At the Jiangyin Prefecture Courtyard and the Garrison Camp, along with some summoned Qi Cultivation Grandmasters, everyone watched Ji Xiu enter the County Yamen, and a sudden silence fell.
"So this is that Ji Xiu? The one who took a Martial Saint as his master and became a Leader?"
"He’s so young."
"The opening of a Realm Gate is no small matter—it’s not child’s play. To think he could slay a Wild Deity, wipe out the Armored Warriors, and avert a calamity all on his own... Truly, the younger generation is formidable."
The Prefecture Officials and Qi Cultivation Grandmasters, who had never seen Ji Xiu but had heard of his fame, immediately began to whisper upon seeing him in the flesh.
Realm Gates were almost nonexistent in a place like Shan County; even a Prefecture City rarely encountered one.
But if one broadened their view to a provincial Vassal Town, like Beicang, then incidents involving Realm Gates, calls for aid from a True Sect, or the opening of a new Outer Dao portal would occur every so often.
For this reason, the entirety of the Great Xuan—including the Lord of the Feudal Lords who presided over the state of Beicang—would bestow rewards upon those who earned merit by taking part in the "Outer Dao unrest."
Take this calamity at the Earth Dragon Cave, for example.
If it was truly because Ji Xiu had blocked the first wave of the attack, allowing the guarding Martial Saint to arrive in time and halt the advance from the opened Realm Gate, ensuring that all the Spiritual Mechanism from the transformed Earth Dragon Cave fell into the possession of the Great Xuan...
...then it was indeed a monumental merit.
The matter would have to be reported up to the Lord of the Feudal Lords himself—the one granted dominion over the land, who keeps Beicang suppressed—for his personal approval before a reward could be confirmed!
However, more important than all this was the moment Ji Xiu mentioned the word "Master."
The two commanders from the Prefecture City—two great experts of the Dragon Tiger Attainment, Dean Pei Daoran and Garrison Commander Luo Daocheng—instantly heaved a great sigh of relief.
Pei Daoran, in particular, broke into a relieved smile.
A Realm Gate calamity could be a major or a minor affair.
But with a genuine, Titled expert of the Upper Three Realms holding down the fort, it didn’t matter what kind of storm brewed; it would be of little consequence.
Under the suppression of Heaven and Earth, even a titan of the Divine Dao would have their power constrained if they were to cross the portal in person.
People who reached that level of power tended to value their lives dearly; they would never personally step into danger unless they were absolutely certain of the outcome.
’It’s settled. We’re in the clear!’
And so, Pei Daoran said:
"So the Dragon Elephant Martial Saint is also here. In that case, it’s not a major issue anymore."
"Ji Leader, for you and the Dragon Elephant Martial Saint to personally oversee the ’Earth Dragon Cave’ and eradicate a Divine Dao calamity is an immense contribution."
"Once word from Cangdu arrives, I will report this to the Lord of the Feudal Lords and ensure that Ji Leader is personally rewarded!"
"Where is the Martial Saint now? Is he keeping a close watch on the Realm Gate?"
Pei Daoran was just thinking about going to meet the Martial Saint.
However, Ji Xiu’s next words made his smile freeze instantly.
"The remains of Senior Ye Wenjiang, a Dragon Elephant True Sect Disciple and my Master’s student, were buried in the Earth Dragon Cave."
"The moment the Realm Gate opened, those Divine Dao Armored Warriors absorbed all the Spiritual Mechanism and also dug up and stole Senior Ye Wenjiang’s remains."
"Upon seeing this, my Master flew into a rage, swept aside three hundred Armored Warriors, and charged directly through the Realm Gate to the other side."
"Right now..."
"...I imagine he’s invading the forces of that Divine Dao Heaven and Earth to get Senior Ye Wenjiang’s remains back."
’Crossed the Realm Gate to invade the Central Yellow Divine Dao Celestial Universe?’
Pei Daoran felt his throat tighten.
And Luo Daocheng couldn’t help his expression from changing drastically:
"The Elder Martial Saint is being so reckless..."
"He may be a Titled expert from over a Jiazi ago, and his foundation is undoubtedly profound, but after crossing a Realm Gate, his power will be suppressed by sixty or seventy percent. At best, he’ll barely be able to exert the strength of a Martial Saint, but..."
"That outer realm has All-Heavenly Saints! For him to be so reckless... if he doesn’t make it back, wouldn’t that mean...?"
The two Dragon Tiger Realm experts were becoming agitated.
Seeing the change in the two men’s expressions and the sudden tension in the air, Ji Xiu largely understood their concerns.
But when all was said and done...
His own disciple’s remains had been stolen. Was he supposed to retrieve them or not?
According to all the historical records of the Great Xuan, extremely few people had ever managed to cross a Realm Gate and invade another Celestial Universe Continent.
Since his Master had such daring, he was clearly no ordinary man.
"Gentlemen, when a disciple’s remains are desecrated, the master comes for them. If this happened to any of you, I doubt many would remain indifferent."
"He is a Martial Saint who has been a dominant figure for a Hundred Years; how could his power not be profound? He naturally knows what he’s doing."
"Who knows, he might even be able to draw the Divine Dao’s Spiritual Mechanism from the Central Yellow Heaven into our Earth Dragon Cave, using that world’s Qi Number to replenish the Great Xuan’s own deficit."
"I am from Anning County and have some properties here. Please, rest for now at my residence on West Street. From there, you can monitor the Earth Dragon Cave and wait for news."
It seemed that was the only option.
After hearing Ji Xiu’s words, the two Prefecture Chiefs, Pei and Luo, opened their mouths but found they had nothing to say.
After all, this was the Martial Saint’s private affair. For them to say too much would be to overstep their bounds. It was a classic case of not being able to advise benevolence without having endured the other’s pain. Since it wasn’t their disciple, of course, they couldn’t truly empathize.
For now, all they could do was hope the Elder Martial Saint’s journey would be successful.
Otherwise, they would have to wait for the arrival of an expert with a Pseudo Title, or even a fully Titled one, from Cangdu before they could investigate further.
...
「Meanwhile!」
In the Central Yellow Heaven.
At the Three-Five Slaying Evil Divine Monarch Temple.
The Incense and Candle Dao Sound of prayers, scripture recitations, and hymns of praise filled this Divine Domain unceasingly.
A Divine Monarch Temple also required the worship and offerings of living beings, so they were typically built in bustling, populated lands.
Here, too, were the General Bloodlines and Divine Dao Families. Much like the ’School Daoist Schools’ and ’Great Lineage Clans,’ they acted as the nobility and ruling class, second only to the Divine Monarch and the Dharma Guardian Generals.
The only difference was that the way of the world here was far more brutal.
For the expendable common folk, those with no fortune or divine miracles to their name, the chances of ever getting ahead were pitifully small—unless they were born with an abnormal Divine Soul and possessed the potential to ascend to godhood.