After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

North of Longcheng lies Yanziji, bordered by the Xuan River to the south and mountains to the west, and is renowned for its ruggedness.

One of the imperial palaces used by the Great Qian Emperor was located there. Later, the Northern Frontier broke with the Great Qian, and the place was abandoned and neglected for a long time. However, it became a good place for people to travel.

When Chen Futu and his party arrived at Yanziji, it was already close to evening. Looking out, the setting sun dyed the clouds red, and the scenery in the forest was magnificent.

Further ahead, a Jinyiwei spy came forward to report: "Not long ago, Yin Jian, along with Qingyi and Tianjizi, entered Yanziji, which is the dilapidated palace."

"Yin Jian came alone with two Grandmasters. Are there any other outsiders?" Chen Futu asked.

"Your subordinates have not found any trace of anyone else."

The Jinyiwei spies were not very strong; if a powerful person was nearby, they wouldn't be able to detect it.

The group entered the forest boardwalk, with Dian Wei leading the way alone. After walking for about two miles, they saw a palace located halfway up a spacious area. Due to long-term neglect, it looked dilapidated and desolate.

"Wushuang, lead your men to surround Yanziji, and send five hundred men to accompany me to investigate."

"The last general takes orders."

Luo Wushuang ordered his troops to disperse and crossbows to be loaded, ready to attack at any moment.

When Chen Futu led his men into the palace courtyard, they found no one there.

Consort Ge said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, is it possible that there is another underground secret chamber below?"

"Quickly find the entrance to the secret passage."

Chen Futu knew that the Emperor of Daqian was very cunning. In places like this, there were probably underground passages so that if something went wrong, one could escape at any time. If there really were secret passages, his father, who built Yanziji back then, should have known about them.

Meanwhile, in the interconnected underground passages of Yanziji, Yan Qing and Xuanjizi stared with grim faces at Long Luo, who was locked to the wall.

Long Luo was in very bad condition. Her hands and feet were bound by chains, her pretty face was pale, and her breath was extremely weak. The only thing to be thankful for was that her clothes were intact and she had not been violated. However, due to not eating for a long time and her injuries, she had fallen into a semi-comatose state.

Yin Jian stood to the side, "angrily," calling out Long Luo's name.

Yan Qing grabbed his collar and said gloomily, "Kid, did you do this?!"

"Senior, how could it be something a junior like me would do? You know I've always admired Miss Long and I'm too busy protecting her to dare to hurt her," Yin Jian hurriedly tried to clear his name.

A murderous glint flashed in the eyes of the man in green. "If it really is you when she wakes up, I'll skin you alive!"

"Please ask, senior; I have no fault to ask."

Yin Jian spoke with absolute certainty, and only then did Qingyi release him. She then went to rescue Long Luo, while Tianjizi seized the opportunity to pull Yin Jian aside and asked, "What exactly happened? How did you know she was imprisoned here?"

"Grandmaster, even you don't believe your disciple?" Yin Jian looked hurt. Tianjizi gritted his teeth and said, "Explain yourself quickly, or Qingyi will get angry and you'll suffer."

"After much investigation, I learned that Miss Long had been kidnapped. It was most likely the work of powerful figures in the martial arts world who were hostile to Zhongnan Mountain, who were trying to use her to blackmail Senior Qingyi. I was lucky enough to discover this and tracked them here, but I didn't expect them to be gone."

“I believe everything you say, but Qingyi may not.”

Tianjizi is not a three-year-old child. Yin Jian's words are too outrageous and not worth considering at all. At least Long Luo is still alive.

Thinking of this, Tianjizi also went to check on Longluo's condition, while Yin Jian took the opportunity to retreat a few steps.

Qingyi and Tianjizi noticed something and turned around. Suddenly, Yin Jian released a cloud of purple poisonous mist. Caught off guard, the two inhaled the mist and felt their limbs go weak and their bodies go limp.

Tianjizi plopped down on the ground, his compass falling to the floor.

"You wretched child, what are you doing!"

"Grandmaster, please don't blame your disciple for being heartless. It was Qingyi who didn't give your disciple a chance, so your disciple had no choice but to resort to this tactic."

Yin Jian stopped pretending and came clean: he was the one who did it all.

"You brat, are you looking for death?!"

The man in green suddenly unleashed his inner energy, but spat out a mouthful of blood, discovering that he could not mobilize his inner energy.

Yin Jian laughed wildly three times, his handsome face filled with sinister intent. "Senior Qingyi, don't waste your energy. I had already drugged you before we came. The poison is colorless and odorless. I used purple poison to induce it, and the toxins invaded your internal organs. The more you use your true energy, the more severe the backlash will be."

"You beast! The Heavenly Secrets Bureau is doing a terrible job, raising such a scoundrel like you!"

The man in green glared at Tianjizi, who then said sternly to Yin Jian, "I have never wronged you, so why are you acting like this!"

"Grandmaster, you are too stubborn. With the current situation so favorable, it would be one thing for you to ask the Heavenly Secrets Palace to remain neutral, but you actually came to the Northern Frontier. Are you also going to become a lackey for that dog Chen Futu?"

"You wretched child, I did it all for the future of the Heavenly Secrets Palace!"

"The future of Tianji Mansion is not in the hands of that traitor Chen Futu. My purpose in coming here is to lead Tianji Mansion and Zhongnan Mountain onto a different path. So you should hand over the Tianji Token and let me be the leader. I guarantee I will not disappoint you."

Yin Jian stepped forward with a grin, his expression indescribably twisted and manic.

Tianjizi was so angry that his beard trembled. He wished he could kill this ungrateful beast with one blow, but unfortunately, he had sealed all his internal energy, so even with his Grandmaster cultivation, it was useless.

Then Yin Jian looked at Qingyi and said, “Senior, don’t force me to use force. Why don’t you take out the Heavenly Ruler and help me walk on a broad road? Don’t worry, once I get the Heavenly Ruler, I will take Long Luo away. I will treat her well and I can even swear that she will be my only woman in this life.”

At this point, Qingyi and Tianjizi finally understood. This wicked creature had colluded with the Ancient Palace; otherwise, where would he have gotten the poison that targeted Grandmasters? So it was all a scheme from beginning to end, with the aim of capturing Longluo, luring the two of them here, and then eliminating them both. As long as Yin Jian had the Heavenly Secret Token and the Heavenly Ruler in his hands, he would control two major forces and have the Ancient Palace as his backer. Who could possibly challenge him then!

"That's right, not only will I be able to control both factions and gain the support of the Ancient Palace, but I can even obtain the Dragon Vine. After that, I can rely on the Great Qian Dynasty to enjoy endless wealth and glory. This is more than killing two birds with one stone, hahaha—"

Yin Jian laughed wildly, as if he had gone mad. The torture he had suffered in recent days was nothing compared to what he was going to achieve today.

"Oh, what a tragedy, Qingyi, it is I who have harmed you," Tianjizi said with shame.

The man in green sneered, "You claim to be so knowledgeable about the secrets of heaven, yet you've never heard the saying among the common people that spoiling a child is like killing him. With your indulgence, you deserve this fate. It's a pity I didn't die in the calamity, but instead fell into the hands of your beastly disciple!"

"I am ashamed..."

Tianjizi shook his head, speechless.

Yin Jian strode toward the two men and said arrogantly, "It's almost time. Will you two hand over your treasure yourselves, or shall I kill you and search you myself?"