Chapter 1113: Chapter 4: Four Seasons Dojo and Yuanfeng Skill, the Never-Heard-of Ancient Temple!
"Yes." Yang Wanli obediently stepped back. He was merely the Jinwu General, while his grandfather, Yang Xiongying, was the Duke Yang. Since the Luo Hou King had spoken, he, a mere second-rank officer, could only listen obediently.
After all, he was just putting on a show.
"Boom boom boom~"
The Ju Zi Palace and the Babok Worm clashed for an hour.
An hour later, the Luo Hou King flew out of the Ju Zi Palace, and from the massive underground pit created by the Babok Worm, a tall figure with grey antennae also emerged.
The two of them chattered away in gibberish for a long time, with the man opposite with antennae exceedingly agitated.
Then the Luo Hou King took out a bead and threw it toward the other.
After casting the bead, the Luo Hou King’s eyes were ice-cold: "Barbarians, fearing power but not honoring virtue. Your actions are insane and cruel. One day, I will trample you beasts to death! And turn your worms into specimens, hanging them in my collection gallery!"
The man with antennae remained silent for a moment and finally disappeared into the abyss.
...
At the beginning of October, Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning returned to Fengjing in person. Accompanying them was Princess You Ruo, Ji Anlan.
On October 3rd, Emperor Jing issued two Imperial Decrees.
The first decree accused the Southern Barbarian Holy Light Royal Court of being a ’haven for filth’, ’barbaric and uncivilized’, with the heir Wan Si ’defying human ethics’, ’unworthy of a princess’, while the Holy Light Tribes ’weren’t loyal to the king’s influence’, ’ungrateful’, ’plotted rebellion’...
In short, the Ritual Repairers slandered them as much as they could.
Fervently condemning the barbarians!
And announced that Princess You Ruo had already been brought back.
The second decree was a self-reproach edict.
Emperor Jing admitted he had ’misjudged people’, ’listened to deceitful words’, almost handing his precious jewel into a tiger’s mouth.
At the same time, sixteen civil officials who had supported the union were demoted and titles reduced.
To express apology to his daughter and heal her wounded heart, he also bestowed the title ’Princess of An Country’ upon Princess You Ruo, allowing her to rest in the Capital and not to manage the East Sea affairs anymore.
In this shocking halted union incident, Zhao Xing and Liu Tianning still faced punishment.
The reason was simple: negligence of duty.
Liu Tianning’s title was reduced, from Prince Taihe to Duke Taihe, ten ranks of merit deducted, three minor ranks decreased, and salary docked for thirty years.
All other positions were stripped, retaining only the second-rank position of Junior Agricultural Officer.
Zhao Xing’s merit was decreased by five ranks, and his positions in the Imperial Palace and Military Realm monitoring were revoked, with a ten-year salary penalty, and house arrest for four years.
Why only four years of house arrest? Because the Dragon Court opens again in four years, one cannot prevent a Dragon Emperor candidate from entering.
"臣,遵旨." Zhao Xing accepted the punishment decree, feeling a breath of relief inside.
Because the two of them had intervened with the union earlier, punishment was inevitable. However, this punishment was within his expectations.
Emperor Jing certainly wouldn’t act on his rank since he essentially had no family, any more reduction would be over the top.
He himself had no significant rights, only holding the title of Spirit Mountain Envoy. As for the Imperial Palace and Military Realm positions, it didn’t matter; taking them back wasn’t a big deal.
Additionally, in this affair, Liu Tianning was the ’main offender’, punishing him meant Zhao Xing wouldn’t face harsher penalties.
Liu Tianning was originally from Taihe County, and his transition from prince to duke reduced much of his land, along with lifting many positions, leaving only the Junior Agricultural Officer role, effectively stripping him of much of his power.
Of course, taking away Princess You Ruo’s power meant the punishment for Lao Liu wasn’t too harsh.
Negligence of duty? That’s hardly a blemish, the Ten Thousand Skill Avatar leaving post? Anyone with sensible eyes can see it’s just an excuse.
But what actually happened? That’s not something ordinary people would know.
Even with Ji Che standing on the ship, he couldn’t see how the battle ignited and ended; anyone below second rank wasn’t privy to the details.
Even if they knew, who would dare spread rumors recklessly.
Emperor Jing didn’t even use the Princess incident for punishment, using other reasons, and who else could speak against it?
Even speaking privately required caution!
"Liu Tianning is reckless, but he wouldn’t resort to underhanded tactics, whereas his disciple is truly..."
"Transforming into pigs and even photographing it, what a feat."
"Liu Tianning brought back a princess, and he brought back a boatload of pigs."
"Tsk tsk."
Ming Guan Jisi looked at the confidential files and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Zhao Xing asked Duke Wei to cast a Silence Technique, preventing other witnesses from speaking out, saving these Daost Academy staunch sects’ black history.
However, Ming Guan Jisi had the full pleasure of reading through it.
Especially the process of reversing the transformation, with everyone bare, quite an eyesore.
Some even had aftereffects, still whimpering even after turning human.
Perhaps they’d make a snorting sound inadvertently in the future.
"I’m afraid this will leave a psychological shadow..." Luo Hou King, reviewing the aftermath with Ji Si, couldn’t help but smile as well. "In the future, anyone dueling him in the dojo, facing this Pig Transformation Skill, will bear immense psychological pressure."
Except for the Great Taoism Competition, dojo duels are non-fatal, so the Pig Transformation Skill is less damaging but highly insulting!
Especially for those high-ranking strong individuals, who generally have everything they want, they care about reputation.
If one were to turn into a bare pig laying about, oinking twice, that would be utterly disgraceful.
"Wu Cheng’s spell hasn’t been mastered to such a profound level by anyone for a long time."
"Even Ling Tianchen hasn’t reached the ultimate level." Luo Hou King said, "I heard he plans to inherit Li Boqian’s Yuanfeng Skill?"
Ji Si nodded: "Yes, after leaving Fengjing, he went to the Xuantian Academy on Dao Yuan Continent."
...
Xuantian Academy, Huaxi Courtyard.
Under the blue sky and white clouds, with sunshine gleaming, Li Boqian lay leisurely on a chair, drinking juice.