Provoked by Tian Ling’s continuous taunts, Li Wuxin finally couldn't help but challenge her, determined to teach the girl a lesson and display his might as a Red Dust Immortal.
Alas, after Tian Ling readily accepted, before Li Wuxin could even draw his weapon, he was sent flying by a single punch from Tian Ling, crashing into the wall.
With just one punch, more than half of Li Wuxin’s bones were broken, and his internal organs were almost shattered by Tian Ling!
In the end, it was Ye Ling who intervened, saving the near-death Li Wuxin.
After being severely beaten by Tian Ling, Li Wuxin finally accepted the fact that he was weaker than Tian Ling, and shamelessly even asked to become her disciple.
Tian Ling, being a child with a playful nature and having never been a master before, ended up agreeing to Li Wuxin’s request.
Ye Ling found it both amusing and exasperating to see a general in his tens of years becoming Tian Ling’s disciple. He wanted to stop this absurd situation, but after accepting the disciple, Tian Ling became fiercely protective and insisted on taking Li Wuxin as her student.
Ye Ling’s attempt to stop Li Wuxin’s discipleship ultimately came to nothing.
Li Wuxin had a good disposition, and Ye Ling wasn't worried about him doing anything to harm Tian Ling. Therefore, he simply accepted Li Wuxin as his grand-disciple.
After the farce at the lowest level of the Dragon Department concluded, Ye Ling broke through to the High realm, gaining a junior sister and a grand-disciple. He didn't forget the main task and asked Tian Ling to lead the way to the castle she mentioned.
Aside from Tian Ling, the infiltration of the Dragon Department by the Shadow Hall was an undeniable fact. A large portion of the Dragon Department’s high-ranking officials had defected to the Shadow Hall. If this matter was not resolved, it was feared that China would be dragged into a quagmire by the Shadow Hall.
Furthermore, Ye Ling learned from Tian Ling that the Shadow Hall was currently working to breach the cosmic barrier. This was a matter of cosmic safety, and Ye Ling had to pay even more attention to the Shadow Hall.
Similarly, north of the Great Wall, deep within the mountains, in a giant valley.
A large number of Dragon Department employees were transporting stones here, building a magnificent castle over a hundred meters tall.
Because the majority of Dragon Department employees were异士 (yìshì - extraordinary individuals) and the Dragon Department had a large number of experts with vast knowledge, the speed of castle construction was incredibly exaggerated.
In just a few days, it was nearing completion!
“Senior Brother, my castle is right ahead. What do you think, doesn’t it look magnificent?” Tian Ling said to Ye Ling from high in the sky, pointing at the valley ahead, her face full of pride.
“Mm, magnificent,” Ye Ling replied perfunctorily. His divine soul scanned the castle in the valley, and in the quarry not far from the castle, he discovered Wang Liren working.
Meanwhile, some high-ranking officials who had defected to the Shadow Hall were gathered in a tall tower within the castle. They were all dressed in black robes, sitting in a circle, appearing to be performing some kind of ritual.
Around the castle and the quarry, Shadow Hall members were patrolling, urging the Dragon Department personnel to work.
Many Shadow Hall 异士 were present, clearly showing their importance to this castle.
Seeing this, Ye Ling murmured to himself, “It seems the Shadow Hall’s construction of this castle is not merely for use as a stronghold.”
Although Tian Ling claimed she was building this castle, Ye Ling knew without a doubt that the Shadow Hall intended to build it anyway.
While Tian Ling possessed Saint cultivation, she was fundamentally a six-year-old child. Ye Ling had easily manipulated her with some cheap lollipops. With the numerous capable individuals in the Shadow Hall, deceiving a child would be incredibly simple.
Li Wuxin, who had followed them, also sensed something amiss with the castle. Frowning, he asked Ye Ling, “Martial Uncle, what exactly does the Shadow Hall want by capturing so many Dragon Department 异士 to build this castle?”
Ye Ling shook his head, “I’m not sure either. We’ll have to get closer to find out the specifics.”
Saying this, Ye Ling then said to Tian Ling, “Tian Ling, some unpleasant things might happen later. Senior Brother might have to destroy your castle. Do you mind?”
“Senior Brother wants to destroy my castle?” Hearing Ye Ling’s words, Tian Ling’s voice immediately took on a crying tone, her eyes turning red. “Please don’t destroy it, okay?”
She had been eagerly anticipating the castle’s completion and had secretly contributed a lot. Now, Ye Ling suddenly said he would destroy her castle; how could she bear it?
Seeing Tian Ling’s reaction, Ye Ling secretly felt fortunate that he had chosen to give her a heads-up.
Otherwise, if he had charged forward and destroyed the castle, Tian Ling would likely have turned against him.
Ye Ling comforted her, “Be good, Tian Ling. This castle harbors danger. If it remains, it will likely bring disaster upon the world.”
Tian Ling, with red eyes, asked, “Really?”
Ye Ling replied, “Of course, it’s true! Didn’t you say the Shadow Hall was secretly carrying out some plan? This kind of castle is one of their plans. Tian Ling, you don’t want to see the cosmic barrier broken and all living beings suffer, do you?”
Tian Ling quickly shook her head, “Tian Ling certainly doesn’t want that! If the cosmic barrier breaks, Senior Brother will die, and Tian Ling doesn’t want to see Senior Brother die!”
Ye Ling continued, “If that’s the case, then how about Senior Brother destroys the castle?”
Tian Ling nodded, “Okay! The castle will harm Senior Brother, so Tian Ling doesn’t want it anymore. Senior Brother can destroy it!”
Li Wuxin, standing nearby, was secretly amazed at how Ye Ling managed to trick Tian Ling with just a few words, admiring Ye Ling’s methods.
If it were him, he definitely wouldn’t be able to do it as cleanly and efficiently as Ye Ling!
Deceiving a child was as easy as flipping one’s hand!
After successfully deceiving Tian Ling, Ye Ling didn’t hesitate and took the lead, flying towards the castle being built in the valley.
Tian Ling and Li Wuxin followed closely behind.
Meanwhile, in the valley, at the quarry.
Wang Liren, shirtless, was struggling to carry a ton of stone by himself.
He had to transport this giant stone from the quarry to the castle.
Earlier, he had been reporting the situation of the Dragon Department to Ye Ling. Suddenly, a group of men in black appeared in the Dragon Department, defeated him in a few moves, and brought him here.
Wang Liren had a restriction placed upon him, making him unable to resist the Shadow Hall. He could only serve as labor here!
Beside Wang Liren was an old man with white hair, carrying half a ton of stone.
This old man was named Liao Hong, one of the members of the Dragon Department Committee and Wang Liren’s former superior.
It could be said that before Wang Liren met Ye Ling, he was promoted by Liao Hong and was Liao Hong’s confidant!
After Wang Liren joined the Demon Palace, Liao Hong and he met less frequently to avoid suspicion. Now, the two of them working in the same quarry was a twist of fate.
Liao Hong was a high-ranking official in the Dragon Department who strongly advocated for cooperation with the Demon Palace. After the Shadow Hall infiltrated the Dragon Department, he was one of the few who did not yield.
However, Liao Hong only had sixth-rank cultivation. In front of the Shadow Hall, he was like an ant. No matter how much he resisted, it was futile, and he was eventually captured and brought here as a laborer.
Compared to Wang Liren, who was here for the first day, Liao Hong had been working here for several days without closing his eyes. His eyes were bloodshot, his lips were pale, and his fingernails were cracked. He looked utterly miserable.
Liao Hong panted and said to Wang Liren, “Liren, have you notified the Emperor? My old bones can’t take it anymore!”
Wang Liren gritted his teeth, “Don’t worry, Elder Liao. Although I haven’t notified the Emperor, I believe the Emperor will definitely come to save us! Hold on a little longer!”
“I really can’t hold on much longer. Don’t blame me if I defect then!” Liao Hong joked.
Wang Liren laughed, “Elder Liao, you jest. If you truly wanted to defect, would you still be here carrying stones with me?”
“You rascal!” Liao Hong cursed with a laugh. “I’ve bet my life on the Demon Palace. Don’t disappoint me!”
Wang Liren replied, “Never! The Emperor will definitely come!”
“Are you slacking off? Hurry up and carry!”
At this moment, a Shadow Hall 异士 in a black robe whipped Wang Liren and Liao Hong’s backs fiercely with two lashes, drawing two bloody marks. The blood was dripping!
The whip was infused with special spiritual energy that could directly strike the soul. Even Wang Liren, who had eighth-rank cultivation, couldn’t withstand it. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body swayed, and he almost collapsed under the weight of the giant stone!
Liao Hong, already frail, was suddenly whipped and lost his footing, falling headfirst!
The half-ton stone pressed down heavily!
Seeing this, Wang Liren’s eyes turned bloodshot, “Elder Liao!!!”