Chapter 483: The Gallant Cavalry General, Du Huan! |
The establishment of the 【Imperial City Department】 was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake for the Dao Court, immediately stirring ripples throughout Tianwu City.
This was because the Imperial City Department had completely bypassed the official hierarchy of the Dao Court. With no official ranks, they naturally wouldn't be constrained by the directors and supervisors of various ministries. Let alone under the blessing of the 【Xianghuo Shendao】, its strongest members could reach the peak of Foundation Establishment—no weaker than a first-rank official. This alone made many harbor apprehension.
More importantly, was the responsibility of the Imperial City Department.
To put it simply: it was in charge of the security within Tianwu City, enforcement of access prohibitions to the imperial palace, guarding all residential lodges, and control over the opening and closing of palace gates—all fell under its jurisdiction.
This was no small matter.
Because these had always been the responsibilities of the 【All-Heaven Department】. Now that they were transferred to the Imperial City Department, with duties lost, the corresponding powers naturally disappeared as well.
How could the All-Heaven Department possibly accept this?
Tianwu City, in the residence of the Grand Protector.
“His Majesty clearly doesn't trust the All-Heaven Department!”
“That Du Huan fellow, he fawned and flattered, earned a few minor merits, pleased His Majesty, and that’s how he secured this role! Grand Protector, we can’t let this go. How can we in Jiangdong Dao allow an overseas demonic cultivator to occupy such a post? The nation would no longer be a nation!”
At the seat of honor, an old man sat with closed eyes, silent.
At first glance, he appeared an ordinary elder. But the moment he opened his eyes, the aura around him changed dramatically.
Like a jiao transforming into a dragon.
His every breath resonated with the omnipresent 【Dao Law of the Immortal Nation】 in Jiangdong, echoing and harmonizing with it, bringing down boundless mighty power upon him.
This was none other than the current Grand Protector—Hu Zhichun.
He wielded the 【Golden Foil Gold】, and commanded the 【Golden Court Marvelous Cave Heaven】. As for Ning Haohe, being his disciple, it was thanks to Hu Zhichun’s recommendation that he had become Vice Commander of the All-Heaven Department.
“His Majesty is simply dissatisfied,”
Hu Zhichun spoke calmly, “The All-Heaven Department has always been directly under the Heavenly Son. Now that it’s under your command, it’s only natural that His Majesty wishes to establish a separate institution.”
In truth, Ning Haohe’s appointment was influenced by a transaction between the Three Dukes and Emperor Jiayou. The mid-Golden Core Jiayou Emperor needed help breaking through to the late stage, requiring the fusion of three elements—something only the Three Dukes could assist with. The All-Heaven Department had merely been a bargaining chip.
But evidently, the Jiayou Emperor had long been dissatisfied with this.
Thus, he founded the Imperial City Department rooted in the Xianghuo Shendao and specifically appointed a member of the 【True Dragon Clan】 with no foundation in the Dao Court to oversee it.
More critically, the source of the Xianghuo Shendao was solely in Jiayou Emperor’s hands.
In such a situation, the Imperial City Department would, without question, follow only His Majesty’s commands, untouched by the bureaucracy. This clearly disrupted the established rules of the Dao Court.
“Tai’an, what do you think?”
Hu Zhichun turned his gaze to a young man beside him, whose handsome features and every movement exuded noble grace.
This was the current Young Protector, Li Taian.
In time, when Hu Zhichun’s lifespan ended and his Cave Heaven fell, this Young Protector would inherit it. His importance was self-evident.
“Replying to Master, this subordinate believes we should respond to all change by remaining unchanged.”
Li Taian cupped his hands and replied solemnly, “The establishment of the Imperial City Department is His Majesty’s will. I fear His Majesty wants to see the ministers’ reactions.”
“If we outwardly obey but secretly sabotage, and His Majesty catches wind of it, he will retaliate more harshly. It’s better to take a step back, let His Majesty vent for now. Later, we can place limits upon them. After all, His Majesty still has needs only you can fulfill. If we offer an out, he won’t push too hard.”
“And if His Majesty remains unsatisfied?” Hu Zhichun asked with a deep voice.
Li Taian's expression immediately turned stern. “Then it means His Majesty has been deceived by villains. We shall submit a blood-signed petition—demand the execution of the treacherous demon clan to uphold imperial law!”
Hu Zhichun nodded with satisfaction. “Good.”
Then he turned to Ning Haohe. “You heard him? The Imperial City Department was created by His Majesty. If he asks you to cooperate, then cooperate properly.”
Just then, footsteps sounded from outside the hall.
“大人，不好了大人.”
A guard from the All-Heaven Department rushed in, panicked. “That Du Huan from the Imperial City Department has brought men to our department office!”
“What?!”
Ning Haohe instantly stood up. After receiving permission from Hu Zhichun, he excused himself and departed the Grand Protector’s residence in a flash of light.
Soon, he arrived at the office of the All-Heaven Department.
But what met his eyes was a towering surge of Xianghuo divine light—and a proud figure at the center, surrounded like stars circling the moon.
“Flag Officer Wang Xue of the All-Heaven Department, embezzled pay for thirteen banner camp warriors under his charge. Evidence is conclusive—executed on the spot!”
“Flag Officer Chen Dao of the All-Heaven Department—”
With each booming announcement, one official after another was dragged out and forced to kneel. Their once ruddy faces had long turned pale.
Seeing this, Ning Haohe quickly sent a sound transmission:
“Spare them—”
“Clang! Clang!”
Almost the moment his voice sounded, the executioners' blades had already fallen, lopping off the heads of the kneeling officials.
“You bastards!”
Ning Haohe was beside himself with rage!
But the executioners from the Imperial City Department didn’t care in the slightest. After all, they weren’t living off his rice.
Why should they listen to him?
Most of them were demonic cultivators to begin with—and they’d long despised Ning Haohe.
Even the human cultivators, after receiving two hundred years’ salary from Lu Yang, only obeyed his and the emperor’s orders!
Seeing this, Ning Haohe grew even more furious. He immediately flung off his official hat, and the title of 【Vice Commander of the All-Heaven Department】 emerged above him, with divine power rising like the morning sun:
【Rising Yang Earth】!
This was a Xu-Earth divine art—Xu being the treasury of the great furnace, the burning primal earth, a place where nobles dare not tread. It could attack fiercely and diminish fortune!
But in the next moment, a giant hand made entirely of Xianghuo Qi interposed itself, blocking between him and the executioners. Waves of incense power surged endlessly, one replaced by the next. Like snuffing a candle, it crushed Ning Haohe’s divine art instantly!
“How could this be—”
The sight was like cold water over Ning Haohe’s head, extinguishing all his fury in an instant, shocking him into clarity.
The next moment, a black-robed demonic cultivator swaggered forward.
“Well, if it isn’t Lord Ning.”
Xiao Shan was thoroughly pleased with himself. As one of the earliest demonic cultivators to join Lu Yang, and a founding elder of the 【One-Heart Society】, he had naturally earned great favor.
Aside from salary, he’d also received a Xianghuo divine title.
Lu Yang had shown no stinginess. When the Imperial City Department was just founded, he had allocated a full third of the incense power to Xiao Shan, granting him a peak Foundation Establishment divine status!
With such power, Xiao Shan now viewed the once lofty Ning Haohe—whose very servants dared show him disdain—as nothing much. The position of 【Vice Commander of the All-Heaven Department】 was merely third rank—not even a late-stage True Person!
‘Indeed, only by following Lord Du Huan can we demon cultivators have a future.’
Xiao Shan's resolve deepened.
Meanwhile, Ning Haohe forcibly mustered a smile. After all, he couldn’t win—so he couldn’t act superior.
“You… what exactly are you trying to do?”
“What are we doing?”
Xiao Shan sneered coldly. “His Majesty has already issued a decree, naming Lord Du Huan as Gallant Cavalry General, commander of the Imperial City Department, to investigate the corruption within the All-Heaven Department!”
“In short, if the All-Heaven Department can manage it, the Imperial City Department will manage it too. If the All-Heaven Department can’t, we’ll manage it even more! Execute first, report later—imperial privilege!”
“Lord Ning, do you understand now?”