The Second Prince's Residence.
"Useless! Useless! Weren't these the professional assassins you trained? Can't you even tell the difference between a trap and a real person?"
Gu Ran cursed angrily and smashed several porcelain bottles in the room to pieces.
"I'm afraid the Crown Prince has already secretly restored Chi Liancheng's health, otherwise he would never have been able to use the clone technique tonight. In his prime, even if I were to take action, I might not be able to defeat this old friend."
The shadowy figure flickered twice, then spoke in a low, trembling voice.
"Do you know how many capable men the Crown Prince forced me to kill last time? I'm almost out of people to use! You suggest using martial arts practitioners, but is there a single one of them even worth using? They're not even as good as the three swordsmen Fang Xuan found!"
"Hmph, luckily he used his privileges to grant Chi Liancheng a pardon, but by now he's probably already displeasing the old emperor. Qin Shan isn't enough, and Fang Xuan is untouchable, so let's target his principal wife!"
Gu Ran first roared angrily, and after venting his anger, he regained his senses and pondered for a long time. Then he remembered someone he could deal with—the Crown Princess Li Wei.
Indeed, Gu Yifeng married Li Wei, the eldest daughter of the Li family, when he was just over twenty, and has not taken any other concubines since. This has always been praised by many court officials.
However, Gu Yifeng's predecessor had always been aloof and rarely communicated with his wife, even after marriage. He never cared about the Li family's power and simply let things drift.
Gu Ran thought about it now and realized that her older brother was really careless, leaving so many weaknesses unattended, and now he wanted to fight back without even thinking about it.
"The Li family... no problem, I'll get on it right away."
Upon hearing this, the shadowy figure said nothing more, paused for a moment, and then disappeared from the spot.
...
Inside the imperial prison.
While practicing his swordplay, Gu Yifeng waited for midnight to pass before signing in, and he was also waiting for Chi Liancheng to send a message.
He didn't wake up until the midnight drum sounded, at which point he activated the system and started checking in.
"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have successfully checked in! You have obtained one set of the Myriad Sects Talisman!"
The system voice sounded, and then a thick book appeared in my mind. With a thought, I turned it over, and the first page was the general outline.
"The Way of Heaven and Earth takes all things as its foundation. The upper part is pure, which is Heaven; the lower part is turbid, which is Earth. The Way of Talismans uses writing as its medium to depict Heaven and Earth, communicate with all things in Heaven and Earth, and unleash the power of all things by borrowing the Way of Heaven and Earth. Anyone who violates this Way will surely lose in this Way."
Gu Yifeng glanced at it briefly and realized that this so-called Myriad Sects Talisman was actually a complete manual for cultivating the talisman path. Just like cultivation, talismans were also divided into nine grades.
Those who cultivate using talismans are collectively known as talisman masters on the continent. A first-grade talisman master corresponds to a cultivator in the perception realm, while a third-grade talisman master corresponds to a cultivator in the stabilizing realm.
With Gu Yifeng's cultivation at the Opening Mansion Realm, he easily understood the first four grades of talismans among the myriad sects' talismans. All he needed was a decree and cinnabar to begin trying to draw talismans.
Using paper, ink, brush, and inkstone as a foundation, drawing talismans is the simplest method. However, he does not intend to cultivate in such a step-by-step manner. Since he already has the cultivation level of the Opening Mansion Realm, he can forcefully use his realm to perform the technique.
Thinking of this, he closed his eyes and visualized the third-grade talisman recorded in the Myriad Sects Talismans—the Gale Curse—while circulating his spiritual power and accumulating it on his right index finger.
The next moment, Gu Yifeng's right hand began to draw in the void. After drawing half of the rune for the first time, it exploded into a wind blade due to the excessive release of spiritual power.
The second time, he tried to draw it again. This time, because his hand was shaking, he drew a part wrong, and the entire rune instantly became chaotic, turning into a violent ball of spiritual energy that exploded.
On the third attempt, he focused intently and finally managed to complete the talisman. The next moment, the talisman was activated and dissipated under the power of heaven and earth, and a gale swept through the first level of the Heavenly Prison.
If there were cultivators at the Dingyuan Realm here, they would be swept up by the gale and then fall heavily to the ground.
Gu Yifeng's interest was immediately piqued, and just as he was about to continue his cultivation, Chi Liancheng entered with two Imperial Guards.
“Your Highness, there were indeed assassins who came to kill this old minister tonight. Fortunately, we were prepared. The assassins just confessed that they were from an underground gang in the capital called Shadow Order. Their leader personally ordered the assassination of this old minister.”
"Unfortunately, after he finished speaking, a poison pill inside his body erupted, turning all his internal organs into pus, and he died in less than a breath."
Chi Liancheng spoke slowly.
"That's normal. A restriction must have been placed inside her. There's no need to investigate the assassin anymore. From now on, the Imperial Guards only need to keep a close watch on the inner palace, especially the Empress's palace. General, you've worked hard. Any movement from Fang Xuan?"
Gu Yifeng nodded slowly upon hearing this. It was a pity that the assassin died. Since it was an underground force, there was no way to find any clues. He could only continue to ask questions.
"As for Fang Xuan, the old minister sent his former trusted confidants from the army to secretly monitor him. Apart from a few eyes watching, there were no surprises. The three swordsmen from the Jianghu also protected him very well. Except when attacking Li Zheng, they were almost always by his side."
Chi Liancheng replied.
Just as the two were talking, another figure rushed in. It was Fang Xuan, but this time there was another man following behind him, who looked quite familiar to Gu Yifeng.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, save the Li family!"
The man's first words made Chi Liancheng take notice, because they were in the Heavenly Prison, where not just anything could be said.
With a single glance from Gu Yifeng, Chi Liancheng activated a soundproof barrier, enveloping Fang Xuan and the man within it.
"You are... Li Zheng? Li Wei's younger brother?"
Gu Yifeng's mind was flooded with memories, and then he asked with some uncertainty.
"That's right, Your Highness! Please save my Li family! My father and my mother have been captured by the people of Kaifeng Prefecture!"
Li Zheng quickly replied.
"Your Highness, let me explain. Just now, the people from Kaifeng Prefecture came to the Li family overnight and arrested Minister Li and his wife. The reason given was that the Li family had not only encroached on land, but also that there were murders on their estates."
“These things wouldn’t normally warrant arresting Minister Li and his family, but the Kaifeng Prefecture officials have obtained witnesses and physical evidence. According to their testimonies, Minister Li did indeed have a criminal record from many years ago, so I’m afraid he can’t be saved.”
Fang Xuan picked up where Li Zheng left off, his tone also quite helpless.
"Alright, in that case, let's all stop playing. Master Fang, let's pack up the net."
Gu Yifeng sneered upon hearing this and slowly spoke.
"General, I'll trouble you to lead the Imperial Guards to guard the inner city these next few days. Report any unusual activity to me. Don't worry, your reputation will soon be forgotten."
Gu Yifeng turned to Chi Liancheng and said something, then simply patted Li Zheng's shoulder lightly.
The room fell silent.
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