Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)

There were plenty of Transcendent Tribulation cultivators skilled in spatial techniques, but few specialized in swift movement techniques. This was why few could guess the Thief King’s identity even when he acted.

Looks like this is where I go down today.

Although my identity has been exposed, it doesn’t matter as long as I’m not caught.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou lunged at the Thief King again.

His eyes twitched. Why are they so much faster this time? Aren’t they only at the Basic Transcendent Tribulation Stage? Is this the speed they should possess? Or do they specialize in speed too?

Since their opponent was the Thief King, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou naturally had to go all out.

Legend had it that the Thief King could even infiltrate the imperial palace at will, a testament to his incredible speed. However, after sneaking into the Luodi Merchant Guild, he had vanished without a trace. No one expected him to appear here.

“Let’s make a deal, shall we? Look, this isn’t really a big matter. How about you close one eye, look the other way, and let us go?”

The Thief King regretted his decision. If I’d known they were this tricky to deal with, I wouldn’t have shown off just now. I should have just snatched my disciple before they could even react.

The three had a tacit understanding as they fought, refraining from using destructive techniques to avoid disturbing the citizens.

At their cultivation realm, they had long since attained perfect control of their cultivation. Not the slightest bit of energy leaked even when they were fighting at full strength. To outsiders, they looked like martial artists sparring.

Fang Ning watched the sky anxiously. The air was filled with the three’s afterimages. He couldn’t track them at all with his eyesight.

What kind of martial artists have this kind of speed?

The Thief King felt the mounting pressure. With the reputation I’ve built over a lifetime, I can’t go down here like the broken halberds embedded in the sand of a remnant battlefield.

In a one-on-one battle, I fear no one. Not only am I at the Intermediate Transcendent Tribulation Stage and hold the advantage in terms of cultivation, but my speed is also unrivaled among those at the same realm.

The problem is that I have two as my opponents, and they work together seamlessly, cutting off all my escape routes and forcing me into a corner every time.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou also found the Thief King an intractable opponent, who was like a loach. They couldn’t hold onto him even when they touched him.

The best way to defeat a speed specialist was wide-area attacks, such as Lu Yang’s Sword Dao Field. But they were in a county. Unleashing the field would bring chaos upon the entire place.

“In that case, the only option left is to raise our cultivation realm.”

Just as the Thief King searched for an opening, he felt both of their cultivation realms surpass him, instantly reaching the Apex Transcendent Tribulation Stage.

Meng Junzi had given Meng Jingzhou the prerogative to borrow his power freely.

“What kind of secret art is this?!” The Thief King was dumbfounded.

A Basic Transcendent Tribulation cultivator jumping to the Apex Transcendent Tribulation Stage in an instant? I’ve never even heard of such a secret art. Not even lifespan-burning secret arts like the Heavenly Devil Dissolution Great Spell can achieve this!

Most importantly, with two Apex Transcendent Tribulation cultivators attacking me, I can’t escape!

The Thief King’s situation turned dire. He was subdued by the two constables.

The net of justice may be wide, but nothing slips through. The Thief King was ultimately caught in the net and brought to justice.

“Fellow Daoists, we really don’t have to take this so far. Look, I’m an almighty Transcendent Tribulation cultivator. I wouldn’t stoop to coveting some spirit fruit. I just wanted to test my disciple. We were going to return it after tonight.” The Thief King smiled obsequiously.

These two are too sinister and bizarre. Since force won’t work against them, I’ll have to appeal to their emotions and reason with them. Hopefully they’ll show mercy.

“At most, that counts as a mitigating circumstance.” Lu Yang was unmoved. We can’t let down our uniforms.

With the Thief King and his disciple arrested, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou began studying the Conduct Records of All Officials found in the storage ring.

“This book is interesting. It documents information that can be used against the officials of the Wilderness Province. Look at this page; it lists their bad habits. And this part details their bribery. This page records their acts of corruption and favoritism. It’s really thorough.”

Meng Jingzhou clicked his tongue in admiration. The author has some skills. The contents in here are very private information, likely obtained through special eavesdropping or surveillance methods. Not only does this book record their dirty secrets, but it also has some entries supplemented with evidence.

“They probably intended to blackmail officials with this book.”

Unfortunately, the author’s name wasn’t written on the book.

“Confess. Where did you steal this storage ring?”

With his shifu already captured, Fang Ning had no choice but to come clean. “It belongs to Commandery Governor Zhou Hai.”

Realization dawned on Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. This lines up. Zhou Hai specialized in eavesdropping. He had likely gathered the information in this book through his ability.

~~~

At dawn, Man Gu woke to find a dozen arrest warrants at his door, all requiring his signature.

Man Gu felt ashamed. I’ve already worked very hard to maintain public security in Quyi County, yet there are still so many lawbreakers.

“Thank goodness I invited my senior brothers here to help.”

Seeing the notes left by Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, Man Gu was deeply moved.

“Even after their night shifts, my senior brothers aren’t resting. Now, they still have to go and verify the situation with the victim.”

~~~

“Lord Zhou, this Conduct Records of All Officials belongs to you, doesn’t it?” The two constables quickly came to verify the situation with the victim.

A chain of evidence was integral when handling cases. Fang Ning’s word alone wasn’t enough for them to determine that he had stolen the book from Zhou Hai. They also needed confirmation from the victim.

Zhou Hai’s eyes shot wide open at the sight of the two holding the book. How did this cursed book fall into their hands?!

Right. They’re Man Gu’s subordinates. It must have been Man Gu’s orders.

As I thought, Man Gu’s easygoing demeanor is only a facade. In truth, he is meticulous, devising ways to eliminate two commandery governors in succession and even plotting against me!

What a terrifying adversary.

“That’s not something you’re qualified to touch. Hand it over!” Zhou Hai demanded gravely. He had confirmed that the book they were holding was the original.

“You haven’t said whether it’s yours. If it is, we’ll take a statement,” Lu Yang said seriously.

“I said, hand it over!” Zhou Hai bellowed, prepared to snatch it.

Countless phantoms of demon beasts manifested around him, their roars striking right at the soul. These were illusions formed from his spiritual consciousness. His cultivation technique was essentially a rare method that cultivated one’s spiritual consciousness.

The beasts pounced fiercely at Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. Zhou Hai sneered. With my status, how could I be threatened by mere constables? I can already imagine them writhing in pain and begging for mercy!

But the moment the demon beasts touched the two, they dissipated instantly. Zhou Hai suffered the backlash and rolled on the ground, banging his head against the ground.

“Look at you. Was that really necessary?” Meng Jingzhou sighed, crouching beside Zhou Hai. We had come to verify the evidence, but now, the victim has attacked the constables and become a suspect.

“Oh well, let’s take him back.”

~~~

The higher-ups of the Wilderness Province held a temporary meeting.

Compared to the previous meeting, several people were absent. They had all been detained for violating regulations or breaking the law.

If even the higher-ups were being arrested, it was only natural that those below them were affected. This was tantamount to an earthquake for the Wilderness Province’s officialdom. Such an upheaval had never occurred since Great Xia’s founding.

Rumor had it that Provincial Governor Lü nearly fainted upon reading the Conduct Records of All Officials, and he only recovered after consuming several bottles of Heart-Protecting Pills.

The chaos in officialdom was one factor. The other reason was that he had assigned Zhou Hai as the commandery governor because his subordinates had been constantly praising him.

It turns out that the subordinates had been putting in a good word for Zhou Hai because the latter knew their dirty secrets!

Provincial Governor Lü swept a cold gaze across everyone. Whether guilty or innocent, they all looked down in silence.

“Speak up. Who should take over as the Zhongshan Commandery Governor? I believe Man Gu is capable of taking on this responsibility.”