Wait a minute, where is my master?

Great Xia Dynasty, Shangjing City.

Inside the main hall of the Taiji Palace, the enormous Dragon Bookcase still stood.

But the person sitting behind it had changed.

After Xia Xuanmin had passed away, Xia Yunzhao moved out of her own residence and into here.

She generally conducted her daily governmental affairs and cultivation matters here as well.

She had ascended to the throne amid tumultuous times, her strength only recently reaching the top of the Divinity Transformation Realm.

Logically speaking, just handling the daily state affairs, balancing the court's power, and dealing with various sects outside the court should have overwhelmed her.

However, thanks to the mysterious national uncle who appeared during her coronation ceremony—Jin Xu, the little Taoist priest.

Not only did the court officials appear extremely obedient, but not a single one of the sects throughout the Nine Provinces caused any trouble either.

Moreover, since the last Heavenly Dao oath, Great Xia was free from the chaos of the Demon Sect followers, and the citizens' lives had also improved significantly.

Therefore, Xia Yunzhao's first month on the throne passed exceptionally leisurely.

Lately, the only thing that had managed to capture her attention and keep her busy was unexpectedly the Demon Eradication Campaign initiated by the little Taoist through Tingfeng Building.

...

"Your Majesty, today's documents have been sent over by Mr. Li. Would you like to inspect them?"

Inside the main hall of Taiji Palace.

Xia Yunzhao was leaning on one hand, lost in thought, gazing distractedly at the Dragon Bookcase. Suddenly, a guard's voice broke the silence.

Upon hearing this.

She immediately straightened her posture, regaining her dignified demeanor.

The puzzled look on her face naturally transformed into a serious expression.

Xia Yunzhao lowered her head to check her attire and, after confirming there was nothing amiss, calmly and sternly responded, "Bring them here."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

With permission granted, a guard outside respectfully walked in, carrying a tray holding jade slips.

"Your Majesty, here are the documents sent by Mr. Li."

The guard reached the center of the main hall without approaching further, bending over respectfully, lifting the tray above his head.

Xia Yunzhao smoothly extended her hand, and the jade slips on the tray were drawn into her palm through the air.

"That will be all, you may leave now."

Whilst sinking her Spiritual Sense into the jade slips in her hand, Xia Yunzhao did not forget to instruct the guard.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After stating the three words he said most each day, the guard left with the tray.

Inside the main hall, Xia Yunzhao quickly perused the contents of the jade slips.

Within three breaths, she withdrew her Spiritual Sense, muttering to herself, "The number of heads received in Shangjing City recently has noticeably decreased. I'm not sure if all the Demon Sect followers have been killed or if they've just hidden deeper.

However, lately, no cultivator has dared to present fake heads as their own."

It seemed that Mr. Li handled matters well.

The jade slip contained records of the number of Demon Sect followers' heads received in Shangjing City the day before.

Indeed, there had been instances of false credit in the beginning days of the Demon Eradication Campaign, as mentioned by Xia Yunzhao.

After all, the Nine Provinces Realm was not short of those seeking to profiteer.

However, Li Mi, the person in charge, upon discovering the first such incident, immediately took drastic measures to deter others.

Since then, very few arrogant cultivators dared to try claiming false credit.

Once news of these drastic measures spread, those cultivators hoping to scheme for a chance to undergo the Wash Essence and Marrow simply dismissed the idea.

Xia Yunzhao placed the finished jade slip back onto the Dragon Bookcase and pondered for a moment before resuming her usual pose, resting her face on her hand.

Suddenly, she heard a loud boom outside the main hall.

Following that, there was the noisy announcement of the guards: Assassin!

Protect the carriage!

Quick, go and inform the city guard and so forth amidst the noisy shouts.

Just as the Empress of Great Xia was about to start daydreaming, her Spiritual Sense swept out immediately.

"Daring to attempt assassination in the Great Xia Imperial Palace, aren't you afraid of my uncle... Eh! Mr. Jin."

Xia Yunzhao's expression brightened, her eyes sparkling with a light called excitement, as she flashed from inside the main hall to the small square outside.

"Stop, all of you! Don't you recognize the Uncle of our nation from Great Xia anymore!"

The cold reprimanding voice arose, for a moment hands clasped in incantation, magical treasures brandished, and guards running around all ceased their actions.

"The Uncle? The one who saved a hundred thousand citizens at the coronation ceremony?"

The guards looked uncertain, first turning their heads to glance at their own sovereign, and then at the three people who had just jumped out of a big pit in the small square.

"This is our Uncle of Great Xia? I remember his attire wasn't like this though?"

Some guards quietly asked their colleagues through voice transmission.

"Are you stupid, can't the Uncle change his clothes?"

"Hisss, true."

Both of their transmissions were heard by Jin Xu.

The little Taoist's mouth twitched, then he withdrew his Golden Spiritual Power Light Shield, and apologized with a smile to Xia Yunzhao in front of him.

"Miss Yunzhao, long time no see."

Jin Xu stepped forward.

Meanwhile, the two women behind him were not so restrained as they each rushed forward, shouting, "Sister Yunzhao~"

Xia Yunzhao with a glance stopped the guards who wanted to come forward to intercept and passed a voice transmission to the chief guard, ordering him to take people away.

Afterward, she also walked towards the two women with enthusiasm.

"Mr. Jin, long time no see."

"Little Yu, long time no see! Little White, you say you just come, what did you bring... Hmm? Why is there a person?"

Husky rushed forward and greeted Xia Yunzhao, then handed over the frozen Brother Li he was carrying on his back.

Our Empress of Great Xia thought it was a gift from her younger sister, ready to politely decline. But upon closer inspection, she realized there was a live person frozen inside.

"Sister Yunzhao, this person seems to be an assassin from Jingyu Building, the temple master said to bring him to you for questioning."

Little White set Brother Li down on the ground, then briefly updated Xia Yunzhao about the events that had transpired before they left Qingmu City.

Upon hearing that someone was secretly confirming Jin Xu's whereabouts, the Empress of Great Xia's beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, and then she loudly ordered.

"Someone, take this ice sculpture down to Mr. Li. Tell him that the other party wanted to assassinate the benefactor of Gusu City, and to extract all the information this person knows."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The chief guard who had just left with the guards reappeared out of nowhere, and on receiving the command, he dragged this "cold-blooded assassin" away.

After the guards had left.

Xia Yunzhao exchanged a few pleasantries with the two women and then stepped closer to the smiling little Taoist standing by the side.

"Mr. Jin, how did you return from Qing State so quickly? Have you found any leads on your master's situation? I also ordered people to investigate secretly recently, but there has been no news.

Also, I heard that Qingmu Secret Realm opened ahead of schedule.

However, something went wrong at Qingmu Academy, I ordered someone to make contact yesterday, but there has been no response.

So, as for that night watchman's injury..."

Apparently too long since she saw Jin Xu, Xia Yunzhao seemed somewhat flustered, her speech scattering about chaotically.

And since Jingyu Building's headquarters has become transient, the incident that occurred yesterday in Qingmu City hasn't spread across all realms of the Nine Provinces yet.

As of this point, Xia Yunzhao did not know that the little Taoist had again targeted a Demon Sect Elder.