"Can't you directly restrain the sequelae of the Forbidden Technique?" The Eldest Princess' eyes burned with anxiety as she asked in panic.
Xiao Ran took a sip of tea and shook his head at her expectant gaze.
"My shoulder bones have been sealed, so my spiritual soul energy is confined as well. Other than the Forbidden Technique which is able to operate unaffected on its own volition, if I want to refine my Spiritual Master evolution, unless someone is willing to…"
She stopped at this point and looked at him with feigned calmness.
Xiao Ran put down the teacup and stood up.
Collecting the food container back, he said, "I won't interfere in your matters."
He then locked the cell door and left.
"Why is this person so stubborn?" The Eldest Princess became really infuriated.
On the ninth floor,
the lieutenant and the rest were standing guard here.
"Has Her Highness eaten?"
"Not a single piece is left." Xiao Ran handed the empty food container to a dungeon guard.
"Ah." The lieutenant nodded.
A few minutes passed.
Wen Fuxian returned with his student. Judging from the agitated expression on his face, it was clear that he had verified the authenticity of what was reported.
"Your involvement in this matter ends here. Keep an eye on them and wait for the decision from above."
"Yes, sir," the lieutenant replied.
He anxiously left with Chen Wenheng in tow.
"You guys have made another contribution, and it is a big one this time," the lieutenant said with a wide grin.
"I'll give everyone a treat at the Chunfang Court, one for each guy. Of course, the prerequisite is that we have to wait for the higher-ups to disburse the rewards first," Xiao Ran said.
"Generous!" The lieutenant accepted the offer with joy.
"Now that this matter has come to a close, the break I've promised you guys will proceed as usual. Rest well for the next two days."
"Yes," Xiao Ran nodded.
The lieutenant left with his men.
Little Zhou, Old Zheng and gang were the only ones who were close to Xiao Ran.
"Little Zhou, you're really lucky this time. Thanks to Brother Xiao, you get to share the limelight and rewards. You will have to cough up a big sum to treat us," Old Zheng said enviously.
"The day after is your rest day. I will book the whole night at Chunfang Court and pay for all the expenses." Little Zhou said generously.
"That's more like it." Old Zheng grinned and punched Little Zhou's chest playfully.
After completing the shift handover,
Xiao Ran changed into a fresh set of clothes and made his way to the Qingyuan Bookstore.
This dishonest trader turned his paintings around for a profit of 27,000 taels.
When he got there,
the shopkeeper's eyes lit up and he rushed out excitedly. "Sir, you're finally here."
Xiao Ran took a step back and held him back. "What are you doing?"
"Sir, do you still have paintings in your hands? I'll pay more. Fifty thousand taels for each painting." The shopkeeper raised five fingers for emphasis.
Over the past few days, he was practically turning green from regret.
As Chen Wenheng circulated the news, the reputation of the three paintings also spread far and wide.
Other than the people from the Dragon Lake Institute guarding this place, there were also people from other academies and heaven-knows-what organizations camping outside the bookstore.
The price of one painting had reached astronomical heights.
Xiao Ran remained silent and stared at him icily.
The shopkeeper was a smart man. He took out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve and handed it over. "This is 24,000 taels of silver. I only earn 1,000 taels of silver in profit for each painting."
"The matter has already passed. Is it appropriate for you to compensate me for the difference in price?" Xiao Ran asked.
Nonetheless he quickly put away the stack of banknotes proffered.
The shopkeeper's mouth twitched madly. If it's not appropriate, why did you still accept it so quickly?
"Sir, what do you think?"
"To tell you the truth, I obtained these three paintings by accident. It is no longer possible to find such masterpieces." Xiao Ran sighed.
The shopkeeper rubbed his fingers. "Then my money…"
"It's getting late, let's talk another day." Xiao Ran quickly slipped away.
After leaving the Qingyuan Bookstore,
he had walked less than a hundred steps when he sensed an aura lock onto him and tail him.
"An ambush, eh?"
With a smirk, he changed direction and entered an alley.
At the end of the alley,
a figure walked out, dressed like a Daoist priest. The Daoist robe on his body was embroidered with a Yin-Yang Taiji pattern. He stood in front of Xiao Ran, blocking his way.
"Those three paintings came from your hands?"
"Yes! Who are you?" Xiao Ran asked.
"My name is Wu Hao," said Wu Hao.
"So you're the Priest Wu that the student from the Dragon Lake Institute was referring to?"
Wu Hao was stunned for a moment before quickly recovering himself. "Has he confessed?"
"After I used a little trick, he spilled everything."
"That kid is just a waste of my time. Fortunately, I've been keeping watch at the Qingyuan Bookstore, lying in wait there. Even though the people from the big academies have left, I am still standing guard here. If I had stayed at home, I'm afraid I would have become their captive." Wu Hao spoke anxiously.
He stared at Xiao Ran.
"Wait! How did you find out such secret information?"
Xiao Ran shrugged. "I work in the Celestial Dungeon."
"After talking so much, it turns out that you are a mere dungeon guard." Wu Hao's spirits lifted.
He walked straight toward Xiao Ran. As each footstep landed on the ground, the aura of a Grand Master pushed closer.
"Tell me the origins of these three paintings honestly and I'll give you a quick death."
"You're too greedy. You have a painting of the sun and you're still not satisfied."
"Who would mind having more good stuff?" Wu Hao asked.
Green light flashed as he flew up.
Five fingers extended claws outwards, emitting a loud shrieking sound, and charging straight for Xiao Ran's neck.
"You would need to have the ability too, you know," Xiao Ran said.
The Heavenly Slave Divine Finger was activated, and golden light converged on the tip of his finger. With a point of his finger, it broke through the force field imposed by the opponent's aura and then shattered his claws, landing squarely on his chest in the form of an aperture.
Pow!
The courtyard was thoroughly destroyed and the ruins buried him. Screams of pain and agony could be heard from below.
"Show yourself." Xiao Ran stomped his right foot.
Golden light rippled outwards like a powerful wave, blowing the ruins away and revealing the fallen priest.
Enduring the unbearable torture that was worse than death, Wu Hao struggled to get up from the ground with great difficulty before fleeing into the darkness.
"You can't escape." Xiao Ran gestured again.
The priest fell to the ground once more.
Getting hit by the Heavenly Slave Divine Finger, even if it was just a finger, was not something he could tolerate.
"Ah…" A heart-rending scream came from his mouth.
Horror filled his eyes as he watched Xiao Ran walk over. "Sir, you can't kill me. I'm from the Temple of Preeminent Clarity."
"I've never heard of it," Xiao Ran replied.
With a wave of his hand, a gigantic palm imprint plummeted from the sky, pounding him to death under his shocked gaze.
Xiao Ran made a grab in the air and retrieved a painting from the ground.
He unrolled it. It was his own painting of the sun.
"After making one big round, it still returned to my hands."
The Golden Tome of Creation appeared and flipped open to a page, revealing his individual information and the crimes he had committed.
He was a Daoist priest in name, but in reality all he did was to kill and rob people.
As long as it was a treasure that caught his eye, he would try to acquire it at all costs.
As the golden light swirled around, two items appeared: 150,000 Mastery Points, and the Sanctifying Righteous Treasure Tome (Heaven-rank Superior-grade).
Sanctifying Righteous Treasure Tome: Refine the Immense Righteous Energy, invulnerable to all evil, repelling all techniques.
He added the 150,000 Mastery Points to the Sanctifying Righteous Treasure Tome.
After the Attributes were refreshed,
Sanctifying Righteous Treasure Tome: Cursory Trial Level
At the same time, Xiao Ran also attained enlightenment of the Immense Righteous Energy.
He released his Immense Righteous Energy, which clarified his heart, and relaxed his mind to a degree that he had never felt before.
"This effect is not bad."
He strode away and headed home.
Meanwhile, on the west side of the capital city, at a small mountain 50 miles away.
Wen Fuxian and a Lord Amethyst Sword with his group of subordinates were lying in ambush near the fenced courtyard.
It was already late at night and that Wu fellow had yet to return.
The Lord Amethyst Sword began to feel doubtful. "Could he have left the capital city already?"