101: Prisoner

Chapter 101 Imprisoning the Immortal

"Hmm?"

Abbot Fayuan subconsciously looked forward, only to see a blood-colored flying insect suddenly appear in front of Zheng Yi. Before he could react, it shot forward, reaching his front almost instantly.

"Hmph!"

A muffled sound rang out, and the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand suddenly burst into a brilliant light, forming a pale golden barrier that protected him within.

"Spirit Insect!"

He stared fixedly at the dizzy flying insect before him, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"I didn't expect that there are actually spirit insects here as well?"

"Taiyi Sect? Zhao Xi Zheng?"

"What a pity, a mere rank-one spirit insect can at most cause some trouble for this poor monk. If there were more of them..."

As soon as his words fell, he heard another series of "squeak, squeak, squeak" sounds.

His expression changed instantly; at least a dozen blood-red spirit insects crawled out from Zheng Yi's sleeves and rushed toward him at high speed.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

More than a dozen Blood Moon Gus continuously charged around Abbot Fayuan, occasionally spitting out blood-colored moon blades that caused his protective shield to shake violently.

"Damn it! Rank-one spirit insects! Where did he get so many rank-one spirit insects?!"

"Even if Zhao Xi Zheng exhausted his entire family fortune, he couldn't breed so many spirit insects!"

Abbot Fayuan quickly retreated. He was merely a Middle Stage Cultivator, and could easily slay one or two rank-one spirit insects.

However, against the encirclement and slaughter of more than a dozen rank-one spirit insects, even he was by no means a match.

His figure flickered, and a subduing-demon pestle appeared in his hand. As chanting resounded, a pale golden flame instantly emanated from the pestle, forcing this group of spirit insects back.

Yet his figure did not leave; instead, he still guarded this place.

"I cannot leave! Two months ago, I discovered that for some reason, Spiritual Qi fluctuations appeared in the capital region, far surpassing Tianlong Temple in Lin'an Prefecture!"

"It's a pity I originally wanted to enlighten Emperor Zhengyong through Buddhism and have him appoint this poor monk as the state preceptor. I never expected that this person wouldn't even meet me; it must be Zhao Xi Zheng's doing."

"He is about to perish, what use is occupying such a wonderful spiritual land in the capital?"

"If given to this poor monk, I might just be able to achieve a Breakthrough to the Late Stage when my limit approaches."

As he spoke, Abbot Fayuan stared fixedly at the scroll floating in midair, gritting his teeth as he said, "Persist for another incense stick's time, and Emperor Zhengyong will inevitably sink into my Thousand Illusion Glazed Painting!"

"By then, Emperor Zhengyong will be this poor monk's follower, and that Innate Realm powerhouse behind him will also be our sect's Protector."

"Hhahahaha...!"

He immediately unleashed all his skills, the prayer beads in his hand shining brightly to block all dozen-plus Blood Moon Gus outside.

At the same time, he urged the subduing-demon pestle in his hand, emitting a large amount of pale golden flames, intending to burn these dozen-plus Blood Moon Gus to death.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

Just as he painstakingly burned two Blood Moon Gus to death, another harsh, strange screech suddenly reached his ears.

"Hmm?"

He instinctively raised his head, only to see that from the top of the originally magnificent White Jade Capital grand hall, spirit insects almost identical to the ones besieging him were crawling out one after another.

Blood Moon Gu!

Zheng Yi chose White Jade Capital as the location for raising and blood-sacrificing the Blood Moon Gu.

This was also the reason why he rarely left White Jade Capital.

With the protection of these more than one hundred Blood Moon Gus, even a Late Stage Cultivator would never return alive!

He had once asked Cui Xiabing to test the strength of these Blood Moon Gus; when Cui Xiabing urged her Flying Sword, she could only deal with five Blood Moon Gus.

And right now within White Jade Capital, there were as many as one hundred and twenty-plus Blood Moon Gus!

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

"Squeak, squeak, squeak...!"

Amidst Abbot Fayuan's incomparable horror, these one hundred-plus Blood Moon Gus swooped down from overhead, instantly enveloping him within them and forming a golden sphere emitting a bloody glow.

"Ah...!"

On Zheng Yi's side, the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror in his mind only shook slightly before dispelling the bewilderment before his eyes.

All the illusions he had experienced before vanished completely.

When he opened his eyes, he was startled by the scene before him, and endless anger immediately surged up.

Jinyi Guard!

In front of him, over twenty Jinyi Guard members were actually protecting him, and a large number of imperial guards stood watch outside the hall.

Numerous Jinyi Guards and imperial guards surrounded a humanoid corpse crawling with blood-red insects, standing with sabers drawn.

"What has happened!"

Zheng Yi spoke up, and the Jinyi Guard with their backs to him hurriedly turned around.

"Your Majesty! This subject, Jinyi Guard Ding Qiu, pays respects to Your Majesty."

"We were originally guarding outside the hall, but upon hearing someone scream inside the grand hall, fearing that Your Majesty might be in danger, we immediately rushed in."

"Who would have thought that inside the hall, we only found a large group of red insects besieging Great Master Fayuan."

"Fayuan!"

Zheng Yi gritted his teeth and said, then stared fixedly at Fayuan, who was surrounded by the Blood Moon Gu.

This Fayuan definitely harbored hostility toward him.

Otherwise, the Blood Moon Gu, which shared a spiritual connection with him, would not attack him for no reason.

Over a hundred Blood Moon Gus! Fayuan couldn't even last a dozen breaths before his protective magic shield was directly breached.

Even his own protective Magical Artifact was destroyed, and he was bitten directly into unconsciousness.

"Aside from the Jinyi Guard, everyone else withdraw!"

"Understood!"

The imperial guards retreated like a receding tide, while the Jinyi Guards lined up on both sides, still pointing their Xiuchun sabers at Fayuan, who was slumped on the ground.

In the darkness, the figures of a dozen young eunuchs appeared once more.

Shadow Guard.

"Old Chen?"

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. This old slave was also pulled into the illusion by the Magical Artifact in Fayuan's hand. If not for the spirit insects in Your Majesty's possession protecting you..."

Chen Liancang's tone was also filled with lingering fear, as well as a hint of anger and murderous intent.

If because of his reason Zheng Yi had passed away or been injured, he would have felt uneasy for the rest of his life.

Zheng Yi nodded slightly. The reason he chose White Jade Capital as the meeting place was precisely to have the protection of the Blood Moon Gu.

This Fayuan did not know his place; to actually dare make a move against him within White Jade Capital was simply courting death!

Fortunately, he only wanted to use the illusion to control him; if he had wanted to harm him directly, it wouldn't have succeeded either.

On his person, there were always a dozen-plus Blood Moon Gus guarding him.

Even if Zhao Xi Zheng wanted to kill him, it would still take some effort.

Zheng Yi took a deep breath, and with a thought, the one hundred-plus Blood Moon Gus immediately flew up and concealed themselves back into various corners of White Jade Capital.

On the ground, besides Fayuan's corpse, there were also seven or eight Blood Moon Gu corpses that he had killed.

Aside from that, there was also a golden-yellow scroll lying quietly on the ground.

"Someone, go check if he's dead!"

"Understood!"

Ding Qiu acknowledged, holding his Xiuchun saber as he slowly approached.

"Hold on!"

Chen Liancang's figure walked out from the darkness and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, let this old slave go."

"Old Chen..."

"Your Majesty being startled is this old slave's fault. Please allow this old slave to redeem myself through meritorious service."

Zheng Yi pondered for a moment, then nodded gently: "Very well."

Chen Liancang immediately walked slowly to Fayuan's side and stooped down to examine him.

He quickly stood up and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Fayuan is not dead yet; he is merely heavily injured and unconscious."

"Not dead yet...?"

Zheng Yi muttered, "Jinyi Guard, withdraw."

"Understood!"

The Jinyi Guard retreated, and Zheng Yi said, "Old Chen, lock Fayuan up and see what news can be extracted from him."

"Don't let him die too easily!"

"Understood!"

"Also, summon Consort Cui."

"Consort Cui? This old slave understands..."

Cui Xiabing, who received Zheng Yi's summons, was full of doubts, but still followed the old eunuch toward White Jade Capital.

"Father-in-law Chen, I wonder why Your Majesty has summoned this concubine?"

As one of the only two Cultivators within the imperial palace, Cui Xiabing knew Chen Liancang's identity.

And Chen Liancang also knew Cui Xiabing's identity.

He said in a low voice, "My Lady, Abbot Fayuan of Tianlong Temple intended to bewitch and harm Your Majesty, but was defeated by Your Majesty's spirit insects, and is currently trapped within White Jade Capital."

"Your Majesty summoning Your Ladyship over is probably related to this matter as well."

"Fayuan?"

Cui Xiabing said in surprise, "He is a Cultivator?"

"Indeed..."

Chen Liancang said, "This person is a Cultivator, yet he hides in Buddhism, using Buddhist bewitchment techniques to mislead ordinary citizens. Now he has even set his sights on Your Majesty; he truly deserves to die!"

"It's just that I don't know what other secrets this person is hiding. Your Majesty wishes to borrow Your Ladyship's assistance."

"I understand."

The two of them, one in front and one behind, quickly arrived at White Jade Capital.

Strangely enough, they did not head to the second floor. Instead, led by Chen Liancang, they pushed open a concealed wall, revealing a secret passage leading to the underground palace before Cui Xiabing's eyes.

Cui Xiabing's eyes also held a hint of surprise; obviously, this was also her first time knowing that beneath White Jade Capital, there was another underground passage.

She closely followed behind Chen Liancang, walking around the underground passage for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before feeling the terrain level out somewhat.

As he walked, Chen Liancang said, "My Lady, this place was originally an underground palace built by past emperors, personally modified by Your Majesty into a secret room. Today is the first time it has been put into use."

Cui Xiabing looked at the surrounding environment in surprise. Calling this place an underground palace was less fitting than calling it an underground prison.

Inside rooms with huge iron portcullises, various instruments of torture were set up, along with quite a few buckets whose contents were unknown.

In other places were water dungeons, gloomy and dark, with bizarre figures drifting past from time to time.

"Those people are Shadow Guards who grew up here since childhood. They are utterly loyal to Your Majesty and would never betray Your Majesty!"

Chen Liancang continued, "My Lady, be careful, we are almost there..."

Turning a corner, a huge prison appeared before Cui Xiabing's eyes.

Inside the cell stood two thick pillars of fine iron, and more than a dozen iron chains locked around a figure, suspending them in midair.

Beneath the flickering firelight, Cui Xiabing could tell that this person had a shiny bald head.

This is... Abbot Fayuan of Tianlong Temple?

Inside the prison, besides the figures of several Shadow Guards, there was also another figure.

Zheng Yi.

"This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zheng Yi nodded and said, "Beloved Consort has arrived~"

He waved his hand, motioning for Cui Xiabing to come over, and she obediently walked over.

Zheng Yi said self-deprecatingly, "This 'Prisoner-of-Immortals Cell' I built was originally prepared for Fire Spirit Master, yet I never expected that the first person to be imprisoned would actually be the abbot of Tianlong Temple!"

"If not for the protection of the Blood Moon Gu, I should have become an emperor devoted to Buddhism by now, or rather, Great Master Fayuan's Puppet?"

Cui Xiabing did not speak, but listened quietly.

"Beloved Consort..."

Zheng Yi grabbed Cui Xiabing's small hand and said in a low voice, "Do you know? At that time, I was still somewhat afraid!"

"What I feared was not death, but what would happen to Beloved Consort after I was controlled by Fayuan?"

"Fayuan is a Cultivator, yet he secretly made a move against me. What if he discovered Beloved Consort's identity... I simply dare not imagine it!"

Hearing Zheng Yi speak thusly, Cui Xiabing felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

It seems that what Your Majesty values most in your heart is still this palace!

"Your Majesty, rest assured!"

Cui Xiabing's beautiful eyes brimmed with tears as she said solemnly, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, how could you be harmed by a sinister villain?"

"Hasn't this Fayuan already been brought to justice... And even if, what if Your Majesty were harmed by a villain, this concubine would definitely avenge Your Majesty!"

"This... this concubine would also follow Your Majesty in death!"

"Beloved Consort~!"

Zheng Yi pulled Cui Xiabing into his embrace, taking a deep breath of the natural fragrance on her body, yet his gaze was somewhat cold.

"To ascertain Fayuan's true intentions, and whether there are any other factions behind him, I can only rely on Beloved Consort!"

Cui Xiabing said, "Your Majesty, a Cultivator's body is nourished by Spiritual Qi, and the strength of their Physical Body alone far surpasses that of ordinary Martial Artists. Ordinary torture instruments truly cannot have any effect on Cultivators."

"What does Your Majesty intend to do? This concubine will obey Your Majesty's instructions in everything!"