would never easily leave the Imperial Capital.

The only ones left capable of waging war around seemed to be a few military officials.

Marquis Weiyuan only had one daughter, no sons, and given his status as the commander of the Imperial Guard, he could not easily leave the capital.

And the aged Martial Saint General was unsuitable for long expeditions.

For a moment, there was no one available to be dispatched within the court.

Suddenly, someone exclaimed, "If only Young General Yun were still here."

Upon hearing this, both Emperor Zhou and Marquis Weiyuan couldn’t help but change expressions.

The Martial Saint General originally had two sons and a daughter, but the Young General Yun referred to was the second young master of the Yun Family, Yun Canglang.

It is well known that the Yun Family has two sons: one is a Mage and the other is a Martial Artist.

Due to tradition, the Great Zhou City has always had a scarcity of Mages.

Yun Canghai was the youngest Sky Mage in the history of Great Zhou City. Unfortunately, he severed father-son ties with Old General Yun over a woman, was expelled from Yujing City, and it is said that he died abroad, while others say he retired to the countryside.

The significant influence a genius Sky Mage has on the national fate of Great Zhou City is difficult to estimate.

After Yun Canghai left, the second son of the Yun Family also had his arms disabled by enemies on the battlefield, becoming a cripple.

Since then, the Martial Saint General Mansion, once known as the twin jewels of the empire, has declined, and Old General Yun has aged over a decade in appearance and has lost his former splendor in the court.

A decade has flashed by, and even Emperor Zhou dares not mention the past matters of Yun in front of the old Martial Saint General.

"Your Majesty, the Deputy Hall Master of Wuxuan Wuji Hall seeks an audience outside the hall!" a eunuch entered, breaking the silence in the court.

"Announce him!"

Wuxuan Wuji Hall, the premier Martial Arts Hall in Great Zhou, whose Deputy Hall Master comes in person today, must surely concern the matter of the Blood Cloud Beast.

A tall, broad-browed middle-aged man strode into the hall, and standing behind him, however, was another figure.

Upon seeing that person, Emperor Yun Chengtian’s hand trembled on the Dragon Throne.

The officials in the court were also taken aback.

Him!

It’s him!

What has he come for?

An uncomfortable look appeared on Emperor Zhou’s face.

This son, from the moment he was born, he was not fond of, especially after Si Ming from Tingfa Temple made that prophecy.

"It is none other than... no, it’s Prince Beiming," the courtiers murmured among themselves.

Dressed in black, as handsome as the night, the former Crown Prince Ye Beiming walked into the Emperor Hall, his youthful visage and clear eyes, and a pair of gray orbs glaring at the ministers.

His appearance provoked a stir among the officials, even Marquis Weiyuan could not help but glance sideways. Was this the blind Prince who was rumored to have been confined to the Cold Palace, the least favored?

The former Crown Prince Ye Beiming was demoted to Prince Beiming, supposedly blind and convalescing in the Cold Palace.

His eyes?!

This was the first time in many years that Emperor Zhou and the courtiers saw Ye Beiming again.

His once blind eyes now shone brightly.

Grey, the mists that had shrouded his vision had cleared after his recovery.

His eyes, once blind but now restored, a grey that lies between black and white, good and evil.

The former Crown Prince, now Crown Prince Ye Beiming, knelt on both knees, his voice clear as broken jade: "Father Emperor, I earnestly request to be sent to hunt down the Blood Cloud Beasts across the lands!"