Chapter 45: Storming the Imperial Palace

Within the Imperial Palace, Shennongzi sat quietly in Tong Jin's room. His eyes were half-closed, and his tightly furrowed brows showed no sign of relaxing. Tong Jin sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed. The internal injuries he had sustained during the earlier battle at the Tianchen Sect had been forcibly suppressed. Since this was a waiting period, allowing his body to recover as quickly as possible was of the utmost importance.

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Tong Jin slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the vital energy once again flowing smoothly through his body, the corners of his lips curled upward. At that moment, he was astonished to discover that his internal martial cultivation had actually made progress. "Could it be due to using that Blazing Sun Palm?" he thought to himself.

However, the brief paralysis of his body after each use of the Blazing Sun Palm made Tong Jin both love and hate this technique. Its immense power went without saying; its instantaneous burst of destructive force, which could even rival the perfection of the Deity Transformation Realm, had become one of his primary methods for dealing with enemies. Yet every time he struck with that palm, the chaotic currents of air would toss and tumble his meridians into utter turmoil.

Logically speaking, such a powerful martial art should not have such a drawback. There was only one possible reason—Tong Jin had not truly mastered the Blazing Sun Palm. Although this realization dawned on him, he could not quite figure out what needed to be improved. Deciding to put the matter aside for the moment, he got off the bed, walked over to the table, and sat down.

"Senior Shennong," he called out softly.

Shennongzi seemed to have noticed long ago that Tong Jin had recovered from his meditative state. "It seems young friend's injuries have fully healed, and your cultivation has actually improved. Heh heh, a blessing in disguise after all."

Tong Jin scratched his head. "Senior flatters me. It was due to my own recklessness this time that I have caused you worry."

Shennongzi smiled. "That you dared to single-handedly charge into the Tianchen Sect for Tan'er is already worthy of admiration."

Just then, Fairy Tianfeng pushed the door open with an expression of anger. "Sun Tianchang of the Tianchen Sect has personally brought people to our doorstep. It is utterly despicable; he actually demands to enter the Imperial Palace to inspect the premises, claiming that all the other sects have reached a consensus and require the Imperial Palace to submit to their searches as well."

Shennongzi asked, "Where are they now?"

"They are already outside the dense forest formation, demanding entry into the palace. They claim they will leave after conducting a search," Fairy Tianfeng replied.

"Sigh, what must come will come. Since Baixuan is not here at the moment, I shall go and meet them myself," Shennongzi said as he stood up and walked outside.

Outside the dense forest, several hundred people had gathered. The leaders were none other than Sun Tianchang, Jin Buzai, and Pan Tianlong.

"Brother Sun, can you be certain that person is inside the Imperial Palace right now?" Pan Tianlong asked.

Sun Tianchang narrowed his eyes. "I believe this news is reliable. Otherwise, with our six major sects allied and having practically turned Holy Capital upside down, we wouldn't be without a single clue." At the same time, doubts lingered in his heart. The mysterious woman in black had inexplicably told him many secrets, even knowing clearly about the collusion between the Immortal Guarding Pavilion and the Imperial Palace. There had to be hidden depths to this matter.

Being an old fox, Sun Tianchang had considered this and deduced that Tong Jin had most likely entered the Imperial Palace. That was why he immediately contacted the Zhengyang and Longyou sects and rushed straight to the Imperial Palace.

"Sect Master Sun, that girl Tianfeng has been inside for half a day now. You don't suppose she plans to hide in the Imperial Palace and refuse to come out, do you?" Jin Buzai said.

Pan Tianlong sneered sinisterly, "If it is as Brother Sun suspects and that brat is indeed inside the Imperial Palace, I would love to see how Emperor Baixuan, who acts so loftily day in and day out, intends to explain this to the six major sects this time."

Sun Tianchang snorted coldly, "If the Imperial Palace truly harbors a conspiracy, the Tianchen Sect will be the first to step forward. When that time comes, even if Shennongzi shows himself, I'm afraid it will be of no use."

At that moment, a hearty laugh echoed from the dense forest. "Hahaha, who is chewing the fat behind this old fellow's back?" Accompanied by the laughter, Shennongzi took the lead and walked slowly out of the woods, followed closely by Fairy Tianfeng and the cold-faced Tianying.

Seeing Shennongzi emerge from the Imperial Palace, Sun Tianchang frowned deeply, thinking to himself that this matter was probably not as simple as he had imagined. If even the Shenqi Palace was involved in this conspiracy and stood on the opposing side, things were going to be troublesome. He stepped forward to test the waters. "So it is Palace Master Shennong. What a coincidence. Palace Master Shennong is not at the Shenqi Palace at a time like this, yet happens to run to the Imperial Palace precisely when Emperor Baixuan is away. Most interesting."

Shennongzi laughed, "Hahaha! Taking advantage of the absence of that fellow Baixuan, this old man simply wanted to come to the Imperial Palace to steal a few of his secret manuals to read. Who would have thought that instead of stealing any manuals, I would be blocked here by several hundred people? Caught red-handed, truly."

Pan Tianlong stepped forward with an insincere smile. "I wonder if Palace Master Shennong is planning to return to the Shenqi Palace right about now?"

"Return to the Shenqi Palace? The autumn scenery of this Imperial Palace is truly delightful. This old man has decided to stay here and wait for that fellow Baixuan to return so we can share a small drink together." Shennongzi didn't even spare Pan Tianlong a glance.

The expressions of Sun, Jin, and Pan darkened simultaneously. Being an old fox, Sun Tianchang was unwilling to completely burn bridges with the Shenqi Palace before things were certain. Pan Tianlong, however, was young and hot-headed. "Shennongzi, I respect you as a palace master, but we are conducting a routine inspection now. Are you attempting to obstruct us?"

Instead of getting angry, Shennongzi chuckled. "An outsider like me, what qualification do I have to obstruct you? I am merely admiring the autumn scenery in the Imperial Palace. However, the scenery within this forest is truly breathtaking. If you gentlemen are interested, just go in and take a look for yourselves. This old man will not accompany you." With that, he turned around and headed back toward the Imperial Palace. Tianfeng and Tianying had remained completely silent from beginning to end, clearly leaving the matter entirely in Shennongzi's hands. They too turned and closely followed Shennongzi, disappearing into the dense forest.

"Hmph, this old fellow is simply relying on his seniority to bully others!" Pan Tianlong gritted his teeth and let out an angry snort.

Jin Buzai furrowed his brows and asked Sun Tianchang, "Sect Master Sun, the situation before us is becoming increasingly complicated. If we force our way in, it will be equivalent to completely breaking ties with the two palaces."

Sun Tianchang narrowed his eyes, revealing a chilling expression. "No matter what, I will not let that brat go. That old fellow Shennongzi thinks that with him here, I, Sun, am afraid? And even if Baixuan returns, so what? Can his Shenqi Palace and Imperial Palace possibly match the alliance of our three sects?" He then tightly clenched his fists. "I have long heard that there is a universe within the Imperial Palace's grand array, possessing matchless power. Today, I shall personally experience it!"

Hearing these words, Jin Buzai and Pan Tianlong also turned solemn. It seemed they were going to force their way through.

Soon, the several hundred people were divided into three groups, each led by one of the three men, entering the forest simultaneously from three different directions. Watching the other two rush off to the left and right, Sun Tianchang led a hundred-odd men along the path where Shennongzi and the others had vanished.

As soon as they entered the forest, just as Shennongzi had described, the scenery was indeed breathtaking. The towering ancient trees dyed gold by autumn possessed staggered crowns, and their intersecting branches created a rhythmic, aesthetic beauty. Yet beneath this lovely scenery, the silence was somewhat eerie. Not a single bird or beast could be found, even the wind had ceased, and fallen withered leaves hung limply in the air.

"Everyone be careful!" Sun Tianchang shouted.

Just as he spoke, a wave of panicked commotion echoed from a distant place on the left, mingled with screams. Sun Tianchang frowned; that was the direction Pan Tianlong had led his men into the forest. It seemed they had triggered a mechanism over there, though judging by the noise, it had not caused catastrophic losses. He then proceeded even more cautiously into the depths of the dense forest.

Sun Tianchang led his disciples forward for half a mile without encountering any danger, and throughout this time, neither the left nor the right side had produced any further sounds. The men behind Sun Tianchang breathed a slight sigh of relief, but he grew even more cautious. Such absence of danger often meant that an even greater danger was brewing.

At that very moment, Sun Tianchang suddenly heard a terrified scream erupt from the very rear of the procession, "Run! There's fire!"