Patrol Captain

"I accept the decree!"

"I accept the decree!"

"."

That morning, as the imperial edict was issued, its sound resounded through the nine palace gates, and a large number of people knelt down in front of the Golden Palace!

These people knelt down, looking at Chen Yuan, the Southwest Third Circuit Inspector, who was wearing silver armor and receiving the bright yellow imperial edict from His Majesty's chief attendant. Some were astonished, some were nervous, and some had gloomy expressions.

His Majesty refused yesterday, but today he's sending this imperial inspector back to Shu to take charge of the overall situation. It's truly unfathomable how an emperor can think. The most crucial point is that it's understandable for His Majesty to send this imperial inspector to Shu, since he has dealt with the demons of the Ten Thousand Mountains the most and knows them inside and out. He's just trying to redeem himself through meritorious service. But His Majesty's decree, along with the requirement for his officials to cooperate, is making a bit too much of a fuss.

People were drawn from the Prime Minister's residence, the Censorate, the Ministry of War, and the Court of Imperial Stud to cooperate with Lord Chen's actions.

This is really unpleasant!
Especially those officials who had previously criticized Chen Yuan in court, they looked like they had eaten shit, holding it in but not daring to let anyone see it.

For example, the Imperial Censor Fang, dressed in a crimson robe, was the same man who had publicly pointed at Chen Yuan's nose and cursed him as a traitor in the imperial court. Now, having received an imperial decree to become a military advisor, his expression was extremely unnatural.

At this moment, amidst the conflicted and unpleasant gazes of many, Chen Yuan, holding the imperial edict in one hand, turned around. His pale golden eyes, like a tiger unleashed from its cage, swept over them, and he smiled faintly:

"My lords, since His Majesty has issued the decree, we will trouble you!"

"After court, I will be waiting for you all at the Astronomical Bureau!"

After the court session, civil and military officials left the Golden Palace in order of rank, resembling a group of hypocritical beasts in human clothing, their colors of vermilion, purple, blue, and green mingling with the colors of the imperial city.

On the white marble staircase outside the Golden Palace, Chen Yuan, clad in silver armor, stood tall and imposing, watching Doctor Meng and Prime Minister Huangfu emerge. He leisurely leaned on his arm and said:
"I, Chen, greet Lord Huangfu and Doctor Meng!"

Huangfu Liuyun and Meng Ziyi stopped in their tracks. One narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them, while the other looked surprised.

"Lord Chen is now entrusted with an imperial mission. The situation in Shu is urgent and he cannot wait for anyone. What are you doing here?" Huangfu Liuyun squinted, his sleeves behind his back, his voice indifferent.

"Of course we are waiting for the two elders!" Chen Yuan smiled and said, "I am grateful to the two of you for recommending me to His Majesty in court yesterday. Otherwise, I, a criminal, would not know how to repay His Majesty's kindness."

"I never expected you two gentlemen to be so magnanimous. I am truly impressed!"

Huangfu Liuyun found these words particularly grating. His sharp eyes could easily see the forced smile on Chen Yuan's face. His eyes narrowed, and his tone hardened.

"What exactly is Lord Chen trying to say?"

Chen Yuan lowered his hand, his eyebrows slowly rising.
"Chen did some bad things in a fit of anger, but it was all a misunderstanding."

"This time when I return to Shu, I will definitely take good care of the men under your command, haha."

After saying that, Chen Yuan's laughter lingered in the air. "Farewell!"

He turned around, lifted his foot, and went down the steps, his steps appearing incredibly light and quick.

Behind him, Huangfu Liuyun's face turned ashen as he watched the departing figure, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Is this a direct threat to the truth?"

Beside him, the Imperial Censor Meng Ziyi's cloudy eyes flickered with a thoughtful expression, his strong voice tinged with a hint of confusion, and he slowly nodded.

"It seems so!"

"However, in my observation, this imperial inspector from Sichuan is not a brute with superhuman strength. It is quite unexpected that he would pull such a stunt."

"Ha, he thinks he can do whatever he wants once he returns to Shu. If this matter isn't handled properly, that could be his burial ground!" Prime Minister Huangfu said with a ruthless expression.

Doctor Meng glanced at the prime minister, his expression meaningful. "If what's in the memorial is true, this matter will bring many reclusive old monsters out of seclusion. I imagine even the Martial Saint Ancestor of Lord Huangfu's family would be interested!"

Huangfu Liuyun turned his gaze indifferently to the side, "Doctor Meng is always concerned about my ancestor, but he should be more concerned about how to deal with this matter."

"I'm leaving!"

With that, the prime minister left in a rather unpleasant mood.

Meng Ziyi's gaze followed the movement, and finally he smiled. If it weren't for the martial arts legacy of that Huangfu family's Martial Saint, how could our Prime Minister have sat in the position of the head of the Three Dukes for so long?

How can they compare to the Meng family, which has produced three dukes for four generations?

The Confucian gentleman shook his head. There was nothing he could do. The might of the Martial Saint was enough to intimidate both the martial arts world and the imperial court. As long as the Bodhi Martial Saint, who was rumored to have died many times but was still alive, was still around, almost no one could shake the Huangfu family's position in the court.

As Chen Yuan walked out of Chengtian Gate, preparing to return to the Xuntian Division to make arrangements for his return to Shu, a slightly familiar voice came from outside the city wall.

"Master Chen!"

A simple yet luxurious bronze carriage lifted its curtain, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in a crimson official robe.

The carriage, with the clatter of hooves, arrived before Chen Yuan.

Xu Liang, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, bowed and then gestured for him to proceed. “The Temple of Martial Arts has decreed that Your Excellency is about to embark on an inspection tour by order of the Emperor. We hereby request Your Excellency to come and inform him of this. It will not delay Your Excellency’s journey!”

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, who had entered the capital with him that day but had not shown his face since.

The fact that Lord Gou betrayed him made him feel very bad, so he killed him.

When Xu Shaoqing first came to Beijing, he said that the Martial Temple Association would mediate, but he hasn't seen any of them yet.

The Temple of Martial Arts is very special.

He hesitated for a moment, then did not refuse and got into the carriage.

It's just that I also had some doubts in my mind.

The carriage was spacious, like a small meeting hall. Chen Yuan and Xu Shaoqing sat facing each other, with a low table in between them, on which sat a tea table and incense burner, the curling incense smoke calming the mind.

Xu Shaoqing poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Chen Yuan, speaking softly as he did so.
"Two urgent memorials from Shu indicate that great turmoil is foreseeable. Lord Chen, please be careful on this trip."

"The so-called affairs of the celestial beings in Baiyujing are indeed fascinating. At this time, complete information has already been sent over."

"It is said that there are stone inscriptions recording that long ago, celestial beings from Baiyujing descended upon the Shu region and sealed away the Ten Fiends."

Chen Yuan was already desensitized to this information, after all, he was partly responsible for some of it. He listened patiently for a while, then interrupted and asked his own question.

"As far as I know, when the previous dynasty collapsed, the Shu region did not yet have the Ten Thousand Mountains. It was formed at the beginning of the Great Qian Dynasty. If we follow the records in the map, the time when these so-called celestial beings descended should be at the beginning of the Great Qian Dynasty."

"The Great Qian Dynasty has been established for over 1,500 years. Dragons and tigers can live for several hundred years. Considering the time, it's not too long ago. So it's a bit strange that we can't find any relevant records."

At this point, the golden light in Chen Yuan's eyes turned to lacquer as he looked at Xu Shaoqing opposite him.

"If I remember correctly, the Temple of Martial Arts was built by the founding dynasty for its meritorious officials. I once asked you if there were any people still alive in the Temple of Martial Arts from that era, and you said yes."

"Perhaps there are some senior figures in the Martial Temple who know the answer?" "Besides, looking for Chen at this time of year doesn't mean he's just going to have tea and burn incense."

Xu Shaoqing's eyes flickered as he looked into Chen Yuan's gaze, which seemed to pierce through his very soul.

"Perhaps. There are some things that Lord Chen needs to ask in person. I am merely relaying the decrees of the True Lord of the temple."

"Then I, Chen, will keep my expectations in mind!" Chen Yuan picked up the teacup on the table and twirled it between his fingers. The pale green tea, like rippling blue waves, reflected Chen Yuan's ever-changing gaze.

Then, silence fell over the carriage, the horses' hooves thundered, and the carriage did not shake at all.

After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the carriage suddenly lifted into the air, creating a feeling of weightlessness. The sound of whistling wind could be heard outside. After about seven or eight breaths, the sound of horses neighing could be heard outside.

Then, with a muffled thud, the carriage hit the ground.

"Lord Chen, we've arrived!"

Xu Shaoqing spoke at the opportune moment, then gestured for him to enter, and the carriage curtain was lifted.

Chen Yuan nodded, got up and stepped out of the carriage.

At first glance, the soaring eaves of blue bricks and gray tiles pierce the clouds, and a four-pillar, three-gate blue stone archway spans the square. The dragon scales on the relief gleam coldly in the sunlight, and the dragon whiskers tremble slightly with the breeze, as if about to burst forth from the wall. The nine-dragon relief on the screen wall is even more magnificent, with nine azure dragons connected head to tail, surging in the clouds. Each dragon scale seems to contain the power of a real dragon, and there are many small bronze beasts scattered among them.

Stepping over the threshold, one is greeted by the ancient cypress trees in the courtyard, their gnarled branches casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor. The winding corridor resembles a dragon, and the inscriptions on the walls, weathered by time, still retain their powerful and vigorous characters.

In the distance, a gilded plaque bears the inscription "To be on par with Heaven and Earth" in large characters.

Chen Yuan raised his head and scanned everything, taking in all the scenery. It was deep and quiet, with an ancient and rustic feel, but it seemed ordinary to Chen Yuan.

Golden light gathered in his eyes, the fleshy gap between his brows trembled, and soon he raised an eyebrow.

This place is a hidden paradise!

At this moment, Xu Shaoqing, who had been observing Chen Yuan, smiled upon seeing his expression and said, "It seems that Lord Chen has figured it out."

As he spoke, he took out the token, held it in front of him with a solemn expression, and then pointed to the imperial edict.
"By order of the True Lord, the Imperial Envoy Chen, the Patrol Envoy of the Three Paths of the Southwest, has come to see you."

As soon as these words were spoken, a gentle breeze blew by.

The wind blows through the old trees, red walls, green tiles, and screen wall in the courtyard.

Amazingly, when this breeze blows, it's like a gentle breeze rippling a pool of green water, instantly bringing the whole scene to life.

The dragon on the screen wall rolled its eyes, and the ferocious ridge beasts on the eaves bared their teeth, looking at Chen Yuan as if they were not to be trifled with; the bronze human-faced beasts scattered on the ground suddenly came to life.

The sweeper sweeps the floor.

The weeders are pulling weeds.

Fighting;
Others rushed around Chen Yuan and his companion, their eyes filled with curiosity. They moved closer to Chen Yuan's feet, showing no aggression, but rather acting like small animals, wriggling and rolling around.

Meanwhile, in the distance, the main hall, marked "Together with Heaven and Earth," shone white light through its door cracks.

Chen Yuan watched all of this with great interest, but he discovered that these bronze beasts were not simple; their small bodies contained considerable power.

"Lord Chen, please come in. I will wait outside."

Xu Shaoqing led Chen Yuan to the front of the main hall and looked at the door through which white light shone.

Chen Yuan stepped up the three flights of stairs and pushed open the faded red-painted door with both hands. With a creak, it seemed that the door had been sealed for a long time and had not been opened for a long time.

The dazzling white light filled Chen Yuan's vision.

The door behind slammed shut with a bang, seemingly separating two worlds.

As Chen Yuan's slightly squinted eyes adjusted to the light, he heard a cacophony of sounds around him.

"I just checked, and this kid isn't from that place."

"I've discovered a secret. Hey, this doesn't seem to be our true form. Like us, it's a 'burnt incense body.' This kid has even cultivated the divine path. Strange, how come no one noticed?"

"Such extraordinary abilities, they might have come from that place. Even I, the Divine Lord, find it hard to believe."

"Yeah, this guy is an anomaly, it's really unreasonable. Burn the heretic! Kid, do you like your tofu pudding salty or sweet?"

"Stop arguing, stop arguing, don't scare them away."

"."

One voice after another, some like booming bells, some with a touch of obsessive sharpness, and some with a hint of madness, filled Chen Yuan's ears, almost making his head explode.

His third eye suddenly opened, the golden flesh slits ripped open, and he saw the shocking scene before him.

Inside the towering hall, which stood as high as a mountain, stood enormous, majestic painted sculptures, each a hundred feet tall, resembling celestial gods, bathed in a radiant glow that was dazzling to the eye.

It has two pupils growing from its forehead, a red face, and wide, bell-shaped eyes. The pupils are dotted with cinnabar, as if it can see through the demons and monsters of the three realms.
His eyebrows stood up like iron brushes, his sideburns were like steel needles, his mouth was wide open revealing his white fangs, his face was indigo, and there were bulging blue veins on both sides of his cheeks. He was violent and majestic, a fierce and evil-looking man.
He has three pairs of flame-shaped wings sculpted on his back, and his right arm holds a golden seal high, like an angry Vajra, with a tiger crouching beneath him.
Each one is so lifelike and exaggerated that anyone with a weak mind would likely be terrified upon seeing it.

As Chen Yuan's discerning eyes swept over them, those enormous eyes—some majestic, some violent, some ferocious—also turned and stared intently at him.

Just then, a cough was heard.

"cough cough"

Chen Yuan's third eye between his brows suddenly felt hot, as if it had been burned, and automatically closed.

Then, the mountain-like clay sculptures and the rosy clouds in his eyes all disappeared, leaving only a dim incense hall with small clay sculptures on both sides and oil lamps densely scattered among them.

As the coughing sound rang out, a hunched figure emerged from the dim light of the incense hall.

“These old fellows have lived too long and are bored. Lord Chen, there’s no need to panic.”

"However, with Lord Chen's abilities, there is no need to be afraid of these old fellows."

Chen Yuan felt a chill run down his spine. No one in the imperial court had noticed his incense clone, but he hadn't expected it to be exposed so suddenly at the Martial Temple.

His vigilance suddenly surged, especially the content of those voices, which struck him as odd.

His eyes were fixed on the person who was coughing, as they slowly revealed themselves in the candlelight.

When he saw the person clearly emerging from the candlelight, he suddenly had the instinct of a wild beast encountering danger, and all the hairs on his body stood on end, which gave him a chilling feeling.

Chen Yuan immediately realized that the old man in front of him had probably reached the level of Martial Saint!
The Seventh Realm! (End of Chapter)