txolops Chapter 22 Star Palace Guardians
Chapter 22 Star Palace Guardians
Yu Niangzi, carrying Daya in her arms, moved like a startled swan, weaving between the rooftops. As she fled frantically, she couldn't help but look back.
When she saw that terrifying harpoon weapon hurtling towards Han Xiaoliu with an aura of annihilation, her heart leaped into her throat.
"That child is only at the Qi Refining stage. Even a powerful cultivator who has rebuilt their cultivation could not withstand a full-force attack from a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"
Despair and resentment intertwined in her heart, and a ruthless glint flashed in Yu Niangzi's eyes.
Since we can't escape, let's muddy the waters!
She gritted her teeth and took out the Five Thunder Talisman that Han Xiaoliu had given her from her bosom.
Instead of throwing the talisman at the gray-robed cultivator, she flicked her wrist, and the talisman transformed into several streaks of light, accurately shooting towards the most bustling buildings on both sides of the street.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Thunder and fire erupted instantly.
The roof of the luxuriously decorated "Bai Cao Ge" was blown off, followed by the "Ju Bao Zhai" next door, whose exquisite carved window frames were shattered.
The enormous explosion and the rising flames instantly alerted all the cultivators nearby.
"Who dares to cause trouble on Kui Xing Island?!"
"Who's attacking the shops? Don't they want to live?"
Several streaks of light shot into the sky from all directions; they were from several cultivators who were strolling around or in seclusion nearby.
They hovered in mid-air, staring in astonishment at the devastation below.
Seeing that her time was ripe, Lady Yu immediately concealed her aura, put on a pitiful appearance, and cried out to the cultivators in the air, "Fellow Daoists, save me! That tribulation cultivator behind us is bullying my widow and my child, and he wants to kill us and steal our treasures. Please help me, fellow Daoists! I will be eternally grateful!"
Her voice was mournful and sorrowful, which, combined with the surrounding bombed-out shops, was extremely inflammatory.
"A cultivator who has been robbed?"
Upon hearing this, the faces of the cultivators in the air immediately darkened.
Kui Xing Island is a gathering place for cultivators, yet someone dares to commit violence here; it's simply outrageous.
"Hmph, daring to chase and kill a woman in broad daylight? Do they think Kui Xing Island is without people?"
"Fellow Daoists, let's join forces and capture this beast!"
Filled with righteous indignation, the group unleashed their magical artifacts, preparing to intercept the gray-robed cultivator.
Upon seeing this, the gray-robed monk cursed inwardly, "Poisonous woman."
He never expected this woman to be so resolute, willing to damage public property to drag him down with her.
Seeing the Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounding him menacingly, with one of them even drawing his throwing knife, he felt a sudden tightness in his chest.
"This is bad! These idiots are attacking without even asking what happened!"
The gray-robed cultivator dared not be presumptuous. He quickly stopped his escape, raised his hands to indicate he meant no harm, and loudly protested, "Fellow Daoists, do not listen to this witch's nonsense! She is a runaway slave from our sect. I was merely ordered to retrieve her, not some kind of cultivator! This is a family matter; please do not interfere!"
"Bullshit! Who would blow up someone else's shop just because they've captured slaves?"
"That's right, I think you're the one who's trying to kill me to silence me!"
The surrounding monks didn't believe his nonsense at all; instead, they surrounded him even more tightly.
Just as tensions were about to rise, a chilling voice suddenly came from the side and behind, carrying an intense pressure:
"I don't care who's telling the truth, or who's a slave. You damaged my newly repaired 'Listening to the Rain Pavilion,' and if you don't pay compensation, this matter won't be settled!"
Everyone turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a purple robe with a fierce face walking through the air. His aura fluctuated violently, clearly indicating he was at the late Foundation Establishment stage!
The gray-robed monk's heart sank.
"Late-stage Foundation Establishment? This woman actually attracted such a formidable opponent!"
But when Yu Niangzi looked at the purple-robed cultivator, a sly glint flashed in her eyes.
This is exactly the effect she wanted!
Taking advantage of the moment when everyone's attention was drawn, Yu Niangzi's eyes flashed, and the last two Five Thunder Talismans flew out from her hand again.
This time, she set her sights on two shops further away that appeared to have powerful backgrounds.
"Boom!"
The flames rose again.
Just as the gray-robed cultivator was struggling to breathe under the pressure of the purple-robed cultivator, three more streaks of light swept in.
These three were clearly more short-tempered; as soon as they appeared and saw that their shop had been damaged, they flew into a rage.
"Which son of a bitch used lightning magic to bomb my shop?!"
"My entire new shipment is ruined! You're asking for it!"
"Whoever it is, they'll either pay up or leave their lives behind!"
Taking advantage of the explosion, the gray-robed cultivator instantly broke away from the crowd and approached Lady Yu. He made a hand seal, and a flash of spiritual light wrapped around Lady Yu and the child in her arms.
Just as he was about to leave with them, four Foundation Establishment cultivators summoned their magical artifacts and surrounded him, making it impossible for him to escape.
The four cultivators stared at him with hostility. One of them said, "Since he's your runaway slave, you'll have to pay for the damage!"
Yu Niangzi was immobilized in mid-air by the gray-robed cultivator's spiritual power, but she smiled happily when she saw the gray-robed cultivator's ashen face.
There was no fear in that smile, only mockery and ridicule.
"You..." The gray-robed cultivator trembled with rage, yet dared not retaliate.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the murderous intent in his heart, and clasped his hands in a low voice to the crowd around him, saying, "I was only here to capture someone, and I apologize for any offense I may have caused. My young master will surely repay you all for your losses tenfold once he arrives, providing you with satisfactory compensation!"
"Young Master?"
The most hot-tempered purple-robed cultivator sneered, his face full of disdain: "These days, even a Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to call himself 'Young Master'? Who do you think you are! If you don't pay with spirit stones today, even if the Heavenly King himself comes, you won't be able to take this woman away!"
"That's right! Pay up! Or I'll beat you up too!"
The crowd around him was indignant, and the gray-robed cultivator was speechless with anger and frustration.
Just as the stalemate was at its peak, a deafening bell suddenly rang out from the horizon.
"clang--!"
The sound of the bell seemed to strike the very souls of everyone, instantly quelling all the arguments.
Immediately afterwards, a dazzling golden beam of light streaked across the sky like a meteor, descending with a suffocating pressure.
The light dissipated, revealing an old man dressed in a star-patterned robe. His hair and beard were white, and his eyes were like lightning. Behind him followed a squad of Star Palace guards dressed in silver armor and carrying long spears.
It's Elder Gu, the law enforcement elder of Kui Xing Island!
Elder Gu hovered above everyone's heads, his imposing gaze sweeping coldly over every cultivator present. Those whose gaze fell upon him trembled in fear and lowered their heads in disbelief.
"Who dares to openly attack shops and disrupt order in the core area of Kui Xing Island?"
Elder Gu's voice wasn't loud, but it was like rolling thunder, booming in everyone's ears.
His gaze shifted downwards and landed on the Jade Maiden, who was being restrained by the gray-robed cultivator.
Looking at Daya trembling in Yu Niangzi's arms, and at her disheveled yet still stunningly beautiful face, Elder Gu was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Did you damage these shops?"
With a wave of his long sleeves, Elder Gu sent a gentle yet irresistible surge of spiritual energy toward Jade Maiden, easily dissolving the binding spell cast by the gray-robed cultivator.
Yu Niangzi felt a lightness in her body as the spiritual energy binding her was completely removed. She forced herself to support her weakened body, first protecting Daya behind her, then straightening her disheveled clothes, and gracefully bowing to Elder Gu in the air, her posture neither humble nor arrogant.
"It was my doing. I had no choice but to do it to save my life. I offended you fellow Daoists, and I ask for your forgiveness, Senior Gu."
Elder Gu did not reply immediately, but slowly turned his gaze, his eyes sweeping over everyone present inch by inch like a heavy hammer.
When his gaze fell upon the gray-robed cultivator, his originally dignified eyes instantly turned as sharp as a knife.
The gray-robed cultivator felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. Under that gaze, his proud Foundation Establishment cultivation seemed to have become a joke, and even his soul trembled.
His forehead was covered in cold sweat, his legs trembled slightly, and he dared not meet Elder Gu's gaze. He lowered his head and his heart was filled with endless fear.
Elder Gu snorted coldly, withdrew his gaze, and spoke in a detached voice:
"Regardless of the reason, breaking the rules is breaking the rules. You will be responsible for compensating for all the repair costs of the damaged shops and the spirit stones lost due to business closures. Are you willing?"
These words were spoken to Lady Yu, but everyone could tell that this was the conclusion drawn by Kui Xing Island.
Yu Niangzi opened her mouth, about to say something, when a slightly childish but somewhat roguish voice suddenly came from behind the crowd.
"We have no money and we don't want to pay! Arrest us!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Han Xiaoliu clutching his chest, his face pale, as he squeezed out from the crowd.
Although he was seriously injured, his eyes were unusually bright, as if he were a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water.