The public trial ended, and Xiao Jiu was executed on the spot.
This naturally cost Bald Brother Li face and intimidated the hundred-odd cultivators. They had never really taken Zhang Hongxing's rules to heart.
To their minds, those rules were merely slogans meant for the Natives.
In fact, a sizable portion of the Natives had not taken him seriously either.
But now, things had clearly changed.
That was what executing Xiao Jiu in public had accomplished.
Back at the City Lord's Residence, Mo Bufan and Chu Yunxuan each went to pay their respects to their Ancestors. Though they had already surpassed their elders in strength, that did nothing to change the hierarchy between them.
This was something ingrained in the bones of the Huaxia people.
"Old Buddha, you're finally here! Have my fellow disciples missed me while I've been away?"
"Of course they have. They've talked about you often over all these years. Every one of them has been training desperately, saying they want to catch up with you sooner so they can keep striving alongside you."
"Really? Then they'll have to work hard."
"You're still as confident as ever. But their strength has improved over the years, too. I imagine it won't be long before those twelve youngsters come over."
"That would be wonderful. Now that you mention it, I really do miss them."
"Let's set that aside for now. Bufan, tell me about the situation here. Why can't I use any Immortal Essence Power in this place? What fills the air around us doesn't seem to be spiritual qi either."
"Old Buddha, the energy here really isn't spiritual qi. It's something a level above spiritual qi, or even immortal energy. The people here call it the Power of Rules. Once we're here, aside from using this Power of