Chapter 639 - 378: The High-Ranking Traitor (2)
When he first arrived at the Celestial Hearing Tower, Zou Feng had felt that Zhang Chi’s willpower was commendable. On a whim, he had decided to let Zhang Chi work under him.
However, for the time being, Zhang Chi was only operating in the shadows. He pretended to have no connection to Zou Feng while investigating potential traitors within the Celestial Hearing Tower.
Currently, the only internal traitor Zou Feng had been able to confirm was still Lian Zexing, the Chief Inspection Envoy of the Jade Dragon Marketplace.
’I thought Zhang Chi wouldn’t be able to dig up anything significant, but with Zhao Feixiong’s wedding approaching, has he actually brought me a pleasant surprise?’
At this thought, Zou Feng immediately agreed to meet.
Since Zhang Chi was currently on guard duty and could not leave his assigned defensive line, Zou Feng had no choice but to go see him in person.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Zou Feng arrived at the defensive line where Zhang Chi was stationed.
Since he didn’t know the specifics of the situation yet, he certainly wasn’t going to walk in openly to meet with Zhang Chi.
After finding a hidden grove of trees near the defensive line, Zou Feng sent Zhang Chi a message with his location.
Before long, Zhang Chi arrived at the grove alone, a worried and rather tense expression on his face.
"Brother Zou!"
Zhang Chi bowed from a distance.
However, he clearly felt the location wasn’t safe enough, as he kept glancing around, constantly on alert for any movement in the vicinity.
Seeing this, Zou Feng waved his hand and said, "Don’t worry. I can guarantee no one is spying on us nearby."
Before entering the grove, Zou Feng had conducted a thorough check and then sent Xiaolv to patrol from a high vantage point. It was highly unlikely they were being watched.
Hearing Zou Feng’s assurance, Zhang Chi finally relaxed a little.
Taking a few steps forward, he spoke with a grim, slightly bitter tone, "Brother Zou, the current situation in the Celestial Hearing Tower is even worse than I anticipated..."
"Tell me, how bad is it? Surely it’s not so bad that even Yu Lingxiao is compromised?" Zou Feng asked casually.
Zhang Chi shook his head. "I don’t know if the Jade Tower Master has a problem... but the Commander-in-Chief of the Celestial Hearing Tower, Wang Buyi, most likely does!"
Although Zou Feng had never met this Commander-in-Chief of the Celestial Hearing Tower, Wang Buyi, he certainly knew of him.
This man was considered one of Yu Lingxiao’s most capable lieutenants.
His rank was considerably higher than that of a Chief Inspection Envoy of a marketplace like Lian Zexing.
Therefore, Wang Buyi himself was at the Dao Foundation Realm Late Stage. Although he had long since lost the qualification to become a True Inheritor due to his advanced age, it was said that he should have no problem eventually reaching the Golden Core Realm.
’And now, a high-ranking and powerful lieutenant of the Celestial Hearing Tower like him has turned out to be a turncoat?’
Zou Feng instantly realized the gravity of the situation.
If the Commander-in-Chief was compromised, then there would only be more problems down the chain of command.
Perhaps the reason this man hadn’t made a move yet was that he was waiting to deliver a "grand gift" at Zhao Feixiong and Luo Zhenzhen’s wedding!
If they failed to expose him beforehand, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Of course, whether Zhang Chi’s intelligence was accurate still required further investigation.
"How did you discover that Wang Buyi was compromised?"
Zhang Chi immediately replied, "Previously, I participated in an extermination mission led by Brother Wang..."
"By a stroke of luck, I witnessed Brother Wang in action up close... and I discovered that the Skills he used seemed to carry the aura of a Celestial Court Immortal Technique..."
As Zhang Chi explained, Zou Feng understood the basis for his judgment.
It wasn’t strange that he could sense the aura of a Ninefold Celestial Court Immortal Technique. After all, the jade slip Zou Feng used to cultivate the Outer Alchemy Dao was the one he had gotten from Zhang Chi.
Zhang Chi had hidden that jade slip for a long time but had never dared to actually practice its Cultivation method.
It was worth mentioning that these Immortal Techniques of the Ninefold Celestial Court were inherently and extremely seductive.
Resisting the urge to practice them required great willpower.
This was all thanks to Zhang Chi’s exceptionally firm will, which allowed him to resist the temptation.
However, even though he had resisted the temptation, holding the jade slip for so long had allowed him to become familiar, to some extent, with the aura of the Ninefold Celestial Court’s Immortal Techniques.
Wang Buyi probably never expected that a mere Spiritual Energy Realm disciple like Zhang Chi could become familiar with the aura of the Immortal Technique while resisting its temptation.
This must have been why he had grown careless and hadn’t deliberately suppressed the traces of his use of the Ninefold Celestial Court’s Immortal Technique, thus revealing a flaw.
Verifying Zhang Chi’s words would not be difficult for Zou Feng.
His current Outer Alchemy Dao might already be stronger than the Immortal Technique Wang Buyi practiced. There were plenty of ways to test whether the man was compromised.
"Good work. I’ll investigate Wang Buyi immediately. Do you have anything else to report?" Zou Feng asked.
Zhang Chi went on to name a few other highly suspicious individuals, but their positions were far below Wang Buyi’s.
To put it bluntly, even if these small fries were traitors, they didn’t pose much of a threat.
Once Wang Buyi was exposed, dealing with them would be easy.
"Oh, right, Brother Zou, there’s one more thing..."
As he spoke, a conflicted expression appeared on Zhang Chi’s face.
"Just say what’s on your mind. Don’t hesitate!"
"It’s about Brother Zhao..."
"Speak freely!" Zou Feng had already guessed what Zhang Chi was about to report.
Sure enough, Zhang Chi took a breath and continued, "Brother Zhao’s fiancée... the Ninth Princess of Yu Long Lake, her behavior is often quite improper..."
"I’ve personally seen her making eyes at the young talents of the Celestial Hearing Tower—and with more than one of them!"
"But as for whether this Ninth Princess has actually done anything to betray Brother Zhao, I can’t say for sure..."
Zhang Chi had hesitated before reporting this news, obviously because he knew Zou Feng had a good relationship with Zhao Feixiong.
Since Zou Feng and Zhao Feixiong were both Jiang Wanzhao’s right-hand men, it was only natural that they were on good terms.
Hearing this, Zou Feng was genuinely surprised.
Although he had long known that Luo Zhenzhen was a gold digger, he hadn’t expected her to take it this far.
’So all those times she had approached me, looking so forlorn and resentful, it wasn’t because she was genuinely upset about failing to secure a marriage alliance with me, but because she just enjoys flirting with other men?!’
’Thinking back on it now, maybe Luo Zhenzhen’s reluctance to participate in the matchmaking wasn’t because she was against the marriage alliance itself, but because she felt that once she was married, she wouldn’t be able to fool around as she pleased anymore?’
’In that case, I really need to give Zhao Feixiong a heads-up...’
At this point, Zhang Chi had finished his report. "Brother Zou, that’s all I’ve been able to find out for now..."
"I have to get back quickly to avoid arousing unnecessary suspicion!"
Zou Feng nodded. "Take this Immortal Fate. If you discover anything else, contact me anytime."
Hearing this, Zhang Chi immediately took out his Token and glanced at it.
One look was all it took to leave him completely stunned.
Zhang Chi had originally thought that for the intel he had risked so much to deliver, Zou Feng might reward him with a few thousand points of Immortal Fate, which would have been quite generous.
Instead, Zou Feng had directly transferred fifty thousand points of Immortal Fate!
For a Spiritual Energy Realm disciple, suddenly receiving fifty thousand points of Immortal Fate was no different from striking it rich.
With this Immortal Fate, combined with the fact that Zhang Chi’s Cultivation Talent wasn’t bad to begin with, it meant he could soon attempt to break through to the Dao Foundation Realm.
"This... Brother Zou, this is too much..." Zhang Chi said, alarmed.
"Just take it. The intelligence you just provided is worth this price!" After a pause, Zou Feng added, "Once it’s confirmed that Wang Buyi really is a turncoat, your information will be worth ten times this amount, and that’s no exaggeration!"
Zou Feng wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest. After all, if the Commander-in-Chief was compromised, it could be fatal at a critical moment.
The Celestial Hearing Tower would face the danger of being completely breached...
Only then did Zhang Chi put away his Token. He gave Zou Feng a respectful bow before turning and leaving quickly.
Zou Feng, however, was in no hurry to leave. After having Xiaolv patrol for a while longer to confirm no one had been in the vicinity, he finally sped back toward the Celestial Hearing Tower.
Along the way, he used his Token to send a message to Jiang Wanzhao, informing her that Wang Buyi was very likely compromised.
Jiang Wanzhao’s reply was simple: "Will you test him, or shall I?"
Mere words were not proof, and besides, Wang Buyi was one of Yu Lingxiao’s people. They had to find concrete evidence before they could take him down.
Zou Feng replied, "Don’t worry, Senior Sister Jiang. I have a way!"