Guarding the Prison for 100 Years, I Emerge to Overwhelm the Demon Venerable

After capturing the old woman and returning to the prison, Su Bai immediately reported the matter to the higher-ups of the Prison Suppression Bureau.

Once he used his Divine Technique, [Ears of Discernment], all the filth and squalor within the Imperial City were laid bare.

Su Bai was, after all, a Supervisor in the Prison Suppression Bureau. Furthermore, he had caught the eye of the Prison Suppression Bureau’s Prison Lord, Chen Tianfeng, and this matter was also related to the Black Lotus Sect.

Therefore, the cleanup operation proceeded rather smoothly.

That night, Su Bai gathered a group of colleagues from the Prison Suppression Bureau and destroyed dozens of Evil Cult dens.

The Demonic Lineage, including both the Black Lotus Sect and Rashomon, was involved. There were also a handful of Little Demons and Little Ghosts who saw an opportunity for profit, fishing in troubled waters to swindle people out of their money.

The people and demons caught in this operation all had weak Cultivation; they were essentially just minions pushed to the front lines.

But the sheer number of people involved and the breadth of the operation was rather appalling.

Almost all of them were using Su Bai’s name to proselytize for their own Evil Cults.

Those who needed to be interrogated were questioned, and those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody.

After raiding these strongholds, the collected portraits of the Fist Monarch and Divine Monarch numbered over ten thousand. They were piled into a small mountain and burned en masse in a public square that night.

Portrait after portrait, worth ten, twenty, or even hundreds or thousands of taels, all went up in roaring flames.

During the burning, many commoners gathered around to watch.

Some wept bitterly, some cursed, some shouted in anger...

Beneath the flickering firelight...

Su Bai saw them all—a myriad of faces, each one illuminated by the flames.

He stood his ground, his expression as impassive as ever, completely unmoved.

While directing his men to maintain basic order, the Pasture Captain watched the scene and couldn’t help but sigh softly.

"Flames can burn these portraits to ash, but they can’t burn away the filth in people’s hearts."

An older Martial Artist from the Prison Suppression Bureau heard this. His expression flickered; he looked as if he wanted to say something but fell silent instead.

The entire burning process lasted for about an hour.

"YAWN—"

The night grew deep. In the square, which was filled with the acrid smell of smoke, Zhang Wei couldn’t suppress a yawn.

He then walked up to Su Bai, patted his shoulder, and said with a hint of envy, "Brother Su Bai! You’ve scored big again!"

"You’re sure to be promoted to Captain now!"

"We’ll have to go to Yantian Sea to celebrate properly soon!"

The other colleagues from the Prison Suppression Bureau also came forward with cheerful congratulations.

"For sure, for sure."

Su Bai thanked his colleagues one by one.

"Ugh! We’ve been busy all day, and I haven’t even had a bite to eat!"

A moment later, Zhang Wei clutched his stomach and complained.

"Let’s go! I’ll take you to Yantian Sea and treat you to a great meal!"

With their work finished, Su Bai took Zhang Wei and the others to the third floor of Yantian Sea, where they feasted and drank to their hearts’ content.

And it had to be said, the food at Yantian Sea was truly exceptional!

「The next day.」

As a reward for his contributions, Su Bai’s superiors granted him three days of leave. He headed out first thing in the morning.

After a quick breakfast from a roadside stall, Su Bai headed straight for the North Gate.

As he reached the North City gate and was about to walk through, a commotion erupted.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the gate.

The commoners queuing to enter and exit the city gate all scattered, dispersing like frightened birds and beasts.

This included the city guards stationed at the gate.

Su Bai was puzzled. Then, he heard a great shout that boomed like thunder!

"King Wu arrives! Make way!"

Immediately after, the thunder of countless hooves assaulted his ears.

RUMBLE—

The very ground began to tremble.

A vast procession of men and horses surged into the city like a tidal wave.

A large man in Golden Armor with thick, fierce brows and tiger-like eyes rode at the very front. He was wreathed in a deep crimson Evil Qi, his expression ferocious.

He wielded a black great-axe the size of a door panel and charged into the city, kicking up a howling gale. He was like a ferocious golden tiger bursting through the gates.

Behind him was a uniform retinue of Guards in silver armor.

And behind them, exquisite carriages, an honor guard, and attendants.

Su Bai watched in silence, his mind working.

Given his current status, he was well aware of who this King Wu was.

King Wu was the current Emperor Xia’s younger brother, born of the same mother. From a young age, he displayed outstanding talent for the Martial Dao.

His talent was especially peerless when it came to the path of Body Cultivation.

This younger brother of his had played a major role in Emperor Xia’s ascension to the throne.

It was said that Emperor Xia personally granted him a fief in the borderlands of Great Xia.

Though it was called a reward, it was clearly intended to have him guard the frontiers.

But today, King Wu had suddenly returned from the border and was heading straight for the Emperor’s Hall.

’Could there be trouble at the border?’

Su Bai observed King Wu’s retinue. It contained soldiers, generals, monks, Daoists, and nuns...

It was quite a motley crew.

Among them were seven experts of the Spirit Transformation Realm, and even one from the Divine Platform Realm.

King Wu’s procession moved majestically toward the Emperor’s Hall, completely unopposed.

Su Bai gave them a single glance before turning his attention away.

After King Wu and his retinue departed, the North City gate returned to normal.

Su Bai followed the crowd out of the city gate.

After pretending to walk for several miles, he found a deserted spot, soared into the sky, and activated [Soaring Snake Transformation], heading toward the Canghai Sect.

The Canghai Sect was located in a special, hidden location in the North Sea, with no fixed geographical coordinates.

An ordinary person could spend a lifetime searching and still never find a trace of it.

Fortunately, Su Bai had viewed the criminal memories of that Canghai Sect Inner Sect Elder in the Purification Tripod, so he knew the exact route.

...

「On the vast North Sea.」

One after another, large fishing boats cut through the water like a herd of prehistoric beasts, churning up massive waves as they sailed across the sea.

The lead fishing boat was pitch-black. Affixed to its prow was the ferocious head of a giant beast, its massive jaws gaping wide.

But upon closer inspection, one would realize it wasn’t a beast’s head at all.

It was merely a ramming weapon, forged from a special kind of iron.

The fishing boat was not heavily manned. Besides the oarsmen, helmsman, and servants, there were only three others aboard.

At the ship’s bow stood a bare-chested, middle-aged man. He had a serious expression and red markings tattooed on his face.

Beside him stood two boys, each about ten years old.

Unlike ordinary children, the two boys remained perfectly calm even as ten-foot waves crashed around the fishing boat.

They stood steady on the swaying deck, displaying a maturity and composure beyond their years, as if such scenes were commonplace to them.

Furthermore, they were sturdily built, and their Cultivation was impressive; they had already reached the Tongxuan realm.

"Father! We’re almost at Fishing Zone Three!"

At one point, the slightly older of the two boys gazed into the distance and spoke in a low voice.

"Mm!"

The red-tattooed man grunted in acknowledgment, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

A curtain of silver light, hanging in the sky, came into view.

As the fishing boat neared the silver curtain, the man shouted.

"Everyone, grab the rails!"

This wasn’t their first time at sea. The moment the man gave the order, everyone gripped the iron handrails tightly.

RUMBLE—

A few breaths later.

As the fishing boat pierced the silver curtain, it began to CREAK and GROAN, and an incessant roar filled everyone’s ears!

At the bow, waves over a hundred feet high surged up!

After a while, the commotion slowly subsided.

"We’re through!"

The red-tattooed man sighed in relief.

"Cast the nets!"

He then ordered his crew to begin fishing.

The two children joined in as well.

As time passed...

Colorful fish of all shapes and sizes—large and small, fat and thin—were hauled onto the boat.

The catch was bountiful!

Just as radiant smiles appeared on everyone’s faces...

BOOM—

Suddenly, a massive wave exploded violently in front of the boat!

Caught off guard, most of the crew were soaked by the sudden spray, their faces frozen in shock.

"What’s happening!?"

The lead red-tattooed man’s expression changed in alarm.

He quickly pulled the two children behind him, his eyes fixed on the waters ahead.

DRIP... DRIP...

Foul-smelling seawater dripped from his fingertips.

And in that moment, his heart began to pound violently in his chest!

Through the spreading mist...

He could vaguely make out a terrifying, ice-blue Demon Beast staring coldly at them with crimson eyes!

"This is bad! It’s a Demon Dragon at the Ninth Level of the Spirit Transformation Realm!"

After sensing the Demon Beast’s powerful aura.

The red-tattooed man’s pupils constricted, his Heart Spirit trembling!

"Quickly—"

ROAR!!!

The next moment, he let out a shout, but before he could finish, the enraged roar of the ninety-foot Demon Dragon cut him off!

Completely drowning out his voice!

RUMBLE—

Amid the crew’s despairing cries, the Demon Dragon whipped up cascading, ice-blue waves hundreds of feet high.

Swinging its draconic tail.

It charged straight toward them!

CRASH!!

The entire fishing boat let out a terrified shudder. Sturdy iron plates were ripped from its hull by the force of the waves and blown to pieces!

"Damn it!"

The red-tattooed man gritted his teeth and roared. Shielding the two children behind him, he leaned into the gale, about to make a desperate final stand when—

"A Flood Dragon with Dragon Blood?"

"Not bad at all!"

Before the voice had even faded.

A golden hand, as large as a mountain, suddenly descended from the heavens.

In a single instant, it swept away the clouds for miles around!

SCREECH—

As if seizing a tiny insect, accompanied by a desperate, hissing roar...

The golden hand seized the ferocious blue Demon Dragon.

And pulled it deep into the heavens!