Chapter 1232

"What are you sending him a voice transmission for?"

"To add a sense of mystery."

……

Five days later, the secret realm opened, and the bustling Quyu County returned to its former tranquility once again.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were too lazy to go to the Four Treasuries Secret Realm to watch the excitement; they could see what was happening on West Mountain from their courtyard, and the thick fog surrounding West Mountain posed no obstacle to their vision at all.

They saw that the cultivators were divided into factions, with personal grudges and power struggles abounding, making things very complicated, and it seemed that a single disagreement could easily lead to a fight.

However, the cultivators were relatively rational and restrained, choosing to enter the secret realm before taking action.

What happened inside the secret realm was invisible to Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, but it didn't matter—they were just here to watch the excitement.

Besides, West Mountain wasn't in their jurisdiction, so it wasn't their responsibility.

Two more days passed, and the secret realm ended.

……

"Chase after him—the snipe and clam grapple, letting the fisherman profit; we've been fighting all day, and unexpectedly, this Ji Zhong kid ended up with the prize!"

"It's clearly you lot who targeted me first!" Ji Zhong shouted angrily. He was agile and kept dodging the attacks coming from behind him.

He held a mature spirit fruit in his arms—the most important treasure in the Four Treasuries Secret Realm. Such a spirit fruit ripens once every hundred years, and consuming it below the Spirit Transformation stage can elevate one's cultivation by a minor realm.

The Azure Dragon Holy Son and the others gritted their teeth—they had come to the Four Treasuries Secret Realm precisely for this spirit fruit!

"A mere loose cultivator dares to oppose us?"

Before the secret realm opened, no one had paid attention to Ji Zhong, this loose cultivator. But after several Spirit Transformation cultivators were defeated in succession, people finally realized that Ji Zhong was the dark horse of this secret realm—or rather, a threat.

When the crowd failed to target Ji Zhong, he instead seized the opportunity to snatch the spirit fruit.

It was only then that someone revealed Ji Zhong's background. Although he was a loose cultivator, he often had fortuitous encounters, and his cultivation speed surpassed that of disciples from major sects. He had also experienced several cross-level battles, but those victories seemed too coincidental, so everyone assumed they were due to luck.

Now, those who knew Ji Zhong realized that he had been concealing his abilities all along.

"We must catch up to him!"

Ji Zhong quickened his pace, fleeing West Mountain and heading straight for Zhongshan Commandery.

But when he arrived at the county seat under Zhongshan Commandery's jurisdiction, he finally realized the problem.

In the deep of night, with no one around, the county seat was deserted. Running back and forth made him too conspicuous, and those pursuing him could easily spot his trail.

"It seems I can only hide in this county town—this must be Quyu County?"

Ji Zhong came to a corner and was suddenly bumped into by someone. The person seemed to have urgent business, said "Sorry," and hurried away.

Ji Zhong's heart tightened, and he quickly checked the spirit fruit.

"The spirit fruit is still here—looks like I was overthinking it."

Ji Zhong found a dilapidated inn. The innkeeper was half-asleep and was directly frightened into alertness by Ji Zhong.

"Innkeeper, I need a room. Remember: no matter who asks, don't say I'm here!"

Ji Zhong threw down ten taels of silver, took the key, and hid in a room upstairs.

The Azure Dragon Holy Son and the others arrived in Quyu County, furrowed their brows deeply—after all, this was a county town, and causing trouble there would be complicated.

"He's hiding? Search!"

"Don't let the authorities find us—cover your faces!"

……

"We've been staking out for several nights, and not even a ghost in sight?" Two constables who were behind the times strolled down the street.

"Never mind—looks like there's no ghost tonight either. Let's keep checking the inns."

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou entered the dilapidated inn. The innkeeper saw their uniforms and immediately smiled apologetically, asking: "Sirs, what brings you here?"

"You should have heard from your peers—we're currently investigating the issue of real-name registration for lodgers."

This is an order from the commandery, stating that Zhongshan Commandery has many black-market inns where one can stay without registering their name or paying, so they require all county towns to inspect lodging establishments.

"Bring out today's lodger register so we can see if you've complied with the real-name registration requirement."

The innkeeper produced a small ledger, and cold sweat began to bead on his back.

This place isn't a black-market inn—it has always followed real-name registration. But just now, seeing money, he became greedy, took ten taels of silver from a guest to rent a room, and failed to register it.

The guest even said, "No matter who asks, don't say I'm here"—which doesn't sound like something an honest person would say.

Lu Yang noticed the innkeeper's subtle facial expression—half-smiling, not quite—looking at him: "Innkeeper, if you come clean now, we'll just give you a verbal reprimand and let it go. But if we find something during our inspection, you'll face suspension and rectification."

"Speak—have you failed to register anyone as required?"

The innkeeper was so frightened he stammered: "Yes, there is one."

"Where?"

"Room Di One."

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou went to Room Di One. The room had no light at all, as if no one was staying there.

"Anyone there? Open the door."

No response.

"This is the constabulary conducting a room inspection." Lu Yang emphasized his identity.

No response.

Meng Jingzhou, having waited impatiently, shoved the door open and grabbed Ji Zhong, who was preparing to climb out the window to escape.

"You didn't register for lodging, did you?"

Ji Zhong stared in shock. He didn't want to invite trouble, had prepared to flee, yet even a constable could catch him?

I'm a Spirit Transformation cultivator!

Meng Jingzhou pulled Ji Zhong back into the room. Lu Yang took out paper, lit a candle, and began recording notes on the table.

"Name?"

"Ji Zhong."

"Take out your identification."

"Here."

"What cultivation level?"

"Early Soul Transformation."

"Do you know it's illegal to not register under your real name?"

"I know."

"You know and still do this?"

"I carry a great treasure, and ever since I came out of the Four Treasuries secret realm, I've been pursued..."

Seeing Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou go upstairs, the innkeeper had no intention of pursuing his own responsibility and breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, a burly man led several people into the inn.

Seeing the burly man, the innkeeper trembled; he had seen him on the street a few days ago, and the man was the Azure Dragon Holy Son of the Sixiang Sect.

The Azure Dragon Holy Son slammed the table, his dragon eyes glaring, making the innkeeper's courage freeze.

"Innkeeper, I'm inquiring about something—just now, did anyone come to stay here and also say not to tell others that he's here or such?"

The innkeeper was so frightened he dared not speak, only nodding in response.

"Indeed, he's here." The Azure Dragon Holy Son laughed, "Ji Zhong's concealment technique really has some tricks; even divine sense can't find him."

"Which room is he in?"

"Room Earth Number One."

"Is anyone else in the room?"

"There... there should still be two people inside."

The Azure Dragon Holy Son snorted coldly: "I knew there would be accomplices!"

But having accomplices doesn't matter; we outnumber them.

The Azure Dragon Holy Son led his followers with murderous aura to the second floor and kicked open the door of Room Earth Number One.

"Ji Zhong, I advise you to obediently hand over the thing!"

In the room, Ji Zhong sat upright and honest, while two constables were taking notes.

This scene completely exceeded the Azure Dragon Holy Son's expectations.

Especially since one of the constables stood up and sneered: "Yo, robbery in broad daylight?"

Constable Meng flexed his wrists and ankles; it had been a long time since he'd seen someone so arrogant.

The Azure Dragon Holy Son didn't want to have dealings with government officials, wanted to flee, but before he could turn around, Constable Meng pressed him to the ground and tied him up.

His followers were also tied up together.

"It seems you're telling the truth—hiding anonymously in the inn to avoid people, so I won't pursue responsibility." Lu Yang said.

"Continue, who else is chasing you?" Lu Yang continued taking notes seriously, now Ji Zhong's identity had become that of the victim.

"There's also... from the Listening Sea Sect..."

At this moment, the door was kicked open again, the newcomers equally imposing: "Azure Dragon, I heard you're here—how could I let you get ahead first? The spirit fruit is mine!"

Those pursuing Ji Zhong noticed the Azure Dragon Holy Son's abnormality, having entered the ruined inn for so long without coming out—Ji Zhong must be in here!

"He's the senior brother of the Listening Sea Sect." Ji Zhong identified him on the spot, Lu Yang nodded and noted it down.

Meng Jingzhou stood up, tied up the Listening Sea Sect's senior brother, locked the door, and returned to his original position.

"Who else?"

"There's also... the key disciple of the Asura Sect Sect Master..."

The door was kicked open again: "Ji Zhong, hand over the spirit fruit!"

"Is it him?"

"Yes."

Soon, the heaven's pride who came to seize the spirit fruit were all tied up one by one by Meng Jingzhou, filling the entire room.

Seeing this, Meng Jingzhou helplessly shook his head—so many bandits, taking statements one by one would take a long time.

"Check the notes—are they all what you said? If there are errors, tell me."

Ji Zhong's mind was now dazed; this change truly left him unable to react—how were all those heaven's pride chasing him captured?

These are all peerless heaven's pride; in the Four Treasuries secret realm, they each displayed divine powers, were championship favorites, yet in the constables' hands, they couldn't even withstand a single move!

He dazedly checked the notes, dazedly said: "No mistakes."

"Then sign at the bottom of each page, and on the last page write 'I have reviewed the above notes, and they match what I said'; the signing spots must all have handprints, and there's also a seam seal."

"Alright."

After signing and pressing handprints, Ji Zhong took out the spirit fruit from his bosom, and his face suddenly changed.

This is a fake spirit fruit! The spirit fruit has been swapped!

It was the person who bumped into him just now!

He hesitated a moment, then said: "Two my lords, my spirit fruit is lost—can I file a report?"

(End of chapter)