178: Chapter 178 A Grandmaster's Fist Cannot Break Through Procedural Justice

The air in the courtyard seemed to be sucked dry in an instant.

The look of angry mirth on Sect Leader Ye Cangyun's face twisted into pure ferocity.

Having roamed the Jianghu for decades, he had relied on the Star-Absorbing Formation to drain the bone foundations of countless people, only then achieving his current, proud cultivation level of Ninth-Layer Body Tempering.

Yet now, a young man in a jacket was holding a few scraps of paper, intending to expose his secrets.

Boom.

A visible wave of white Qi erupted from Sect Leader Ye Cangyun's lean body.

His Ninth-Layer Body Tempering True Qi poured out without reservation.

The bluestone tiles beneath his feet emitted a teeth-grinding sound of shattering.

With Sect Leader Ye Cangyun as the center, the ground cracked inch by inch like a spiderweb.

The violent wind pressure overturned the grand master chairs in the courtyard.

Those wealthy individuals who had originally been watching the spectacle were so frightened that they scrambled to hide in the corners of the courtyard walls.

"Since you refuse a toast, you shall drink a forfeit."

Sect Leader Ye Cangyun's voice was filled with thick killing intent.

The dozens of martial arts hall Disciples standing behind Sect Leader Ye Cangyun let out a unified roar.

They pulled eyebrow-height staffs and mountain-cleaving sabers from the weapon racks.

The gleaming blades were pointed at Gu Changan.

They surrounded Gu Changan and the police officer, Zhao, layer upon layer.

Officer Zhao reached for his service pistol, his palms full of sweat.

Facing dozens of martial artists, plus a freakish old man capable of shattering bluestone bricks from a distance, this lineup was truly terrifying.

"Director Gu, there are too many of them. A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him; let's retreat first," Officer Zhao whispered.

Gu Changan didn't even move his feet.

He looked at the surrounding martial arts hall Disciples, who were eyeing him like tigers, and sighed helplessly.

"This is why I don't like the martial arts world. Whenever they encounter legal education, they always think about resisting the law with violence."

Gu Changan raised his hand and pressed the communication microphone hidden in his collar.

"Chen Xiaobei, is the signal received?"

Chen Xiaobei's excited voice immediately came through the earpiece.

"Received. Director Gu, the outer perimeter Special Police squadron is in position, the drone swarm has completed target locking, and we can close the net at any time."

Gu Changan released his finger and looked at Sect Leader Ye Cangyun across from him.

"Boss Ye, you think your fists are the rules."

"Then today, I will let you see what procedural justice at a national level really means."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Woo.

The shrill sound of police sirens suddenly exploded simultaneously outside the courtyard walls of the Xuantie Sect from all directions.

The ear-piercing sound penetrated the thick brick walls, making people's eardrums ache.

Dozens of black, six-rotor tactical police drones flew over the high courtyard walls and hovered above the martial arts hall.

Countless dazzling red laser aiming lines shot out from the bottom of the drones.

The dense red dots landed precisely on the foreheads of every martial arts hall Disciple holding a knife or staff.

Immediately after, a deafening warning from a loudspeaker came from outside the walls.

"Listen up, people inside! This is the National Bureau of Abnormal Affairs."

"You have been surrounded."

"Everyone, stay where you are and do not move. Immediately drop your weapons, put your hands on your heads, and crouch down."

"I repeat, drop your weapons immediately, or we will take forced lethal measures."

A heavy crashing sound rang out as the two thick, black-lacquered doors of the Xuantie Sect were forced open by hydraulic breaching tools.

Fully armed Special Police officers, carrying riot guns and automatic rifles, flooded into the courtyard with tactical steps.

The pitch-black muzzles instantly pointed at everyone.

The martial arts hall Disciples, who had been aggressive just moments ago, were now completely panicked.

When the red laser dots shone on their foreheads and the dark gun barrels aimed at their chests, all that talk of warrior spirit became a joke.

Clang.

It was unclear who led the way, but a mountain-cleaving saber dropped to the ground.

Following that, the clattering sound of weapons hitting the ground erupted all around.

Most of the Disciples had weak legs and crouched on the ground with their hands on their heads.

Sect Leader Ye Cangyun watched his Disciples collapse in an instant, his eyes turning red.

"A bunch of trash! How can martial artists bow to common iron?"

Sect Leader Ye Cangyun roared.

He turned his head abruptly, staring fixedly at Gu Changan.

"To capture the bandits, first capture the leader. I practice ancient martial arts; what can mere firearms do to me?"

Sect Leader Ye Cangyun's bones cracked like popping beans.

He kicked off the ground, turning into a black blur, and ignoring the warnings of the surrounding Special Police, lunged straight for Gu Changan's throat.

The speed of Ninth-Layer Body Tempering was extremely fast, almost leaving afterimages in the eyes of ordinary people.

Just as the Special Police officer's finger touched the trigger, Sect Leader Ye Cangyun had already reached Gu Changan.

That withered palm, like an eagle's claw, was only half a meter from Gu Changan's neck.

Gu Changan's eyes were calm.

"Activate System skill: Heavenly Dao Pressure, Law Enforcement Edition."

He issued the command in his mind.

Hum.

An invisible force representing absolute order descended upon the entire bluestone training field with a boom.

This wasn't ordinary gravity suppression; this was a dimensional reduction of rules targeting all extraordinary powers.

Sect Leader Ye Cangyun, who was rushing through the air, had his expression change drastically.

He felt as if he had suddenly crashed into a giant vat of viscous superglue.

The Ninth-Layer Body Tempering True Qi, which had been surging like a great river within him, instantly became dead silent.

He lost all sense of it completely.

Half a meter.

That eagle claw was still half a meter from Gu Changan's neck, but it could no longer advance an inch.

The speed Sect Leader Ye Cangyun was so proud of was forcibly smoothed out, and his movements were now as slow as a slow-motion playback in a movie.

He gritted his teeth desperately, the veins on his neck bulging like earthworms.

But even lifting a single finger became incredibly difficult.

Gu Changan easily stepped to the side, avoiding the stiff claw.

He reached behind his back and pulled out a pair of strangely shaped handcuffs.

These handcuffs were matte-finished, covered in dense, micro-engraved Seal runes, and weighed five times more than standard handcuffs.

Gu Changan pulled over Sect Leader Ye Cangyun's stiff arm and locked the handcuffs onto it.

Click.

The crisp sound of metal locking echoed.

Sect Leader Ye Cangyun's other hand was also forcibly pulled over and locked tightly together.

As the handcuffs locked, the micro-engraved runes on them flashed with a blue light.

Sect Leader Ye Cangyun suddenly felt his whole body go limp, as even the last remnants of his strength were completely drained away.

Thump.

This imposing martial arts Grandmaster's knees went weak, and he knelt directly in front of Gu Changan.

He lifted his head with difficulty, looking at the cold iron contraption on his wrists, his eyes filled with disbelief and terror.

"How is this possible? How can common steel lock away my Ninth-Layer True Qi?"

Sect Leader Ye Cangyun's voice was trembling.

This completely overturned his nearly century-long understanding of martial arts.

Gu Changan squatted down, looking at his pale old face.

"Let me correct you; this is definitely not common iron."

Gu Changan pointed at the handcuffs.

"This is a new product developed by the Academy of Sciences' Materials Institute and our Bureau's researchers after pulling three all-nighters, combining high-density anti-magic Materials and micro-engraved Seal runes. Its full name is the Strong Magnetic Pulse True Qi Seal Shackles."

"It is specifically designed for extraordinary targets like you who are above Body Tempering."

Gu Changan stood up and clapped his hands.

"You have practiced martial arts for a hundred years."

"Our country hasn't been idle during these decades of industrialization and technological advancement. We've been studying people like you for decades."

"If your old arms and legs were ten times stronger, I have reinforced shackles in my car that would definitely satisfy you."

Sect Leader Ye Cangyun went limp all over, closing his eyes in despair.

Gu Changan waved his hand.

Two Special Police officers immediately stepped forward, grabbing Sect Leader Ye Cangyun's arms from the left and right.

"Take him away, back to the Bureau. Assign him to that Number Two interrogation room with the best soundproofing."

Gu Changan looked at the trembling wealthy individuals all around.

"Gentlemen, was today's spectacle entertaining? Later, you will all go to the police station to make a statement and explain the funding sources for your purchase of illegal services."

The wealthy individuals were so terrified they looked ashen, nodding repeatedly.