Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

The next day, at dawn.

Atop the Jinluan Hall, the Crown Prince discussed state affairs with the court officials while King Huai listened from the side, correcting them if something was amiss.

At this moment, Uncle Dingyuan and Marquis of Wuwei stood in their respective spots, as if they had fallen into a doze, not participating in the discussions.

It was not until finally, when the chief eunuch announced that those with affairs could present them and those without may leave, Uncle Dingyuan and Marquis of Wuwei glanced at each other, the former leading as he stepped forward.

"Your servant, Liang Wei, has a matter to report," said Uncle Dingyuan, bowing deeply.

The Crown Prince had a handsome face and a gentle demeanor, slightly nodding his head, then the chief eunuch loudly proclaimed, "You may speak."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Dingyuan immediately fell to his knees, touching his head to the ground, and said, "I beg the Crown Prince and His Highness King Huai for justice on behalf of this old servant."

King Huai's expression remained calm, showing no trace of joy or anger, while the Crown Prince's brows furrowed, saying, "Uncle Dingyuan, what do you mean by this? If you have something to say, speak frankly."

Uncle Dingyuan lay prostrate on the ground, tears streaming down his face, he said, "This servant's, this servant's only son, Liang Xu, is dead..."

Atop the Jinluan Hall, the court officials watched this scene, eyes on noses and noses on hearts, acting as if they saw nothing.

The Crown Prince's brows knitted together, saying, "Wasn't this matter discussed some time ago? Liang Xu died serving his country, and this palace would not neglect him."

Uncle Dingyuan lifted his head, eyes bloodshot, saying, "But just yesterday, this servant found out that my only son Liang Xu died wrongfully!"

"Why wrongfully?" the Crown Prince asked, puzzled.

Uncle Dingyuan's acting was quite superb; with tears and snot running down, he said, "My son Liang Xu, although he did perish at the hands of demon cult evildoers, he was also killed by traitors!"

Of course, not all the tears and snot were fake—Liang Xu was indeed his only son, and Uncle Dingyuan truly grieved for Liang Xu's death.

At this moment, before the Crown Prince could speak, Marquis of Wuwei stepped forward and also prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "This servant also has a report."

"Speak," the Crown Prince sighed.

"My legitimate son, Zhuo Zhibin, was also killed by these traitors, his life taken by the hands of those demon cult evildoers," said Marquis of Wuwei with a grave voice.

"Then whom do you claim is responsible for the deaths of Liang Xu and Zhuo Zhibin?" the Crown Prince inquired.

At this, both spoke in unison, "Gu Chen."

"Hmm?"

At these words, the Crown Prince's expression suddenly changed, while King Huai remained as unperturbed as before.

Duke of the Liang State also furrowed his brows upon hearing this.

"How could Gu Chen harm your sons? Is there perhaps some misunderstanding?" the Crown Prince asked with a frown.

Uncle Dingyuan said, "Your Highness, this Gu Chen is petty and narrow-minded. He had previously clashed with my son, as well as Zhuo Zhibin and the young Lord Marquis Cao Zhen, in the streets within Tiandu. Harboring resentment, on that day, right in front of the Kunyuan Sect's gateway, Jing Tian Department fell into a demon cult's ambush.

My son, together with the young Lord Marquis and Zhuo Zhibin, knew they were outmatched but still stepped forward to hold off four demon cult Vajra Stage fighters. Alas, the enemy was too strong, and in desperation, my son and the others sought Gu Chen's aid."

Seeing the opportunity, Marquis of Wuwei continued, "The Crown Prince is aware of Gu Chen's strength, capable of fighting a thousand alone. How can it be that he couldn't rescue my son and the others facing only four demon cult warriors? Those four demon cult warriors brutally killed my son and the young Lord Marquis right before Gu Chen, who simply stood by indifferently.

With such temperament and conduct, how is he fit to hold the title of a viscount?"

Uncle Dingyuan, banging his head on the ground, said loudly, "I earnestly request Your Highness to withdraw the decree and strip Gu Chen of his viscount title."

Marquis of Wuwei echoed, "I earnestly request Your Highness to withdraw the decree!"

At that moment, a civil officer came forward, saying, "Your Highness, if what Uncle Dingyuan and Marquis of Wuwei claim is true, then Gu Chen's character must indeed be seriously considered. With such a narrow heart, he simply watched his comrades die without aid during critical peril, all over a small quarrel.

Such a person, no matter how powerful, if he becomes the stately enforcer of Jing Tian Department, will only be a bane to our great Da Xia. Please, Your Highness, consider this thoroughly."

"Please, Your Highness, consider this thoroughly," echoed the others.

Many of the civil officers who were in league with Uncle Dingyuan and Marquis of Wuwei stepped forward, as the court, after all, was divided into factions.

For example, Duke of the Liang State, although a part of the Da Xia nobility like Uncle Dingyuan and Marquis of Wuwei, was clearly not from the same interest group.

"This…" The Crown Prince found himself in a difficult position and looked helplessly towards King Huai.

King Huai let out a soft sigh. The Crown Prince was still too soft-hearted. In the future, if he ascended the throne, facing these old foxes of the court, he would suffer many losses.

But now that the Crown Prince had sought his assistance, King Huai naturally could not turn a blind eye. At this moment, King Huai said, "How will you prove that what you say is true?"

"Everyone present from Jing Tian Department can testify to this scene, and I am willing to confront Gu Chen directly," said Uncle Dingyuan.
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Marquis of Wuwei also said, "This servant is willing as well."

The Crown Prince's brows furrowed. Was it really necessary to summon Gu Chen and those from the Jing Tian Department to the Jinluan Hall for a confrontation over this issue?

Moreover, Gu Chen currently had a good reputation in Tiandu. Should this incident be leaked, the repercussions would be extremely negative—not only would Gu Chen's reputation be tarnished, but the public might secretly say that the Crown Prince was blind to elevating a treacherous official.

At that moment, King Huai spoke indifferently, "Summon them to the Jinluan Hall, and if you each stick to your own story, are you expecting the Crown Prince and me to watch you argue here?"

"This…"

Uncle Dingyuan, Marquis of Wuwei, and the assembled civil officials were all suddenly at a loss for words.

"What does the imperial uncle suggest?" the Crown Prince turned to King Huai.

King Huai pondered for a moment, then said, "In that case, let's bring in someone from the Qintian Monitor."

"Qintian Monitor?" The crown prince raised an eyebrow.

Upon hearing the words "Qintian Monitor," a low murmur of discussion immediately broke out among the ministers in the great hall.

"Silence!"

With a crack, the grand eunuch snapped his whip, and the ministers immediately fell quiet.

In previous dynasties before Da Xia, the Qintian Monitor was a department for observing the astronomical phenomena, calculating the solar terms, and formulating the calendar.

But in the Da Xia dynasty, the Qintian Monitor had taken on a different meaning—like the Jing Tian Department and Mingjing Department, it was one of the most important institutions in Da Xia.

The Qintian Monitor, along with the Jing Tian Department and Mingjing Department, revered as "One Monitor and Two Departments," constituted the three most critical institutions in Da Xia.

It was precisely because of these three institutions that Da Xia had been able to sit securely in power for five hundred and eighteen years.

Unlike the Jing Tian Department and Mingjing Department, the Qintian Monitor was neither involved in foreign affairs nor internal investigations. Its main duties, aside from observing celestial phenomena and setting the calendar, were to predict fortune and misfortune.

It was rumored that the current Tower Supervisor of the Qintian Monitor possessed an unparalleled mystical technique, the "Heavenly Human Gazing Skill." He could observe the multitude of stars and constellations above, the energy veins of the land below, and even all the changes within the Nine Provinces.

And if the "Hevenly Human Gazing Skill" could observe the entire world, it was even more proficient in reading people. As a result, the Qintian Monitor was exceptionally accurate in judging people. In some major cases, when the court couldn't find any leads, they would request someone from the Qintian Monitor to interrogate the suspects.

All beings have their destinies, the Nine Provinces have their fate, and the Heavenly Human Gazing Skill can perceive all destinies and trends, even foreseeing the overall future of the world.

However, the Qintian Monitor's current Tower Supervisor had been seated there for over two decades but had never shown himself. The last time was 23 years ago, when the current sage emperor was facing a critical juncture in life and summoned the Tower Supervisor of the Qintian Monitor into the palace.

What the two discussed that day, no one knows.

Because whether it is the Tower Supervisor of the Qintian Monitor, the grand commander of the Jing Tian Department, or the Supervisor of the Mingjing Department, they all stand at the pinnacle of power in Da Xia. In their younger years, they had grown up together with the emperor and played a crucial role in supporting his rise.

Therefore, besides the Emperor of Da Xia himself, no one has the right to inquire or interfere with the actions of these three individuals.

The same goes for King Huai.

It can be said that these three individuals transcend all the power structures of Da Xia and are responsible only to the emperor.

Now, with the emperor in seclusion, the grand commander of the Jing Tian Department and the Supervisor of the Mingjing Department had also disappeared. Some say they are in seclusion with the emperor, while others speculate that they have traveled the world.

Of course, some believe they are still stationed in Tiandu and have simply never appeared in public.

The current administration of the Jing Tian Department and Mingjing Department is managed by their deputy commanders and four major inspectors.

Among the three, only the whereabouts of the Qintian Monitor's Tower Supervisor are well-known; he has always been seated on the Star Gazing platform of the Qintian Monitor's Bagua Building.

At this moment, King Huai slowly said, "Go to the Qintian Monitor and ask for someone."

...

The Qintian Monitor is located in the northwest corner of the inner city of Tiandu, covering a vast area, yet it is seldom frequented, with not even a guard in sight.

The Bagua Building is very tall, with flying eaves and upturned corners, comprising eight floors. It is the highest structure within the inner city of Tiandu, overlooking the entire city.

The topmost floor of the Bagua Building, known as the Star Gazing platform, is where the Tower Supervisor of the Qintian Monitor ordinarily resides. Standing there, it feels as though one can reach out and touch the stars; hence, it is also called the Star Picking platform.

The Qintian Monitor has few people inside, and with the Tower Supervisor always on the eighth floor at the Star Gazing platform, the day-to-day operations are managed by the Tower Supervisor's seven disciples.

Even the seven close disciples of the Qintian Monitor's Tower Supervisor haven't seen their master for some time, only occasionally hearing his orders whispered to them, to carry out certain tasks on his behalf.

Right then, on the eighth floor of the Bagua Building, a young man about twenty-one or twenty-two years old was speaking with a disciple of the Qintian Monitor when he suddenly heard a voice ethereal as if from beyond the heavens.

An ancient voice said in his ear, "Yu'er, later you will visit the imperial palace and act according to the situation."

Qi Yu knew it was the voice of his teacher; he had long become accustomed to his teacher's unpredictable manners. He saluted toward the rooftop of the Bagua Building and respectfully said, "Yes, Teacher."

He was the youngest disciple of the Qintian Monitor's Tower Supervisor, and he was in charge of the eighth floor of the Bagua Building on a daily basis.

The seven disciples of the Qintian Monitor's Tower Supervisor each managed a floor of the Bagua Building, and the topmost Star Gazing platform belonged to the Tower Supervisor.

It was quite a coincidence that while there were seven floors to be managed in the Bagua Building, the Tower Supervisor had taken seven disciples—whether there was any connection between the two was a mystery.

The ancient voice had left only a sentence before vanishing once more. After Qi Yu instructed the disciple of the Qintian Monitor, he stood by the door, silently waiting.

The Qintian Monitor had no guards around it, nor did it need any, as if the Tower Supervisor did not wish it, not a single soul could approach the Qintian Monitor.

The common people of Tiandu recounted legends that atop the northwestern Bagua Building lived an old immortal who was indifferent to worldly affairs and was the protective deity of Da Xia.

Even the civil and military officials, including those from the Jing Tian Department and Mingjing Department, as well as the deputy commanders and the four major inspectors, held the Qintian Monitor in high respect thanks to the presence of its Tower Supervisor.

Indeed, he was a figure of renown, on par with the grand commander of the Jing Tian Department and the Supervisor of the Mingjing Department—a legendary character who was the only one with traces to be found at present.

As expected, it wasn't long before the imperial guards sent by King Huai arrived at the Qintian Monitor.

This guard was visibly nervous. He had heard his colleagues say that the Qintian Monitor was an eerie place, where many would experience the ghost-hitting-the-wall phenomenon, wandering around in circles, unable to find their way until, after a while, when they came to their senses, they would find themselves far from the Qintian Monitor.

Moreover, with the Tower Supervisor himself stationed there, the Qintian Monitor, in everyone's eyes in Da Xia, was full of legendary mystique.