Soren, Zhiyan, and Narnier acted decisively, riding griffins towards the royal capital, Zhidu!
Flying griffins were of course far faster than horses.
Only a day later, the three griffins landed in the royal city of Zhidu, while Fang Qingshu and his party were still over a thousand li away.
After entering Zhidu, Zhiyan immediately led Soren and Narnier to the Zhidu Temple to pay their respects to Grand Inquisitor Rogo and High Priest Gelie.
If Fang Qingshu wished to save himself, he had to drag the two titans down with him, forcing Sky Priest Guban to hesitate and not dare act rashly against him.
Once Fang Qingshu succeeded in dragging the two men into the water, not only could he escape punishment, but he could also turn the tables and place Soren and Narnier in mortal danger.
So now Soren needed to sever Fang Qingshu from Gelie and Rogo. He needed to pin the crime of humiliating Sky Priest Guban solely upon Fang Qingshu’s head.
What gave Fang Qingshu the right to drag Rogo and Gelie down with him? Simply because the arrest warrant bore both their signatures, and he, Fang Qingshu, was merely executing their orders.
So now Soren had to completely separate two matters.
Which two matters? One was the arrest of Narnier. The other was the destruction of Sky Priest Guban’s protective medallion.
Soren had to vigorously defend the dignity of Rogo and Gelie, ensuring the justice of the arrest warrant they had signed.
Therefore, he needed to place himself in a position of certain death in order to survive!
…
“Grand Inquisitor, High Priest, Princess Zhiyan of the Kingdom of Nu Lang and her husband Soren request an audience.” Rogo’s attendant entered to report.
At this moment, Rogo and Gelie, who were playing chess, could not help but start.
Fang Qingshu had already gone to arrest Narnier, yet Zhiyan and Soren had voluntarily entered the royal city to request an audience. What was happening?
Rogo frowned, inclined to refuse.
After all, in this succession struggle, the two of them supported Zhili.
“Soren says there is an urgent matter of utmost importance concerning the dignity of both men,” the attendant said.
Rogo flew into a rage and said, “Let them in.”
Half a quarter of an hour later, Soren, Zhiyan, and Narnier appeared before Rogo and Gelie.
Though Zhiyan was a royal princess and Soren her betrothed, Rogo and Gelie continued their game of chess without so much as raising their eyes to look at them, completely disregarding the three.
“Soren pays his respects to the High Priest and the Grand Inquisitor.” Soren stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Rogo cast a glance and noticed Narnier standing between the three. He could not help but ask, “Who is she?”
Soren said, “My fiancée, Narnier!”
At these words, Rogo’s gaze turned cold, and boundless spiritual pressure was released, making the air in the room so oppressive that one could scarcely breathe.
Rogo said coldly, “Soren, you have tremendous audacity. Fang Qingshu led a team to arrest your fiancée, and you actually resisted arrest?”
Soren said, “Narnier’s status is special. Sky Priest Guban once issued her a protective medallion, personally delivered to me by Lord Huai Bingyi. Yet Lord Fang Qingshu paid no heed and directly destroyed this medallion. The matter is of great gravity, so I had no choice but to enter the royal city and pay my respects to Your Excellencies.”
At these words, Rogo and Gelie’s bodies trembled violently, and they exchanged glances.
Almost instantly, they sensed the scent of danger.
Sky Priest Guban was the supreme leader in charge of capturing the World-Destroying Demon Emperor. The demon-suppressing operation previously commanded by Rogo and Gelie had failed due to Ashiluo’s suicide. Though they had not been held directly accountable, it had aroused Sky Priest Guban’s displeasure, so he had entrusted the entire operation to capture the World-Destroying Demon Emperor to his disciple Huai Bingyi.
And Narnier, as the only known person in the human kingdoms to possess demon blood, could play an enormous role in capturing the World-Destroying Demon Emperor. Therefore, it was perfectly natural that Huai Bingyi would set his sights upon Narnier.
But neither Rogo nor Gelie had imagined that Huai Bingyi would actually bestow one of Guban’s protective medallions upon Narnier.
And that idiot Fang Qingshu had destroyed it without even looking carefully!
This was a crime of heaven-shaking magnitude. To put it lightly, it was trampling upon Sky Priest Guban’s dignity. To put it gravely, it was a local Dragon Temple challenging the supreme authority of the Sky Temple, an act of rebellion.
Grand Inquisitor Rogo and High Priest Gelie fell silent, their minds racing.
This was an exceedingly dangerous situation. If mishandled, it could lead to terrible consequences.
It was Fang Qingshu who had destroyed the Sky Priest’s protective medallion, but Rogo and Gelie could not escape involvement either, for the arrest warrant had been personally signed by the two of them.
Of course, both Rogo and Gelie knew in their hearts that Narnier should not have been arrested.
Because she played an enormous role in capturing the World-Destroying Demon Emperor, so before finding demon blood, they should not have touched Narnier.
But because Zhili had signed an agreement promising to double the size of the Temple Legion, driven by such enormous interests, Rogo and Gelie had temporarily set aside the operation to capture the World-Destroying Demon Emperor and agreed to arrest Narnier.
This meant that the sacred power of the Dragon Temple had been exploited by secular royal authority like Zhili to strike down political enemies.
Originally, this situation was not serious, because the Dragon Temple’s demon research laboratory still had several samples of demon blood. Narnier did not possess uniqueness.
But with Guban giving her a protective medallion, the situation was completely different.
The present situation was, without question, the Nu Lang Kingdom Dragon Temple disregarding the greater good and confronting Sky Priest Guban.
Exchanging glances, Gelie and Rogo instantly made their decision, their gazes turning cold and sinister!
Since the matter had already happened, there was no room for retreat. They would fight fiercely.
A Grand Inquisitor, a High Priest, plus a young master of Hidden Continent. The combined weight of these three might not be inferior to a single Sky Priest.
In this struggle, they might not lose!
Because it was a fact that Narnier possessed demon blood in her body, and that she opposed Dragon God faith and Dragon God power.
What wrong was there in their ordering her arrest?
As for the fact that they had been exploited by secular royal authority to arrest Narnier, that was true, but who could prove it?
And once they decided to fight, they had to do things absolutely, to the death!
Instantly, Rogo’s gaze towards Soren and Narnier became incomparably fierce and resolute.
This had to be made into an ironclad case, a dead case!
Then, Narnier, for opposing Dragon God faith and Dragon God power, would be completely burned alive.
And Soren too must be dragged into the water and hanged alive!
Only thus could the case be made absolutely ironclad!
Instantly, Rogo’s eyes filled with killing intent, yet his movements became light and casual. He picked up a chess piece and said, “Opposing Dragon God power and Dragon God faith is an unpardonable crime. Even if Sky Priest Guban were to learn of it, he would certainly understand.”
Then, he was about to slowly place his chess piece and order the inquisitors outside to arrest Soren and Narnier and sentence them both to death.
The matter had already happened. Since there was no path of retreat, they would fight fiercely.
Let them see whether Sky Priest Guban would tear his face off with three great personages for the sake of mere Soren and Narnier, for the sake of a single protective medallion.
And how foolish was the Soren before their eyes? To think that with a single protective medallion from a Sky Priest, he would challenge a Grand Inquisitor and a High Priest. He was completely seeking death!
And just at this moment, Soren spoke, “Lord Fang Qingshu destroyed Sky Priest Guban’s protective medallion and no longer has the authority to arrest Narnier. However, to uphold the authority of the Dragon Temple, I have personally brought Narnier here to surrender herself and confess her crimes!”
At these words, Rogo and Gelie trembled, their eyes brightening, their gazes rapidly exchanging another glance.
Soren had actually brought Narnier to surrender herself. His words undoubtedly tore open another crack.
Upon learning that Guban had issued Narnier a protective medallion, and that Fang Qingshu had destroyed it, the only thing in Rogo and Gelie’s minds was that Sky Priest Guban would seize this opportunity to strike at the two of them, so they could only fight to the end.
But now, Soren had provided another line of thought.
Arresting Narnier was not wrong. Rogo and Gelie signing the arrest warrant was not wrong either.
The only wrong was that Fang Qingshu had personally destroyed Sky Priest Guban’s protective medallion.
Moreover, Soren voluntarily bringing Narnier to surrender and confess her crimes also excellently upheld the dignity of the two lords.
Thus, the two men had not suffered any damage to their interests.
Soren’s action completely separated the two men from Fang Qingshu.
If Rogo and Gelie were willing, they could completely find a way to step down, avoiding direct confrontation with Sky Priest Guban and leaving Fang Qingshu alone to face Guban’s fury.
However, the consequence of that would be completely offending Hidden Continent.
Next, the two men needed to face a difficult choice: choose direct confrontation with Guban, or choose indirectly offending Hidden Continent?
On one side were two generations of Sky Priests. On the other was Hidden Continent.
Both sides carried enormous weight, but the circumstances of direct confrontation versus indirect offence were different. The consequences of direct confrontation were undoubtedly more severe.
Soren added, “I believe Hidden Continent will also be greatly enraged upon hearing of Lord Fang Qingshu’s actions.”
With these words, Soren once again reminded Rogo and Gelie.
Abandoning Fang Qingshu did not mean completely offending Hidden Continent. Because Hidden Continent could completely discard Fang Qingshu and establish another young master in his place.
And that newly established young master might even be grateful to the two men’s actions. Had it not been for Rogo and the other selling out Fang Qingshu, he would not have qualified to become the young master of Hidden Continent.
Opening their eyes, Rogo and Gelie exchanged another rapid glance, already having made their decision.
Rogo said, “The reason for bringing Miss Narnier here this time is not for opposing Dragon God power or Dragon God faith, but because of a heaven-shaking case requiring your cooperation.”
Soren said, “We Dragon God subjects cannot refuse our duty!”
Rogo spoke lightly and casually, changing his tune in an instant. It was still the arrest of Narnier, but it had transformed from confrontation with Guban into cooperation with Sky Priest Guban.
Officials have two mouths; whatever they say is reasonable.
“Someone, bring Miss Narnier to the meditation chamber for questioning.” Rogo ordered.
“Yes!” Soon, a cultivator entered and led Soren, Zhiyan, and Narnier to a meditation chamber.
In an instant, the nature completely changed. From a crime of treason, it became something akin to modern Earth’s police summoning a witness with criminal connections for questioning.
Fang Qingshu was completely abandoned, becoming a solitary man!
…
Ignoring the severe pain of his fractured arms, Fang Qingshu travelled day and night, galloping like the wind, changing horses every two hundred li.
After two days and two nights, he finally entered the royal city of Zhidu.
And at this moment, he was covered in dust, with dark circles under his eyes, completely lacking his usual elegance.
But his gaze was still burning, like blazing fire, filled with murderous killing intent.
He had to drag Rogo and Gelie down with him. The three parties combined would fight Guban.
They certainly could not defeat Guban, but they could absolutely self-destruct, and Soren and Narnier would also be utterly destroyed in this heaven-shaking struggle, becoming sacrifices that no one cared about.
As long as he bound Rogo and Gelie to himself, he would be absolutely invincible.
And at this moment, Fulingxi, her incomparably beautiful face also showing traces of weariness, for she had run continuously without sleep or rest for two days and two nights.
Moreover, her originally pure white long dress was now covered in a layer of dust.
Looking at her slender, alluring figure, Fang Qingshu said in a low voice, “Lady Fulingxi, do not forget our agreement. Remember, Grand Inquisitor Rogo is very… appreciative of you!”
When he spoke the word “appreciative,” Fang Qingshu’s eyes were filled with suggestive meaning.
The meaning was clear: he wanted Fulingxi to use her feminine wiles!
Fulingxi’s face turned cold, “I know what to do.”
Then, the two quickly entered the Zhidu Temple, this resplendent, incomparably vast, incomparably magnificent, incomparably sacred complex of buildings!
The Zhidu Temple was the only complex in the entire Kingdom of Nu Lang that surpassed the royal palace in height, floor area, and magnificence.
…
After entering the Temple, Fulingxi and Fang Qingshu split up. Fang Qingshu went to persuade High Priest Gelie, while Fulingxi went to persuade Grand Inquisitor Rogo!
Returning to the Inquisition, Fulingxi did not immediately go to see Rogo, but first bathed and changed her clothes.
She put on a still white, but form-fitting long dress.
At the back, it was made of sheer gauze, making her snowy white, tender back faintly visible. But at the chest, it was wrapped very tightly, though like mountain peaks, startlingly prominent.
This long dress set her off as noble and holy, yet incomparably seductive and alluring.
After dressing, Fulingxi ascended the Inquisition’s highest Dragon Tower, and at the top floor met Grand Inquisitor Rogo.
“Inquisitor Fulingxi pays her respects to the Grand Inquisitor.” Fulingxi bowed, her slender waist like a snake, her round buttocks like the moon, her incomparably beautiful body like an arch bridge, sensual beyond compare.
Rogo’s gaze turned heated, then he said, “What matter?”
…
Fang Qingshu, covered in dust, ascended another high tower to the top floor to pay his respects to High Priest Gelie.
Along the way, his broken arms were merely bound with rope and wooden sticks, deliberately putting on a wretched appearance to arouse High Priest Gelie’s sympathy and shared indignation.
However, when he reached the top floor, he not only met High Priest Gelie.
He also met four black-badge iron-faced individuals. These were the Dragon Temple’s inspectors, specifically responsible for arresting internal personnel.
“Lord Fang Qingshu, you are suspected of provoking the dignity of the Sky Temple and defiling Dragon God faith. We formally arrest you!”