King of Creation Chapter 1774 - 1759: Uprooted

As dawn broke, Ye Zhen stood guard at the entrance of the War Soul Hall. Miles away, in the Qingzhou State City, where the West Patrol Office resided, the day began differently.

Weis Gang, Xio Qiangu’s trusted subordinate and the newly appointed West Patrol Right Officer, hurried towards his master, who was enjoying breakfast in the Flower Hall. He carried news.

"Master, the investigation into Ye Zhen’s affairs in Luoyi is complete," Weis Gang announced, presenting a Jade Scroll sealed with multiple layers.

Xio Qiangu, unhurried, savored his final bite, sipped his potent Spirit Wine, and then accepted the scroll. With a practiced Secret Technique, he dissolved the seals, his eyes scanning the contents.

A few moments passed, and Xio Qiangu’s eyebrows arched in surprise.

"This Ye Zhen actually secured Wu Yu’s assistance. It seems it wasn't a small favor, implying Ye Zhen must have paid a considerable price."

"The Secret Overseer was involved as well? It appears to be on Princess Changle’s behalf," Xio Qiangu mused, continuing to read.

"Princess Changle herself intimidated the War Soul Hall’s Day Priest? Ye Zhen is clearly resolute in obtaining the Avatar of the Ten Thousand Bones Reincarnation Seal." Xio Qiangu looked at Weis Gang, seeking confirmation.

"Master, your assessment is accurate. All this commotion stems from the War Soul Hall’s deliberate obstruction – their refusal to rent the Avatar of the Ten Thousand Bones Reincarnation Seal to Ye Zhen, creating significant hurdles for him.

Ye Zhen, faced with this resistance, stormed the War Soul Hall that very afternoon and blockaded its entrance.

Intelligence indicates Ye Zhen departed the Ancestor God Temple that same night, likely to seek aid from the Grand Celestial Official and others.

Ye Zhen’s determination to acquire the Avatar is matched only by his apparent haste!" Weis Gang elaborated.

Xio Qiangu’s gaze grew distant, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "So, what exactly does Ye Zhen intend to do with this Avatar so urgently?"

"That remains unclear. However, the Ten Thousand Bones Reincarnation Seal primarily concerns the Divine Soul, suggesting an issue with Divine Soul Power," Weis Gang replied.

"An issue with Divine Soul..."

Xio Qiangu’s eyes suddenly sharpened. "I recall that when renting the Avatar, a temporary imprint of one's Divine Soul is required, correct?"

"That is correct," Weis Gang affirmed with a nod.

"Then, do we know the duration of Ye Zhen’s intended rental of the Avatar?" Xio Qiangu pressed for more details.

"According to our intelligence, Ye Zhen initially requested fifteen days from the War Soul Hall," Weis Gang informed him.

"Fifteen days..."

Xio Qiangu lapsed into deep contemplation once more.

After a significant pause, he finally spoke, his voice deliberate. "A mere fifteen days. Ye Zhen likely doesn’t intend to refine his Divine Soul with it; he has other purposes. Judging by Ye Zhen’s current actions, this is critically important to him.

When utilizing the Avatar, external interference is strictly prohibited, meaning we will have approximately fifteen days of invaluable opportunity.

During this period, the Second Route Patrol Department will be without Ye Zhen’s direct leadership. They can manage minor issues, but should significant problems arise..."

A cold smile touched Xio Qiangu’s lips. "Moreover, fifteen days is more than enough time for us to compile irrefutable evidence against Ye Zhen, leaving him no ground to stand on."

Weis Gang nodded in agreement. "That should be the case, although Ye Zhen’s methods often leave certain loopholes, so we might not have the full fifteen days.

But perhaps ten days, or somewhere between ten to fifteen days."

"Ten days will be sufficient," Xio Qiangu declared.

"Issue the orders for preparations. Once our message arrives, initiate the plan!" Xio Qiangu commanded abruptly.

"Understood!"

As Weis Gang responded, he looked up. "Master, what if the War Soul Hall remains unyielding?"

"I believe they will concede. But if the War Soul Hall truly refuses, then discreetly apply more pressure through our personnel; this opportunity is too vital for us to miss!"

With a sharp clench of his fist, Xio Qiangu continued, "This time, we must seize this chance to expel Ye Zhen from the West Patrol and eradicate his influence completely.

Furthermore, we must ensure Ye Zhen has absolutely no possibility of a comeback!"

"Yes!"

.....

Meanwhile, Ye Zhen entered the War Soul Hall with a confident stride, having been invited by Right Chief Priest Dalantai.

In truth, after receiving the message from Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu the previous night and a Secret Jade Slip delivered by an envoy from Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en, Ye Zhen knew the opportune moment to reveal his intentions was imminent, within the next day or two.

After all, Ye Zhen’s objective this time was not to dismantle the entire War Soul Hall, but to compel their compliance.

In contrast, the true conflict was unfolding between the Secret Overseer and the Heavenly Patrol Department. While Ye Zhen’s blockade might have stung the War Soul Hall’s pride, the combined efforts of the Heavenly Patrol Department and the Secret Overseer delivered devastating blows to its high-ranking officials!

Ye Zhen’s daily provocations were primarily designed to divert the War Soul Hall’s focus, preventing them from concentrating on the Heavenly Patrol Department’s assaults and thus delaying their ability to respond effectively in the initial stages.

By the time they realized what was happening, the situation would have spiraled beyond their ability to control.

Truth be told, when Ye Zhen received confirmation from Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu, presenting irrefutable evidence of the Dalantai Da Clan’s illicit dealings with Foreign Clans and the Demon Clan, he was genuinely taken aback.

It was an unexpected, yet welcome, turn of events.

Consequently, as Dalantai ushered Ye Zhen into the hall, his demeanor suggested an eagerness to immediately broker a peace with Ye Zhen on behalf of the War Soul Hall.

Were he empowered to make such a decision, he might have readily agreed to lease the Avatar of the Ten Thousand Bones Reincarnation Seal to Ye Zhen on the spot.

However, such authority was beyond his reach.

Upon Ye Zhen's entry, the senior figures of the War Soul Hall did not extend a welcoming reception.

Yet, the predicament at hand was that the families of most of these high-ranking War Soul Hall officials were currently under scrutiny by the Heavenly Patrol Department. Any misstep in handling this matter could plunge the War Soul Hall into severe jeopardy.

“Apart from Xii Mo and Dalantai, all others may withdraw,” commanded Hall Master Bi Ze.

Moments later, Ye Zhen was led by Hall Master Bi Ze to a tea room within the grand hall. There, Bi Ze, Ye Zhen, and Xii Mo took their respective seats.

Dalantai, holding a comparatively junior position, was relegated to the task of serving tea.

However, at this critical juncture, he was not only willing to serve tea but would have gladly offered it had he been asked.

After a perfunctory sip of tea, Hall Master Bi Ze of the War Soul Hall placed the recently acquired Jade Scroll onto the tea table.

“Left Chief Priest Ye, am I to interpret this Jade Scroll as a threat?” Bi Ze inquired, his expression grave.

The reason for his concern was stark: every transgression detailed within the Jade Scroll had the potential to ensnare several members of the Bi family, leading to their downfall.

Furthermore, the classified incidents documented within numbered in the hundreds, some of which were so obscure that he had never even heard of them, leaving him bewildered as to how Ye Zhen uncovered such secrets.

In addition to these, the scroll contained records of hundreds more illicit activities implicating the families of other War Soul Hall dignitary, a few of which were truly staggering in their depravity.

“A threat?”

Ye Zhen, displaying none of the tension evident in Bi Ze and the others, leaned back casually. “You may perceive it as you wish, Hall Master Bi. However, the matters detailed in this Jade Scroll were not concocted by me.

All are documented, verifiable truths, and both the Heavenly Patrol Department and the Secret Overseer possess corroborating records.”

“Secret Overseer?”

Bi Ze’s pupils constricted involuntarily.

As the Hall Master of the War Soul Hall, Bi Ze was acutely aware of the Secret Overseer’s formidable reputation.

However, he had never fathomed that the Secret Overseer would become involved in this particular affair.

Given that the Secret Overseer could report directly to Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long, functioning as a clandestine intelligence agency, Ye Zhen's ability to leverage its power indicated an influence far exceeding their estimations.

The astonishment was palpable not only for Bi Ze but also for Xii Mo and Dalantai.

In comparison to the overtly notorious Heavenly Patrol Department, the Secret Overseer operated with an even greater degree of secrecy, its leadership often unknown to the public.

The unknown invariably breeds the greatest fear.

This underlying dread was the source of the profound shock experienced by Bi Ze, Xii Mo, and their colleagues.

However, it was precisely their knowledge that intelligence from the Secret Overseer could reach the highest echelons, namely Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long, that instilled such terror.

In reality, as Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en, who oversaw the Secret Overseer, had explained, the organization did not report every piece of information it obtained.

Its primary function was investigation and record-keeping, with reports only being submitted when deemed necessary or when a threat reached a significant threshold.

Otherwise, the Secret Overseer would be inundated with millions of messages daily from across the Great Zhou Dynasty, making it impossible to relay each one.

But Bi Ze and the others were oblivious to this operational nuance, hence their overwhelming fear.

“There are matters you, even as the venerable Bi Clan Leader, might remain unaware of!” Ye Zhen suddenly declared with a cold laugh. “To be candid, if I so chose, I could unearth further transgressions within your Bi family’s hidden affairs.”

“Naturally, whether this intelligence finds its way into some obscure archive or lands on the desks of the Ministry of Justice, the Heavenly Patrol Department, or the Three Law Departments will hinge entirely on Hall Master Bi’s decision!” Ye Zhen stated pointedly.

“Ye Zhen, do not presume you are the sole possessor of powerful backing; we in the War Soul Hall also command significant support,” Left Chief Priest Xii Mo retorted defiantly.

"Are you speaking of the Grand Priest Tong Daquan?"

Ye Zhen gave a dismissive shrug."I do not dispute the considerable influence of Grand Priest Tong Daquan. However, you may test whether he can shield all your high-ranking officials' clansmen who have committed transgressions."

"What say you, Chief Priest Dalantai? Can Grand Priest Tong Daquan conceal collusion with the Demon Clan?"

At Ye Zhen's words, Dalantai, who had been pouring tea, trembled, spilling it everywhere.

Ye Zhen then shifted his gaze to Xii Mo."Naturally, does Priest Xii believe the offenses committed by his family members are minor enough to warrant no involvement?"

"No, no, no!" Ye Zhen shook his head."You may not be aware of the most formidable skill possessed by the Heavenly Patrol Department."

"The Heavenly Patrol Department's greatest skill is not in intelligence gathering, but in fabricating accusations! Especially since both your families command maritime fleets, framing you for collusion with the Demon Clan would be exceedingly simple."

"You would not dare!" Xii Mo stood up in anger, glaring at Ye Zhen with murderous intent!

Ye Zhen's face was etched with ridicule."What is it that I would not dare to do?"

"Indeed, the fabricated charges might eventually be cleared, but I wonder, how many times can your family members withstand the torment inflicted by the Heavenly Patrol Department!" Ye Zhen sneered coldly.

Feeling directly threatened by Ye Zhen, Hall Master Bi Ze found his composure faltering."Do you truly believe I am so easily intimidated? The Grand Celestial Official of the Heavenly Patrol Department is not you, Ye Zhen!"

"Then, give it a try!" Ye Zhen leaned in closer, his face a mask of provocation!