Chapter 680 - - 527 Persuasion is Duge’s real name_2

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Duge was unable to discern what the future might hold, and thus, he was unclear on which path to take next.

Nevertheless, that didn’t hinder him from laying the foundation of his own power in advance. Should he compete for supremacy, the children he had saved would become his most loyal backbone.

As for whether someone would discover them, Duge believed the likelihood was slim because what he intended to do next would surely capture everyone’s attention.

“Cultivate diligently, don’t be lazy,” Duge advised the children again, “Remember this, only when you have value will you not be discarded. The more helpful you are, the more people will be willing to help you, and the more your efforts will be valued.”

The underlying meaning in his exhortation contained both encouragement and guidance, which Duge found particularly fitting for himself. He didn’t have to make an effort, as these attributes naturally increased whenever he spoke.

Regrettably, the second skill under exhortation hadn’t emerged yet, and it was unclear what opportunity might trigger it.

…

Capital City.

Duge and his three companions were savoring tea at a tea house just outside Prince Duan’s mansion.

“Senior, are we really going to make a move on Prince Duan?” Liao Jiulong asked cautiously.

“Now that we’re here, wouldn’t it be a waste if we didn’t do something to justify the long journey?”

Duge sipped his tea unhurriedly.

His mature expression seemed particularly incongruous with his childish stature, but Liao Jiulong and the other two were no longer surprised at this sight; in their eyes, the child before them was simply an old monster in a child’s skin.

Duge’s perception could cover the entire Capital City.

However, just like on the last alien battlefield, key locations such as the imperial palace, princely mansions, and the Prime Minister’s residence were blank spots in his perception, impenetrable to his senses.

Still, from the hustle and bustle of various pleasure districts in the city, he had gleaned some valuable information. At least three alien warriors had died within the Capital City…

The commotion caused at that time was significant.

The alien warriors must have been besieged by Qi refiners, but whether any Golden Core True Men had taken part was beyond Duge’s ability to discern.

Playing the role of Heavenly Demon, it was naturally unbecoming for Duge to ask too many questions about the common knowledge of the Cultivation World.

But since the royal areas were shielded from perception, he had also cast a layer of surveillance-proof Solar Divine Power around himself and the other three.

“Daoist Friend Liao, are you versed in the Qi Observing Technique?” Duge changed the subject and asked, “Can you foresee the rise and fall of this New Moon Country?”

Liao Jiulong’s expression stiffened, and he replied sheepishly, “Senior, you overestimate me. The Qi Observing Technique is beyond one who is not an Integration Dao True Man; I am merely a Qi refiner…”

“Oh!” Duge responded, declaring, “Wait here for me. I will pay a visit to Prince Duan’s mansion to resolve this cause and effect.”

“Senior, I wish to accompany you,” Du Ziming said as he stood up gripping his sword, eager to say, “I want to see Prince Duan’s punishment with my own eyes.”

“There’s no need. I’ll go alone. I’ve just awakened in this life, and my power is insufficient; I can’t protect you,” Duge chuckled while shaking his head at the young man who shared his surname, “Just wait here for my good news.”

Having said that,

His figure had already vanished from before the three, and when he reappeared, he was in a secluded alley behind Prince Duan’s mansion.

Unable to sense the situation inside Prince Duan’s mansion, Duge could not teleport directly inside; he had to briefly take a detour via the back alleys.

After another flash, he scaled the wall and observed the specific arrangements within Prince Duan’s mansion before casually breaking in.

Subsequently, the suppressed perception within him suddenly cleared up, imprinting the entire front courtyard’s layout of the mansion into his mind, but the middle and back courtyards remained enigmas, likely where Prince Duan resided.

These princes sure did take their protection seriously!

But that seemed reasonable. With Qi refiners everywhere, without tight security, no secrets could be kept hidden…

Duge shook his head helplessly, no longer using instant teleportation, but instead alternated between Solar Divine Power and Dark God Power to hide himself in the sunlight and shadows, casually strolling around the mansion.

…

At that moment.

Atop the tea house, after Duge had left, Liao Jiulong and his two companions were looking in the direction of Prince Duan’s mansion, their faces filled with shock.

“Master, how profound is that senior’s cultivation level?” Liu Ziyun asked, “He entered Prince Duan’s mansion without triggering the formation targeted at cultivators. Isn’t it said that even a True Immortal must enter the mansion through the main gate?”

“The formation is targeted at cultivators, but he is someone who stands shoulder to shoulder with the Daoist Ancestor; it would be strange if the formation could affect him,” Liao Jiulong said with a bitter smile. “When he casts spells, he doesn’t use hand seals or incantations; he does it effortlessly, as naturally as if he controlled the laws of heaven and earth. Even if there are formations, I fear he could break them with a flick of his wrist.”

“Then why did he say his cultivation level wasn’t enough to protect me?” Du Ziming asked. “I clearly wanted to go in to help him.”

“Because he didn’t want to take you with him,” Liao Jiulong gave him a stare and said, “After all, Prince Duan is the Crown Prince. The senior can withstand the backlash of dragon qi, but what will you rely on to bear the karma of assassinating the Crown Prince? With your shallow cultivation level?

Even if you just get involved without laying a hand on him, the moment Prince Duan dies, all your cultivation could vanish into nothingness. Do you really think the backlash of dragon qi is a trifling matter? When the senior said he couldn’t protect you, he probably meant that he wouldn’t be able to shield you from the backlash of the dragon qi.”

“…” Du Ziming was stunned, and after a long while, he murmured, “Was the senior trying to protect me?”

“What do you think?” Liao Jiulong sighed and looked at his two disciples who were touched, his face filled with melancholy. “If this is the Way of Heart Cultivation, it won’t take long before we are assimilated by him, willing to work for him. The Heavenly Demon is too terrifying; like rain nurturing plants silently, it erodes our will without notice.”

“Master, but why do I feel that it’s not bad to cultivate with the senior? Besides telling us he wants to destroy the world, he hasn’t done any evil deeds,” Du Ziming said. “He hasn’t slaughtered entire cities or killed innocents indiscriminately…”

“Exactly, I also think he’s a good person, not much different from the Good Thought Heavenly Demon,” Liu Ziyun’s eyes shimmered with a peculiar light. “If all Heavenly Demons were like him, there probably wouldn’t be any bad people in the world.”

Seeing his two disciples deeply mired in demonic thoughts and unable to extricate themselves, Liao Jiulong opened his mouth to persuade them to return to the right path.

But after much thought, he didn’t know what to say!

In the end, it turned into a sigh of helplessness, “Regardless, his purpose is to destroy this world. Once his power returns to its peak and he reinstates the quartet of earth, fire, mountain, wind, everyone will die… Ziming, Ziyun, we can’t abet the tiger.”

“But he couldn’t even bear to harm those children, would he really destroy this world?” Liu Ziyun sighed and looked toward Prince Duan’s mansion, murmuring softly.

…

A place where perception is suppressed does not affect hearing and sight.

But hearing and sight are limited to the level of ordinary people and won’t exaggerate to the point of covering the whole city.

After wandering around Prince Duan’s mansion for a while, Duge quickly found his target in the study and then slipped in soundlessly with the help of Dark God Power.

There were three people in Prince Duan’s study.

Prince Duan, over forty years old and dressed in a brocade robe, and two Qi Refiners, one old and one young.

After Duge had sneaked in, the older Qi Refiner subconsciously looked back, and after seeing nothing, his gaze returned to normal, “Prince Duan, don’t worry. The Soul Suppressing Vase has my mark on it, and I’ve sent disciples to intercept at each checkpoint on the way to Capital City and the frontier. As long as that Qi Refiner dares to carry the Soul Suppressing Vase through the checkpoint, he will certainly be discovered.”

True Man Si, do you have a sure plan?" Prince Duan asked anxiously. “If the matter of the Soul Suppressing Vase leaks, this prince will not escape calamity. Could the other party also have a True Man involved?”

“Prince, I speculate that the incident at Dragon Willow Villa was most likely an accident,” True Man Si said. “If it were the Crown Prince or one of the other princes who took action, they would not have instigated internal strife within Dragon Willow Villa. If any Qi Refiners were involved,

not a single person in Dragon Willow Villa would have escaped. Most people in the Jianghu know that Dragon Willow Villa is owned by the prince, so it’s unlikely for someone to suddenly strike at it. I believe there’s a nine in ten chance that the incident was caused by Evil Demons.”

“Evil Demons?” Prince Duan was startled.

“Correct, only their way of doing things can be so unbridled and without any pattern,” True Man Si said.

“If it’s Evil Demons, it would be easy to handle. Now, everyone wants to eliminate Evil Demons. Even if they get ahold of the Soul Suppressing Vase, they probably wouldn’t dare to show themselves,” Prince Duan breathed a sigh of relief. “But Long Yichen has disappeared without a trace, dead or alive. If he has colluded with the Evil Demons, it’s still a hidden danger. If True Man Si goes to Fan City, is there a way to draw out those Evil Demons?”

“Prince, at this point, we can only wait,” True Man Si shook his head. “Unless my subordinates find out the whereabouts of Long Yichen and those children, otherwise, if the Evil Demons go into hiding, there’s nothing I can do.”

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