Chapter 232 - 105: Why Is Her Magical Power No Longer Under Her Control? Preparations for Usurpation (Part 2)

Jiang Lan was deeply troubled. Since returning to Jingyang City, he found it difficult to use many of his usual methods. This place was arguably the very heart of the Celestial Central Province, crawling with experts—a motley mix of the good and the bad.

In the original story, several reclusive figures at the Eighth Realm would later appear.

Because of this, he couldn’t scheme as freely as he had in Anyang City. He had to be far more cautious and meticulous with everything.

’Improving my cultivation is important, but karmic fortune is the top priority...’

’Besides Xiao Teng, I almost forgot about someone else. I can use her to keep Emperor Xia in check. Judging by how the story is progressing, she must also know about the secret the late emperor left behind.’

Jiang Lan sank into thought.

...

For many in Jingyang City, it was destined to be a sleepless night.

「The next morning.」

The members of the Xie Family were all brought to the Immortal Slaying Hall, the heart of the Immortal Suppression Bureau.

Bronze lamps illuminated the magnificent, solemn hall, which was filled with a hazy, rose-colored mist. It felt like stepping into the Celestial Court of old.

A Vice Director of the Immortal Suppression Bureau sat enthroned within the hall. His face was obscured by the mist, impossible to see clearly, revealing only a pair of utterly indifferent eyes.

On either side of the Immortal Slaying Hall, soldiers in golden battle armor pushed the members of the Xie Family forward one by one.

"Colluding with Demons is an unpardonable crime. Your cultivation will be crippled, and you will be stripped of your status, reduced to commoners."

"Proceed with the sentence."

The Vice Director’s voice was emotionless, yet it boomed like a great bell, shaking everyone to their core and making their blood churn.

Outside the Immortal Slaying Hall, many spectators watched with complex expressions.

To see the Xie Family, one of Jingyang City’s most illustrious and noble houses, fall to such a state, stirred a sense of shared vulnerability in many hearts.

Every member of the Xie Family looked pale and grief-stricken.

Many of the younger members were filled with indignant fury. Unfortunately, with their cultivation sealed, they couldn’t even speak a word. All they could do was clench their fists and roar in silent rage within their hearts.

Xie Jianjia, however, remained as calm and aloof as ever.

Though strands of her dark hair had fallen into disarray, her jade-white face still radiated a faint, noble, and cool grace.

"Jian Jia..." From outside the hall, Xiao Teng watched her from a distance, his fists clenched tightly within his sleeves.

An officer in charge of crippling cultivation stepped forward. From a square bluestone platform interwoven with Restrictions and suffused with the aura of Runes, he picked up a series of blood-stained, rusted bronze daggers.

Wreathed in Immortal Energy, the blades did not harm the flesh as they sliced across the abdominal area over each person’s Dantian.

All fluctuations of Spiritual Energy instantly dispersed. Their Dantian Spirit Seas were utterly destroyed.

When it was Xie Jianjia’s turn, she secretly took a deep breath, held it, and centered herself as she stood on the bluestone platform.

The rusted bronze dagger passed over her abdomen, slicing through her dress.

A blade-shaped wave of Immortal Energy, like a rosy dawn, sliced downward with a soft hiss.

Within her silent, tranquil Dantian, the ancient Divine Turtle that lay dormant seemed to sense something. It opened its massive maw, raised its head, and caught the incoming energy.

The hazy Immortal Energy was swallowed in a single gulp. Then, her Dantian returned to its silent, undisturbed state, showing no signs of what had just happened.

Xie Jianjia inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. The nerves that had been stretched taut for so long finally slackened.

’The Rejuvenating Turtle Breath Pill... truly worthy of its legendary reputation for pulling off the impossible. It allowed me to fool even the Immortal Slaying Platform of the Immortal Suppression Bureau.’

Deep within the Imperial Palace, Emperor Xia sat upon her high seat, cradling a white cat. Before her, a clear, ancient Round Mirror reflected the events unfolding within the Immortal Suppression Bureau.

’The Prime Minister’s Mansion won’t allow Xie Jianjia’s cultivation to be crippled. Now, we’ll see who wins this game.’ Her expression was as tranquil as a still well.

She had already ordered Situ Ying to mobilize the Imperial Army to secretly escort Xie Jianjia to the Canglan Sword Sect.

At the same time, she had instructed the Dark Flower Pavilion to watch from the shadows and intervene if anyone from the Prime Minister’s Mansion tried to seize Jianjia.

Xiao Teng, the third son from Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion, was deeply in love with Xie Jianjia, and the two were betrothed. He would certainly not allow the Prime Minister’s Mansion to abduct her and would secretly protect her during the journey.

If all went according to plan, the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s blatant scheme would fail.

A mocking smile touched Emperor Xia’s lips. With a wave of her fair hand, the ancient mirror before her vanished.

...

「7:00 AM.」

All members of the Xie Family within the Immortal Suppression Bureau had had their cultivation crippled.

Prison carts had been waiting outside the hall for some time. Chains, like coiling pythons, were wrapped tightly around them, emanating the faint aura of Runes. These chains were made of a special material that was difficult to cut with ordinary weapons.

The men and women were separated and loaded into the different prison carts.

Once the carts were full, they were covered with black cloths.

On the main street leading out of Jingyang City, men from the Observatory cleared a path for the procession of prison carts heading toward the city gates.

Once on the main road outside the city, the convoy split up, with each group escorted off in a different direction.

Xie Jianjia and the other women of the Xie Family were all locked in the same prison cart.

’Although Xiao Teng mentioned I might be sent to the Canglan Sword Sect, even he wasn’t entirely sure.’

’Now, all I can do is hope his guess was correct.’

’But the journey is likely to be anything but peaceful. There will be trouble...’

She closed her eyes, silently sensing the faint fluctuations of Spiritual Energy from her Dantian Spirit Sea. A slight smile graced her exquisitely beautiful, fair face.

Outside, a thin mist filled the forest. The mountain path was rugged, and the prison cart jolted and creaked as it moved along.