Chapter 243: The Plot of Crown Prince Long Jingyao

Chapter 243: Chapter 243: The Plot of Crown Prince Long Jingyao

"They were from the Hua Xu Army, but they were incited by Prince Huai. Once I showed them the Crown Prince Token, they retreated."

Chu Fan offered an explanation. He was genuinely worried this woman would actually storm the Garrison Camp. Things would get messy then.

"Prince Huai? You’ve offended Prince Huai?"

Chu Fan jutted his chin toward the White Fox and said, "Everyone wants to fight over it. I’ve had a few long-distance run-ins with Prince Huai’s daughter, Princess Huaining. The ten Divine Separation Realm cultivators I killed outside the city the other day were her people."

Leng Yingxue raised an eyebrow, but Chu Fan had no idea what she was thinking.

Chu Fan asked again, "How much do you know about the Profound-Breaking Arrow?"

"Not much. Below the Half-Saint level, the Profound-Breaking Arrow can pierce through any magical defense. And if you’re wounded by one, only a secret powder made by the Royal Family can stop the bleeding."

"So you’re saying that once your cultivation reaches the Half-Saint level, you don’t have to fear the Profound-Breaking Arrow anymore?"

In truth, Chu Fan was quite surprised. Below the Half-Saint level, aside from parrying the arrow with a weapon, no amount of Magical Power could stop a Profound-Breaking Arrow, no matter how high one’s cultivation.

’How many Half-Saints are there in the entire Eastern Domain?’

"Once your cultivation reaches the Half-Saint level, your physical body itself becomes that of a Half-Saint. Any weapon capable of piercing a Half-Saint’s body is invariably a priceless treasure. The Profound-Breaking Arrow is formidable, but it’s not quite enough to pierce a Half-Saint’s body. The only exception would be if the curved bow used is a priceless treasure, and the archer’s cultivation is also at the Half-Saint level or above."

It was rare for someone with Leng Yingxue’s cold and arrogant personality to say so much at once.

Of course, Chu Fan understood what she meant.

"The Hua Xu Army has many Half-Saints who are skilled archers, and even one or two Saints. Even if your cultivation reaches the Half-Saint level in the future, don’t ever try to take a Profound-Breaking Arrow head-on."

Chu Fan nodded, deeply shaken. ’Many Half-Saints skilled with longbows... doesn’t that mean the Hua Xu Army has even more Half-Saints than I thought?’

"How did you meet that monk, Hui Ke?" It was rare for Leng Yingxue to ask him a question of her own accord.

Chu Fan naturally didn’t hide anything and briefly recounted how he had met Hui Ke in the Miracle Secret Realm.

"Did you know that this Hui Ke is a reincarnation?"

"I’ve heard rumors. Don’t tell me you know about his past life too?"

"Before I came here, he retrieved his True Body Relics from an old acquaintance of mine. In just a single hour, his cultivation soared from Divine Separation Realm Tier One to Integration Realm Tier Three."

"Holy shit! No wonder that Little Monk has such high cultivation at only sixteen or seventeen. That Buddhist Reincarnation Secret Technique is fucking incredible."

Leng Yingxue shook her head and said, "Although I had long heard that the Buddhist Reincarnation Technique could awaken past-life memories, hearing about it is one thing. Today is the first time I’ve actually seen it in person. And only now do I realize that the Buddhist Reincarnation Technique is not so easily accomplished."

"Are you saying this Hui Ke is no simple character?"

"Correct. He said so himself. He has undergone nine reincarnations, and in this life, he intends to retrieve the True Body Relics from all nine of his past lives."

Upon hearing this, Chu Fan fell into a thoughtful silence.

’My relationship with the Little Monk is pretty good, and I don’t have any problem with the Buddhist Sect itself. Even if he doesn’t become an ally, at least I won’t have made an enemy who’s destined to become incredibly powerful.’

Spiritual Qi was reviving; it was an era of great struggle.

The Heaven-Reaching Road was about to open. It truly was an age where a hundred vessels vied for the lead!

’And I am destined to swim against the current in this era. After all, from the clues I’ve gathered so far, my parents are still alive. It’s just that their enemies are far too powerful, and they are still suffering.’

’As their son, I must become strong enough to save them and avenge them.’

"Since you’ve seen your old acquaintance, why don’t we set off as well?"

After a long silence, Chu Fan finally spoke, suggesting they leave.

His goal was to reach the Celestial Dao Palace as soon as possible. Once there, he would have Yan Ying introduce him to someone skilled in Spear Technique to teach him.

The sooner he could unlock the third layer of the Juntian Mirror’s seal, the more options he would have, the more trump cards he would hold, and the better he could protect himself.

He needed to reach the Capital City before the sixth day of the sixth month, and then he would decide whether or not to go to the Hua Xu Secret Realm.

Leng Yingxue nodded.

Chu Fan picked up the White Fox, and they left the inn.

Once outside Jinzhou City, they sped onward without stopping.

「Meanwhile, in the military camp ten li outside of Jinzhou City.」

The Garrison Commander’s Mansion.

Crown Prince Long Jingyao was seated at the head of the main hall, with two rows of officers standing below.

Standing in the very center, bowing toward the Crown Prince, was none other than the middle-aged general who had led his troops to capture Chu Fan early that morning.

Long Jingyao stretched languidly, as if he had just woken up.

"Reporting to Your Highness. I have tested the Martial Artist named Chu Fan, as you commanded."

"And?" Long Jingyao asked lazily.

"We fired a total of two hundred and eighty Profound-Breaking Arrows. All but one were struck down by the sword in his hand. The single arrow that hit him lodged in his shoulder. Afterward, I decisively ceased the attack and caused no further harm."

"Did he ask who gave the order?"

"He did. As per Your Highness’s instructions, I told him I had been misled by Prince Huai’s slander. He then produced your silver token."

"Heh," Long Jingyao chuckled softly.

"This kid is ruthless, but not reckless. He knows not to offend the Hua Xu military. Did you leave him any Xuan Dissolving Powder?"

"I did not, but Wei Mian did deliver a bottle to him."

Just then, a man in black entered the hall, walked swiftly to Long Jingyao, and whispered a few words in his ear. Long Jingyao’s expression changed instantly.

He narrowed his eyes and pondered for a long while before saying softly to the man, "Wait for me in the rear courtyard."

The man in black withdrew.

Long Jingyao stood up and said, "General Li, deliver a verbal command for me to the several Princes. Tell them that before the first day of the sixth month, they are to bring their consorts, Commandery Princes, and Commandery Princesses back to the capital for an audience with His Majesty."

The generals below looked at each other in confusion.

Long Jingyao waved his hand to dismiss them, then walked toward the rear courtyard.

In the rear courtyard, the man in black stood waiting silently. Seeing Long Jingyao, he was just about to bow when Long Jingyao waved his hand.

"No need for formalities. You just told me that Chu Fan’s wife went to the Brocade Mountain Nunnery to see the Jueqing Saintess?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, based on my personal investigation, that woman is not Chu Fan’s wife. She might be... she might be..."

"Might be what? Speak freely."

"She might be the Palace Master of Piaoxue Palace, Leng Yingxue."

"Leng Yingxue? Wasn’t she severely injured ten years ago by Fei Heng’s master, Taishu Xuan? After which, Piaoxue Palace’s home base was raided by an unknown force, and Leng Yingxue herself has been missing for a decade?"

"The woman wore a veil, but her figure resembled Leng Yingxue’s. Moreover, I couldn’t see through her cultivation at all; she must be a Half-Saint. That is why I speculate that she might be Leng Yingxue."

"Chu Fan and his wife disappeared for over half a month. When he reappeared, his original wife was gone, replaced by Leng Yingxue? Where did they go during that time? What happened?" Long Jingyao muttered to himself.

"I had you search every corner within a five-hundred-li radius. Did you find anything?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, the search is still underway. So far, we have only covered a third of the area, but we’ve found nothing."

"It seems I’ll have to go and meet this Chu Fan myself."

"Your Highness, I just saw that they have already left Jinzhou. It looks like they’re heading toward Laojun Mountain."

"They’ve left? So soon?"

"Your Highness, there is one more thing. A few hours ago, a little monk of about sixteen or seventeen also paid a visit to the nunnery. This Little Monk’s identity is unknown. He stayed at the nunnery for nearly two hours, then went to see Chu Fan. After spending half an hour at the inn, he left and headed in the direction of the Capital City."

"A sixteen or seventeen-year-old little monk?"

"His cultivation is at Integration Realm Tier Three."

"What?" Long Jingyao exclaimed in shock. "Send word at once! Prepare my carriage to depart—the Crown Prince’s official retinue will return to the Capital City. The rest of you will accompany me to Laojun Mountain in disguise."