Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

Chapter 616: The Guardian Ruler of the Celestial Northern Prison

Chapter 616: The Guardian Ruler of the Celestial Northern Prison

The Human-Faced Xiao wasn't a very powerful ghostly entity, but it was very elusive. It could only form when a series of rare coincidences occurred. This creature was notoriously cunning, making it extremely difficult for people to capture it even if they encountered one.

Chu Liang had put up high bounties for the creature in places like Taotie City and Red Cotton Peak, but the bounties were never fulfilled. After all, whether a Human-Faced Xiao could be caught was entirely dependent on luck. Some people had the luck to encounter one, and some simply didn't. It wasn't worth the effort to actively hunt for them.

To Chu Liang's surprise, he had found one in the imperial palace. It was truly like searching high and low for something, only to stumble upon it effortlessly.

For Chu Liang, slaying a Human-Faced Xiao was far more profitable than any major evil spirit. The enchanted tools that the White Pagoda gave him had their limits, but he could get limitless returns from a Large-Headed Doll. As long as Chu Liang supplied the Large-Headed Dolls with enough pills, they could operate indefinitely.

Chu Liang slayed the Human-Faced Xiao and entered the hall. He received even louder cheers and applause than the previous two members of his team.

Just as everyone thought the Qinghong Banquet was about to officially begin, Ling Ao entered the hall too.

That was when the officials present remembered that there had been one more person left on the team. They had just assumed the Four Evils Ceremony was over when Chu Liang entered. Consequently, they gave Ling Ao some perfunctory applause, marking the successful conclusion of the Four Evils Ceremony.

Once all four members of the Mount Shu Sect team were seated, the banquet began with some appetizers, accompanied by a performance of song and dance. This time, the musician was Xue Lingxue from the South Melody Conservatory. Originally, it was supposed to be Shen Qingyan, but she had been attacked and injured, forcing the musician to be replaced at the last minute.

Chu Liang, of course, had no interest in watching the performance. Even in that crowded hall, he saw no reason to delay rewarding himself.

He had already sunk his divine sense into the White Pagoda space to greet his most beloved Human-Faced Xiao. Its imprint hovered inside an iron cell, and Chu Liang eagerly pressed "Refine."

Boom!

There was a flash of red light, and a familiar glow floated out. Chu Liang carefully caught it in his hands.

[Transcendent Form Puppet: This puppet is used to refine the host's transcendent form and aid in their cultivation. It consumes one Primordial Spirit Pill during the day and two at night, enabling continuous cultivation throughout the day. All developments made toward forming a transcendent form will be transferred to the host. Please be aware that this puppet is to be used strictly as a cultivation aid, and there is a risk of damage if used inappropriately.]

It's this familiar description and this familiar feeling again.

After receiving the information contained in the cluster of light, Chu Liang felt extremely fond of his puppets. The reason was that the innate talents of his corporeal body were only slightly above average. Without the fortuitous encounters he had experienced, he would likely only be on par with Lin Bei, no matter how hard he worked on his cultivation.

Chu Liang's efforts could probably only account for at most 7% of the hard work needed to achieve his current cultivation level. The efforts of the Large-Headed Dolls accounted for the remaining 93%. Without them aiding his cultivation, he wouldn't have had the energy or time to travel extensively. Additionally, his assets would likely be significantly reduced.

Looking at the Large-Headed Dolls circulating qi until clouds of smoke swirled around them, Chu Liang was filled with gratitude.

In his youth, he had been known as the strongest among the imperial descendents of the same generation, even crushing his brothers who possessed the Divine Fire Spirit. Despite this, people had said that he would lack power when he was older and that his future achievements would inevitably fall short compared to those with the Divine Fire Spirit.

The Xia Family's ancestral rules forbade anyone without the Divine Fire Spirit to succeed the throne. Consequently, the Guardian Ruler had not been included in the selection process for the position of the crown prince.

In anger, the Guardian Ruler had left the imperial family and roamed the martial world for decades. It wasn't until he advanced to the seventh realm that he returned to the imperial court. Nevertheless, his relationship with the imperial family remained distant.

Afterward, he ventured deep into the Divine Ruins and narrowly escaped death many times. During that time, he observed an ancient Golden Crow and gained enlightenment for the Great Dao of the Ultimate Yang, allowing him to attain the Heavenly Origin.

Most of the various Great Dao originated from the Divine Ruins. For instance, that was where the founder of the Greater-Yin Cult had observed an ancient Kun[1] and gained enlightenment for the Great Dao of the Ultimate Yin, leading to the creation of the Divine Nine. The Great Dao of the Ultimate Yang and the Great Dao of the Ultimate Yin were incomparably powerful.

So, the fact that the Guardian Ruler had attained the Heavenly Origin for the Great Dao of the Ultimate Yang was a huge slap in the face for those who had looked down on him. From then on, no one dared to speak ill of the Guardian Ruler.

His status within the imperial family became equivalent to that of the Imperial Guardian[2], but he still remained unwilling to come into close contact with the imperial family. He voluntarily took on the responsibility of guarding the Celestial Northern Prison, holding the position for the past century.

The Guardian Ruler had never attended any imperial banquets or imperial court assemblies. Nevertheless, his presence at the Celestial Northern Prison was enough to suppress countless powerful figures, striking fear into the hearts of dissenters across the mortal realm.

Why, then, had he suddenly appeared at the Qinghong Banquet today?

"Guardian Ruler." The emperor immediately rose to greet him, showing him the utmost respect. "Why didn't you tell us in advance that you were intending to attend the banquet?"

The Guardian Ruler rarely associated with the imperial family, but it was undeniable that he was unmatched in power and status. Furthermore, in terms of seniority within the Xia Family, he greatly outranked the reigning emperor. He was also a few generations older than Imperial Guardian Mingde. Naturally, no one dared show him the slightest disrespect.

The Guardian Ruler halted at the steps leading to the throne and bowed in greeting. Then he raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, forgive my last-minute decision to attend the banquet, disrupting it."

The emperor quickly waved his hand dismissively. "Your presence here is a great cause for joy. How could it possibly be a disruption?"

The Guardian Ruler turned around to face the civil and military officials behind him. His icy gaze was so intimidating that they all lowered their heads.

The Guardian Ruler explained, "I heard news that some malicious evildoers want to wreak havoc within the palace. I came to see for myself. I don't know who it is that's so ridiculously bold... but you'd better not let me catch you."

2. Di Nufeng's dad, the guardian of the imperial family. We're giving him a proper title now so that he doesn't get mixed up with the Guardian Ruler of the Celestial Northern Prison. ☜