Wang Hao Uses the Opportunity to Turn the Martial Arts Tournament into an Anti-Espionage Conference

“You…”

Zhao Qianheng’s throat tightened, his face turning pale bit by bit.

Wang Hao stood on the high platform, smiling faintly.

“Done tossing about?”

His smile was very gentle.

But for some unknown reason, everyone in the venue felt a slight chill down their spines when they saw that smile.

Because it was only at this moment that everyone suddenly realized—

His Majesty didn't seem surprised at all.

He wasn't just staying calm in the face of danger.

He had been waiting for this moment, waiting for a long time.

“Take him down.”

Wang Hao spoke lightly.

As the two words fell.

Yu Huatian had already swept out from behind the high platform. His figure was like a silent black line, crossing hundreds of feet in an instant, directly appearing above Zhao Qianheng’s head.

When that palm struck down, there was no earth-shattering momentum.

It was just fast.

So fast that Zhao Qianheng didn't even have time to form a second secret seal.

“Bang!”

Zhao Qianheng was pressed into the ruins of the broken watchtower by a single palm. The sound of bone cracking made many people's eyelids twitch.

But the matter was not over.

Blood flowed from his mouth, but a touch of madness appeared in his eyes. He seemed to want to detonate his spiritual platform and completely destroy the traces on his body.

But Yu Huatian was faster than him.

With a clasp of five fingers, several black needles as fine as cow hair had already sealed his life gate, sea of consciousness, meridians, and the base of his tongue.

“Want to die?”

Yu Huatian smiled softly, his eyes feminine and cold.

“Did I nod?”

Zhao Qianheng trembled violently, unable to let out even a scream.

The whole place was dead silent.

The next instant, an uproar soared to the sky!

“He really is a hidden piece?!”

“Whose man is he?!”

“He just said ‘Pavilion Master’… what Pavilion Master?!”

“Heavenly Secret Pavilion! Is he from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?!”

This shout was like an earth-shattering event.

Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

One of the most mysterious, sinister, and giant dark shadows that was best at hiding behind the scenes and stirring up trouble in the Eastern Wasteland for countless years.

It did not always stand on the stage, but behind many bloody cases, many sect disputes, and the premature deaths of many geniuses, there were faint traces of it.

But no one expected that it would actually extend its hand directly to the Martial Arts Tournament, to the grand gathering of the younger generation of the world.

And, right under the watchful eyes of the public.

On the high platform, Wang Hao finally walked slowly to the front.

He didn't roar in anger, nor did he immediately order the crowd to disperse.

Instead, his voice was calm and clearly spread in all directions.

“Everyone.”

“I originally thought that the gathering of all the geniuses in the world in the capital was a grand event.”

“But I never thought that some things that can't see the light of day just can't stand young people living uprightly.”

He looked down at the whole venue, his gaze steady and deep.

“The Heavenly Secret Pavilion infiltrated the participants, stole the list data, spied on the life breath of the geniuses, intending to control the future of the younger generation.”

“Today, he has his eyes on Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, Wanyan Gu, and the juniors of various sects and factions.”

“Tomorrow, it might be the Holy Son of your sect, the direct descendant of your family, the seedling you have worked hard to cultivate for ten years.”

In the stands, the faces of many sect elders and family heads had become extremely ugly.

Because these words hit too close to home.

They could refuse to submit to the Emperor of the Great Zhou.

They could curse Wang Hao for being black-hearted, two-faced, shameless, and squeezing them dry to the bone.

But they couldn't not care about their own juniors being treated as data, life breath, and chess pieces to be studied and used.

This was digging up their roots.

Wang Hao’s voice was not loud, but step by step he nailed his words into people's hearts.

“I held the Martial Arts Tournament with the original intention of giving the younger generation of the world a clean arena.”

“In a martial arts competition, you can lose.”

“Rankings can be fought for.”

“But we cannot let some rats in the gutter hide in the dark and make a fuss about your lives and futures.”

“The Great Zhou will investigate this matter to the end.”

He paused here, and his expression suddenly softened a bit.

“Of course.”

“In order to protect everyone, so that everyone will not be used by bad people again, I have decided—”

Hearing this, Wei Zhongxian's eyelids twitched.

He was too familiar with this turning point.

Whenever His Majesty said “of course,” it meant someone was going to suffer.

Sure enough.

Wang Hao smiled and said the next sentence:

“From today on, all participants will undergo a second round of background verification.”

“Sign the—Genius Background Review Form.”

“And accept joint inquiries from the Eastern Depot, the Ministry of Rites, and the Roster Division.”

The whole audience: “???”

The air was quiet for three full breaths.

Then, it exploded.

“What?!”

“We have to be investigated again?!”

“Eastern Depot inquiry? What's the difference between this and interrogating a criminal?!”

“Your Majesty, we are just here for a martial arts competition, not to go to jail!”

“Genius political review? What the hell is this?!”

Some people were dumbfounded, some people's faces turned green, and some people almost fainted on the spot.

Xiao Chen stood in the battlefield, the corners of his mouth twitching.

He had just thought this matter was big, dangerous, and worthy of serious treatment. As a result, in a few words, Wang Hao abruptly turned an anti-espionage storm into a review meeting for all participants.

And he spoke so righteously, as if it was all to protect you.

Ye Guyun stood on the other side, looking at the high platform expressionlessly, but a faint, almost helpless coldness appeared in his eyes.

He suddenly felt that the Heavenly Secret Pavilion was also quite unlucky this time.

Of all the people to mess with, they had to mess with Wang Hao.

The most terrifying thing about this Emperor was not that you couldn't outsmart him.

But that—

He would even use the very fact that you were making trouble to squeeze another layer of oil out of you.

In the center of the stands, Shen Xue frowned slightly, the disgust in her eyes growing thicker.

She was not disgusted with Wang Hao.

She was disgusted with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

She was originally extremely disgusted with Xie Wujiu's faction. Now seeing the other party dare to blatantly reach out to the younger generation, that bit of disgust in her heart had almost turned into a chill.

Yun Meng looked at the public sentiment around her that was almost out of control, pondered for a moment, and suddenly stood up.

Her voice was not loud, but extremely clear.

“Everyone.”

“If we don't investigate today, tomorrow who can guarantee that there won't be a second Zhao Qianheng among their fellow disciples, companions, and Dao Protectors?”

This sentence was like a basin of cold water, making many people's hearts shudder.

Yun Meng had always been cautious in her stance and rarely took the initiative to help Wang Hao suppress the scene.

But this time, she stood out.

Because she knew very well that if words like “the tournament is out of control, the imperial court is derelict in its duty, there are ghosts in the arena” were allowed to spread, the authority of the Martial Arts Tournament would be stabbed through with a single knife, and the Great Zhou's list would become a laughingstock just like the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's list.

And right now, the Great Zhou couldn't be in chaos, and the tournament couldn't collapse even more.

Ren Mingyue glanced at her, her eyes moving slightly, but she didn't speak.

On the high platform, Wang Hao seemed to feel something, glanced over at Yun Meng, and raised his eyebrows imperceptibly.

As if to say: Not bad, sensible.

Yun Meng almost regretted it after being looked at by him. Her face turned slightly cold, and she looked away.

…

The next scene made everyone unforgettable for a lifetime.

Because Wang Hao didn't have Zhao Qianheng taken down for a private interrogation at all.

He directly—opened a public trial by the arena.

A desk, a Soul Suppressing Mirror, three Eastern Depot guards, an official from the Ministry of Rites Roster Division, a Formation Master from the Ministry of Works, plus a chief writer of the Great Zhou Times specially responsible for recording.

Zhao Qianheng's meridians were sealed, and he was forced to kneel by the ruins. His hair was messy, blood was at the corners of his mouth, and true fear appeared in his eyes for the first time.

Not because of being tortured.

But because he found out that Wang Hao didn't play by the rules at all.

Shouldn't you interrogate him in private first?

Shouldn't you block the news first?

Shouldn't you suppress the impact first?

But Wang Hao did not.

He directly threw him right under the eyes of the whole world.

Was this an interrogation?

This was a public display.

This was using him as a living textbook, while simultaneously teaching all the factions a lesson: Look, this is what happens when you plant a mole in my territory.

"Name."

The official from the Ministry of Rites asked coldly.

Zhao Qianheng gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Yu Huatian stood behind him and gently patted his shoulder.

Just once.

Zhao Qianheng's entire body reacted as if pierced by an electric current. He convulsed wildly, veins bulging on his forehead, nearly fainting from the sheer pain.

"I advise you to be smart," Yu Huatian's voice was very soft. "If you don't speak, I have my ways to make you speak. It's just that the process might not be pretty."

Panting heavily, Zhao Qianheng finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "Zhao... Qianheng."

"When did you join the Tianji Pavilion?"

"...Seven years ago."

"What was your mission?"

"To lay low... befriend young geniuses... record their martial arts styles, personality inclinations, and life-breath characteristics... and when necessary... guide, alienate, and provoke them..."

Gasps echoed throughout the entire venue.

Many people's faces turned pale.

Seven years.

A sleeper agent had actually been planted for seven years.

And the layout had started since they were young.

What did this mean?

It meant that the Tianji Pavilion's infiltration into the younger generation was far deeper than they had imagined.

"What is your purpose this time?"

"To steal... the rankings, life-breaths, and battle records... and send them back to the Pavilion..."

"Who is your contact in the Pavilion?"

Zhao Qianheng suddenly shut his mouth, a trace of despair flashing in his eyes.

The corners of Yu Huatian's mouth curled up slightly. Just as he was about to add a little more pressure, Wang Hao suddenly raised his hand.

"There is no need to ask further."

The crowd was stunned.

Wang Hao said flatly, "Asking up to this point is enough."

"If we ask any further, the people behind him will be scared."

"And when people are scared, they run."

"I do not like to startle the snake by beating the grass."

"I prefer to close the door and beat the dog."

Standing in the back, Wei Zhongxian listened with absolute admiration.

As expected of His Majesty.

Even when cursing people, he did it with such method and style.

This public trial ultimately ended with Zhao Qianheng being dragged away and the East Depot taking full control.

But the aftermath it left behind was far more fierce than any competition.

That afternoon, all participating geniuses lined up to re-register their life-breaths, verify their origins, sign background review forms, and undergo questioning by the East Depot.

Outside the martial arts arena, a long queue stretched for three whole streets.

Some people originally came to climb the ranks, but now they were waiting in line for political vetting.

The scene was so absurd that many commoners laughed until they couldn't stand straight.

"Brother Xiao, what did the East Depot ask you?" someone asked in a lowered voice.

Xiao Chen had a dark expression: "They asked me if I was taken in as a disciple by a strange old grandpa when I was young."

"So how did you answer?"

"I said yes, but that old man starved to death after teaching me a set of boxing."

"...And the East Depot believed it?"

"They wrote down half a page of notes."

On the other side, Rong Xiaotian came out of the inquiry tent cursing, his face livid.

"I came here to fight, not to confess my ancestry for the past three generations!"

Lu Chenzhou sneered: "If you don't want to explain, you can also forfeit the competition right now."

Rong Xiaotian choked, and after a long while, he said angrily, "Do you think I'm afraid?"

Chu Wuxia strolled leisurely from behind, the bamboo basket in her arms rustling twice. She smiled and said, "They asked very carefully on my end. They even asked what my Gu insects usually eat. So polite."

Everyone: "..."

What was even more outrageous was that the Great Zhou Times published a special edition that very night:

Spy Caught in the Arena! The Dark Hand of the Tianji Pavilion Reaches for the Younger Generation!

His Majesty is Furious: Give the World's Geniuses a Clean Stage!

Background Reviews Are Not Suspicion, They Are Protection!

Record of the First Day of Political Vetting for Geniuses: Who is Lining Up, and Who is Feeling Guilty?

The articles were written with tear-jerking emotion and righteous indignation, conveniently praising the legitimacy of the tournament, the court's sense of responsibility, and His Majesty's grand foresight.

After reading it, many people clearly felt that something was wrong, yet they couldn't pick out any flaws.

Because the Tianji Pavilion sleeper agent was real.

The counter-espionage was also real.

You couldn't exactly say they shouldn't investigate, could you?

And as long as you admitted they should investigate, Wang Hao would logically push through the entire subsequent set of procedures.

At night.

In the side hall, Wei Zhongxian reported the feedback from all parties one by one.

"The sects still have complaints on their lips, but none dared to object publicly; the noble families are afraid that their younger generation might really be targeted, so they are the most cooperative; rogue cultivators and disciples from humble backgrounds generally feel that the court's actions are protecting them."

Wang Hao flipped through a stack of newly delivered background review files, his expression calm.

"Normal."

"The more things people hold in their hands, the more they fear being stolen from."

He put down a scroll of the roster and suddenly smiled.

"Furthermore, the most interesting thing about people is—"

"When the blade cuts someone else's neck, they cry brutality; when it cuts at their own door, they cry defending the country."

Wei Zhongxian lowered his head: "Your Majesty is wise."

Wang Hao looked up at him: "Stop flattering. Have you bitten onto the line behind Zhao Qianheng?"

"We have," a glint of cold light flashed across Wei Zhongxian's eyes. "A pharmacy in the west of the city, two outer residences, a roster copyist, and a sect's accompanying advisor—all are in the net."

"Don't rush to reel them in," Wang Hao said flatly. "Let them transmit messages for another two days."

"I want to see who will be the first to lose their patience."

Speaking up to here, he stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, the night was deep, and the lights of the capital were like a dragon.

The noise of the martial arts tournament, the aftershocks of the counter-espionage storm, the schemes of the sects and noble families, the restlessness of the young geniuses... all these things were like countless thin threads, converging into the hands of one person.

Wang Hao looked at the lights of the distant martial arts arena, the corners of his lips slowly curling up.

"Counter-espionage is just the appetizer."

"It is time for the main course."

The next day, the imperial decree was issued—

The Martial Arts Tournament officially entered its most highly anticipated stage.

The individual ranking battles have begun.