408: The Storm at Dark Raven Ridge Ends

In the silence of the nearly stagnant air, a sudden burst of steady and orderly footsteps came from outside the hall.

The footsteps were neither fast nor slow, each step heavy, as if treading on bluestone slabs, yet also as if striking the hearts of everyone, carrying a martial rhythm unique to soldiers, growing clearer as they approached.

Everyone in the hall felt a chill in their hearts and subconsciously looked toward the sound.

At the entrance of the hall, a figure as upright as a pine tree appeared first.

Li Zhong was clad in dark silver battle armor, his posture tall and straight, his expression cold and stern, his eyes deep like a frozen pool, devoid of any ripples.

Behind him, ten Xuntian Iron Guards followed closely, all in the same dark silver battle armor, equally expressionless, their steps perfectly synchronized.

When they stepped through the door, they didn't make a single unnecessary sound; only the light clatter of armor clashing echoed sharply in the silent hall.

The eleven people were like eleven unsheathed sharp swords; the moment they entered, a majestic pressure swept out like an overwhelming tide.

That pressure originated from the astral power of the battle armor and even more so from the illustrious reputation of the Xuntian Iron Guards who guarded the Imperial Dynasty, causing everyone's breathing to hitch; they all held their breath in unison, not daring to make a sound.

The Sovereign Li Xuan sat atop the dragon throne, his fingertips tightening unconsciously, gripping the carvings of the armrest until they turned white.

Beside him, State Preceptor Xuan Qingzi held a horsetail whisk, his eyes lowered and his gaze withdrawn, his thoughts unknown.

Below the dais, Withered Bone Ascetic, Mo Chenggui, and Bai Qingtian appeared slightly nervous at this moment.

Everyone's gaze fell upon Li Zhong, who walked slowly to the center of the hall and stood as steady as a mountain.

After a moment of silence, Li Zhong finally spoke.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried a power that pierced the heart, echoing clearly in every corner of the hall.

In front of everyone in the hall, word by word, he announced the investigation results of the Nether Crow Ridge Immortal Cave collapse incident.

His conclusion was basically consistent with the content initially reported by Mysterious Clarity Master, attributing the primary guilt of the incident entirely to the fallen Elder Yin Gu and Village Elder Gongsun, determining that the two had caused the cave's collapse due to a greedy struggle, bringing about the disaster.

As for Mo Chenggui, Withered Bone Ascetic, and the other unsealed Cultivators, their actions were all desperate measures for self-preservation and not an active attempt to cause trouble.

Furthermore, they had proactively assisted in rebuilding the Southern Frontier afterward to make up for their mistakes with a good attitude, so they were granted leniency and would not be held further accountable.

As he finished speaking, everyone in the hall quietly sighed in relief, but Li Xuan's heart was filled with even more doubt—this matter involved so much, how could it be settled so easily?

Before he could think further, Li Zhong had already made a move.

He raised his hand, and a wisp of clear spiritual energy condensed at his fingertips, with golden light flowing around them; in an instant, it transformed into profound runes that landed on Withered Bone Ascetic, Mo Chenggui, Bai Qingtian, and the others.

It was exactly the standard "Star Spirit-Locking Seal" of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty.

The runes merged into the Dantian area of several people, forming an invisible shackle that constrained their Nascent Soul and Cultivation, preventing them from causing trouble in the future.

After finishing all this, Li Zhong looked up, his gaze sweeping over the group, and his tone suddenly turned sharp as he issued a stern warning:

"From now on, you must strictly abide by the rules of the Imperial Dynasty, and you are not allowed to unseal Cultivators without authorization, let alone cause trouble within the territory. If there are violators, the Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry will surely trample your mountain gates and show no mercy!"

Withered Bone Ascetic and the others hurriedly bowed in agreement, their voices carrying a hint of relief from having survived a disaster.

After dealing with them, Li Zhong's gaze slowly rose and landed on Li Xuan on the dragon throne.

His tone remained flat, showing no hint of emotion, yet it carried an unquestionable authority, each word ringing out:

"Within the territory of the Tianqi Dynasty, poor supervision led to a private fight between Nascent Soul Cultivators that caused a disaster and disturbed local peace. According to the rules of the Imperial Dynasty, a fine of one hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones is imposed, to be paid to the Qintian Division within three days."

Pausing for a moment, he continued:

"At the same time, the Tianqi Imperial Family must immediately strengthen the management of Cultivators within the territory, formulate strict supervision regulations, and regularly report the movements of high-level Cultivators within the territory to the Qintian Division without any delay. If such incidents occur again in the future, the punishment will be increased, and no leniency will be shown!"

Sitting on the dragon throne, Li Xuan's heart was full of doubt, his thoughts surging like stormy waves.

Li Zhong had only set off for the Northern Frontier five days ago to verify matters related to Situ Jun; why had he returned in such a hurry today?

Moreover, upon his return, he had directly announced the closing of the case, with an attitude completely different from the previous rigorous investigation; the change was so drastic that he seemed like a different person, leaving Li Xuan completely baffled.

But facing the illustrious majesty of the Heaven-Patrolling Iron Cavalry and Li Zhong's bottomless eyes, he didn't dare to have any objections; he could only suppress the shock and doubt in his heart and repeatedly nod in agreement, his voice carrying a dry quality he hadn't even noticed himself.

His heart was a mix of emotions.

There was relief and joy that the matter had ended so smoothly, and the Tianqi Imperial Family finally didn't have to be implicated, avoiding a change in imperial power.

There was also wariness and curiosity—what exactly was Situ Jun's background that could make someone as resolute as Li Zhong change his attitude?

He found it increasingly impossible to guess the depth of a City Lord who had climbed up from being a lowly ant.

Below the steps, Bai Qingtian, Withered Bone Ascetic, Mo Chenggui, and the others breathed a long sigh of relief upon hearing the result, their faces showing expressions of liberation.

Although the Star Spirit-Locking Seal had been applied, their Cultivation was once again constrained, and their actions were hindered by another layer of restriction; compared to the previous possibility of severe punishment or even death, this was already the best outcome.

A disaster out of nowhere had finally vanished into thin air like this.

They all knew in their hearts that this sudden "smooth closing of the case" was by no means accidental.

If it weren't for Situ Jun, the City Lord of the Northern Frontier, intervening behind the scenes, with the acting style of the Xuntian Iron Guards, how could they have been let off so easily?

Thinking of this, the reverence in their hearts for that Situ Jun, who had not even shown his face, deepened by another layer, and even the gaze they cast toward the Northern Frontier became a bit more complex.

The matter was completely settled.

Li Zhong did not delay any further, nodding slightly to Li Xuan on the dragon throne, his tone indifferent:

"The matter is resolved; we will return to the Imperial Dynasty immediately to report."

As he finished speaking, he turned and led the ten Xuntian Iron Guards out of the hall.

Their steps were still steady and orderly; they came like an unsheathed sword and left like a blade returning to its scabbard, leaving behind only the lingering pressure in the hall and a group of people with varying thoughts.

Only then did Li Xuan react, hurriedly standing up to see them off, speaking polite words of hospitality with an eager tone that could not hide the complexity in his eyes.

The group walked out of the imperial palace and headed straight out of the city.

Outside the city, three sky patrol warships had been waiting for a long time, entirely black, with Star Totems carved on the hulls, emitting a cold metallic luster under the sunlight.

Li Zhong and the ten Xuntian Iron Guards leaped onto the warships; in just a moment, three streaks of spiritual light soared into the sky, piercing through the clouds.

The warships broke through the air, moving as fast as lightning, and under the reverent gazes of the people of the Tianqi Royal Capital, they sped toward the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty, eventually turning into three small points of light and gradually disappearing at the end of the horizon.