The Dark Net Descends, Check-in to the Eastern Palace

As the night falls, the Xia Palace was in an intense battle.

Tian Kui thought that he could easily kill Ye Xuan, but when the sudden voice came, they stopped. A terrifying pressure fell, and everyone was on guard.

A figure descended from the sky. It was none other than Cao Zhengchun.

He was dressed in a long black robe and stood with his hands behind his back. He released the power of a level ten Tongxuan realm and bowed. "I pay my respects to Your Highness!"

Ye Xuan nodded. "Zhengchun, you've become stronger again."

"My cultivation has improved by a little bit. How should we deal with these people, Your Highness?" Cao Zhengchun asked.

"Kill them!" Ye Xuan said.

Whoosh.

Cao Zhengchun's figure flickered as he charged toward the ten of them. His figure was like a ghost, and the ten of them paled in shock. They had never expected such a terrifying expert to be by Ye Xuan's side.

They had confirmed with their eyes that he was the one who could kill them instantly.

Tian Kui was also in the Tongxuan realm, but he was ten small realms away from Cao Zhengchun. The difference between one realm was an insurmountable gap.

Whish.

Whish.

As their figures were sent flying, bloody holes appeared on their chests.

It was a bloody and shocking sight.

The scene was too brutal to describe.

Even Tian Kui was no match for Cao Zhengchun and was killed in an instant.

These people were willing to be sacrificed, and there was no value in keeping them alive, so Ye Xuan ordered them to be killed.

Ye Xuan's face darkened. He had just left the Eastern Palace, and the other party couldn't hold back anymore. Tonight's assassination in the Eastern Palace was only the beginning. The days to come would probably not be peaceful.

"Zhengchun, dispose of their bodies."

Cao Zhengchun slowly raised his arm, and a ball of fire appeared in his palm. With a wave of his hand, the corpse was burned to ashes. Not even a speck of dust was left.

Ye Xuan turned to look at the trembling maidservants in the hall. "All of you, leave."

The maidservants were stunned for a moment. When they came back to their senses, they ran out of the hall in a hurry and forgot to bow to Ye Xuan.

"Zhengchun, come in and have a chat."

"Your Highness, there are still assassins in the palace. Should we kill them as well?"

"No need. If we can't even kill these assassins, then there's no hope for the Great Xia Empire."

Ye Xuan gestured for Cao Zhengchun to take a seat. "Zhengchun, how's the development of the embroidered uniform guards this year? What major events have happened in the nine states?"

Cao Zhengchun raised his hand and handed a scroll to Ye Xuan. "Your Highness, the flames of war are raging in the nine states. All the major empires and sects are eager to make a move. During this period, the Northern Barbarian Empire has begun to attack the border. Xia has lost three counties in succession."

"The embroidered uniform guards have secretly investigated. The Northern Barbarian army is being manipulated. This person is hiding in Chang'an Academy."

"Zhengchun, from what you're saying, the embroidered uniform guards have already gotten hold of the information of the person behind this," Ye Xuan asked in a low voice.

"Your Highness, not yet. We are still trying to identify this person. I believe we will have news soon." Cao Zhengchun paused for a moment before he continued, "Your Highness, it was the Directorate of Celestials, the Grand Preceptor, and the Left Minister who worked together to put pressure on His Majesty. The Grand Preceptor's identity is suspicious, but he has hidden it very well. I did not investigate it thoroughly and did not dare to conclude on my own."

"What I can be sure of is... The people who had leaked the army's situation back then were the Directorate of Celestials, the Grand Preceptor, and the Left Minister."

Ye Xuan nodded. "It's already very good that you can investigate so much in a year."

He paused for a moment and continued, "Do you have any clues as to who saved my mother?"

Cao Zhengchun shook his head. "No. There are no clues."

Ye Xuan was a little surprised. "There's no hurry. Take your time."

Cao Zhengchun said, "Your Highness, the Northern Barbarian army has 150,000 soldiers and is marching straight in. If no one stops them, I'm afraid it won't take long for them to arrive in Chang'an."

"The Northern Barbarian army only wants to occupy the territory of Great Xia and plunder its resources. However, the target of the person behind this should be Your Highness. On the assassination roll, Your Highness is ranked third."

"Why third place?" Ye Xuan was a little puzzled. "Did you find out who issued the kill order?"

Cao Zhengchun replied. "No. The kill order came from Yama's Pavilion. The identity of the other party is well protected. This is the rule of Yama's Pavilion. The employer's information will never be revealed."

"Your Highness, as for why you're ranked third, it's because the assassin thought it was easy to assassinate you. I also received the news, so I came to the Xia Palace as soon as possible."

Was it that easy?

Ye Xuan laughed bitterly.

He was so weak.

"Zhengchun, continue your investigation and try to find out who is hiding in Chang'an Academy."

"Your Highness, I think it's better for me to stay with you. The killer may come at any time." Cao Zhengchun was a little worried.

Ye Xuan shook his head. "No need. Assassins can't do anything to me."

As soon as he finished speaking, spiritual Qi appeared from his body and enveloped Cao Zhengchun. The latter's expression changed drastically. "Your Highness, your realm..."

Ye Xuan replied, "I just entered Tongxuan. I can still protect myself."

Cao Zhengchun nodded. "I'll leave now. If Your Highness has anything to say to me, you can ask the commander of the imperial guards to send me a message."

Ye Xuan was stunned. He knew that the commander of the Imperial Guards was already a member of the embroidered uniform guards. In just a year, Cao Zhengchun was able to develop the commander of the imperial guards into an embroidered uniform guard. He had some tricks up his sleeve.

Cao Zhengchun left and disappeared into the night. He returned to the courtyard and looked into the distance. He looked in the direction of the Imperial Study. The sound of fighting had disappeared. The battle had ended.

At this moment, a figure appeared in front of the palace. It was Gao Ying. Seeing that Ye Xuan was safe and sound, the worry on his face disappeared, and his heart was filled with curiosity. He had clearly sensed that a strong master had arrived in the Eastern Palace.

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

"I'm fine!"

Gao Ying wanted to say something but stopped.

"Eunuch Gao, do you want to ask about the assassin?"

Gao Ying nodded. "Did those assassins escape?"

Ye Xuan replied, "The ten assassins were all killed, and not even their bodies were left. It was done by a mysterious expert. He left after killing them."

A mysterious expert.

Gao Ying's mind was spinning, but he couldn't figure out who the mysterious expert Ye Xuan was talking about.

"Eunuch Gao, do you know the identity of the assassin who entered the palace at night?"

"Your Highness, the assassin is from the Dark Net. This force has existed in Great Xia for a long time. The demon-suppressing division had once destroyed their branch, but the members of the Dark Net are everywhere. They are like a centipede that will not fall apart even after death."

"His Majesty has ordered the demon-suppressing division to track down their whereabouts and completely annihilate the Dark Net."

Gao Ying bowed slightly and slowly said.

Ye Xuan nodded. "It's late. Eunuch Gao, you may leave!"

"Your Highness, I will order the servants to prepare dinner again," Gao Ying said.

"No need," Ye Xuan turned around and walked into the hall.

As he was moving forward, a system notification suddenly rang in his ears. "Ding, congratulations, Master. The new check-in location has been refreshed -- Eastern Palace. Do you want to check in immediately?"

"Ding, a reminder to Master, system mission triggered: destroy the Dark Net. Mission completed. The system will reward one time after the mission is completed."

"Ding, a reminder to Master. System mission triggered: Defeat the Northern Barbarians and reclaim lost land. Mission completed. System gift bag received."

The system had given him a mission, which meant that he could not continue to live.

"Immediately check in to the Eastern Palace."

He shall check in first, and talk about the mission later.