Bai Ju hurried forward, "Ming... Fellow Daoist."
Ming Zhi Tian said, "He is my good friend. For now, all affairs of the Hong Ma Empire will be managed by him. Anyone who dares to disobey will be dealt with by military law! Disperse."
"........."
What a Ming Zhi Tian. He feared he couldn't control the situation, so he used the Grand Tutor as a shield. Not to mention, it was quite effective.
"Yes!..."
They could have charged directly at Ming Zhi Tian and beheaded him for all to see. But everyone knew Ming Zhi Tian's strength; even the Divine Cultivator King was no match for him. How would these common soldiers dare to act as cannon fodder?
With a single misstep, Ming Zhi Tian could pull out who knew how many more explosive talismans. Wouldn't these ten thousand men with families leave their wives to live in widowhood? After much deliberation, they complied.
The two little talisman spirits, Tudou and Tongluo, had somehow entered his storage bag. Ming Zhi Tian instructed them to notify Qian Yang Xi Li.
Bai Ju invited Ming Zhi Tian and the three women, Yan Ran Qing Cheng, into the royal palace to discuss. "Ming Zhi Tian, how dare you!"
Ming Zhi Tian asked, bewildered, "Why do you say that?"
Bai Ju said, "You killed the King of the Hong Ma Empire in front of everyone. You are too rampant."
Ming Zhi Tian replied, "He provoked me first, and tried to snatch my wife before that. In reason and in emotion, I did nothing wrong. On the contrary, Bai Ju, I thought of you as a friend, yet you remained silent and almost caused me to lose them."
Bai Ju sighed, "Alas, as the Grand Tutor, I have my responsibilities."
Ming Zhi Tian sneered, "You served a tyrannical ruler. What kind of logic is that?"
Bai Ju frowned, "Why do you say that?"
Ming Zhi Tian said, "Let me ask you, does the Divine Cultivator King take a Saintess from the empire as a disciple every year?"
Bai Ju's pupils dilated, "You... how did you know?"
Ming Zhi Tian said, "Take me to the royal prison."
Bai Ju was puzzled but still personally led him there. Arriving at the royal prison, he asked, "How did you know about the King... the Divine Cultivator King's exclusive prison?"
Ming Zhi Tian said, "I learned about it from a book."
Bai Ju opened the royal prison and carefully led Ming Zhi Tian and the others down. "I've never been inside. What's in there?"
Ming Zhi Tian said, "We'll know when we go down."
"Indeed." Ming Zhi Tian confirmed his inner thoughts.
Inside, each solitary cage held a young woman, confined like white mice. They all wore the same white cloth attire. There were thousands of cages. A luxurious room contained all sorts of unsightly instruments. A foul odor permeated the entire chamber, appearing to be where the Divine Cultivator King vented his beastly desires.
Ming Zhi Tian covered his nose and said, "Absorbing cultivation through physical practice. No wonder that old fellow, the Divine Cultivator King, looks so youthful and has reached the Divine Luo realm."
Bai Ju gasped, "So the Divine Cultivator King has imprisoned thousands of maidens over the years, and every year he takes a Saintess, deceiving everyone under that guise."
Yan Ran Qing Cheng's expression turned cold, "The Divine Cultivator King deserves to die."
Ouyang Ni Feng said, "Exactly. Hurry and release all the sisters."
Ren Xing Yao said, "It's too terrifying."
Bai Ju looked at Ming Zhi Tian with a serious expression, "It seems you were right."
Ming Zhi Tian shrugged. The group worked together, breaking the locks and chains, rescuing them from their dire predicament.
Returning to the palace, Ming Zhi Tian said, "Bai Ju, see who has arrived?"
"Who?" Bai Ju turned to look at the person at the door.
Silver light shone, and Bai Ju shielded his eyes from some of the glare. Upon seeing the newcomer, it was none other than Qian Yang Xi Li, the Talisman Master, the Talisman King, and the Grand Tutor Imperial Advisor.
Bai Ju was stunned. The two remained silent, just looking at each other. Ming Zhi Tian and the others wisely withdrew.
The man always made the first move. Bai Ju spoke, "Long time no see. How have you been lately?"
Qian Yang Xi Li replied, "Long time no see. I... am not well."