Chapter 305: Thoughts of the Sheep Winter, Words of the Overseer (56k, seeking subscriptions)

A short time earlier.

Wait!

Wait!

You cannot do this!

The female cultivator trapped inside the ice shell looked pitifully at Du En outside.

But because he had frozen her vocal functions to prevent accidents and cut off all paths for sound transmission, she could neither speak nor transmit sound; she could only widen her eyes, watching helplessly as the situation outside unfolded.

In a word, Du En was outfitting her with magical artifacts.

The ice sculpture was inside, the magical artifacts outside.

Several hundred third-grade high-tier magical artifacts—his entire current inventory—were being embedded into the ice one by one, ultimately forming a five-level, five-tier elongated conical shuttle.

After setting it to a suitable angle, facing toward the prison's high wall—which had already been repaired and was unaffected by the previous collapse—everything was ready.

Just after leaving the central courtyard, Du En had rushed over here, hoping to save time and take the person away, but he had not expected Yang Dong's repair speed to be so fast, nor that the defensive measures would remain intact here due to the isolation of the two sides.

Therefore, he immediately changed his approach, contacted Tang Wenren, and then, through intense and busy preparations, had everything ready now.

The female cultivator inside was naturally terrified, only resenting Du En for his iron-heartedness in not hesitating to carry out such a terrifying operation that looked like it would scare someone to death.

However, he did not care about her thoughts and left after finishing the preparations, intending to draw Yang Dong's attention.

Thus, when everything developed smoothly and that window of opportunity arrived, one could see the bottom-most ring of magical artifacts begin to self-destruct their internal restrictions, turning into jet propulsion and pushing the conical ice shuttle to officially take off.

Waaaah!

The female cultivator inside screamed incessantly in her heart, eyes wide as she watched herself actively collide with the space above the courtyard wall, meeting those many restrictive and blocking measures.

The scene Yang Dong saw through his projected perspective was exactly this.

He was immediately shocked and about to take action, but Du En's voice suddenly rang out: "Overseer Yang, your colleagues are over there; do not accidentally injure or kill them, otherwise, I fear the Overseer will also have to take a trip to the prison he oversees himself."

"I, you... damn it!"

Facing such a shameless person, Yang Dong was so angry he cursed, but he could only suppress his impulses, not daring to use offensive measures like lightning strikes, and instead put all his effort into activating the many prohibition and isolation methods on the courtyard wall.

He did not believe that even like this, he could let it fly out!

Under Yang Dong's efforts, even when the lowest-level magical artifact's power was exhausted, it had only moved forward by one foot.

But immediately following was the pre-set, two-level simultaneous discharge!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Amidst the violent jetting sound, the sheer force pushed it, forcibly squeezing out another three feet of distance!

"Oh, oh, oh! Don't think you'll succeed! Core pressure, activate!"

"Press it down for me!"

Crack!

Under Yang Dong's unremitting efforts, a crisp sound of ice shattering came out.

"Hahaha, that's it!"

Boom!

In Yang Dong's ecstatic expression, the ice shell shattered with a bang.

"Waaaah!"

As the scream rang out, the female cultivator's voice finally sounded through the inner ice shell, and at this moment, two other levels of inner magical artifacts suddenly erupted, no longer gentle, with thrust at full capacity.

They self-destructed, pushing the person flying straight outward, fast to the point of being astonishing, even terrifying!

With a whoosh, she flew out!

It was just that, whether it was an illusion or not, Du En, watching from afar, always felt she seemed somewhat excited?

"No!!!!!!!!!"

Yang Dong shouted in despair, and with a thud, he slid forward off the high wall, falling to the ground in a very disheveled state.

Lost!

Actually lost!

How could this be? How could this happen!

He was momentarily dazed and helpless, leaning weakly against the wall, until a figure loomed over him, and he looked up at Du En, who was walking over calmly after the puppet dogs had stopped.

He gave a bitter smile and only said: "Lost, sigh!"

Sighing and lamenting, at this moment, there was no sadism in his eyes, no malice, and no exaggerated emotions, only a kind of dejected frustration, appearing very aged.

Looking at Yang Dong like this, Du En was thoughtful and said: "Overseer Yang, this time, it really was a bit exaggerated; even if your temperament is eccentric and hard to control, it..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw the other party wave his hand very casually.

Giant puppet dogs approached silently, retracting their heads and legs, turning into bricks, and actually piled up into a wall, invisibly blocking something.

Yang Dong closed his eyes slightly, having a new thought, and then spoke dejectedly: "That's right, this old man has lived for several hundred years after all; my temperament isn't still that youthful, so this was actually all put on for others to see."

"But that you wanted us to fall short of success, that is indeed true."

"Not you all, just you."

Yang Dong corrected this point, looked around at his surroundings, and then said listlessly: "This old man is specialized in the study of overseeing prisons, not to provide a retreat for that bunch of fellows; in other words, this time I just wanted to stop you, to make you return empty-handed, harbor resentment in your heart, and thereby arrange for the higher-ups on this side to be dealt with by our sect."

"That is just a futile effort; even if they don't get what I want here, they will continue to find ways to send it to me, or even send double."

"... This old man understands, but this old man can only do these things, can only do what is within his power; after all, this old man is not some genius, and even exhausting everything, I am but a second-rate figure. If not for still being diligent in the craft of construction, you probably wouldn't even know this old man's name."

Yang Dong appeared aged and sighed.

Du En simply proceeded to question him.

So he told of his own efforts.

Overseeing prisons!

As long as a prison is built, the power-holding higher-ups in various places will subconsciously not want to waste it and will try every means to utilize it; then, whether it is fabricating charges to frame people or if they are truly guilty and deserve to be locked up and punished, it allows them to avoid one thing!

Going to the battlefield is just throwing one's life away for nothing!

"A bad life is better than a good death; as long as one can stay alive, there is still hope, and there is still a possibility of waiting for hope. This is the only thing I, this old man, am capable of doing."

The original intention was meant to be this, but now, he has to build such a model prison for Shu City and the upper echelons of the south, for them to use as a pretext to retreat and quibble; if they truly succeed later, they will only end up building a place that is called a prison but is actually a secluded, pure land for cultivation.

By what right do the people below have to throw their lives away for nothing every year, while you can sit back and relax, and have me build a place for you to enjoy comfort?!

Yang Dong found this completely unacceptable; it was fundamentally contrary to his efforts and persistence!

So he decided to cause trouble and sabotage it from within; even if he couldn't truly succeed, he at least had to make an effort of his own.

As always, doing what he was capable of doing!

"It just so happens that I, this old man, have intentionally maintained that kind of strange temper in my daily life, so that my hobby of overseeing prison construction would have no flaws. Only now can I put it to use without being suspected of anything. Plus, the Prison Punishment Division is also intentionally waiting to see your failure, which is why today's various developments have come about."

Unfortunately, in the end, it fell short of success!

Why can't you just be honest and play your cards normally?

Yang Dong looked over with some complaint and resentment in his eyes.

And yet, it was also hidden with anticipation.

After all, Du En is from the faction of Meng Changqing, so since his original idea didn't succeed, he had the idea of explaining the reasons, soliciting sympathy, and saving the nation through a roundabout way.

Since those Great Cultivator True People wanted to rely on Du En to "state their case," then he could do the same; it's just that looking at his operation of violently launching people away just now, he felt it was quite cold and heartless—truly an iron heart.

However, things have come to this, so he could only treat a dead horse as a living one and believe in the style of Meng Changqing he had heard about in his daily life!

Du En didn't pay attention to his complaints; he pondered in a daze, then raised an eyebrow.

"This matter still has strange aspects. Since the original intention of Overseer Yang was like this, why leave so many flaws? Like this high wall and the internal layout, they all seem very strict and absolute, but in reality, I can easily find loopholes."

He paused and spoke bluntly: "You, who can be rated as a Grand Craftsman, even if limited by your own shortcomings in other aspects, if you really took it seriously, you would still be able to plug all the loopholes and manage everything completely, right?"

Indeed, from other aspects, Yang Dong was only a top-tier second-rate talent.

However, if one adds his craftsmanship skills, he is a bona fide genius!

It is not only the more direct aspects like cultivation and spell-dueling that count; rather, things like alchemists, artifact masters, talisman masters, array masters, etc. —even if utilizing the skills of the Hundred Arts, as long as one successfully reaches a certain level and achieves a certain behavior, one will likewise be classified and divided into the corresponding talent and combat power tiers.

Because immortal cultivation is a matter that values all aspects, especially valuing the 'long board' (strongest point); as long as there is one extremely long board, it can drive, nourish, and supplement the short boards, thereby allowing oneself to obtain the corresponding cultivation status.

To put it simply, it means that with whatever combat power one has, one can obtain the corresponding treatment and benefits, thereby driving and stacking up one's own cultivation.

If the spiritual root is not good, then supplement the spiritual root; if resources are insufficient, then add resources; if the cultivation technique is not suitable, then change the technique and switch to another... as long as one aspect is worthy, and as long as one is not too rigid and stupid, and can realize one's strengths, one can find a way to supplement short boards in the current world of immortal cultivation.

Of course, it cannot be denied that the cultivation breakthroughs of Hundred Arts geniuses are indeed relatively slow, but compared to those elites who haven't even stepped over the threshold of genius, it is already a difference between clouds and mud; one only needs to be down-to-earth to catch a glimpse of the opportunity for Deity Transformation.

At this moment, facing Du En's bluntness, Yang Dong couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

What do you mean by 'shortcomings in other aspects'?

Fine, you are that rare kind of person who is close to being a genius in all aspects, so you indeed have the qualifications to say that.

He sighed, not taking it to heart, and stated the reason: "If you say it like that, how should I put it? On one hand, I have to consider the thoughts of those guys in the upper echelons; I can't be too blatant, lest they directly remove me."

Although this set of mine can still achieve a 'one-hit kill' against normal Golden Core geniuses, after all, I prepared a magnitude of 1,600 times directly based on the situation of Genius Tang.

That's right, on the surface, it's all to fool people; anyway, it's Shu City's money being spent. In reality, I prepared 1,600 prison guard puppet dogs. Even Du En has to admit that if he had continued to fight just now, he would have lost and suffered a miserable defeat.

Yang Dong's preparations were very sufficient, and his determination was also very firm.

But the reason was not just this one, which made Du En feel a bit curious.

Then, he heard Yang Dong's next words.

"On the other hand, uh, well, the person you just launched away is the Division Chief of our division."

"..."

Du En understood the reason all at once, and thus fell into silence.

Division Chief, in charge of a division, a Great Cultivator at the Deity Transformation stage.

Yang Dong blinked his eyes, feeling a bit of schadenfreude.

To disguise perfectly, one certainly cannot be without a foundation; otherwise, it would be like a tree without roots, and after a long time, it would definitely be seen through. That is why he said just now that he no longer had that youthful state.

In other words, in his youth, he was about the same.

Therefore, at this moment, he naturally appeared to be gloating.

But just as he started to be happy, he thought of the current situation and sank back into gloom.

"Quite elegant?"

Du En finally spat out only these four words.

"Hahaha!"

There was a heroic laugh that reached only his ears, and then the tone changed abruptly: "A young man who doesn't know how to cherish the fair sex at all; now that you know to make amends, isn't it a bit too late?"

"Not late, because even if I had known this beforehand, I would still have done that. After all, no matter what, the identity you were disguising as before, Great Cultivator, was an ordinary member of the Construction Division; naturally, I had to guard against you leaking information."

"... Tsk! You can't scare me!"

This Division Chief didn't care about Du En's "lack of respect for status." After discovering that she couldn't tease or mock him, she immediately turned to the main topic: "Let's formally get to know each other. Xu Fengjiao. You can call me Fengjiao, because that is also my Daoist name."

"Great Cultivator Fengjiao went to such lengths; is there something you want to tell me while you're at it?"

Listening to Du En's flat reply, Xu Fengjiao, who hadn't shown her face after being launched away, couldn't help but secretly grind her teeth.

If it weren't for you freezing me directly without a word before, I would have finished speaking long ago. Really... however, it was quite ingenious in the end, and I can be considered satisfied, so I'll let it slide.

"Simply put, the last time I contacted the Resolution, I found that he still had quite a few misgivings, and couldn't help but mutter to me about your stubbornness and impropriety."

"And now, there is a matter brewing in our sect. Looking at your performance and attitude during this period, I know that the Resolution must still be hesitant and unable to lower his face to take the initiative to tell you to hurry over, so I overstepped my authority and took this opportunity to come and remind you."

Listening to this content, it is very obvious that Xu Fengjiao is a hidden piece of Meng Changqing's side.

However, it is still necessary to probe slightly.

So Du En replied: "Does the Counselor have any use for me?"

"The title 'Resolution' is quite good. Before you took the initiative to mention it, none of us dared to mention it proactively. After all, only when one reaches the Integration stage is one a true Resolution."

Xu Fengjiao didn't care about Du En's caution; on the contrary, she was happy to see it. Her voice was very light, and she was in a really good mood: "Since the True Monarchs didn't mind, we can follow suit. Otherwise, calling him Counselor or Quasi-True Monarch is actually inappropriate; it gives people a feeling of insinuation and sarcasm. As for the Daoist name, you know, he hates it most when others call him by his Daoist name."

"Understood. I will finish my stay here as soon as possible and head over to our sect."

After Du En finished probing and confirmed there were no errors, he gave a crisp and clear reply.

"Then that's that. Let's chat again when we can speak openly and honestly."

Xu Fengjiao ended the conversation in a hurry; after all, there were still True Immortals in the Southern Pivot City, and even if it was just following the flow and kept hidden, such contact really shouldn't last too long.

With this contact having occurred, looking at Yang Dong's side now, the situation was very clear: he was able to sit securely in the position of Supervisor and focus on building the prison because he had someone protecting him from the shadows above.

At the same time, by utilizing his external image and specialties here, he could conversely mask himself.

The Supervision Office, the Supervision Office—if nothing was being built in the various regions, how would it be their turn to supervise?

It was quite obvious that these two sides were not communicating at all.

Otherwise, those in the Golden Core stage would not have acted like that; relying on their backgrounds and talents, they looked down on the Hundred Arts as a standard of measurement, showing little respect.

Otherwise, Yang Dong wouldn't have been so depressed and morose. He likely felt that his superior's intervention this time meant they were birds of a feather, intending to wallow in the mire together as a form of insurance to ensure Du En's success.

That was why he had that reaction when he saw her being launched away just now; he probably thought at the very first moment that she was the one exerting force in secret.

—Even a dignified Nascent Soul stage cultivator would slip on their feet on the spot; one can see how intense his state of mind was at that time.

This puppet wall now was mostly to guard against her.

It was a pity; she had clearly anticipated this long ago, as she saw things more comprehensively, so in the end, it was all just wasted effort.

Thus, Du En thought for a moment, and before the giant puppet dogs dispersed, he said to Yang Dong: "Supervisor Yang, keep working hard. There will be a turning point."

"Will there be?"

He raised his head and asked this, not knowing if there was still any need for him to persist.

"There will be, I guarantee it."

"…Is that the guarantee of Counselor Meng, or your own guarantee?"

"Both."

"…Then this old man will believe you once. Anyway, I've endured for so many years; if I grit my teeth again, I can still hold on for another hundred or eighty years."

Yang Dong leaned against the high prison wall and stood up once more.

His youthful state returned, he waved to disperse the giant puppet dogs, then quickly adjusted his state, and proceeded to cackle, revealing a posture of forcibly trying to save face.

"Traveler Du, this time you were one move ahead, hmph! Come, the promised heavy reward—I, Yang Dong, keep my word!"

With this, things began to draw to a close.

When Tang Wenren brought the people he had dug out along the way over here, what they saw from afar was this scene of Supervisor Yang looking depressed and unwillingly transferring merit points into Du En's token.

Although they hadn't managed to snatch it themselves, seeing this detestable Yang Dong suffer a setback made everyone burst into loud laughter.

"What are you laughing at! A bunch of small-fry just here to watch the fun! Look at your own ugly faces!"

"Hahahaha!"

"Waaaaah! Do you believe I'll call the puppets out again and have them run a few more laps around you?"

Under this blatant threat, everyone immediately stopped laughing, cursing inwardly that this guy truly had no shame, actually bullying the small and relying on his power to oppress others!

"Your Excellency truly has clever schemes; I am quite impressed!"

As soon as Tang Wenren approached, he began to flatter him. The look of excitement on his face had not yet fully faded, and he seemed to be quite savoring the moment.

"It was also thanks to your good cooperation, Your Excellency."

Du En returned the compliment with an unruffled expression.

This made the genius of Pivot City, who had little experience in worldly affairs, very satisfied and happy.

"Let's go, let's go! Since the mood is just right, I'll take you to enjoy the scenery!"

"Are there fourth-tier spirit meals and spirit teas?"

"…There are."

"That will do."

After Du En and the others finished speaking and left, An Ruqin also walked out from the sealed hub.

Both groups of people breathed a sigh of relief at this moment.

Because the rampaging Lord Yang had lost after all, and the matter had not blown up or become uncontrollable, so his loss was a good thing!

Seeing the expressions of his subordinates, Yang Dong felt even more depressed and irritable.

To make matters worse, An Ruqin spoke up: "Supervisor Yang, a prison that can be breached like this, I fear it will be difficult to satisfy the requirements from above..."

"I know! Hmph! Don't you worry, I will adjust it properly. Next time, I will definitely build a prison that Traveler Du cannot play little tricks on. You just wait and see!"

"I hope so. Then that is all; I still need to return to report on my duties. I shall take my leave for now."

"Get lost, get lost, get lost!"

Yang Dong waved his hand to shoo her away, then paced while pondering methods for improvement. It was clear he had no intention of leaving this prison and wanted to take his people to work overtime, causing the staff of the Supervision Office to groan inwardly.

The people from the Prison Punishment Office looked expectantly at their direct superior.

"You all stay behind to help as well."

An Ruqin gave this order, making them look as if their parents had just died, but they could only obey.

Finally, before she left to report on her duties, she glanced back at Yang Dong's side.

She felt as if he had become a little different, but after reviewing the events from beginning to end, she found no problems.

"An illusion? Or perhaps the shock brought about by facing Traveler Du directly? Looking at it this way, the assessment report regarding his strength and talent will have to be raised a bit more..."

With her thoughts having a subtle deviation, but still managing to be right by accident, An Ruqin thought this to herself and left the area.

(End of chapter)