Chapter 134

"I wouldn't dare, Honored Magistrate—please calm your anger," the old ghost of Changshou Sect quickly bowed, even though resentment burned in his heart. But what choice did he have? This was an imperial official. If he dared to strike Qingfeng, the punishment would be a living hell.

"Your name is Jiu Li'er, correct?" Qingfeng now turned to her. "Do not be afraid. If you truly possess the skill to deploy a Tier 3 Spatial Shift Array, then you are a rare talent—and the Empire protects its talents. I swear this in the name of the reigning Emperor: no one shall dare harm you. If anyone tries, they will be opposing the Empire itself. Do you understand?"

His words carried a double meaning—meant for Jiu Li'er, but also a warning to the Changshou Sect’s patriarch.
Men like the old ghost needed constant reminders, or they were bound to cause trouble.

"I understand," Jiu Li'er nodded obediently, though she still appeared afraid of the old ghost.

"Jiu Li'er, demonstrate your array for the Magistrate," Yunyangzi said gently, enveloping her in a comforting aura of spiritual energy.

"Yes."
Jiu Li'er stepped to a flowerbed, gathered her array materials, and began constructing a Tier 3 Spatial Shift Array.
As a genius of the Jiu Li Clan, her comprehension was nearly on par with Han Luo's—especially since she specialized in array arts, while Han Luo dabbled in many fields.
Moreover, under her great-grandmother’s recent guidance, her array skills had advanced even further.
Though assembling the Spatial Shift Array was difficult, it was well within her abilities—especially with subtle guidance from her senior brother, Han Luo.

Soon, the array was fully formed.
Qingfeng observed the entire process. With his knowledge of array arts, he could confirm: this was indeed a flawless Tier 3 Spatial Shift Array.

"How is your great-grandmother’s health these days?" Qingfeng suddenly asked, switching topics.

Though he had never met Jiu Li'er personally, there was only one clan in the Eastern Domain bold enough to bear the Jiu surname: the Jiu Li Clan.
And her great-grandmother was a legendary figure—one of the designers of the Imperial Capital’s grand defensive array, deeply respected even by the Emperor.

"She is well, Honored Magistrate. Thank you for your concern," Jiu Li'er replied politely.

Imperial magistrates were observers of the Empire’s laws—anyone who defied them would be judged, and the guilty would face imprisonment in the dreaded underworld prisons.

After a few casual words, Qingfeng turned back to the old ghost.

"Well? How do you explain this?"

The old ghost was dumbstruck. According to his intelligence, Jiu Li'er shouldn’t have been capable of building a Tier 3 array—let alone a Spatial Shift Array of this level.
But the proof was right before his eyes. He could deny it no longer.

"Jiu Li'er! Were you involved in stealing my forest veins?"
He immediately shifted the blame to her, releasing a threatening aura.

But Yunyangzi matched him at once, shielding Jiu Li'er with a surge of power.

"Changshou Ghost, do you dare threaten my disciple? Have you forgotten the Empire’s laws?"

Yunyangzi’s words were clearly meant for Qingfeng to hear.
Qingfeng frowned and addressed the old ghost coldly.

"Changshou Sect Master, this is your second offense today. As punishment, your sect’s resource quota will be halved for the next fifty years."

"Honored Magistrate!" the old ghost was stunned.
Only now did he remember how much power this young-looking official wielded.
In his arrogance, he had forgotten himself.

"Please, listen—someone powerful from Luoxian Sect must have helped! You must believe me!"
The old ghost blurted out desperately. Since he was already being punished, he figured he might as well speak his mind.

"Silence."
Just one word from Qingfeng, and the Nascent Soul patriarch shut his mouth at once.
To anger the Magistrate—or the Empire—was sheer folly. Unless one possessed a power that could shake the heavens, submission was the only option.
A Nascent Soul cultivator was nothing in the face of imperial authority.

"Changshou Sect Master, you are a veteran sect leader. You should know better. The battlefield of the young should be left to the young—they are the future of the Eastern Domain."

"Yes, Honored Magistrate. I understand," the old ghost replied through gritted teeth.
He could endure. If he couldn’t, he would never have risen to become a sect leader.

"Since you understand, you must pay the price. That is the law."
Qingfeng now turned to Yunyangzi.
"Cloud Sect Master, what compensation would you deem appropriate?"

Yunyangzi stroked his white beard and looked toward Jiu Li'er.
"This man has disrespected my disciple. Jiu Li'er—what do you think?"

Of course, Yunyangzi knew Han Luo had arranged for her to be here. He trusted that Han Luo had a plan.

Jiu Li'er glanced nervously at the old ghost, still afraid.
"Do not worry," Qingfeng reassured her. "With your great-grandmother’s status, no one would dare touch you. Anyone who does will face the underworld prisons."

The underworld prisons—an imperial punishment worse than death. The condemned would suffer not just physical torment but unending soul-burning agony, trapped for hundreds or thousands of years without release.

"Brother Qingfeng," Jiu Li'er spoke timidly. "I’ve been short of spirit iron for my arrays recently... so I would like the Changshou Sect Master to give me a spirit iron vein."

At her words, the old ghost’s eyes bulged in disbelief.
At first, he thought she merely wanted a few rare materials. But now—she was asking for an entire vein!
His sect only had three spirit iron veins to begin with!

Qingfeng gave her a subtle glance of surprise.
This girl looks so meek, but when it comes to bargaining... quite ruthless. I wonder who she learned that from.

"Changshou Sect Master—do you have any objections?" Qingfeng asked calmly.

The old ghost desperately wanted to refuse.
But refusing meant offending Qingfeng—and the conversation had already made it clear that Qingfeng was quite interested in Jiu Li’er’s future.
If a prodigy from his jurisdiction rose to prominence, Qingfeng’s own status would soar. Especially given how young he still was—he needed every advantage.

Vengeance could wait.
But offending the Magistrate? That was a mistake he couldn’t afford.

Grinding his teeth, he forced out a response.
"Very well. I agree."

He had no choice. And he knew now—he had been thoroughly outplayed.
The mastermind was almost certainly Yunyangzi. Who else in Luoxian Sect would dare orchestrate such a scheme against him?

"Good. I will consider this matter settled. If anyone dares raise it again... do not blame me for being harsh."
With that, Qingfeng closed the matter.
The old ghost left in a fury.

Qingfeng turned to Jiu Li'er.
"Jiu Li'er, if you ever need anything, come to me directly."
Then he, too, departed.

Jiu Li'er didn’t fully grasp what this meant, but Yunyangzi understood perfectly.

"Many thanks, Honored Magistrate," Yunyangzi bowed, then explained the significance to her.
Jiu Li'er was thrilled.

"Master... does this mean I might serve in the imperial capital one day?"

"Of course," Yunyangzi smiled. "With your talent, it is very likely. But remember—no matter what position you attain, never forget that you are a disciple of Luoxian Sect."

"I understand, Master! No matter where I go, I will always remember my roots."

She had been told as much by her great-grandmother—Luoxian Sect was special precisely because of Yunyangzi’s leadership.

"Good. You may go."
Yunyangzi dismissed her with a smile.

One day later, Jiu Li'er quietly made her way to the place where she had arranged to meet Han Luo.