The voice suddenly paused, and the commotion outside caught her attention.

"Who, who, who is this?"

A flurry of chatter from the roadside.

The disturbance arose because a guard inside the city gate was escorting someone out. The person was dressed in tattered clothes, with hair messier than a lion's mane, covering the face with a scraggly beard, making it impossible to see the face and identify who it was.

The tattered clothes were so dirty that the color was indistinguishable, with glimpses of bare skin showing through, and barefoot without shoes.

Filthy and reeking, a stench that forced people to step away lingered wherever they walked.

Even the vagabonds in the Land of Exile found this smell hard to bear; though they were dirty, this degree of stench was rare.

Old Tan, peering from the window, said in surprise, "Could this be..."

Lan Qiaoyan immediately recognized who it was and exclaimed, "It's him, they really brought him out?"

Seeing the pointing and whispering on the street, Shi Chun paid no mind, his eyes shining from behind the disheveled hair, unable to suppress excited "hehe" sounds from his mouth.

The escorting personnel poked him in the back with their weapons, urging him to move faster; they couldn't stand this smelly person either, worried the scent might cling to them.

Seeing the Bowan Building, Shi Chun instinctively glanced up and caught sight of Lan Qiaoyan at the window staring at him. He waved his ragged half-sleeve in farewell, gratitude unspoken but understood.

Lan Qiaoyan nodded slightly; she couldn't personally see him off, but nodded to wish him a safe journey.

She felt a little puzzled, sensing Shi Chun's departure was slightly ostentatious, though the City Guard did nothing.

Shi Chun was no stranger to leaving the city; once permitted, he dashed into the Xun Gate's corridor, fearing something might change.

Seeing the outside light again, the green mountains and clear waters, he spread his arms and burst into laughter twice, only for the gate guards to kick him and interrupt his laughter.

Even the guards didn't expect such a smelly vagrant to emerge, and the sudden inhalation choked them.

Shi Chun looked back twice, didn't mind it, and wanting to avoid being targeted and dragged back inside, prepared to leave first. Just as he turned, he heard a voice by his ear, "Over here."

Looking as directed, he saw in the distance a cloaked figure, Mulan Jin, standing on a mountain, evidently waiting for him outside.

Unable to win a fight, and afraid to disobey, he swiftly darted over, bowing in greeting beside the person.

Mulan Jin straightforwardly interrupted, "Come with me."

Shi Chun hesitated and quickly said, "Commander, I've just managed to get out. Shouldn't I at least return home first?"

Mulan Jin replied indifferently, "No need, arrangements have been made for someone to receive your people and bring them to meet you."

With that, he waved his sleeve broadly, wrapping Shi Chun and flying far into the sky...

In the Western Ox King City, amidst an enchanting, fairyland-like scene, the Demon Queen was chatting leisurely with a noble lady. When Dao Zhen approached and stopped at the entrance, transmitting, "Your Majesty, Shi Chun has been released, and Mulan Jin personally went to the Life Prison to fetch him."

"..." The Demon Queen was stunned, ceased her conversation, turned to Dao Zhen with undisguised surprise, and transmitted, "Mulan Jin? He managed to fetch someone from the Life Prison?"

She thought even if she intervened, that Prison Chief might not give her face, preferring to show her the painting on the umbrella instead.

This caused the noble lady to fall silent and ponder, unaware of what had happened to evoke such a reaction.

Dao Zhen reminded, "His daughter has registered for the 'Battle of Great Pardon'."

The Demon Queen instantly understood, then smiled at the noble lady, "I have something to attend to."

The noble lady naturally excused herself tactfully.

No longer having to maintain appearances without others around, the Demon Queen paced and murmured, "So, Shi Chun is to join the fight immediately after his release. It seems Mulan Jin is quite capable. Investigate where Shi Chun is now?"

Reaching the railing, her thoughts were somewhat disoriented, contemplating whether to meet him...

In the East Victory Royal City, atop a floating Immortal Mountain, Young Master Nan accompanied Wei Mo, strolling through the connected corridors of pavilions and towers.

Since collaborating, regardless of the reason, Young Master Nan, a businessman, hadn't relaxed this relationship and even took the opportunity to deepen it.

It was precisely because of this relationship that he could now plead, "Brother Wei, you don't lack those three people, but they are too important to me. Not to mention An Wuzhi, the artifact-refining skills of Tong Mingshan, and the alchemical expertise of Zhu Xiangxin, they can fetch me a fortune. But you've dispatched them to the Battle of Great Pardon, where they face high risks of death or injury, cutting off my money flow. Brother Wei, with your current authority, can't you find some other people? It wouldn't matter losing them, how about doing me this favor, and I'll repay you greatly later."

The plea was because Wei Mo indeed wielded significant power now. Most dignitaries in the Royal Capital likely had to show him deference.

Regarding the Battle of Great Pardon, fighters on the battlefield need not be Royal Court forces, but post-victory territorial controllers must be those assigned by the Royal Court.

Thus, five factions had to each appoint someone to oversee the battle. Upon victory, the organizer earned merit, and naturally became the new Domain Master of the territory.

This Domain Master differed from ordinary ones, as the internal power structure would be built by them, unlike typical assignments; the opportunities and benefits were immense.

Many competed for this position at the East Victory Royal Court. When reporting candidates, Right Minister Hou Jiahuan submitted Wei Mo's name. The Queen held Wei Mo in good regard, rewarding his merits, and thus the Saint King respected the Queen's decision.

Without such influential support, Wei Mo wouldn't have obtained this position, as many qualified candidates were waiting for a good opportunity.

The position granted immediate power, allowing selection from monks outside prisoners to construct a competitive force aligned with Royal Court interests, receiving tacit cooperation from Royal Court parties, a known secret among all.

Wei Mo had his eye on Tong Mingshan, Zhu Xiangxin, and An Wuzhi. Enhanced by Divine Fire Power, their cultivation reached the Earth Immortal Upper Realm, possessing sharp Divine Fire Attack. Lacking background encumbrances, fear of offending was nonexistent, naturally making them desirable for his team.

Initially intent on framing them as prisoners, Young Master Nan intervened to stop it.

In deference to Young Master Nan, Wei Mo compromised, allowing Tong Mingshan and the others to voluntarily register, actively contributing to the Royal Court, thus earning initial merits.

Yet it was still a path to death, Young Master Nan was unwilling. To save the trio, he persistently and generously appealed to Wei Mo for leniency.

"Brother Nan, don't patronize me. The wealth you earn from those three's skills is beneath your notice. Do you realize if this battle is a dismal failure, the impact on me would be huge? And where would the Royal Court's dignity go?"

As Wei Mo halted, questioning back, suddenly one of his subordinates flew over to report, "Sir, there's a rumor that Shi Chun has been released."

"..."

Both Wei Mo and Young Master Nan turned simultaneously to stare at him, incredulous.

Young Master Nan suddenly realized something, whipped his head towards Wei Mo.

Indeed, what he feared had come to pass.

Wei Mo's eyes gradually sparkled, pointing to his subordinate and questioning, "Is the news reliable?"

The subordinate said, "It's only a rumor; I can't confirm it, but such rumors likely have some basis."

Slap! Wei Mo abruptly brought his hands together in realization, then patted Young Master Nan's shoulder and laughed heartily, "If true, then that's a real asset. You and I saw back then, so many experts couldn't subdue him, what more now at the Human Immortal Realm? If he fights, he'll be like a fierce tiger returning to the mountains; I must employ him! Excellent, excellent, I'll seek Right Minister immediately; I must have this elite!"

With that, he flashed away rapidly.

"..." Young Master Nan stood dumbfounded, not only failing to get his people back, but losing another?

A shudder ran through him; he hurriedly left to first verify the truth of the message.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.