Chapter 328: Planting the flag on Great River Mountain

Plop

The seal landed in his hand, a chill shooting up from his palm straight to the marrow

【Magu】 couldn't help but shudder all over

This feeling…

So awesome!

Not just a suppression of power

But also a class oppression etched deep into the soul

It is the rule that towers over all beings

It is the stern office that hides half of the Underworld's law

Judgment! Suppression! Enslavement!

"King… King?!"

【Magu】 jerked their head up, eyes flashing

Shocked, panicked, and a bit at a loss

How is this just giving a trinket?

This is clearly giving her a promotion and title, directly appointing her as a regional official!

"How? Too heavy?"

Su Ming plopped back onto the bench, crossing his legs

"What's given to you, you keep"

"From now on, Great River Mountain will be our outpost. As the chief, you need some firepower"

"Remember, capture more black slaves!"

"Although the ghosts here from Little Japan are low-quality, with a petty vibe"

"But they make up for it in numbers, are durable, and their loss doesn't hurt"

"Just make do with them"

【Magu】 took a deep breath and nodded firmly

This pastry, so fragrant!

"Receive the order!"

"As long as I exist, Great River Mountain exists"

"As long as my soul remains, the king's flag will not fall"

"If one day the king needs troops…"

"I will lead a million ghost soldiers, fill the seas, level the mountains, cross the sea to strike! Open the way for the king!"

…

【Magu】 held the ghost seal, beginning to research a new hundred kinds of torture

Su Ming's consciousness once again entered the 【Dimensional Reduction Warehouse】

This time, the atmosphere changed

If we say the earlier lanterns, flower umbrellas, and ghost seal

They are divine gear beyond mortal eyes

Then this final one…

Just a wisp of its escaping breath made this old rascal, accustomed to big scenes, skip a heartbeat

【Myth】 level!

This is the current version's answer!

If all goes well, it's also the bottom‑box reward after stripping Sakura Country bare this time

"Hah…"

Su Ming rubbed his hands, a flicker of fervor flashing in his eyes

"Let me see, just what monster is this!"

He thrust out his right hand and grabbed it outright!

Zizz—!

On contact, a searing burn shot through his fingertips

Even his soul felt a faint sting

"Heh!"

Su Ming's mouth split into a wider grin

Is the force strong?

The stronger the force, the better!

The greater the force, the more unreasonable this thing is

Three seconds

Five seconds

Ten seconds!

"Open it… for me!"

The light cluster shattered

No earth‑shattering phenomenon

Nor any ghost‑wailing, god‑howling special effects

All light instantly collapsed.

Finally.

It turned into a…… pen.

A pen that looked utterly ordinary, even a bit shabby, made of bone.

The pen shaft was deathly pale, feeling somewhat rough to the touch.

The pen tip was dark red, wet and glistening.

It seemed to have just been dipped in the heart's blood of some poor soul, exuding a hint of wickedness.

"Pen?"

Su Ming raised an eyebrow, turning this thing twice in his hand.

Somewhat interesting.

Xi gave 【Magu】 it, then shoved a pen into his own hand?

Is this meant to make me a clerk?

Also at this moment.

Lines of bloody-smelling text frantically jumped across the retina.

So red it was blinding!

【Name】: Judge·Cinnabar Brush

【Quality】: Myth

【Function One】: Hook Soul, Seize Life! Write the target's true name on any medium with this pen, forcibly halving their fate and marking them for calamity! Can only claim one life at a time!

【Function Two】: Change Fate, Resurrect! Using this pen as a base, one can forcibly retrieve a lost soul and rebuild a fleshly body! Note: Only once, limited to a single target!

【Karma Overview】: It was once held in the hand of that impartial Judge, drawing the destinies of billions of beings on the Hall of Samsara. The Underworld collapsed, the Judge fell, this pen severed karma, was stained with Divine Blood, and became an ownerless ominous object. Remember: With the pen in hand, you are the law; but beyond the law, there is still heaven!

……

Silence.

Su Ming stared at the bone pen in his hand, his Adam's apple trudging up with difficulty.

Hook Soul, Seize Life?

This function is indeed overbearing, equivalent to carrying a karma-law weapon on one's person.

But what truly made him breathe hard……

Was the second function!

Change Fate!

With this, he could make one person die and then come back to life?!

"Huh…"

Su Ming gripped the pen shaft tightly.

If so……

Then Mom and Dad……

Although this item currently shows it can only resurrect one person.

But this is not merely an item.

It is also a signal!

As long as he keeps growing stronger, as long as he lives long enough……

Then he could have other Myth‑grade items, even existences above Myth.

Everything is possible!

"I kind of miss you guys…"

Su Ming glanced sideways slightly, hiding the rare warmth in his eyes.

Afterward, he looked toward Magu at his side.

"Magu."

"Hmm?"

"Do well."

"When the chance comes later, I'll introduce you to two people!"

"Ah? Okay!"

Half an hour later.

"He's gone."

Su Ming didn't look back, facing the ruins, casually waving his hand.

"Guard the home."

"Next time I come, I hope to see on the Great River Mountain……"

"Plant my flags everywhere!"

Behind him, Magu knelt on the ground.

"See off our King!!!"

The wind howled, masking her choked sob.

Yet it could not disperse that surging ghostly aura!

She must become great and strong!

Narita Airport.

The sky was overcast, the clouds low.

It makes one feel a bit breathless.

Previously, this place was the busiest transportation hub in Sakura Country, with crowds flowing like a tide.

But at this moment.

Deathly silence.

On the vast apron, empty and deserted, not even a passing crow can be seen.

Only the wind blows a few sheets of scrap paper, spinning on the runway.

And on the main runway.

Two military transport planes painted dark gray, with blood-red five-star emblems on their wings, are parked there.

Overbearing!

Arrogant!

Impressive!

I'll park right in your living room and put my feet on the coffee table—do you dare have an opinion?

"Consultant Su!"

Jinglei, who had been waiting by the gangway, stomped out the still-burning cigarette butt.

Behind him, Ying Sha, Bengshan, and the other seven Long Qi Wei turned around in unison.

No salute.

But each person's gaze toward Su Ming burned with fervor.

They are powerhouses, their strength off the charts.

Yet compared to this World's Number One who single-handedly took on a nation's dungeon...

The gap is still terrifyingly large!

Su Ming nodded, as a greeting.

His gaze swept over the crowd, idly scanning the spacious terminal that could fit a horse race.

"No one else?"

He raised his eyebrows, feeling a bit bored.

"I thought there would at least be some sort of send-off ceremony."

"The officials of this little country, and those keyboard warriors shouting online..."

"Not a single one showed up? That's really rude."

Jinglei grinned, revealing a mouthful of big white teeth.

"Come? Lend them ten guts!"

He pointed at the glass curtain walls atop the terminal, his tone contemptuous.

"Over there, probably dozens of pairs of binoculars are fixed on us."

"But that's all they can do—just stare."

"You first took down Jiu Tun, then crippled the Heavenly Dog, and even crushed Yu Zao Qian into meat paste..."

"That's called—nuclear deterrence!"

"Who dares show their head now?"

"It's just that they think their clan pedigree is too thick, wanting to save some paper money for their family!"

These people are foolish.

But they also know that coming here means delivering themselves.

Even their own deity has been pressed to the ground and rubbed.

If they rush up, besides feeding heads for points, what other meaning is there?!

"Hah."

Su Ming snorted, shook his head, and said no more.

"By the way, Consultant Su."

Jinglei's tone turned a bit more serious.

"There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Hmm?"

"The flight application is for a direct flight to Kyoto."

"The higher-ups mean... if Consultant Su isn't in a hurry..."

"Could you grace us with a visit to headquarters?"

"Of course, it's not a work report nor any inspection—don't get the wrong idea."

"It's purely..."

"Those old geezers just want to have tea and chat with you!"

"Afterward, a dedicated plane will send you back to Jincheng! Absolutely no delay to your affairs!"

Su Ming's steps paused.

Kyoto?

Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau headquarters?

Now this retreat could go so smoothly, even parking this military plane right in their face...

The authorities really put in a lot of effort!

This favor, Su Ming acknowledges.

Moreover, since we're already laying out the cards.

Some aspects, sooner or later, must come into contact.

The capital is where dragon veins converge.

It is also the center of power.

Let's see what kind of quality it actually is!

"Okay."

"Then let's go mooch a cup of tea."

"If there's any good tea, I'll also pack two catties!"

Boom——!

The steel giant beast taxis on the runway.

The engine roars, with an overbearing aura that tears the air, soaring straight into the clouds.

The huge fuselage, head held high, rushes toward the clouds.

Su Ming looks through the porthole.

Finally, he glanced down at the island below that was gradually shrinking into map patches.

A scene of utter devastation.

Black smoke billows.

And in the direction of where 【Magu】 is located at 【Great River Mountain】.

The eerie green ghostly aura has already merged into a sheet.

Like a poisonous nail, it is firmly wedged into the heartland blood vessels of Sakura Country.

Bloodletting, has only just begun.

"Goodbye?"

"No, I will come back."

Su Ming withdrew his gaze, the corner of his mouth curling up with amusement.

As the tense nerves relaxed, a wave-like fatigue surged back.

Even the bone joints feel sore and refreshed.

This trip, is way too long.

From entering the instance to slaying the demon emperor, the whole process was dancing on the blade's edge.

Even if the body was replenished by 【Source Blood】, it also let that match‑eating guy have a good time.

But the mental mana bar is truly empty.

"Huff..."

Su Ming adjusted to a comfortable posture, his whole body sinking into the seat.

Around, 【Jinglei】 and the others were extremely tactful, deliberately lowering even their breathing rate.

Who would dare wake this killing god?

That's not being afraid of a long life, is it?

Moreover, this is a great meritorious official!

Close eyes.

Power cut.

Instant sleep.

Not even a dream was had.

……

Unknown how much time passed.

"Su Consultant……Su Consultant?"

A slight jolt woke Su Ming.

Open eyes, power on.

Su Ming's gaze was clear, with no trace of post‑sleep grogginess.

"Arrived?"

"Yes! Arrived at the Capital Southern Garden Military Airport, now taxiing."

Su Ming nodded, unfastened his seat belt.

That sleep, slept very soundly!

The cabin door opened.

Several people disembarked in single file.

"Let me take a look……"

"What on earth is the quality of this Headquarters Anomaly Management Bureau?"

……

In the evening.

Su Ming stood at the cabin door, squinting slightly, and took a deep breath of dry, cool air.

This was his first time coming to the capital.

Hum——!

The 【Eye of Truth】 inside his body activated automatically without any sign.

"Huh?!"

It is not that kind of stabbing pain pre-warning when facing danger.

But……

Resonance?!

In his field of vision, the world changed.

Above the entire sky of Kyoto.

At this moment, a colossal golden dragon phantom, too huge to describe, was coiling!

That is…… the nation's fate?!

A living dragon vein?!

It lay coiled in the clouds, head held high, eyes slightly closed.

Each scale exuded a pressure that made one want to kneel.

But upon those majestic scales, he keenly caught a hint of a different color.

It was a bright, almost blinding streak of purple qi!

It was continuously flowing into the dragon's body.

It made the originally dim scales regain their awe-inspiring brilliance!

This familiar taste……

Is that the 1% he tore straight out of Sakura Country?!

Nice partner!

This is freshly killed and eaten, still hot, right?

Suddenly.

Above the firmament, the slumbering giant dragon seemed to sense something, its huge eyes cracking open a slit.

The gaze pierced through ten thousand meters of altitude, focusing precisely.

"Roar——!"

A vast, ancient dragon roar exploded directly in Su Ming's mind!

Heart and spirit trembled!

Su Ming's body stiffened, and he abruptly looked around.

"You…… did you hear any sound?!"

Jinglei and the others stared at Su Ming, bewildered.

Sound?!

Besides the wind, what sound is there?

Su Ming said no more.

"Heh, interesting!"

Only I can hear it?

The feng shui of this place……

It really nurtures people!

On one side of the apron.

Jinglei pointed ahead at a convoy of black Red Flag cars approaching.

No sirens cleared the way, nor any ostentatious escort motorcycles.

Uniformly old-model Red Flag cars, steady and heavy.

All bore white backgrounds with red text starting with the plate prefix 'Jing A'.

Top-tier grandeur.

Great skill appears effortless; a heavy sword has no edge.

"Consultant Su, please."

Jinglei personally opened the door of the middle car, his movements respectful.

Su Ming didn't stand on ceremony, bending to get into the car.

The leather seats were soft, the cabin climate‑controlled.

Even a faint incense of agarwood was lit, to calm the mind and refresh the brain.

Leaving the heavily guarded Nanyuan Airport, the convoy did not merge onto the ring road.

Instead, it went straight onto a dedicated channel not shown on any map.

All green lights the whole way.

Straight into the heart.

……

Twenty minutes later.

The prosperity faded as the convoy entered a deep hutong.

Here there were no high-rises, only gray walls and red tiles.

The old locust tree's branches stretched over the wall, casting dappled shadows under the streetlamp.

It was quiet to an excessive degree.

The convoy stopped before an inconspicuous vermilion gate.

No sign hung at the entrance.

Only two guards stood watch.

Seeing Jinglei step out, the two saluted.

No identification was checked, no interrogation conducted.

Because this car's license plate is the highest clearance pass.

Consultant Su, we've arrived.

【Jinglei】 helped Su Ming open the car door, lowering his voice a bit.

This is 【Hidden Dragon Abyss】.

It's also the place where those old gentlemen from our bureau usually drink tea and play chess.

Su Ming got out of the car and looked up.

This courtyard looks quite ordinary, just like a typical traditional courtyard house.

But under the Eye of Truth's gaze……

This isn't a courtyard at all.

This place they're in has several formation devices!

Just the two stone lions at the gate entrance, the killing aura hidden inside, is enough to fill a jug.

"Hidden Dragon in the Abyss?"

"Heh!"

"The dragon's already awake, what's the point of hiding?"