Chapter 762: Naming Names and Asking for People

The elixir of youth case, which had once stirred up storms across the imperial capital, had ultimately ended so hastily, and it was most likely because the Lingxu City incident had appeared out of nowhere and seized everyone’s attention.

The filth hidden in the shadows had quietly slid back into the shadows yet again.

In that sense, He Lingchuan could even be considered State Preceptor Qing Yang’s lifesaving benefactor.

The people of the world only envied Lingxu City’s wealth, prosperity, and ease, only worshiped its incomparable strength. But from He Lingchuan’s perspective, it was riddled with wounds too.

In that sense, Lingxu City and Yuan seemed to barely be any different.

“There’s also the eastern front. Beijia suffered two defeats there as well. I don’t know if it was affected by the unrest in Lingxu City.”

“In any case, the changes caused by this upheaval will have far-reaching effects. I’m afraid it will take a very long time before they can be fully understood.” Elder Dao sighed. “Young Master He, you and Songyuan have truly rendered a peerless service.”

He Lingchuan waved his hands again and again, his face full of modesty. “Elder, you praise us too highly. We don’t have such great ability.”

But in truth, even he felt that the job had been anything but easy. It was as if he had been on a chopping block the entire time, barely rolling away at the last moment to dodge the chopper’s edge every time.

Then he remembered something else. “Right, since State Preceptor Qing Yang was demoted to a commoner, who has taken over as the Spring Palace’s state preceptor?”

The position of state preceptor was of vital importance. Lingxu City could not leave it vacant for long.

“How could it be that fast?” Elder Dao smiled. “I heard the candidates pushed before the Monster Emperor number thirty or forty... cough, that’s an exaggeration, but every faction is doing its utmost to recommend someone, hoping one of their own can take the position.”

“Lingxu City has a complete system. Shouldn’t the master of the Spring Palace have had successors prepared long ago?” State Preceptor Qing Yang was already quite old. Had Lingxu City never planned for her replacement?

“They did. All of them were highly talented, but most had previously had contact with State Preceptor Qing Yang. After this incident, none of them can be used.” In a single sentence, Elder Dao laid bare the cruelty of power struggles. The futures of countless talented people had been cut off forever because of a disaster they had no part in. “They must be selected and tested all over again.”

“Around this matter, I hear accusations have been endless. Leaving aside the other candidates, even Nie Xiaolou, the highly respected headmaster of Tongshan Academy, was detained because of it and ate fifteen days of prison meals. Students from several academies and the Imperial Academy jointly submitted petitions arguing that Nie Xiaolou was innocent. The students of Tongshan Academy even gathered before the court to plead for the Monster Emperor to release him.”

“Also, after the Lingxu incident, the Monster Emperor issued an order with thunderous authority to purge Lingxu’s court and countryside, arrest traitors, smoke out evil, and dig out spies.” Elder Dao clicked his tongue twice. “Once that order was issued, everyone felt endangered, and denunciations became the fashion. It’s said that over these past few months, both the Heavenly Prison and the Molten Palace on Mount Xu have been packed full. They can’t even fit more criminals inside, so Lingxu City had no choice but to requisition the Lower City’s prisons.”

“That sounds like quite the headache.” He Lingchuan assumed that the Heavenly Palace and the Monster Emperor were making such a grand show only because they wanted to catch Fang Canran and the other people of Spirit Mountain.

How could he know that the Monster Emperor wanted to catch him, believing that the true culprit who had caused chaos on Mount Xu was hidden within Lingxu City’s imperial court, one of his own officials?

How could they not investigate to the death? They could not let go of even the tiniest clue, the slightest stir of wind through grass.

As for how many wrongful cases would be created in the process? That did not matter to them.

Elder Dao took out a jade slip. “The candidates Sect Leader Xue and I would like to recommend to Young Master He are all here. Every one of them has served in the military and earned battle merits. Their character is also reliable. I selected them carefully.”

He Lingchuan accepted it and sent his spiritual sense inside.

Inside the jade slip was a roster of around sixty people, including each person’s name, specialties, experience, the divine techniques they excelled in, and so on. Everything was quite detailed.

Most importantly, all of them had been on the battlefield, killed people, and seen blood. They were not young disciples under Rongshan who knew only how to practice and cultivate.

Sect Leader Xue and Elder Dao already regarded He Lingchuan as one of their own, a kindred spirit. They also knew that his path would be filled with hardship, so they would not recommend worldly and ignorant newcomers to him.

He Lingchuan made his selections slowly, and as expected, quite a few caught his eye.

After a while, he put down the jade slip and asked the two of them, “Can I ask for someone myself?”

“Who else have you taken a liking to?”

He Lingchuan jerked his chin toward the outside. “Qiu Hu. He should have fought quite a few battles, right?”

That man’s savage ferocity had left a deep impression on him. If Qiu Hu’s past record was not substantial, then he was simply a born killing general.

Elder Dao and Sect Leader Xue exchanged a look, as if they were not surprised. “So even you want him.”

Even? “It seems many powers have taken a liking to him. If that’s the case, then why is he still in Rongshan?”

“I have recommended him several times, and he has been chosen several times. He has made no small number of military merits and has killed no fewer than a hundred people.” After all, He Lingchuan was not the only one with an eye for talent. A rough piece of gold and uncut jade would not wait for him alone to discover it. “But in the end, he always came back.”

“Why?”

“He is naturally unruly, dislikes obeying orders, and looks down on his superiors. After all, most military officers and generals cannot fight wars or personal battles as well as he can. Unfortunately, he is fairly popular among the soldiers. Every time he causes trouble, it eventually turns into a mass brawl, so the commanding officers can only hurry and send him back to Rongshan.” Elder Dao stroked his long beard. “After this happened a few times, we had no choice but to keep him here in Rongshan as an idle mouth to feed.”

So he’s a pain in the ass. That said, He Lingchuan could still hear Elder Dao’s fondness for Qiu Hu.

“Qiu Hu lost both parents when he was young, and he was mute. Elder Zhao brought him back to Rongshan and cured his muteness. By the time he could speak, he was already eleven.” Sect Leader Xue added, “His talent for cultivation is very special. At birth, he had already formed a pact with a monster spirit and could use a portion of its power.”

“Monster spirit?” This was the first time He Lingchuan had heard the term.

“In the Ancient Era, after some greater monsters were gravely injured, they were unwilling to perish. Some found a way to preserve their souls and locate humans willing to worship them. By transforming their souls into spirits, they could coexist with the descendants of those humans, passed down generation after generation.”

“So Qiu Hu was accompanied by a monster spirit from birth?”

“Precisely. This should have been passed to him by his father before death.” Sect Leader Xue sighed softly. “The stronger the human who has formed a pact with a monster spirit, the more of the monster spirit’s power they can use. Qiu Hu has excellent talent and foundation, and his prospects in cultivation are bright.”

“So that’s how it is. What’s his monster spirit?”

Sect Leader Xue smiled. “That, you’ll have to let him tell you himself.”

This was Qiu Hu’s secret. If Qiu Hu himself did not say it, Sect Leader Xue could not very well reveal it. A matter this personal was not for another to say.

He Lingchuan said seriously, “I want him.”

Elder Dao answered, “Of course, we agree to lend Qiu Hu out, but whether he is willing to follow you will be up to him.”

He Lingchuan coughed lightly. “I injured him, so...”

If Qiu Hu held a grudge, that would only be human nature.

He had also noticed that Elder Dao said “lend” rather than “give,” showing how much Rongshan valued Qiu Hu.

“Quite the opposite. Since you were able to beat him into submission, he may be willing to follow you wholeheartedly.” Sect Leader Xue waved a hand. “But at this particular time, I’m afraid he may not be willing to leave Rongshan.”

“Oh? Why?”