Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Arriving at Xuan Spirit Heaven, New Domain Master’s Object Lesson_1
Finally, they had arrived at Xuan Spirit Heaven. During the journey, the Zhou Family’s Soaring Divine Shuttle had made numerous stops.
Apart from the Baylong Religion, they had made contact with practically every other cult.
By the time they reached Xuan Spirit Heaven, not much of the cargo remained.
Fortunately, there was some good news. When the Soaring Divine Shuttle arrived at Xuan Spirit Heaven, the entire area was under martial law.
As a result, they could not deliver the final batch of goods. This caused the Manager to become as anxious as an ant on a hot griddle, constantly communicating with their clients.
However, their clients kept telling them to wait a bit longer.
Wang Linchi was also quite anxious. He had been planning to flee, but due to the martial law, he couldn’t escape.
After all, his sole intention upon reaching Xuan Spirit Heaven was to find a Wild Secret Realm via the Black Market and hide there for a year.
This wait lasted for three days before they were finally notified to unload the goods.
"The Xuanling Sheng Family?" Wang Linchi muttered softly to himself.
"Yes, the Sheng Family. In our Jing Room Domain, they are a truly prestigious and great family. The Domain Master himself used to come from their family. Unfortunately, fate is fickle; their Bright Moon Level Domain Master died at the hands of that demonic creature, the Heavenly Demon," one of the other guards, an Awakener, overheard Wang Linchi’s muttering and couldn’t help but look at the Sheng Family’s mansion with envy.
It was unimaginably splendid; even the steps at the mansion entrance were Soul Devices, something far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
"I see," Wang Linchi murmured, confirming in his heart that this Sheng Family was indeed the recipient of the goods.
"What are you all doing just standing there? Hurry up and help move the goods inside! If the delivery is delayed, can you bear the consequences?" The Manager came over and, contrary to his usual demeanor, berated the group of guards.
Previously, they hadn’t been allowed to move around freely. Now, they were being asked to help move the goods inside, which was completely contrary to normal procedure.
The guard beside him saw no issue and eagerly began to help. Wang Linchi, however, grew cautious. Could he even leave once he went inside?
He feared he might become fuel for their Cultivation.
Therefore, he moved slowly, looking for an opportunity to escape.
After the Manager finished scolding them, he naturally paid them no more attention. Instead, he ordered the other hired guards to enter the Sheng Family mansion. As for the Zhou Family’s own members, they naturally wouldn’t go in.
If they went in and were treated as ’goods’, the family would have no choice but to cut their losses.
Before the Sheng Family in Xuan Spirit Heaven, their Zhou Family from Xi Zhou was insignificant. The Sheng Family could annihilate their Zhou Family with a mere word, without even needing to lift a finger.
So extravagant. The defensive barrier of the residence alone is stronger than Lixi Prefecture’s, not to mention its various special functions.
Once inside, there’s no hope of breaking out.
A chill ran down Wang Linchi’s spine. He had been searching for an opportunity to escape during these three days but had found none. The situation remained the same now.
Therefore, steeling himself, he decided to make his intentions clear and attempt to leave directly.
He had no desire to venture into what was clearly a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair.
He didn’t know the exact situation of the Sheng Family, but apart from the Sheng Family member who had once served as Domain Master—a Bright Moon Level Awakener—they also had several Morning Star Level Awakeners in their clan. Their collective strength surpassed that of a typical major prefecture under the Jing Room Domain.
"Wait a moment!" a voice called out.
It also halted Wang Linchi’s intended action.
He didn’t recognize the person. Of course, the person wasn’t calling out to Wang Linchi specifically, but to all of them.
"And who might you be, sir? We are from Xi Zhou, delivering local specialties to the Sheng Family," the Manager said as he hurried forward, careful not to act presumptuously or arrogantly based on his connection to the Sheng Family.
In Xuan Spirit Heaven, the Sheng Family was not the sole dominant power; other factions could stand on equal footing with them. If he were to foolishly offend such a faction, the Sheng Family certainly wouldn’t go to war with them over a mere Manager from the Zhou Family.
"Six Doors," the man said, producing a silver badge to prove his identity. "Just a routine inspection to check for any contraband."
The constables accompanying him then began to re-inspect the goods.
The Manager’s expression remained unchanged as he leaned in again, discreetly took out a Storage Soul Device, and covertly offered it to the silver-badged arrest officer.
There was a significant difference between silver-badged arrest officers. One from Xuan Spirit Heaven was worlds apart from one in their Xi Zhou’s Baikou Prefecture, not only in strength but also in status.
As an outsider, the Zhou Family’s Manager naturally couldn’t afford to offend him. He interpreted the officer’s actions as an attempt to extort a bribe.
Unexpectedly, the silver-badged arrest officer didn’t accept it. Instead, he swatted the hand away and, glaring coldly at the Manager, demanded, "What is the meaning of this?"
"Just a small token, sir," the Zhou Family Manager said, his smile faltering.
"Hmph. I was originally just going to conduct a spot check. It seems your shipment really does have problems, otherwise you wouldn’t be so guilty as to try and bribe me," the officer retorted, his tone icy.
This remark made the Zhou Family Manager’s heart lurch. He instantly understood that the officer wasn’t here for extortion but to deliberately cause trouble. He’s definitely not targeting me, but the Sheng Family. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be making such a scene at their side entrance. He was probably lying in wait here from the very beginning.
"Seal all the goods! Take everyone into custody, impound the shuttle too! Don’t let anyone go!" The silver-badged arrest officer swept his gaze over the crowd, taking in not only the Manager and the Zhou Family disciples but also all the guards and laborers.
The words had barely left his lips when more constables emerged from the surroundings. They moved with extreme speed to seal the goods and detain everyone. Wang Linchi was, naturally, no exception.
"Wait! I want to see..." The Zhou Family Manager began, intending to use his connections. But the silver-badged arrest officer cut him off with a vicious slap to the face. The blow shattered his teeth and left his face a bloody mess.
"It’s no use, no matter who you want to see. Hmph." The silver-badged arrest officer sneered. He then glanced at the Sheng Family’s side gate; no one emerged.
The new Domain Master had taken office three days prior. He wasn’t from the Jing Room Domain but had been dispatched directly from Sky Capital, the Royal City of the Great View. He possessed immense power and extensive connections.
Upon the new Domain Master’s arrival, all other influential powers in Xuan Spirit Heaven had pledged allegiance. Only the Sheng Family had not.
Relying on some connections they had in Sky Capital, they had initially planned to become the acting Domain Master. They figured that even if their strength was somewhat lacking, the ’acting’ title would serve as a fig leaf, allowing them to expand the Sheng Family’s power.
Thus, they had been making subtle moves both before and after the new Domain Master’s arrival.
In that case, the new Domain Master couldn’t be blamed for making an example of them.
The Sheng Family’s clandestine activities—buying ’human goods’ to have their disciples cultivate The Heritage of the Sky Devil—had naturally not escaped the new Domain Master’s notice. After all, ’the weak are prey to the strong, and the strong are revered’ was no empty saying.
If you possessed great strength, people would naturally flock to your banner. Moreover, the new Domain Master had arrived with his own retinue and had swiftly taken control of all of Xuan Spirit Heaven.
Only the Sheng Family dared to feign compliance while acting defiantly. This wasn’t the first time they had targeted the Sheng Family.
Initially, the Sheng Family would come out and meet them head-on. But after being suppressed several times, they had become more subdued.
The martial law in Xuan Spirit Heaven was, naturally, also intended to deal with the Sheng Family.
The new Domain Master was determined to swallow this Great Family, the Shengs, whole.
Just as a dead genius is no longer a genius, a fallen Great Family is no longer a Great Family—it’s merely a juicy piece of meat ripe for the taking.
Wang Linchi didn’t resist and was obediently led away. These constables didn’t make things difficult for them, simply herding them along.
Is this good luck or bad luck? Wang Linchi grumbled inwardly.
Call it good luck, he’d ended up in the Six Doors. Call it bad luck, he’d just escaped the tiger’s jaws.
The silver-badged arrest officer had declared that everyone and all goods were to be seized. Yet, he made no move to pursue the people and goods that had already entered the Sheng Family’s compound. From this, it was clear they were being abandoned.
The new Domain Master could make the Sheng Family stay silent outside their own gates. If this officer dared to go in, the new Domain Master wouldn’t be able to protect him. If he were killed on the spot, it would be his own damn luck.
The entire process was executed with practiced ease. Wang Linchi observed this and confirmed that this silver-badged arrest officer and his constables were not new to this. Others must have been unlucky enough to be detained by them before.
He also understood then why martial law had been imposed: it was to detain and seal goods from each group individually. If a dozen or so Great Family merchant caravans arrived to deliver goods all at once, it would be troublesome if any slipped through the net.
That was why their Zhou Family merchant group had been ’fortunate’ enough to pass through the martial law inspection today—it was all to continue making trouble at the Sheng Family’s doorstep.
How am I going to get out of this? Find someone to bail me out? Wang Linchi quickly dismissed the thought.
Mainly because there was no one to bail him out. He was a stranger in Xuan Spirit Heaven, unfamiliar with the place and its people, having arrived as a fugitive. If he had connections in Xuan Spirit Heaven, getting here wouldn’t have been so troublesome in the first place.
I’ll just have to take it one step at a time. Has my luck run out? Is that why unexpected problems keep cropping up? Wang Linchi thought with a sense of helplessness.