Do You Want to Dance, Too?

Seven Immortal Ships came roaring in, blotting out the sky and sun.

Like seven colossal whales floating in the air, they circled above Azure Phoenix City, casting moving shadows.

The flags, sides, and even undersides of the seven giant ships bore the Immortal Court's emblem: the Black Sword Auspicious Cloud.

Advanced defensive wards were engraved within the Black Sword Auspicious Cloud. They gave off no spiritual pressure, yet inspired awe without anger, exuding the Heavenly Dao's majesty—an authority too terrifying to behold, compelling all to bow in submission.

Shadows blanketed the streets of Azure Phoenix City.

The city's residents and visitors all stopped and looked up.

Stunned.

Dumbfounded.

Uneasy...

Everyone understood that the arrival of seven Immortal Court ships meant the Immortal Court's inspection team had come.

And the fact that there had been no advance notice or warning of spiritual pressure meant this was a surprise inspection!

Surprise inspections were usually bad news. That was common knowledge in the Immortal Realm.

Wasn't Azure Phoenix City under the White Lotus Sect's protection?

Why had the Immortal Court suddenly come to inspect it?

Ning Zhongzi strode out of Yuelai Inn.

Only then did she realize that the guests Chen Daozai had mentioned were the Immortal Court's inspection team. No wonder he had said Azure Phoenix City might not last until the Beast Tide arrived...

But how had Chen Daozai known?

Black Stone had clearly said the surprise inspection would happen a year from now. Why had they come now?

And why had someone as minor as Zhang Pingzhi shown up?

She reached the edge of the cliff overlooking the square.

Ning Zhongzi lowered her head and clasped her hands in salute, welcoming the inspection team.

Yet her heart was in turmoil, and she could find no peace.

Before long,

Xu Yinglong, Chief Inspection Deacon of the East Floating Immortal Court, disembarked with an air of arrogance, his hands behind his back. He was accompanied by two high-ranking deacons, Zhang Pingzhi, and several guards.

He immediately sent a squad to surround Kun's body.

With his hands behind his back and his belly thrust out, he looked around.

Every Immortal Commoner in sight bowed their heads and clasped their hands, not daring to meet his gaze.

Before him,

Ning Zhongzi remained composed and said respectfully,

"I am Ning Zhongzi of the Bamboo Spring Sect. Greetings, esteemed deacons."

A trace of displeasure appeared in Xu Yinglong's narrow, disdainful eyes.

He was dissatisfied with Ning Zhongzi's formal greeting, and even more incensed that only one person had come to receive the inspection team. But that wasn't his purpose today, and he had no need to create complications. He merely said coldly,

"Why are you the only one here?"

Ning Zhongzi calmly explained,

"Our sect master feared she might injure the esteemed deacons, so she is in seclusion in her sleeping quarters. If you wish to see her, take this bamboo slip and I will go call her over."

Xu Yinglong took the Green Bamboo Slip and turned it over in his hands, looking suspicious.

But he didn't want to see Liu Xuanye. He knew he was a lecher, and he wasn't about to stake his life on a mere bamboo slip.

"No need. Call your city lord and resident commissioner here to see me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wine Fox Immortal came over with a Wolf Immortal and an Old Sheep Immortal.

She had changed into an Immortal Court deacon's uniform, giving her a rather dashing air.

At the same time, she had two members of Azure Phoenix City's City Guard with her...

That made her position rather ambiguous.

Was she representing the Immortal Court or the Bamboo Spring Sect?

Wine Fox Immortal held a lower rank in the Immortal Court than Xu Yinglong, but she had no intention of showing him deference. At the same time, as an Immortal Court deacon and an undercover informant monitoring the Bamboo Spring Sect, she had no reason to offend him.

She merely asked casually,

"You're looking for me?"

Xu Yinglong stood with his hands behind his back, not even glancing at Wine Fox Immortal.

"So you're the resident commissioner here. No wonder that Lu fellow is so arrogant, even daring to eat the Immortal Court's Hunting Falcon."

Wine Fox Immortal couldn't be bothered to explain. She simply asked,

"What are you here for?"

Xu Yinglong sneered, his face cold, and paced with his hands behind his back.

"For over a thousand years, Void Kun have killed countless people in the East Floating District. Now one happens to die in the Bamboo Spring Sect's territory, and it's suddenly their private property? Do you even have any regard for the Immortal Court?"

His voice suddenly rose, his imposing official authority on full display.

Ning Zhongzi, however, was unmoved.

She thought, The East Floating Immortal Court itself promotes Void Kun as a delicacy, encouraging rogue immortals to hunt them. Doesn't that mean whoever kills one gets to keep it?

"I was going to hold your city lord accountable for killing the Immortal Court's Hunting Falcon without cause. But since it was his first offense, and he had done good by building a city and sheltering refugees, I let him off this time."

Xu Yinglong looked like a middle-aged man, fat and bloated, and his connections reached the highest echelons. Yet he spoke with all the slickness of a seasoned bureaucrat.

"I've come this time to take this Void Kun back to the East Floating Immortal Court. We'll decide what to do with it after the ruling. If it's confirmed that the Bamboo Spring Sect killed it, the Immortal Court won't treat you unfairly."

Ning Zhongzi's expression darkened.

It all sounded so high-minded, but the Void Kun would certainly end up in someone's private pocket. Even if the Bamboo Spring Sect argued its case, at most they'd receive a certificate of commendation, an Immortal Court flag, and five hundred Immortal Crystals as compensation.

Azure Phoenix City's own industries hadn't yet gotten off the ground. Without Kun meat, the city might as well be sentenced to death.

Black Stone also liked to skim off the top, but at least he knew how to do it sustainably. Xu Yinglong was planning to take a big cut and leave, without caring whether the Bamboo Spring Sect lived or died.

Wine Fox Immortal knew Xu Yinglong all too well. Back in the day, he had been nothing but a bully, throwing his weight around to oppress Immortal Commoners, seize their treasures, and seduce their wives and daughters. He'd done every evil under the sun.

Now that he was older, he'd transformed himself into Chief Inspection Deacon. With his official authority and polished image, he had begun taking the genteel route—devouring people without even spitting out their bones.

However, Wine Fox Immortal still had her own mission. She had no grounds to oppose the Immortal Court.

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

Ning Zhongzi remained silent for a long while, then suddenly looked up and asked without warning,

"May I ask whether Deacon Xu has a collection order personally signed by True Person Silver Moon?"

Huh?

Wine Fox Immortal was slightly taken aback. With Lu Ya backing her, how could this woman dare to be so bold?

According to Immortal Court law, an inspection team was supposed to provide a collection order when seizing private property.

But this was the first time she'd seen anyone dare to ask an inspection team for paperwork like a collection order.

Who didn't know Xu Yinglong's status?

Getting a document like that would be a piece of cake.

But this time, Xu Yinglong hadn't alerted his great-uncle or contacted True Person Silver Moon.

Xu Yinglong didn't understand at first. He froze on the spot.

Zhang Pingzhi immediately stepped forward, his words laced with a threat.

"Ning Zhongzi, are you questioning Deacon Xu?"

At the same time,

the spiritual pressure of two Nine Star Immortal Sect cultivators instantly enveloped the entire city!

The onlooking residents turned pale with alarm.

This was an unrestrained, utterly unconcealed threat!

Ning Zhongzi remained neither servile nor overbearing, her tone utterly calm.

"I wouldn't dare. Deacon Xu may take the Void Kun, but I must see the Immortal Court's collection order so I can answer to the city lord. Otherwise, even if you kill me, I won't let you take Kun's body."

Xu Yinglong's fat quivered as he suppressed his overwhelming fury. In truth, he would have been delighted if the Bamboo Spring Sect resisted. As long as Lu Ya dared to fight back, Xu Yinglong would dare to arrest him and throw him into the Immortal Prison!

He sneered,

"Your sect master has a strange constitution. How many people have suffered because of her? And your city lord Lu has no regard for the law, killing the Immortal Court's Hunting Falcon without permission. I only had to make the slightest fuss, and your sect had already withdrawn from the city—you're still alive today only thanks to my mercy. And now you dare speak to me like this? Do you think you own the Immortal Court?"

At the same time, the spiritual pressure of two Nine Star Immortal Sect cultivators churned above Azure Phoenix City like dragons, washing over every person's body and soul!

Xu Yinglong stood with his hands behind his back and his belly thrust out, his massive frame towering like a mountain. He roared,

"Tell your city lord to get out here!"

His words rang like a thunderclap, brimming with the majesty of office and a furious roar, galloping like ten thousand horses as they trampled across the city.

The whole city fell deathly silent.

Ning Zhongzi's expression darkened, but she said nothing.

Wine Fox Immortal's round face stiffened.

Get out here?

Shadows gathered in her heart. Somehow, this scene felt strangely familiar.

Suddenly, a refined, affable, and terrifying face appeared before her!

"Don't—"

But it was too late.

Space began to twist.

A calm voice drifted from nowhere—

"Do you want to dance, too?"