The Ocher Whip, His Majesty Shennong's personal magic treasure, was originally an immortal treasure used for searching for herbs. Over ti, it gained sentience and followed Senior Shennong to the Northern Heavenly Palace, standing against strong gods, and beca renowned in the Great Wilderness.
Wu Wang quickly discovered that the renown of his Little Golden Dragon and his title as Hall Master of the Punishnt Hall were less useful than this weapon.
As soon as the Ocher Whip was in his hand and the tall, imposing Fire Plu stood behind him, the atmosphere in the place changed completely.
The intense hostility from before vanished, those vigilant eyes disappeared, replaced by the shock and reverence in the eyes of a group of Immortal Soldiers.
At Wu Wang's thought, the Ocher Whip gently trembled, transforming into a Fire Azure Dragon as thick as a bowl, swirling around him.
This Azure Dragon was enveloped in orange-red flas, yet there was not the slightest hint of heat. It lay lazily on Wu Wang's shoulder, its whiskers fluttering slightly.
Clearly, the Ocher Whip had not only co to obey commands but also seed particularly familiar with Wu Wang. It had beaten him quite a few tis before.
Wu Wang tried to raise his hand and rub the Fire Azure Dragon's head. The dragon gave him a bored look and spoke directly in a human voice, "What, do you need to nuzzle your palm too?"
"I wouldn't dare."
Wu Wang gave an embarrassed chuckle; it was the first ti he had seen a weapon with its own personality.
Fire Plu, the Xia Official, reminded him, "My lord, His Majesty ordered to co today to take away so corrupt officials. Shouldn't we get down to business sooner?"
"And you are, fellow Daoist?"
"Xia Official, Zhu Rong·Fire Plu."
"Zhu Rong?"
"Zhu Rong is the highest-ranking position within the Xia Official hierarchy," Fire Plu said with a bow. "Currently, the officials of Spring, Sumr, Autumn, and Winter do not participate in political affairs. The Xia Official is primarily in charge of military matters. My lord, you can regard as His Majesty's trusted aide."
Wu Wang nodded with a smile and asked, "Did Lady Fire Plu co alone?"
Fire Plu asked directly, "How many troops do you require?"
Wu Wang said, "Two units should be enough. One to surround the Four Seas Pavilion's main complex, and one to control the situation within the city. No one is to act rashly. Seal everyone's Storage magic treasures."
"My lord, please wait. I will summon the troops imdiately!"
Zhu Rong·Fire Plu agreed. She turned to look towards the Four Seas Pavilion as Battle Armor that seed forged from solid flas shone brightly around her, and she leaped into the air.
She clenched her left hand. A plu of fire erupted, revealing a Fire Plu Spear within.
The long spear drew a line across Heaven and Earth. A streak of firelight unfolded between them as if lting the void, slowly expanding into a fissure.
NEIGHS echoed between Heaven and Earth as hundreds of orbs of firelight darted out from the fissure. They revealed hundreds of n and won in full Battle Armor riding fla horses, neatly arrayed in the sky, forming twelve assault formations.
All of them possessed the cultivation of early-stage Heavenly Immortals! Not a single one had reached the mid-stage Heavenly Immortal Realm!
Following the appearance of these hundreds, continuous streaks of light shot towards them, their flight paths perfectly straight, without any wavering or delay, arriving in neat rows behind the riders.
In an instant, the dusky sky was filled with flas, the twelve formations dominating the heavens above the Four Seas Pavilion.
The fiery gate slowly closed, and a rich aura of the Dao of Fire swept out in all directions.
Zhu Rong·Fire Plu stood proudly in the air, butterfly-like fiery wings spread behind her, her voice carrying far and wide, "By order of Wu Wangzi, Hall Master of the Punishnt Hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion! Surround the Four Seas Pavilion! Seal all Storage magic treasures of the cultivators within! Any who resist will be killed without rcy!"
Countless figures responded in unison, their voices like thunder rolling from afar. "As you command!"
With Fire Plu's spear pointing downward, figures plumted from the sky. Hundreds of Heavenly Immortals dashed left and right, the air filled with whooshing sounds.
Wu Wang was stunned, though not completely lost.
The Grand Elder behind him sighed, "His Majesty's own Yan Emperor's army has arrived. The matter of the Four Seas Pavilion is indeed not simple."
The Yan Emperor's army... Are they the Human Emperor's Imperial Guards? Wu Wang had earlier muttered to himself, wondering if the influence of the Dao of Fire on the Human Domain was too low. He hadn't expected that all cultivators of the Dao of Fire had been handed over to the Human Emperor!
Previously, when he first t the senior in the Western Wilderness, he thought the old man was a pitiable figure, rendered powerless by his subordinates. Looking again now, that man was clearly the overlord of the southern Great Wilderness, standing upon blazing flas!
"You should have said so earlier," Wu Wang said, exasperated. "I've been mobilizing troops from all over, afraid I couldn't suppress the Four Seas Pavilion. Grand Elder, send ssages to all parties explaining the situation here. Just have their people in charge co. Also, send the fastest Jade Talismans to the Ji Family. Tell them Ji Mo is safe and has been rescued, so they needn't worry. The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion and the Four Seas Pavilion will certainly give the Ji Family a proper accounting for this matter."
The Grand Elder bowed and accepted the order. He and Elder Miao began to prepare the communication Jade Talismans.
Soon, a dozen streaks of light flew away from the location.
The situation within the city was already largely under the control of the Yan Emperor's army. Only the most majestic high-rise building still had layers of active Formations, preventing the Yan Emperor's Imperial Guards from breaking in.
Seeing this, Fire Plu vanished in a flash from the sky and reappeared before the tower, an incredibly powerful aura surging from her.
Suddenly, the sky changed color and waves recoiled. It was as if the heavens themselves were collapsing, giving the impression that a volcano was about to erupt beneath the tower.
This Xia Official, Zhu Rong·Fire Plu, turned out to be a top-tier expert of the Human Domain, on par with Liu Baiyi.
"Do you dare defy the order?"
With a point of her spear, Fire Plu was about to blast open the Formations.
An elderly female voice ca from within the tower, "Please, hold your hand! The Formations here activated on their own. We will show ourselves imdiately."
As her words faded, the luminous walls of the Formations around the tower slowly receded, and hundreds of figures erged from within.
The foremost elderly woman—Wu Wang had seen her before.
She was the one who had planned the trial in the Northern Wilderness, a trial that had almost claid the lives of Ji Mo and Ling Xiaolan.
When Senior Shennong had chastised the Four Seas Pavilion for such trials, she had retorted that Senior Shennong didn't have much of his Lifespan left, and had even tried to justify her actions.
She was the forr Pavilion Master of the Four Seas Pavilion...
"Right, what's the na of the senior at the front?"
Wu Wang turned and asked, nearly causing the mbers of the Annihilation Sect behind him to stumble.
An Elder from the Four Seas Pavilion, who had followed Feng Zhizi out of the city, said, "The forr Pavilion Master's surna is Feng."
"Oh? So it's Forr Pavilion Master Feng."
Wu Wang revealed a slight smile. Instead of hurrying into the city, he extended his Immortal Consciousness to check the location of Xing Tian and his disciple.
As Wu Wang had ordered, all the cultivators in the city were now subdued, their Storage magic treasures sealed and hovering around them.
From the Transcendent realm experts down to cultivators who had not yet beco immortals, none were exempt.
All eyes turned towards Wu Wang. With a slight smile, he walked forward, hands clasped behind his back.
The head of the Fire Dragon rested on his shoulder, and its presence made his otherwise ordinary robe appear majestic and extraordinary.
His square face was filled with righteousness, his posture exuding a hint of pride.
Yet, his smile beca increasingly gentle, a stark contrast to his initial frosty deanor. The earlier frostiness was because he lacked absolute certainty; now, Wu Wang was entirely composed and at ease.
"Everyone, there's no need for worry or fear," Wu Wang's voice spread throughout the city. "The purpose of my visit today, as you've all heard, is primarily to thoroughly investigate the Yunxiu Square incident. The Four Seas Pavilion has made outstanding contributions to the Human Domain; this, none of us can deny. However, rits and derits cannot cancel each other out. Rewards and punishnts must be distinct. Especially for an organization as vital to the Human Domain's lifeline as the Four Seas Pavilion, it must be clear-hearted and true to its original mission. All Immortal Soldiers, please remain seated for now. And the officers, deacons, and Elders of the Four Seas Pavilion, please also rest where you are. If I have caused any offense, I ask for your forbearance."
As Wu Wang finished speaking, he was already on the main street of the city. He admired the precious treasures of the Nine Wildernesses embedded at the entrances of the tall stone buildings. The Four Seas Pavilion is truly wealthy, he thought.
Unexpectedly, a light thud was heard: the walking staff of the forr Pavilion Master of the Four Seas Pavilion had fallen to the ground.
A chair was brought for her, and the old woman slowly took her seat. Without even glancing at Wu Wang, she said, "I beg the Wuwang Palace Lord to forgive my rudeness for daring to say a few words. Since the founding of the Four Seas Pavilion, we have strived to find what the Human Domain lacks, to compensate for its deficiencies. Everyone here, from top to bottom, which one of us has not toiled, journeying across the Four Seas, pioneering trade routes right under the eyes of the Divine Spirits! Today, the Hall Master of the Punishnt Hall from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion cos to our Four Seas Pavilion. Citing the trivial matter of Yunxiu Square, he has sealed everyone in the Four Seas Pavilion, from top to bottom. Is this not chilling the hearts of the hundreds of thousands of immortals in the Four Seas Pavilion!"
After Forr Pavilion Master Feng finished speaking, many Elders behind her began to voice their agreent, one after another, their voices choked with emotion. Their words caused many young mbers of the Four Seas Pavilion to look at Wu Wang with hatred.
Wu Wang nodded at their words and raised his hand to silence the voices throughout the city. "My actions today were indeed inconsiderate," he said.
Wu Wang continued to stride forward, his pace light, a smile on his face, as if he were on a leisurely stroll with friends his age.
He said, "Forr Pavilion Master Feng is right. Such a minor matter as Yunxiu Square truly doesn't warrant such a large-scale operation. After all, Yunxiu Square is only suspected of being connected to the Four Seas Pavilion; it's not a directly subordinate organization. So, Forr Pavilion Master Feng, please wait a mont while I consider how to handle this."
Wu Wang glanced behind him, where only the Grand Elder, Lin Suqing, Elder Miao, and his two guards, Yang Wudi and Zhang Moshan, followed.
He pointed to Yang Wudi and asked, "Wudi, what do you think I should do to apologize to Forr Pavilion Master Feng?"
Yang Wudi's legs trembled. He quickly responded, "How would I know... But Sect Master, they're complaining that our actions are all thunder and no rain. Why not just make it rain a little harder?"
"Oh? You have a point."
Wu Wang raised an eyebrow at Yang Wudi. This fellow truly is a talent I've painstakingly nurtured; he understands my intentions well.
Wu Wang turned back to Forr Pavilion Master Feng and said with a smile, "In that case, imdiately summon Pavilion Master Liu Baiyi from the Immortal and Mortal Hall. Have him bring over so immortals skilled in accounting. The Four Seas Pavilion's accounts for the past thousand years—every single ledger—will be thoroughly investigated. Anyone found embezzling, misappropriating the Pavilion's public Spirit Stones, or willfully destroying or altering the accounts will be severely punished! If nothing is found in the accounts from the last thousand years, then we'll investigate the two thousand years prior. I don't have many urgent matters recently. Since I'm already here, I can afford to spend so ti on this."
"Yes, my lord!" Fire Plu responded with a salute from mid-air.
The color drained from the faces of many Elders standing behind Forr Pavilion Master Feng. Even among those Elders who had followed Feng Zhizi out of the city, half broke into a cold sweat, looking uneasy.
Forr Pavilion Master Feng stared at Wu Wang, her voice finally softening. "Wuwang Palace Lord, do you truly intend to proceed like this? Bear in mind, being too unyielding can lead to breaking."
"A senior once said, 'If you're not full of spirit when you're young, are you even young at all?'" Wu Wang smiled. "If one is upright, one need not fear a crooked shadow. Why should Forr Pavilion Master Feng worry about this?"
He flicked the hem of his Daoist robe. The Grand Elder casually retrieved a chair from outside the city and placed it behind Wu Wang.
"Bring a few more chairs. Grand Elder, Elder Miao, please sit. Lady Fire Plu, after you've issued your orders, please co and take a seat as well. We'll wait for the victim, Young Master Ji Mo."
The Grand Elder said, "Sect Master, shall I go and fetch them? We shouldn't keep so many people waiting."
"Then I'll trouble you, Grand Elder. Body cultivators are indeed too slow at traveling."
The Grand Elder couldn't help but smile. He summoned a nacing black wind and flew off to the southwest.
Suddenly, a long howl resounded. It was Lin Qi, leading hundreds of Lin Family guards and private soldiers, racing in from the horizon. He arrived just monts before Ji Mo.
「A short while later...」
The cylindrical deep-sea ship had been brought over jointly by the Grand Elder and Xing Tian's master.
Inside were dozens of beings, who had already been stunned by Xing Tian's master's 'Sonic Roar' divine skill and had yet to regain consciousness.
Wu Wang first carefully scanned its interior with his Immortal Consciousness. Confirming there were no indecent scenes, he imdiately ordered all the Elders of the Four Seas Pavilion to turn their attention to it.
Fire Plu's fiery spear swept out, and the great ship split in two like an eggshell.
The Yan Emperor's Imperial Guards sward in. They captured sixteen True Immortal Realm experts, three Heavenly Immortal Realm experts, and rescued more than twenty young won of various races—all exceptionally charming, graceful, and beautiful—along with the still-unconscious Ji Mo.
As Ji Mo was carried out, Wu Wang imdiately stepped forward and covered him with a wide robe, making sure to conceal his groin.
Lin Qi muttered with a frown, "Even now, he's still reacting like that?"
"It's Charm Pills."
Elder Miao, who had already picked up several bottles and jars from where Ji Mo was rescued, said softly from the side, "Ji Mo was clearly drugged... Sect Master, there are a few Image Projection Beads here. No, more than a dozen."
Image Projection Beads? Charm Pills? Won from foreign tribes? A corner of Wu Wang's mouth twitched as he suddenly realized sothing. This Yunxiu Square is quite sothing. They were actually trying to ensnare Ji Mo, get so leverage on him, and then use it to threaten him. How could they threaten him? Everyone knows Ji Mo is a silent partner in pleasure pavilions all over. How could he... Ah, that's it. Ji Mo is married now. He has to consider Le Yao's feelings.
Wu Wang glanced at Lin Qi, then at the still groggy Ji Mo, his lips twitching slightly.
It wasn't that Yunxiu Square was audacious, but rather that they were too clever by half. Today, the Four Seas Pavilion was about to have its accounts thoroughly audited, even alerting the Yan Emperor's Imperial Guards. This was bound to cause a major upheaval among the higher-ups in the Human Domain. And the cause of all this? Yunxiu Square attempting to use sex to blackmail the young master of the Ji Family. This? Am I, the Hall Master of the Punishnt Hall, not worthy of such sches?
Miao Cuijiao took an elixir from her sleeve and, with a flick of her finger, sent it into Ji Mo's mouth.
Ji Mo's 'condition' began to 'improve' at a visible rate... his embarrassing problem vanished.
Wu Wang and the other male cultivators from the Annihilation Sect looked at Elder Miao with a newfound sense of awe.
"Sect Master, there's sothing interesting in here," Miao Cuijiao said, her slender waist swaying as she approached Wu Wang and handed him an Image Projection Bead.
Wu Wang raised his hand in refusal, "Elder Miao, I am a respectable person."
Elder Miao laughed. "What do you think is in it? Just take a look. Or shall I play it for everyone?"
"Can this be shown here?" Wu Wang glared and scolded, "Don't be ridiculous! This...!"
Elder Miao tapped her finger lightly. The Image Projection Bead emitted a faint light, displaying an image.
Ji Mo sat on a bed, holding a Short Sword, its blade pressed against his own chest, his face filled with determination.
In front of him, several won from foreign tribes danced sensually, while seductive music drifted from the Treasure Bead.
A coquettish voice called out, "Young Master Ji, why struggle so? There's no one else here, and my body is clean."
Ji Mo cursed, "I have my principles! No matter what tricks you use, you won't have my body today!"
"Young Master, co on~"
"Get lost!"
Ji Mo shouted, swinging his Treasure Sword forcefully in front of him, causing the young won to pale in fright.
But it was clear his cultivation was sealed. He was not in a good state: breathing heavily, forehead drenched in sweat, and red flushes intermittently crossing his face.
Ji Mo cursed, "Bring those scoundrels out! You said you were taking this young master to your headquarters, and now you resort to such tactics! What is the aning of this!"
From behind layers of curtains, a figure holding a wine jug chuckled eerily, "Young Master Ji, with all your questions, both direct and indirect, aren't you just trying to find out who's behind Yunxiu Square? I must ask, why are you ddling in our affairs? Just because you're from the Ji Family, you think you can challenge our Yunxiu Square?"
Another person laughed, "Young Master Ji, oh Young Master Ji, once you enter our Yunxiu Square, even a dragon must coil and a tiger must lie low. Seeing as you're a man of the world like us, we'll offer you a way out, Young Master Ji. Comply with these ladies' wishes, and we will naturally take you to the realm of Yun ng, where pleasures beyond your wildest imagination await. Just do it to put our minds at ease. Go on, give in. How is this any different from your usual visits to pleasure pavilions?"
Light flickered uncertainly in Ji Mo's eyes. He supported himself with his Longsword, his breathing growing increasingly rapid.
"When this young master visits pleasure pavilions, I pay with wealth and receive smiles and warm welcos in return! But you? You forcibly seize won, enslave them, dictate their lives and deaths! How cruel! Do you even know what it ans to cherish beauty and jade, to understand a woman's tenderness? Utterly shaless! This young master only ca to your Yunxiu Square to rescue so maidens! I never intended to collude with you!"
"Well, well. To hear visiting pleasure pavilions spoken of with such righteousness—we've truly learned sothing today," soone sneered.
Another voice said, "You lot, if you can't get Young Master Ji's clothes off, you'll be shark bait later."
The won blanched but had to steel themselves, continuously trying to get closer to Ji Mo.
Ji Mo, clutching his sword, drove them back left and right. But his expression grew increasingly muddled, his body swayed, and his Adam's apple bobbed. Several graceful figures coiled around him like snakes. Ji Mo clenched his teeth and let out a low growl, still struggling fiercely.
After an unknown period, a loud shout suddenly rang out. The projection from the Treasure Bead flickered for a mont before abruptly stopping.
It was Xing Tian's master who had intervened just in ti to protect Ji Mo's... dignity.
At this mont, Ji Mo, who lay unconscious nearby, trembled all over, still muttering, "Don't..." "Stay back..." "Yao'er, I didn't an it..."
Suddenly, Ji Mo's eyes snapped open. He sat bolt upright, turned to Wu Wang with a wildly ecstatic expression, and yelled, "Brother Xiong! Help explain to Yao'er!"
Then his eyes rolled back, and his body slumped as he fell back down.
"Give the Treasure Bead to Le Yao. She should arrive here soon," Wu Wang instructed. Miao Cuijiao nodded gently in agreent.
With that said, Wu Wang, under everyone's gaze, walked towards the group of cultivators from Yunxiu Square. He gestured for the Grand Elder to wake one of them, then imdiately kicked the man.
The middle-aged male cultivator, his face pale green, still hadn't grasped the situation. He glared at Wu Wang. "Who are you? What do you want? Do you know who I am?!"
Wu Wang turned his head and ordered, "Bring those Charm Pills over here."
"Let !"
Xing Tian, who had been silent until now, leaped up. He snatched the elixirs and, without a word, rushed to the Heavenly Immortal. A slap knocked out the man's front teeth. Xing Tian then grabbed his neck and poured an entire bottle of Charm Pills down his throat.
Xing Tian turned to Wu Wang. "Now what?"
Wu Wang's mouth twitched slightly. "Find a secluded corner and tie him up securely. Show him so erotic art. If he refuses to look, use fishhooks to keep his eyelids open."
"Don't worry! Leave it to your old bro!" Xing Tian snarled through gritted teeth. "This bastard is disgusting! If this were back ho, I'd hang him upside down behind a wolf rider and grind that useless thing of his down, bit by bit!"
Wu Wang was speechless for a mont. "Brother, feel free to improvise. You know more about torture than I do. As for the others, let Elder Miao handle the interrogation, with Yang Wudi assisting."
"Yes, sir!"
"Very well."
Yang Wudi and Elder Miao acknowledged the order and dragged several people away.
Before long, cries for rcy, mingled with a strange fragrance, drifted from a nearby alley.
「An hour later.」
Elder Miao strolled out, lightly licking her lips. She handed two Jade Talismans to Wu Wang. "This is all they know."
"Mm," Wu Wang nodded. He called Lin Qi over and handed him one Jade Talisman, which contained information on a dozen or so of Yunxiu Square's hideouts.
Wu Wang said, "Lin Qi, I'm entrusting this to you. Can you handle it cleanly?"
Lin Qi exclaid, "Disciple will redeem my past failures with ritorious service!"
"Go and capture them all. Avoid killing if possible, as we still need to interrogate them. Of course, it's better to kill them than to let any escape."
"Yes, sir!"
Lin Qi acknowledged the order and hurriedly led the Lin Family forces and the Four Seas Pavilion's Immortal Soldiers away.
Wu Wang then said, "Bring those twenty-odd won from the foreign tribes over. I have a few words for them."
Nearby, so of the Yan Emperor's Imperial Guards acknowledged the command.
Not long after, in the sa alley, more than twenty trembling won from foreign tribes, each holding a weapon gleaming with Immortal Light, advanced step by step towards the dozen or so half-dead cultivators from Yunxiu Square.
A woman from the Rain Mistress Nation was the first to pounce, gnashing her teeth and screaming as her knife rose and fell.
Woman after woman, with appearances similar to the Human race, rushed forward. Their cries of grief and rage, mingled with the cultivators' agonized screams, filled the air.
Wu Wang toyed with the other Jade Talisman from Elder Miao, which contained a dozen or so nas.
He then looked towards the crowd behind Forr Pavilion Master Feng. Several individuals in that group already had their eyes tightly shut, not daring to et his gaze.
"Elders? Hah, vermin."
Wu Wang's lips curled into a mocking sneer. But at this mont, Forr Pavilion Master Feng closed her eyes and sighed deeply. None of the people behind her dared to respond.
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