Devouring Soul Emperor

"And what about you two?"

Grand Commander Chu Yu had already lost hope. He glanced at Chu Qingyun and Xia He and asked casually.

In his view, this matter would still fall to newcomers like them to investigate.

Xia He thought for a moment, then said, "The Zhao Family must be colluding with the Martial Soul Hall. Their crimes are punishable by death. We can definitely find something on them!"

"Yes, yes! Grand Commander Yu, your subordinate is willing to lead a team to the Zhao Family’s estate. I’ll be sure to turn the place upside down!" Liu Canghai chimed in from the side.

Before the assessment, the Zhao Family had respectfully invited him to dinner and even offered him benefits. But during the assessment, they had caused him so much misery. He had long been eager to go to their doorstep and get his revenge.

However, he only had two men left under his command, Sun Daxiong and Zhao Jing. Lacking strength and numbers, he hadn’t dared to go.

But now that reinforcements had arrived, he was naturally eager to go flaunt his power and exact his revenge.

"Idiot!"

Liu Canghai was still feeling smug, not expecting Grand Commander Chu Yu to curse him out again.

"Lead a team to turn the Zhao Family’s estate upside down?"

"It’d be one thing if you found evidence, but what if you don’t? Am I supposed to lose face along with you? Haven’t you already disgraced the Celestial Wind Army enough?"

After another round of cursing, Liu Canghai couldn’t help but shoot a resentful glance at Xia He.

’It’s all that damn Xia He’s fault! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been yelled at!’

But Xia He just shrugged, completely ignoring him.

"Grand Commander, your subordinate happens to have some knowledge about this Zhao Family." At this moment, Chu Qingyun stepped forward, cupped his hands, and spoke.

Seeing this, Liu Canghai couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

’Even I, a Guard General, couldn’t find anything. What makes you think you can? You think you can dig up anything useful? And you dare speak up while Grand Commander Yu is furious? You’re just asking for death!’

Standing to the side, Liu Canghai waited for the show, eager to see Chu Qingyun get chewed out mercilessly.

"Let’s hear it," Grand Commander Chu Yu said casually.

"Sir, from what I’ve learned, over sixty years ago, the Zhao Family of Flame City was just an obscure, third-rate family with no real power. But their rise was incredibly fast. It was as if their strength grew explosively overnight."

"What’s even more suspicious is their Martial Spirit Strong Person. Aside from making a few appearances over fifty years ago when the Zhao Family was aggressively establishing its dominance in Flame City, he has never been seen again. Even the members of the Zhao Family themselves can’t get a meeting with him."

Chu Qingyun explained slowly.

All this intelligence on the Zhao Family was purchased by You Yun from the Assassin Alliance.

The Assassin Alliance is an extremely widespread and ancient organization.

And as a Martial Spirit Level expert, You Yun had relatively high-level clearance, which allowed them to obtain some very useful intelligence.

Over sixty years ago...

After hearing Chu Qingyun’s words, Grand Commander Chu Yu fell into deep thought.

Then, he looked toward the two special envoys from the Great Xia Dragon Guards and said, "Gentlemen, if I recall correctly, the Martial Soul Hall also began its activities in Lianshan County over sixty years ago, didn’t it?"

The two men thought about it carefully, then both nodded.

Could this be just a coincidence?

Everyone began to ponder this silently.

"Chu Qingyun, well done. I’ll mark this down as a merit for you. There will be a reward waiting for you when we return to the County City."

"It seems the Zhao Family really is a huge problem... But how do we expose them..."

Many people in the room, including Sun Daxiong and the other Lord Guardians, looked at Chu Qingyun with envy.

To be praised by the Grand Commander, who even personally promised a reward—that was a rare honor. Leaving a good impression on the Grand Commander at least guaranteed his future prospects would be secure.

Liu Canghai’s eyes, however, were filled with both jealousy and resentment.

’Damn it, another reward!’

’I’m already in this miserable state, and I still get cursed out.’

’That little bastard has already gotten so much. He just digs up some information from god knows where and gets another reward, plus praise from the Grand Commander!’

’Hmph, you little bastard, go ahead and be smug for now. Good thing I came prepared. In a moment, I’ll make sure you won’t even be able to cry...’ Liu Canghai thought sinisterly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Grand Commander Chu Yu, the two special envoys, and the three Guard Generals discussed for a while but still couldn’t come up with a way to investigate the Zhao Family’s problems.

It seemed there was no other way besides what Liu Canghai had suggested earlier: sending men to conduct a thorough search of the Zhao Family’s estate.

But the Celestial Wind Army was in a delicate situation at the moment, and their position was already quite precarious.

If they were to search the Zhao Family’s estate with great fanfare and find nothing, the entire Celestial Wind Army would be forced into an even more precarious position.

This was a scenario Grand Commander Chu Yu desperately wanted to avoid.

They discussed for a long time without reaching any conclusion.

Grand Commander Chu Yu stood up. "Let’s adjourn for today."

However, just as everyone was about to leave, Liu Canghai stepped forward and said, "Grand Commander Yu, your subordinate has one more thing to report!"

A look of displeasure crossed Grand Commander Chu Yu’s face. "If you have something to say, say it quickly."

"Sir, your subordinate suspects that Chu Qingyun is a spy for the Martial Soul Hall!" Liu Canghai said, his expression cold and grim.

Instantly, everyone in the room stared at Liu Canghai in astonishment.

No one had expected him to drop such a bombshell at the last moment.

"Liu Canghai, do you have any proof for such a claim?" Grand Commander Chu Yu’s expression turned ugly.

He had just finished praising Chu Qingyun, and now Liu Canghai immediately followed up with this. Wasn’t this a direct slap in his face?

"Reporting to you, Sir. During the assessment in the valley, in front of nearly all the Great Xia Dragon Guards and the candidates, Chu Qingyun killed three Great Xia Dragon Guard captains and a ninth-level Martial Artist candidate in succession!"

"Furthermore, after the assessment was over, he sent a Martial Spirit Level expert to severely injure your subordinate!"

After speaking, Liu Canghai glanced smugly at Chu Qingyun.

Under normal circumstances, such an act wouldn’t be considered too serious. At most, he would receive a warning.

But during a special and sensitive time like this, it was a different matter entirely.

Moreover, not only was the Grand Commander of the Celestial Wind Army present, but so were two special envoys from the Great Xia Dragon Guards. Even if Grand Commander Chu Yu wanted to be lenient, it would be impossible.

By now, the look Grand Commander Chu Yu gave Liu Canghai was filled with disgust.

From their earlier descriptions, Grand Commander Chu Yu could tell that the strength of both Chu Qingyun and Xia He far surpassed that of an ordinary ninth-level Martial Artist, and even far surpassed that of the Great Xia Dragon Guard captains.

To be able to recruit two geniuses like them was undoubtedly a great boon for the Celestial Wind Army.

In a few more years, they might become formidable Guard Generals, or even powerful Grand Commanders.

For geniuses of their caliber, killing a few captains over some conflict was hardly a major issue. It was something that could be overlooked by turning a blind eye.

But for Liu Canghai to bring this up at such a time, and in front of the two special envoys no less, was truly malicious. He was only concerned with his personal grudge, completely disregarding the bigger picture for the Celestial Wind Army!