117: Li Yuelan, Crescent Moon Sword Sect!

"Reporting to County Commandant, everyone has been brought out. I wonder if County Commandant would like to attend the ceremony?"

The official who brought Ning Yuan and others out came to a large courtyard to report.

Inside the courtyard, a figure like a startled swan was practicing swordplay.

"Such trivial matters, do not bother me."

A cold voice came from within, and the black-hatted official quickly retreated from the large courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, a figure in a blue dress had her sword suddenly return to its sheath.

She frowned in deep thought, "This move is still not right, how vexing!"

"I feel like I'm only one step away from the Major Achievement of the String Moon Sword Art, just a thin paper barrier, why can't I break through it?"

Li Yuelan muttered in a low voice, then snorted coldly, "Why are these cultists so weak? They prevent my sword art from advancing further."

"Do I need to find higher-level cultists?"

"Young Miss, absolutely not!"

At this moment, the old woman on the side suddenly appeared and said, "The cults around Bei Yuan City are all the lowest-level cults; some of their leaders haven't even entered the Dao."

"But higher-level cults might have Golden Core Immortal Masters in charge. Although the cults are currently weak and suppressed by the Righteous Path, Demonic Path, and the imperial court, their power is not what it once was. However, to still exist stubbornly under the encirclement of various forces, their foundations are unimaginably deep. Young Miss is still young, do not be careless and do not provoke the true main forces of the cults."

"Don't worry, I haven't reached such a reckless point."

Li Yuelan snorted coldly.

As the Second Young Miss of the Li Family, the first Family in the prefectural city, and a direct disciple of the String Moon Sect, she was not a fool.

"However, the cults now are truly at their wit's end, accepting anyone. Even someone who doesn't understand martial arts can become a cult leader."

"Such a person, do I even need to supervise his execution? How ridiculous."

Li Yuelan scoffed. She disdained to even make a move against such a person.

"Second Young Miss, the Magistrate has gone now. If someone raids the execution ground and causes trouble, it might affect your promotion merits."

The old woman continued to earnestly persuade her.

"All the surrounding cults have been defeated by me. Martial Artists who have entered the Dao have either fled or been captured. Who dares to raid the execution ground?"

Li Yuelan's delicate brows furrowed, and she said coldly, then sneered, "If the Beiyuan Magistrate can't even prevent this, then he deserves it."

Seeing this, the old woman could not say more... Bei Yuan City's execution ground.

The crowd surged.

As Ning Yuan and the others stepped onto the execution platform, a cheer immediately erupted.

"The cultists have committed countless evil deeds, repeatedly attacking the county town and slaughtering many. Now, they have finally all been brought to justice."

"The cultists deserve to die! They stole my Family's money and grain and distributed it to the commoners. They are utterly preposterous and should all be executed!"

"That was all my money, my money!"

Many people in luxurious clothes below the platform were discussing animatedly.

They were all prominent families of Bei Yuan, owning thousands of acres of fertile land outside the city, noble for generations. Because of the cult attacks in recent months, large areas of land were seized, granaries were looted, houses and gardens outside the city were damaged, and gold and silver were stolen, resulting in heavy losses.

They deeply hated the cultists.

"Criminal Ning Yuan, why do you not kneel!"

The executioner, wearing a red headscarf, sternly shouted.

At this moment, Ning Yuan looked around and saw the Magistrate sitting in the main seat, but he did not see the female County Commandant that Lin Yuan mentioned.

Moreover, there was no aura nearby that made him feel threatened.

A smile involuntarily appeared on Ning Yuan's face, "It seems the County Commandant is not here."

"Whether the County Commandant is here or not, it has nothing to do with you. Your crime is set, kneel and accept your death!"

The executioner behind him pushed Ning Yuan, but Ning Yuan did not move an inch; instead, the executioner himself was shaken back three steps.

"You dare to resist?"

The executioner was immediately furious.

But at this moment, Ning Yuan suddenly broke his shackles and snapped the iron chains.

With a bang, the iron chains shot out, and many soldiers nearby had their chest armor pierced.

"What's going on?"

The Magistrate in front of the desk was greatly alarmed when he saw this scene, "Quick, someone, apprehend this villain! Do not let him escape."

"This Sect Leader of the White Lotus Sect will give you all a lesson today."

Ning Yuan shouted loudly, raising his hand and unleashing the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms. As a high-pitched Dragon's roar emanated, a path was immediately blasted open. The soldiers surging forward were swept by the terrifying Dragon-shaped True Qi, immediately falling over in disarray.

"Run!"

"Someone is raiding the execution ground!"

"The White Lotus Sect has attacked the city!"

The surrounding onlookers immediately panicked, screaming and running outwards.

The entire execution ground was in chaos.

The soldiers guarding nearby heard the news and wanted to rush forward, but they collided with the people rushing out.

"Beiyuan Magistrate, you want to kill me? I'll borrow your head first!"

Ning Yuan stomped his foot, and like an arrow, he charged towards the Beiyuan Magistrate.

"Quick, protect the Lord!"

The surrounding guards immediately shouted.

They stood in front of the Beiyuan Magistrate.

Ning Yuan's palms moved with great power. How could these ordinary soldiers be his opponents? Even the guards were only True Qi Realm Martial Artists.

Between Ning Yuan's raised fingers, Sword Qi burst forth.

And at this moment, Ning Yuan suddenly looked up and saw a String Moon Sword Qi hurtling from the distant sky.

"What terrifying power, even from several streets away, it still has such might."

Ning Yuan's pupils constricted, then he also used his full strength.

"Dragon has regrets!"

Ning Yuan shouted loudly. The North Profound True Qi within his body surged out wildly. A brilliant golden True Dragon several zhang long soared into the sky, then flicked its tail, turning to charge towards the String Moon Sword Qi coming from the horizon.

Clang!

The String Moon Sword Qi spun rapidly, and the brilliant golden Dragon Qi was actually split in two from head to tail, disintegrating into specks of golden light.

The Sword Qi remained sharp, like an arrow, and was already swiftly striking towards Ning Yuan.

"Is this the strength of an Aperture Opening Realm cultivator?"

Ning Yuan's pupils constricted, in disbelief. He rapidly used Star Shift. His palms slid, and the ten-foot-high crescent moon Sword Qi struck down. Ning Yuan was forced back dozens of steps by this powerful impact, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Hah!"

Ning Yuan shouted loudly, channeling all his power. His palms suddenly pushed out, and the Sword Qi surged back.

The terrifying Sword Qi reversed its rotation, instantly sweeping a large area, filling the sky with blood mist.

Everyone's expression changed in horror, and they retreated in terror.

Ning Yuan also took this opportunity to withdraw.

A moment later, a blue and white figure appeared with a cold face, "Where is he?"

Li Yuelan scanned the entire scene. After a moment, a surviving soldier came over, trembling, and replied, "Reporting to County Commandant, he—escaped!"

Hearing that Ning Yuan had escaped, Li Yuelan's pupils constricted, "He's not dead?"

Li Yuelan was somewhat incredulous.

That last move was not a casual strike from her; it was her full-power attack. The might of that move, even the top hundred prodigies at the time, might not have been able to block it.

"Who was the one who escaped?"

"Which force raided the execution ground? How many people came?"

Li Yuelan's eyes glinted with killing intent as she asked with a cold face.

"It, it was the White Lotus Sect Leader, Ning Yuan!"

"No one raided the execution ground; only he suddenly erupted and killed many brothers."

The soldier replied, trembling.

"One person?"

Li Yuelan turned her head in surprise, then frowned, "I remember when you arrested him, you said this person didn't know martial arts. How could he have such strength?"

As she spoke, Li Yuelan glanced at the scattered corpses on the ground, her brows tightly furrowed, and she demanded, "With such destructive power, he must have entered the Dao, right? How could he have escaped your scrutiny?"

The soldier looked bitter and said cautiously, "County Commandant, the extent of the destruction here was not caused by him, but rather—"

The soldier showed hesitation.

"Who? Speak!"

Li Yuelan raised an eyebrow, impatiently shouting.

The soldier swallowed, then gritted his teeth and said, "It was you!"

"Hm?"

Li Yuelan's eyes widened. The soldier immediately knelt down, "It was that White Lotus Sect Leader who used some evil art to actually deflect your Sword Qi back, redirecting it towards our direction. That's what caused such destructive power. Otherwise, how could a mere cult leader compare to County Commandant?"

"If not for this villain's powerful evil art, which allowed him to borrow your Divine Might, we would never have let him escape."

"So that's how it is."

Li Yuelan snorted coldly, her expression softening a bit, then casually asked, "Where is the Magistrate?"

"The Magistrate—is dead!"

A person who looked like a secretary stepped forward, trembling.

"What?"

Li Yuelan's voice immediately rose when she heard this, her face changing drastically. She then looked angrily into the distance, "White Lotus Sect Leader Ning Yuan, I'll remember you!"

Li Yuelan shouted through gritted teeth.

Although with her status, the death of the Magistrate in front of her was not a big deal, it was embarrassing!

If word spread, it would surely become a laughingstock among her peers.

This batch of them, from various Sects and Families, were all sent down to various counties for tempering.

Now, a prisoner had escaped from her watch, the execution ground was raided, and the Magistrate was dead. This would definitely affect the evaluation of her merits.

"If I don't avenge this, I won't be called Li!"

Li Yuelan's eyes lowered, and she immediately ordered, "The entire county is on alert, the four gates are sealed. Search every house for me. I don't believe he can escape."

"Yes!"

Other constables and soldiers gathered, then immediately scattered in all directions.

At this time, Li Shi in the prison also opened the doors of other cells. A group of prisoners immediately rushed out. Li Shi also took the opportunity to start a fire, attracting many constables to come and put it out.

And he also escaped in the chaos.

Li Yuelan, upon learning this news, became even more furious. She personally rushed to the scene and swept away the prisoners who hadn't managed to escape with a single sword strike, finally venting her anger... Meanwhile, Ning Yuan arrived at a luxurious courtyard, climbed over the wall, and found an empty room to hide in.

Blood was still dripping from his tiger's mouth.

"So, this is what a true Dao-entered Martial Artist is!"

Ning Yuan gritted his teeth and muttered, "Compared to her, that Lin Yuan is far too inferior. Even before his Dao Foundation was destroyed, I feel like I could have exchanged a few blows with him. But this Li Yuelan, just the aura she revealed from afar made my heart pound."

"A single sword strike from several li away injured me to this extent. Compared to her, Lin Yuan is probably as different as clouds and mud."

"It seems that if I don't enter the Dao, I have no chance of winning against her. In fact, if I faced her directly, the chance of escaping would be slim."

"Li Yuelan, I've noted this sword strike!"

Ning Yuan took a deep breath, opened the System interface, and exchanged for a 'Return Talisman'.

His Luck instantly dropped to 220 points.

And Ning Yuan also vanished from the spot out of thin air.

Shortly after Ning Yuan disappeared, a line of constables arrived.

"The blood trail ends here. He might be hiding inside."

Soon after, the constables opened the door, but they quickly became dumbfounded.

No matter how thoroughly they searched, they couldn't find a single person.

"It seems we were tricked. This was a diversion, clues he deliberately left behind. This villain is truly cunning."

The constables left the room, returning disappointed.

This also made the owner of the courtyard breathe a sigh of relief.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he quickly ordered people to offer gold and silver as rewards.

After all, if clues were left here, these constables could easily say he might be involved with a demon, leading to his arrest. Therefore, it was better to have these constables say less.