Chapter 25: Chapter 21: Grand Sovereign of Freedom, Wondrous Jade, and Turbid Son of Heaven

In the Chongyun Peak Mansion, Xuzhuang and Han Wang chatted about everything under the sun. The host and guest were thoroughly enjoying themselves, finding great rapport, and before they knew it, dusk had fallen.

Xuzhuang refilled their teacups. Han Wang took a light sip and smiled. "My apologies. I got so caught up in our conversation that I’ve disturbed you for hours, Junior Brother. I did come here on official business, after all."

"Please, speak freely, Senior Brother," Xuzhuang said.

"There are two main matters today. The first, of course, is taking Chen Yuanji to the Law Enforcement Hall," Han Wang said. "Although you had just cause to capture him, Junior Brother Xu, it was still a breach of protocol. Chen Yuanji must be taken back to the Law Enforcement Hall for a proper interrogation and verdict."

"That’s only right." Xuzhuang had no intention of holding on to Chen Yuanji anyway. At Han Wang’s words, he flicked his sleeve and released a divine technique. The hazy scene of the man’s collapse replayed, and Chen Yuanji tumbled across the floor twice before his form materialized. Xuzhuang pointed a finger and smiled. "Here he is. Senior Brother, he’s all yours."

Tumbling across the ground, Chen Yuanji felt completely disoriented. The motion seemed to jolt his sluggish senses back to life, and he faintly heard a familiar voice say, "Here he is. Senior Brother, he’s all yours."

Before his muddled brain could even process the words, his mouth moved on instinct, roaring, "Xuzhuang, you scoundrel—!"

Han Wang’s brow furrowed. With a sudden point of his finger, a colorless beam of divine light shot out, enveloped Chen Yuanji, and whisked him away to some unknown place. Not another sound was heard from him. Only then did Han Wang smile again. "Well then, I’ll be taking him into custody."

He paused thoughtfully before continuing, "Junior Brother, if you don’t mind me saying, while you had your reasons for acting, it was far too reckless. Since Grandmaster Chen established the family, the Chen Family has grown for over thirty-seven hundred years. Their influence within the sect is immense. Their reputation as a great house is not just for show."

At this, he gave a self-deprecating smile. After all, when it came to great houses, his own Han Race was known as one of the five great clans, with a lineage and deeply entrenched power that far surpassed that of the Chen Family.

"You may not be aware of this, Junior Brother, but one of the four Vice Deans in the Law Enforcement Hall is from the Chen Family. Although I managed to take charge of this matter first, bringing him back... well, I’m afraid there’s bound to be some squabbling."

Xuzhuang was secretly astonished. He was of common birth, with neither a powerful background nor a master to guide him. Although he now ranked among the True Disciples, he hadn’t yet had the chance to learn about high-level figures like the Deans of the Law Enforcement Hall. Han Wang’s words made him realize there were many hidden intricacies he knew nothing about.

Though unafraid, Xuzhuang could sense Han Wang’s goodwill. He straightened his posture and gave a formal bow. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

"Come now, there’s no need for such formalities between us." Han Wang waved his hand with a gentle smile. "I’m also somewhat aware of the feud between you and the Chen Family. The affair with the Celestial Fire Sect is a significant matter, even for them. The Chen Family is unlikely to just let this go and will probably look for trouble. You must remain vigilant. In short, you need to think things through more carefully in the future and act with caution."

"I will take your lesson to heart, Senior Brother," Xuzhuang said with a nod.

"Now, for the second matter." As he spoke, an odd expression came over Han Wang’s face. He looked Xuzhuang up and down. "Junior Brother, you’re quite famous across the Divine Continent now. You’d barely formed your Top-grade Golden Core before you made a name for yourself in a single battle—killing Celestial Fire Yang Lian right under the nose of the renowned Venerable Moonlight, and then walking away unscathed."

At this, Han Wang couldn’t help but break into a teasing smile. "Once word of this got out, the entire Cultivation Realm of the Divine Continent was shaken to its core. Everyone now knows that the Tai Su Orthodox Sect has produced a heaven-sent genius, a True Disciple whose talent is the stuff of legends."

"That... Is that really what happened? How could such a ridiculous rumor have spread?" Xuzhuang was mortified, forcing a wry smile. "If I’m not mistaken, Venerable Moonlight must have intentionally gone easy on me that day. Otherwise, with the spells and divine techniques of a Nascent Soul Venerable, how could he have been defeated so easily...?"

"I see." Han Wang nodded thoughtfully as he listened to Xuzhuang’s explanation. "No wonder Venerable Moonlight actually dared to show up at our gates. So he had already put a price on his pride..."

"What? Venerable Moonlight came to the sect?" Xuzhuang exclaimed in astonishment.

"Hahaha, that’s right. Venerable Moonlight showed up a few days ago, and the Master received him personally," Han Wang boomed with laughter. "And that brings me to the second reason I came to see you."

"After meeting with Venerable Moonlight, the Master issued two decrees. One was sent to the Celestial Craft Hall and the Foreign Affairs Hall. In the coming days, they will dispatch personnel to accompany Venerable Moonlight back to Xingyue Square to set up a Teleportation Array and establish a Tai Su Pavilion."

Xuzhuang listened intently, thinking to himself, ’I see. On the surface, Venerable Moonlight came demanding an explanation, but in reality, he used his pride as a bargaining chip. He must have struck some kind of deal with the Master to gain the sect’s support.’

The Teleportation Array was self-explanatory. The Tai Su Pavilion was an enterprise run by the Tai Su Sect’s Foreign Affairs Hall, a business for trading magical artifacts and pills, and circulating Tai Su Magic Coins. As a Treasure Pavilion-style merchant backed by the Tai Su Orthodox Sect, it would be immensely popular with cultivators no matter where in the Divine Land it opened.

The distance between Yunmeng Marsh and Xingyue Square was hundreds of thousands of li, reaching almost to the East Sea. The lands in between—the Central Pillar of Shenzhou and the Central Plains—had always been the Upper Profound Sect’s sphere of influence. The two regions had never had dealings before, let alone built a Teleportation Array or opened a Tai Su Pavilion.

"The second decree was sent to the Law Enforcement Hall." A strange smile played on Han Wang’s lips as he retrieved a silk decree from his sleeve. A terrible premonition suddenly rose in Xuzhuang’s heart. He then heard Han Wang recite in a formal tone: "True Disciple Xuzhuang, for committing vicious murder, failing to cultivate virtue, and damaging the reputation of Tai Su, is hereby confined to the Beiji Pavilion for ten years. He is forbidden from partaking in any and all sect affairs."