Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

Although Lian Hongying praised her niece tremendously and even showed Yi Chen the Liuying Jade to display her niece's appearance, he ultimately refused her.

Compared to his niece's aesthetic of pale, tender, and thin, Yi Chen still found Lian Hongying more attractive...

A beauty, once reaching a certain level, competes not just with looks, but with temperament and personal preference.

The heroic and spirited temperament that Lian Hongying possessed clearly suited his taste better.

Of course, such thoughts could not be voiced, as Yi Chen feared Feng Linsu might misunderstand.

...

...

Some people die while others continue to live.

Some were alive and glorious just two days ago, but were then dismembered, their names doomed to eternal infamy.

Two days later.

A solemn and stately memorial hall arose from the ground.

It was dedicated to Xu Xiaoxun and the youth named Xin Wushuang who had risked his life.

Xin Wushuang was recommended by Yi Chen to be honored there.

He occupied a small corner of the memorial hall.

Yi Chen felt this person too deserved to be commemorated with incense offerings.

On a solitary table in the hall, six candles and eight dishes were offered, with Xu Xiaoxun's spirit tablet enshrouded in the faint smoke of incense.

Yi Chen stood before his spirit tablet and offered three sticks of incense.

"Brother Xu, everything has been settled. The seventh Prince has died, and he will be posthumously expelled from the clan. I hope this can somewhat console your sacrifice," Yi Chen said.

"Your honored wife carries your unborn child. Lord Feng will look after them, and the Taoist will do what he can to assist. Rest assured beneath the Nine Springs," he added.

"With matters here concluded, the Taoist must leave now. Let me honor you with a cup," Yi Chen offered.

A cup of fine wine was poured onto the ground, its fragrance saturating the air.

After standing in silence for a while, Yi Chen turned and left the hall.

He could not reach Xu Xiaoxun's level of self-sacrifice for others, but that did not prevent Yi Chen from admiring such people.

The world is full of imperfections, yet there are always those who mend and repair.

A world that has not fallen into the abyss surely needs someone to firmly hold onto the rope of humanity's radiance.

"Lord, are you really leaving? Why don't you join our Peacekeeping Department and be our leader?"

"Working with you is truly reassuring for the brothers," said Deputy Commander Shangguan Jing as she waited outside the memorial hall, unable to hold back her words upon seeing Yi Chen emerge.

In just a few days, many in the Peacekeeping Department had come to recognize this special envoy, Lord Yi, hoping he would stay to continue leading the Peacekeeping Department of Tianfeng Prefecture.

Having contributed to Shangguan's secret report last time, Yi Chen had mentioned her to Feng Linsu, and she was now of Deputy Commander rank.

Although Teacher Li had been tricked by Yi Chen and forced onto his warship, he initially felt he had cut himself off from his colleagues and couldn't go on, but now the situation had clearly changed, so he decided not to leave. In return, Teacher Li had become the foremost of his advisors.

"Young Xiang, all banquettes must come to an end. I am no longer the special envoy. I have handed over all tokens and documents to Lord Feng, so you should call me Yi Taoist," said Yi Chen.

"The Taoist's decision to leave is final. Do not try to persuade me further," he asserted. Continue your saga on empire

Of course, Yi Chen would not stay in the Peacekeeping Department just because of Xiang Shangguan's pleas. He had his own path to follow. His mission in Tianfeng Prefecture had been completed; he had done what could and should be done. The rest was Feng Linsu's task.

Like investigating how the Peacekeeping Department's library caught fire.

Or whether anyone within the Peacekeeping Department had been directly or indirectly bought off by the seventh Prince, colluding with an enemy.

The seventh Prince was dead, but the aftermath was not so simple. It's just that Yi Chen's part was already done.

"Please wait, Lord," Xiang Shangguan said, seeing Yi Chen's determination and hurriedly pulling out three silver notes, each worth a thousand taels, from her bosom.

"This is a token of appreciation from me and my colleagues. I hope you will not disdain it," she implored.

Yi Chen glanced deeply at the man with thick eyebrows and big eyes in front of him, and couldn't help but laugh.

As he accepted the banknote, he smiled and said, "Little Xiang, you're a spirited one. Stick with your Lord Feng and work hard. He's a person of integrity. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I'll take my leave."

When you're out in the world, following the right boss is far more useful than struggling aimlessly.

With a wave of his hand, Yi Chen strode toward the city gates.

Unexpectedly, a dazzling beauty dressed in red was already waiting there.

Her red attire could not conceal Lian Hongying's valiant and heroic bearing.

"My husband is still dealing with the matter of the Seventh Prince and couldn't get away, so I came to see the Taoist off," she said.

"Is the Taoist truly not considering joining our Peacekeeping Department?" she asked.

"Why bother persuading me again," Yi Chen shook his head and said no more.

Seeing this, Lian Hongying stopped persuading and instead handed Yi Chen a jug of wine.

"We owe the Taoist a great debt for his assistance this time. My husband and I will remember this favor. However, we ask the Taoist not to spread word of the Seventh Prince's incident."

Yi Chen took the jug and drank it in one gulp, "The poor Daoist knows the severity and importance. Rest assured, what Lord Feng has managed to achieve is already his best effort."

"Good, then I wish the Taoist a great increase in his cultivation and an early certification as a True Monarch," Lian Hongying said as she opened the clay seal and also downed a full jug of fine wine, showing her boldness.

"With the lady's auspicious words, I shall be on my way!"

After giving Lian Hongying a respectful bow, Yi Chen called Little Miao over and started striding towards Fengyun County.

They rushed along the riverbank and, when they reached a secluded spot, Yi Chen took a golden book out of his storage ring.

This was the recompense Feng Linsu had promised Yi Chen for his help—a cultivation technique known as "The Great True Origin Qi Technique."

To avoid alerting Feng Linsu and his wife during his practice, Yi Chen had not dared to make his breakthrough in Tianfeng Prefecture.

After all, there was no rush. It would not take much effort to make the breakthrough after leaving Tianfeng Prefecture.

Yi Chen asked Little Miao to protect him, then sat down cross-legged and began to study "The Great True Origin Qi Technique."

He pondered and practiced simultaneously.

Golden energy in Yi Chen's palm began to surge and pulse with a joyful signal.

An odd intuition surged into Yi Chen's mind.

His Pure Yang Dragon and Tiger Elemental Saint True Technique was particularly pleased with "The Great True Origin Qi Technique" in his hands.

"Excellent, this technique is indeed a profound treasure derived from True Monarch Wan Hua's cultivation scriptures. It perfectly complements me and will surely aid my True Technique in transforming once again!"

With mindful understanding, in less than half an hour Yi Chen had already grasped the fundamentals of the technique.

"With my exceptional wisdom, I could slowly comprehend it on my own, but there's no need to waste time. Better to upgrade directly."

With a thought, Yi Chen summoned his interface, and jabbed the plus sign behind "The Great True Origin Qi Technique" vigorously, feeling the familiar sensation.

…

Minutes later, as 250 Deep Red Points were deducted, the seventh level of "The Great True Origin Qi Technique" was swiftly achieved.

"It's no surprise I'm me!" Yi Chen smirked with a smile.

Next, he only needed 6,000 Deep Red Points to transform his True Technique and achieve the twelfth level.

Combined with the Deep Red Points he had obtained in Tianfeng Prefecture, he was just about 2,200 points short of the required amount for the upgrade.

"Another day of hard work ahead," he sighed.

Majestic mountains rise high with the river flowing evenly alongside, while the crows shatter the evening sky.

Facing the setting sun, Yi Chen and Little Miao walked on with large strides.

Having been out for a while, he couldn't help but miss his fellow disciples, wondering how they were doing.

As Yi Chen rushed along, pondering, suddenly the sky darkened instantly, and a strong and familiar malice immediately filled the air and the earth.