After the belly hatch opened, a grand general in Profound Fire Armor appeared, his presence like a mountain range. When he spoke, it was as if the mountains crumbled,

"I am Tu Yiqian, Grand General Zhenyue of the Phoenix Dynasty, ordered by the Emperor to capture the criminals Fan Wubing, Luo Qingyao, Fu Manman, and Zhuge Hong. Surrender now!"

Fan Wubing calmly asked, "What crime have we committed?"

Tu Yiqian’s eyes widened with rage, "Look at what Sun-shooting Pass has become! Everywhere you see is proof of your guilt, don’t try to argue!"

The Celestial Tribulation Stone Wall of Sun-shooting Pass had been shattered by the collision of the Starlight Shock and New Moon Chaos.

Inside the pass, Sword Qi rampantly spilled out, wherever it reached, all energies and paths were crushed.

"Senior Brother, what do we do? Should we slip away?" Luo Qingyao transmitted via Divine Soul Communication to Fan Wubing.

Fan Wubing shook his head. If it was just him, he would have slipped away long ago, even with Luo Qingyao, it wouldn’t be a problem. But Fu Manman, as the Little Freedom Official of White Jade Capital, wasn’t someone they could just abandon. Moreover, Zhuge Hong was a native of White Emperor City in the Phoenix Dynasty; with family still in White Emperor City, there was no way she could escape.

"We’ll go with you."

Tu Yiqian waved a large hand, and four chains entwined with flames were about to bind them.

Fan Wubing’s eyelids drooped slightly, and the four chains instantly disintegrated,

"I said we’d go with you, not be taken by you."

"How dare you!" Tu Yiqian shouted angrily, about to forcibly capture them, but suddenly felt all the blood in his body stop flowing. A tremendous pressure forced into the Purple Mansion at his brow, only half a step more and it would crush his divine soul.

Cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead, and he swallowed hard, "How dare you!"

Fan Wubing chuckled, "I’m an honest and straightforward person, but it’s best not to push honest people too hard."

Tu Yiqian glared, clenching his teeth, but had to agree to Fan Wubing’s request.

The four of them boarded the Flying Ship and headed swiftly toward White Emperor City.

...

Having learned a lesson, Fan Wubing and the others were not immediately thrown into prison but were placed in a side hall of the Phoenix Emperor Palace. However, outside the hall was a dense array of restrictions to prevent them from escaping.

Zhuge Hong curiously asked,

"Will we be imprisoned?"

Fan Wubing smiled, "You don’t seem worried at all."

Zhuge Hong grabbed Fu Manman’s right hand with her left, and Luo Qingyao’s left hand with her right,

"If I’m imprisoned with two senior sisters, I won’t worry."

Luo Qingyao was momentarily stunned, thinking this girl was full of spirit, a natural at making friends. She knew well that a child with this kind of personality was the hardest for her senior brother to handle, just like... herself back in the day.

Zhuge Hong snickered, "And master, if you were in prison alone, you’d be lonely."

Fan Wubing rolled his eyes, too lazy to respond.

It wasn’t long before footsteps sounded outside.

These footsteps were very unique, every step’s volume and interval were exactly the same, without the slightest difference, as if meticulously calculated. Furthermore, they didn’t stir any changes in energy, right outside the door, yet giving a feeling of being far away.

The hall door opened, and light shone through.

The four of them squinted in the light, only seeing a silhouette gradually approaching.

Only when it almost completely blocked the light could they clearly see her appearance.

A woman.

Such a noble appearance immediately made them think of the Emperor of the Phoenix Dynasty, Li Qian.

But she wasn’t dressed in imperial robes, nor wearing a gold crown, but had long hair flowing down over a dark robe adorned with golden threads. Like Li Yuan, she had a pair of very bright eyes, without any impurities or spots, but her gaze was much sharper, unlike Li Yuan’s gentle look. Her delicate nose, pink lips, jade ears, petite face... every feature was full of delicacy.

However, when she appeared in front of them, they could only feel the regal aura of an emperor from her.

Just like Zhuge Hong said, this Empress might be the most domineering woman in the world.

Li Qian, without looking sideways, walked to the central position in the hall, then turned around,

"Please sit."

Her voice was also delicate, but every syllable was filled with invisible strength, bringing pressure to those who heard.

Fan Wubing and the others sat down.

Li Qian placed her hands crossed over her lap, glanced at the four,

"What you did at Sun-shooting Pass led to its collapse. Since you happened to be entering from a checkpoint managed by the Phoenix Dynasty, the Phoenix Dynasty will conduct your trial. Do you have any objections?"

Fan Wubing asked, "The Emperor personally interrogates?"

Li Qian looked at Fan Wubing, "Given your identities, within the imperial dynasty, apart from me, there’s probably no one else qualified to judge you." She then looked at Fu Manman, "Fuxianzi, as the Human World Executor Dao of Wangxian Pavilion and the Little Freedom Official of White Jade Capital, your detention has been respectively informed to Wangxian Pavilion and White Jade Capital, representatives will soon arrive to partake in the trial with this dynasty."

She then said to Luo Qingyao,

"Star-Plucking Great Sword Immortal, a disciple of the Everlasting Realm Luo Family, the Luo family has also been notified."

"What about me, what about me?" Zhuge Hong eagerly asked.

Fan Wubing held his forehead, why are you so eager! Is this something to be proud of!

"You are a citizen of the Phoenix Dynasty, according to the laws, you can be directly judged."

"Aren’t you notifying the Mo Family?"

Li Qian looked at her and said, "If you wish, this dynasty can notify the Mo Family."

Zhuge Hong nodded with satisfaction.

Li Qian finally looked at Fan Wubing,

"As for Young Master Fan. By rights, this dynasty should notify the Fan Family in Little South Continent where you are located, but according to the recently jointly issued ’Draft Provisions’ by Wenxin Heaven and White Jade Capital, this dynasty can directly conduct any form of trial for you."