116: Chapter 116 Young Master, Execution Ground

Inside the ruined temple, it was deathly silent.

Over a dozen pairs of eyes stared fixedly at the white-clothed figure outside the door.

The night wind blew, fluttering the corners of Que Wuhua's robes.

He stood in the shadows, half of his face illuminated by the moonlight, his expression cold and indifferent.

A hint of shock and suspicion flashed through Elder Jin's lowered eyes.

It was too smooth.

The Demon Suppression Division's Sky Prison was known as an iron fortress; not even a fly could escape.

Que Wuhua's cultivation had been crippled and he was severely injured; how could he be standing here completely unscathed?

Moreover, the Demon Suppression Division had just released news of his death, yet he himself had appeared at the secret base.

There was an indescribable strangeness to all of this.

"Young Lord..." Elder Jin slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed tightly on the white-clothed youth before him:

"You have suffered. However, your subordinate does not understand—how did you escape from the Sky Prison?"

His tone was respectful, but the intent to test was undisguised in his words.

Seeing this, the surrounding Demon Sound Sect Disciples also tightened their grips on their weapons, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

If the person before them showed even the slightest flaw, they would strike without hesitation.

Chen Ran stood outside the door, taking in everyone's reactions.

He did not explain, nor did he become angry.

He simply looked at Elder Jin quietly and suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

"What, does Elder Jin no longer recognize me?"

His voice turned into layers of stacked sound waves, exploding directly deep within the eardrums of everyone inside the ruined temple.

Buzz!

The dozen or so Demon Sound Sect Disciples felt a roar in their minds, as if a fine needle had been ruthlessly driven into the center of their brows.

Their blood and qi surged, and their True Qi spiraled out of control.

The legs of several Disciples with weaker cultivation went soft, and they collapsed directly to the ground, their faces pale as they gasped for breath.

Elder Jin bore the brunt of it.

As a fifth-rank Middle Stage expert, his Internal Energy was profound, and his blood and qi were far beyond those of ordinary people.

But the moment he heard that voice, he still felt his heart suddenly constrict.

The True Qi within his body also began to surge.

He jerked his head up, his eyes filled with shock.

This voice...

It was definitely the Demon Sound True Art!

And it was several times stronger than before Que Wuhua was captured!

In the past, although Que Wuhua's Demon Sound True Art was powerful,

he had ultimately cultivated for too short a time; it could only affect a person's mind and cause hallucinations.

But now, this voice could actually directly trigger a resonance in his body's blood and qi!

This was... the characteristic of the Demon Sound True Art reaching Perfection.

Elder Jin's throat felt dry, and his back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

The Demon Sound True Art was extremely difficult to Cultivate; in the entire Demon Sound Sect, besides the Sect Leader, no one else had been able to Cultivate it to Perfection.

Just what had Que Wuhua experienced in the Sky Prison?

Not only had he recovered his cultivation, but he had even broken through his limits and cultivated the Demonic Technique to such a Realm!

All suspicion vanished in an instant before such absolute strength.

This kind of Demon Sound that struck directly at the Soul—besides Que Wuhua himself, no one else in the world could perform it.

...

Elder Jin dropped to his knees, his head bowing deeply, his voice carrying an undisguisable awe and fanaticism.

"Congratulations, Young Lord, on returning from your secluded cultivation and achieving Major Achievement in your Demonic Technique!"

Seeing this, the other Disciples also suppressed the surging of their blood and qi, kneeling on the ground and shouting loudly.

"Congratulations, Young Lord, on your Demonic Technique's Major Achievement!"

Chen Ran looked at the members of the Demon Sound Sect kneeling before him, his expression indifferent.

He stepped into the ruined temple, his white clothes spotless.

"Everyone, please rise."

He walked to the main seat and sat down, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"My escape involves a great deal and should not be publicized."

"Since the Demon Suppression Division wants to use my 'corpse' to set a trap, then let them do it."

"For now, you all must lie low. Without my command, no one is to act rashly. Once this matter has passed, I will make arrangements."

Elder Jin felt a chill in his heart and hastily replied, "Your subordinate obeys!"

He was now completely convinced by Que Wuhua.

Not only had the Young Lord achieved Major Achievement in his Demonic Technique, but his thoughts had also become deeper and more unpredictable.

After giving a few instructions, Chen Ran did not stay long; he stood up and left the ruined temple.

The night was deep, and his figure soon merged into the darkness.

Half an hour later.

In the southern part of the capital, in a remote and deserted dead-end alley.

Chen Ran stopped his pace, and after confirming no one was around, he raised his right hand and slowly covered his face.

With a thought.

The "Painted Skin" talent was deactivated.

His bones made faint cracking sounds.

His originally handsome face quickly faded, and his physique changed accordingly.

In the blink of an eye, he turned back into that clean-featured Sky Prison Jailer.

Chen Ran let out a long breath and stretched his neck.

Playing the role of an evil sect's Young Lord like Que Wuhua—although he didn't have to fight—that feeling of being high above and in control of everything was indeed somewhat addictive.

However, he still preferred his current identity.

Steady, safe, and without the need to be constantly on edge against assassination attempts.

He tidied his Jailer uniform and turned to walk out of the alley.

...

Two days later, at noon.

Caishikou Execution Ground Execution Ground.

Caishikou Execution Ground was exceptionally lively today.

The Execution Ground was packed so tightly that not even water could seep through; there were layers upon layers of people.

There were commoners watching the spectacle, as well as people from the Martial Forest observing in secret.

The beheading of a true Disciple of the Demon Sound Sect was a rare major event in the capital in recent years.

As a Prison Officer of the Sky Prison, Chen Ran was also ordered to attend today, standing behind and to the side of the Presiding Official.

He wore a brand-new Prison Officer official uniform and with a standard-issue long blade at his waist, he looked at the crowd below with a calm expression.

Just then, a commotion broke out on the outskirts of the crowd.

A group of people and horses parted the crowd and slowly entered the Execution Ground.

The leader, riding a tall horse, wore the standard-issue Flying Fish Robe of a Six Doors Gold-Badge Constable.

It was Lin Wan.

Her long hair was tied high, her features were exquisite beyond compare, and a sharp aura emanated from between her brows.

The tight-fitting Flying Fish Robe outlined her tall and well-proportioned figure. With a long sword hanging at her waist, she was like an unsheathed blade, causing the surrounding commoners to look her way.

Behind her followed a dozen elite constables from Six Doors, each with a solemn expression and their hands on their sword hilts.

Lin Wan flipped off her horse and strode to the front of the execution platform.

Her sharp gaze swept around the surroundings before finally landing on Chen Ran.

Seeing Chen Ran's composed and unbothered manner, Lin Wan frowned slightly and walked over.

"Prison Officer Chen." Lin Wan lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of warning. "The Execution Ground is not peaceful today; the people from the Demon Sound Sect are very likely to come and raid the execution."

"Once a disturbance occurs, do not try to be a hero. Retreat when you should; saving your life is what matters."

In Lin Wan's view, Chen Ran although he had good talent, he was ultimately just an ordinary Prison Officer.

A seventh-rank cultivation was sufficient against ordinary Martial Artists,

but against those cold-blooded killers from the Demon Sound Sect, he would have no power to fight back.

Looking at Lin Wan's serious expression, Chen Ran found it somewhat amusing.

People from the Demon Sound Sect?

They were probably hiding in some cellar right now, waiting for their "Young Lord's" next set of instructions.

However, on the surface, he still put on a grateful appearance and nodded with a smile.

"Thank you for the reminder, Constable Lin. This official understands. If a fight really breaks out, I will certainly be careful."

Seeing his spineless appearance, Lin Wan sighed inwardly and said no more, turning to set up the defense line.

The Six Doors constables quickly dispersed and blended into the crowd, staring fixedly at every suspicious person.

The Hidden Agents of the Demon Suppression Division were also already in position. The entire Execution Ground was relaxed on the outside but tight on the inside, with an inescapable net laid out.

Time passed bit by bit.

The sun gradually rose to its zenith.

"The time of three quarters past noon has arrived!"

The Presiding Official threw down the Execution Warrant.

Two burly executioners stepped onto the platform and dragged up a corpse wrapped in white cloth.

The corpse was pressed onto the chopping block, and the white cloth was pulled back, revealing Que Wuhua's face.

The commoners below the platform immediately let out a chorus of gasps.

The executioner raised the Ghost-headed Blade, its edge glinting with a cold light in the sunlight.

Lin Wan's hand rested on her sword hilt, her breathing becoming slightly hurried.

The surrounding Six Doors constables and Demon Suppression Division agents also tensed their nerves, ready to deal with any sudden situation at any time.

However...

Nothing happened.

Thud!

The blade fell.

Que Wuhua's head rolled onto the ground, and blood sprayed out.

Bursts of cheering erupted from the crowd below.

Until the execution ended and the corpse was dragged away, the surroundings of the Execution Ground remained calm and peaceful.

There were no experts from the Demon Sound Sect, and no thugs raiding the Execution Ground.

This true Disciple of the Demon Sound Sect had died just like that in front of the public.

The cheering around grew louder and louder,

Some people from the Martial Forest, seeing there was no fun to be had, also left.

Finally, Chen Ran turned around alone.

Silently vanishing into the bustling crowd.