Huaizhou City!

Sikong Du led Han Yu into the Government Office. In the courtyard, a body was laid out, surrounded by a group of Palace Guards with grief-stricken expressions, their eyes red.

This should be the cultivator responsible for luring out the Black Robe.

Sikong Du approached with a somber face, squatted down, slowly covered the body with a white cloth, and clenched his fists in silence.

After a long time, he slowly stood up, glanced around at the Palace Guards, and spoke in a deep voice.

"First, send our brother off. We now have the appearance of the culprit, and it will be distributed later. We will never let him evade the law. Now, everyone, perform your duties diligently."

"Everyone remember! The Inspectorate of Ascension Tower is not to be taken lightly. Loyalty and dedication to the nation are pursuits of our kind."

The cultivators, with reddened eyes, clasped their hands together, and soon the body was carried away. Shortly after, the entire Government Office resumed its operations.

"Do you think, if more of these people appear in the future, can those Sects withstand them?"

Han Yu, who had been watching quietly, suddenly spoke with an inexplicable expression, addressing the Sea of Consciousness.

"That's a matter for the future."

Glass smacked its lips indifferently, still concerned about the scorched area on the back of its head, and continued rubbing it vigorously without stopping.

Just back at the Government Office, Sikong Du appeared quite busy, not stopping even for a moment. He first called over a few Palace Guards.

After briefly explaining the matter of Black Robe hunting Other Shore cultivators, he issued instructions.

"Visit those Sects that lost disciples. Now that Black Robe is heavily injured, I'm afraid he might try to escape Huaizhou Prefecture. Let them also contribute."

The few people in the Guardian Mansion alone are far from sufficient. Huaizhou Prefecture is so vast, we must unite with those Sects to encircle. Besides, it's only natural for a Sect to contribute when there's trouble."

A few Palace Guards quickly left, and Sikong Du summoned several more.

"Also, don't forget to strengthen patrols within the city, just in case."

He was afraid that Black Robe might use a feint, hiding within the city itself, so Huaizhou City must not be lax.

Han Yu watched him remain so busy, greeted him, and then withdrew.

Even when exiting, Han Yu could still see his busy figure.

"I've suddenly realized that the Imperial Court's involvement in the Cultivator Realm might not be a bad thing."

Speaking of this incident, if the Imperial Court hadn't intervened, each Sect might look for their missing disciples for ten days or half a month and likely give up if they couldn't find them.

If they did find them and let Black Robe escape, it would probably end unresolved. These small to medium Sects are too weak, and against such a roaming Evil Cultivator, they have no recourse.

Moreover, it's challenging for them to receive help from other Sects since those not directly affected would not feel the pain.

The Imperial Court is different. Even if Sikong Du fails, no matter where Black Robe escapes, the Imperial Court has jurisdiction and plenty of people to capture him.

After Sikong Du finished instructing on all matters, he recalled the issue of the Corpse Refining Sect and quickly headed back to the inner courtyard.

These matters were previously insufficient to be recorded in the Inspectorate's dossier, but now the Corpse Refining Sect has caused quite a stir.

According to the Inspectorate's rules, this is enough to warrant a separate investigation.

After swiftly writing a letter, an iron Communication Bird was taken out. After loading it with a small piece of special Spirit Stone, the bird vigorously flapped its wings, transforming into a stream of light that disappeared into the sky in an instant.

——

"Can you speak on this matter?"

The Great Elder had now moved operations to Bai Yujing and was presently inside Ascension Tower, blocking a Junior Cultivator from the Seeing Me Realm, showing a wry smile.

"Nonsense, others may not know, but I know you well. How could you not be concerned about something as big as the Ginseng King? Unparalleled Tower has always been on good terms with you, and you won't even help with this small matter?"

The Great Elder pointed inside the tower and continued speaking.

"If it's difficult for you, just point out a location, and I'll get it myself, saving Quan Xiaotong the trouble later."

He pointed to the structure of Ascension Tower, which was entirely wooden, with walls designed like bookcases, extending from the floor to the dome.

The tower was divided into four sections, classified by the celestial stems and earthly branches, with the book grids within subdivided according to the sixty hexagrams.

There were mechanisms within the walls, causing the bookcases to rotate and cycle continuously.

The cultivator replied with a pained expression.

"Please don't make it difficult for me. Without the Tower Master's order, I really can't take anything. You won't be able to take anything yourself either. The Mo Family mechanism requires the proper technique to unlock. If the method is incorrect, all the shelves here will shut."

Fine! The Mo Family is impressive, indeed.

The Great Elder was furious for a moment, but on second thought, his face turned grim.

Can't take? Not won't take. Ascension Tower must indeed know about the Ginseng King.

Taking advantage of the Great Elder's momentary distraction, the Junior Cultivator quickly lowered their head and circled around, then fled swiftly.

By the time the Great Elder came to his senses, the person was long gone, causing him to stomp his feet in frustration.

"At your age, senior, why let your anger get the best of you?"

At that moment, a figure leisurely entered. The man, over fifty, with hair already half-gray, wore a long gray robe. Though slender, he was spirited and had a scholarly, elegant demeanor.

Quan Xiaotong slowly stepped in, laughing heartily, clasping his hands toward the Great Elder in greeting.

"You haven't visited in a long time. I wonder what wind brought you here."

The Great Elder spoke gruffly, snorting in response.

"A sinister wind blew me here."

Quan Xiaotong was momentarily stunned but quickly caught on, responding with a laugh.

"It's about the Ginseng King?"

The Great Elder's expression shifted, eagerly stepping forward.

"Exactly. I don't believe a Ginseng King could just appear out of thin air. There must be something amiss."

Quan Xiaotong nodded in agreement and spoke approvingly.

"There is indeed a ghost, a little ghost."

"Let me see."

The Great Elder was greatly moved. If the other party spoke like this, then they must even know who was causing trouble.

Quan Xiaotong smiled and shook his head. The Ascension Tower never does business at a loss. Good relations are one thing, but handling matters according to rules is another.

Previously, Mo Xingzhi had come over once and had to reduce his profit by twenty percent for the Ascension Tower to help him clean up the aftermath.

The Great Elder naturally understood what he meant, suppressed the fluctuations in his chest, and spoke in a muffled voice.

"Then what does the Ascension Tower want?"

"Rest assured, it's nothing urgent. Regardless of how many rules there are, they will be relaxed in the presence of seniors like you."

With those words, the Great Elder's brows slightly relaxed, finding the words pleasing.

Only then did Quan Xiaotong continue to speak.

"In the Eastern Territory, there are three prefectures that still need guarding, but the Guardian Bureau cannot spare cultivators for the task, nor can I. Would it be acceptable for you to send three people?"

For a Tower Master to request personally, it could not be for ordinary cultivators; they must be at least of the Divine Gaze Realm. Calculating it like this, wouldn't that mean sending out three Divine Gaze disciples at once?

This deal is too shady.

The Great Elder refused directly.

Quan Xiaotong pondered for a moment and then spoke again.

"If not, sending one person to White Emperor City would suffice."

"White Emperor City? Isn't the Dragon and Phoenix Palace of the Middle Three Sects already there? Can't you let them send people?"

The Great Elder asked in surprise and confusion.

Quan Xiaotong sighed helplessly and spread his hands.

"Because they haven't needed to ask me for anything yet, they declined."

Dammit!

So I happened to bump into this by accident, is that it?

The Great Elder's face instantly turned dark, and he remained silent for a while.

Quan Xiaotong was unhurried, looking patient as if waiting, then waved his hand toward a spot not far away. Soon, a cultivator delivered a roll of records to him.

He casually held the roll and clapped his hands.

The Great Elder's eyes were instantly drawn to the roll, staring intently at it.

After a long time, he gritted his teeth.

"Granted."

Quan Xiaotong smiled slightly and swiftly handed the roll of records to him.

The Great Elder couldn't wait any longer. Once in his hand, he immediately began to open it, and on the first page, he saw the complete course of the Ginseng King.

After scanning for a moment, a young man named Han Yu appeared, then was captured by Luo Yuqi into a mountain gorge, the process unknown, and thereafter emerged the Ginseng King.

The rest, such as nibbling on ginseng roots... was all recorded in detail. The more the Great Elder read, the darker his face became, until it was almost ashen.

If the Imperial Court knows about this kind of thing, wouldn't it mean even more people know?

And what relation could this young man named Han Yu have with the Ginseng King?

Why is the Ascension Tower so sure it's this person's doing?

Quan Xiaotong signaled him to keep turning the pages, so the Great Elder continued to read further, carefully examining each page.

The expressions on his face varied with each part he read—surprise, shock, and furrowed brows.

After a long time, the Great Elder closed the roll of records, understanding fully in his heart.

It must indeed be that little bastard.

One bizarre pill after another, such that a group of useless people could be made geniuses, even turning a grown man into a beautiful woman—turning a living person into the Ginseng King no longer seemed surprising.

Suddenly, he remembered the pill that sapped vitality and energy. Damn, this was definitely his doing, no doubt.

"Has anyone else seen this roll of records?"

The Great Elder inquired again uneasily as he returned the roll.

Quan Xiaotong took it calmly, giving him a reassuring look.

"Ordinary folks cannot access this roll of records, rest assured, senior!"

Damn that assurance!

If ordinary folks see it, it won't matter, because no one would believe them, and they wouldn't dare to gossip about a group of Transcendence realm experts.

It's those with similar status we have to guard against. If they see it, his old face would be worth nothing.

"Can you destroy the part of the roll concerning the Ginseng King?"

The Great Elder, pulling an awkward face, suddenly inquired amicably.

Hearing this, Quan Xiaotong's eyes suddenly brightened. If you say that, doesn't it mean more business?

There's one price for access, but buying out is another price entirely, isn't it?

His gaze towards the Great Elder suddenly became sharp and focused.

This look made the Great Elder uneasy. Before Quan Xiaotong could name a price, the Great Elder interrupted first.

"Wait! Let me discuss with the other seven families first. I shouldn't shoulder it alone."

This old boy clearly intends to gouge him, so the Great Elder dared not listen further and hurriedly turned to leave.

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