Ninth-Rank Saintly Might Shocks, The Astonished Governor!

Just as those dozen or so personal guards were about to charge right in front of him, Lin Hu stood his ground without moving an inch, only a cold sneer curling the corners of his lips.

"I intended to speak reasonably, but you insisted on forcing my hand."

As his voice fell, a majestic, suffocating Saintly Might erupted from his body. White light swept outward like a tangible shockwave, the pressure of an early Ninth-tier Martial Saint released without reservation.

"Boom!"

The dozen guards charging forward were sent flying by this Saintly Might. Their blades slipped from their hands, clattering to the ground in a heap. The dozen men tumbled across the floor for several rotations before coming to a stop, each of their faces deathly pale. Those with slightly lower cultivation levels spat out a mouthful of blood, unable to even crawl back up.

Meanwhile, the additional guards rushing in from the surroundings to provide support froze in their tracks. Their hands gripping their swords trembled uncontrollably, and their legs felt as heavy as if they had been filled with lead. That Saintly Might pressed down on everyone like a massive mountain, making it difficult for them even to breathe.

"A, a Ninth-tier Martial Saint?!"

Someone in the crowd cried out, their voice filled with shock and disbelief. The entire front courtyard of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion fell deathly silent. Everyone's gaze toward Lin Hu shifted; the previous contempt and suspicion were replaced by fear and awe.

Lin Hu stood with his hands behind his back, the white Saintly Might flowing around him like a physical substance. He swept a glance over the guards he had repelled, then looked toward the Prefectural Governor, Sun Tai. He then spoke slowly, his voice icy.

"This Seat is Lin Hu of the White Tiger Guard under Prince Wu'an, sent to Xu Province by imperial decree to oversee the suppression of the demon cult."

"The token is here; who still dares to claim this Seat is a fake?"

He displayed the token once more, the Purple Gold token gleaming brilliantly against the backdrop of his Saintly Might. The surrounding guards exchanged looks, seeing the same realization in each other's eyes. How could a Ninth-tier Martial Saint possibly forge a token to impersonate an envoy? At this level of power, simply announcing one's name was enough to be treated as an honored guest by any faction. Why would they need to impersonate anyone?

Lin Hu retracted the token and continued, "This Seat has come here under the decree of His Majesty and the military orders of Prince Wu'an. Whoever dares to obstruct me is defying an imperial decree."

"If anyone dares to lay a hand on this Seat again—" He paused, his voice dropping another three degrees in temperature. "—it shall be treated as treason."

"Do not blame this Seat for suppressing the rebellion when the time comes."

As soon as the words "treason" and "suppressing the rebellion" were uttered, the expressions of everyone present changed. Those guards who were still hesitating about whether to continue the attack hurriedly sheathed their weapons. Are you kidding? Attacking a Ninth-tier Martial Saint? A Ninth-tier Martial Saint acting under imperial orders? If that isn't treason, what is? They were just ordinary guards drawing a government salary; they weren't here to die for the Prefectural Governor.

Sun Tai, standing on the steps, was completely frozen. His legs trembled uncontrollably, his knees knocking together with a faint sound. His official robes were soaked through with cold sweat, clinging tightly to his skin. The arrogance and contempt in his triangular eyes had vanished, replaced entirely by fear and panic.

A Ninth-tier Martial Saint. This white-haired man... was actually a Ninth-tier Martial Saint! The moment that Saintly Might had pressed down on him, he felt as if he had been struck by a ten-thousand-foot mountain. His breathing had nearly stopped.

What made him even more desperate was—it had backfired completely.

It had backfired completely.

He had originally thought the other party was just a runner for Prince Wu'an, at most a seventh or eighth-rank cultivator.

If he could arrest him on the charge of "impersonating an envoy," he could delay the crackdown operation.

This would give the branch sect hideouts hidden in various counties of Xu Province ample time to destroy evidence and transfer personnel.

Once the branch sects were all cleared out, he could release the man and simply find an excuse to brush it off.

But he never imagined that this unassuming white-haired man was a genuine ninth-rank Martial Saint!

An envoy under Prince Wu'an was a ninth-rank Martial Saint.

Who the hell could have predicted that?!

Now, it was all messed up.

Not only had he failed to arrest the man and delay the operation, but he had also exposed himself.

This Lord Lin Hu would definitely become suspicious of him.

If he became suspicious, with the methods of Prince Wu'an and the Demon Suppressing Division, they would follow the clues and discover his dealings with the Holy Demon God Sect.

He had watched in the imperial court as Qian Youde, the Vice Minister of Revenue, was executed by a thousand cuts, and his entire clan was beheaded.

And those court officials who were apprehended on the spot, their faces ashen as they were dragged out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

These living examples were right before his eyes.

Colluding with a demonic cult was an unforgivable crime, punishable by the extermination of nine generations!

Sun Tai's blood ran cold at the thought.

He suppressed the fear in his heart and knelt on the ground with a thud.

The arrogance and sneer on his face had vanished without a trace, replaced by a fawning and obsequious smile.

"E-Envoy, please calm your anger! This subordinate was blind and did not know of your arrival, Envoy!"

He kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead striking the floor tiles with a resounding bang.

"This subordinate deserves death! This subordinate is guilty! But this subordinate was merely being cautious, not intentionally offending you!"

"After all, demonic cults are rampant nowadays, and spies are everywhere. As the Provincial Governor of Xu Province, this subordinate has no choice but to act with caution!"

"I beg the Envoy to spare this subordinate's offense in consideration of my loyalty!"

He became more agitated as he spoke, tears and snot smearing his face.

His pitiful appearance was a far cry from the arrogant governor he had been moments before.

Lin Hu looked down at Sun Tai, who was kowtowing like a pounding pestle before him, his face expressionless.

His reaction earlier did not seem like "acting with caution."

A normal official, upon encountering someone holding a token and claiming to be an envoy, should have invited them in for verification, even if they suspected its authenticity.

Why would he immediately try to arrest someone without a word? And on the most serious charge of "impersonating an envoy."

This was not caution; it was a guilty conscience!

However, there was no need to waste words on these matters.

Lin Hu raised his hand and unleashed a surge of Spiritual Power, directly sealing Sun Tai's mouth.

Sun Tai's mouth gaped open, and a muffled sound came from his throat, but he couldn't utter a single word.

A flicker of terror flashed in his eyes, and he tried to struggle, wanting to say something.

Lin Hu ignored him and turned to look at the advisor kneeling beside him.

"You."

The advisor trembled and quickly responded.

"Y-Yes, sir!"

Lin Hu's tone was calm but left no room for doubt.

"Go and summon the Commander of Xu Province, who is in charge of all the provincial armies, and the Commander of the local Demon Suppressing Division."

"This Seat has an imperial decree to announce."

The advisor scrambled to his feet and scrambled out.

"I'll go now! I'll go now!"

He nearly tripped over the threshold as he ran out of the mansion, stumbling a few steps before regaining his balance.

Then, he quickened his pace towards the Commander's yamen.

Not long after.

Two figures walked quickly into the front courtyard of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

Walking in front was a middle-aged military officer in full armor, possessing a burly frame and rugged features.

He was none other than Han Meng, the Commander-in-Chief of Xu Province, a peak seventh-rank Grandmaster who held authority over all garrison troops within the province.

Following behind him was an old man dressed in black official robes.

He was Sun Zhengyang, the Chief Envoy of the Demon Suppressing Division's Xu Province branch, a seventh-rank Grandmaster at the mid-stage.

The moment the two entered the courtyard, they were stunned by the scene before them.

The courtyard was in complete disarray.

Over a dozen personal guards lay sprawled on the ground, some still coughing up blood.

Swords and blades were scattered everywhere, glinting coldly in the sunlight.

Their colleague, Sun Tai, the Prefectural Governor of Xu Province, was kneeling before a white-haired man. His mouth was sealed, and he was emitting muffled whimpering sounds from his throat.

The expression on his face was a mix of terror and despair.

Their aide had already given them a rough briefing on the way.

The hideouts of the Holy Demon God Sect, which had been concealed across many counties in Xu Province, had been uncovered. Now, the entire Great Yu had been notified, and high-ranking court officials were leading local branches and garrison troops in a comprehensive purge.

The person responsible for the purge in Xu Province was the white-haired man before them—Lin Hu of the White Tiger Guard, under the command of the current Prince Wu'an, a ninth-rank Martial Saint!

Although the aide had already relayed the most critical information, the two men still felt a shiver run down their spines when they truly sensed the lingering holy might in the courtyard.

That aura was vast, overbearing, and sharp, like a dormant primordial beast, making one's hair stand on end!

Han Meng and Sun Zhengyang exchanged a glance, seeing the same shock in each other's eyes.

They stepped forward quickly and bowed to Lin Hu.

"Your subordinate, Xu Province Commander-in-Chief Han Meng."

"Your subordinate, Chief Envoy of the Demon Suppressing Division's Xu Province branch, Sun Zhengyang."

"Greetings, Lord Envoy!"

Lin Hu nodded in acknowledgment.

Without wasting words, he raised his hand and struck out two bolts of Spiritual Power, directly sealing Sun Tai's entire cultivation base.

Sun Tai's body stiffened as he felt the Spiritual Power within him freeze, unable to circulate in the slightest.

He was now no different from an ordinary person.