Chapter 3

Xuanhe Hall.

The Crown Prince sat at the head of the table. From his expression, he could not obtain any useful information.

Qing’er and Shuang’er stood behind him.

Clap! Clap!

The Crown Prince clapped his hands. A palace maid held a rectangular box and walked out from behind. She handed it to Qing’er and retreated.

Qing’er opened the box. There was a longsword inside. It was completely golden in color. Golden light circulated on the blade, and sharp Sword Qi formed a storm that whistled.

Zhang Ronghua had sharp eyes and recognized at a glance that this was a spiritual treasure. Although he wanted it very much, he did not show it on his face.

“You’ve made a great contribution. I’ve never been petty towards people who have contributed. This is a reward from the Golden Dragon Sword!” the Crown Prince said.

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Zhang Ronghua took out his sword.

“The middle-aged man is already dead, but Old Ghost hasn’t spoken. Since you captured them, I’ll leave this matter to you. I only have one request: uproot the Earth Fiend.”

“Yes.”

He turned around and left, walking towards the side hall where the criminals were imprisoned.

After he left, the hall door closed.

Qing’er looked puzzled, “Why doesn’t Your Highness…”

As she spoke, she made a throat-slitting gesture.

“It’s simple to kill him, but wouldn’t that tell the person behind the scenes that I have something to hide?” The Crown Prince sneered.

“Investigate this matter yourself. You must find the person behind it.”

“I understand!” Qing’er agreed.

In the side hall.

“Greetings, Lord!” The Flood Dragon Guard at the door bowed respectfully.

“Open the door,” Zhang Ronghua instructed.

One of them opened the door of the hall and he walked in.

Old Ghost was tied to the wall and was spread-eagled. His limbs were locked by chains, his skin and flesh were lacerated, and his blood was blurry. It seemed that he had suffered a lot last night and looked dispirited.

“Don’t even think about getting any information from me!”

“You know about the Seven-section Soul Extinguishing Palm?” Zhang Ronghua asked.

“You know it?” Old Ghost’s expression changed drastically.

The ferocious reputation of the Seven-section Soul Exterminating Palm was very great. It had caused an uproar in the martial arts world decades ago. Anyone who was struck by this technique, regardless of their cultivation level or how tough their bones were, would end up like a dog. They would be unable to live or die. It could be said to be the most terrifying punishment in the world.

“A little.”

Under his frightened gaze, Zhang Ronghua attacked and struck the bones in his body a few times.

“Ah…” Old Ghost screamed.

Cold sweat instantly wet him. It was so painful that the veins on his forehead bulged and his meridians twitched, as if someone had shattered his soul, sprinkled salt, and placed it in the boiling water.

Every once in a while, the pain would change and torture him without repetition.

Zhang Ronghua crossed his arms and revealed a mocking expression, “I have time to waste with you.”

“I, I’ll talk!” Old Ghost was afraid.

With a wave of his hand, he temporarily relieved the pain in his body.

“You only have one chance.”

“The Earth Fiend’s branch is at the Sixth Restaurant in the East City. That’s our stronghold. Apart from that, there are no other strongholds in the capital.”

“You better pray that you’re not lying to me,” Zhang Ronghua said.

After leaving the side hall, he instructed his subordinates to bring two teams of Flood Dragon Guards. A total of 20 people rushed towards the Sixth Restaurant in the east.

…

The Sixth Restaurant was very famous in this area. Although the location was not very good, the food made was very delicious, the price was fair, and the customer flow was very high.

In the study in the backyard.

A middle-aged man sat on a chair with a cold expression. His name was Iron Demon, the person in charge of the Earth Fiend’s branch in the capital.

Opposite him stood an enchanting young woman called Moon Fiend. She was wearing a light green short skirt that perfectly displayed her beautiful thighs. At this moment, her face was also cold.

She and Old Ghost were Iron Demon’s right-hand subordinates who helped him deal with the matters in the capital.

“There’s still no news of Old Ghost?” Iron Demon asked.

“I’ve already ordered people to search. After a night, there’s no clue at all.” After a pause, Moon Fiend revealed her guess, “Do you think he was captured? Betrayed us again?”

Iron Demon glared at her coldly, scaring Moon Fiend so much that her heart trembled. She hurriedly admitted her mistake, “I know my mistake!”

“He’s my confidant like you. Even if he’s captured, he won’t betray us.”

“Yes.”

A flustered voice sounded from ahead, “Lord, quickly run! The people of the Flood Dragon Guard are here.”

Their expressions changed and they looked at each other with very cold gazes.

Iron Demon angrily shattered the table. When he recalled what he had just said, it was a living slap in the face. Just as he said that Old Ghost would not betray him, the people of the Imperial Court arrived.

“Go!”

He was the first to stand up from the chair and rush out of the window. Just as he was about to escape, his surroundings turned cold. He subconsciously looked up and saw a young man standing on the roof, looking at them coldly.

Zhang Ronghua said, “Demon?”

Although Iron Demon hid it very well, the faint demonic aura was still sensed by him.

“Lord, leave first! I’ll kill him.” Moon Fiend took out a long whip.

“Be careful!” Iron Demon nodded.

He rushed out with a demonic wind.

“Did I let you leave?” Zhang Ronghua mocked.

With a slap from afar, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi condensed into a golden palm print under his control. It slapped down roughly, heavily injuring the escaping Iron Demon and smashing him to the ground.

Jumping down from the roof, before Moon Fiend could raise the whip in her hand, her neck was grabbed. Her entire body was picked up from the ground and she suddenly smashed it, subduing her.

Zhang Ronghua frowned, “Did the Earth Fiend collude with the demons?”

No matter who colluded with the demons in the Great Xia Empire, it was a huge crime that would result in the execution of their entire family. Once they were discovered, they would be eliminated.

The battle outside had already ended. His subordinate rushed in.

“Seal this place and escort them back. Take away all the valuable things.”

“Yes, Lord!”

Back at the East Palace.

Iron Demon and the others were brought down and this matter ended. However, curiosity killed the cat. Zhang Ronghua was thinking about using his Clear Spirit Eyes to check if the Crown Prince was a woman when he saw him later.

Looking at the sky, the blue sky, white clouds, and the wind, he unknowingly arrived at the entrance of the Xuanhe Hall.

He made up his mind. He would take a look!

He knocked on the door.

“Come in!” The Crown Prince’s voice sounded from inside.

He pushed open the door and walked in.

“We’ve already captured the people of the Earth Fiend. The person in charge is called Iron Demon. He’s a wolf demon,” Zhang Ronghua said.

He secretly used his Clear Spirit Eyes and looked at the Crown Prince without revealing any phenomena.

A powerful golden light blocked his Clear Spirit Eyes. Dragon Qi surged and appeared on his body under circumstances that could not be seen with the naked eye. It condensed into a five-clawed golden dragon that occupied the Crown Prince’s head. This was the protection of the Great Xia Empire’s Dynasty Fate to prevent others from spying.

“That’s good.”

“Kill them!” The Crown Prince ordered.

Zhang Ronghua left and walked towards the side hall.