Arrest Warrant

This is the final resting place of the Han Clan's ancestors.

Si Ming looked up and saw that the mausoleum's architectural layout resembled a giant treasure bottle, divided into inner and outer walls. The outer wall alone was six zhang high, two zhang wide, and several kilometers long. The entire structure had red walls and yellow tiles, undulating with the mountain's contours, making it magnificent and spectacular. Its layout was ingenious, and its craftsmanship and relief carvings were exquisite.

At the southern end of the outer city are two mausoleum gates, known as the New Red Gate and the Old Red Gate. When Si Ming steps into the Red Gate, the first thing that catches his eye is the Lingdao, which is lined with statues on both sides, including famous civil and military officials from various dynasties. Each one has a vivid and lifelike expression, and you can understand what kind of personality the person was in life just by looking at the statue.

After passing through the outer city wall and entering the inner city, Si Ming took out an instrument from his bag, filled it with True Qi, and pressed the mechanism. It immediately started operating, and the decorative ornament above it, which looked like an antenna, spun rapidly, emitting a beeping sound.

This instrument, called the Divine Pillar Detector, is a simple machine created by the Mohist Academy of Science based on data collected about the environment surrounding the God-Sealing Platform. It can analyze whether Divine Pillar sealed nearby based on the density of spiritual energy in the air.

A moment later, the indicator light on the Divine Pillar Detector turned red, and the beeping alarm became more rapid.

"No way, the Divine Pillar is really here!"

Even though he was in charge, Si Ming was still taken aback. He hadn't expected the trip to go so smoothly. They had found their target on the very first trip. All he had to do was relay the message to the France emperor, reminding him to be on guard and, ideally, to send someone to place a seal to further conceal the aura of the Divine Pillar. That would be equivalent to completing the trial. After all, the Four Heavenly Divine Pillars weren't something you could just make appear obediently.

Like the one in Linked Mountains City, Remote Heaven Society hypnotized the entire city, gathering the thoughts of all the citizens to make the Divine Pillar materialize and be forced to appear in the world. Even if there were other methods, it would not be so easy to achieve.

"It feels like things are going too smoothly. Could it be a conspiracy by the Remote Heaven Society?"

Si Ming thought for a while but couldn't figure out how Remote Heaven Society play. In terms of strength, the France royal family certainly didn't have the guts to confront Remote Heaven Society, which had many Nascent Spirit Transformation, head-on. However, they didn't need to confront them directly. They just needed to find a group of people to perform a ritual, add a few more sealing formations, or leave some Divine Arts traps to ensure that others couldn't summon the Divine Pillar. That would be enough.

This is, after all, the mausoleum of the France royal family. They would never dare to sit idly by and watch others disturb the peace of their ancestors. If the mausoleum were damaged, it would inevitably cause unrest throughout the country. Rumors such as "the feng shui has been destroyed," "the dragon vein has been cut off," and "their fate is about to end" would certainly be spread everywhere by those with ulterior motives.

"Could it be that this place is just a decoy, a distraction, while the real Divine Pillar is somewhere else?"

This was the only conspiracy Si Ming could think of, but dealing with it was also very simple. Regardless of whether the information was true or false, he just needed to visit all the suspicious locations. If a second location showed a reaction, it would prove that someone had indeed tampered with it.

"Never mind that, let's tell our master and the others first."

Chapter 488 Arrest Warrant

Using the Third Prince's connections, Si Ming went to inspect the most sensitive imperial tomb, while Ling Huanxi and her apprentice Murong Qing went to inspect another suspicious location—an abandoned hospital frequently rumored to be haunted. Murong Qing made a great effort to muster the courage to go along—mainly because she couldn't bring herself to admit to her elders that she was afraid of ghosts.

Yan Jinghong, a workaholic, skipped his mission again because he had promised Su Yingbo that he would go to visit the old general while drinking yesterday.

The old general's name was Wang Zhong, and he was Su Yingbo's mentor. He had also given guidance to Yan Jinghong in the past. Since he had come to France, it was only right and proper for him to meet him.

In fact, Yan Jinghong's initial plan was to use Su Yingbo and Old General Wang's connections to gather intelligence in Faxian City and solve some access problems in sensitive locations. Si Ming believed that cooperating with local forces would make it easier to collect intelligence, a point that Yan Jinghong had already considered, which was one of the reasons he accompanied him. However, he did not expect that before he could take any action, his disciple had already hooked up with the Third Prince.

Incidentally, Su Yingbo is the Grand Commander of the Imperial Army, responsible for protecting the safety of the palace. He is the only Spirit Transformation cultivator who will obey the royal family's orders. However, he obeys the emperor's orders and has no interest in the struggle between the two princes. Therefore, he chooses to remain neutral and does not take sides. In any case, no matter who wins, they will eventually try to win over his bodyguard.

Most Spirit Transformation cultivators share the same mentality. Although being a fence-sitter often pleases neither side, as long as you have a superior status, you can transcend the black-and-white distinction and be appeased regardless of who wins or loses in the end.

Conversely, if you choose to support one side, winning is fine and you can indeed reap many benefits, but losing will lead to retaliation from the successor. Although even the emperor would not dare to easily touch Spirit Transformation expert, it is not difficult to suppress them using political tactics, such as promoting your mortal enemy or making things difficult for your relatives and friends.

Why bother becoming a fisherman when you can sit back and fish from the sidelines? This is why most Spirit Transformation cultivators don't choose to take sides. They are already wealthy and enjoy riches and honors, so there's no need for them to take risks. Besides, from the perspective of personal cultivation, even if they have merit in following the leader, the help they receive is very limited, at most benefiting their Lineage.

That's fine, at least I don't have to go to see old friends with ulterior motives. Yan Jinghong comforted herself in her heart.

Upon arriving at the agreed-upon location, Yan Jinghong waited for a quarter of an hour before Su Yingbo arrived with a beautiful woman.

"This is my good brother. You've heard of his famous name, 'Startling Rainbow Beyond the Heavens Yan Jinghong.'"

Then, Su Yingbo introduced the woman beside him to Yan Jinghong with a happy expression, "This is my wife, her surname is Ai, and her given name is Qing."

Yan Jinghong didn't put on airs and greeted her, "Hello, sister-in-law."

A quick glance revealed that the woman was slender, with a similar build to the fourth sister. However, while the fourth sister was a Nascent Spirit Transformation with a restrained aura, this woman was just an ordinary person with Internal Cultivation below level four. She was truly thin and frail, giving off an impression of being delicate and fragile. However, her skin was exceptionally well-maintained, clearly indicating that she was a well-bred young lady who never lifted a finger, and most likely came from a scholarly family. Furthermore, her slightly protruding lower abdomen suggested that she was probably pregnant.

Ai Qing carefully observed Yan Jinghong, as if confirming whether the other party was True Person. After a moment, she came back to her senses and apologized, "I'm sorry, I was rude. I didn't expect it to be a real 'Startling Rainbow Beyond the Heavens.' I thought Yingbo had someone trick me... I didn't expect Yingbo to really know this benevolent and renowned hero. It turns out what he told me before wasn't just boasting."

Su Yingbo smiled wryly, "I am, after all, Spirit Transformation Grandmaster stage. What's so strange about me getting to know some peers?"

"It's all because you're so unserious and lack any dignity that I often forget this."

Why should I put on airs of authority over my own wife?

"You don't seem to have much authority in the eyes of your subordinates; they never intentionally lose to you when playing cards."

"Ahem, ahem, that's because I care for my subordinates and get along well with them, thus boosting morale. It's normal for a woman like you to be ignorant of military strategy and its principles."

Ai Qing retorted, "Who says I don't understand military strategy? I've read more military books than you. What is the way of a general? The way of a general is to share the joys and sorrows, the safety and dangers, with his soldiers, so that the whole army is of one mind and vows to be loyal to the death. The military prophecy says: If the well is not yet dug, the general will not complain of thirst; if the tent is not yet prepared, the general will not complain of fatigue; if the stove is not yet cooked, the general will not complain of hunger; in winter, he will not wear a fur coat; in summer, he will not use a fan; in the rain, he will not use a canopy. This is the etiquette of a general."

"Yes, yes, Madam is absolutely right. I am ignorant of military strategy and have offended Your Majesty. I hope you will forgive me."

Watching the two flirt, Yan Jinghong recalled Su Yingbo's past image and couldn't help but sigh that love could truly change a person, turning a martial arts fanatic obsessed with cultivation into a good family man. She couldn't help but chuckle and say, "You two have such a good relationship."

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Uncle Yan," Ai Qing said, realizing there were other people present. Her face flushed slightly, and she pinched Su Yingbo, complaining, "It's all your fault. You made me lose face in front of others, especially in front of a world-renowned hero."

Su Yingbo felt wronged, but could only try to appease him.

Seeing that the two were still showering each other with affection, Yan Jinghong could only urge them, "Brother Su, it's time to set off. Don't keep the old general waiting."

"Let's go, let's go, we're leaving now."

"You brat, you're half an hour late! You come to visit and I have to wait for you? You're putting on airs like the Emperor! Don't you even know what it means to respect your teacher?"

As soon as Su Yingbo entered the door, he was met with a barrage of insults from an elderly man with a full head of white hair, piercing eyes, and a vigorous spirit.

"Master, you blame me without even asking why. What if Yan Jinghong was delayed on the way?"

"Bullshit! Do you think I don't know what kind of person Yan Jinghong is? Do you think every Nascent Spirit Transformation in the world is as unambitious, lacking in self-discipline, and without any drive for improvement as you?"

Su Yingbo had no rebuttal, so Ai Qing quickly stepped in to comfort the old general and tell him to take a break.

"Senior, it's been a long time. Seeing that you look even more energetic than before puts my mind at ease."