Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 533: Chapter 533: Underground Prison

“`

The explosion was a matter of an instant, but cleaning up the battlefield took a full two days.

In fact, the blast at Greyrock Ridge was so intense that even Linqiu County felt it.

Subsequently, the news that Immortal Family members had appeared here also spread.

In truth, many were aware of the foundations of the Dong Family Estate, and couldn’t help but speculate wildly: how did Wonderful Hand Pavilion offend an Immortal Family?

No matter what, after such a major incident, numerous powers sent people to investigate the situation.

The vast Dong Family Estate was being tidied up by just two individuals.

Simply going through the bodies could wear them out, not to mention the huge amount of building debris produced from the explosion.

Feng Jun and his two companions wouldn’t lift a finger for such minor tasks, their job was to protect the two workers—despite the impressive power of the explosion, there were certainly fish that slipped through the net.

Shangguan Yunjin took on the role of external negotiations and warnings, while Pan Renjie’s task was to ensure the safety of the two mortals and to be on the lookout for his junior sister.

Feng Jun, on the other hand, roamed around the estate, occasionally swiping a chop here and a chop there.

At first, everyone thought his actions were without purpose, but it didn’t take long for the two cultivators from Wuyou Platform to discover that actually, whenever he struck the broken bricks and tiles, it wouldn’t be long before dark red blood would seep out.

The two watched in amazement, thinking to themselves that this man also had a way to search for survivors?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ṅονǤ0.сο

In fact, there weren’t many left alive in the vast estate; the vast majority had been either blown up or shaken to death—the terrifying power of a conscienceless explosion was well known to all.

Such a large Eastern Sub-rudder would definitely have secret chambers, but the incident took place at dawn when there was no warning, and many people died in their sleep.

However, there was a fierce individual who nearly escaped. Feng Jun charged at a fragment of wall and brought his sword down, shattering the bricks and stones beneath, from which a figure swiftly sprang out, flinging a great expanse of white fog at Feng Jun.

After releasing the white fog, he didn’t wait to see the results, turning to flee with incredible speed.

This person truly exemplified decisiveness, seeking only to delay Feng Jun for a moment to facilitate his escape.

Especially since he was an Innate Expert, he did not entangle with the enemy.

But Feng Jun wasn’t one to be trifled with; he sidestepped and cast the Falling Thunder Technique with a flick of his hand.

This was a full-powered strike without any intention of capturing him alive.

The man had just sprung into the air when he was struck, falling to the ground like a goose pierced by an arrow.

To Feng Jun’s surprise, the man had defensive equipment on him; he didn’t die even after taking a hit.

As he rushed over, the man actually shouted, “I am from the general pavilion…”

Without a second thought, Feng Jun swung his sword and decapitated the man.

Shangguan Yunjin floated over from not far away, using some kind of levitation technique, “Was he an Innate Expert?”

To cultivators, Innate Experts could pose a threat to them.

“Heh,” Feng Jun laughed nonchalantly, “who cares, now he’s a dead man anyway.”

Shangguan Yunjin actually had a question she did not understand, and took the opportunity to ask, “Feng Daoist friend, that technique of yours doesn’t seem to cost much, and yet it’s so powerful, it seems like you alone could have taken out this Eastern Sub-rudder, couldn’t you?”

I should display some grand banner, shouldn’t I? Feng Jun smiled, “Before coming here, I didn’t know this Eastern Sub-rudder was such a massive estate; I thought it was more like a fortress.”

This was indeed the truth; before this, he only knew that the Eastern Sub-rudder was located in Qingdai County, Caozhou Prefecture, but he was unclear about the specific location and scale.

Shangguan Yunjin blinked, “Couldn’t your technique be used against a fortress?”

Feng Jun pondered for a moment before slowly replying, “Actually, such a technique harms the harmony of heaven, and unless it’s absolutely necessary, I am not willing to use it. If not for the fact that at the beginning, I asked if you two had any techniques.”

Shangguan Yunjin nonchalantly arched her elegant brows, thinking to herself that it was just killing some human criminals—just kill them.

To cultivators, mortals were already a notch lower, let alone criminals.

However, at that moment, Pan Renjie joined them, “Feng Daoist friend has spoken wisely; one should have a compassionate heart. But since the Eastern Sub-rudder was so extensively built, and there are no families nearby, even though it was a thunderous method, it can be considered a benefit to the local villagers.”

He paused, then curiously asked, “Junior Sister Yunjin, what exactly are you trying to say?”

“I just wanted to…” Shangguan Yunjin hesitated before speaking haltingly, “we haven’t been of any help to Daoist Friend Feng, it seems we won’t get much from the spoils of war.”

“Heh,” Feng Jun laughed, “I originally thought we’d have a fierce fight, which is why I invited you two over, but I appreciate the sentiment, and since you are Wuyou Platform disciples, you are also witnesses for this wild man from the mountains.”

His words were very candid—I’m just a man without a solid clan to back me up, you two help testify—to something involving the deaths and injuries of over a thousand people.

“`

Shangguan Yunjin was all smiles as she nodded ardently, “A witness is certainly needed; without you, we would not have this extra wealth.”

With a raise of his hand, Pan Renjie smacked his own forehead heavily, “Junior sister… be reserved!”

Shangguan Yunjin shot him a look and muttered softly, “As if you don’t want it…”

The elder brother could only pretend he didn’t hear, as his original intention was to claim the reward through his own abilities without thinking of sharing the spoils with his junior sister.

As time passed, people from the county town hurried over; initially, nobody dared to offend an Immortal, but as more and more people arrived, they eventually elected an elderly villager in his eighties to come and inquire about the situation.

It’s true that Immortals and mortals are different, but when an old man in his eighties comes forward, it would be inappropriate for the Immortal Family to give him no respect at all.

As long as a civilization has progressed to a certain extent, respecting the old and caring for the young is inevitable.

The most crucial point was: with such a frail body, how could he possibly pose a threat to the Immortals?

The old man shuffled over alone, bowed and spoke in a deep voice, “I humbly serve as one of the three elders of Linqiu, and I dare to ask the Immortal… for what offense did the Dong Family incur?”

Shangguan Yunjin rested her hand on the hilt of her short sword, sneered, and retorted, “Let me ask you a question first, and do not deceive yourself… does this Dong Family truly bear the Dong surname?”

This place is one of the five major sub-rudders of the Wonderful Hand Pavilion; the so-called Dong Family Estate is nothing but a front.

It’s one thing for outsiders to mention the Dong Family, but if the locals also say so, they are knowingly feigning ignorance.

Shangguan Yunjin was willing to show respect for elders, but if the other party did not respect themselves, she couldn’t be blamed for her ruthless actions.

“May the Immortal show mercy!” someone cried out, as the One-Eyed Pixiu rushed over, “Old man Qing, why go to such lengths!”

It turned out that this elder had come in to ask questions, half surprised that the Immortal Family was taking action here, and the other half to probe for information about the whereabouts of the One-Eyed Pixiu.

The One-Eyed Pixiu was an underground force in Linqiu, but it always had a good reputation among the locals. He was forcibly taken away the night before, and the whole previous day, people had been inquiring about his whereabouts.

The One-Eyed Pixiu then expressed that they were guided by the orders of three Immortals, and both he and his companion were there to lead the way.

He didn’t wish to dwell on the matter, instead, he had another request. They had been cleaning up the battlefield without slacking, a truly arduous task.

He hoped that old man Qing could pass the word and call for some brothers to help clean up the battlefield, lest they “delay the Immortal’s affairs.”

Shangguan Yunjin thought for a moment and nodded, “Granted, we don’t want to delay these matters for too long either.”

But old man Qing had more to say, “Why has the Immortal dealt with the Wonderful Hand Pavilion with such thunderous methods?

At this, Shangguan Yunjin truly became irritated; her expression darkened, “I have my reasons, why should I explain them to you? The Wonderful Hand Pavilion has always had a notorious reputation. You did nothing in the past, now you’re pleading on their behalf… Could it be that you are also a spy for the Wonderful Hand Pavilion?”

The village elder walked away covering his face—any longer, and he might have had to account for his own life here.

Just then, in the distance, Feng Jun shouted, “There is something fishy here!”

Indeed there was something fishy; more than thirty meters underground, there was a secret chamber, which still held seven or eight living people.

For an Immortal Family, digging through the ground was quite fast, and it took just about ten minutes to open up the secret chamber.

It turned out to be a place where the Wonderful Hand Pavilion imprisoned people; twelve in total, with four dead from the explosion and one more who had just succumbed, leaving only seven alive.

All seven were figures of some note, with two of the most distinguished identities: one was the brother-in-law of the former Prefectural Governor of Fushan County, and the other a member of the Family Alliance.

The former Governor of Fushan County had been executed by the Imperial Court, but his family had not been implicated; for a sub-rudder of the Wonderful Hand Pavilion to dare imprison the former Governor’s brother-in-law to extort treasure from his family, was an act of the utmost audacity.

As for the member of the Family Alliance, there’s no need to mention how those Clans in the Alliance would react. It’s normal for the Alliance’s Clans to have unworthy descendants recruited by the Wonderful Hand Pavilion, but to secretly detain their descendants in order to extort treasures from these Clans is something no Clan would tolerate.

Even the One-Eyed Pixiu, accustomed to the ways of the underworld, was shocked, “The Wonderful Hand Pavilion dares to be so lawless?”

The seven were dispirited, with several injured, but upon learning that Immortals had saved them, they all came forward to express their thanks in unison.

Feng Jun didn’t want to bother with them, but seeing their pitiable state, he chose a wall that hadn’t completely collapsed, whipped out the Big Sun Umbrella to provide shelter from the wind and rain, and also produced some pills for the seven to help each other.

However, he made it clear, “You may send word to your families, but you cannot leave for the time being.”

Having been rescued by him, who could quibble over this minor issue? And who would dare to argue with an Immortal? They were too grateful for that.

Old man Qing, perhaps concerned that Shangguan Yunjin would cause trouble, quickly informed the subordinates of the One-Eyed Pixiu.

In about half an hour, more than a dozen men rushed over; these tough folks, though a little rough around the edges, followed protocol from a distance from the estate and called out loudly, “We follow Brother Pixiu and request an audience with the Immortals.”

Shangguan Yunjin floated over, frowning, “You…are quite impertinent!”