125: Punishment, execution, investigation, visit

The County Magistrate immediately rose from his seat, bowed to the man in the main seat, and replied with extreme humility,

"Replying to your Lordship, City Lord Xiao Muchu naturally accepts this punishment."

Seeing that he made no excuses, the man in the main seat looked rather satisfied.

"Since that's the case, I shall now declare your punishment."

The County Magistrate stared at the ground in front of him, feeling inevitably nervous, wondering if his Family had interceded for him.

The man in the main seat flung an object in front of County Magistrate City Lord Xiao Muchu. City Lord Xiao Muchu glanced at it, and with just a single look, his Bloodline seemed to freeze.

"City Lord Xiao Muchu of the seventh-rank Noble Family Xiao Family, due to ineffective local oversight, allowed the Huo Family to escape with a Boundary-Suppressing source artifact, causing Zhiyao County to face the danger of a broken boundary and a decline in Luck.

Punishment: City Lord Xiao Muchu's lineage is to be moved out of the seventh-rank Noble Family Xiao Family, a new Origin Artifact contract is to be established, and the Zhiyao Xiao Clan is to be founded to suppress Luck."

After hearing the words of the imposing man in the main seat, City Lord Xiao Muchu was almost stunned in place. He stared blankly at the statue carved on the ground in front of him, feeling a chill run through his body.

"City Lord Xiao Muchu, do you accept the punishment?"

Seeing City Lord Xiao Muchu remain silent for a long time, the man asked again in a cold voice.

City Lord Xiao Muchu was brought back to his senses by these words. He raised his head, and his eyes gradually regained their calm.

"City Lord Xiao Muchu accepts the punishment."

How could the man not see the unwilling rage beneath City Lord Xiao Muchu's calm exterior? However, he didn't care. He rose from his seat and walked down from the dais.

The stone statue floated between the two. "Will you separate your Xiao Family Bloodline alone, or will you bring your branch with you?"

"Just me alone will suffice."

After City Lord Xiao Muchu finished speaking, he raised his palm, and crimson blood Qi surged from it, enveloping the entire statue carving in the air.

About fifteen minutes later, the statue seemed to absorb and outline the blood Qi, and fragmented spiritual light shimmered all over its body.

City Lord Xiao Muchu felt a Bloodline connection with the Origin Artifact in front of him at this moment, but his mood held no joy.

Because this meant he had completely transformed from a Qianling Xiao Clan member to a Zhiyao County Xiao Clan member. Although his feelings for the Xiao Family remained, it was a genuine separation of Bloodline.

From now on, he could not receive the various enhancements of the Xiao Family's Origin Artifacts, and any advancements he made could not be reported back to the clan. It was a true disconnection of Bloodline.

Watching City Lord Xiao Muchu sign the contract with the Origin Artifact, the imposing man pointed his right finger to the sky and his left hand towards the Origin Artifact.

"With the Origin Artifact, establish Zhiyao. The Luck of a hundred clans, gathered within."

A golden light flashed, and the Origin Artifact in front of them grew larger, reaching more than a person's height in just a moment.

"This Origin Artifact serves as the foundation for suppressing the boundary. I hope you guard it well. Should such a situation occur again, it won't be a matter of picking it up high and setting it down gently."

After saying these final words, the imposing man vanished from City Lord Xiao Muchu's sight with a series of flashes.

City Lord Xiao Muchu bowed slightly in farewell. A moment later, he straightened up, gazing at the Origin Artifact statue in front of him with a complicated expression.

From now on, he would guard this statue and could not leave. This small Zhiyao County had become the prison that confined him.

After a long while, he turned around and shouted fiercely towards the outside of the hall:

"Pass on my order: immediately apprehend the remaining Bloodline of the Huo Family. They will be sacrificed to the heavens and beheaded three days later."

A chilling wind, full of killing intent, blew from inside the hall to outside, eventually spreading throughout Zhiyao County City... Qixia Mountain, as the Chu Family's private land, was naturally guided by Chu Jingyu to be swept over during the Source Beast purge.

Thus, the 'Jellyfish' and 'Ice Lotus' in the Chu Family's backyard are now in a semi-wild state.

Upon returning home, Chu Jingyu informed them about resigning Chu Shengfan's position and told them of his plan to have Chu Shengfan participate in the assessment and study in the Prefecture City.

Chu Qinhui and his wife naturally had no objections, but Chu Shengfan was somewhat puzzled.

"Grandfather, why would you suddenly think of sending me to the Prefecture City for further studies?"

Facing Chu Shengfan's confusion, Chu Jingyu smiled. "If not for Grandpa Sun mentioning it, I truly wouldn't have thought of it. Our Family was poor before, and your father only taught you to recognize a few words. Now that the Family is slightly prosperous, I naturally want you to go out and see the world."

"Has Grandfather ever been to the Prefecture City?" Chu Shenghan asked curiously from the side.

Chu Jingyu paused his finger, then generously admitted, "I naturally haven't been there, but as a city of a higher rank than our Zhiyao County, one can imagine its prosperity and extravagance."

Seeing the longing in the eyes of the Chu Family members, Chu Jingyu smiled.

"However, I heard that the Qianling Academy requires an assessment for admission. There are nearly three months until the assessment, and factoring in travel time, Xiao Fan has over two months to prepare. So, you should go stay with Grandpa Sun in town. Ask him more questions since he's been to many places, and buy more books at the Treasure Pavilion to broaden your knowledge, understand?"

A hint of indescribable panic arose in Chu Shengfan's heart at the thought of leaving home. He steadied himself.

"Grandfather, I don't really want to go to the Academy. How about we wait until my younger siblings are older and let them try?"

"Your younger siblings will go. But you, as the elder brother, should go first to scout the path and understand what the Prefecture City Academy is like, shouldn't you?"

Regarding Chu Shengfan's words, Chu Jingyu merely assumed he was afraid of spending the Family's money.

"Don't worry, the Family is not short of Source Spirit Stone right now. At worst, we'll sell a few more Moon Worshipping Rabbits. I even want to use you as a stepping stone to expand our business to the Prefecture City!"

Hearing his grandfather say this, Chu Shengfan's heart suddenly settled. He placed his hand on his chest and said, "Alright, then I'll go and try."

...The next day, in Heyu Town, the bright sunlight shone into the Medicine Heart Hall. The apprentices had just opened the doors when they discovered several figures standing outside like statues.

Stimulated by the intense sunlight, the apprentice squinted. After adapting, he recognized one of the figures.

"Town Head, please come in, please come in. Shopkeeper, Town Head has arrived."

Hearing the apprentice's words, the shopkeeper quickly withdrew from a stretch, then immediately scurried to the door. He saw that it was indeed Tang Cheng standing outside the shop.

He immediately bowed. "Please, Town Head, proceed to the reception hall to wait. I will go and inform my master."

Tang Cheng looked at the middle-aged man beside him with a questioning gaze. Only after the man nodded slightly did he speak to the shopkeeper.

"I've brought a few extra people. The shopkeeper doesn't mind, does he?"

The shopkeeper had taken in the interaction between the two just now. He couldn't discern the Realm of the other man, but he could sense that the other man seemed even more distinguished than Town Head Tang.

As for the other few people, they stood outside the door like guards and did not follow Tang Cheng and the mysterious man into the Medicine Heart Hall.

After leading them into the reception hall and having servants serve good tea, the shopkeeper personally went to another courtyard to inform his master.

In the backyard, Sun Chunchen, who was holding 'Moon Worshipping Rabbits' and personally feeding them specially prepared pills, looked back at the shopkeeper.

"You're saying that Tang Cheng brought a man who seemed even more distinguished than him?"

The shopkeeper nodded. "Yes, and I always feel that their auras seem to come from the same origin. It's highly possible they are from the same Family."

Sun Chunchen clapped his hands, dusting off the medicinal powder.

"Truly, if one person knows, a hundred people will know. This place won't be safe for long."