Chapter 692: Chapter 153: Cultivating Martial Arts, Refining Body into a Weapon (2)
Bai Yan laughed, “I escorted the prisoner for over a thousand miles without any incident, yet just after handing him over to your Righteous Law Pavilion’s dungeon, something happened. You’ve been casting spells on him these past few days, do you think you can shirk responsibility?”
Mi Han, extremely angry, retorted with a laugh, “If I truly wanted to harm him, would I be stupid enough to do so during the period of my own spell casting…?”
Lou Hongtao suddenly shouted loudly, interrupting the quarrel between the two.
Among those present, his official position was the highest, and he was the only one qualified to stop Bai Yan and Mi Han.
The dungeon quickly quieted down, and all the subordinate officials around lowered their heads, each pretending they saw and heard nothing, like quails.
Lou Hongtao looked at He Jian, who was frowning and deep in thought, “What do you think?”
He Jian is a famous detective in the Supervision Pavilion and also one of Lou Hongtao’s most trusted subordinates.
This detective had never disappointed Lou Hongtao in many major cases in the past.
“I would like to apply for an autopsy on Ye Zhao.”
He Jian did not easily draw a conclusion but applied for an autopsy first.
Autopsy is a profound science, and many unexpected clues are hidden on the corpse.
And He Jian is the best autopsy expert in the Supervision Pavilion!
“There is no rush in this matter. Before I came, I had already reported to the Grand Secretary and His Majesty.”
Lou Hongtao said, “Let’s wait for a response first.”
Thus, the prison cell fell silent again, as several high-ranking individuals waited there together.
More than half an hour later, Feng Cheng, holding an Imperial Decree, along with a man, walked into the dungeon and came before everyone.
Upon seeing the two, the expressions of the prominent figures became solemn.
Feng Cheng, the Imperial Eunuch who has always been by the Emperor’s side, needed no introduction; his personal involvement in announcing the decree represented the Emperor’s attention to this matter.
The man with Feng Cheng was dressed in the official uniform of a cabinet official; he was named Hu Tingzhong, the youngest cabinet official in the history of the Central Cabinet, and also a student of the Grand Secretary Ye Ze’an, a University Scholar of Zixu Hall.
The entire court knew that Ye Ze’an intended to groom Hu Tingzhong as his successor, and he was likely to be the next Grand Secretary!
With Hu Tingzhong’s arrival naturally came the will of that Grand Secretary.
“His Majesty has a decree.”
Feng Cheng, holding the Imperial Decree, proclaimed loudly.
Among those present, some knelt on one knee, while others bowed in salute.
“Order the Supervision Pavilion Master Lou Hongtao to take full responsibility for the sudden death of the prisoner Ye Zhao, and uncover the truth within five days. This is a direct order!”
Upon hearing the decree, Bai Yan and Mi Han’s expressions grew solemn.
“I accept the decree!”
Lou Hongtao stepped forward two steps, took the Imperial Decree with both hands.
After Feng Cheng left, Hu Tingzhong took out two documents from his sleeve:
“Deputy Pavilion Master Bai, Deputy Pavilion Master Mi. The Grand Secretary orders that before the case is clarified, both of you are to set aside all your duties and fully cooperate with the Supervision Pavilion in investigating this case.”
After speaking, he handed the two documents in his hand to Bai Yan and Mi Han respectively.
This changed the expressions of Bai Yan and Mi Han completely.
Both of them were already Deputy Pavilion Masters of a pavilion, and even if Lou Hongtao was the Pavilion Master of the Supervision Pavilion, he couldn’t dictate to them.
But now, with these two documents from Ye Ze’an, it was different.
To speak somewhat irreverently, compared to the Emperor, the two were actually more wary of Ye Ze’an, the Grand Secretary.
Once Bai Yan and Mi Han received the documents, Lou Hongtao immediately commanded:
“Conduct an autopsy on Ye Zhao immediately!”
He Jian decisively entered the cell.
Then Lou Hongtao turned to Bai Yan and Mi Han:
“Please, could both Deputy Pavilion Masters accompany me back to the Supervision Pavilion.”
The death of Ye Zhao triggered a ‘quake’ in the Central Cabinet!
Even the two Deputy Pavilion Masters were implicated, causing many to click their tongues in disbelief.
However, this ‘quake’ did not affect Li Fei, who was painstakingly researching dual cultivation of magic and martial arts in the Royal Book Collection Pavilion.
He was unaware that the witness he brought out from the Tianshui Tomb had already died.
He had no mind to focus on the case now.
Because, regardless, strength is the most fundamental thing.
Without strength, his desire for revenge would just be a joke.
Even if the Emperor favored him, it was impossible to target a Great Grandmaster and the Lu Family with one Marquis and three Barons for a Marquis whose potential had run out.
It took nearly ten days, but Li Fei finished reading all sixty-one volumes of the dual cultivation of magic and martial arts secret manuals on the seventh layer.
He did not aim to master all the techniques in the secret manuals, but simply wanted to find ideas to solve his Tao Foundation problem, so his reading speed was quite fast.
On this day, Li Fei ascended to the eighth layer, continuing to read new secret manuals….
Li Fei had been in the Royal Book Collection Pavilion for almost a month.
Due to the continuous damage caused by the Heavenly Water Soul Bone, the Myriad Blood Pearl once again completed an upgrade, rising to level 30:
Blood Souls: 568 (1,141)
Blood Soul Skills: Blood Rage (Strong), Blood Slaughter (Strong), Blood Power (Strong), Blood Spring (Strong), Blood Breath (Extreme)
Transform Skill: Blood Demon (Strong)]
After upgrading, the number of blood souls increased by 58, and the total blood count became 1,141.
Only because the Heavenly Water Soul Bone was still continuously causing damage, the number of blood souls in the Myriad Blood Pearl hovered around 50%.
Below 50%, it triggered [Blood Breath], and after recovering to 50%, it dropped again, in a continuous cycle.
After a month of effort, Li Fei had now reached the tenth layer and was prepared to read the last dual cultivation of magic and martial arts secret manual on the tenth layer.
During this period, he was oblivious to outside affairs and no one came to disturb him.
“‘Cultivating Martial Arts through Techniques, Refining Body into a Weapon’?”
Looking at the title of the secret manual in his hand, Li Fei showed an expression of interest.