From the fake emperor to the concubine

“Very likely,” Zheng Yi said. “We forced our way into the domain gate and bought fake tokens; the Domain Control Bureau won’t let us off the hook.”

"What should we do then?" Xiao Tianxing asked anxiously. "Should we sneak out through the back door?"

“It’s no use,” Zheng Yi shook his head. “They’ve already surrounded the inn; we can’t escape.”

"Then we'll have no choice but to force our way in," Zheng Bowen said through gritted teeth.

"Don't force things unless absolutely necessary," Zheng Yi said. "Find out their intentions first before making a decision."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a cold voice came from outside.

"Listen up, you inside! You're surrounded. Come out and surrender, or you'll be killed without mercy!"

Zheng Yi took a deep breath and stood up.

"I'll go out and check. You all stay here. If things get bad, break out from the rear."

“Master, let me accompany you,” Zheng Bowen said.

“No need,” Zheng Yi shook his head. “More people will only get in the way. You all stay here and protect Ruyan.”

After he finished speaking, he pushed open the door and walked out.

The courtyard of the inn was already filled with men in black.

These men were all dressed in uniform black outfits, with a golden "镇" (zhen, meaning town) embroidered on their backs; they were from the Town Defense Bureau. Armed with weapons, they completely surrounded the courtyard, their presence menacing.

The leader was a middle-aged man dressed in a black robe. His aura was unfathomable; he was actually at the early stage of the Mahayana realm!

Zheng Yi's pupils contracted slightly.

The person in the early stages of Mahayana Buddhism was even stronger than him.

"You're Zheng Yi?" The man in black robes looked at him coldly.

“Indeed,” Zheng Yi said calmly. “And you are?”

“Zhao Wuji, Enforcer of the Town Domain Division,” the man in black robes said. “Zheng Yi, you forcibly entered the domain gate, injured officials of the Town Domain Division, and purchased and used a fake token. These are multiple crimes, and your offenses are unforgivable. Now come with us to face trial.”

“What if I don’t go?” Zheng Yi asked.

"Not going?" Zhao Wuji sneered. "Then don't blame me for being impolite."

With a wave of his hand, the men in black behind him stepped forward and surrounded Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi looked around and realized he was surrounded. Although the men in black were not individually strong, they were numerous and coordinated perfectly, forming a tight encirclement.

What's even more troublesome is Zhao Wuji. His cultivation at the early stage of Mahayana is beyond what he can handle at his current level.

"Fellow Daoist Zheng!" Liu Ruyan and the others rushed out of the room, wanting to support Zheng Yi.

"Don't come any closer!" Zheng Yi shouted.

But it was too late. The men in black immediately surrounded them, preventing them from getting close to Zheng Yi.

"So there were accomplices too." Zhao Wuji glanced at Liu Ruyan and the others, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes. "A bunch of rabble, daring to run wild in the Tianyuan Domain?"

“Lord Zhao,” Zhou Han stepped out from the crowd and said respectfully, “these are the criminals who forcibly broke into the domain gate. They injured several of our men and killed one that day.”

"Is that so?" Zhao Wuji's eyes grew even colder. "Murdering a town-level official is an even greater crime. It seems you're not going to live."

He raised his hand, ready to give the order to act.

"Wait a minute," Zheng Yi suddenly said.

"Any last words?" Zhao Wuji sneered.

“I have a question,” Zheng Yi said, “Shouldn’t the duty of the Domain Control Bureau be to maintain order at the Domain Gate? Yet your people are openly extorting money at the gate, demanding one million spirit stones before letting us through. Is this behavior in accordance with the rules of the Domain Control Bureau?”

"Extortion?" Zhao Wuji frowned, turning to look at Zhou Han. "Is that so?"

Zhou Han's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "Sir, this is only their side of the story; we can't believe it. They forced their way into the domain gate, injured our people, and now they want to slander us—it's utterly shameless!"

"Whether it's slander or not, you know it in your heart," Zheng Yi said coldly. "There were many people queuing to enter the city at the time; they can all testify to that."

Zhao Wuji remained silent for a moment.

He knew perfectly well that the people in the town's jurisdiction did indeed engage in extortion. It was an open secret; the higher-ups turned a blind eye, tacitly allowing those below to skim off the top. But such matters couldn't be discussed openly.

"Regardless of whether there was extortion or not," Zhao Wuji said, "you forcibly broke into the domain gate and injured officials; that's a fact. That alone is enough to warrant your death a hundred times over."

"If your people hadn't stopped us, why would we have forced our way in?" Zheng Yi retorted. "If they hadn't attacked first, why would we have retaliated? Your town's command has its own problems, yet you're trying to shift the blame onto us. Is that fair?"

"Fairness?" Zhao Wuji laughed loudly. "In the Tianyuan Domain, there has never been any fairness. Only strength matters. If you are weaker than us, you can only be slaughtered by us. That's the rule."

"Is that so?" Zheng Yi's eyes turned cold. "What if I'm stronger than you?"

"Stronger than me?" Zhao Wuji laughed disdainfully. "With your strength as a mid-stage Integration Realm cultivator?"

"You'll know once you try."

Zheng Yi's aura suddenly surged.

He no longer concealed his strength, unleashing his full cultivation. A powerful force of spacetime swept out, forming a terrifying pressure that pressed down on the surrounding men in black.

The men in black immediately paled and retreated. Although they outnumbered each other, they felt breathless under this oppressive aura, as if they would be crushed at any moment.

"This aura..." Zhao Wuji's expression finally changed. "You actually comprehended the laws of spacetime?"

The laws of spacetime are among the most difficult to comprehend. Those who can comprehend the laws of spacetime, even if their cultivation level is not high, should never be underestimated.

"It seems you do have some knowledge," Zheng Yi said coldly. "Zhao Wuji, I don't want to be enemies with the Zhenyu Division. You all step aside, we'll leave Qingyun City, and from now on, we'll leave each other alone."

"Want to leave? Not so easy." Zhao Wuji sneered. "Even if you've comprehended the laws of spacetime, you're only at the mid-stage of the Integration Realm. You're still far from being able to compete with me."

His aura also erupted, his early Mahayana cultivation overwhelming him, colliding with Zheng Yi's aura.

boom--

The two energies clashed, generating a violent shockwave. The men in black around them were thrown about, and the doors and windows of the inn were shattered.

"As expected of someone in the early stages of Mahayana cultivation," Zheng Yi thought to himself.

Zhao Wuji's strength is indeed formidable, far surpassing any of his previous opponents. In a direct confrontation, he would likely be no match for him.

But he couldn't retreat.

Once he retreats, those behind him will be in danger.

"Since you insist on dying, then so be it." Zhao Wuji coldly shouted, and struck out with his palm.

This palm strike contained the full power of an early-stage Mahayana cultivator, its power astonishing. The air was compressed by the force of the palm strike, emitting a piercing whistling sound.

Zheng Yi dared not take the blow head-on, and dodged it with a quick movement.

But Zhao Wuji's attacks did not stop. He unleashed a series of palm strikes, each carrying terrifying power, forcing Zheng Yi to retreat continuously.

"Time and spacetime freeze!"

Zheng Yi used his supernatural powers to try to slow down Zhao Wuji's speed.

However, Zhao Wuji was too powerful, and the effect of time-space stasis on him was very limited. His movements only slowed down slightly before returning to normal.

"Is that all the tricks you've got?" Zhao Wuji scoffed. "I thought you were so powerful after comprehending the laws of spacetime, but it turns out you're nothing special."

He intensified his offensive, striking Zheng Yi with one blow after another, forcing him to retreat steadily.

Zheng Yi's situation was becoming increasingly dangerous. Although he was protected by the laws of time and space, the gap in cultivation levels was too great. Every time he took a direct hit from Zhao Wuji's attack, his body would suffer a tremendous impact. "Pfft—"

Zheng Yi coughed up a mouthful of blood and staggered.

"Master!" Zheng Bowen and the others were so anxious when they saw this that their eyes turned red.

They wanted to go forward to help, but were blocked by the men in black and couldn't get through.

"Fellow Daoist Zheng!" Liu Ruyan exclaimed in surprise.

"Don't come any closer," Zheng Yi said with difficulty. "I'm fine."

He forced himself to face Zhao Wuji once more.

"Still not admitting defeat?" Zhao Wuji sneered. "You're no match for me anymore. Surrender obediently, and perhaps I'll spare your life."

"Surrender?" Zheng Yi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a cold glint in his eyes. "I, Zheng Yi, have never known what surrender means."

"court death!"

Zhao Wuji was furious and attacked again.

This time, he didn't hold back and directly unleashed his ultimate technique.

"Shattering Star Palm!"

He struck out with his palm, the force of which transformed into a huge ball of light, like a falling meteor, hurtling towards Zheng Yi.

The power of this palm strike is enough to level a mountain.

Zheng Yi knew he couldn't dodge it. He took a deep breath and concentrated all his spiritual power into his sword.

"Time-Space Sword Technique - Time-Space Annihilation!"

He unleashed his ultimate move to meet the Shattering Star Palm.

boom--

A loud noise like the collapse of heaven and earth.

The two attacks collided, unleashing devastating power. A powerful shockwave swept out, blowing the entire inn away.

When the smoke cleared, Zheng Yi and Zhao Wuji stood facing each other from a distance.

Zheng Yi was in terrible condition. He was covered in blood, his breath was weak, and he was clearly seriously injured. But his eyes remained firm, showing no sign of backing down.

Zhao Wuji was also in poor condition. His robes were torn, and there was a wound on his arm from which blood was seeping out.

"You actually managed to hurt me?" Zhao Wuji stared at his wound in disbelief. "A mere mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator could actually injure me?"

He had never been so disheveled. As a powerful cultivator in the early stages of the Mahayana realm, he hadn't been injured for many years. He never expected to be injured by a mere mid-stage Integration Realm youth.

“You’re very good,” Zhao Wuji’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. “I’ve changed my mind. I won’t let you leave here alive.”

He was preparing to strike again, this time to kill Zheng Yi completely.

But just then, an old voice suddenly rang out.

“That’s enough.”

Everyone turned to look and saw an old man with white hair appearing not far away.

The old man was dressed in gray cloth and held a cane, looking like an ordinary old man. But his aura was unfathomable, even stronger than Zhao Wuji's.

"It's someone from the City Lord's Mansion!" Zhou Han recognized the newcomer, and his expression changed drastically.

Zhao Wuji's expression also changed. He recognized the old man; he was a retainer of the Qingyun City Lord's Mansion, and his cultivation was at least at the mid-stage of the Mahayana realm.

"Old Li, what brings you here?" Zhao Wuji asked, trying to appear calm.

"I heard that the Town Guard is causing trouble in the city, so I came to take a look," Old Li said calmly. "Lord Zhao, isn't it a bit disrespectful to the City Lord's Mansion to have you fighting like this in my Qingyun City?"

"Elder Li, you've misunderstood," Zhao Wuji said. "These people are criminals who forcibly broke into the dimensional gate; we're merely apprehending fugitives."

"Apprehend a fugitive?" Old Li glanced at the ravaged inn. "Is this how you apprehend someone? You've demolished my entire inn in Qingyun City?"

Zhao Wuji was speechless and couldn't utter a word.

“Whatever crimes they committed,” Elder Li said, “within Qingyun City’s territory, the City Lord’s Mansion should handle this. While the Town Commandery wields considerable power, it shouldn’t overstep its bounds.”

“Old Li is right,” Zhao Wuji said through gritted teeth. “Then let the City Lord’s Mansion handle this matter.”

Although he was unwilling, he dared not oppose the people of the City Lord's Mansion. Although the Town Domain Division had great power, that power was directed against those from other domains and those from outside the domains. Within Qingyun City, the City Lord's Mansion still held the reins.

“Very good.” Old Li nodded, then turned to Zheng Yi. “Young man, come with me.”

Zheng Yi looked at the suddenly appearing old man, somewhat puzzled. But he also knew that now was not the time to refuse. He was already incredibly lucky to have escaped from Zhao Wuji's clutches.

"Thank you, senior," Zheng Yi said, clasping his hands in thanks.

“Your companions should come along too,” Old Li said.

Zheng Bowen and the others quickly surrounded him and helped the injured Zheng Yi.

Old Li waved his hand, and a beam of light enveloped everyone, then they all disappeared from the spot.

Zhao Wuji stared in the direction they had disappeared, a sinister glint in his eyes.

"Zheng Yi, don't be so smug. This isn't over."

He turned and left with his men.

Zhou Han followed behind, cautiously asking, "Sir, are we just going to let them go like this?"

"Release them?" Zhao Wuji sneered. "Who said we'd release them? The City Lord's Mansion is interfering, so we can't touch them for now. But once they leave Qingyun City, I have plenty of ways to deal with them."

A sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

"Pass down the order: have everyone keep an eye on the city gates. Notify me immediately once they leave the city."

"Yes, sir."

Zhou Han accepted the order and left.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yi and the others were being led to the city lord's mansion by Elder Li.

The City Lord's Mansion is located in the heart of Qingyun City, covering a vast area and possessing a magnificent presence. Inside, pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and flowing water create a scene resembling a fairyland.

Old Li led them to a secluded courtyard and told them to rest first.

"Young man, your injuries are quite serious. Heal first," said Old Li. "We can discuss anything else once you've recovered."

"Thank you so much for saving us, senior," Zheng Yi said again. "May I ask why you helped us?"

"There's no particular reason," Elder Li said calmly. "I simply can't stand the people from the Town Guard abusing their power. Besides..."

He glanced at Zheng Yi, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

"You're quite interesting. With only a mid-stage Integration Realm cultivation, you've comprehended the laws of spacetime and were even able to injure Zhao Wuji, who was at the early stage of the Mahayana Realm. I haven't seen such a genius in a long time."

"You flatter me, senior," Zheng Yi said modestly.

"It's not an overstatement, it's the truth," Elder Li said. "Get some rest. As for the Town Guard, don't worry about it. As long as you're in Qingyun City, they can't touch you."

"Thank you, senior." (End of Chapter)