296: Consort Lin, Shen Jiuming

At night, Qin Feng began his nightly intel refresh in the Imperial Capital.

[Daily Intel Refreshed] (zi hour):

1. [Yellow Intel]: The forces in the Imperial Capital are intricately intertwined, with the Eight Great Families reigning supreme—the Sun Family (the maternal Family of the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Uncle), the Xuanyuan Family (Ministry of War), the Li Family (Ministry of Revenue), the Sima Family (leaders of the civil official bloc, Ministry of Personnel), the Nangong Family (Ministry of Rites), the Baili Family (Ministry of Justice), the Xiahou Family (Ministry of Works), and the Zhang Family (Imperial Astronomical Bureau). These eight families engage in both open and secret struggles, controlling over sixty percent of the Imperial Capital's resources.

2. [Yellow Intel]: The Northern Barbarians have been frequently active lately, and the border situation is critical. The Emperor has redeployed one-third of the Imperial Capital's powerhouses to the front lines, including more than twenty at or above the Martial Emperor level. The various families have taken this opportunity to secretly expand their influence, and the martial power they actually control far exceeds the numbers reported to the court—it is estimated that the combat power above the Grand Martial Master level concealed by these families accounts for at least three-quarters of their total strength.

3. [Blue Intel]: The current Emperor's most beloved Noble Consort Lin is actually the contemporary Saintess of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Shen Jiuming. This woman's Charm Technique has already reached the Transcendent Realm. She entered the palace three years ago and rose from a Lady to Noble Consort in just one year, enjoying exclusive favor in the harem. Her true cultivation has reached the Half-step Martial Saint level, and she has been secretly gathering intelligence on Great Qian. She has now set her sights on the Host; please remain vigilant.

After reading the intel, Qin Feng gasped.

"Noble Consort Lin... Shen Jiuming... Saintess of the Heavenly Demon Sect... Half-step Martial Saint..."

Each word felt like a heavy hammer striking his heart.

He finally understood why he felt that sense of palpitations coming from the direction of the Imperial Palace—it was the instinctive warning of his martial intuition when being targeted by a powerhouse at the Half-step Martial Saint level!

"The Heavenly Demon Sect... they really are persistent." Qin Feng's gaze grew solemn.

The Yin Demon Sect, the Hehuan Sect, and the Blood Spirit Gate—these three demonic sects were powerful, but at least they operated in the open. However, the Heavenly Demon Sect, as the leader of the Demonic Path, had always remained hidden behind the scenes, acting in a far more mysterious and unpredictable manner.

Now, this Saintess had actually infiltrated the Imperial Palace, becoming a favored consort and even reaching the Realm of a Half-step Martial Saint!

With this level of strength, even City Lord Yan Di likely wouldn't be her match. If their group faced her together, they probably wouldn't last ten moves.

"Fortunately, I have the intel prompts..." Qin Feng felt relieved. "It seems I must increase my strength as quickly as possible."

The threat of a Half-step Martial Saint was like a sword hanging over his head, liable to fall at any moment.

He had to find the lower volume of the Daoist Primordial Chaos Art as soon as possible to break through to the Late Stage Martial King or even Martial Emperor level. Then, he would need to find a way to complete the Xuanyuan Dragon Slaying Art to have the power to protect himself.

While he was lost in thought, the hundred flowers token at his waist suddenly vibrated slightly, emitting a soft white light.

"Hmm?" Qin Feng was startled.

The hundred flowers token was the identification for Disciples of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. It usually only glowed when sensing a fellow Disciple nearby or receiving an emergency transmission.

"Could Pavilion Master He be looking for me?"

He infused a trace of True Essence and connected the transmission.

However, the voice that came from the other end was one he hadn't expected—

Soft, familiar, and tinged with a bit of hesitation and trembling:

"Is it you... Qin Feng... It's been over a year... You've come to the Imperial Capital..."

That voice... An image flashed through Qin Feng's mind—the gentle and resilient woman from the Bai Family's side courtyard in West Lake City.

"Sister Yuetang?" Qin Feng blurted out.

Su Yuetang! The woman who had been forcibly taken away by the Bai Family back in West Lake City!

They had once fought side by side against the Yin Demon Sect and the pirates. Su Yuetang had always done her best to take care of Qin Feng in West Lake City. She harbored vague feelings for him, and although he hadn't reciprocated, he still cared about her.

"It really is you..." Su Yuetang's voice carried an irrepressible excitement. "I've always kept the hundred flowers token with me. Only today, when I sensed the aura of your hundred flowers token, did I realize... you've arrived."

Complex emotions welled up in Qin Feng's heart. "Sister Yuetang, it's been a long time. I've come to the Imperial Capital with a few companions to handle some business. Are you... doing well in the Bai Family? They haven't made things difficult for you, have they?"

The other end of the transmission was silent for a moment.

"I'm fine... the Bai Family hasn't pressured me anymore. It's just..." Su Yuetang's voice trailed off. "Living in the inner courtyard of the Bai Family... I Cultivate every day, but I always feel like something is missing. I really want... to see you again."

The affection in her words could be felt even through the transmission.

Qin Feng sighed inwardly. He had a good impression of Su Yuetang, but with powerful enemies all around and an uncertain future, it really wasn't the time to get involved in romantic entanglements.

But he didn't have the heart to hurt her either, so he said warmly, "Yes, there will be a chance. I also want to reunite with an old friend in the Imperial Capital. You're at the Bai Family now? Is it far from the Hundred Flowers Pavilion's local branch?"

"The Bai Family is about half an hour's carriage ride from the branch." Su Yuetang paused, her voice suddenly becoming tense. "Qin Feng, you must be careful in the Imperial Capital. I heard... that undercurrents have been surging lately, and all the Great Families are planning something. The Bai Family too..."

She hesitated, leaving her sentence unfinished.

Qin Feng's heart tightened. "What's wrong with the Bai Family?"

"I can't say much... but you must be careful of the Bai Family, especially the Eldest Young Master of the Bai Family, Eldest Young Master Bai. Lately, he's been in frequent contact with... with some people of unknown origin." Su Yuetang lowered her voice, "And..." Before she could finish, the transmission was abruptly cut off.

"Sister Yuetang? Sister Yuetang?"

The light of the hundred flowers token dimmed, and there was no further response.

Qin Feng's face darkened.

Su Yuetang had clearly been interrupted, and it was very likely she had been discovered by those monitoring her.

"The Bai Family..." Qin Feng muttered to himself.

The Eldest Young Master of the Bai Family in contact with people of unknown origin... could it be the Heavenly Demon Sect?

These fragments of information left Qin Feng deeply puzzled.

Never mind... Qin Feng put away the hundred flowers token and walked to the window.

The Imperial Capital in the night was brightly lit, its prosperity like a dream.

But beneath this prosperity, undercurrents surged—the open and secret struggles of the Eight Great Families, the infiltration of the Heavenly Demon Sect's Saintess, the covetous eyes of the three demonic sects, the pressure of the border wars... and Su Yuetang's unfinished warning.

"These waters... are even deeper than I imagined." Qin Feng's gaze was heavy.

But no matter what, he had to wade through them.

And... he had to ensure the safety of his companions.

He turned to look at the remnant scroll of the Xuanyuan Dragon Slaying Art on the table, a determined light flashing in his eyes.

"So what if she's a Half-step Martial Saint? So what if she's the Saintess of the Heavenly Demon Sect?"

"I, Qin Feng, have come this far surrounded by powerful enemies. Haven't I fought my way through a path of blood regardless?"

He Clench your fist， Thunderfire sword intent flowed quietly within his body..

Since he had come to the Imperial Capital, he would stir up its winds and clouds!

And the first step was to increase his strength as quickly as possible and find the lower volume of the Daoist Primordial Chaos Art.

As for Su Yuetang's warning... "Tomorrow, I'll first ask Pavilion Master He to help investigate the backgrounds of the Bai Family and this Noble Consort Lin." Qin Feng made his decision.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

In this Imperial Capital fraught with danger, intelligence was life.

And he had the System in hand.

This game had only just begun.

Outside the window, the night deepened.

In a corner of the Imperial Capital, within a large, secluded courtyard.

Su Yuetang hurriedly put away the Transmission Jade Talisman, her face pale as she looked at the black-robed old man who had suddenly appeared before her.

"Yuetang, who were you communicating with?" The old man's voice was cold.

"No... no one, just an old friend." Su Yuetang forced herself to remain calm.

The Great Elder of the Bai Family took a deep look at her. "It's best that way. Remember your identity—you are a member of the Bai Family and should not have too much contact with people of unknown origin."

"Yes..." Su Yuetang lowered her head.

The door closed.

Su Yuetang slumped into her chair, her eyes filled with worry.

"Qin Feng... you must be careful..."

Night shrouded the Imperial Capital.

A storm was brewing.