190: Chapter 190 Expulsion

"What did he take out? Isn't this just a pile of rotten wood shavings?"

"Although the Immortal Master is a bit strict with you, he wouldn't go so far as to bring this stuff out. You won't be able to fool him with that."

The surrounding crowd discussed animatedly, none of them approving of the pile of wood fragments Xu Changsheng had produced.

Xu Changsheng used the Object Manipulation Technique to send the wood shavings in front of Huang Jinglong.

The latter reached out and grabbed all the wood shavings in his hand, inspecting them carefully. He rubbed the shavings between his fingertips, crushing them into fine powder.

With a hint of doubt on his Face, he asked, "Fellow Daoist, how did you rely on this pile of fragments without Spiritual Qi to raise your cultivation by two major Realms?"

He shrugged. "It's simple. Just inject spiritual power into it."

"Oh?"

Yellow Ox tentatively channeled spiritual power into the wood shavings.

A magical scene appeared.

The gray wood shavings emitted a faint, eerie green light and slowly floated up, gathering together in mid-air to form a small wooden ball.

Even though not a single bit of Spiritual Qi leaked out, it was enough to see the extraordinary nature of this object.

Seeing this, a slight smile appeared at the corner of Huang Jinglong's mouth.

However, the wooden ball slowly began to disperse, the wood dust spreading out and changing its form, seemingly shifting toward a rectangular and square shape.

His smile grew wider.

But in the next moment, the smile froze on his Face.

Before it could form a complete, regular shape, the wood shavings seemed to have exhausted their potential. The fragments crumbled inch by inch, scattering into dust.

Huang Jinglong hurriedly increased the infusion of spiritual power, but it was to no avail; it only accelerated the rate at which the wood shavings disintegrated.

He had no choice but to stop.

He asked, "Fellow Daoist Xu, this thing..."

Xu Changsheng replied irritably, "Senior, as you can see, these wood shavings were originally a Wooden Plaque. But after yesterday's battle, it's no longer usable. You just gave it its final send-off."

"Then why didn't you say so earlier? You even let this old man inject spiritual power into it."

Looking at the wood shavings drifting in the wind, Huang Jinglong was somewhat unwilling. He could clearly still feel a trace of Origin Wood Power from the shavings, which would have been of special use to him.

But now...

He reached out to grab at the air, but he didn't catch any wood shavings, only air.

Xu Changsheng shrugged again. "Didn't Senior ask how to activate it? Junior was just telling the truth."

Huang Jinglong was suddenly speechless.

Shopkeeper Qian walked up to the base of the hall's throne at some unknown point and said softly, "Immortal Master, he clearly knew. He's playing you."

Hearing this.

Huang Jinglong thought for a moment and understood Xu Changsheng's intention. Essentially, he didn't want to hand the item over, and even if he did, he didn't intend for Huang Jinglong to get it.

He immediately said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Xu, I originally intended to give you a chance to redeem yourself through service, but I didn't expect you to be so unrepentant and repeatedly defiant."

Matching him blow for blow, Xu Changsheng asked, "What have I done wrong?"

"Haven't I already said? You destroyed several civilian houses and pavilions in the Immortal City. That is the first wrong!"

"After committing the act, you did not surrender to the Immortal City. That is the second wrong!"

"Destroying stolen goods without authorization. That is the third wrong!"

Three accusations were immediately pinned on Xu Changsheng's head.

"Xu Changsheng, do you admit your wrongs?"

"Sigh."

Xu Changsheng sighed softly. The sound wasn't loud, but in this heavy atmosphere, it was exceptionally clear.

"Revered Master, I think Fellow Daoist Xu also knows he was wrong. Why not just let him go?"

Just then.

Jin Chuan was the first to turn around, cupping his fists as he said, "It was just some pavilion Restrictions after all. I am willing to compensate on behalf of Fellow Daoist Xu."

Behind him, Fourth Disciple and Chu Linger also made moves to step forward and plead for Xu Changsheng.

Fourth Disciple glanced at Xu Changsheng. "Although Fellow Daoist Xu and I are not close friends, I have watched him come all the way from the Ancient Wood Mountain Range. As a Loose Cultivator, it hasn't been easy for him."

Chu Linger pretended to be an innocent young girl. "Revered Master, I don't know this person, but I don't think he looks like a bad person. Why not just let him off?"

Seeing Chu Linger speak up, Huang Shaotian also stepped forward to plead.

Seeing his own son step up as well, Huang Jinglong felt he was losing Face. His fingers tapped incessantly on the armrest.

"Shut up!"

He stood up again, losing his temper at his disciples.

"What do you know? To think you are my disciples, yet you don't even remember the Immortal City Laws?"

"This..." The fellow disciples looked at each other.

At this moment, Shopkeeper Qian cleared his throat. "Ahem, the Immortal Master is right. According to Article 1,357 of the Immortal City's Supreme Laws, attacking Immortal City citizens or urban construction without authorization..."

...is punishable by expulsion at least, or detention at most. If one holds the status of a citizen, it shall be revoked immediately."

Huang Jinglong gave Shopkeeper Qian a deep look and said indifferently, "Do you remember now?"

Only then did everyone understand the purpose behind Huang Jinglong's strange behavior earlier.

It turned out he wanted to find a legitimate reason to expel Xu Changsheng.

Logically speaking, Xu Changsheng had indeed lent the Immortal Master a hand. Even if there was no great merit, there was hard work. Why would he be held accountable right from the start?

"So he really didn't take down Gu Lingye?"

Xu Changsheng's heart stirred. He hadn't held much hope for Huang Jinglong killing Gu Lingye, but he hadn't expected that he couldn't even seriously injure her.

If so, it would completely explain Huang Jinglong's current actions.

Huang Jinglong didn't care about the grievances between him and Gu Lingye. As long as he was expelled, killed, or handed over, Gu Lingye would stop harassing the Immortal City.

The fellow disciples looked at each other again and silently stepped back a few paces, returning to their original positions.

Only Chu Linger still hesitated to speak. "Revered Master, I..."

But she was interrupted by Xu Changsheng. "In that case, how does the Immortal Master plan to punish this Junior?"

"I am not an unreasonable person. Although you damaged the Immortal City's buildings, you did indeed help me. Consider it a case of merit offsetting the fault. I won't pursue it further. You just need to leave the Immortal City."

"Fine, Junior will leave in a few days."

Xu Changsheng had his own plans. Even if Huang Jinglong was anxious to throw him out like a hot potato, he wouldn't leave the Immortal City immediately.

God knows how many eyes inside and outside the Immortal City were currently fixed on him.

There were Robber Cultivators, Demonic Cultivators, Gu Lingye's spies, and competitors from Yellow Ox Immortal City.

These people either wanted his life or his wealth. In any case, their goal was to put him to death.

He needed enough buffer time to leave Yellow Ox Immortal City silently through the Intelligence System and other channels.

"No, Fellow Daoist Xu, you only have one day to pack your belongings."

"What?!"

Xu Changsheng's internal calculations were abruptly cut short by Huang Jinglong.

He asked in confusion, "Why? Does Senior really intend to push this Junior to this extent?"

He didn't bother to explain. "Fellow Daoist Xu has too many questions. I don't intend to answer them. One day is enough for you to pack up and leave."

"I have quite a lot of belongings. One day isn't enough."

"Heh, aren't your belongings just that Spirit Talisman Workshop? I forgot to mention, I've already cleared out that workshop for you! Where is Shopkeeper Qian?"

"Present!"