Chapter 438

After Ding Huan left, Qin Zhinan trembled as she spoke: "Everyone, we absolutely cannot anger Master Ding. This is the most formidable Dao Master I've ever seen—we must not miss this opportunity."

Moreover, we must never reveal that a powerful Five Elements Law Dao Master has appeared here. Five days from now, we'll come directly and book the entire hall."

She was excited because she knew her chance had arrived. Next time, not only would she come herself, but she would bring her younger brother, Qin Zhihu.

"Agreed. I support Sister Zhinan's words—this is our destiny."

"I agree too."

Only Feng Jiner, the only son of the Flagbearer of the Immortal Mine Department, felt resentment and disagreed with the others.

Because he hadn't gotten the chance to speak, in his mind, any one of them could have ordered Ding Huan around.

What right does this Ding Huan have to wait five days before teaching?

What if we just force him to teach now? Would he dare resist?

Unfortunately, he held the lowest status here—no right to speak, not even the qualification to speak.

He only got to tag along with these second-generation elites by groveling.

The six of them outwardly reached consensus, then left the Pangu Dao Court.

Seeing Gu Qi stood at the entrance, respectfully watching them depart.

He exhaled in relief—these noble Immortal families' children still had some cultivation.

Judging by their expressions, they clearly hadn't learned anything here, yet they'd restrained themselves from causing a riot at the Pangu Dao Court.

…

Ding Huan returned to his temporary cave dwelling. All the arrays had been set up; he could finally cultivate.

These past years had been spent traveling—he must reach the Jin Xian Seventh Layer in the shortest time possible.

Once he reached Jin Xian's peak, he'd find a way to obtain a permit allowing him to set up Spirit Gathering Immortal Arrays in the wild, so he could fully pursue the Xuan Xian realm.

Unfortunately, his plan was good—Ding Huan had barely begun cultivating when Seeing Gu Qi knocked again on his sealing barrier.

This enraged Ding Huan:

"Seeing Gu Qi, do you want to be skinned alive? Are you even letting your Master Ding cultivate? If you dare touch my sealing barrier again, I'll slap you to death."

Ding Huan, furious, no longer bothered to be polite to the fellow.

"Such a temper. Come on, come on—I'll stay right here and watch how you kill one of the Pangu Dao Court's people." A crisp, icy voice rang out.

Ding Huan stepped out of the room and saw, behind Seeing Gu Qi, a beautiful young woman dressed in red.

Unlike other women, this one wasn't just beautiful—she radiated an aura of killing intent.

Clearly, she had just returned from slaughter—a ruthless one.

Ding Huan immediately thought of Ju Zhenbao's sister. He felt utterly helpless—his luck in being recruited by Ju Zhenbao had clearly run out.

"Ding Huan bows to Young Lady. Just now I was in a bad mood—I apologize for my words." Ding Huan clasped his fists, his tone heavy with resignation.

He knew his teaching career here hadn't even begun—and was already over.

"Young Lady, this man deceived the Young Master. He charged twenty thousand superior Immortal Crystals per lesson, when it should have been ten thousand."

Worse still, today he offended six powerful individuals, including Qin Zhinan and Bu Bu Yingyin."

"When I came to record his temporary lesson, he ordered me out and forbade me from recording his class."

Seizing the chance to complain, Seeing Gu Qi embellished Ding Huan's misdeeds.

"I don't care how you slipped in—get out of the Pangu Dao Court now." The red-clad woman extended a finger, her eyes filled with contempt as she pointed outside.

Ding Huan's tone turned cold: "According to the contract, I haven't taught a single official lesson yet. You must compensate me one hundred thousand superior Immortal Crystals."

The red-clad woman's voice grew even colder: "So you're saying you'll take this to court?"

Ding Huan spoke calmly: "Taking it to court isn't out of the question—but if we do, it won't be just one hundred thousand superior Immortal Crystals. I recorded the spatial Dao vibrations I was in with a crystal ball—I am the aggrieved party."

"My emotions were affected by twelve spatial Law vibrations, and a Dao Master being twice disturbed during his cultivation by a servant—that's psychological harm…"

"According to Article 34,721 of the Ninth Court Law's Divisional Code, you owe me seven hundred seventy-three thousand superior Immortal Crystals."

"Additionally, under Sub-Code Article 180,079, you must pay another five hundred twenty thousand superior Immortal Crystals…"

"These are merely supplementary compensations. Now let's discuss the main contract compensation—according to Ninth Court Law's Main Code Article 3,061…"

Ding Huan listed them one by one, and in moments had compiled a compensation total of millions.

Taking this to court? He wasn't afraid at all.

Who does the Ninth Court Law protect? Those who've studied it inside and out.

Of course, those who master the Ninth Court Law are usually scions of great families—he's an exception, a lone cultivator.

Since the Immortal Court established the Ninth Court Law to put on a show of fairness, it will never side with the party that loses a legal battle.

Ju Xinchan froze. She'd never imagined anyone could understand the Ninth Court Law so thoroughly.

Had she not known Ding Huan was a lone cultivator, she'd have thought him the Flagbearer of the Immortal Law Department.

"Here." Ju Xinchan, utterly intimidated by Ding Huan's knowledge, handed over the storage bag.

Though her backing was far beyond what a lowly insect like Ding Huan could match, if he truly understood the Ninth Court Law, she couldn't win.

What was the purpose of the Immortal Court establishing the Ninth Court Law?

To publicly declare: the Immortal Court upholds law, is fair and impartial.

This unwritten rule could never be broken by the Pangu Dao Court. If this went to court, her father would have to intervene.

Ding Huan snatched the storage bag, waved his hand to retrieve all the array flags in the room, and turned to leave.

If this place won't keep me, another will.

After Ding Huan had gone far, Ju Xinchan finally realized—he'd tricked her.

What was the Ninth Court Law? Even her father couldn't master its statutes and regulations—how could a mere lone cultivator possibly know it so well?

She gritted her teeth, glaring at the direction Ding Huan had vanished: "Don't let me run into you again, you bastard."

"Young Lady, this man is a smooth-tongued trickster—the Young Master was deceived by him just like this." Seeing Gu Qi added another smear against Ding Huan.

Ju Xinchan exhaled a puff of stale air: "Indeed, a smooth-talker—no wonder Zhen Bao got tricked by him."

……

"Huan Ge, how did it go?" When Ding Huan returned, Lu Busi stopped his cultivation and rushed out to ask.

Ding Huan sighed: "We leave tomorrow. This place isn't suitable for me—I can't find a decent job."

"You really must leave. Otherwise, you may never get away." A sudden voice rang out.

Ding Huan was startled—his room was filled with arrays he himself had set up. How could someone have entered without him noticing?

As the voice spoke, a middle-aged woman appeared before Ding Huan.

"Who are you?" Ding Huan stared at her, tense.

The fact that she had appeared in his room without his knowledge meant he was no match for her.

"I am Helian Aodong…" As the woman spoke, she gazed at Lu Busi with deep pity.

"Grandma?" Lu Busi stared in shock at the woman, cried out, then his eyes reddened and he fell to his knees.

Helian Aodong's tears fell like rain as she rushed forward and pulled Lu Busi into her arms.

Ding Huan was bewildered—was Lu Busi's grandmother still alive?

He had never heard Lu Busi mention her before.

After a full incense stick passed, Helian Aodong took Lu Busi's hand and walked to Ding Huan, bowing deeply: "Thank you for rescuing my only grandson."

"Elder, I cannot accept such praise—but how do you know Lu Busi was rescued by me?" Ding Huan asked, puzzled.

Lu Busi quickly added: "Grandma, if it weren't for Huan Ge, I would've died ten thousand times over. Huan Ge saved me and brought me to Tianjie."

Helian Aodong looked at Ding Huan with gratitude: "Long ago, my husband and I separated over certain matters, and I never returned to Qianyuan Immortal Villa. When I finally went back, my son was already gone…."

Here, Helian Aodong's eyes reddened again:

"I arrived too late—but outside Qianyuan Immortal Villa, there was a hidden surveillance array. I saw the killer through it. Later, I saw you enter Qianyuan Immortal Villa and carry my grandson Busi away…"

Ding Huan exhaled in relief, yet cursed himself inwardly for his carelessness.

There had been a surveillance array outside Qianyuan Immortal Villa—and he hadn't noticed it. How foolish.

"I traced your path and discovered you and Busi had disguised yourselves and traveled from Baiwang Cave Marketplace to Tianjie. I immediately followed you to Tianjie. When I lost your trail here, I entered Immortal Chancellor Bu Yue's residence to investigate…"

When Helian Aodong said she had investigated the Immortal Chancellor's residence, Ding Huan understood—and realized she was just as bold as they came.

Though Helian Aodong had quarreled with Lu Chongdao, Lu's Qianyuan Immortal Villa had been destroyed, and Lu Chongdao was now imprisoned in the Immortal Court.

Naturally, she had gone to Bu Yue's residence to gather information.

"Before I uncovered anything, I heard Bu Bu Yingyin return and tell her maid that a brilliant, unparalleled Five-Element Law Dao Master had arrived at the Pangu Dao Court in Tianjie."

I thought you had just come to Tianjie, so I went to the Pangu Dao Court to see for myself—and happened to see you leaving. I intended to warn you."

"I never expected you were the one who saved Busi. Thank you, Ding Dao Master. Without you, Busi would be gone."

Helian Aodong bowed again to Ding Huan, her gratitude sincere.

She also felt relieved that she had acted out of kindness—if she hadn't wanted to warn Ding Huan, she would never have known Busi was here.

Ding Huan quickly waved his hand: "It was nothing. Just now, Elder, you said why I must leave immediately?"

Helian Aodong sighed: "Bu Bu Yingyin is lustful—she will never let you go. She will surely tell her father, Bu Yue. Once Bu Yue learns of your existence, he will summon you to the Immortal Chancellor's residence."

Ding Huan froze—could it really be that simple?

Even the most thorough understanding of the Nine Courts' laws meant nothing before an Immortal Chancellor like Bu Yue—he wouldn't even get a chance to speak.

"Elder, I must leave at once. Thank you, Elder—I leave Busi in your care." Ding Huan decided instantly.