Blotting Out the Sky with One Hand

The surrounding Qingzhou Guanxuan Guards were all cowed by Nanling Zhao's presence for a moment, and none dared move.

Nanling Zhao led Ye Tianming outside. As she held his hand, he felt her jade hand, warm and soft as jade, and his face reddened slightly. He soon recovered, however. He had instinctively wanted to pull his hand away, but Nanling Zhao held it so tightly that he had no choice but to give up.

The two had just left Guanxuan Hall when Ji Shi, master of the Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy, led a group of Qingzhou Academy elders over to block their path.

Ji Shi stared at Nanling Zhao. "Lady Zhao, what are you doing?"

Nanling Zhao smiled. "Taking Young Master Ye to the Guanxuan Realm to present a grievance directly to the authorities."

She was very direct.

Ji Shi narrowed his eyes. "Lady Zhao, you have overstepped. This Young Master Ye passed the Guanxuan Dao, and Qingzhou has now entered the self-investigation process. This matter falls under my Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy's jurisdiction."

Nanling Zhao turned to Ye Tianming. Glancing at the wound on his neck, she asked, "Has anyone in Qingzhou threatened you?"

Ye Tianming immediately nodded. "Yes."

Nanling Zhao turned back to Ji Shi. "The Guanxuan Sword Master once said that whenever someone passes the Guanxuan Dao, their province must immediately begin a self-investigation. Yet not only has all of Qingzhou failed to begin one, everyone from top to bottom has instead colluded to threaten the person involved. Academy Master Ji, it seems to me that Qingzhou is rotten to the core."

Ji Shi said calmly, "Nanling Zhao, whether Qingzhou is rotten or not is not for you to decide. Young Master Ye passed the Guanxuan Dao in Qingzhou, and Qingzhou has begun the self-investigation process. That makes his case a matter for my Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy. Moreover, my Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy has the right to protect his safety."

As soon as he finished, Zhou Qing waved his hand, and the surrounding Qingzhou Guanxuan Guards immediately closed in.

The Realm Guardians who had been stationed outside also rushed into the academy.

"Let's see who dares!"

Hu Pan, commander of the Panzhou Guanxuan Guards, stepped forward at once. With a wave of his hand, several thousand Panzhou Guanxuan Guards immediately swooped down from the sky.

Liu Yan, commander of the Yongzhou Guanxuan Guards, also waved his hand, and several thousand Guanxuan Guard experts from Yongzhou charged down. More than ten thousand Guanxuan Guard experts in total surrounded Ye Tianming and Nanling Zhao to protect them.

Ji Shi stared fixedly at Hu Pan and Liu Yan. "Without orders from the Outer Pavilion, the Panzhou and Yongzhou Guanxuan Guards have no right to enter Qingzhou to enforce the law. You entered Qingzhou without authorization. Even if I killed you all, the Outer Pavilion would have nothing to say about it."

Hu Pan sneered. "Academy Master Ji, we indeed have no right to enter Qingzhou to enforce the law, but don't forget that Lady Zhao is an Inspector. She has the authority to mobilize troops from any place. It is only right and proper for us to act on her orders."

Ji Shi gave Hu Pan a cold look, then turned to Nanling Zhao. "Nanling Zhao, Qingzhou has a duty to protect Young Master Ye. Therefore, I cannot let you take him."

With that, he waved his hand.

Dozens of powerful presences suddenly swept out from the surroundings. These were all top experts carefully nurtured by the academy, their strength far exceeding that of ordinary local Guanxuan Guards.

Nanling Zhao smiled. "Academy Master Ji, are you going to resort to force?"

Ji Shi was expressionless. "Duty leaves me no choice but to offend you, my lady."

Nanling Zhao stared at Ji Shi and slowly clenched her right hand.

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense, like drawn swords and cocked crossbows.

Elder Yu suddenly stepped forward and said in a grave voice, "Lady Zhao, what you are doing is indeed against the rules. Rest assured, this Young Master Ye will be absolutely safe at our academy."

"Safe?"

Nanling Zhao gave him a cold glance. "You drove him to choose suicide, and you still have the face to say he's safe here?"

Elder Yu's expression darkened somewhat. "Lady Zhao, this matter concerns the Xiao Family and many other people. By doing this, where does that leave the Nanling Clan?"

Clearly, he was telling Nanling Zhao that she had a clan too. Was it worth offending so many people and so many forces for an ordinary person?

Nanling Zhao, however, shook her head slightly. "I, Nanling Zhao, entered the Inspection Court at fourteen. It has been five years since then. In those five years, I have seen darkness in this world that many people have never seen. Often, I too make compromises, because I know the law cannot truly eliminate all evil, and some compromises are better for the person involved. But..."

At this point, she suddenly swept a cold gaze over Ji Shi and the others. "If I compromise today, this young man from Qingzhou, with no power, influence, or backing, will be driven to his death by you. An Inspector investigates every injustice in the world. Guards, fight your way out of Qingzhou with me!"

With that, she swept her sleeve, sending a powerful force surging out and instantly blasting away several Guanxuan Guards experts blocking her path.

Beside her, Hu Pan, the Panzhou commander, and Liu Yan felt their hearts leap when they heard Nanling Zhao say "fight our way out of Qingzhou." Was Lady Zhao serious?

How enormous would the consequences be if the Guanxuan Guards of two provinces fought?

But at this point, they had no other choice. They could only join Nanling Zhao in attacking.

A full-scale battle erupted!

"Outrageous!"

Ji Shi, who had remained calm until now, had never expected Nanling Zhao to make a move. Both shocked and furious, he hastily said, "Protect Young Master Ye! Whatever happens, I'll bear the responsibility alone."

Hearing Ji Shi's words, the Qingzhou Guanxuan Guards and Realm Guardians no longer had any reservations and charged at Nanling Zhao and the others.

Holding Ye Tianming by one hand, Nanling Zhao actually forced her way through the encirclement with him and headed straight for the sky.

"Stay here!"

Just then, an angry shout suddenly rang out from below. A giant hand three hundred meters across shot into the sky, reaching fiercely for Nanling Zhao and Ye Tianming.

It was Ji Shi.

Nanling Zhao abruptly pulled Ye Tianming behind her, clenched her five fingers, and threw a punch downward.

Boom!

Ji Shi was knocked back several meters. After stopping, he stared at Nanling Zhao in shock. "A Divine Being Realm cultivator so young..."

Nanling Zhao paid him no heed and pulled Ye Tianming toward the sky.

Seeing this, a savage gleam flashed in Ji Shi's eyes. He suddenly swept his sleeve, sending a great seal flying out. In an instant, space throughout the world shook violently. Powerful presences converged from all directions, forcing Nanling Zhao and Ye Tianming back to where they had been.

The Qingzhou Academy Master's Seal!

The Qingzhou Academy Master's Seal had been bestowed by the Inner Pavilion of the Guanxuan Realm. It was a divine-grade treasure, and when used within Qingzhou's borders, its power could increase severalfold or more.

Nanling Zhao and Ji Shi had originally been at the same realm, but with the appearance of the Qingzhou Academy Master's Seal, Nanling Zhao was instantly suppressed.

Ji Shi stared fixedly at Nanling Zhao, killing intent in his eyes. "Nanling Zhao, according to both the rules and the law, this Ye Tianming falls under Qingzhou's jurisdiction. If you insist on interfering, then even if I kill you today, neither the Inspection Court nor your Nanling Clan will have anything to say about it."

"Kill me?"

Nanling Zhao sneered. "You?"

With that, she suddenly swept her sleeve, and a great seal flew out from within it, striking straight at the Qingzhou Academy Master's Seal. The moment the two seals met, they unleashed two terrifying shockwaves of force, making the surrounding space-time in the sky surge and ripple.

Ji Shi opened his palm, and the Qingzhou Academy Master's Seal landed in it. He stared fixedly at Nanling Zhao. "The Inspector's Seal!"

Nanling Zhao opened her palm, and the Inspector's Seal appeared in her hand. Rays of golden light radiated from it, while powerful force continually spilled out.

Ji Shi's expression grew ugly, for he knew he could do nothing to Nanling Zhao. He glanced around, his gaze dark. The moment Nanling Zhao appeared, he had notified the Xiao Family, because he knew full well that she had the Inspection Court and the Nanling Clan behind her. As a mere Qingzhou Academy master, he could not suppress her at all and could only stall her.

But now, no one from the Xiao Family had appeared, and he could not help feeling annoyed.

Nanling Zhao suddenly touched the Inspector's Seal with a finger, and a beam of golden light erupted from it. Within the light were countless densely packed golden runes, which blasted toward Ji Shi like a furious wind and driving rain. The powerful force contained in the runes instantly sent Ji Shi reeling backward.

Nanling Zhao did not continue her attack. She pulled Ye Tianming with her, turned, and leaped into the air. In the blink of an eye, they were already several kilometers away.

It was Ye Tianming's first time so high above the ground. Clearly nervous, he instinctively wrapped both arms around Nanling Zhao's waist, his face somewhat pale.

Nanling Zhao turned to look at Ye Tianming. "You're taking advantage of me."

Ye Tianming hurriedly let go and explained, "Miss Zhao, I..."

Nanling Zhao suddenly smiled sweetly. "Never mind, I forgive you. Hold on tight to me."

Ye Tianming breathed a sigh of relief. He placed his hands on Nanling Zhao's waist again, but he did not hold on as tightly as before, merely clutching her skirt. Nanling Zhao, however, suddenly put an arm around his waist of her own accord. Ye Tianming turned to look at her and saw her staring into the distance, a grave expression on her beautiful face.

Just then, space-time suddenly split open several hundred meters ahead of them. Several afterimages shot out, led by a man holding a black spear. He thrust it fiercely at Nanling Zhao and Ye Tianming.

The force of the thrust was terrifying. Ye Tianming felt as though a great mountain were pressing down on his heart, leaving him unable to breathe.

A cold glint flashed in Nanling Zhao's eyes. Gripping the Inspector's Seal, she smashed it forward. Golden light filled with runes surged out, instantly blasting the black-clad man and the other experts backward.

Nanling Zhao stared at the group of black-clad men and smiled. "Xiao Family, you really are desperate dogs jumping over a wall. You even dare to intercept and kill an Inspector."

The black-clad man at the front said hoarsely, "What Xiao Family? We don't know anything about that."

Nanling Zhao did not want to waste words with him and was about to attack, but just then, space-time around them suddenly trembled. Dozens of black-clad men appeared. Every one of them was at least in the Divine Being Realm, and several had even concealed their presences and their true realms.

The black-clad leader stared at Nanling Zhao. "Nanling Zhao, our target is the person behind you. You may leave at any time."

Nanling Zhao said nothing.

"Miss Zhao."

Ye Tianming suddenly said, "Let me face this myself."

Nanling Zhao turned to look at him. Ye Tianming said, "I implicated Lord Fang Xiao earlier, and now I've implicated you too. I feel terrible about it."

Nanling Zhao shook her head. "Don't think that way. You haven't implicated anyone. Whether it's Fang Xiao or me, what we are protecting is not just you, Ye Tianming, but justice in this world. In other words, people like me should be ashamed that you've suffered such injustice."

As she spoke, she turned to the group of black-clad men and smiled. "Today, I, Nanling Zhao, will see whether your Xiao Family can blot out the sky with one hand."

The black-clad leader said, "Nanling Zhao, why must you do this? As far as we know, this person is neither kin nor friend to you. Why get caught up in this whirlpool for his sake? Even if you won't think of yourself, you should think of your Nanling Clan, shouldn't you? If you leave today, we'll consider the Xiao Family to owe your Nanling Clan a favor."

Nanling Zhao laughed. "These days, many things in this world go wrong precisely because of all these 'favors.' For the sake of your Xiao Family's ancestors, I advise you: if your Xiao Family turns back now, there's still time."

The black-clad leader was silent for a moment before saying, "What Xiao Family? We don't understand."

Nanling Zhao narrowed her eyes. "It seems you intend to kill us to silence us."

The black-clad man said, "How would we dare kill an Inspector?"

As he spoke, he looked at Ye Tianming beside Nanling Zhao and opened his palm. A screen of light rose from it, displaying a scene of the Ye Family.

At that moment, more than a dozen black-clad men stood on the roof of the Ye Family residence, looking down at everyone in the Ye Clan below.

The black-clad man said, "Ye Tianming, if you go with Lady Nanling Zhao, everyone in your Ye Family will die, down to the last chicken and dog."