Cutting

The Ministry of Rites, Southeast Drill Ground.

Originally a place for the Ministry of Rites to drill guards of honor and rehearse grand ceremonies, the terrain here was open and flat, surrounded by vermilion pillars.

Usually empty and solemn, today it was crowded with people, murmurs of conversation echoing faintly.

Looking out, the people in the field wore various attires, gathering into several distinct clusters.

The largest group consisted of guards in black armor with golden patterns. Each wore a long blade at their waist, their backs straight as pines and eyes sharp as eagles. They were none other than the Golden Feather Guards.

Leading them was Chen Busha, standing quietly with his hand on the hilt of his blade, a faint aura of bloody murderous intent lingering around him.

On the west side was a group of Internal Affairs eunuchs in dark cyan official robes. Though their clothing lacked the martial majesty of the Golden Feather Guards' armor, it was finely tailored with subtly embroidered cloud patterns, exuding the noble air unique to the royal palace.

They conversed in low voices, their demeanor bearing the characteristic caution and tact of those from the inner court.

To the south were military officers dispatched by the Ministry of War, all dressed in russet-brown everyday uniforms with standard-issue military sabers hanging at their waists.

Their stances were not as uniform as the Golden Feather Guards, but they possessed a fierce bravery born of military life. Their sweeping gazes carried an undisguised sense of scrutiny.

On the north side stood several head constables from the Ministry of Justice, all with solemn faces, unsmiling.

Besides them, personnel from the Chief Surveillance Bureau and other departments in various attires were scattered throughout.

It could be said that every major faction with a name in the Divine Capital had sent someone here.

As Gu Chengyin stepped into the drill ground, countless gazes instantly converged on him like arrows.

Those eyes first fell on him, but then involuntarily shifted to Lin Qingyan beside him.

The reputation of the Celestial Master Mansion might not be prominent among the common folk; many ordinary citizens had never even heard of it.

However, in the eyes of the higher-ups and all immortal cultivation sects, these words carried the weight of a thousand mountains and struck like thunder.

Within the borders of Great Luo, the reason the numerous cultivation sects remained well-behaved and did not recklessly cause trouble...

...was not just the armies stationed in various commanderies, but because the Celestial Master Mansion was the true sharp sword hanging over their heads.

No matter how strong an army was, facing a Golden Core cultivator, they were nothing but ants offering themselves up.

But if cultivators of the same realm took action, or even if several people held down the Golden Core experts within the sects...

...then the remaining sect disciples would be no different from lambs waiting to be slaughtered before Great Luo's elite troops.

The reason lay in the fact that the gap between one Golden Core and another was greater than the gap between a human and a dog.

It was like how someone could score a hundred points because their true capability was only a hundred points.

While another scored a hundred points only because the test's maximum score was a hundred points.

The Celestial Master Mansion was the latter.

Relying on the terrifying, ocean-like accumulation of foundations in the Wanxiang Pavilion, and backed by the resource infusion of the entire Great Luo Dynasty...

...the combat power and methods of the Golden Core cultivators nurtured by the Celestial Master Mansion were far beyond what ordinary sects could compare to.

If the Luo Emperor truly wanted to make a move against these sects, all he lacked was a righteous banner to justify the cause.

But this did not mean the cultivation sects were all useless trash.

Just like civil officials and military generals, one could not say civil officials were useless just because they could not defeat military generals in a fight.

Nor could one call military generals useless just because they could not out-debate civil officials.

Their natures were fundamentally different; each had their own strengths and performed their respective duties.

The Celestial Master Mansion excelled at combat in order to maintain the stability of Great Luo.

Meanwhile, the sects leaned more towards cultivation; what they pursued was the ultimate truth of the Great Dao.

However, the majority of those gathered in the drill ground at this moment were of martial backgrounds.

In their eyes, absolute power was the most direct standard for reverence.

Therefore, when Gu Chengyin and Lin Qingyan walked side by side into the field...

...the crowd stepped forward one after another, first bowing deeply to Lin Qingyan:

Lord Jingzhe!

Greetings, Perfected Being Jingzhe!

The waves of voices were uniform, carrying undisguised awe.

Only then did they turn to Gu Chengyin, cupping their hands in a customary greeting:

Junior Preceptor Gu.

Though their attitude was also respectful, compared to the almost instinctive reverence they had just shown Lin Qingyan, it was clearly much more subdued.

Gu Chengyin's expression remained normal, paying it no mind.

There was no need to get serious with these martial artists who only had power on their minds.

Not to mention that Lin Qingyan was already above him in strength, status, and reputation anyway.

After everyone finished their greetings, Gu Chengyin's gaze swept across the entire ground.

Passing over the clusters of people, he finally spotted Cui Gong in a corner, almost squeezed against the base of the wall.

This Ministry of Rites Director was currently shrinking at the edge of the crowd, holding a roster in both hands. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he looked panicked, like a little lamb that had wandered into a pack of wolves.

Gu Chengyin immediately raised his hand, pointing at Cui Gong and saying:

Make way! Let Cui Gong through.

Hearing this, the crowd in the field stepped aside one after another, clearing a narrow path.

As if granted a grand pardon, Cui Gong hurriedly clutched the roster and stumbled through the crowd, jogging all the way to Gu Chengyin.

Panting, he bowed and prepared to perform a full formal greeting:

This humble official Cui Gong, greets Gu...

Save it.

Gu Chengyin interrupted Cui Gong's formalities:

There is no need to stick to these empty formalities at a time like this. Let me ask you, have you registered everyone in the roster?

Cui Gong nodded repeatedly, offering the roster in his hands with both palms:

To reply to Your Excellency, the registration is complete. Names, affiliated departments, official positions, and cultivation bases are all recorded in the book.

Gu Chengyin took the roster but did not immediately flip through it. Instead, he continued:

Since it is registered, we will do a roll call according to the roster.

I will put faces to names first, and we can chat along the way.

Cui Gong replied, Yes! But...

He stopped halfway through his sentence, a look of hesitation appearing on his face.

Gu Chengyin raised an eyebrow slightly. But what? Do not stumble over your words.

Cui Gong leaned in half a step and lowered his voice:

Your Excellency, according to your instructions, this humble official has registered everyone present.

The Internal Affairs Department, Golden Feather Guards, Ministry of War, Chief Surveillance Bureau, Ministry of Justice, and others have all arrived.

Only... the people from the noble families have yet to show their faces.

Hearing this, Gu Chengyin narrowed his eyes.

He slowly turned his head to look at Cui Gong, his gaze as piercing as an ice pick:

Cui Gong, your surname is Cui.

Gu Chengyin enunciated every word:

Are you really asking me whether the people from the noble families have arrived or not?

Cold sweat instantly poured down Cui Gong's forehead.

His legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the spot, but he forced himself to stand straight, defending himself urgently:

Your Excellency, please see clearly! This matter truly has nothing to do with this humble official! Although my surname is Cui, I am merely from a distant branch family. I was lucky to get this position as a Director, but I have absolutely no say within the clan!

I heard that the people sent by the noble families this time are all the elite direct descendants of each family. When they will come, whether they will come, and how many will come... this humble official truly knows nothing about it!

Cui Gong's voice trembled and his face was pale, clearly frightened out of his wits.

Gu Chengyin stared at him for a moment. Seeing that he did not seem to be faking it, his expression softened slightly.

But Cui Gong dared not relax, gritting his teeth to add:

However, Your Excellency... although this humble official does not know the inside story, I have heard some rumors.

I heard that nowadays, all the families are following the lead of the Grand Secretary, so...

Cui Gong did not finish his sentence, but the meaning could not have been clearer.

Hearing this, a smile slowly curled the corners of Gu Chengyin's mouth.

Cui Shifan was indeed worthy of being the newly appointed Grand Secretary.

He played this move of cutting ties remarkably fast.

The people from the noble families could cooperate, but they could not be too cooperative.

Being too cooperative would make them appear united, and in a place like the imperial court, one could not appear too united.

Gu Chengyin gently patted Cui Gong's shoulder.

The action seemed casual, but it made Cui Gong shudder all over.

Forget it.

Gu Chengyin's tone softened, "I won't make things difficult for you."

"Take the registered roster and call the names of everyone who has arrived. I want to... see them."

Cui Gong felt as though he had been granted a royal pardon. He bowed repeatedly, "Thank you for your understanding, My Lord! Thank you, My Lord!"

He let out a long sigh of relief inwardly. When the gods fought, it was always the small fry like him who suffered the collateral damage.

As long as Gu Chengyin did not make things difficult for him, the man was practically his savior!

Not daring to delay a moment longer, Cui Gong immediately flipped open the roster, cleared his throat, and announced loudly:

"Golden Feather Guard Chen Busha, step forward to receive your orders!"