Chapter 151: Nine-Orificed Immortal Illusion, Blood-Thriving Leech Gu

"Tut tut, what a brilliant scheme! Grand Secretary Jin truly possesses a master's overview, strategizing within the Secretariat and keeping everything under his command. No wonder every imperial edict issued is profound and penetrating." Grand Secretary Zhang nodded repeatedly in praise.

"Hehe, Grand Secretary Zhang flatters this old man too much. However, I heard some rumors recently that the monsters within the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range seem to be colluding with malevolent ghosts, and there is even a trend of intermarrying to establish a combined kingdom of ghosts and demons. This poses a considerable threat to the southern frontiers of our Great Feng Dynasty. I am somewhat concerned that this upcoming monster-hunting expedition might trigger uncontrollable variables, which we must guard against."

"Ah, Grand Secretary Zhang is worrying needlessly. Our dynasty has conducted this hunt dozens of times without witnessing any abnormalities; why should this time be an exception? At worst, we can mobilize the Divine Strategy Army to provide support, and additionally invite a few more generals from the Demon Slaying Division and scholars from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to accompany us. By the way, that General Han must be invited; this old man is rather eager to meet him," the former stroked his beard and smiled lightly.

"Haha, naturally. If he were not to go, even if we agreed, I fear the princes might not," the latter smiled with profound meaning.

The high-ranking officials seated below listened to the conversation among the three Grand Secretaries with varying expressions, rousing great anticipation for the monster-hunting expedition. Unfortunately, many of the civil officials present lacked the opportunity to participate in this grand event.

The following day during court, the three Grand Secretaries jointly submitted a memorial stating that demons and ghosts were running rampant in the southern Heavenly Demon Mountain Range, and a large-scale monster-hunting expedition should be launched to eradicate the scourge and bolster the national prestige.

The ministers unanimously agreed. Upon hearing this, the Emperor nodded inwardly, his mood seeming to lighten somewhat. He immediately approved the memorial and ordered Grand Secretary Jin to take full charge of organizing the expedition.

"A monster-hunting expedition?" Han Chong felt somewhat bewildered upon receiving the imperial decree from the Cabinet. Fortunately, an experienced veteran captain of the Demon Slaying Division was well-versed in this and hurriedly explained:

"Reporting to General Han, in the southern frontier of our dynasty, barren mountains and treacherous waters stretch for thousands of miles, breeding endless demons, ghosts, and monsters. The Annan Protectorate relies on the Nine Perils and Eighteen Passes to keep them at bay, preventing their encroachment. Rumors have it that in ancient times, a Heavenly Demon emerged from this region, hence it is called the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range. Demon soldiers and ghost generals grow rapidly; to prevent them from expanding and threatening the imperial court, our dynasty conducts a monster-hunting expedition every five years to suppress their momentum with thunderous means. Our Demon Slaying Division also maintains a branch office within the Annan Protectorate, permanently stationed with one Riding General and four Guerrilla Generals."

"I see. That being said, let us make preparations. Captain Ning, Captain Cold, the two of you shall accompany me, while the rest remain to guard the branch office."

"Understood."

Compared to the ill-informed Han Chong, the princes had long since dispatched their agents and discovered the identities of all those designated to participate in the monster-hunting expedition.

At the Manor of Prince Ying:

"Your Highness, this time the three Grand Secretaries and the officials strongly memorialized to hold the monster-hunting expedition; I fear their intentions go far beyond mere hunting. Since His Majesty has readily approved this memorial, it seems this journey presents the heaven-sent opportunity for the various princes to vie for appointment as the Crown Prince!" Ouyang Jingguan said while playing a game of Go with the Eighth Prince.

"Indeed, I think so too. During the previous two hunts, the Eldest Royal Brother made considerable contributions, slaying demons and ghosts with valor surpassing the entire army. He will undoubtedly stand out brilliantly this time as well. The Sixth and Third Imperial Brothers also possess combat prowess significantly superior to mine. It appears my chances of winning this time are slim."

"Hehe, why should Your Highness belittle yourself? Competing for the imperial heir is not solely about brute strength; strategy, courage, and resourcefulness are all indispensable."

"Oh? Ouyang, do you perhaps have a brilliant plan? Teach me quickly."

"Your Highness, please look. This is a newly refined array disk of mine, named the Nine-Aperture Immortal-Bewildering Array. It is portable, quick to set up, and once infused with vital energy, it can shroud a radius of ten zhang. Any demon, ghost, human, or monster that enters will be hopelessly trapped and unable to escape. If Your Highness sets this up at a strategic stronghold, you will only need to sit back and wait for the prey, effortlessly slaying demons and ghosts, making the capture of the hunt's championship an absolute breeze!"

Ouyang Jingguan produced a two-foot-wide jade disk densely engraved with crimson runes, radiating a faint red glow that dazzled the eye.

"Splendid, splendid, splendid! As expected of Ouyang, you always find a way. With this treasure, my victory is securely in hand!"

"By the way, I heard that Han Chong is also among those ordered to go. I wonder what His Majesty's intention is."

"Hehe, whether he is there or not, what does it matter to me? It will have no impact on our contest for the supreme throne."

Ouyang started to speak, then hesitated, a lingering intuition in his heart telling him that Han Chong might once again pull off some astonishing feat during this hunt.

At the Manor of Prince Hong, the Eldest Prince wore a triumphant expression, radiating high spirits. When it came to poetry, odes, or grand statecraft, he might inferior to his Sixth and Third younger brothers, but when it came to battlefield combat and hunting demons or slaying ghosts, that was his specialty.

"Hong'er, you must not lower your guard. Your maternal uncle is not among those making this trip this time; you will have to rely entirely on yourself for everything."

"Rest assured, Uncle. Mere monster hunting is precisely the occasion for Hong'er to showcase his skills. I will certainly achieve merit in one fell swoop and make His Imperial Majesty immensely joyful."

"This time, that fellow surnamed Han is also among the designated participants. You must not quarrel with him again. Even if you cannot win him over to your side, you must harbor no further thoughts of harming him."

"Uncle, do not be overly suspicious. Hong'er is not a three-year-old child; naturally, I know where the boundaries lie."

The princes were all eager to try their hand at this hunt, except for the Fifth Prince, who attempted to decline under the pretext of studying at home. The Emperor was deeply disappointed and issued a reprimand via an edict, whereupon the latter reluctantly accepted the order.

Ever since the Crown Prince had been placed under house arrest, the man with three moles had vanished without a trace. Han Chong had been secretly investigating the matter all along, but found no news whatsoever.

On the west side of the inner palace, inside a subterranean iron dungeon, the man with three moles was bound and shackled to an iron pillar. Several guards clad in gray robes with white tiger insignias embroidered on their cuffs were holding red-hot branding irons, continuously pressing them against his entire body.

Yet, a dense mist of blood continuously seeped from the man's surface as he cast a faint, sneering look at the two men and two women standing before him—they were the very four supreme powerhouses who had imprisoned the Crown Prince and massacred the palace attendants in the inner court that day.

Though the three mole-marked man glared angrily at the four of them, the person he secretly hated the most was Han Chong. If not for Han Chong shattering his blood cocoon and severely reducing his strength, how could he have been captured by these four grand commanders of the Inner Guard Bureau?

"Well, well, even branding irons cannot do a thing to you. But do you think that now that you've fallen into the hands of our Inner Guard Bureau, we still won't be able to pry your mouth open?"

The gray-robed, fierce-looking scar-faced man sneered savagely. He flipped his palm, revealing a jade box, and snapped it open with a click.

The contents of the box were enough to make one's scalp tingle—they were five blood-red, foot-long, leech-like mutant worms, their entire bodies covered in wrinkles gleaming with a dark luster, still writhing with vigor.

The three mole-marked man turned pale with fright, instinctively trembling slightly, and looked at the gray-robed man in extreme terror, as if asking what manner of creature this was.

"Hehe, this worm is one of five blood-craving leeches cultivated from tens of thousands of blood leeches kept by our Inner Guard Bureau, which devoured each other and were further nurtured with the flesh and blood of hundreds of martial experts. You are proficient in blood-path divine powers; if these five treasures swallow all the vital blood of your entire body, they will once again battle and devour each other, with an extremely high probability of producing a Blood-Craving Leech King! Tut tut, if anyone is touched by it, I fear even apex experts of the Heavenly Realm and Void-Returning Realm will meet their doom."

"No, no, no, spare me! Ask whatever you want, and Blood will tell you everything without reservation! Take this treasure away quickly!"

As the gray-robed, fierce-eyed man spoke word by word, the three-mole man's expression changed in sheer terror as he roared in panic.