Starting as a prodigy wanting milk? A world-destroying deception in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace of the Divine Capital, in the Eastern Palace Study.

Feng Xun sat on a soft chair by the window, playing with a jade pendant in his hand, his face still bearing a gentle smile.

The study door was pushed open, and a guard in black knelt on one knee, head bowed, speaking respectfully:

"Your Highness, something has happened."

"Speak," Feng Xun said calmly, without a trace of emotion.

"All the men we sent failed," the guard said in a deep voice.

"Jin Wanquan has been kidnapped."

Feng Xun paused in his play with the jade pendant, looked up at the guard, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, but quickly concealed by gentleness:

"A slip-up?"

"Five third-tier or higher Divine Blessing cultivators can't even handle a cripple?"

"The opponent is too strong." The guard's voice trembled slightly.

"There were two masked men in black. The one in the lead shattered all our mental energy with just one move."

Our men didn't even have a chance to resist before they all fell.

"One move?" Feng Xun raised an eyebrow. "What level of skill?"

"I don't know." The guard shook his head.

"The other party deliberately concealed their aura, making it impossible to discern their specific level, but they are definitely a high-level Spirit Master, at least at the fifth level or above."

Feng Xun tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, lost in thought.

Who would be a fifth-tier or higher Divine Blessing Master who dares to openly abduct the person he wanted to silence?

Shen Zhenglan?

He is indeed a sixth-tier Divine Blessing Master; he has that kind of strength.

But he doesn't have any solid evidence yet, so why would he risk breaking ties with the royal family by kidnapping Jin Wanquan?

Or are they heretics?

However, the heretic and Jin Wanquan only had a business relationship, so there was no need to risk kidnapping him.

Or perhaps, other forces?

Feng Xun's gaze gradually deepened.

But whoever it is, this behavior is undoubtedly a declaration of war against him.

"Did those two men in black leave any clues?"

"No." The guard shook his head.

"They moved quickly, were masked and dressed in black, and even deliberately changed their voices. The guards escorting them only saw them go into the depths of the canyon, and they disappeared in a moment."

"Is Jin Wanquan... dead?" Feng Xun asked.

"I'm not sure," the guard said. "I'm afraid... no one will be left alive."

Feng Xun nodded, understanding dawning on his mind.

Jin Wanquan's actions are outrageous and heinous. Whoever kidnapped him will never be allowed to live.

fair enough.

With Jin Wanquan dead, the most troublesome hidden danger has been completely eliminated.

As for those who kidnapped him, whoever they are, let them investigate if they want. In the end, they won't be able to trace it back to him.

"Continue the investigation," Feng Xun ordered.

"Closely monitor the movements of the temple and the heretics, especially Shen Zhenglan and his son Shen Zhen."

"Yes, Your Highness," the guard replied respectfully, rising and leaving.

The study returned to silence.

Feng Xun put down the jade pendant, looked at the sky outside the window, the smile on his lips gradually faded, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

He originally thought that exiling Jin Wanquan and then killing him halfway was a foolproof plan.

Unexpectedly, someone dared to kidnap people right under his nose.

Whoever dares to block his path must pay the price.

What happened four years ago must never be brought up again.

The Temple of Remembrance, the royal family, and this empire will all be his sooner or later.

Anyone who stands in his way will be crushed.

Meanwhile, at this moment, in the Divine Capital's Cleansing Department.

Ye Zhi Qiu came again. Everyone shook their heads when they saw him. He walked in leisurely, fanning himself with a folding fan, and immediately spotted Han Yan.

"Miss Hanyan, have you heard? The convoy exiled to Jin Wanquan was ambushed on the way," Ye Zhiqiu said with a smile, his tone slightly playful.

Han Yan glanced at him indifferently without replying. The news had already been relayed back by their spies, and the Jingxie Division already knew about it.

"It's said that it was done by two masked men in black, who were extremely powerful. They took down five third-tier or higher Spirit Masters in a single round," Ye Zhi Qiu continued.

"Who do you think did this?"

Han Yan's gaze flickered, but she remained silent.

"I bet it's Shen Zhen and his son," Ye Zhi Qiu said in a low voice.

"Shen Zhen hates Jin Wanquan to the core, and Shen Zhenglan has the power to do so."

Han Yan finally spoke, her voice cold and clear:

"Don't make things up without evidence."

"Hey, I was just guessing." Ye Zhi Qiu shrugged, a sly glint in his eyes.

"However, this matter is getting more and more interesting. It seems that Crown Prince Feng Xun is going to silence them, and the old case from four years ago is about to be brought up again."

He paused, then looked at Han Yan:

Aren't you curious about Lord Lin's death?

Han Yan still didn't turn around: "The duty of the Cleansing Bureau is to deal with evil spirits and arrest heretics, not to investigate old cases."

"But what Shen Zhen and the others were investigating was also heresy, wasn't it?" Ye Zhi Qiu said with a smile.

"The Crown Prince Feng Xun's dealings with heretics are a deep secret, and Shen Zhen might just be able to uncover a huge one."

He kept going on and on about this issue, and Lei Lie, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore and frowned, saying:

"Ye Zhi Qiu, you're so concerned about the affairs of our Jingxie Division, why don't you just transfer to the Jingxie Division?"

It saves me the trouble of running around every day.

The others nodded in agreement, and Ren Fei even burst out laughing:

"That's right, Ye Zhi Qiu, why don't you just come and be an unofficial member of our Jingxie Division?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhi Qiu was not discouraged and smiled:

"I was just concerned about everyone, and besides, didn't I help you catch Jin Wanquan?" But in his heart he was thinking:

"If it weren't for the need to come into contact with Han Yan, who would want to come to your Cleansing Evil Division?"

As soon as Ye Zhi Qiu finished speaking, a series of steady footsteps came from outside.

The footsteps stopped, and everyone recognized who had entered. Shen Zhen walked in, his brows furrowed with a lingering melancholy. He had already changed into the uniform of the Jingxie Division, but Shen Zhenglan was not present.

Lei Lie stepped forward first and said in a deep voice:

"Xiao Shen, how's it going?"

People gathered around, their eyes filled with concern and curiosity.

Ye Zhi Qiu originally wanted to strike up a conversation with Han Yan, but seeing Shen Zhen return and everyone's attention drawn to her, he knew there was no point in continuing. So he simply closed his folding fan, waved at Han Yan, and smiled:

"Now that the main person has returned, I will not disturb you any longer. I will return to Qitian Palace to report back."

No one paid any attention to his wishful thinking, and he didn't care either, leisurely turning around and leaving the Jingxie Division.

After Ye Zhi Qiu's figure disappeared, Shen Zhen finally spoke:

"Jin Wanquan's trail went cold, and something unexpected happened during his escort."

He only said this one sentence vaguely, without mentioning whether he was involved or not.

The group exchanged glances. Although they knew that Jin Wanquan was most likely not going to make it, they couldn't be sure whether Shen Zhen had actually kidnapped him.

"That's fine too," Lei Lie said in a deep voice.

"We don't have any evidence right now, so it's not worth it to break ties with Feng Xun."

Just then, Ling Buyu, the head of the Purification Division, hurried over with a solemn expression:

"Attention everyone, the main temple has issued an order."

A massive "Divine Wrath" will erupt soon, and the Qitian Palace will hold a grand ritual to appease the gods. All departments of the palace must be on high alert, and the entire Purification Division must participate in the protection.