Entering the Lion’s Den: The Imperial Capital

Inside the Shaoyan clan estate within the Grand Xia imperial capital.

“Clan leader!” A middle-aged man in blue robes flew swiftly into the study and knelt down, unable to hide the joy on his face. “We found Ji Ning!”

Yu Shengong, who had been sitting at his desk reading a book, was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, “You found Ji Ning?”

Over a year had passed.

At the command of Patriarch Xuanji, the current Yu Shengong had been hunting for traces of Ji Ning. But Ji Ning had vanished completely, leaving behind no trail. Yu Shengong had even begun to suspect that Ji Ning might have hidden himself in some minor world or major world. He had thought it might take ten or even twenty years to find Ji Ning. Ji Ning had slain the heir of the Shaoyan clan and yet remained free; this was an insult to the Shaoyan clan. But what could the Shaoyan clan do if they couldn’t find Ji Ning?

And now, he had been found!

“Where?” Yu Shengong asked hastily.

“Ji Ning has already arrived in the Grand Xia imperial capital. Our people are tailing him,” the blue-robed middle-aged man replied.

“The imperial capital? He came to the capital?” Yu Shengong frowned.

The imperial capital was heavily guarded. The true absolute authority within the capital belonged to the Grand Xia royal clan. Ji Ning coming here actually made things more difficult.

“He actually came to the capital. Killing is forbidden within the capital. So how are we to deal with this Ji Ning?” Yu Shengong wore a troubled expression. In other commandery cities, the Shaoyan clan wielded great influence, but in the imperial capital, there were several clans more powerful than the Shaoyan clan, and the absolute ruler was the Grand Xia royal clan, the Xiamang clan.

Even powerful tribes like the Shaoyan clan, Zhuanshui clan, and Tiannong clan all had to tread carefully before the royal Xiamang clan.

“We must maintain surveillance on Ji Ning and determine his movements,” Yu Shengong ordered. “Do nothing else for now. Wait for my command.”

“Understood,” the blue-robed middle-aged man responded.

Although Patriarch Xuanji had long ago given the order to kill Ji Ning the moment he was found…

But this was the Grand Xia imperial capital! Killing someone within the capital was a direct provocation against the Grand Xia royal clan. Unless they sent suicide assassins—assassins who, even if captured, would not reveal the Shaoyan clan’s involvement.

“The entire capital is under tight security. The moment any fighting breaks out, the Grand Xia Imperial Guard would arrive within a single breath,” Yu Shengong mused. “To kill Ji Ning within a single breath, and with suicide assassins at that… Where can I find such assassins? And Ji Ning has obtained all of Shaoyan Nong’s treasures.”

Ji Ning himself was powerful, and with protective treasures, even a Loose Immortal would find it difficult to kill him quickly.

Such suicide assassins were hard to find.

“I shall go see the Patriarch,” Yu Shengong decided without further hesitation.

Soon, nine flood dragons pulled an immortal carriage. Yu Shengong sat within the carriage as it howled away from the Grand Xia imperial capital, flying into the vast azure void.

Ji Ning, driven by curiosity, took a look at the Imperial City and gazed from afar at the Heavenly Apex Hall. Unfortunately, four great Fiendgods guarded the city gates. With Ji Ning’s status, how could he possibly enter the Imperial City? He then left, riding his Blackwater Carriage.

“Master, there are already three people following us,” Qingqing said, glancing behind.

Ji Ning sat in the carriage and looked back.

Behind them was a long skiff, on which stood three people, including a white-robed elder. Earlier, only the white-robed elder had been tailing them. Now there were three.

“One of them is a Primal Daoist,” Ji Ning sensed the divine sense probing from behind. Immediately, he sent his own divine sense crashing down.

Boom!

Soul-Shattering Art! The collision of divine sense caused the tall, gaunt man in blue robes to change expression. “This Ji Ning’s divine sense is actually this powerful!”

After the exchange of divine sense, the three tailers became much more docile, no longer provoking Ji Ning.

“Ning’er, where are we going now?” Uncle White asked through mental communication.

“To the Heavenly Treasures Mountain,” Ji Ning replied mentally. “I’ve acquired a vast amount of treasures from before, an astonishing number of magic treasures. I need to go to the Heavenly Treasures Mountain to exchange them for Primordial Liquid. And also trade for some treasures I need.”

What Ji Ning urgently needed now were treasures containing the quintessence of the Five Elements, to use in training the second stage of the Six Cycles of the Starseizing Hand.

Whoosh.

The Blackwater Carriage flew at astonishing speed along the broad streets.

The streets of the Grand Xia imperial capital were extremely wide. The main arterial roads were paved with clouds, magnificent beyond compare. The ordinary streets were paved with rare and strange stones.

“The main headquarters of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain truly lives up to its reputation,” Ji Ning said, his eyes brightening as he looked into the distance. In other commandery cities, the Heavenly Treasures Mountain branches were only satellites. The capital’s Heavenly Treasures Mountain was the core; many rare and exotic items were kept here. Many immortals came to the Grand Xia imperial capital specifically to buy treasures from the main headquarters that couldn’t be found elsewhere.

“It’s enormous!” Qingqing’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Uncle White also raised his head to look. He had never seen such a magnificent place before.

The Heavenly Treasures Mountain before them looked like a gigantic qilin lying prone, nearly ten thousand li in length. In other words, the main headquarters of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain was comparable in size to the entire Anchan City.

Whoosh.

The Blackwater Carriage flew directly into the interior of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain.

“Let’s have a meal first, then sell the treasures,” Ji Ning said cheerfully, completely ignoring the tail behind him. The Blackwater Carriage flew inside, guided by an attendant.

Inside the main headquarters of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain, enormous Water Mirror spells formed countless mirrors suspended throughout the space, nearly covering dozens of li of the sky above.

Beneath the countless water mirrors, many cultivators were gathered.

Swish.

The moment Ji Ning, Uncle White, and Qingqing entered the Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters aboard the Blackwater Carriage, one of the water mirrors quickly locked onto them.

“Blackwater Carriage. This was the personal conveyance of Shaoyan Nong, young master of the Shaoyan clan, who has been killed by Ji Ning.”

“The occupant wears a fur robe consistent with Ji Ning’s description.”

“By his side are the godbeast Skygreen Serpent and the godbeast Whitewater Hound.”

“There is a ninety-nine percent chance that this youth is Ji Ning himself.”

This piece of intelligence was quickly compiled and sent off along with tens of thousands of other reports. This was the surveillance hub of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters. Every day, countless beings came here—from other major worlds, even beings from the Heavenly Realm and the Netherworld Kingdom.

Various intelligence, ranging from trivial to critical, was discovered. Ji Ning’s information… among all that data, was utterly inconspicuous, too ordinary.

“Ji Ning has appeared and is currently in our Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters. There are five parties that maintain a long-term subscription for news on Ji Ning. Immediately send this information to them.” With a calm command from a black-robed woman, five subordinates of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters quickly departed, each carrying the intelligence report to five different locations in the Grand Xia imperial capital.

The moment Ji Ning was discovered, they had to notify them immediately! There were fully five parties that had purchased this intelligence service long-term.

“Is that the Blackwater Carriage?” In the Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters, a purple-robed man watched from afar as Ji Ning’s carriage entered a small courtyard. The Blackwater Carriage stopped directly in the courtyard, while Ji Ning entered the two-story building beside the courtyard, together with Qingqing and Uncle White, to enjoy delicacies from across the Grand Xia dynasty and even other worlds.

“A fur-clad youth? Skygreen Serpent? Whitewater Hound?” The purple-robed man murmured to himself. “Could he be the Ji Ning who killed Shaoyan Nong? How reckless, parading around like this. The intelligence department has probably already spotted him. The Shaoyan clan will know soon too. But none of that matters to me.”

“Shaoyan Nong was a wealthy man. Ji Ning killed him, so he must have obtained many of Shaoyan Nong’s treasures.”

“It looks like my opportunity has come.”

The purple-robed man’s eyes lit up. He then walked casually over and, after a short time, arrived outside the small courtyard. He stood by the gate, waiting silently without entering.

After a long while—

“Who is outside the courtyard?” Ji Ning’s voice came out.

“Yu Qi of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain,” the purple-robed man said with a smile.

“Enter,” Ji Ning said.

The purple-robed man obediently went inside. Soon he ascended the stairs to the second floor. Ji Ning, the blue-clad maiden, and the white-clad man were all seated there, having nearly finished their meal.

“You were outside for quite a while. What is your business?” Ji Ning held a wine goblet leisurely, his gaze scrutinizing the man called Yu Qi. From what Ji Ning could sense, Yu Qi was at the Wanxiang Adept level.

“I am in charge of some treasure transactions at the Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters,” Yu Qi said with great humility. “For example, if someone wishes to sell treasures or purchase something, I can assist. Naturally, because the transaction is conducted through me, the Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters also gives me certain rewards.”

Ji Ning nodded slightly. “You recognized me?”

Yu Qi laughed. “I recognized your carriage at a glance, Daoist Ji Ning. This carriage is called the ‘Blackwater Carriage.’ It was the personal vehicle of Shaoyan Nong, who used it often when visiting our Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters. Many people know about it. When I saw the carriage, and then the Skygreen Serpent and Whitewater Hound at your side, along with your appearance and attire, I guessed that you were the legendary Ji Ning.”

“It seems my fame has spread; even the Grand Xia imperial capital knows of me,” Ji Ning couldn’t help but laugh.

“Daoist Ji Ning, you may not know, but your reputation is indeed quite large now,” Yu Qi said with a smile. “Shaoyan Nong was one of the Four Young Masters of our Grand Xia imperial capital. Calling him one of the Four didn’t mean he was the most powerful of the younger generation, but rather that his status was high and he was extremely extravagant, fond of pleasure. When Shaoyan Nong died unexpectedly, news naturally reached those who pay attention. Although the Shaoyan clan didn’t announce it publicly, a little investigation would reveal that the killer was Ji Ning. Your details have also been dug up—accompanied by a Whitewater Hound and a Skygreen Serpent, fond of wearing fur robes, practicing the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens, extremely skilled with the sword, and appearing as a handsome youth…”

Yu Qi reeled it off.

Ji Ning exchanged glances with Qingqing and Uncle White.

Just by killing Shaoyan Nong, his fame had actually spread throughout the Grand Xia imperial capital.

“And I suspect that Daoist Ji Ning came here to sell some treasures,” Yu Qi said with a smile. “And I am the person at the Heavenly Treasures Mountain who specializes in such matters.”