You want to dance too?

Seven immortal ships roared through the sky, blotting out the sun.

They resembled seven colossal whales drifting through the air, circling above Azure Phoenix City and casting moving shadows across the ground.

The flags, hulls, and even the undersides of these seven massive vessels were engraved with the emblem of the Immortal Court: Black Sword Auspicious Cloud.

The Black Sword Auspicious Cloud was inscribed with high-level defensive restrictions. Though they emitted no spiritual pressure, they possessed an inherent, imposing authority—a majesty of the Heavenly Dao that demanded one bow their head in submission, too daunting to even look upon.

Shadows blanketed the streets of Azure Phoenix City.

City residents and travelers alike stood still, craning their necks to look upward.

Stunned.

Bewildered.

Uneasy...

Everyone understood that the arrival of seven Immortal Court warships at once meant this was an inspection team from the East Floating Immortal Court.

Furthermore, there had been no prior notice and no warning from spiritual pressure sensors, which meant this was a surprise inspection!

Surprise inspections rarely brought good news; this was common knowledge in the Immortal Realm.

Was Azure Phoenix City not under the protection of the White Lotus Sect?

Why had the Immortal Court suddenly come to inspect it?

Ning Zhongzi stepped quickly out of the Yuelai Inn.

Only now did she realize that the "guests" Chen Daozai had mentioned were actually the Immortal Court inspection team. No wonder he had said Azure Phoenix City might not last until the beast tide arrived...

But how could Chen Daozai have known?

Black Stone had clearly said the surprise inspection would be in a year; why had they arrived now?

Why had even a minor character like Zhang Pingzhi appeared?

Arriving at the edge of the plaza cliff, Ning Zhongzi lowered her head and bowed with cupped hands, respectfully welcoming the inspectors. Her heart, however, was in a state of turmoil, unable to find peace.

Before long, the Chief Inspection Deacon of the East Floating Immortal Court, Xu Yinglong, descended from the immortal ship with a haughty posture and hands behind his back, accompanied by two high-ranking deacons, Zhang Pingzhi, and several guards.

He immediately dispatched a squad to surround the Kun body.

With his hands behind his back and his belly protruding, he looked around. Wherever his gaze fell, the Immortal Commoner would lower their head and bow, not daring to meet his eyes.

Before him, Ning Zhongzi remained composed, saying only in a respectful voice:

"Ning Zhongzi of the Bamboo Spring Sect greets the honorable deacons."

A trace of displeasure flickered in Xu Yinglong's narrow, disdainful eyes. He was dissatisfied with Ning Zhongzi's honorifics and even more incensed by the fact that the welcoming party consisted of only one person. However, his goal today did not lie here, and there was no need to complicate matters, so he said coldly:

"Why are you the only one here?"

Ning Zhongzi calmly explained:

"The Sect Master fears causing offense to you honorable lords, so she is currently in seclusion within her palace. If you wish to see her, you may take this Green Bamboo Slip, and I shall go summon her."

Xu Yinglong took the Green Bamboo Slip, fiddling with it while looking suspicious. He did not actually want to see Liu Xuanye; he knew his own weakness for beauty, but he dared not gamble his life on a mere bamboo slip.

"No need. Tell your City Lord and the resident envoy to come see me."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Wine Fox Immortal walked over, accompanied by a Wolf Immortal and an Old Sheep Immortal. She had changed into an Immortal Court deacon's uniform, looking quite dashing and heroic. At the same time, she brought two members of the City Guard with her... This made her position become subtle. Did she represent the Immortal Court? Or the Bamboo Spring Sect?

Wine Fox Immortal's rank in the Immortal Court was one level lower than Xu Yinglong's, but she had no intention of giving him face. At the same time, as an Immortal Court deacon and a secret informant monitoring the Bamboo Spring Sect, she had no reason to openly defy Xu Yinglong either. She simply asked casually:

"Are you looking for me?"

Xu Yinglong stood tall with his hands behind his back, not even sparing Wine Fox Immortal a glance.

"So it was you acting as the resident envoy here. No wonder that fellow surnamed Lu was so arrogant, daring to even eat an Immortal Court Hunting Falcon."

Wine Fox Immortal could not be bothered to explain anything and asked directly:

"What have you come here for?"

Xu Yinglong smiled coldly, pacing with his hands behind his back.

"For over a thousand years, the Void Kun has slaughtered countless people in the East Floating District. Now that it happens to have died at the Bamboo Spring Sect, it is suddenly the private property of the Bamboo Spring Sect? Do you people have any regard for the Immortal Court at all?"

His voice suddenly deepened, his imposing official authority radiating from every word.

Ning Zhongzi, however, remained unmoved.

She thought to herself, the East Floating Immortal Court clearly advertised that Void Kun meat was delicious, effectively encouraging rogue immortals to hunt them; surely, it was a case of 'finders keepers'?

"I originally intended to hold your City Lord Lu accountable for the wanton killing of an Immortal Court Hunting Falcon. Considering this is his first offense and he has rendered meritorious service in establishing the city and gathering refugees, I shall let him off this once."

Xu Yinglong appeared as a bloated, middle-aged man with connections reaching the heavens, but his speech remained as slick as any career bureaucrat.

"This Deacon has come today to bring this Void Kun back to the East Floating Immortal Court for adjudication. Once the matter is settled, if it is confirmed that the Bamboo Spring Sect was indeed the one to hunt it, the Immortal Court will not treat you unfairly."

Ning Zhongzi's expression turned ugly.

He spoke with such high-sounding rhetoric, but the Void Kun would undoubtedly end up in his own pockets. Even if the Bamboo Spring Sect argued their case, at most, they would receive a commendation letter, an Immortal Flag, and a measly reward of five hundred Immortal Crystal.

The industries of Azure Phoenix City had yet to develop; without the Kun meat, it was effectively a death sentence for the city.

Black Stone also loved to line his pockets, but at least he understood the concept of sustainable exploitation. This Xu Yinglong, however, was prepared to loot everything and leave, regardless of whether the Bamboo Spring Sect lived or died.

Wine Fox Immortal knew Xu Yinglong all too well. Back in the day, he was nothing but a bully who used his background to oppress Immortal Commoner, seize treasures, and ravish wives and daughters—he was capable of every evil imaginable.

Now that he was older, he had transformed into a Chief Inspection Deacon, donning the mantle of official authority and image to pursue a refined path of devouring people without spitting out the bones.

However, Wine Fox Immortal had her own mission; she was in no position to stand against the Immortal Court.

She had come simply to see how Lu Ya would handle this situation.

Ning Zhongzi remained silent for a long time before suddenly looking up and asking point-blank:

"May I ask if Deacon Xu possesses a written seizure order signed by True Person Silver Moon?"

Hm?

Wine Fox Immortal was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected this woman to be so bold, even with Lu Ya backing her.

Although, according to the laws of the Immortal Court, an inspection team was required to provide a seizure order when confiscating private property.

But this was the first time she had ever seen someone actually dare to demand such documentation from an inspection team.

Who didn't know of Xu Yinglong's status?

Wasn't it incredibly easy for him to procure such a document?

Yet, this time, Xu Yinglong had not alerted his grand-uncle, nor had he contacted True Person Silver Moon.

Xu Yinglong didn't react immediately, frozen in place.

Zhang Pingzhi stepped forward at once, threateningly:

"Ning Zhongzi, are you questioning Deacon Xu?"

At the same time.

Two surges of Nine Star Immortal Sect spiritual pressure instantly enveloped the entire city!

The watching citizens turned pale with fright.

This was unbridled, reckless intimidation!

Ning Zhongzi, however, remained neither humble nor pushy, her tone extremely calm.

"I dare not. Deacon Xu may take the Void Kun, but I must see the Immortal Court's seizure document before I can report to the City Lord. Otherwise, you may kill me, but I will not let you take the Kun's body."

Xu Yinglong's fat trembled as he suppressed his towering rage. In truth, he was hoping for the Bamboo Spring Sect to resist; if Lu Ya dared to defy him, he would have the excuse to arrest him and throw him into the Immortal Prison!

He sneered:

"Your sect master has a strange constitution; how many have suffered because of it? Your City Lord Lu is even more lawless, killing an Immortal Court Hunting Falcon without authorization. I have only slightly investigated, and you have already withdrawn from your sect—it is thanks to my mercy that you have survived until now. And now you dare speak to me like this? Do you think the Immortal Court is run by your family?"

Simultaneously, two waves of Nine Star Immortal Sect spiritual pressure rolled over the sky of Azure Phoenix City like dragons, scouring the bodies and souls of everyone present!

Xu Yinglong stood with his hands behind his back and his belly thrust out, his figure as imposing as a mountain, as he roared:

"Tell your City Lord to get out here!"

The words landed with a thud, carrying the weight of official authority and a roar that sounded like ten thousand galloping horses, trampling across the entire city.

The city fell into a deathly silence.

Ning Zhongzi's face darkened, and she remained silent.

Wine Fox Immortal's round face stiffened.

Get out here?

Her heart was filled with shadows; she felt as though she had seen this scene before.

Suddenly, a terrifying, elegant, and gentle face appeared before her!

"Don't—"

Alas, it was already too late.

Space began to distort.

A calm voice drifted from nowhere—

"Do you also wish to dance?"