Chapter 484: Is the Imperial City Department the Demonic Sect’s Stronghold? |
Tianwu City, Imperial City Department's office.
“Tok tok tok”
Xiao Shan cautiously knocked on the door. Only after a calm voice sounded from inside did he muster his courage, push the door open, and stride into the room.
What greeted his eyes was a refined and old-fashioned study. At first glance, it looked extremely simple, but whether it was the Four Treasures of the Study placed on the desk or the desk and chairs themselves, all were crafted from the highest grade spiritual materials. Even an ordinary cultivator, merely sitting there, could improve their cultivation speed.
On the wall behind the desk and chair hung a calligraphy painting.
【Upright Governance, Harmonious People】！
Upon seeing these four bold characters, Xiao Shan immediately tensed up, and then, with immense reverence, solemnly looked toward the figure seated behind the desk.
“Lord Du Huan, the matter has been settled.”
Only then did Lu Yang return to his senses. He saw Xiao Shan take out a storage pouch and gently place it on his desk, next to a thick ledger.
However, Lu Yang paid it no heed. Instead, he chuckled lightly:
“Xiao Shan, I heard that earlier, you fought with Lord Ning of the All-Heaven Department. And you even extinguished one of his innate divine abilities in public?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Shan immediately lowered his head, terrified and trembling. “Please forgive me, my lord. That Ning fellow was obstructing the investigation, and I had no choice...”
“That’s still unacceptable.”
Lu Yang shook his head. “If you act like this, who would dare approach the Imperial City Department in the future? Be more careful! Is the Imperial City Department the old nest of the Jiangbei Demonic Sect?”
“...I deeply apologize.”
Seeing Xiao Shan lower his head deeply in submission, Lu Yang finally nodded. “But still, I understand your position.”
“However, you're merely a subordinate of the Imperial City Department. On paper, you have no official post. How could you publicly strike a third-grade commander of the All-Heaven Department?”
“Be more careful next time.”
After speaking, Lu Yang patted Xiao Shan’s shoulder and then retrieved a bulging storage pouch from his robe, slipping it into Xiao Shan’s hand.
“Hold it well. You did a fine job in this investigation. Consider this a personal reward from me.”
“Hiss—” Xiao Shan inhaled sharply.
It hadn’t even been a few days, and another stipend?
And judging by its bulging appearance, it was thicker than his pillow.
At this moment, Lu Yang didn’t even need to activate【String-Pulled Puppet】. Having accepted the red envelope, Xiao Shan’s face was already burning with zeal. He immediately stomped his foot, clenched his fist, and saluted:
“Loyal! And! Faithful!”
Only then did Lu Yang nod in satisfaction. He picked up the investigation accounts brought by Xiao Shan and casually scanned the storage pouch with his divine sense.
Then he froze.
To be honest, with the【Immortal Nation Dao Law】surveillance in place, he didn’t expect corruption to be that severe.
But he was wrong.
As the saying goes: “Where there are policies, there are countermeasures.”
So long as there are people, no system can be perfect.
Though the Dao Court’s official system appeared flawless and under the monitoring of【Immortal Nation Dao Law】, everyone secretly played dirty.
For example, these stolen funds — although the Dao Court only issued salaries once a century, every new appointment came with an initial payment. So some banner officers exploited this loophole, constantly replacing subordinates, feeding off their wages like parasites, or simply filling quotas with inferior personnel, devouring the salary meant for a dozen people alone.
The variety of schemes left Lu Yang in stunned admiration.
‘After all, the Holy Sect doesn’t bother with these flashy tricks — they just rob you directly. The Sword Pavilion too, just slightly more polite about it.’
By comparison, the Dao Court was “more civilized.”
‘Spiritual materials and secret arts aside... they even had access permissions for【Immortal Nation Dao Law】!’
Looking at the ledger on the table and the ill-gotten gains seized from this round of All-Heaven Department corruption investigations, Lu Yang couldn’t help but let out a long sigh:
“Grieving for the nation~ lamenting~~ heart secretly wounded~!”
Seeing this, Xiao Shan became flustered: “My lord... we’ve accomplished a great feat. It’s a joyous occasion. Why are you crying?”
“Fool!”
Lu Yang slammed the desk: “Who would have thought those bugs in the All-Heaven Department scraped away so much of the people's lifeblood and sweat? I cry for the nation, for the people!”
Saying this, he wiped his crocodile tears, clenched his teeth, and made a fist: “Damn it! How did the Dao Court become like this!”
“I’m going to the palace right now to report this to His Majesty!”
After finishing, Lu Yang packed the ledger and the storage pouch. With a sweep of his divine sense, he quietly kept back three【Immortal Nation Dao Law】access tokens.
Heavenly Wu Hall.
Seeing the ledger Lu Yang presented, along with the overflowing storage pouch that emitted a rush of spiritual energy upon opening, Emperor Jiayou’s face was exceedingly dark.
Outrageous!
As the Dao Court’s Heavenly Son, and a Golden Core True Lord, he didn’t lack spiritual materials. The issue was that the stolen goods were embezzled by the All-Heaven Department — his direct subordinates.
This was the capital — under the emperor’s nose — and it was already so corrupt. What about the rest of the empire? What about the six ministries? If even the All-Heaven Department was half-rotten, the rest of the Dao Court could only be worse! The spiritual materials swallowed in secret could be ten times, a hundred times, even a thousand times more! Not a single bit reached his hands!
At this thought, Emperor Jiayou looked at Lu Yang again.
In truth, he already had a copy of the account book, secretly investigated by the inner court. Comparing it with Lu Yang’s, there was no major discrepancy.
Spiritual materials and Dao techniques — all present.
Only three【Immortal Nation Dao Law】permissions were missing — something utterly insignificant to an emperor who could invoke them at will.
At this realization, Emperor Jiayou was greatly pleased.
‘This little dragon may be greedy, but at least he knows the rules — understands what he can and cannot take. He’s more useful than some blind fools.’
However, this only fueled his fury.
Damn it — even the monster cultivators from overseas knew restraint, while these corrupt officials didn’t. And on the surface, they pretended to be paragons of loyalty.
They take my money and expect me to thank them?
“...Tell me, how do you think this should be handled?”
After a moment of silence, Emperor Jiayou spoke. Though rage burned within, his voice remained calm, as though the matter were trivial.
Yet Lu Yang wept:
“Your Majesty... these officials from the All-Heaven Department are your direct subordinates. They take from the royal treasury but betray you — they are bullying Your Majesty!”
“Such behavior is intolerable! A thorough investigation must be conducted!”
At this point, Lu Yang clenched his teeth and cried out: “Your Majesty, please issue the order! This subject swears to return Your Majesty a clean and honest All-Heaven Department!”
Emperor Jiayou: “...”
Admittedly, for a moment, Emperor Jiayou was tempted. But he quickly calmed himself, thinking Lu Yang was still being too radical.
If he really purged the All-Heaven Department, it would break his tacit agreement with the Three Dukes.
And for breaking through the late Golden Core realm, he still needed their cooperation — he couldn’t afford a total fallout. That was why he had Lu Yang investigate the corruption.
If successful, and the Three Dukes turned a blind eye — great.
If not, and the Three Dukes and officials reacted fiercely, then he wouldn’t mind throwing Lu Yang and the Imperial City Department under the bus to pacify them.
Though he did value Du Huan greatly, and believed in his loyalty — loyalty couldn’t be eaten. And since he was loyal, taking the blame and catching a bullet was expected. There were plenty of four-legged True Dragons around. As long as people sought advancement, he’d never lack loyal subordinates.
‘Still... this little dragon has a good heart.’
Emperor Jiayou didn’t care how much of Lu Yang’s display was an act. What mattered was his boldness to step forward and pledge to thoroughly cleanse the All-Heaven Department.
Willingness to act — that was true loyalty.
Those who only mouthed loyalty, but did nothing when crisis came — what use were they? Better off raising pigs!
At least you could eat a fattened pig.
At the same time, Lu Yang was keeping a close eye on the progression of【Unyielding Beneath Others】, watching as the golden talent’s augmentation reached 80%.
Just a little more, and it would reach the full tenfold boost.
Just then—
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Lu Yang raised his head, sensing a massive karmic fluctuation. On the other side, Emperor Jiayou also furrowed his brows, beginning to calculate with his fingers.
Soon, Lu Yang understood the source of the upheaval:
‘Uncle-Master Chong Guang... has begun Seeking Golden Fruition!’