*"To live and spread the way of Heaven, to establish the righteousness of the way of Heaven, and to practice the equality of the way of Heaven.
Therefore, to impart justice on behalf of Heaven's Way.
This is the way of the Justice Division."*
Yue Xuanming had kept this teaching in mind since he entered the *Justice Division*, and for more than a hundred years, he had dutifully served as the ***Imperial*** Sect's watchdog, guarding the thousands-mile territory of the **Central Region**.
Loyalty and justice were his moral compass in this life.The "Way of Heaven's" epitome, for the *Justice Division*, was the Emperor of the **Central Region**.
As long as people supported the Emperor, there would be peace and prosperity. Cultivators could practice leisurely, and ordinary people could glimpse the aura of true immortals.
He had always believed in this until that day when he heard what the Empress said, and he found that his more than a hundred years of "doing justice for Heaven" was worthless.
The moral compass that lasted for over a hundred years turned to dust in a single day.
In the *Justice Division Office*, Yue Xuanming, wearing a golden robe, sat in the middle of the room with his hands behind his back. Looking at the print hanging on the wall in the most visible position, his eyes showed a little confusion, not knowing where to turn from now on.
Ironically, he was the most loyal watchdog of the ***Imperial*** Sect, but now, he was following the Empress' order to help the Demon King destroy this very sect.
Yue Xuanming was currently wondering if things would have been very different if he hadn't listened to the words of the Empress.---When the Demon King was approaching the gates, he would shut down the city and set up a formation to help the ***Imperial*** Sect keep the ***Demon Clan*** out of **Heavenly Gate City**.
---Then, the ***Demon Clan*** besieged the city but was unable to invade. Within a few months, they would be forced to retreat to their territory under the pressure of the ***Bright Star*** Sect in the **Southern Region**.
---After that, the **Central Region** ***Imperial*** Sect would return to normal. He would still be the Deputy Commander of the *Justice Division* and receive a generous salary from the Emperor of the **Central Region** every year. As long as he saved for a little more than a hundred years, achieving the *Deification* stage was not without hope.
As for the **Central Region** Emperor turning evil, what did it have to do with him?
After all, he didn't know any of the children who had been refined into the *Heavenly Reverse Pill*.
Wouldn't it be better to be like an ordinary person, not knowing anything?
Why should he abandon the foundation of his career that he had built up over the past hundred years for the so-called 'righteous path', just for the sake of doing things according to Heaven's Way?
Yue Xuanming walked to the window and looked toward **Heavenly Gate City**. The night market in the *Western District* was still blooming, and the whole city was singing and dancing, just like in the heyday.
Although he knew very well that the prosperous appearance of **Heavenly Gate City** at this moment was just a facade, still, maintaining this prosperous facade seemed to be...
"Not bad, eh?"
Just as he was asking himself that, a slightly mature female voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Deputy Yue, is your heart troubled?"
Hearing this voice, Yue Xuanming suddenly tensed up. This was...
He hurriedly turned around and bowed in salute. "Commander, you... weren't you in seclusion?"
In the middle of the room stood a young woman wearing golden robes and a shawl on her shoulders. Although she looked like a woman of seventeen or eighteen years old, there was something fascinating in her eyes that went beyond her apparent age.
---The head of the *Justice Division*, the Immortal Fu Xuan, a cultivator in the mid-stage of *Deification*.
Immortal Fu Xuan had a smile on her face as she said, "Can't I come here to get some fresh air when I'm in retreat? Besides, the city is restless these days. How can I go into seclusion with peace of mind?"
Hearing this, Yue Xuanming's heart suddenly thumped, and he understood that Fu Xuan probably already knew that he was preparing to open the city gates for the ***Demon Clan***.
But he did not know what Fu Xuan's stand was in all this.
If she had sided with the Emperor, he was as good as dead.
Seeing Yue Xuanming's tense expression, Immortal Fu Xuan shook her head. "Why are you so nervous, Deputy Yue?"
"..."
She walked to the print that Yue Xuanming had been looking at before and read. "*To live and spread the way of Heaven, to establish the righteousness of the way of Heaven, and to practice the equality of the way of Heaven. Therefore, to impart justice on behalf of Heaven's Way. This is the way of the Justice Division*... Well... I wrote this. Are you confused about the way of Heaven?"
Yue Xuanming looked at Fu Xuan's expression, but couldn't tell what she was thinking at all. After a while, he asked, "Commander, did you already know what the Emperor had done?"
"Well, of course I know. The old man started tinkering with his *Heavenly Reverse Pill* hundreds of years ago."
"Then, why didn't you stop this? As an Elder of the ***Imperial*** Sect, I thought you would have stepped forward to dissuade the Emperor..."
Immortal Fu Xuan shook her head slightly and raised her hand to interrupt him. "I'm just a cultivator in the *Deification* stage, who am I to discuss the actions of a *Void Returning* cultivator? I still want to live some more years."
Yue Xuanming was silent for a moment, then asked, "Are you here now to help the Emperor stop me?"
"No... I'm not that idle. I'm busy practicing." Master Fu Xuan smiled. "As I said just now, I simply came out to get some air and see what kind of tricks you guys are up to. What you're going to do, that's your business and has nothing to do with me."
"..."
Feeling confused, Yue Xuanming fell silent.
Seeing him like this, Fu Xuan sighed. "You fool. What I mean is that if you fail, the Emperor will at most give me a charge of 'lax discipline', which is irrelevant. If you succeed, then..."
"Then?"
"Then, that's it."
Immortal Fu Xuan smiled slightly as she tapped the calligraphy with her fingers, then continued, "Yue Xuanming, I have watched you grow up. You have regarded the *Justice Division* as your true path since you were a child. It's a big taboo for those who cultivate immortality to abandon their original aspirations, you know that...
I only have one question for you. The *Justice Division* does justice in the name of Heaven, so what is the will of Heaven for the *Justice Division*? Is it the Emperor of the **Central Region**, or is it your moral heart? If you know the answer, give it to the people who will come in later."
"What people are coming?"
Yue Xuanming asked in confusion, but just as the figure of Fu Xuan turned into a stream of light and disappeared, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
And then, bang---
Two imperial guards, holding spears, kicked the door open.
A middle-aged man with a long beard and a scar on his right eye walked in with a sword in hand.
Seeing the middle-aged man, Yue Xuanming immediately realized that there was probably a problem with the Empress.
---This person was the Deputy Commander of the imperial guards, Jiang Chengfu, in the middle stage of the *Nascent Soul*.
This man was in the Emperor's inner circle, enjoying all the privileges and owning a jade tablet personally gifted by the Emperor that allowed him to kill the disciples of the ***Imperial*** Sect without even asking questions.
Yue Xuanming frowned. He glanced at the spear on the weapon rack behind him, took a step toward it, and asked, "Deputy Commander Jiang... what can I do for you?"
"Master Yue, the Emperor has sent me to ask you a question, taking into consideration your loyalty over the past hundreds of years."
"What question?"
"Master Yue, do you want to be labeled as a 'traitor', or do you want to continue to serve as the Deputy Commander in the *Justice Division*, enjoying glory and honor?"
Yue Xuanming frowned slightly when he heard this question, and he suddenly understood the meaning of the question asked by Fu Xuan previously.
He remained silent for a while, then frowned as he said, "Living and spreading the way of Heaven, establishing the righteousness of the way of Heaven, and practicing equality of the way of Heaven. Therefore, imparting justice on behalf of Heaven's Way. This is the way of Heaven."
"Oh?"
"Now, I also have a question to ask Deputy Commander Jiang. Do you think the Emperor of the **Central Region** is worthy of the way of Heaven?!"
"..."
As soon as the words fell, the room fell silent. Jiang Chengfu narrowed his eyes and clenched the sword in his right hand, staring into Yue Xuanming's eyes.
He knew Yue Xuanming's strength. Although he looked like a civil servant, he held the title of Emperor's Spear Master, and his spear tactics were definitely not just some fancy tricks.
However, Yue Xuanming was also in a dilemma at this moment. He also knew Jiang Chengfu's worth and was not confident that he could kill him in one blow. Now that he brought so many imperial guards, if they fought, it would be as if he had entered a pack of wolves. There was absolutely no chance of winning.
Both of them stared at each other without looking away, but neither of them dared to make the first move. At this time, a woman's voice came from the window.
"Deputy Commander Yue, that's a good question!!"
Then, came a loud bang.
The ceiling was shattered by an ice-blue sword energy, revealing the boundless starry sky above **Heavenly Gate City**.
A golden dragon hovered above Yue Xuanming with angry eyes, making low hums.
"Roar..."
Although Yue Xuanming was startled, when he saw the silver-haired woman standing on the top of the golden dragon's head and holding an emerald sword in her hand, he immediately understood that the lineage of the Holy Emperor was also the way of Heaven.
Yue Xuanming moved his right hand toward the weapon rack behind him and brought over the long spear carved with dragons.
*Rumble---*
Thousands of thunderbolts flashed across the starry night sky.
The long spear swirled in his hands, and the majestic energy like a blue dragon breaking the sun instantly turned the twelve-story building into rubble and scattered.
But in a flash, a figure surrounded by broken limbs and arms fell from the top of the building, landed on the white stone square below, and bounced up. After several ups and downs, it hardly stopped.
"Aah--!"
Jiang Chengfu angrily bellowed and raised his sword, pointing it at the golden dragon above. His *Nascent Soul* spiritual energy surged, and the surrounding floor tiles were instantly lifted up. But the next moment, Yue Xuanming was in front of him with his spear in hand.
The tip of the spear, enveloped in the thunder spirit energy, slammed straight into Jiang Chengfu's protective spirit shield, sinking his feet into the ground.
Yue Xuanming stared into his eyes, unwavering, while amplifying his voice and shouting to the golden dragon above his head, "Thank you for your help, Miss Feng. I will take care of this man alone. I hope you can protect everyone in the *Division* with the golden dragon."
"Deal with me alone?" Jiang Chengfu broke out in a cold sweat and looked at the golden dragon above with a bad feeling. He immediately amplified his voice too and shouted back, "All imperial guards listen to my order. Make the formation to slay the dragon!!"
As soon as the command was issued, dozens of imperial guards came from outside the *Justice Division Office*, holding shields and spears and forming two teams. In an instant, a formation diagram appeared out of thin air, and the spiritual light turned into countless arrows, aiming at Feng Yu Die in the sky.
Yue Xuanming felt something was not right after seeing this. These were all sacrifice soldiers. Although Feng Yu Die had the Holy Emperor dragon body, she could not withstand the combined attack of so many *Core Formation*-stage cultivators.
He immediately prepared to turn the spear toward these imperial guards and help Feng Yu Die break the formation first.
But as soon as he was distracted, Jiang Chengfu immediately used his sword to deflect the tip of his spear.
*Swish---*
A blood mark was carved on the shoulder of the golden robe, and Yue Xuanming had to come back to his senses and use the spear to parry.
"Master Yue, I am not a second-rate cultivator. How can you attend left and right and defeat me? You have the help of the Holy Emperor's golden dragon, and I also have the imperial guards for support. It is hard to say who will win today. Heh---"
*Ding Ding---*
Yue Xuanming's forehead was covered with cold sweat. He saw that the imperial guard formation was almost set, and it would take him a while to deal with Jiang Chengfu. With the spiritual energy of Feng Yu Die in the *Foundation Building*, the golden dragon could not stay for too long. Sooner or later, the spiritual energy would be exhausted by the imperial guards.
But just as he was thinking about how to deal with the situation.
*Swish---*
An arc of ice-blue light landed in the middle of the ten imperial guards.
*Boom---*
The black ice spiritual sword smashed directly into the ground.
The frozen energy instantly covered the ground in frost, freezing the iron boots of all the imperial guards in place.
The spirit sword arrived first and the owner came after.
Pei Lianxue flashed in the middle of the imperial guards with the *Snow Jade Spirit Sword* in her right hand, and she drew an arc of light around her body, cutting the three imperial guards around her in half.
Blood spurted everywhere, but the moment it approached Pei Lianxue, the cold air turned it into blood-red ice cubes that fell to the ground.
The formation of the imperial guards was instantly shattered and dissipated because of Pei Lianxue's sudden entry before it was fully formed.
To rush into the center of the enemy formation alone, unless your cultivation is really overwhelming, you would be courting death. Even if the formation was broken, it would be useless.
Jiang Chengfu swung his sword toward Yue Xuanming while rebuking with a sneer. "Hehe, how reckless... a *Foundation Building* cultivator breaking the *Core Formation* practitioners' array? Do you have a death wish?"
Yue Xuanming also shouted, "Miss Pei, retreat quickly! Those imperial guards..."
*Swish---*
*Ding---*
The sword and the spear clashed and he couldn't finish his words.
Faced with Pei Lianxue who suddenly rushed into the formation, the imperial guards were confused for a moment, but they recovered soon and immediately thrust their spears toward her.
"Not good!"
Yue Xuanming was certain that Pei Lianxue could not dodge, so he wanted to immediately seize Jiang Chengfu's sword and go over to save her.
But just as he was about to do so, a white light suddenly flashed in the sky.
*Rumble---*
Countless thunderbolts, fireballs, and ice darts flew toward Pei Lianxue as if she was the one who guided these spells and engulfed her and the imperial guards around her.
Jiang Chengfu, who was fighting with Yue Xuanming, saw that his imperial guards were buried under this pile of low-level talismans and spells, and wondered in confusion. "Where did so many talismans come from?"
But just as he finished speaking, a stream of ice-blue sword energy shot out from the smoke and dust stirred up by the group of spells.
Pei Lianxue darted out from the imperial guards' group in one step, holding the *Snow Jade Spirit Sword* at her back, and arrived at the entrance of the square next to a young man in a green shirt.
"Sister, are you hurt?"
"No, I'm used to it after you have hit me every day with these little spells."
Seeing that Pei Lianxue didn't even have a speck of dust on her, Ye Anping nodded before lifting the sword in his hand and shouting at Yue Xuanming in the center of the square. "Master Yue, you don't need to worry about us. Just focus on defeating Deputy Commander Jiang. We will take care of these imperial guards."
Only then did Yue Xuanming suddenly notice the twenty or so *Justice Division* officers behind Ye Anping.
Those people's cultivation levels were not high; there wasn't even a *Core Formation* cultivator among them. The most powerful among them was a young officer in the late stage of the *Foundation Building*. It could be said they were at the bottom of the *Justice Division*. If something went wrong, they would basically be cannon fodder.
However, he also noticed that facing the *Core Formation* imperial guards who were higher than them in cultivation, there was no fear or dread in their eyes, and some were even enthusiastic.
Indeed, newborn calves were not afraid of tigers.
What happened today was tantamount to rebellion. Most of the old cultivators in the **Immortal Realm** knew to keep some reserves to protect themselves, but these disciples had not suffered losses and did not understand. That was why they were so high-spirited even now.
Everyone was going through this stage.
Remain kind and seek longevity. This was the original intention of practice when entering the immortal path, as well as being utilitarian.
Yue Xuanming's eyes darkened as he clenched the spear that had accompanied him for a hundred years in his right hand and pointed it forward.
*Boom---*
The spear turned into a blue dragon like a powerful bow breaking the night at dawn and returning the day.
Jiang Chengfu's eyes widened, and before he could raise his hand to parry, he was swallowed by the powerful energy, twisted and exploded into blood foam, leaving only a dark spiritual light, which darted toward the sky.
Seeing this, Ye Anping immediately gave Pei Lianxue a look, brought forward his flying sword, and used his spiritual energy to control it, shooting toward the dark spiritual light while shouting, "Sister, kill his *Nascent Soul*."
"Got it."
Pei Lianxue leaped lightly, stepping on Ye Anping's flying sword, and then used the force to jump above Jiang Chengfu's *Nascent Soul*. She raised the *Snow Jade Spirit Sword* and drew an arc of light vertically above the square.
The ice-blue sword energy flashed by, and Jiang Chengfu's *Nascent Soul* split into two, directly turning into a speck of spiritual light that dissipated without even the slightest scream.
At this time, the golden dragon figure hovering above also dissipated. Feng Yu Die jumped down from the sky and landed steadily beside Ye Anping with her hands on her hips. "Is that it?"
"It's over. You'll have to fight later though, so save some energy."
"...Who am I fighting?"
Ye Anping smiled encouragingly. "A vixen. You can do it."
With that, he stopped paying attention to her and took a step forward, pointed his sword at the remaining imperial guards who were now leaderless, and said, "The Emperor of the **Central Region** has turned demonic. If you continue to follow him, you will be going against the will of Heaven. The *Justice Division* is following the will of Heaven and will not spare your lives."
Hearing this, the group of imperial guards wearing iron armor looked at the disciples of the *Justice Division* behind him, then looked at Yue Xuanming who was half-kneeling on the ground in the center of the square with his spear as a crutch, and finally looked at Jiang Chengfu who had become a pool of blood.
*Clang---*
A long spear fell to the ground, and then the "*clangs*" were continuous.
Ye Anping was relieved after seeing this. This group of people were sacrifice soldiers. If they were to attack head-on, it would be really difficult to deal with them, and many people would die.
He put the sword back in the storage bag, walked to the center of the square, and leaned toward Yue Xuanming, patting him on the shoulder. "Master Yue, are you okay?"
"Ahem---" Yue Xuanming glanced at the kid who was about seventeen or eighteen years old and smiled bitterly. "Master Ye, do you think I am okay? That shot just now cost me seventy years of true energy."
"The Empress has been exposed and is now in *Heavenly Harmony Palace*. The plan has changed. You don't need to worry about the matter of the Demon King as I have arranged for Brother Liang to meet him at the *Eastern Gate*, but there is one thing I hope you can help me with."
Yue Xuanming was silent for a while before asking, "Are you really seventeen?"
"..."
Ye Anping glanced at him and didn't answer. He took out a map from his storage bag and unfolded it with his spiritual power. "There are four formation knots marked on the map, and the red dot in the center is the main knot of the **Heavenly Gate City** defense formation. Master Yue, you head over there. There should be seven or eight *Core Formation* stage imperial guards. Just wait for today's lunar eclipse to break the formation knot."
"Answer me first. How long have you lived?"
"I'm eight years old. Is there a problem?"
"..."
Yue Xuanming smiled helplessly, shook his head, then forced himself to stand up straight and came to the more than twenty low-level disciples of the *Justice Division*.
"Thank you for your help today. I am very grateful, but what happens next is by no means something that you can handle in the *Foundation Building* stage."
"Master Yue, actually, it was Young Master Ye who asked us to come here, saying that if we help you, we can get five thousand spirit stones."
?
Yue Xuanming paused after hearing this. He had thought that these people were just young and fearless and came to help out of their conviction.
He was going to give an inspiring speech, but he was stumped when he heard this and turned to look at Ye Anping.
Ye Anping sighed and explained, "I originally wanted to play it safe and planned to bring some *Core Formation* stage officers, but I only found two people, one of whom asked for 200,000 and the other wanted 300,000. The matter was quite urgent, and I didn't have time to bargain with them, so I just brought these people over. Five thousand spirit stones per person; remember to give them later."
"..."
Yue Xuanming was silent for a while, and his eyes twitched suddenly. Two, four, six... twenty-four people, five thousand spirit stones each, that's one hundred and twenty thousand, and these men just threw a few talismans.
He suddenly remembered that when the Empress said she wanted to marry the Second Princess to Ye Anping, Liang Zhu opposed, saying that he was particularly petty and insidious.
He didn't take it seriously at first, but now...
"Liang Zhu was right after all, haha..."
"What did Brother Liang say?"
"That you're a rare talent among people."
"Then, if you happen to meet him, give him a message that Sixth Brother thanks him for his kind words."
