Deep within the dungeons of the Northern Military Command, a gaze was fixed upon Ji Xiang.
Just as Ji Xiang was about to leave, a deep voice echoed from the depths of the prison: "Daoist, please halt. I have a matter to inquire about!"
Ji Xiang sensed the creature within. It was a great demon, but without any fluctuation of magical power. Its aura was strong, yet within the Northern Military Command, it could not break through these iron bars with its physical body alone.
Emperor Wanli also heard the commotion from within and asked the Northern Military Command attendant beside him with curiosity.
The attendant from the Northern Military Command also frowned.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, in the deepest part of the prison is imprisoned a giant demon. It was brought in during the Zhengde era. Because ordinary methods of execution were ineffective against it, it has been confined here. Fortunately, it possesses no magical power, only a tough physique that is impervious to lightning, fire, and firearms."
"In the past, it never spoke. Emperor Jiajing once visited this demon, but upon leaving, he instructed us not to provide food for it anymore. Over thirty years have passed, and it has remained motionless and silent. We had assumed it was dead."
"However, because we could not confirm this, releasing it posed too great a risk, so it has been kept imprisoned."
In the dungeons of the Northern Military Command, the location of confinement made no difference. Humans, demons, or even some cultivators, once inside, had little hope of leaving. At least those of the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, or Yellow Court realms, such celestial masters, could be contained.
However, for masters above the Innate realm, that was uncertain. Without precedent, no definitive conclusion could be drawn.
Old Shen scratched his foot and smiled at Ji Xiang in surprise: "Yo, it seems your arrival has stirred that demon within. But it's alright. That demon has been locked up here for a long time. Without its magical power, only its formidable body remains. Bound by the imperial might, it cannot move. You don't need to worry about it suddenly escaping and eating you... you!"
*Thump!*
The innermost prison cell was opened.
The great demon walked out from within!
Old Shen was startled and shouted at Ji Xiang, "Quickly, quickly, leave! Don't just stand there!"
Ji Xiang shook his head, "Why leave? Wasn't it calling for me?"
Old Shen's eyes widened. He ran his fingers through his hair, scratched his foot, and grinned, "You think you can defeat a Nascent Soul? Little Daoist official, don't let that black and red robe of yours blind you. This great demon is a Nascent Soul. Even if it has lost its Nascent Soul's magical power, it still has its Nascent Soul's physique!"
"You, young man, your physical body is only at the fifth realm. How can it withstand a punch from a Nascent Soul!"
"This great demon has escaped! Northern Military Command, quickly, quickly suppress it!"
Everyone in the distance was startled, but Emperor Wanli remained as steady as an old dog!
"What's the panic! Don't panic, don't be chaotic! What's happening? Explain it clearly."
Not panicking was a sign of great trouble, but panicking was useless.
With Ji Xiang present, the intention was to prevent any unexpected situations. The people of the Northern Military Command instantly gathered from nearby, approaching the entrance of the deep passage, and beheld the colossal figure slowly emerging from within!
Emperor Wanli briefly inquired about the demon's combat power.
The Commander of the Northern Military Command narrowed his eyes and reported, "Before its cultivation was lost, it was said to be at least Nascent Soul!"
Wanli nodded, relieved, "Nascent Soul? That's acceptable, ordinary."
Huojun and Zhao Xuanlang were both killed by Ji Xiang. A demon imprisoned for nearly a century, from Zhengde to Wanli, without cultivation, what was there to fear!
The Commander prepared to step forward, apologizing to Emperor Wanli, stating it was the Northern Military Command's negligence, and requested His Majesty to leave quickly, entrusting him to subdue this great demon!
"What is there to fear? That demon is not coming for me. I will sit here. There is nothing to fear. If Emperor Jiajing could face this demon, why can't I?"
Emperor Wanli waved his hand, putting on a show, while tightly gripping the Jingzhen Sword in his other hand.
The Commander apologized to Ji Xiang, "Daoist Ji, this is my oversight. I beg you to step back, and I will subdue this demon."
The great demon emerging from within then burst into laughter and spoke:
"The pythons on the commanders of past dynasties all came from me. You stand before me, which is rather amusing."
"Although I have lost my magical power, your divine might cannot harm me. Now, all of you, get out of my way!"
The Commander of the Northern Military Command then realized that the imperial python scales on his person, his eyes revealed fear, and they actually recoiled, not daring to meet the great demon's gaze directly.
At this moment, the great demon's appearance was revealed to everyone for the first time. Many from the Northern Military Command had never seen the specific appearance of this great demon. It had been imprisoned for a century, yet its body showed no traces of age. Surprisingly, it possessed a dragon's head!
The little fox, hiding behind Ji Xiang, peeked out half its head, filled with dread.
A white dragon?
Under the Northern Military Command, a dragon was imprisoned?
Ji Xiang said to the great demon before him, "What business do you have with me?"
"You've frightened my disciple."
The great demon chuckled, "This child, looking at him, his roots are extremely poor. Even if I hadn't scared him, I suggest he stop cultivating. He's just a good-for-nothing!"
Ji Xiang's eyebrows twitched.
The great demon paid no mind to the little fox's wronged expression, simply introducing itself to Ji Xiang: "I am not a true dragon, but a Fox Dragon."
"In the Tang Dynasty, I was the son of an old Fox Dragon. My name is recorded in the 'Taiping Guangji.' In the thirteenth year of Zhengde, the fifth month, on the Gui Chou day, I fought a black dragon in the sky, seeking to evolve by seizing its dragon bone."
"During the struggle, the black dragon and I jointly injured and killed over three hundred people, causing a great flood that submerged counties. I wounded the black dragon, drank its dragon blood, and seized its dragon bone. Its blood turned into heavy rain, falling for five consecutive days. Unexpectedly, the blood rain and dragon qi released a malevolent entity named Zhou Sheng."
"Zhou Sheng continuously massacred several villages and then disappeared. The black dragon also transformed into a giant ox-horned snake and fled! Due to my selfish desires, I committed a great sin and was apprehended by the divine generals dispatched by Emperor Zhengde. My magical power was stripped, my dragon bones were fractured, and my dragon qi was used to strengthen the Great Ming's national destiny."
"I clearly heard what the emperor just said. Before I ask my question, I wish to tell you one thing: the national destiny originates from every mortal. When a mortal dies, if they pass away naturally, it signifies a peaceful era reflected in the national destiny. If there are few unjustly killed people, the national destiny will positively and actively rise. If there are many unjustly killed people, the national destiny will decline."
"If handled properly, the death of a person can actually enhance the national destiny!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli seemed to grasp a key point, but he still had many things he couldn't understand. As for the Fox Dragon, after admonishing the emperor and officials of the Great Ming, it turned to Ji Xiang:
"I can see that you are no ordinary cultivator. Your spirit and form are not unified. I can perceive the realm of your physical body, but I cannot see through your Dao cultivation... yet I feel your external magical cultivation is merely Golden Core?"
The Fox Dragon added, "Daoist official! I am asking you a question. If you satisfy my inquiry, there will be benefits!"
However, as soon as these words were spoken, Ji Xiang's tone turned cold:
"You only think you can ask."
"Have you ever considered that this poor Daoist does not wish to answer?"
As he spoke, with a mere turn of thought, the entire Northern Military Command dungeon began to shake as if the heavens and earth were moving!
"Besides your life, what other benefits do you possess?"
Though his words were light, they struck the Fox Dragon's ears like a thunderous roar, shattering it!
Before the Fox Dragon's eyes, Ji Xiang's figure grew, emitting immense, radiant light!
The void trembled and shattered into pieces!
The Fox Dragon's expression instantly changed. It was born in the Tang Dynasty and achieved enlightenment in the Ming Dynasty, naturally having witnessed such a scene. This was the shattering of the void!
Horrified, its massive form quickly knelt on one knee: "Ascension! This humble demon had eyes but failed to recognize an immortal elder. I beg your forgiveness!"
Ji Xiang's expression was cold, offering a slight reprimand:
"Youngster, don't be so arrogant! Is this how you ask for a favor?"