But with Zhi Yan present, how could Tu Lingduo possibly commit suicide?
The moment the dagger touched the skin of her neck, her entire body was immobilised. Suolun stepped forward and effortlessly snatched away Tu Lingduo’s dagger.
“Why, why won’t you let me die?” Tu Lingduo said hoarsely. “Do you still want to rape me? Are you not disgusted by how filthy I am?”
Looking at Tu Lingduo in this state, even if Suolun had the strongest stomach, he could not bear it.
Suolun said, “You cannot die now. I promised Tu Liyang that I would hand you over to him, to deal with as he pleases!”
Instantly, Tu Lingduo’s expression changed. She said, “No, I beg you Suolun, let me die, let me die… don’t hand me over to Tu Liyang.”
Suolun said, “Why? You can face me, so why can you not face Tu Liyang?”
Tu Lingduo said hoarsely, “Because I hate you, but I pity him.”
Suolun was stunned. What kind of reasoning was this? Because she pitied Tu Liyang, she could not face him?
He stepped forward and gently struck the back of Tu Lingduo’s head, knocking her unconscious. Then he tucked her under his arm and walked out of the secret chamber.
…
After exiting the high tower, Suolun saw Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu, Zhi Li’s absolute ally in the Zhi Capital Dragon God Holy Temple.
At this time, news of Zhi Li’s failure at the palace had not yet arrived.
“Impudent Suolun, how dare you forcefully intrude upon the Dragon God Holy Temple. Are you seeking death?” Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu said fiercely. “Leave Zhi Ning and her son behind. Leave Tu Lingduo behind.”
This Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu truly had a fine appearance, tall and graceful with an otherworldly bearing, absolutely a middle-aged handsome man who looked very transcendent.
Who would have known that behind this person lay such filth.
Ji Xiuning said indifferently, “I was the one who let him take them away.”
Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu bowed and said, “Greetings, Your Holiness. But this is the internal affair of our Zhi Capital Holy Temple. It is not appropriate for Your Holiness to interfere, is it?”
He was like a dog driven to desperation, even daring to offend the Holy Maiden of the Sky Holy Temple.
Because everyone knew Ji Xiuning was benevolent and kind-hearted. Even if you offended her, nothing much would happen. But once Suolun took away Zhi Ning and her son and Tu Lingduo, leading to Zhi Li’s failure, then Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu would die without a burial place.
“Say these words to Ge Li, or have Grand Inquisitor Luo Ge step forward.” Holy Maiden Ji Xiuning said.
Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu’s face trembled. Ge Li had gone to the Yan Capital Holy Temple, while Luo Ge was right here in the Zhi Capital Holy Temple, pretending to know nothing at all, with absolutely no intention of showing his face.
But at this time, it could only be mutual destruction. Na Lu’s facial muscles twitched as he said, “Come, stop these illegal intruders for me.”
Instantly, dozens of temple warriors appeared!
“Seize Zhi Ning and her son and Tu Lingduo. Kill without mercy anyone who obstructs us.” Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu said fiercely.
However, these dozens of powerful temple warriors still only stood in the distance, not truly charging forward.
That’s right, they were Na Lu’s direct subordinates, but that did not mean they were fools. Charging forward at this time would mean dying for nothing.
Moreover, once they offended Holy Maiden Ji Xiuning, it would not simply be death. They would be burned alive.
“Go, go…” Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu roared hoarsely.
However, still no one dared to advance.
Ji Xiuning glanced at him lightly and said, “A dignified Grand Sacrificial Priest, actually reduced to a hunting hound and running dog of secular royal power, illegally imprisoning innocent citizens. Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu, await your punishment!”
Then Holy Maiden Ji Xiuning mounted her griffin. Zhi Yan carried Zhi Ning and her son, while Suolun carried Tu Lingduo. They also mounted griffins, spread their wings, and flew high, leaving the Zhi Capital Holy Temple.
On the ground, Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu’s face was deathly pale. He flew into a rage, roaring desperately, yet was powerless to do anything.
So he rushed fiercely to Fu Lingxi’s castle and said, “Fu Lingxi, Zhi Ning and her son, and Tu Lingduo have all been rescued by Suolun.”
Fu Lingxi was not deaf, so of course she knew.
Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu said, “Hurry and go persuade Lord Luo Ge, let him win back some justice for our Zhi Capital Holy Temple.”
Fu Lingxi pretended to be meditating and ignored him.
Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu flew into a rage and ran directly to Luo Ge’s Grand Inquisitor’s Office.
At this time, Grand Inquisitor Luo Ge was savouring wine.
“Lord Grand Inquisitor, you still have the mood to savour wine.” Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu said. “Can you just watch as the dignity of our Zhi Capital Holy Temple is trampled upon?”
Luo Ge poured a cup of wine for Na Lu and said, “Then what do you think I should do?”
Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu said, “Dispatch temple armed forces to seize Zhi Ning and her son and Tu Lingduo back.”
Luo Ge said, “That is Holy Maiden Ji Xiuning. You want to seize them back from her hands?”
Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu said, “So what? Our Zhi Capital Holy Temple only obeys the orders of the Sky Holy Temple. Not to mention Ji Xiuning is not yet a Sky Sacrificial Priest. Even if she becomes a Sky Sacrificial Priest, she cannot directly interfere in the internal affairs of our Zhi Capital Holy Temple.”
Luo Ge said, “Since when did helping Zhi Li with his affairs become the internal affairs of the Zhi Capital Holy Temple? This is clearly your private work!”
“What, what do you mean?” Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu said.
Luo Ge smiled and said, “If I were you, I would end my own life. That way I would at least preserve some dignity.”
Grand Sacrificial Priest Na Lu trembled, and the cup in his hand fell to the ground.
…
When Suolun and Zhi Yan arrived at the princess’s residence, news from the palace had already arrived.
At the most critical moment of the coronation, Fang Qingzhuo reported the demon blood in Zhi Li’s body, and even directly slashed his face, letting everyone witness with their own eyes how the wound on Zhi Li’s face healed rapidly.
The demon blood in his body was now irrefutable evidence.
Ji Xiuning’s breathtakingly beautiful, otherworldly face trembled slightly. This matter was enormous, enough to poke a hole in the sky.
The severity of this matter did not lie in Zhi Li having demon blood planted in him, but in where this demon blood came from.
Did it come from the Dragon God Holy Temple laboratory?
If so, this represented that terrifying corruption had already appeared in the core departments of the entire Dragon God Holy Temple!
Who could have helped Zhi Li obtain demon blood?
Of course it was Yinzhou. Yinzhou beginning to infiltrate the core vital departments of the Dragon God Holy Temple was a matter of heaven-shaking proportions.
Opposing the Dragon God faith, opposing Dragon God power was a crime of heaven-shaking proportions! That someone in the Dragon God Holy Temple would knowingly violate this was truly terrifying!
Originally preparing to depart, Ji Xiuning decided to remain in Zhi Capital and investigate this matter to the very end!
Princess Zhi Yan said, “Xiuning, you also know that behind this matter lies Yinzhou and the Dragon God Holy Temple laboratory. These are two core forces of the Dragon God Holy Temple. Once you go and expose this, the consequences are unimaginable. Even with your father and teacher doing their utmost to protect you, you may not be able to escape unscathed.”
Ji Xiuning nodded and said, “I know. But this matter is too terrifying. It even directly relates to the capture of the World-Destroying Demon Emperor! This represents that the most core departments of the Dragon God Holy Temple have already degenerated. If allowed to continue developing this way, the highest levels of the entire Dragon God Holy Temple will begin to rot.”
Zhi Yan wanted to speak but stopped.
Ji Xiuning said, “I know that the upper levels of the Dragon God Holy Temple are already utterly corrupt. Only the Sky Holy Temple can barely maintain its purity. But precisely because of this, I need to investigate this matter to the very end. No matter who is involved, I will punish them severely. To return a clear sky to the Dragon God Holy Temple. Only when the Dragon God Holy Temple is clean will the human kingdoms be clean.”
Suolun sighed silently at the side. The Holy Maiden before him truly had an overflowing sense of justice.
“Farewell!” Ji Xiuning said.
But when leaving, Ji Xiuning turned back and said, “Lord Suolun, after you take control of the Nu Lang Kingdom, will you suppress the Dragon God Holy Temple?”
Suolun tacitly acknowledged this.
“I can understand your thoughts and actions.” Ji Xiuning said, “If you are merely suppressing the military power of the Dragon God Holy Temple, I support it. But I hope you will not be like the East Li Kingdom, completely squeezing out the Dragon God Holy Temple. No matter how corrupt and degenerate the Dragon God Holy Temple becomes, it remains the protector god of the human kingdoms and the foundation of human civilisation. Also, your wife Yan Nai’er, I will urge the Dragon God Holy Temple laboratory to conduct research on removing demon bloodlines. Once successful, I will find a way to let her recover her pure Dragon God bloodline. After all, her having demon blood planted was completely passive and unknown to her.”
Suolun bent down and said, “Many thanks, Lord Ji Xiuning.”
Ji Xiuning nodded, mounted her griffin, and returned to the Zhi Capital Holy Temple!
Suolun stood in place watching her depart!
Ji Xiuning was very powerful. Her martial arts were world-class top tier. Those capable of matching her were few and far between.
The force behind her was nearly invincible! Standing behind her was the Yan Empire, and the Chief Sky Sacrificial Priest!
But wanting to rely on one person’s strength to change the entire dark situation of the Dragon God Holy Temple, that was truly a Don Quixote-style charge.
…
Entering the princess’s residence!
Tu Liyang was restless, pacing back and forth, sitting for a while, then standing up again.
He drank cup after cup of tea, yet could not quench the restlessness in his heart.
He had ridden a griffin into the royal city yesterday along with the messenger.
Suolun walked in and directly threw Tu Lingduo before him, saying, “Brother Shi, I promised to hand Tu Lingduo over to you. Now she is yours to deal with as you please.”
Instantly, Tu Liyang was completely stunned, looking at Suolun in disbelief.
Then, his gaze fell upon Tu Lingduo on the ground.
Tu Liyang trembled for a moment. Then his ugly face completely twisted, his eyes releasing boundless hatred, and he let out a terrible roar from the bottom of his throat!
Suolun patted his shoulder, then walked out and closed the door.
The person Tu Lingduo had hurt the deepest was Tu Liyang!
So no matter what he did, however he violated Tu Lingduo, it was only right and proper!
“Ah… ah… ah…” From inside the room came a series of beast-like roars from Tu Liyang.
Then came even more intense sounds.
“Bang bang bang…”
Who knew how many things were being smashed.
“Snap snap snap…”
The terrifying sound of iron chains whipping the ground.
And Tu Lingduo’s screams, “Kill me, kill me!”
Tu Liyang’s beast-like roars grew more and more ferocious. Tu Lingduo’s screams grew more and more mournful.
Suolun stood for a while, then completely moved away!
The sounds behind him grew more and more distant. He heard that Tu Liyang’s roars had begun to carry weeping.
And in Tu Lingduo’s screams, there also began to carry a mournful laugh.
“Hahahaha…” Tu Lingduo’s laughter made one’s blood run cold.
…
Who knew how much time passed before Tu Liyang walked out, came before Suolun, and knelt down, kowtowing three times.
“Brother Suolun, from this day forth my life is yours. No matter what you do, I will follow.” Tu Liyang said.
Suolun smiled, helped him up, and said, “Is Tu Lingduo still alive?”
“Still alive.” Tu Liyang said, “I did not touch her. Before capturing her, I swore that I would torture her with the most cruel methods. I would whip her with red-hot iron chains. I would peel off her face inch by inch! In the end I would not kill her. I would break her four limbs, break her cervical vertebrae. Didn’t she like pretending to be paralysed before? I would make her truly paralysed, and then I would care for her for the rest of my life.”
Suolun’s heart trembled!
He had not imagined that Tu Liyang would have such thoughts, to truly paralyse Tu Lingduo and then care for her for the rest of his life. This was completely a twisted, perverse obsession.
Tu Liyang said, “But when the red-hot chain was truly about to strike down, I again felt my interest wane, so I whipped it against the ground. When I used the dagger to cut off her face, I instead found waves of nausea rising in my heart. As for completely beating her paralysed and then caring for her for the rest of my life, I felt it even more absurd.”
Suolun said, “Then how have you decided to deal with her?”
Tu Liyang said, “According to the kingdom’s laws, execute her publicly by proper legal process!”
Suolun could not help but be startled. Why would Tu Liyang want to let the kingdom’s laws deal with Tu Lingduo?
Tu Liyang said, “I feel that only by completely letting her go from my heart can I truly move forward.”
Suolun nodded and said, “Very well, then execute her publicly by proper legal process!”
Tu Lingduo’s crimes reached the heavens. According to the kingdom’s laws, beheading or hanging would both be impossible, too light a sentence!
The Nu Lang Kingdom did not have the punishment of lingchi, death by a thousand cuts.
The highest capital punishment was splitting, that is, dismemberment by five horses!
This was Tu Lingduo’s final fate!
At this time, Zhuang Zhixuan entered and said, “Master, His Majesty has decreed that you and Princess Zhi Yan are to enter the palace immediately.”
Suolun nodded.
Finally, it was time to see Zhi Li for the last time!