Chapter 66: Lord Yu

The Demon Suppression Division was in serious trouble.

Gongyang Yan did not intervene.

If every problem required her direct involvement to resolve, then she would consider herself a failure as the Guardian.

Moreover, she had to stay vigilant against Jiang Dongliu.

She had long anticipated that the Yin-Yang Heavenly Sect would send Jiang Dongliu to inquire about the ancient Ice Maiden, Han Su. But the Yin-Yang Heavenly Sect alone was not truly fearsome.

The real threat was the Supreme Dao, which harbored an even deeper grudge against the Underworld and had yet to reveal itself.

The very mention of the Supreme Dao was enough to inspire awe, even among the imperial family.

The Supreme Dao Master was the greatest martial artist in the world.

That supremacy included even foreign lands across the seas.

There were few in all existence who could stand against the Supreme Dao Master.

It was the Saintess of the Supreme Dao who had once supported the Gu Liang imperial family to power.

Later, the Gu Liang house betrayed the Supreme Dao, forcing them into obscurity.

Yet, as the oldest sect in the world, no one dared underestimate the Supreme Dao.

The Demon Suppression Division’s greatest trump card was the Demon Suppression Manifestation, but even this might not be enough to subdue the Supreme Dao.

The Hundred Paths Sutra, meant to stabilize the world and oppose the Supreme Dao.

Gongyang Yan refused to cultivate the Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra precisely because she did not wish to face the Supreme Dao head-on.

Moreover, throughout history, only one person had perfected the Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra.

That was the High Ancestor of the Gu Liang dynasty.

But the balance of power in the world had shifted, and now the Emperor's lifespan could never exceed a hundred years.

Such was the unchanging law.

The Gu Liang house betrayed the Supreme Dao, but the Supreme Dao in turn set a trap for the High Ancestor.

War raged unceasingly in the city of East Shore.

“My little sister still hasn’t made a move?”

Gongyang Yu stood atop a tall tower in East Shore, a cigar between his lips, watching the fires of battle engulf the city.

“The Third Miss has not acted yet, but the two Demon Suppression Envoys she brought with her are holding the line. There should be no trouble.”

Linghu Xue and Tie Wuya were both supreme experts, masters of the Divine Spirit realm.

With their unique talents, the two of them had once together slain a fiendish cultivator of the Primordial Embryo level, a feat beyond ordinary experts.

Gongyu, who stood respectfully beside the second son of the Gongyang family, wore a gentle smile.

All three direct heirs of the Gongyang family possessed outstanding talent.

But none surpassed Gongyang Yan.

If not for her focus on cultivating her Primordial Embryo, she would have already reached the level of Divine Power and formed her Manifestation.

To reach Manifestation was to become one of the world’s greatest powers.

As for Martial Saints, who united spirit and body and merged with the Dao, there were only a few in the entire Great Yuan Empire.

Such beings suppressed entire realms with their presence.

“Old Tie’s mastery of blood and bone refinement is impressive—he’s a good ally. Linghu Xue’s innate gift for soul refinement is extraordinary; she has delved deep into the Divine Spirit realm and is destined to achieve the Primordial Embryo. She is also excellent,” Gongyang Yu commented.

He had every right to appraise these two Demon Suppression Envoys.

Both were of the Gongyang family.

As the young master, it was only natural for him to judge his subordinates.

“Master Yu, I heard the Third Miss gave the jade slip of the Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra—bestowed upon her by the division—to a mere minor Demon Suppression Envoy in East Shore,” Gongyu remarked, his smile always gentle. Yet, to him, Gongyang Yan’s actions seemed like a child’s misstep.

“There are few candidates within the division who can cultivate the Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra; they are all nurtured seeds of the division. Little sister joined to avoid her family responsibilities. This time, her appointment in East Shore was part of a plan by His Majesty. That’s why the division granted her the jade slip,” Gongyang Yu said, lips curved in a smile but eyes cold as ice.

“The Demon Suppression Division wants to bind her to them, to tie her fate to their cause. Little sister’s move was clever, keeping herself from being caught between family and division.”

Gongyu could tell that Gongyang Yu approved of Gongyang Yan’s actions.

“In the end, my little sister will have to marry. As an heir of the Gongyang family, her character is not entirely her own.”

Gongyu lowered his head in silence.

As Master Yu’s confidant, he understood well that, as one of the family’s direct heirs and a candidate for the future patriarch, Yu would always put the family’s interests first.

“Commander Gongyu, have your people handle this. Little sister’s subordinates are too weak. If they are to play the pawn, they must have the resolve of pawns.”

Gongyang Yu puffed on his cigar.

He liked cigars, and he liked wine.

When cigars first entered the Great Yuan Empire from overseas, he bought up several plantations at their source and built his own factories.

Business abroad was easy.

He also enjoyed expanding his ventures. Stirring things up within the empire was dull and full of restrictions.

But it was different in foreign lands.

No matter how recklessly he acted, the imperial family could not interfere.

The family turned a blind eye as well.

“Understood. We’ll take over the opium case.”

East Shore was merely a prefectural city.

Though its status was special, it was still subordinate to the provincial capital.

As such, its Demon Suppression Division answered to the provincial division.

And Gongyu, besides being a retainer of the Gongyang family, was also the commander of the Demon Suppression Envoys.

“In the end, affairs of the East Continent should be handled by the East Continent,” Gongyang Yu said, maintaining his smile.

The opium case was a landmine.

His little sister couldn’t handle it.

But the Gongyang family had nothing to fear.

A mere princess could never ascend the imperial throne.

They owed her no deference.

Moreover, they stood on the side of justice.

Gongyu gestured, and a group of Demon Suppression Envoys in white serpent-embroidered robes appeared.

Six-clawed serpent robes.

Unlike those worn by ordinary envoys.

This elite force would be decisive in any prefecture.

But here, within the provincial division, Demon Suppression Envoy was the lowest rank.

“Take them down. Leave some alive for questioning.”

The sudden arrival of these envoys shocked everyone.

“Master Yu has arrived,” someone whispered.

Jiang Dongliu quietly slipped away by another route.

This was a ruthless man.

Gongyang Yan frowned slightly, her expression showing a trace of displeasure.

“Baili Feihong, do not disappoint me.”

Alone, Gongyang Yan allowed her vulnerability to show.

She had hoped this trip to East Shore would allow her to escape certain troubles.

But now she understood: so much in life is determined by fate, not by one’s own will.

She needed a focal point, a distraction to draw attention away from the future turmoil in East Shore.

“It’s not yet time.”

Baili Feihong was still too weak.

Gongyang Yan turned to leave.

She knew that someone was bound to intervene in the opium case.

But it was the last person she wished to see who stepped in.

The emergence of the ancient Ice Maiden, Han Su, had completely muddied the waters in East Shore.

Top factions now watched closely.

“I must resign from the position of Guardian.”

“But not just anyone can become Guardian of East Shore.”

“It must be one of my own people.”

Fortunately, she had already begun to lay her plans.

And made her intentions clear.

With a cultivator of the Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra now present, even if the central division refused to acknowledge it, the fact could not be denied.

From here on, the central division would have to comply with her plan.

Very few knew the true purpose of this mission.

Baili Feihong was one of them.

From her observation over this period, he had proved himself up to the task.

Had he not, he would not have survived until now.

Gongyang Yan, to protect her secret, would have killed him herself.