Ascending to Immortality by Slaying Spirits

Chapter 182 - Death for Disobedience, the Imperial Seal of the State

Zhang Yuege?
Chong Xuanzi's face showed a hint of surprise: "True disciple of Lingzhu, is there a mistake in this matter?"

Lin Le narrowed his eyes slightly: "You have a past with Zhang Yuege?"

Despite the vast difference in their cultivation levels, Chong Xuanzi felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "No, no, we've only met a few times!"

"That's for the best," Lin Le said. "Let's go."

“Okay.” Chong Xuanzi and Lin Le concealed themselves and went out to contact the Nascent Soul cultivator who was still in Hongjing.

First, they went to the residence of the first Nascent Soul True Lord and used a communication spell to contact Xuanzi. Soon, they received a response.

“True Lord Shun’an is in seclusion and will not receive guests,” Chong Xuanzi said.

"Seclusion?" Lin Le frowned. "What does he look like?"

“High nose bridge, big eyes…” Chong Xuanzi described.

Lin Le nodded: "Alright, ignore him, he's already dead."

"Dead?" Chong Xuanzi was about to ask how he could have died, but he swallowed the question; he had already figured it out.

"How many Nascent Soul cultivators does Hongjing have?" Lin Le asked.

"Seven, including myself," Chong Xuanzi said, and then gave a detailed introduction to the remaining six Nascent Soul cultivators.

After listening, Lin Le remained expressionless. Of the six, he had killed three, two of whom were members of the royal family, and the remaining one was Zhang Yuege's ancestor.

So if six out of seven are on the opposing side, is the remaining one really trustworthy?

Lin Le stared at Chong Xuanzi with a deep, unsettling look, making him feel uneasy.

“True disciple of the Spirit Pearl, what do you mean by looking at me like that?” Chong Xuanzi couldn’t help but put some distance between himself and Lin Le.

Lin Le said in a low voice, "I'm wondering if you're really confused or just pretending. Six out of seven Nascent Soul True Monarchs are from the other side. It's hard to imagine how Elder Chongxuan has managed to survive?"

“Spirit Pearl True Disciple, your words are a bit too much,” Chong Xuanzi said. “How could all six of them be from the Sacred Heart Demon Sect?”

Lin Le didn't speak, but simply pulled out thirteen heads from his storage bag: "Do you recognize them?"

Looking at the head that was strung on a rope like a fish, Chong Xuanzi's face turned pale. He not only knew them, but he had also dealt with them quite a bit.

Now that Zhang Yuege is the Empress, it is obvious that the other two royal Nascent Soul cultivators and the Zhang family Nascent Soul cultivator are highly unreliable.

"What do we do now?" Chong Xuanzi asked.

"What else can we do but kill them one by one?" Lin Le frowned. "Let's go find that royal patriarch first. She might not get involved in this."

The Sacred Heart Sect is too far away, while the Profound Heaven Sect is too close. Any normal person would know which side would be more advantageous to them.

That royal ancestor might know something, but he would never dare to formally betray the Xuantian Sect.

So, if we win her over first, we still have a chance of winning.

“Okay.” Chong Xuanzi immediately went to lead the way.

At Baifeng Temple, a Taoist nun who looked to be in her twenties or thirties and had a cool and aloof demeanor was meditating in a room.

Then, as if sensing something, she flicked her whisk, and the door opened automatically: "Fellow Daoist Chongxuan, what urgent matter brings you here so soon?"

"Junior Sister Jingxu, something terrible has happened! There are spies from the Demonic Sect infiltrated the palace. As an ancestor of the royal family, you must join forces with me to capture the spies," Chong Xuanzi said as he entered.

Bai Jingxu frowned as well: "Senior Brother Chongxuan, do you have any evidence?"

“There is no evidence, but there is a witness.” Chong Xuanzi turned to the side, revealing Lin Le behind him. “This is Ling Zhuzi, a true disciple of my sect. He was ambushed on his way back recently, and it has been confirmed that he is a member of the Sacred Heart Demon Sect.”

“A witness testimony alone is not enough. What if he is deceiving you and me?” Bai Jingxu said calmly.

"Junior Sister Jingxu, have you gone mad from staying down the mountain for too long?!" Chong Xuanzi's face showed anxiety. "The true disciples of Lingzhu have a bright future ahead of them, why would they joke with you and me!"

Bai Jingxu said calmly, "But your sudden arrival and your accusation that my royal family has infiltrated the Holy Heart Demon Sect as spies makes it really hard for me to believe you!"

"Junior Sister Jingxu!" Chong Xuanzi wanted to say something, but someone lightly patted his back.

"Alright, it's her business if she doesn't believe it," Lin Le said indifferently.

He slowly walked up to Bai Jingxu and said in a cold tone, "Now, as a true disciple of the Xuantian Sect, I command you to join me in eliminating demons. Will you go or not?"

Bai Jingxu glanced at Lin Le indifferently, then closed her eyes again: "I'm not going, the Spirit Pearl True Inheritance..."

boom!
Just as Chong Xuanzi was looking on in astonishment, Lin Le suddenly threw a punch, shattering Bai Jingxu's beautiful face and grabbing the nascent soul that was trying to escape.

The boundless qi surged forth, obliterating the nascent soul.

Who wants to argue with you? If you won't listen, then just die!
"The Pure Void True Lord of the Bai Clan disobeyed orders and was a spy for the Sacred Heart Demon Sect. He has now been eliminated by me!" Lin Le turned to look at Chong Xuanzi and said these words in a cold tone, "Elder Chong Xuan, you are my witness."

Looking into Lin Le's eyes, which were filled with indifference to human life, Xuanzi broke out in a cold sweat and quickly lowered his head, saying, "Yes!"

"Let's go, to the Zhang family." Lin Le said, flicking his sleeve.

"Yes." Chong Xuanzi didn't ask what they were going to do, since he already knew the answer.

At the Zhang residence, Zhang Xuesong, the patriarch of the Zhang family, looked at the servant who had come to deliver the message with a puzzled expression: "Elder Chongxuan, what brings him here? Please invite him in."

Not long after, Chongxuan strode in and said, "Fellow Daoist Xuesong, something terrible has happened!"

"Something terrible has happened?" Zhang Xuesong asked in confusion. "What terrible thing?"

Chong Xuanzi glanced around and said, "Does your house have a secret room? This matter must not be spread to six ears!"

Seeing Chong Xuanzi's seriousness, Zhang Xuesong had no doubts: "Yes, please follow me."

Before Zhang Xuesong could even turn around after leading Chong Xuanzi to the secret chamber, he felt a heavy blow to his back, and a surge of magical power trapped his nascent soul.

Zhang Xuesong fell to the ground, staring at Chong Xuanzi in disbelief: "Elder Chong Xuan, what do you mean by this!"

"I have offended you greatly, please forgive me!" Chong Xuanzi bowed and said, and then a figure appeared beside him.

The man had the words "Sky Blue" on the edge of his sleeve, surrounded by seventy-two peaks.

The True Transmission of Azure Sky?

Zhang Xuesong was taken aback: "Old man, have I done something wrong?"

Chong Xuanzi shook his head slightly: "No, but your great-granddaughter does."

"Yuege? What mistake did she make?" Zhang Xuesong asked, puzzled.

“She is a spy for the Sacred Heart Demon Sect.” Lin Le took the leopard skin pouch from Chong Xuanzi’s waist and said calmly, “Therefore, I reasonably suspect that the Zhang family is colluding with the Sacred Heart Demon Sect, so I came here to investigate.”

"I'm innocent!" Zhang Xuesong immediately shouted. "My Zhang family is loyal to the Xuantian Sect and has absolutely no connection with the Sacred Heart Demon Sect!"

“That Zhang Yuege has connections with the Holy Heart Demon Sect. It’s definitely a private connection on her part. Yes, she might not even be Zhang Yuege. She could very well be someone from the Holy Heart Demon Sect in disguise!”

Lin Le looked at him indifferently: "Are you sure you have absolutely no connection with the Sacred Heart Demon Sect?"

“Absolutely true!” Zhang Xuesong said.

"Then lower your guard on your nascent soul and let me implant the technique," Lin Le said.

Zhang Xuesong's expression froze instantly. Wasn't this putting his life in the hands of others?

Seeing Zhang Xuesong hesitate, Lin Le raised his fist without hesitation. Realizing Lin Le wasn't faking it, Zhang Xuesong quickly kowtowed and said, "Alright, this old man is willing!"

Since my life is already in someone else's hands, it doesn't matter if the situation gets any worse.

Lin Le pointed and planted a bit of magic power into Zhang Xuesong's nascent soul, then said, "Later, you go see the emperor and hold him off while I go get the Imperial Seal."

"Yes," Zhang Xuesong nodded to Chong Xuanzi.

The two then hurriedly went to the palace.

"Chongxuan and Xuesong have come to pay their respects to the Emperor?" Upon hearing the news from her subordinates, Zhang Yuege became increasingly vigilant.

The arrival of two Nascent Soul True Monarchs at this critical juncture is indeed somewhat sensitive.

After all, she was indeed planning to leave. She had long been tired of this small place, and that was the reason she attempted to assassinate Lin Le.

If he dies, she can return to the sect with greater honor; if he doesn't, she can take the opportunity to escape. In any case, given her accumulated wealth over the years, the sect won't punish her for this.

Moreover, even she couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't slip up under the nose of the Nascent Soul Dao Lord.

After careful consideration, Zhang Yuege decided to ignore it; this amount of time was not enough for that Spirit Pearl disciple to return to the sect.

As for returning to Hongjing? What a joke! Nobody would willingly walk into a trap.

After that attack, it was clear to everyone that there were serious problems within Hongjing. Who was so foolish as to venture into the lion's den again without seeking help?
Lin Le slowly walked into the cabinet, a place specifically for the emperor to handle state affairs.

The unfamiliar presence caused the six officials to look up as the young man, dressed in a flowing robe, entered. A look of astonishment appeared in everyone's eyes.

Grand Secretary Yan Jieyuan was the first to rise and bow, saying, "I wonder what brings you here, Master Tianqing?"

"I need something." Lin Le reached out and grabbed it, and amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, the red and blue qi swept away the jade seal.

Lin Le examined it for a moment and frowned. This was just a medium, not the real Imperial Seal of the State.

That's true. When it comes to such fundamental things, even emperors would try various methods to check and balance them to prevent them from being stolen or misappropriated.

"Where is the real Imperial Seal of the State?" Lin Le turned his gaze to Yan Jieyuan.

Yan Jieyuan cupped his hands and said, "Then please tell me your purpose, Master Lingzhu. Otherwise, even if you are a true disciple of the upper sect, it would be too inappropriate to directly ask for our country's national treasure!"

"The Emperor of Baihong Kingdom has colluded with the demoness of the Demonic Sect. I intend to set things right. Do you intend to obstruct me?" Lin Le said calmly.

Though the words were spoken softly, they were like a huge boulder crashing into a lake, stirring up a tidal wave in everyone's hearts.

How could the emperor be colluding with a demoness from the Demonic Sect?!

"Who is the demoness?" Yan Jieyuan asked.

“Your Empress, Zhang Yuege,” Lin Le said.

Zhang Yuege?! The astonishment in everyone's eyes was even greater. After all, they had witnessed Zhang Yuege's virtue and ability. In all the dynasties, she was a rare and good empress.

"This matter is utterly absurd. Please allow me to refuse on behalf of His Majesty," Yan Jieyuan said, bowing.

"Sorry," Lin Le waved his hand, "I won't allow it!"

As he spoke, Lin Le's consciousness rushed into his mind and went through his memories.

Bang! Yan Jieyuan's body went limp and he collapsed to the ground.

"Have the imperial physician treat his spiritual injuries." Lin Le turned and left. "Considering he is a good official, I will spare his life for now."

Looking back on my memory, this Yan Jieyuan was indeed a capable and honest official. There will definitely be a great upheaval in Bai Hongguo later, and keeping this good official around will bring him more merit.

Moreover, even if you kill them, it would only amount to a mere thousand or so killings, which is not worth it.

Watching Lin Le leave, the remaining cabinet members all knew that Bai Hong Kingdom was about to change dynasties. With the emperor conspiring with the Demon Sect, how could Xuan Tian Sect possibly allow the Bai family to exist?

Their eyes gleamed; if that were the case, their families might still have a chance to compete for the throne.

Lin Le broke through the restriction in the Dragon and Phoenix Hall with a single palm strike and slowly walked in.

"Who are you?" A refined-looking eunuch looked coldly at Lin Le, exuding the aura of a ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Although eunuchs could regain their fertility after reaching the third level of the Foundation Establishment stage, the royal family obviously wouldn't allow them to do so. Therefore, some peculiar techniques that could change a person's gender were developed.

For example, the most widely circulated Lingming Huasheng Gong can turn a person's gender into asexuality.

Lin Le didn't speak, but just exhaled.

In the blink of an eye, the eunuch was split in two.

Lin Le slapped the golden elixir into the embroidered ball and looked at a pool of water. The pool was covered in frost, and a jade pillar stood tall. On the jade pillar was a jade seal with a phoenix symbolizing good fortune.

That is the Imperial Seal of the Baihong Kingdom.

Without hesitation, Lin Le stepped into the pool, consuming 10,000 merits within his inner realm of supernatural powers.

Twenty-seven years passed in a single thought, and Lin Le diligently cultivated the Dragon Sparrow Fighting Heaven Technique.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Le came to his senses, and his body spontaneously began to absorb the spiritual energy in the surrounding pool.

This pool is the Baihong Pool that Lin Le mentioned coming to. Legend has it that a white goose transformed into a white phoenix here, and through the interaction of heaven and earth, this spiritual land was born.

Although the water in the pool was as cold as an ice cellar, it contained Phoenix Essence, which had a very strong nourishing effect on the body.

Therefore, Lin Le set his sights on this place, hoping to use it to push his physical body to its limits.

Lin Le continuously absorbed the vast amount of spiritual energy and phoenix essence accumulated over thousands of years, causing his golden core to spin faster and faster.

On the other side, Bai Ruixian looked at Chong Xuanzi and Zhang Xuesong, who were talking eloquently but never getting to the point.

Because they hadn't been talking for very long, Bai Ruixian could still be patient for the time being.

But as he sensed a crack in the barrier, he couldn't sit still any longer. It was the barrier of the Dragon and Phoenix Palace, where the Imperial Seal of the State was located.

Ignoring the conversation between Chong Xuanzi and Zhang Xuesong, Bai Ruixian immediately got up and rushed outside.

Ke Chongxuanzi and Zhang Xuesong worked together seamlessly to stop Bai Ruixian.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?" Zhang Xuesong's voice was filled with resentment.

If Bai Ruixian hadn't joined the Sacred Heart Sect, his life and death wouldn't have been in the hands of others.

Moreover, after this incident, the Zhang family will likely suffer a severe blow, since Zhang Yuege is from their family.

Speaking of this, he had to thank Lin Le for giving him a chance to redeem himself; otherwise, his Zhang family would probably have been wiped out by the Xuantian Sect.

"Get out!" But Bai Ruixian had no time to argue with him; he could feel his control over the Imperial Seal was gradually weakening.

The Imperial Seal of the State is the lifeblood of the monarch. If it weren't for the fact that the Imperial Seal of the State cannot be stored in a storage bag and must be nourished by imperial energy at all times, every monarch would probably carry it with him at all times.

With a single palm strike, Bai Ruixian pushed Chong Xuanzi and Zhang Xuesong aside and charged straight into the Dragon and Phoenix Palace.

In the blink of an eye, Bai Ruixian rushed to the Dragon and Phoenix Palace, roaring angrily:

"Who dares to touch my imperial seal!"

"your dad."

(End of this chapter)