The Great Zhou court, filled with numerous officials.

They originally had their own positions and were prepared to have a heated debate at the court meeting.

But no one expected that Zhou Zhenxiong would simply stop attending court.

Days passed by.

An eerie silence fell over the imperial court.

But among the common people, it was a hot topic of discussion.

"Have you heard? Something big has happened in Haizhou!"

"What major incident could possibly happen in Haizhou, that godforsaken place?"

"The head of the Eastern Xuan Division, the Prince of Zhenhai, and all the imperial guards are dead!"

"Where did you hear this rumor? Putting aside who has the audacity, in terms of strength alone, this group could easily wipe out Haizhou. Who could possibly kill them?"

"It is said that Chen Kui joined forces with the Canghai Sect and other martial arts forces to do it. I also heard that in the end, it was Ba Dao Li Fan who stepped in and destroyed the Canghai Sect."

"By the way, the Supreme Elder of the Canghai Sect, Yu Liaoyuan, a powerful expert in the mid-stage of the tenth-grade Dharma Manifestation realm, was also killed by him in a one-on-one battle!"

"I believe you that Chen Kui killed the head of the Eastern Profound Division, but it's utter nonsense that Li Fan could kill a mid-stage tenth-grade Dharma Image cultivator."

"In the ten thousand years of the Great Zhou Dynasty, even if there are extraordinary talents, there are only one or two people who can defeat a tenth-grade Dharma Image from a ninth-grade Divine Realm. There is not a single person who can reverse the situation and kill a tenth-grade Dharma Image. I admit that Li Fan is extraordinary, but he cannot do it!"

"You...know...nothing!"

In Tiandu, at the Yanliu Teahouse, a drunkard slurred, "Rumors in the martial arts world... they're all fucking fake!"

Chen Kui and Li Fan are in cahoots.

They set a trap and killed everyone.

"Qiao Si, are you talking in your sleep in broad daylight?!"

Some people have raised questions.

"Wang Wu, you know... bullshit!"

This news was told to me by my brother-in-law, who works in the Heavenly Dragon Guard!

He heard it from the head of the Heavenly Martial Guard and the chief of the Heavenly Prison.

Moreover, this matter was not a secret in the imperial court at all.

Our Emperor…

"Qiao Laosi, you've had too much horse piss, go back to sleep. What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

Before Qiao Si could finish speaking, his companions covered his mouth and dragged him away.

Once outside the teahouse, the two let go of each other's hands, and Qiao Si was no longer drunk.

......

"Father, the arrangements have been made, but is this really the right thing to do?"

At the Ling residence, the patriarch, Ling Jiuxiao, wore a worried expression.

The one on the dragon throne neither attends court nor makes any decisions.

The Jixia Academy, the Imperial Clan Court, the Zhenwu Division, and the Astronomical Bureau have once again fallen into a strange balance.

Neither side initiated the attack, nor did either side make the first move.

It was as if nothing had happened.

At this time, the Ling family spread the truth about Haizhou first.

Doing this carries considerable risk.

If the person on the dragon throne were to hold them accountable, the Ling family would be in deep trouble.

"Jiuxiao, your son and daughter, my grandson and granddaughter have been murdered."

The murderer remains at large and even spreads rumors.

"If my Ling family does nothing, how can we maintain our foothold in Tiandu?"

In the central hall, Ling Aotian, who was seated, spoke.

Although he was dressed in ordinary clothes, his imposing presence was in no way diminished.

He did not express any sadness over the deaths of Ling Fei and the other person.

All he cared about was whether the Ling family could maintain its position.

"Father, I understand!"

......

Although the Jixia Academy and the Seeking Knowledge Institute were overcrowded, the order was perfectly maintained.

Those who sit should sit upright, and those who stand should stand tall.

All of this was because a woman was sitting on the stage.

Jiang Lan, a celestial being, is the youngest instructor at the Jixia Academy.

Even without the feat of effortlessly slaying Dharma images, her knowledge was enough to overshadow the academy.

When she lectures, she is not bound by the classics.

"Instructor Jiang, I have a question, and I wonder if you could answer it?"

A student in the audience asked: "Throughout history, I have found that all newly established institutions of power initially served the people."

The Zhenwu Division was established when the monument was erected, signifying its control over the entire martial arts world.

The Bureau of Astronomy oversees the entire realm.

The Eastern Mystic Bureau is responsible for surveying the entire realm and suppressing rebellions.

The Heavenly Prison Bureau, with its sword hanging above the heads of all officials, is responsible for eliminating evil practices and corrupt practices.

Nowadays, the Zhenwu Division can no longer control the martial arts world, the Jiantian Division conducts selective surveillance, the Dongxuan Division has become the royal guard, and the Tianyu Division is engaging in factionalism and persecution.

If these government offices are like this, will the Martial Arts Alliance become a tool for martial arts sects to overthrow the imperial court and exploit the people in the future?

After all, nearly 90% of the Martial Arts Alliance members come from martial arts sects!

Such words were extremely explosive, even within the entire Great Zhou court.

Even upright officials would not dare to make such outrageous remarks.

Offending four officials with a single word is something unthinkable elsewhere.

But at the Jixia Academy, nothing was off-limits for discussion.

Not to mention the Four Departments, when the students of Jixia Academy get into heated debates, they even dare to criticize the academy itself.

"Those who pave the way for the world are all brave."

Jiang Lan continued calmly, "When the Zhenwu Division was first established, the world was not yet at peace. Sects and holy lands ruled over their respective areas, and the laws of the imperial court were difficult to enforce."

The world is as deep as an abyss, and life is as insignificant as grass. Our ancestors in the past prepared for war, rode across the rivers and lakes, and bravely sacrificed themselves one after another, bringing peace and prosperity to the world for thousands of years.

Although the current Zhenwu Division is not good, its past achievements cannot be erased, nor can the past be denied.

Judging by the outcome, it is a paradox in itself. For example, what we are discussing now may be completely negated in the future.

Right now, what you should do is apply what you've learned.

If you think the Zhenwu Division is bad, then go to the Zhenwu Division and make it better.

If you believe the Martial Arts Alliance will decline in the future, then go to the Martial Arts Alliance and make its future potentially brighter.

After Jiang Lan finished speaking, the student who had asked the question was completely convinced.

Everyone in the academy was deep in thought.

......

"Sis, I'm going back!"

"Stay and stay with me for a few more days."

Deep within the academy, in a bamboo grove, the sound of a mountain spring murmurs as the sisters sit facing each other.

"There's still a lot going on with the Martial Arts Alliance!"

"Yes, I know!"

Jiang Lan said with a smile, "That's why I sent Junior Brother Yan back. He'll handle all the big and small matters for you while you're away."

"Sister, this isn't right!"

"Yes, I know it's not good, but you'll have to stay a little longer!"

Jiang Lan stood up and removed the crown from Jiang Xue's head.

True energy, condensed vertically, unfurled the coiled black hair.

Her younger sister is too stubborn and easily gets stuck in dead ends.

Trying to persuade her is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Fortunately, she's not going to reason with us this time.

Haizhou and Nanzhou will be the eye of the storm.

Jiang Xue, at the ninth rank, is still too weak.

Whether she wanted to keep up with Li Fan's pace or rise with the help of the Martial Arts Alliance, her strength was insufficient.

"Sister, when can I leave?"

"When will I break through the Dharma Form and be able to leave?"

"Sister, I can't do it."

"With your sister here, you can do it!"

As Jiang Lan spoke, the true energy within her body surged forth like a celestial river flowing backward.

In the bamboo forest, a gust of wind blew, and Jiang Xue cried out in tears, "Sister, no!"

"Sweetie, you'll feel better after a nap!"

Jiang Lan brushed her hair aside, and Jiang Xue's vision went black; she lost consciousness.