Martial Cultivator

The rest of the group watched as the daoist attacked. A trace of gloom flashed across someone's glabella, but he did not speak up to intervene. As foreign cultivators, they naturally had numerous conflicts among themselves. However, facing Chen Chao, this martial artist, they were all able to put aside their past grudges at this moment, and unite against the outsider.

The daoist came with unmasked killing intent; it was abnormally terrifying. Furthermore, it did not give Chen Chao much time to react at all.

The vast expanse of white mist was scattered in all directions by this powerful aura.

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

"Stop!"

A middle-aged man in a blue official robe appeared at the scene. Without seeing any action from him, he had already arrived between the two from afar. The blue official robe fluttered in the strong wind, making a rustling sound. But, the middle-aged official showed no signs of fear. Instead, he raised his palm, and countless qi surged from his sleeves at the same time to meet the daoist's killing move.

The palms of the two traversed through the endless qi, ultimately colliding. Two terrifying waves of energy instantly surged from their palms, spreading out in all directions. The middle-aged official's face resembled the surface of a lake being brushed by a strong wind; with waves rippling out layer by layer. The daoist's complexion, on the other hand, turned somewhat pale, and he involuntarily took several steps back before stabilizing himself not far away, although his body still could not resist swaying.

In their brief exchange, he had clearly fallen to a disadvantage. This time, the two did not use any magic artifacts or daoist spells; they relied solely on their cultivation realm. In other words, it compared their years of cultivation. But in this comparison, the middle-aged official evidently had the upper hand, displaying a steady aura that forcibly repelled the daoist.

"An academy cultivator?"

After that daoist stabilized himself, he looked at that middle-aged official with a somewhat peculiar expression on his face.

The middle-aged official retracted his palm, and his official robe also slowed its fluttering before he said calmly, "I had the privilege of studying in the academy for a few years, but I was too restless and couldn't stay on."

Of the civil and military officials in the Great Liang Dynasty, most of the military officials were naturally martial artists. Regardless of whether the foreign cultivators respected or looked down on them, they ultimately had to acknowledge that martial artists were also cultivators.

Among the civil officials, most of them were actually not cultivators. Simply studying in the academy did not necessarily make one a cultivator. However, the middle-aged official before them was evidently an exception.

The middle-aged official said indifferently, "Fellow Daoist, I wonder which immortal mountain you hail from and why did you wantonly attack my Great Liang Dynasty's Rainwater Commandery warden?!"

His voice was cold, and he did not show weakness when facing this daoist.

The daoist snorted coldly and was just about to speak when Song Changxi tugged at his sleeves.

The daoist belatedly realized that, according to the previous rules, the youngsters entering the ruin could naturally attack and fight each other regardless of life or death. Their current entry into the ruin was, in fact, a violation of these rules.

They were being unreasonable.

Of course, the foreign cultivators were not particularly fond of being reasonable too. But, there was an appropriate time to be unreasonable.

Sometimes, they had no choice but to be reasonable, while other times, they did not need to be reasonable at all.

The daoist was expressionless, unwilling to engage with the middle-aged official. He was used to being arrogant and domineering, and during his travels around the world, there was hardly anyone who dared to treat him this way. However, seeing the middle-aged official's threatening manner, the daoist grew rather impatient and cursed, "He attacked a daoist disciple, it shows disrespect!"

The moment these words were said, the cultivators in the room became somewhat dazed. Although the statement was illogical, no one refuted it, because in their hearts, many probably thought the same.

The middle-aged official remained indifferent. Although he had studied a lot, he did not wish to talk any more nonsense at this moment. In his view, speaking to the daoist in front of him was no different from playing the lute to a cow—completely pointless.

Since the Great Liang Dynasty had an official intervene, and Song Changxi had not died here, this matter could be considered resolved. Chen Chao did not feel any vexation for not having killed Song Changxi. He had already surpassed him long ago, and he was confident that their gap would only widen in the future. Just as Yun Jianyue had said, "You'll never have the chance to surpass me again."

The cultivators left one after another, heading deeper into the ruin.

Chen Chao looked at the middle-aged official with a strange expression. He recognized him. This person was serving in the Divine Capital and happened to be one of the officials in charge of the affairs of the Sublime Bright Mountain this time. However, based on what he saw previously, this middle-aged official seemed very ordinary. Chen Chao also did not expect him to possess such cultivation.

The middle-aged official noticed Chen Chao's peculiar gaze. After most of the cultivators had left, he said, "Earlier, when the white mist suddenly dispersed, the young cultivators who entered the ruin reported this incident, so these cultivators wanted to revise the rules. Distant Wanderer couldn't withstand the pressure and left without a trace. The Infatuation Daoist Temple and Myriad Heaven Palace remained ambiguous, while the other sects unanimously pushed for this matter. The imperial court could not object to it, so they could only allow them to make the changes. In truth, everyone knows what they are thinking."

Chen Chao grunted in agreement. No matter how long one practiced cultivation or how high their realm was, they were still human. As long as they were human, they could not escape this aspect.

Chen Chao nodded and asked, "How does the imperial court feel about this?"

The middle-aged official smiled and said, "The vice-chairman gave a heads-up. All matters here will follow Commander Chen's will. The reason why we followed these cultivators into this place was to check on Commander Chen. You're still inside this ruin, your life and death uncertain. Naturally, we had to come and take a look. Otherwise, how would we explain it when Lord Warden Commander asks later?"

The middle-aged official was quite straightforward, without beating around the bush.

Chen Chao nodded and talked to the official about some of the events in the ruins. But he naturally omitted the matters related to the young girl.

"There are many peculiarities in that Rongshan Sect's mountain pass gate that I have yet to fully investigate. If you guys going there, be careful."

Chen Chao cautioned, giving some details about the matter.

The middle-aged official nodded and finally asked, "Should this official escort Commander Chen out?"

He thought that Chen Chao should be unable to hold on at this moment like the other young cultivators.

Chen Chao smiled and declined his offer.

The middle-aged official thought for a moment but did not insist, quickly leading his men deeper into the ruins.

The Great Liang Dynasty was a participant in this matter and naturally could not be absent.

Chen Chao just turned around when he saw a figure appear in the distance.

He was very familiar with that figure, because he had seen it more than once.

It was the Warden.

The Great Liang Dynasty had countless wardens, but only one who could be addressed as Lord Warden Commander.

Chen Chao was somewhat puzzled that he could meet this Lord Warden Commander again here.

However, he still quickly bowed.

Chen Chao was now the warden of Rainwater Commandery, he was his subordinate in name.

Lord Warden Commander smiled slightly and said, "Good that you came out alive."

Chen Chao furrowed his brows.

Lord Warden Commander continued, "When you said those words to me in the office, I thought it would be difficult to resolve this matter in the end. Even within the Dao society, the Sublime Bright Sect was a towering presence. Yet, it was destroyed by you just like that."

The Sublime Bright Mountain could not be considered destroyed; the lineage of the sect still remained. But in practical terms, it was as good as destroyed, and there were many reasons for this. But the most crucial factor was Chen Chao.

Without him, the Sublime Bright Mountain would not have been destroyed.

"Who could have imagined that an ordinary boy who escaped this mountain back then would decide their fate now."

Lord Warden Commander sighed with vicissitudes of emotion. He was already aware of the ins and outs of the matter.

Chen Chao frowned and said, "I entered again, but I still didn't find what I'm looking for."

Lord Warden Commander raised an eyebrow.

Chen Chao was somewhat vexed.

Lord Warden Commander said, "I believe that saber is only half."

Chen Chao nodded, "I found that saber here, but I didn't find the other half."

Lord Warden Commander did not say anything, he just spread his hands.

Chen Chao was taken aback and said somewhat disbelievingly, "Your Excellency, where did you find it?"

An item was currently lying in the Lord Warden Commander's palm, it was a blade fragment.

Chen Chao drew the broken saber from his waist.

The two pieces of blades had matching breaks.

Lord Warden Commander said casually, "I picked it up by the roadside on the way here."