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The unique institution above the imperial court – Qitian Pavilion, had its main pavilion situated here.

Only in this main pavilion was there a complete twelve zodiac detention ground. The rest of the branches only possessed the basic configurations of the child rat and the chou ox.

Furthermore, they only had temporary detention rights; in the end, all were to be sent to the main pavilion of Qitian Pavilion in Luo State.

"What does the Emperor mean by this?" The speaker was one of the three deputy pavilion masters of Qitian Pavilion, Sanmu Resident. This individual not only came from a prominent family but was also a disciple of the Immortal Sect. He chose to become an official due to his mediocre talent.

However, although he was an official of the court, Sanmu Resident spoke of Emperor Yi without a trace of respect.

This was not only because his family had supported the Dragon Crown Prince, who was executed by Emperor Yi, but also because the Immortal Sect he belonged to was located in the remote Western Tuo Mountain.

Hearing Sanmu Resident’s words, one of the three deputy pavilion masters, Yun Shutian, set down his tea cup and then said with a light chuckle, "Resident, be not so impatient. I know you have already spoken to the pavilion master, with plans to reserve the position of Sword Command Daoist General for a disciple from your Western Tuo Mountain.

However, what was suitable at one time may not be another; the Emperor intervening now might actually be a blessing in disguise."

"A blessing?" Sanmu Resident slightly furrowed his brows, unable to see any good coming from this.

"Resident, you came from the west and have spent these years utterly absorbed in the Art of Alchemy, so it’s only normal that you are unaware of the news that Ancestor of Sword Disciple Mountain has found the Son of the Heavenly Mandate," said Yun Shutian.

"The Son of the Heavenly Mandate foretold by Ancestor of Sword Disciple Mountain is about to descend the mountain?" Sanmu Resident’s eyes showed a flash of realization.

As a disciple of Western Tuo Mountain, he was somewhat informed about the righteous scheme of Sword Disciple Mountain, but back when he heard about it, there was no indication as to when this great scheme would commence, so he didn’t take it to heart.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the moment to initiate this righteous scheme had arrived.

"This means the role of Sword Command Daoist General is really no enviable task now," murmured Sanmu Resident, for the duty of the Sword Command Daoist General was to monitor all sword cultivators across the land.

In the past, those who held the position of Sword Command Daoist General basically never fulfilled their duties, rendering it a sinecure.

But ever since the Ancestor of Sword Disciple Mountain prophesied and endorsed that the Son of the Heavenly Mandate would leave the mountain, the role of Sword Command Daoist General would undoubtedly be to confront this very Son of the Heavenly Mandate.

If this were not the case, then Emperor Yi would inevitably become infuriated.

"Can the Sword Command Daoist General appointed by the Emperor be up to the task? Could the person have some exceptional background?" Sanmu Resident asked in surprise.

Among the three deputy pavilion masters, he was the one least involved in affairs.

In fact, on ordinary days, unless they were fellow enthusiasts in the practice of alchemy, he wouldn’t even bother to meet others.

As such, even though Deputy Pavilion Master Sanmu Resident couldn’t be said to be completely out of the loop, he certainly wasn’t as well-informed as the Spiritual Officer and General inside Qitian Pavilion.

"Whether or not the person is up to the task is what the Emperor has decided, and I’m not in a position to comment. However, the person does indeed have a somewhat unique background. Resident, do you remember the word game the Emperor played back then?"

"Of course, I remember. He tricked that old traitor Tan by promising not to harm his legitimate eldest son when administering the poison, yet turned around and slaughtered every member of the Tan family, leaving only an illegitimate child… Hmm? Is the newly appointed Sword Command Daoist General, by any chance, that old traitor Tan’s illegitimate child?" Sanmu Resident caught on.

"Precisely." Yun Shutian nodded.

"It seems that the Emperor feels both guilty and wants to take the opportunity to rid himself of the last member of the Tan family..." Sanmu Jushi immediately sneered.

The Emperor’s character may be unclear to others, but how could he not be clear about it?

Indecisive yet ruthless and cruel.

With such a character, had the Tan family not given their all to support him, let alone killing his royal brother, the Dragon Crown Prince, he wouldn’t have even been able to secure the throne.

"What a pity for the old Tan traitor, with his talent that could command the heavens and the earth." Although Sanmu Jushi, due to his position, disliked that surname Tan, he had to admit that the other party truly possessed world-shaking talent.

He single-handedly enabled a person who could never have become Emperor to firmly secure the throne.

"Brother Yun, why did the old Tan traitor drink that cup of poison back then? If he hadn’t drunk it, what could the Emperor have done to him?" Sanmu Jushi suddenly asked.

"Jushi, the old Tan traitor you speak of, was already old at the time. Plus, the injuries he sustained in his youth while helping the Emperor secure his throne… If my guess is not wrong, by that time, the old traitor probably didn’t have much longer to live, and that’s why he was so resolute," Yun Shutian sighed.

Heaven’s family without kinship, an Emperor’s heart without emotions, nothing can surpass this.

These two vice-pavilion leaders were about to continue speaking when a servant hurried over and then stood outside the door, saying, "Vice-pavilion leaders, the new Sword Command Daoist General has arrived and is currently bathing and changing clothes."

Even with twenty-seven years of cultivation strength, Tan Shuchang could not avoid being somewhat disheveled after continuously rushing through the "Water Spirit" path, his clothes soaked through.

But this was the normal condition when traveling via the "Water Spirit," so as soon as Tan Shuchang arrived, the people in charge of security here had brought him clothes prepared in advance to change into.

"Has he arrived? We will not see him then. You lead him directly to his post. Oh yes, His Majesty has received a denunciation letter stating that there is an issue with the Ning family in Xizhou City, specifying that the new Sword Command Daoist General should make a trip to Xizhou City.

First arrange for the things the Sword Command Daoist General might need, then gather a group of pavilion gentlemen from the vicinity of Xizhou City to await the new Sword Command Daoist General’s orders," Yun Shutian casually instructed.

For a Sword Command Daoist General whose lifespan was uncertain but definitely short, Yun Shutian, as the vice-pavilion leader, didn’t even want to see him face to face.

If it were not so, a proper third-rank Daoist General would still hold considerable value in making an alliance.

Despite its simple structure, Qitian Pavilion’s upper echelons consisted of merely four people, yet among those four, there were no fewer than six alliances.

Everyone was being isolated, yet everyone was also forming alliances.

The outside servant, upon hearing such instructions from the vice-pavilion leader Yun, hurriedly found people to carry out the tasks.

So, by the time Tan Shuchang had changed his robes and used "Sleeve Art" to repack the items he brought into his sleeves, and came out looking to ask someone so he could meet with his four "leaders," he found a group of people already waiting for him.

"This subordinate pays respects to Commander Sir!"

Seeing Tan Shuchang, these individuals immediately saluted.

"Commander Sir, these are all skilled individuals from inside the pavilion, each with at least ten years of cultivation strength, ready to accompany you to Xizhou City for the investigation of the Ning family," one of the men stepped forward after bowing and introduced the group of pavilion gentlemen to Tan Shuchang.

However, when he mentioned that they were going to Xizhou City to investigate the Ning family, each and every one of the pavilion gentlemen, without exception, revealed a trace of peculiar expression in their eyes.