As Daoist Buyu and the Minister of Justice looked Venerable Calamity up and down, an airy yet thoroughly familiar voice drifted in from behind them, startling both into a simultaneous shiver.
"Master, Lord Minister, it has been a while."
"It's you!" Upon seeing the very figure responsible for reducing him to this wretched state, Venerable Calamity let out a terrified shriek and scrambled forward with all his might.
Daoist Buyu and the Minister of Justice looked at Venerable Calamity from the corners of their eyes, thinking: *Why on earth is this old geezer reacting even harder than the two of us?*
Both were clever men and pieced together the reason in an instant: this fellow had been pursued by Yun Zhi, fleeing all the way here in hopes of masking his presence with the gloomy chill of the prison, only to run straight into their clutches.
"If my assessment is correct, this person is Venerable Calamity from the mid-Great Yu Dynasty. Taking advantage of the Grand Qingzhou Festival, he commanded two ancient Body Integration cultivators to incite a riot, forcing the Qingzhou Provincial Governor to deploy the national destiny and the Taishang Sword projection in battle, all to gather intelligence.
"Fortunately, Little Junior Brother was sharp. Noticing that something was amiss with the two ancient Body Integration cultivators, he informed me in time, allowing me to capture him.
"Had he passed information regarding the national destiny and the Taishang Sword to other ancient cultivators, it would inevitably have caused considerable trouble."
"I knew it was bizarre—how could some unfamiliar Body Integration cultivator pop up out of nowhere? Turns out it's another ancient one!" The Minister of Justice glared at Venerable Calamity, grinding his teeth.
Daoist Buyu dropped his usual flippancy as well. Ancient cultivators were among the greatest threats looming over Great Xia.
Yun Zhi narrowed her eyes slightly. This was the second time she had captured an ancient Tribulation Transcendence cultivator. Previously, she, the masters of the other four sects among the Five Great Immortal Sects, and Emperor Xia had reached a consensus: ancient cultivators would awaken one after another over time; currently, Body Integration cultivators were awakening, and in the future, Tribulation Transcendence cultivators would awaken.
Judging by this ancient Tribulation Transcendence cultivator's actions, however, he had known about the national destiny and the Taishang Sword all along, meaning he must have awakened quite early.
"It seems that in places beyond our knowledge, many ancient cultivators lie in hiding." A trace of displeasure tinged Yun Zhi's cold voice. These mediocre fools, having to calculate eras and scheme endlessly just to ascend, only brought calamities to the mortal realm.
Venerable Calamity's physical vessel was withered and emaciated, his aura so feeble that he looked ready to perish at any moment. Seeing him like this, Yun Zhi lightly flicked her index finger, pulling Venerable Calamity's soul clean out of his body.
Taking just the soul back would be far more convenient.
Rather than dragging around a vessel on the verge of collapse, having only the soul was preferable.
Yun Zhi held an invisible chain in her right hand; at the other end was Venerable Calamity, tightly bound.
"By the way, Master, Lord Minister, capturing Venerable Calamity counts as a major contribution. I will inform Emperor Xia of this matter," Yun Zhi said suddenly before departing.
The two froze for a moment, then beamed with overwhelming joy. A monumental merit like this was easily enough to get them out of prison!
They had assumed they were going to miss this golden opportunity for release.
***
*Where should I go to find ancient cultivators for revenge?* Vice Cult Master Shi pondered. He was a man who settled grudges immediately, never letting them sit overnight.
"Fellow Daoist possesses truly lofty integrity to actively seek out ancient cultivators! Sun is thoroughly impressed!" A hearty laugh rang out, brimming with delight.
Vice Cult Master Shi thought the voice sounded somewhat familiar. Turning his head, his eyelids twitched—it was the provincial governor!
The governor cupped his hands toward Vice Cult Master Shi, speaking with earnest sincerity: "May I ask where Fellow Daoist hails from, and what your esteemed name is? Seizing the opportunity of your lightning tribulation to heavily wound that Venerable Calamity is truly a tremendous service. Please accompany me back to my estate; I will certainly see you handsomely rewarded. Afterward, I shall memorialize the imperial court to confer an award upon you!"
Like Yun Zhi, the governor had been tracking Venerable Calamity, though he was not as fast as her and had missed the full sequence of events.
By the time he arrived, Vice Cult Master Shi was in the midst of dragging Venerable Calamity through the lightning tribulation. Calamity had tried to escape multiple times, only to be cut off at every turn by Vice Cult Master Shi. Shi had even laughed with gloating malice—anyone hearing it would know he held a deep grudge against Venerable Calamity. And after the tribulation ended, Vice Cult Master Shi had trussed Calamity up firmly, terrified the man would flee.
The governor mentally pieced together the scene: Vice Cult Master Shi was a reclusive rogue cultivator undergoing his lightning tribulation in an uninhabited wilderness. Discerning the thick stench of blood on Venerable Calamity and recognizing him as an evildoer steeped in wickedness, he had used the tribulation to forcibly pin him down.
*What a virtuous cultivator!*
The governor was deeply moved, and stepped forward on the spot, determined to reward Vice Cult Master Shi.
Vice Cult Master Shi shook his head repeatedly. How would he dare go with the governor? If the governor found out his true identity, wouldn't the governor get an instant promotion?
Those were not his own words—that was literally what was written on the bounty notices!
"Your Excellency is too kind. I merely could not stomach the vile deeds of these lawless ancient cultivators and took it upon myself to administer punishment. As for rewards—how could one expect compensation for acting with chivalry and justice? Would that not put the cart before the horse? Farewell!"
With that, he departed in haste, giving the governor no chance to urge him to stay.
Watching Vice Cult Master Shi vanish into the distance, the governor sighed with heartfelt admiration: "Truly a reclusive cultivator of great virtue."
***
At the Grand Qingzhou Festival, the two ancient Body Integration cultivators had already been captured, their cultivation sealed. Several Body Integration experts guarded them in turns. Soon, the imperial court would dispatch the Luoshui Guards to take custody of the two ancient Body Integration captives, sever their meridians, and lock them in the Imperial Prison.
The officials attended to their respective duties, maintaining order. In the governor's absence, Xia Qun was the highest-ranking official present; presiding over the provincial yamen, he coordinated and dispatched orders, bringing everything steadily back to normalcy.
Yet while order was being restored, the true impact of this incident was not material, but psychological.
Ancient Body Integration cultivators, the national destiny, the Taishang Sword projection, an ancient Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, and a mysterious powerhouse capable of effortlessly suppressing a Tribulation Transcendence figure... none of these were things ordinary cultivators ever encountered.
Let alone ordinary cultivators, even Lan Ting and the others were dazed, unable to process what had happened.
Lu Yang, on the other hand, had little reaction. What was an ancient Tribulation Transcendence cultivator? In his spiritual space resided the foremost immortal of antiquity, the head of the Ten Ancient Beauties, who casually tossed around ancient secrets involving immortals—next to that, Tribulation Transcendence cultivators did not even rate.
He overheard passersby discussing the recent battle.
"Fortunately that powerhouse stepped in, or we would have been in mortal peril," a Golden Core stage cultivator said with relief. He had nearly thought his life was over, and now felt blessed just to be alive.
His companion agreed, the fear in his eyes not yet fully faded. "Indeed. But come to think of it... what did that powerhouse look like again?"
"How could you forget the face of our savior... Wait, what *did* that powerhouse look like? Were they a man or a woman?"
The two exchanged glances, utterly baffled.
Passersby on the other side were also discussing the recent battle.
"His Excellency the Governor was incredible, single-handedly withstanding a Tribulation Transcendence-grade magic treasure."
"That's nothing! His Excellency nearly slew that ancient Tribulation Transcendence cultivator! Especially that sword strike—it defied the heavens!"
"Sword? What sword?"
"What's wrong with your head? It was that sword formed from... from what was it formed again?"
"Speaking of which, what weapon did His Excellency use to defeat the ancient Body Integration cultivators?"
The two were filled with question marks, having completely forgotten what had just occurred in the blink of an eye.
Lu Yang furrowed his brows as he watched this. Searching his own memories—the national destiny, the Taishang Sword projection, Eldest Senior Sister... he remembered every detail crystal clear.
"Fairy, what is going on here?"
Chapter 371