109: Chapter 109 Using the dove tree as a door bolt? Those few years in the criminal law probably wouldn't be enough to sentence you.

Xiao Aotian stared fixedly at the three Flying Swords lying by his feet like scrap metal; his face turned from red to white, then from white to green.

These were the Low Grade Spiritual Artifacts, 'Green Abyss Swords,' obtained from the System's Newbie Gift Pack. They could cut through iron like butter and required a drop of blood to recognize their master. How could they have been disarmed by a few Mortals holding pot lids before they even got close?

“This is impossible...” Xiao Aotian's fingers trembled slightly as he attempted to activate the sword art again.

The swords on the ground twitched, but they merely flipped over like dying salted fish, showing no signs of taking flight.

“Don't bother.”

Gu Changan tossed the High-Frequency Jammer in his hand to a nearby technician. “Under a strong electromagnetic pulse suppression field, these so-called 'Magic Treasures' of yours that rely on weak magnetic fields for levitation are no different from scrap metal.”

Gu Changan took a step forward, his leather shoes making a crisp sound as they stepped on the white marble-paved plaza.

He didn't look at Xiao Aotian's distorted face, but instead cast his gaze toward the towering and magnificent 'Lingxiao Palace' behind him.

The hall was indeed grand, with upturned eaves, bracket sets, and intricately carved beams. The entire structure emitted a faint woody fragrance. Only, this scent...

Gu Changan sniffed, and his brow instantly locked tight.

“Chen Xiaobei, get the old professor from the Forestry Bureau over here to take a look.”

Gu Changan's voice was as cold as if he were reading a death sentence. “Let's see what materials were used for the pillars and door latches of this hall.”

Soon, a white-haired old man wearing thick glasses rushed over from behind the Special Task Force members.

As soon as the old professor approached those giant redwood pillars—each thick enough to require two people to encircle them with their arms—he looked as if he had been struck by lightning. The sampling instrument in his hand fell to the ground with a 'clatter'.

“What a sin! This is a sin!”

The old professor suddenly let out a heart-wrenching wail and flopped to his knees before a pillar. His trembling hands stroked the rough surface where an axe had cut into it, and tears instantly welled up.

“This is wild Taxus chinensis! And it's a top-grade specimen that has grown for at least two thousand years! There are barely any of these living fossils in the entire Qinling Mountains! And yet... they were actually cut down to be used as pillars?”

Before the professor could finish crying, his gaze swept to the crossbar used to latch the hall's door. He gasped sharply, his eyes rolling back, nearly fainting on the spot.

“That... that is a Dove Tree? The Giant Panda of the plant kingdom? You... you actually used it as a door latch?!”

The old professor clutched his heart, his hand shaking as he pointed at Xiao Aotian: “What a waste of God's gifts! This is a crime against human civilization! You didn't just cut down trees; you are severing the species' gene pool!”

Xiao Aotian was annoyed by the old man's crying and impatiently waved his sleeve. “So noisy! Just a few broken trees. This Seat saw they grew straight and felled them as I pleased. These mountains are full of trees; what's so special about them?”

“Broken trees?”

Gu Changan helped the old professor up and handed him over to the medical staff. He turned around, the temperature in his eyes dropping to the freezing point.

He pulled a brand-new copy of the 'Criminal Law' from his briefcase, flipped to a specific page, and thrust it directly in front of Xiao Aotian.

“Xiao Aotian, it seems you know nothing about the rules of modern society.”

Gu Changan’s tone was flat, but every word hit like a hammer. “According to Article 344 of the Criminal Law, anyone who, in violation of state regulations, illegally fells or destroys precious trees or other plants under key state protection shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, or public surveillance, and shall also be fined; if the circumstances are serious, the sentence shall be between three and seven years.”

Gu Changan pointed at the massive palace behind him. “You didn't just cut down one or two. Based on the materials in this hall alone, you've destroyed at least dozens of acres of primitive protected forest. The circumstances are exceptionally serious, and the nature of the act is extremely egregious. You are definitely going to spend some years in prison.”

“Prison?”

Xiao Aotian laughed as if he had heard the world's biggest joke. He laughed toward the sky, his voice full of disdain and arrogance. “This Seat is a cultivator who has transcended the Three Realms and is no longer within the Five Elements. Can the laws of the Mortal world control ants, but can they control a True Dragon?”

He flipped his palm, and a crystal-clear jade bottle appeared out of thin air.

“Is it not just a few trees? This Seat will simply compensate you.”

Xiao Aotian casually tossed the jade bottle toward Gu Changan, his posture as arrogant as if he were giving alms to a beggar. “This is a 'Rejuvenation Pill' refined by This Seat. A Mortal can extend their life by ten years with just one. This bottle is a gift to you; it should be enough to buy this entire mountain, shouldn't it?”

Gu Changan reached out and caught the jade bottle. Without even looking at it, he handed it over to the evidence collection personnel nearby.

“Suspected production and sale of counterfeit medicine, as well as attempting to bribe a state official.”

Gu Changan made another note in his notebook with an expressionless face. “Before the law, never mind a Medicinal Pill—even if it were the Supreme Lord Lao's Immortal Pill, as long as it hasn't passed the Drug Administration's approval, it is a substandard product and contraband.”

“You!” Xiao Aotian was completely enraged.

Now that he had the System, which Mortal didn't prostrate themselves in worship upon seeing him? Today was just great; not only were his Magic Treasures neutralized, but even the pills he offered were treated as trash.

“Refusing a face-saving offer!”

Killing intent surged in Xiao Aotian's eyes. He abruptly stepped back and waved his hand. “Disciples, hear my command! This group of imperial lackeys intends to destroy our Sect and sever my path to immortality! Form the formation! Take them all down and lock them in the dungeon; let them learn what Immortal Rules are!”

At the edge of the plaza, the dozen or so hikers who had been trembling suddenly shuddered.

A strange red light flashed in their eyes, as if their minds were being forcibly controlled by some power.

These modern people, wearing windbreakers and carrying hiking backpacks, now struck strange martial arts poses. Shouting “Protect our Sect,” they rushed toward the Special Task Force like zombies.

“System-forced brainwashing?” Gu Changan saw through the trick at a glance. “Chen Xiaobei, this System is quite dirty; it won't even let ordinary people go.”

“Boss, what should we do? These people are also victims.” Chen Xiaobei held his laptop, looking a bit hesitant.

“Even victims can't attack the police.”

Gu Changan pulled a strangely shaped pistol from his waist, its muzzle flickering with blue electric arcs.

“All units, switch to non-lethal mode. Let's give these 'Immortal Disciples' a little shock of modern technology.”

“Yes, sir!”

The Special Task Force members collectively put away their rifles and pulled out high-power Taser Guns.

At this moment, a programmer at the front of the charge roared: “Take my Cloud-Dispelling Palm!”

Snap! Zzzzzzt—

Gu Changan pulled the trigger. Two hooked electrodes instantly pierced the programmer's windbreaker, and a 50,000-volt high-voltage pulse current was released immediately.

“Aaaah—!”

The previously aggressive 'Immortal Disciple' instantly became like an electrified salted fish, twitching violently on the ground, foaming at the mouth, and performing a stiff breakdance with his limbs.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

Dense sounds of electric shocks rang out across the plaza.

Those hikers, who had just received the System's empowerment and hadn't even had time to use any 'Immortal Arts,' fell in batches like mowed wheat. In less than half a minute, the entire plaza was covered with groaning people, and a faint smell of singed air filled the space.

“This is your trump card?” Gu Changan lowered his gun, blew on the non-existent smoke, and looked at Xiao Aotian standing alone on the high platform. “It seems your 'Immortal Art' resistance isn't even as effective as an insulated suit.”

Xiao Aotian watched his 'Disciples' rolling on the ground, his eyes twitching madly.

He never expected that the 'Puppet Technique' bestowed by the System would be so vulnerable. These Mortals' weapons were simply unfair; they actually used lightning to attack!

“Good, good, good! Since you're looking for death, don't blame This Seat for starting a massacre!”

Xiao Aotian roared, his white robes fluttering despite the lack of wind.