There might be a grade-9 great grandmaster hidden in the cold palace!

This news did not spread in the palace like last time. This was because this matter had involved too many matters. To make things worse, three grade-8 grandmasters had died!

With the current internal and external troubles in the capital and the barbarian envoys almost here, the Emperor had personally passed down the order for such news to be contained and not spread.

In fact, it was not only the Empress who couldn't believe it, even the Emperor himself, Xia Jianshen, was silent for a long time after listening to the report by Eastern Depot Superintendent Feng Bao in the Imperial Study Room.

After a while, the Emperor put down what he was reading, raised his head, and asked, "Manager Feng, what do you think of this matter? Do you also think that there is a grade-9 great grandmaster in the Changmen Palace?"

Feng Bao bent his body slightly and said, "The two devils, Black and White Impermanence, could be regarded as one of the strongest existence among those in grade-8. The combined power of the two could even reach the threshold strength of a grade-9 great grandmaster. Therefore, the one who could kill both of them must be a grade-9 great grandmaster! There is no doubt about this, but…"

The Emperor asked, "But what?"

Feng Bao smiled and said, "But I really can't figure out which grade-9 great grandmaster in this world would be willing to be hidden in the Changmen Palace and even protect Chun Fei so closely? Among the remnants of Taixu Sect, it is impossible for there to be a grade-9 great grandmaster. If Taixu Sect had a grade-9 great grandmaster, they would not have been completely destroyed.

"Therefore, I think that there should be a grade-9 great grandmaster hidden in the imperial compound. When he had realized that Black and White Impermanence were wrecking chaos, he had come out to silence them."

When he said this, Feng Bao's eyes had been secretly watching the Emperor, as if he wanted to see some clues from his expression.

Although he held great power and had the position of both the Directorate of Ceremonial head and the superintendent of the Eastern Depot, there were still certain secrets and matters that he was unaware of in the imperial compound.

This was especially so for the secrets of the imperial family. It was not something a eunuch like him could know of.

For example, Feng Bao was shocked by the depth of the imperial family the first time the barbarian envoys came to the capital, six years ago.

At that time, Feng Bao, like many people, felt that the imperial family had used up all their cards when the barbarian envoys were here. However, a guest elder of the imperial family, grade-9 great grandmaster Yan Bugui, suddenly appeared out of nowhere!

Similarly, this time around when the barbarian envoys were about to enter the capital, the public had thought that the Grand Xia Imperial Court was in deep trouble and could only rely on the powerhouses in the Jianghu.

But no one knew whether the imperial family still had any hidden cards.

Therefore, Feng Bao believed that the one who had killed Black and White Impermanence this time was very likely another guest elder of the imperial family!

It was fine if Black and White Impermanence stole a few martial arts from the imperial compound. However, they had even tried to kill and kidnapped an imperial concubine and a princess. If such a matter were to spread out, how could the imperial family maintain its dignity?

After the secret elder of the imperial family had realized this, it was not unexpected for him to act and save Chun Fei and the thirteenth princess.

Such a possibility was much more believable than a grade-9 hidden in the Changmen Palace.

If the Changmen Palace really had a grade-9, how could Chun Fei remain stuck in the cold palace for so many years?

Even Chun Fei herself did not believe that there was a grade-9 great grandmaster in her palace.

It was a pity that the Emperor did not reveal any look of surprise when he had finished listening.

He just waved his hand and said, "Alright, I have known of the matter already. Manager Feng, you can withdraw for now. This matter is strictly confidential, and no one is allowed to spread it out, nor is anyone allowed to discuss it in private. If someone talks about it, catch them and discipline them. Do you understand?"

Feng Bao clasped his hands together and said, "I understand, Your Majesty."

After Feng Bao left, the calmness on the Emperor's face disappeared in an instant.

His eyes were full of surprise, speculation, and excitement. He immediately shouted, "Little Guizi!"

The most favored and trusted person of the Emperor, Little Guizi rushed in from outside and asked, "I am here, Your Majesty. What are your orders?"

The Emperor strode forward and said, "Accompany me for a trip to the Lingyun Pavilion!"

Lingyun Pavilion was the outermost palace of the imperial compound.

This place was very special.

Rumor had it that at the beginning of the Grand Xia Dynasty, there were a lot of masters who followed the founding Emperor. At one point in time, there were even 16 grade-9 great grandmasters!

These 16 great grandmasters made great contributions to the Grand Xia Dynasty.

The founding Emperor established the Lingyun Pavilion to express his nostalgia for the powerhouses. It was also a form of recognition for them.

But now, a few hundred years later, the original 16 heroes had long passed away. After all, even a grade-9 great grandmaster couldn't live for hundreds of years.

Just over a hundred years ago, the number of grade-9 great grandmasters in Lingyun Pavilion was never lower than five.

Only, in the last hundred years…

With the decline of Grand Xia's national power and the presence of internal and external troubles for the imperial court, there were fewer and fewer guest elders who were willing to stay in Lingyun Pavilion.

Many grade-9 great grandmasters would rather be in the Jianghu than accept the imperial court's invitation to be a guest elder.

Until now, the strongest grandmaster that was part of the imperial family had been Yan Bugui, who had defeated that barbarian envoy six years ago.

…

Soon, the Emperor brought Xiao Guizi to the Lingyun Pavilion.

Little Guizi stood guard outside while the emperor strode into the pavilion alone. In the courtyard inside, he found Yan Bugui who was lying on a chair and basking in the sun.

"Your Majesty…"

Seeing the Emperor coming, Yan Bugui quickly got up and prepared to greet him.

The Emperor hurriedly stepped forward to support him and said, "You don't need to mind such greetings."

At this time, Yan Bugui was already much older than when he went up against the barbarian powerhouse six years ago.

Not only did he have gray hair, but the number of wrinkles on his face had also obviously increased. The most important thing was that his spirit and vigor appeared to have decayed!

Although he was old six years ago when he had defeated the barbarian powerhouse, he had still been full of vigor and spirit back then as he was a grade-9 great grandmaster.

However, it looked like the rumors were true.

Six years ago, although Yan Bugui narrowly defeated the barbarian master, he had been heavily injured and had still not fully healed.

And judging from his appearance, it looked like there was no way for him to fully heal up this lifetime, and he could only wait for death.

No one knew whether the current him could still put up a fight.

"May I know why Your Majesty has come to the Lingyun Pavilion to find this old man today? I remember that although it's time for the barbarian envoys to enter the capital once again, there should be some more time, right?" Yan Bugui asked.

The Emperor shook his head and said upfront, "I have come today, not because of the barbarian envoys. But I would like to ask Guest Elder Yan, did you go to the Changmen Palace last night?"

Soon, the Emperor explained the entire incident involving the deaths of Luo Feng and Black and White Impermanence.

Yan Bugui was shocked after hearing this and said in a tone full of disbelief, "The two devils, Black and White Impermanence, have died in the Changmen Palace? Although these two devils are both grade-8, they have cultivated the Heavenly Canal Divine Art, and when they joined forces, their strength could break past the grade-9 threshold! It would not have been difficult to kill them during my peak period. However, since I was injured for the first time twenty years ago, it would have been difficult to bring these two people down then. Not to mention the present me…"

"If you say so… This means it was not you who had acted."

When the Emperor heard Yan Bugui's reply, a look of loss suddenly appeared in his eyes.

Before coming here, although he felt that it was unlikely that Yan Bugui was the one, he still held some hope in his heart.

He hoped that it was like what Chun Fei and Feng Bao had thought, that the imperial family still had a hidden powerhouse! Or perhaps that Yan Bugui's injuries had fully healed and he had recovered to his peak!

If that was the case, he would have had fewer things to worry about when the barbarian envoys entered the capital this time.

Therefore, on the way here, the Emperor was quite excited, hoping that a miracle had happened.

Unfortunately, he had thought too much.

But the Emperor was not reconciled and soon asked expectantly, "Then… in the Lingyun Pavilion, are there other grade-9 great grandmasters? Could they be the ones that had acted?"

Yan Bugui shook his head with a wry smile.

He knew what the Emperor was thinking, but he still said truthfully, "In Lingyun Pavilion, besides this old man here, there are still four grade-8 grandmasters, but there are no other grade-9 great grandmasters."

"Ai…"

The Emperor looked up at the sky and sighed, the feeling of disappointment he felt at that point was beyond what words could describe.

Yan Bugui thought for a while and suggested, "Your Majesty, in the Lingyun Pavilion, there is only myself left that is a grade-9. However, since Black and White Impermanence died in the imperial compound, it means that there must be a grade-9 great grandmaster hidden in the palace!

"If Your Majesty is in need of talents, why not try roping this powerhouse in? Although Changmen Palace is the cold palace, it is still part of the imperial compound. Then, perhaps this hidden expert views Your Majesty with some favor. If Your Majesty is willing to personally invite him, maybe you can win him over…"

"Rope him in?"

The Emperor frowned upon hearing this, but he did not reject the proposal.

Only one's family knew the real situation that they were in.

Chun Fei said that she had no idea who the killer was, whereas Feng Bao had guessed that it was the imperial family's guest elder who had acted.

But with him personally receiving clarification this time, the Emperor was now sure that it was not the imperial family's guest elder who had killed Black and White Impermanence. There was really a mysterious grade-9 powerhouse hidden in the Changmen Palace!

In other words, there was a grade-9 great grandmaster behind Chun Fei!

Going to Changmen Palace now would be very damaging to his prestige, especially after he chose to abandon Chun Fei for the Empress last night.

However, the barbarian envoys would soon enter the capital. As the Emperor, he couldn't care too much about anything else anymore.

It didn't matter if he lost a bit of prestige. However, the prestige of the Grand Xia Imperial Court had to be preserved!

The barbarian envoys must have come fully prepared this time.

The imperial court had only prepared one or two grade-9 great grandmasters, which were probably not enough.

One more powerhouse meant more assurance.

Of course.

He could not completely offend the Empress and her brother, the General Who Stabilizes the North, for the mysterious master of the Changmen Palace. At least it was not the right time yet.

After all, the strength of the hidden and mysterious grade-9 powerhouse of the Changmen Palace was certainly not as good as the master of the General Who Stabilizes the North, "Invincible Iron Fist" Shi Chengtian!

Shi Chengtian was the Emperor's biggest trump card in dealing with the barbarian envoys this time! He had to invite him out of the mountain at all costs.

Otherwise, he would no longer tolerate the Empress anymore.

However, the hidden master of the Changmen Palace was a grade-9 after all.

As long as one was a grade-9, one definitely couldn't be considered weak and would still come in handy when the time came.