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nThe Divine Sword Guards went their separate ways.

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nEveryone acted alone upon leaving the Ministry of Defense, to investigate suspicious people who had recently entered the capital city.

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nLi Heng’s eyes lit up. “Pair up in one team, and one team each to follow them. Don’t alert them. Report immediately if there’s any news.”

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nAlong the way,

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nXiao Ran frowned. He sensed two people from the Sacred Martial Bureau following him.

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nAfter thinking for a while, he understood Li Heng’s plan.

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n“Following me? Such wishful thinking.”

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nHe entered a small alley.

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nThe guys from the Sacred Martial Bureau hurriedly followed. They had just entered the alley when they felt a pain in the back of their heads and dropped to the ground, unconscious.

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nAfter getting rid of them, Xiao Ran then left the alley.

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nHe did not investigate blindly like a headless fly. The capital city was so big after all. Anyone who wanted to hide could easily squirm into some obscure corner. Even if he were to dig up the whole ground up to a depth of 3 feet, he still might not be able to find the suspect.

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nSo, the task was as monumental as searching for a needle in a haystack.

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nAt nightfall,

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nXiao Ran arrived at the courier station. He had previously learned from that guy from Yama that their deputy hall master had stolen the tax money with his men. Malevolent Earth had even had designs on the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual previously. For all he knew, they might be the ones responsible for the theft of the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual.

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nEven if they were not responsible, he had nothing to lose.

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nBesides,

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ntheir relationship with the Yin Incubation Institute was very complicated. Even that Grand Master could not figure it out.

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nIf he followed this lead in his investigation, it was bound to lead to something.

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nHe climbed over the wall and entered the premises.

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nAs he sneaked up towards Zhao Jishan and the others, just when he was about to get closer, the door swung open. A Great Scholar sneaked out of the room suspiciously and closed the door. He checked left and right to make sure there was no one. His body then quivered and melted into the darkness, dashing in one particular direction.

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nXiao Ran pondered for a while. He glanced at the room and then at his departing shadow before deciding. “I’ll follow him to see what’s going on.”

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nA quarter of an hour later,

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nthe Great Scholar came to a stop near the moat. He stood under a large eye-catching tree, seemingly waiting for someone.

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nXiao Ran, concealed in the darkness, was blended into the night sky and he watched quietly.

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nAfter another short while,

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na shadow, wearing a devil’s mask, raced toward him and stopped in front of him.

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n“What took you so long?” The Great Scholar chided with a stony countenance.

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nDispleased with his attitude, the masked man gave a snort. “I’m not one of your men. What right do you have to dictate when I should come?”

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n“Say that again!” The Great Scholar’s face froze in a threatening look.

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nA thick powerful cloud of Immense Righteous Energy locked onto him.

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nHowever, the masked man did not seem to be afraid. “We’re all in the same boat now. If you attack, you’ll definitely attract the Imperial Court’s attention. When that happens, and sh*t follows, don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”

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n“Hmph!” The Great Scholar’s nostrils flared, and he shook his sleeve aside in annoyance.

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nThe masked man didn’t want to let their relationship deteriorate any further, so he explained, “It would be a waste not to take the tax money that comes knocking on our door. Since we have the guts to pull off this heist, it means we have full confidence that we can send this sum of money out.”

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n“What f*cking bull**!” The Great Scholar yelled back. He looked like a bad-tempered person.

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nSaliva splattered all over as he pointed at his face and threatened,

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n“If you hadn’t done something stupid, would Emperor Sheng Wen have flown into a rage? Would he have canceled our audience with him today? Would he have postponed it indefinitely?”

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nThe more he spoke, the angrier he became. The angrier he was, the more vicious his scolding.

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n“I am warning you. If this plan fails because of you guys, there’s no need for your Yama group to exist anymore!”

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nThe guy from Yama became incensed as well.

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nIn their plan, once the heist was completed. they would transfer the money out. They had already gotten everything ready. However, at this moment, someone reported to them that the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual had been stolen.

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nSomething that they had failed at, another unknown mastermind had succeeded.

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nThe value of the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual far exceeded that of tax money.

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nAs soon as the manual was stolen, the Imperial Court sprang into action instantly. They sealed off the capital city overnight, effectively trapping them.

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n“We’re really not to blame this time. Even if we didn’t do anything, the Imperial Court would still be furious at the theft of the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual. They would do anything to get it back. And you and us are simply unfortunate collateral damage,” the masked man defended himself.

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nThe Great Scholar became even angrier when he heard that. “So you are counting on our Yin Incubation Institute attracting everyone’s attention in public in order to help you guys?”

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nThere was silence for a moment.

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nThe masked man then spoke. “Why have you called me here at this hour?”

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n“Vice Principal Zhao asked me to ask you guys, if there’s a way to get the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual?”

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n“You guys want it too?”

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n“Yes.” The Great Scholar nodded his head.

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n“That would be tough!” The masked man shook his head.

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n“Let’s give it a try! There’s nothing to lose even if we fail. However, if we were to succeed…”

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n“All right!” The masked man agreed to the new proposal.

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nRight at this moment,

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ntwo figures approached furtively in their direction.

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nThe Great Scholar and the masked man looked at each other, then with a light tap of their feet, they leaped up into the thick foliage of the tree.

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nWhen they were well hidden, they paused.

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nUnder the scattered moonlight, Xiao Ran saw a familiar face—Old Zheng.

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n“What’s he doing here at this hour?”

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nThe two figures could not wait to take off their clothes. The young woman held onto the tree and bent over. She turned around and asked, “Brother Zheng, you are really not lying to me?”

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nOld Zheng was anxious and quickly lifted his clothes. “Don’t worry! I will give you the money when we’re done. 100 taels, not a cent less.”

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n“All right.” The young woman felt more reassured.

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nThe woman inadvertently looked up and saw the two people on the tree. She took a step back in fear and pointed upwards. “There’s… someone!”

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nJust as Old Zheng was about to look up, with a thunderous roar, two strong forces hit him and the young woman.

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nThey promptly collapsed to the ground. It was not known whether they were dead or not.

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nThe two men then jumped down from the tree.

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n“I was almost frightened sh*tless by this adulterous couple,” the masked man cursed out loud.

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nJust as the conspirators were about to send those two fallen figures on their way to the underworld, Xiao Ran had to avert his eyes out of sheer exasperation. He wished he could give Old Zheng a severe thrashing.

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nWell made plans could not keep up with unexpected changes. That adulterer had ruined everything.

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nWhen Xiao Ran emerged from the darkness, his sudden appearance alarmed the two conspirators. They immediately looked up.

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n‘Who are you?’ The masked man snapped at him.

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nThey immediately flanked Xiao Ran on the left and right, effectively blocking his escape route.

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n“Where’s your deputy hall master?” Xiao Ran asked in reply.

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nScowling, the Great Scholar turned to the masked man anxiously and asked. “Did you bring him here?”

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n“Impossible! If he was with me why would he be asking where the deputy hall master was?”

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nThe Great Scholar stared at Xiao Ran. “Did you follow me?”

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n“Yes,” Xiao Ran replied.

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nNow it was the masked man’s turn to be annoyed. “Are you a pig? You didn’t even notice his presence.”

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nThe Great Scholar knew he was at the losing end this time and did not argue with him. With a murderous mood, he bellowed. “Cut the crap! Send him on his way down there first.”

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nHe immediately charged forward, thinking that he could end the battle quickly. Launching attacks required profound learning.

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n“Righteous Multi-Transformations Palm!”

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nTremendous Immense Righteous Energy erupted, transforming into a golden palm print that was more than 200 feet in size which slapped towards Xiao Ran in a violent rush.

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nThe masked man also launched his attack at the same time. Like a ghost, he suddenly re-appeared behind Xiao Ran.

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nA beam of saber light flashed. Hundreds of sharp saber beams shot towards Xiao Ran’s head like countless arcs, all imbued with dense bloodthirsty voracity.

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n“You’re quite ruthless,” Xiao Ran mused out loud.

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nHe unleashed his dazzling sword intent in an unstoppable explosion. As soon as it appeared, it covered the world and transformed each and every thing within a thousand feet into a sword domain. Countless slits of swords twisted and twirled converging into a terrifying power that spread out and slashed at the two of them.

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nOne died. One was wounded.

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nThe Great Scholar from the Yin Incubation Institute was killed outright. The masked man was severely injured and was sent crashing to the ground. Xiao Ran had deliberately held back against this fellow. Otherwise, he would have died and followed in the footsteps of this Great Scholar.

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nHe stopped in front of him. “Now can you tell me where your deputy hall master is?”

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