The Benevolent Cultivator, Vice-Cult Master Shi

The Silent Daoist and the Minister of Justice were sizing up the Venerable Heavenly Calamity when they heard a light yet very familiar voice coming from behind them, startling them both into a shiver.

"Master, Minister, it's been a long time."

"It's you!" Upon seeing the figure that had brought him to this state, the Calamity Venerable cried out in terror and desperately crawled forward.

The Silent Daoist and the Minister of Justice glanced sideways at Venerable Heavenly Calamity, thinking to themselves, "How come this old fellow's reaction is even bigger than ours?"

Both men were intelligent and immediately figured out the reason: this man had been chased by Yun Zhi and fled all the way here, trying to use the eerie atmosphere of the prison to conceal himself, but was caught red-handed by the two of them.

"If I'm not mistaken, this person is the Heavenly Calamity Venerable from the mid-period of the Great Yu Dynasty. He took advantage of the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony to order two ancient Nascent Body Integration Realm to rebel, forcing the Qingzhou governor to use the nation's fortune and the Supreme Sword phantom to fight back, thereby achieving his goal of obtaining intelligence."

"Fortunately, my junior brother was quick-witted and noticed something was wrong with the two ancient Nascent Body Integration Realm. He notified me in time, which allowed me to capture him."

"If he were to pass on information about the nation's destiny and the Supreme Sword to other ancient cultivators, it would inevitably cause considerable trouble."

"I knew it was strange. How could an unfamiliar Integrated Body Realm Cultivator suddenly appear? Turns out it's an ancient Body Integration Realm!" The Minister of Justice glared at Venerable Heavenly Calamity, gritting his teeth.

The Silent Daoist also stopped joking around. The ancient cultivators were among those who suffered during the Great Xia Dynasty's calamity.

Yun Zhi narrowed her eyes slightly. This was the second time she had caught an ancient cultivator at the Tribulation Transcendence stage. Previously, she had reached a consensus with the other four sect leaders of the Five Great Immortal Sects and Emperor Xia, believing that ancient cultivators would awaken one by one over time. The one awakening now was at the Body Integration Realm, and the one awakening in the future would be at the Tribulation Transcendence stage.

Judging from the actions of this ancient being in the Tribulation Transcendence stage, he already knew about the fate of the nation and the Supreme Sword, and must have awakened long ago.

"It seems that many ancient cultivators are hiding in places we don't know about." Yun Zhi's cold tone revealed a hint of displeasure. These dull-witted people, even to become immortals, still need to calculate time and plan many things, bringing disaster to the world.

The body of the Heavenly Calamity Venerable was withered and dying, as if he might die at any moment. Seeing his appearance, Yun Zhi gently pointed her index finger and pulled out the soul of the Heavenly Calamity Venerable.

Taking the soul back would be much easier.

It's better to have only a soul than a body on the verge of collapse.

Yun Zhi held an invisible chain in her right hand, the other end of which was the bound Venerable of Heavenly Calamity.

"By the way, Master, Minister, your capture of Venerable Tianzai is a great achievement. I will inform Emperor Xia about it." Yun Zhi suddenly said before leaving.

The two were taken aback at first, then overjoyed; such a great achievement was enough to get them released from prison.

They thought they were going to miss their chance to get out of prison.

"Where can I find an ancient cultivator to take revenge on?" Vice Sect Leader Shi pondered. He always sought revenge and never let it linger overnight.

"Fellow Daoist, your noble character and integrity in seeking out ancient cultivators is truly admirable!" A hearty laugh rang out, filled with joy.

Vice Leader Shi felt the voice was somewhat familiar. He turned his head and his eyelids twitched – it was the governor.

The governor clasped his hands in a fist salute to Vice Master Shi, his attitude sincere. "I do not know where you are from, or what your name is. To have seriously injured the Heavenly Calamity Venerable by taking advantage of the tribulation of lightning is truly a great achievement. Please come with me back to my residence, and I will certainly reward you accordingly. Afterwards, I will submit a memorial to the imperial court to award you a prize!"

Like Yun Zhi, the governor followed closely behind Venerable Tianzai, but he was not as fast as Yun Zhi and did not witness the entire event.

When he arrived, Vice Master Shi was pulling Venerable Tianzai through the tribulation of lightning. Venerable Tianzai tried to escape several times, but Vice Master Shi stopped him each time. Vice Master Shi was even laughing gloatingly, and it was clear from his words that he had a grudge against Venerable Tianzai. After the tribulation of lightning, Vice Master Shi even tied up Venerable Tianzai, as if he was afraid that he would escape.

The governor imagined the following scene: Vice Master Shi was a Rogue Cultivator undergoing tribulation in a desolate place. He noticed that Venerable Tianzai had a strong bloody aura and had committed many evil deeds, so he used the tribulation to forcibly keep him there.

Good people!

The governor was deeply moved and immediately said he would stay and reward Vice-Master Shi.

Vice Leader Shi shook his head repeatedly. How could he dare to go with the governor? If the governor discovered his identity, wouldn't the governor be promoted a rank?

This isn't what he said; that's what's recorded on the bounty list.

"Your Excellency, you are too kind. I merely disapproved of these lawless ancient cultivators committing atrocities, and thus punished them. As for reward, there is no reason to seek reward for upholding justice; that would be putting the cart before the horse. Farewell!"

After saying that, he left in a hurry, not giving the governor a chance to stop him.

As the governor gazed at the vanished Vice-Sect Leader Shi, he exclaimed from the bottom of his heart, "Truly a virtuous hermit cultivator."

During the grand ceremony in Qingzhou, two ancient Nascent Body Integration Realm were captured, their cultivation sealed, and they are being guarded by several Nascent Body Integration Realm cultivators in shifts. The imperial court will soon dispatch the Luoshui Guards to take these two ancient Body Integration Realm away, sever their meridians, and imprison them in the Heavenly Prison.

Officials performed their duties and maintained order. With the governor absent, Xia Qun was the highest-ranking official. He was stationed in the government office, directing and coordinating the work, and everything was gradually returning to normal.

While it's called recovery, the impact of this incident was not primarily material, but rather a significant psychological shock.

Ancient Body Integration Realm, national fortune, the illusory image of the Supreme Sword, ancient Tribulation Transcendence stage cultivators, mysterious powerful beings who can easily suppress Tribulation Transcendence stage cultivators... these are not things that ordinary cultivators can come into contact with.

Not to mention ordinary cultivators, even Lan Ting and the others were stunned and hadn't come to their senses.

Lu Yang didn't react much. What was the Tribulation Transcendence? In his spiritual space, there was the First Immortal of High Antiquity and the First Beauty of High Antiquity Times. They often talked about High Antiquity secrets and immortals. The Tribulation Transcendence stage didn't even rank among them.

He overheard passersby discussing what had just happened.

"Thank goodness that powerful figure intervened, otherwise we would have been in danger." A Golden Core cultivator said thankfully. He had almost thought he was going to die, and now he felt incredibly lucky to be alive.

His companion agreed, the fear still lingering in his eyes. "Who says otherwise? Speaking of which, what did that powerful being look like again?"

"You've forgotten what your savior looked like... Right, what did that powerful figure look like? Was it a man or a woman?"

The two looked at each other, puzzled.

Passersby on the other side were also discussing the fight that had just taken place.

"The governor is amazing! He withstood a Tribulation Transcendence- level Law Treasure all by himself."

"That's nothing compared to what the governor almost killed that ancient Tribulation Transcendence stage! Especially that sword strike—it was heaven-defying!"

"Sword? What sword?"

"With your brain, what kind of sword is it made of... what was it again?"

"Speaking of which, what weapon did the Governor use to defeat the ancient Body Integration Realm?"

The two were completely bewildered and quickly forgot about what had just happened.

Lu Yang frowned as he watched this scene, recalling clearly the national destiny, the illusory Supreme Sword, and his senior sister.

"Fairy, what's going on?"