Over a month ago.

The Southern Bean Kingdom.

Midstream of the Crocodile Dragon River.

Profound Scale City.

The streets were packed with people.

Guards escorted a mechanical prison wagon, moving slowly.

Inside the wagon, a Golden Core cultivator was heavily bound by iron chains, his hair disheveled, his eyes tightly closed.

Upon seeing this man, the city’s residents were filled with rage, hurling abuse while throwing countless rotten eggs, leftover vegetables, swill, and even stones.

“Smash him, smash this corrupt official to death!”

“If it weren’t for him embezzling disaster relief funds, my grandfather wouldn’t have starved to death!”

“His conscience has truly been eaten by dogs. To be a Golden Core cultivator is noble, cultivating alone is fine, but to serve as an official and extract the people’s fat and blood is more detestable than a demonic cultivator. This is his just end!”

The Golden Core prisoner remained head bowed, eyes shut tight, his expression lifeless.

Watching the clamorous scene on the street from afar, Zhu Xuanji sighed softly, saying to a group of people beside him, “It’s about time, I should set off too!”

The current city lord of Profound Scale City cupped his fist in salute: “This time, thanks to Lord Zhu’s intervention, this scourge was rooted out. Otherwise, this old man would still be kept in the dark!”

Zhu Xuanji smiled softly, giving the city lord a deep look: “Lord Su, please take care of yourself.”

Having said that, he mounted his horse and left directly.

The city lord clasped his fist, watching Zhu Xuanji gradually disappear from view, his smile unwavering, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

“Ah, it’s Lord Zhu!”

“Lord Zhu is here!”

“Lord Zhu, thank you, thank you for uncovering the truth. If it weren’t for you, sob sob sob!”

“Lord Zhu, don’t go, don’t go! Just stay here and become our official!”

First one person took the lead, kneeling by the side of the street, followed by the second, the third.

The city residents knelt one after another, weeping bitterly, giving thanks, and pleading.

The same road, walked by Zhu Xuanji and the Golden Core prisoner, yielded completely different reactions.

Zhu Xuanji rode on horseback, a smile on his face, constantly waving his hand.

Amidst the farewells of ten thousand people, he reached the city gate, finally turning back to look at the kneeling masses, and at the city lord standing at the end of the street.

“The Su family!”

Only then did Zhu Xuanji sigh, a dark expression welling up in his eyes.

He knew that the real mastermind was the city lord with the surname Su.

But the latter’s methods were ruthless, silencing people in time, not allowing evidence to fall into Zhu Xuanji’s hands.

All Zhu Xuanji could catch was a Golden Core cultivator under the city lord’s command.

Zhu Xuanji spurred his horse to increase speed, quickly catching up with the prisoner escort ahead.

The team meandered along, reaching a rural path.

The leading cultivator suddenly shouted: “Who is it, daring to intercept the imperial escort team, don’t you want to live?”

The person intercepting the prison wagon quickly begged for mercy, his voice aged: “Esteemed lords, this old one is definitely not a villain, but has come specifically to thank Lord Zhu!”

Zhu Xuanji scanned with his divine sense and immediately ordered: “Stay calm, I know this old man, he is not an enemy.”

He lightly kicked his horse’s flanks, catching up to the front of the team, a faint smile appearing as he saw the familiar face: “Old sir, we meet again.”

The old man bowed deeply, tears streaming down his face as he said: “This humble one is ashamed, blind and ignorant, not recognizing a true hero. When the lord passed by the teahouse, this old one even insulted the lord. If I did not come here to thank you and apologize, I would have no peace in my life!”

Zhu Xuanji dismounted, coming to the old man, reaching out to help him up: “Old sir, has your family’s field been returned to you?”

The old man cried again, choking up as he said: “Returned, returned! Not just my family, the fertile land in our village has all been returned!”

“That’s good!” Zhu Xuanji nodded.

The old man took out a bag of spirit stones: “Lord Zhu, this is a gift collectively prepared by our village.”

Zhu Xuanji waved his hand: “I will never accept it!”

“This bag of spirit rice is also from our village!”

Zhu Xuanji smiled, “Old sir, I don’t care for these!”

The old man grew somewhat anxious: “This is just a small token from our village, only wanting to express endless gratitude, Lord Zhu!”

Zhu Xuanji reached out: “Old sir, do you remember the first time we met, when I passed by the teahouse you ran at the entrance of the village?”

“Seeing me dusty and travel-worn, you took the initiative to invite me to sit down!”

“I said with a smile that I had no money and couldn’t afford tea, but you took the initiative to offer me a bowl of sugar water!”

The old man nodded, wiping away tears: “How could this old one not remember?”

“After the lord drank the sugar water, you inquired about the people’s livelihood, and I told the lord that officials in Profound Scale City were negligent and corrupt!”

“The lord patiently inquired about the details, but I was old and muddle-headed, suspecting the lord was protecting corrupt officials, and in anger, I knocked over the lord’s sugar water!”

“Hahaha!”

Zhu Xuanji looked up and laughed a few times, “It’s good that you remember.”

He clasped his fist and said: “If I am fortunate enough, could I ask the old sir to offer me another bowl of sugar water?”

The old man was stunned.

Seeing Zhu Xuanji’s face full of earnestness and sincerity, his vision blurred once more, tears streaming down his face, he nodded repeatedly: “Please, please, this old one is thrice blessed to be able to offer Lord Zhu tea again!”

Zhu Xuanji shook his head: “Not tea, I only want to drink a bowl of sugar water!”

The old man took out a storage bag, making a bowl of sugar water for Zhu Xuanji right then and there.

Zhu Xuanji held the crude pottery bowl, taking a large gulp, appearing extremely delighted: “Good, what sweet water.”

The guards, seeing this scene, remained silent.

Bidding farewell to the village elder, Zhu Xuanji continued his journey.

No one attempted to rescue the prisoner, and the road was peaceful.

Entering the capital city, before he could even rest, he was immediately summoned by the king.

He met with the king, kneeling on one knee, clasping his fist in salute, and loudly proclaimed: “Your subject went to Profound Scale City to investigate the details of the corruption, and fortunately, I did not disgrace my mission!”

The King of the Southern Bean Kingdom slammed his table, rebuking: “Zhu Xuanji, you entered the capital, handed over the prisoner, and did not think to come and report to Us, did We have to summon you?”

“Fortunately, you did not disgrace your mission? Heh!”

“Before you set off, how did We instruct you?”

“But you went to Profound Scale City and still went your own way, disregarding Our instructions, and you still claim you did not disgrace your mission? Did you think We summoned you to praise you?”

“Your subject dares not!”

Zhu Xuanji smiled wryly.

The King of the Southern Bean Kingdom sighed deeply: “Zhu Xuanji, Zhu Xuanji, you are a member of the royal family, don’t you know the weight the Su family holds in Our kingdom?”

“This time, you arrested a Golden Core subordinate, causing the Su family to lose face!”

“Several old ministers of the Su family have already submitted their resignations, saying that the Su family’s reputation cannot be tarnished.”

“We told you to investigate the case, not to stir up the court!”
Zhu Xuanji raised his head, his face solemn. “What Your Majesty says, this subject cannot agree with. In my opinion, within the Nan Dou Kingdom, the various great clans already have deeply entrenched roots, a tail too large to wag. The Su family and its ilk already control numerous immortal cities and have many holding key positions in the court, excluding newcomers and monopolizing government affairs.”

“If things continue like this, they will become a major crisis for our Nan Dou Kingdom!”

“As the royal family, we should support new clans and new talents, reshape the atmosphere of the court, care for the common people, widely recruit talent from the populace, and check the established great clans.”

The Nan Dou King snorted coldly, “Nonsense! In the past, when the Supreme Emperor opened up the kingdom, how much did the Su family sacrifice? How can we be harsh and treat such meritorious founding families poorly? If this were to spread, how would the virtuous talents of foreign lands view our nation?”

“Someone gave you a title, calling you Zhu Xuanji, ‘Observer of the Hidden and Pacifier of the People.’ Are you truly so proud of it?”

Zhu Xuanji lowered his head. “This subject dares not!”

The Nan Dou King sighed softly, “Enough.”

“Perhaps my expectations of you have always been too high. Your handling of this matter is actually much better than before!”

“I have already read your private memorial.”

“The Su family’s city lord cannot escape implication, and those in the court all know it.”

“But let this matter be brought to an end with the golden core cultivator’s beheading in the marketplace, as a public display.”

Zhu Xuanji volunteered. “This subject is willing to serve as the executioner.”

The Nan Dou King shook his head. “The court is unstable. As a member of the royal family, you must also think for my sake!”

“If someone of your status serves as the executioner, will the court and common people not speculate wildly about whether this is the will of the royal family? Or my will?”

“Do not remain in the royal capital, leave!”

“Precisely!”

The Nan Dou King drew a memorial from the corner of the desk and tossed it to the ground, throwing it to Zhu Xuanji. “Rise and take a look.”

Zhu Xuanji replied, “Yes.”

He slowly rose and reached out with an invisible force, lifting the memorial from the ground into his hand.

Zhu Xuanji unfolded the memorial, quickly scanned it, and revealed a surprised expression. “The Lava Immortal Palace?”

The Nan Dou King confirmed, “Indeed!”

“This is the former palace of the Immortal Master of Three Purities, jointly built by him and the Supreme Emperor during their tender and intimate times. It was originally buried in Mount Fireshaw, suppressing volcanic eruptions and turning badlands into blessed lands.”

“Originally, it would have had to suppress the subterranean fires for another hundred years, but now it has emerged!”

“There must be something strange about this!”

“On this journey, you must investigate the reason for the Lava Immortal Palace’s emergence.”

“This Immortal Palace contains the Immortal Master of Three Purities’ mechanical arts inheritance, and you should meet the qualifications. As for whether you can obtain the inheritance, it depends on your personal fortune and ability!”

“Although you had merit in your trip to Xuanlin City, you also made mistakes. I have my difficulties, and I will neither reward you nor punish you. Go to the Lava Immortal Palace and see if you can obtain the inheritance.”

“This subject receives the order!”

Zhu Xuanji expressed his gratitude.

“This subject’s accomplishments in mechanical arts are also due to the royal family’s cultivation. On this journey, this subject will certainly do everything in his power to investigate the truth!”

The Nan Dou King nodded. “I have three points to instruct you.”

“First, the Immortal Master of Three Purities and our royal family’s Supreme Emperor had a close relationship. It can be said that our clan’s ability to establish the kingdom was largely due to the Immortal Master of Three Purities’ power. His contributions and influence can almost be considered our nation’s Imperial Preceptor!”

“In his later years, the Immortal Master of Three Purities placed the Lava Immortal Palace in Mount Fireshaw with deep intentions, which are difficult to fathom. On this journey, you must not be forceful or aggressive, but follow the natural course of events and not disturb the Immortal Master of Three Purities’ good intentions.”

“Second, the Supreme Emperor did not have the mandate of heaven in the past, but relied entirely on the Immortal Master of Three Purities to cast the ‘Thread of Life’ supernatural power for him, which brought him the benefit of popular support.”

“After the Supreme Emperor, no one in our Zhu family has inherited it, and the ‘Thread of Life’ has become a lost art.”

“One of the key points of your trip is this supernatural power. If possible, strive to obtain it with all your might.”