Chapter 658: How Could I, Zhou Li, Ever Lie to You?
“Since you three cannot produce proof of identity, you are considered stateless persons. According to the principle of territorial jurisdiction, Great Zhou has jurisdiction over you.”
“Refusing to undergo the mental health assessment leads to the presumption that you do not have any mental illness.”
“Gathering a crowd to cause trouble, assaulting someone in public, and resisting law enforcement. You are hereby sentenced to fifteen days of administrative detention.”
The person thrown out of the teahouse by Wuhán wasn’t injured seriously enough to reach the threshold for criminal charges.
“If you disagree with the penalty decision, you may appeal to a higher authority within ten days.”
Appeal your damn uncle! Wuhán cursed wildly in his heart, his rage soaring to the heavens. He had never suffered such a humiliating disgrace before.
A mere Nascent Soul cultivator, judging them, the three of them, and even daring to lock them up.
Once he regained his power, the first person he’d kill would be him!
The three of them had never endured such a profound humiliation. They wanted to resist, but they were no different from mortals. The officials pressed them into a dark, damp prison cell.
The Snake-eyed Man quickly calmed down. “We must remember this lesson. The weak have no possibility of resistance. If we were cultivators, would we have ended up in this situation?”
A fellow prisoner locked up with them sneered mockingly. “What kind of bullshit lesson is that? If you have no skills, don’t try to be a life coach. If you make a mistake, you must accept punishment. Do cultivators get special privileges? Don’t say you are one, even if you were the Emperor of Heaven himself, if you cause trouble within Great Zhou’s borders, you’d get locked up too.”
“I myself am a Divine Transformation cultivator, and aren’t I sitting here obediently as well?”
Only then did the three notice that the prison held an equal mix of mortals and cultivators. Among the cultivators, the highest cultivation level present was the Divine Transformation stage.
Wuhán snorted coldly. “A dignified Divine Transformation cultivator, willingly degrading himself to be bound by mortal laws, and even looking smug about it. Truly laughable to the extreme. You’ve completely disgraced the face of cultivators.”
The Divine Transformation cultivator wasn’t intimidated by the three. “Who exactly is the disgraceful one, you should think about that carefully. Strength and weakness are always relative. You arbitrarily bully the weak and hold the power of life and death. Then when a stronger being kills you, don’t you dare complain.”
“You dare curse me!”
The Tiger-striped Man stopped Wuhán. “Enough. Don’t argue with low-level cultivators. It degrades our status.”
Wuhán thought about it and realized this was true, so he stopped talking.
“The most important thing now is to restore our cultivation, find a way to contact Lord Luwu, inform him of our predicament, and ask him to find a solution.”
“We can’t use immortal power or spiritual energy. We can’t even open our storage rings.”
“From what you three are saying, your cultivation has been sealed?” The prisoner in the next cell asked with keen interest.
“So what if it is?” Wuhán said grumpily.
That man chuckled. “Illegal immigrants from another world, right? I’ve seen plenty like you.”
“Please, fellow Daoist, explain in detail.” The Tiger-striped Man humbly asked for guidance, not ashamed to learn from those below him.
Wuhán and the Snake-eyed Man knew how incredibly proud and arrogant the Tiger-striped Man was as an immortal. Now, to build rapport, he was forced to address the other as ‘fellow Daoist.’ Once they regained their cultivation, they would definitely have to kill this witness and destroy the evidence.
That man, unaware of the Tiger-striped Man’s danger, continued on his own. “The Dao Ancestor and Emperor Shun once laid down a formation across Great Zhou. Anyone from another world who comes to Great Zhou without being registered, who sneaks in illegally, will have their bodies and magic power sealed.”
The Tiger-striped Man nodded. No wonder nothing happened in the Great Witch Kingdom, but they became like this upon arriving in Great Zhou. If it was the work of the Dao Ancestor and Emperor Shun, then it made perfect sense.
Those two doing something like this was not strange at all.
“Then how do we break the seal?”
“Just leave Great Zhou.”
The three exchanged glances, revealing looks of joy.
“Might we know your name, fellow Daoist?”
“Zhou Li.”
During these fifteen days, the three didn’t idle either. They asked Zhou Li about the Earth Vein.
“No wonder Lord Luwu ordered us to investigate the matter of the Nine Provinces Earth Vein. From the description, it’s highly likely to be a nascent form of the Heavenly Dao. Netherfire Immortal Lord is in for major trouble!” Wuhán said excitedly. Toppling Netherfire Immortal Lord would surely earn them generous rewards from Lord Luwu.
Fifteen days later, the three were released from prison. Coincidentally, Zhou Li was also leaving the prison.
“Are you three planning to leave Great Zhou? Perfect timing, I’m also leaving Great Zhou to go to the Human Sovereign Hall. How about we go together?” Zhou Li proactively invited them.
“Good. We also happen to be going to the Human Sovereign Hall.” The Tiger-striped Man agreed. They were unfamiliar with the land and people; having a local guide was best.
“The prison food was very bland. I want to eat something spicy. I know a very authentic hand-pulled noodle shop. Do you three want to join?”
“Let’s go.”
…
“Boss, four bowls of hand-pulled noodles. Add an egg for me. For these three, give them the deluxe version, add everything: eggs, sausage, fried tofu skin, the works.”
Seeing the beaming smile on Zhou Li’s face, the boss joked, “What’s the good news?”
Zhou Li’s smile widened even more. “It’s nothing much. These three fellow Daoists are about to embark on their journey. I wanted to treat them to a good meal before they set off.”
Hearing this, the boss dipped his ladle deeper, scooping up from the bottom three pieces of beef about the size of soybeans, placing them into the three men’s bowls as a token of his goodwill.
After finishing the meal, the four left Great Zhou.
“You three are foreign nationals, unregistered. Taking official roads or riding vehicles would be inconvenient, with many obstacles.” Zhou Li explained, justifying his reason for leading the three through desolate mountains and wild forests.
The three hadn’t experienced the hardships of being mortal for a long time. After walking the whole way, they were disheveled and grimy, with leaves and bugs in their hair, looking utterly wretched.
“Finally, finally our power is returning!” The three sensed the seal loosening, returning to the realm of Celestial Immortals.
The Tiger-striped Man didn’t want to dirty his own hands. He gave the Snake-eyed Man a meaningful look, signaling him to deal with Zhou Li.
The Tiger-striped Man took out a communication talisman, preparing to contact Immortal Lord Luwu and report the situation.
“There’s still quite a distance from here to the Human Sovereign Hall. Walking won’t be easy. Since you three have regained your power, could you fly me over?” Zhou Li said, completely unaware of the approaching danger.
The Snake-eyed Man revealed a cruel smile. “Little brother, you’re too heavy. We’ll just take your heart to the Human Sovereign Hall.”
Wuhán stretched his limbs, releasing the oppressive aura of a Celestial Immortal, ready to wreak havoc.
Since the nascent form of the Heavenly Dao had already been born, there was no need to hold back anymore. They had suffered too many humiliations in the Nine Provinces, and needed blood to erase them.
Zhou Li was terrified, his voice trembling as he said, “You… you’re forcing me to take action.”
Wuhán laughed heartily. “Go ahead, try…”
A white light flashed. Wuhán’s head separated from his body. He collapsed with a heavy thud. The oppressive aura of a Celestial Immortal, not yet fully released, vanished without a trace.
“I’ve never heard such a request before.”
Zhou Li’s expression was utterly calm.
…
“Lord Luwu, it can be confirmed. The Nine Provinces has given birth to a nascent form of the Heavenly Dao. The Human Sovereign is the spokesperson for this nascent Heavenly Dao. We three are preparing to go to the Human Sovereign Hall to secure evidence and take control of the Human Sovereign and the Earth Vein.”
From the other end of the communication talisman came immortal melodies, ethereal and transcendent, giving a feeling of weightless ascension.
Hearing Yingzhao’s report, a rare smile appeared on Luwu’s face.
“Yingzhao, you’ve done well… Who is behind you?!”
Yingzhao suddenly whirled around, his eyes wide with shock and astonishment.
Zhou Li was leisurely walking over, as if strolling through a courtyard. Behind him were two massive corpses: Wuhán’s Heavenly Witch true form and the Snake-eyed Man’s Xiangliu true body. One dynamic, one static, creating an immensely impactful scene.
Zhou Li, with one hand, gripped Yingzhao’s neck, and with the other, picked up the communication talisman.
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Jiang Li. I am the Human Sovereign you’ve been looking for.”