Killed?

The vast division of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion was as quiet as a graveyard. In the open space before the main hall, one could hear a pin drop.

The gathered Immortal Soldiers perked up. The onlooking cultivators didn't understand what was happening, but their Dao hearts were disturbed by the sight of the flying head.

There were different ranks even among the Pavilion Masters of the divisions of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion.

For example, division Pavilion Masters like Mao Aowu, who managed only a city's division, basically belonged to the lowest tier of Pavilion Masters. Though the title sounded impressive, they didn't hold much real power, and their compensation was about the same as an administrator of the Main Hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion.

But here, the title that the decapitated head once bore was that of the greatest division Pavilion Master of the Southeast, with the influence to affect all divisions of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion in the Human Domain's Southeastern Region.

Although the divisions had no direct hierarchical relationship, this division in the Human Domain, ranked among the top three, served as a relay station for the decrees of the Main Hall, and its status was indeed not low.

Today, here…

A blade flashed up and down, a fine head was tossed into the air, and the Primordial Spirit of such an 'important official' was directly crushed.

Even cultivators unfamiliar with the rules of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion could tell at this moment that this probably wasn't following proper protocols.

At the very least, one couldn't just strike and kill outright.

CLANG, CLANG!

The longsword was discarded by Wu Wang beside the corpse. Wu Wang turned around. He walked back to his solitary seat in front of the hall as if nothing had happened, his face showing little emotion as he sat back on the wooden chair.

Some Immortal Soldiers immediately wanted to clean up the body, but Wu Wang said,

"Leave it there for all to see.

The next two cases need to be investigated separately. Expose those involved in the conspiracy to assassinate the widows of the warriors who died in battle, and deal with the main and complicit offenders severely.

Post the dossier of this case for all to see. Make sure everything is thoroughly detailed.

The matters of the Southeastern divisions will be investigated here slowly. Whoever is involved shall be arrested, and whatever rank is involved shall be summoned!

Request the nearest Military Family to fully cooperate, and have all Immortal Sects and Demonic Sects within the top hundred ranks of the Human Domain in the Southeastern Region report to this place."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Below, an officer from the Punishment Hall immediately took the command and left.

Wu Wang picked up the Jade Talismans, reading each one carefully to ensure no detail was overlooked.

He had always known that the Human Domain was not as bright and spotless inside as he had thought. From his earlier attempt to implement new policies of reform in the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, he met tremendous resistance. Seeing only minimal impact to this day, he felt the power ladder that had formed naturally within the Human Domain resisting the new ideas he tried to spread. The Human Domain was not perfect. The pressure from Heaven Palace was too great. The Human Domain had formed a united front, resisting Heaven Palace and the Innate Gods, becoming the obsession deep in every human's heart; thus, some issues could be suppressed.

Wu Wang's thoughts then drifted to another matter—the dark turbulence during the succession of the Human Emperor's throne.

It was this dark turmoil that allowed the various problems appearing at the end of the two previous Human Emperors' eras to be overshadowed by the slaughter of the Hundred Races' armies and Heaven Palace Divine Guards. As a result, the Human Domain did not receive a wake-up call in this respect. This Human Domain…

Wu Wang muttered softly, leaning back in the chair, sitting quietly.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of wing flapping.

Wu Wang looked up and saw the Blue Bird swiftly flying over, landing on the armrest of the wooden chair.

"CHIRP."

She called out softly, and a thread of her voice entered Wu Wang's ear, deliberately made to sound old and weary.

"Young man, if people blame you for doing the right thing, then let's bear it together."

Wu Wang, who had been slightly troubled in his Dao heart, almost laughed out loud at these words.

He smiled and said, "Elder, you can talk?"

The Blue Bird replied, "Yes, but it takes some effort."

"Then you should rest more," Wu Wang said warmly, his attention returning to the scene below. "Elder, are you afraid of such a sight?"

"It's a bit uncomfortable, but I wouldn't say I'm scared."

"That's good," Wu Wang smiled and did not continue the small talk.

Xiao Jian Daoist stood in the distance under the eaves, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the scene. He seemed to have anticipated this and showed little emotion.

On the ship still floating above the high building, those who had followed Wu Wang here were also struggling to come to terms with the sudden turn of events.

"An Eighth Grade killing a Seventh Grade… killing directly, is that alright?" Yang Wudi muttered to himself quietly.

Lin Suqing bit her lip, her eyes filled with worry. If anyone understood Wu Wang the deepest, it was undoubtedly her. And precisely because of this, she could sense that Wu Wang was now beyond furious.

"He rarely acts so decisively," she murmured. "This time, he must truly be enraged."

"Let's go to his side," Ling Xiaolan said softly.

Without waiting for a response from others, and disregarding the transmissions from her master-uncles and master-aunts attempting to stop her, she drifted from the bow of the ship. Accompanied by strands of holy light, she landed in front of the main hall, standing beside a stone pillar some distance away.

However, the one who had arrived before her was the Grand Elder of the Annihilation Sect, I.

The Grand Elder stood opposite the Whistle Snake, protecting Wu Wang from behind.

Yang Wudi patted his bald head, about to leap from the ship's railing, when he was stopped by a glance from Wu Wang.

Wu Wang's transmitted voice floated over, "Stay there and keep company with the seniors for me. Is this some kind of spectacle? What are you coming over here for?"

"Yes, yes," Yang Wudi responded repeatedly.

Before he could figure out the Sect Master's intentions, the Sleep God approached with a grin, raising an eyebrow at Yang Wudi, and said with a laugh, "Not bad, Wu Wang really values you, deliberately separating you from this mess."

"Is that what it means?"

Yang Wudi patted his bald head, his mouth full of smiles. Then he smacked his lips and said with a grin, "I thought the Sect Master just didn't want me to be too conspicuous, fearing I'd steal his thunder if I went over."

The Sleep God immediately kicked out. Yang Wudi quickly hugged the rail, crying out as he was kicked.

Stealing the thunder?

The Sleep God leaned on the railing and sighed softly, staring at Wu Wang's deliberately relaxed figure and whispered,

"A long time ago, before the Human Domain existed, a similar scene unfolded.

"This is not about stealing the thunder; this is about turning oneself into a sword to scrape off the chronic poison from the bones of an old power.

"However, the last time I saw such a situation unfold, the sword broke before even half the poison was removed.

"This is not an easy task."

The rest of the crowd remained silent.

As they spoke, officials from the Main Hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion had already arrived in front of Wu Wang. They were saying something to him, surrounded by a barrier that prevented their voices from reaching outside.

Yet from a distance, it could be seen that Wu Wang's expression remained calm, while those high-ranking officials from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion grew increasingly agitated as they spoke.

Noticing the puzzlement of the group around him, the Sleep God snapped his fingers, and the conversation from the other side resonated atop the building ship. All could hear…

"Vice Pavilion Master Wu Wang, let today's matter end here. If the Military Families challenge the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, how will we resolve the situation? If His Majesty blames us, what then?"

"Please reconsider, Vice Pavilion Master. This could be the prelude to the Northern Campaign. If such great turmoil arises within the Human Domain at this time, the campaign might be affected, and we could become the sinners of the ages!"

"Vice Pavilion Master, we can feel the rage in your heart, and we are also shocked to hear what has happened. But for these conscienceless people, they can be dealt with in secret. Today, you've already killed the Pavilion Master of a major division; that's enough to establish authority. All of this can actually be discussed and dealt with privately…"

"Get out."

Wu Wang suddenly spoke up, his tone steady and unhurried.

The high-ranking officials looked at Wu Wang as if they had misheard, each staring at him.

But Wu Wang did not say another word. He simply wiggled his finger forward, and the Whistle Snake swung its sleeve. The officials' figures wobbled, finding themselves a hundred yards away.

Some of them looked lost, unable to regain their composure for a moment. Some frowned and whispered, shaking their heads helplessly. Others snorted lightly, turning away in anger.

Wu Wang's mouth twitched slightly. Dealing with it privately…

"Daoist brother, Grand Elder," Wu Wang's voice spread everywhere, "keep an eye on everyone inside. If anyone tries to approach my Punishment Hall officials, take them down directly. If there is any resistance, they may be killed on the spot."

"Yes."

"Good."

Xiao Jian and the Grand Elder each responded, their Great Dao enveloping everything around them.

Although there were many experts, both inside and outside, whose strength wasn't inferior to that of the Grand Elder, they now looked at the Grand Elder with much apprehension in their eyes.

「Four hours passed.」

The corpse of Mi Zhong, now drained of blood, had become somewhat horrifying.

Sixty-three people were dragged in front of Mi Zhong's body, bound by immortal chains, kneeling in three rows.

The Punishment Hall officials brought over several trays. These contained various confessions, the Image Projection Beads recording the interrogation process, and a scroll.

"Hall Master, regarding this public announcement, could you please review if it is appropriate?"

"Hmm."

Wu Wang picked up the scroll and read through it word by word, frowning as he said,

"What are you covering up for them? What do you mean by a 'momentary lapse of judgment'? They didn't have the guts to do this anywhere else, yet they dared to directly tamper with the consolation Spirit Stones! Who wrote this?"

"Hall Master, I will rewrite it immediately, right now."

"You have an hour."

"Yes! Rest assured, Hall Master! I have completely understood!"

The high-ranking official chuckled bitterly, admiring Wu Wang as he said with a smile, "Hall Master, you don't care about your future prospects; why should I, a mere official, be afraid of anything?"

"Remember to stamp it with my Hall Master's seal."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

The official hurried off with the scroll, while Wu Wang's gaze fell on the group of 'elders' from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion below.

A few of them trembled as their eyes met his.

"Your division master has been killed by me," Wu Wang said slowly. His voice, amplified by the magic treasure beside him, echoed incessantly within the grand city.

"There's no need for you to beg for mercy; pleading will not save you. The main culprit behind the Southeast Sea incident is a man named Cai Wenjie. Which one is he?"

A middle-aged man dressed in brocade clothes with graying hair trembled violently and called out with a quivering voice,

"Hall Master! I have been wronged, Hall Master! It's all Mi Zhong's doing! He was the one who instructed me!"

"Pushing the blame onto a dead man?"

Wu Wang raised an eyebrow slightly and lifted his hand, saying, "Bring his Primordial Spirit to me."

The Whistle Snake's figure flickered and appeared in front of the middle-aged man the next instant. The Whistle Snake pressed its left hand forward, capturing Cai Wenjie's Primordial Spirit. Cai Wenjie suddenly had a large hole in his chest, and his body slowly fell backward with no blood flowing out.

Wu Wang said, "Use some methods to make him speak for himself."

"I'll do it."

Ling Xiaolan suddenly spoke up. Her brows furrowed behind her veil as she had already formed a 'bird cage' with immortal power. After the Whistle Snake resealed the man's Primordial Spirit, she took it over and moved to one side.

So, in the full view of everyone, with countless gazes upon him, the Tianyan Saintess formed a few rune imprints, and the man's Primordial Spirit screamed incessantly.

But in just a short moment, Ling Xiaolan threw the Primordial Spirit back, her eyes full of disgust, and she quietly said,

"He's ready to talk."

"Thank you," Wu Wang smiled in response, fixing his gaze intently on the phantom formed by Cai Wenjie's Primordial Spirit.

At this moment, Cai Wenjie's Primordial Spirit was the size of an ordinary person and somewhat ethereal. His eyes were lifeless, his face etched with pain. If not for the fact that a Primordial Spirit couldn't shed tears, he would surely be weeping bitterly by now.

"Who are you?" Wu Wang asked.

"Cai Wenjie. I am Cai Wenjie."

"Your position."

Cai Wenjie's Primordial Spirit slumped to the ground and murmured, "Inspector of the Southeast Division for the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, a sixth-grade official."

"Tell me about the consolation Spirit Stones."

"This… this is a rule set from above."

Cai Wenjie murmured,

"Pavilion Master Mi said our Southeastern Region is located in a remote area. We don't get much from the annual allocations, and not many Spirit Stones are distributed to us.

"The consolation Spirit Stones, we privately call 'stale grain,' are divided into two parts.

"One part comes from the Main Hall, which we pass on to the Military Families who have suffered losses. We usually don't touch this part; those Military Families are all very domineering.

"The other part also comes from the Main Hall, intended for the families of Immortal Soldiers who died at the border and do not belong to any Military Family. This part, we can meddle with.

"When it's transferred from the Main Hall, if it's ten, by the time it passes through our hands, it becomes six.

"If the deceased Immortal Soldier came from a larger Sect, then what we deliver is five.

"If the deceased Immortal Soldier came from a smaller Sect or was an independent Cultivator, what we deliver is three or four.

"This has been the rule for a long time, and there is a tacit understanding among all parties; no one speaks of this matter. But who would have known, this time those few insatiable women caused trouble, gathering more than a dozen households…"

Wu Wang suddenly asked, "How much of these Spirit Stones do you all get to divide? And what can you do with them?"

"This… this is not just a few Spirit Stones."

Cai Wenjie's eyes lit up, yet his opening smile turned into a pained grin as his expression contorted with sobs.

His Primordial Spirit let out a long sigh and slumped down, slowly saying,

"When I secured my position, the first time I encountered war in the Northern Region, with Immortal Soldiers wounded and killed… the first batch of 'stale grain' that landed in my hands amounted to twelve thousand.

"You may think that twelve thousand isn't much, and it truly isn't. It's not even enough for our Pavilion Master Mi to gift a few treasures to his favorites.

"But Hall Master, dealing in 'stale grain' is a conscienceless, heaven-forsaken act. Should it be exposed, those Immortal Soldiers would surely riot, and those above would definitely chop off our heads. Just like now.

"Yet as long as you take the 'stale grain,' you are Pavilion Master Mi's confidant, and you won't lack benefits from other places.

"You don't know, I have cultivated in the mountains for three thousand six hundred years, lived in poverty within my Sect for over a thousand years, and then served in the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion for thousands more. After so many years of accumulation, I was still somewhat embarrassed by my meager funds when trying to exchange for two handy immortal treasures.

"With more Spirit Stones, Cultivation also becomes more carefree. How splendid! HAHAHAHA!"

The old man's Primordial Spirit let out a long howl, "But this splendor has been my death!"

Wu Wang closed his eyes, took a breath, and waited for Cai Wenjie's Primordial Spirit to quiet down before asking again, "Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

"Yes, I have to say it! I have to spill all of this!"

Cai Wenjie's Primordial Spirit, under layers of restrictions, suddenly stood up, glared at Wu Wang, and shouted,

"Does the Main Hall not know about these affairs? The Main Hall knows everything clearly, but Pavilion Master Mi made his arrangements long ago!

"The 'stale grain' is just 'stale grain,' a mere stepping stone for the wars in the Northern Region that happen every few decades. What they value most is the 'new grain.'

"Is our division big? Is it beautiful? Eighty percent of the allocations from the Main Hall have ended up in our pockets.

"A division this large needs more people to get work done—that's reasonable and proper, right?

"Of the Immortal Soldiers directly under our division, thirty percent exist in name only! Within the pavilion, many officials hold two positions! Most of them don't even know their identities have already been used two or three times.

"Many of the officers complain about the lack of manpower, the lack of time for Cultivation. That's because they don't stand high enough or see far enough.

"The seven calamities and six disasters sent down from the Heaven Palace, the disaster-relief Spirit Stones allocated by the Main Hall—those have been exploited even more creatively.

"Sometimes I wonder, why do we take so many Spirit Stones? Can we even use them all?

"But you have to take them. In this position, if you want to sit tight, if you want to escape with your life, you have to go along with them. It's because our Southeastern Region is so remote.

"The most ingenious part, do you know what it is, Hall Master—oh no, Vice Pavilion Master? HAHAHAHA!"

Cai Wenjie laughed through his tears, then cursed under his breath, "The most ingenious part is, if those who chased and killed those orphans and widows hadn't been soft-hearted and spared a few, a big shot like you would never have seen any of this! You would never have noticed this place at all! I, Cai Wenjie, could have gotten away with everything! I could have enjoyed my days roaming the forests, wandering the Great Wilderness! Just—"

WHOOOSH—

Flames surged, and Cai Wenjie's Primordial Spirit was engulfed by the fierce fire spewed from Wu Wang's palm.

The flames leaped up, dyeing half the sky red.

The Immortal Soldiers stood in silence. The officers of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion stood in silence. The cultivators stood in silence.

Wu Wang sat there quietly. He first closed his eyes in concentration, then opened them and looked down at the kneeling figures below, asking,

"Are the others all confirmed?"

"Confirmed, confirmed."

The responding officer from the Punishment Hall trembled as he spoke, not knowing what had come over him.

"Everyone involved in the Southeastern 'stale grain' case: for those whose crimes do not warrant death, increase their punishment by one degree. For those whose crimes merit death…"

Wu Wang slowly exhaled,

"Kill."

Inside and outside the great city, heaven and earth fell into solemn silence.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.