Chu Li, King Ping, and Lu Yurong were sharing a fun conversation filled with laughter. They looked so happy that it did not seem like they were plotting against each other.
Lady Yuxue was secretly relieved too; it was a good thing she could now listen to what they were talking about. It was better for her to avoid listening to their earlier conversation as overhearing their secrets would only bring death upon herself before she would even realize it.
The three of them drank and chatted away, only leaving once midnight arrived.
Throughout the entire time, Lu Guangdi had not uttered a single word. He merely sat at the side and paid no heed to the snacks or fruits as if he thought of himself as completely invisible.
The three other people ignored him as if they did not see him as well.
At the Yi Public House.
It was the break of dawn and the warm sunshine bathed the entire Yi Public House.
The lake was enveloped in a veil of morning mist like a dream. The martial arts field in the Public House and the respective courtyards were abuzz with excitement and crowded with people.
Chu Li sat quietly in the main hall of the Public House, watching the three Ning brothers.
The trio held their heads low, their faces somber and unhappy.
They knew that the Commander had sold them off and they were enraged.
Although they had disobeyed Gu Yu, they were still Secret Guardians. After all, as a Commander, how dare Gu Yu betray them like that? It was too vicious an act. As a result, their loyalty towards Secret Guardians Hall had greatly diminished.
Chu Li looked at them. "Look at your dejected selves!" He shook his head and smiled. "Did you guys not expect this to happen?"
Yuan Ningbo sighed. "Centurion, who would have expected for the Commander to be such a heartless man!"
"He has always been like this." Chu Li shook his head and said, "Now that you guys have finally given up fully, what are you going to do next?"
"We can't go back to the Secret Guardians Hall now." Ning Boyuan sighed. "We can only roam the world!"
If they were to return to Secret Guardians Hall, they would definitely be locked up for interrogation and would be asked how they managed to escape from Tempest Temple. Everyone knew that escape from Tempest Temple was impossible after being captured by them unless one had some sort of secret relations with them and could somehow make Tempest Temple concede.
Therefore, instead of being hailed as heroes when they return, they would be treated as traitors instead. Even if they endured all the hardships and somehow made it through, they would never be able to restore their reputations, so there was no point in them returning.
Chu Li laughed. "Oh dear me. And yet, you are here, still playing your little tricks on me! Are you guys willing to remain in the Yi Public House?"
"Of course we're willing!" Ning Boyuan nodded quickly. "Thank you for willing to take us in, Centurion!"
Chu Li continued, "But you must think this through properly. Once you set foot into the Public House, you can never return to the Secret Guardians Hall again. Even if I were to go back there, you guys can't follow me!"
"To have the chance of not being Secret Guardians anymore, we'll accept willingly of course!" Ning Boyuan quickly answered. "But regarding the Emperor's side…"
His concern was with the Emperor. After all, once a Secret Guardian, always a Secret Guardian. If the Emperor knew that the three of them had entered the Yi Public House, it would certainly land them in deep trouble. Besides bringing death penalties upon themselves, their actions would also trouble the Yi Public House and Centurion Chu.
Chu Li reassured, "Don't worry, no one will find you. Have you guys cultivated the Bone Shrinkage Skill that I gave you?"
"Yes." The three of them nodded.
They were Grandmasters, so cultivating the Bone Shrinkage Skill was an easy feat for them. It was only a matter of time.
Chu Li nodded and said, "Use that for a makeover. With that, who could recognize you from now on?"
"Understood." The three of them smiled.
Once they cast the Bone Shrinkage Skill, they would be able to alter their looks. Although the changes would be a bit awkward, as long as they minimized contact with other people on the outside and stayed in their own courtyards, it would not be a big deal.
Chu Li continued, "I am now the Chief of the Yi Public House's Glory's Will Courtyard. You guys are now part of the Glory's Will Courtyard."
"Understood." The smiles on their faces became broader.
As compared to being in the Secret Guardians Hall, it indeed felt better to serve under Chu Li. Things were more exciting here.
In a deep voice, Chu Li warned, "The duty of Glory's Will Courtyard is to clear the Public House of any traitors so it is a place that will offend people. Thus, you guys can forget about having a good relationship with the people in the Public House. Don't expect any friendly treatments."
"Yes." The three of them nodded with serious expressions.
Chu Li continued, "In addition to the affairs of the Public House, there will be other things that you will be tasked with, like getting sent to the Li Dynasty or the Fu Dynasty, so you must be mentally prepared."
"Yes." The trio quickly nodded.
Chu Li then waved his hand, "Go on. Have a few days rest before you begin."
The three of them hurriedly gave him a fist salute. Xue Ling came in and led the three of them outside. She was responsible for their resettlement as well as for teaching them how to establish a foothold in the Public House and familiarizing themselves with the situation in the Public House.
...
Chu Li returned to King An's Imperial Residence and went back to his own courtyard before he continued to practice swordsmanship.
The level of his Heavenly Demonic Power was now at the very top. Thus, it was almost difficult to advance now. Even after he had devoured Fu Qingya's Heavenly Demonic Orb, his Heavenly Demonic Power had only increased to a hundred meters. There was no qualitative change in his Heavenly Demonic Power at all. It was extremely difficult to cultivate it to perfect mastery.
Besides, he was not keen on cultivating Heavenly Demonic Power to a state of perfect mastery. He still had to practice the Spirit Beast martial arts so that he could achieve Enlightenment. After achieving perfect mastery in Heavenly Demonic Power, he would immediately ascend to the heavens and would no longer stay in this world. He still had a special place in his heart for this world.
After practicing swordsmanship for a while, Chu Li disappeared in a flash. He turned into Zheying and reappeared within the Heavenly Demonic Sect.
In the Heavenly Demonic Sect basilica, the Four Grand Elders were meditating in front of the Heavenly Demon Statue. Upon noticing his sudden appearance, they held their fists in salute one after another. Now that he was the sect leader, his status was unlike before.
Chu Li said, "My four Honorable Masters, has the Dragon Taming Technique been found?"
The Four Grand Elders smiled bitterly.
Elder Du sighed. "Sect leader, the Dragon Taming Technique is the most difficult magic skill to look for in the world."
Chu Li questioned, "Didn't manage to get your hands on it?"
The Four Grand Elders shook their heads.
Chu Li furrowed his eyebrows and groaned.
"Why are you looking for the Dragon Taming Technique?" Elder Li asked in a deep voice.
Chu Li answered, "I have my reasons! ...Is there no other way to find it?"
"The Goddess Attraction Mountain is no ordinary sect." The four elders shook their heads with forced smiles.
Elder Bai chuckled. "Sect leader, if it were other martial arts, even though we weren't able to obtain their full versions after all these years, we were still able to obtain bits and pieces of them. For example, we at least possess one of two levels of the Church of the Divine Blood's Blood Garment Divine Power and the Great One Imperial's Great One Scripture. However, this Goddess Attraction Mountain is not the same. We can't disguise ourselves as disciples of the Goddess Attraction Mountain. They barely descend the mountain themselves."
Chu Li scoffed. "That means you can't obtain it!"
"...Yes." The Four Grand Elders nodded helplessly.
Chu Li said, "I refuse to believe there exists a heart technique the Heavenly Demonic Sect cannot get their hands on! ...Give me the details and everything I need to know about Goddess Attraction Mountain. I will try it myself."
"Sect leader, please don't do it." The Four Grand Elders hurriedly shook their heads.
Chu Li frowned at them.
Elder Wu solemnly said, "We can't afford to draw attention from the Goddess Attraction Mountain. They can connect with the existence of Grandmasters. If there are outsiders cultivating the Dragon Taming Technique, they will immediately sense it and track down that person."
"Hmm—?" Chu Li was surprised.
Elder Du said, "This is by no means a word of falsehood. It's true that they can detect anyone who cultivates the Dragon Taming Technique. In fact, there are only a few people in the world who can cultivate the Dragon Taming Technique, which makes it even easier for them."
Seemingly annoyed, Chu Li snapped, "Then why you didn't tell me earlier!"
He believed in every word because the Heavenly Demonic Disaster was able to pull off the same thing. With Heavenly Demonic Orbs, he could sense any disciples in this world who cultivated Heavenly Demonic Power.
"Hehe..." The four of them looked quite embarrassed.
Elder Du said, "Sect leader, we all thought that you weren't really serious about it."
Chu Li seethed, "I meant it when I said I wanted to cultivate it!"
"That's all right." Elder Du shook his head. "Cultivating the Dragon Taming Technique is like seeking one's own death."
"They are harder to deal with than Enlightened Masters?" Chu Li scoffed. "With the Heavenly Demonic Statue, do we really need to be afraid of them?"
"It's different." Elder Du frowned. "Every time we use the Heavenly Demonic Statue, our vitality will be so badly wounded we have to rest for quite a while. They may not retreat after one attack and they may not be easier to deal with than Enlightened Masters!"
"That means there's no hope for me to cultivate the Dragon Taming Technique," Chu Li said.
The Four Grand Elders slowly nodded.
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