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n“I heard about it on the way here.” Xiao Ran nodded.

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nLittle Zhou was taken aback. “Didn’t the higher-ups said to keep it a secret? Why are they spreading it so widely?”

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nOn thinking further, he eventually understood.

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nThe news of the Dragon Lake Institute’s precious treasure being stolen and dozens of students being imprisoned was such a big matter that it couldn’t be hushed up.

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n“This has nothing to do with us. Let’s go for a drink,” said Little Zhou.

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nThey entered the Chunfang Court.

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nLittle Zhou asked for a private room and requested for a few ladies to accompany them but Xiao Ran rejected the proposition.

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n“Brother Xiao, we have agreed that I’ll give you a treat to enjoy yourself. You’re making things difficult for me.”

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n“Are you unhappy that I am saving money for you?”

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n“I’m happy that other people are saving money for me, but Brother Xiao, you’ve invited me to enjoy myself so many times. Just buying drinks alone doesn’t cost much. I feel bad.”

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n“It’s the thought that counts.” Xiao Ran took a sip of wine.

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nHe looked at Little Zhou curiously.

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n“How did your father handle that matter about your blind date?”

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nAt the mention of this matter, Little Zhou was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table. “He was almost scared to death. He immediately brought his men to settle the score with the person who arranged everything. The other party didn’t know either, but they still had to pay a small price before my father would let this matter rest.”

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n“Ah,” Xiao Ran answered.

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nHis countenance turned bitter again. “My father said that he will find a more reliable matchmaker this time and arrange another blind date for me in a few days.”

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n“Is he really your biological father?”

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n“More than a biological father.”

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n“Didn’t you ask why?” Xiao Ran asked.

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n“I did. He said that it’s too dangerous to work in the Celestial Dungeon. People die at the drop of a hat. While I’m still healthy, he wants me to quickly produce an heir for the Zhou family.”

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nXiao Ran gave him a thumbs up.

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nLittle Zhou couldn’t take it anymore. This matter was too pathetic. He requested for four ladies.

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n“Brother Xiao, are you really not joining in?”

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n“You go ahead.”

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n“I won’t stand on ceremony then.” Little Zhou said.

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nHe hugged two of the girls and left.

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nImmediately after he left the room, he returned again.

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n“Isn’t two enough?” Xiao Ran asked.

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nShaking his head, Little Zhou pointed outside and said, “My Lord has sent someone over.”

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nOld Zheng came in from outside. He waved his hand and shooed the ladies out. Then, he grabbed a glass of wine and emptied it in one gulp “Wonderful!”

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n“State your business,” Xiao Ran said.

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n“Many comrades from the Celestial Dungeon perished in yesterday’s mission. The higher-ups are doing the coordination, but the newcomers have not been dispatched here. At this time, dozens of students are imprisoned, we are overstretched.”

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n“Weren’t we given three days off?” Little Zhou interjected.

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n“The Lord himself is already getting involved with the chores personally. What else do you want?” Elder Zheng glared at him.

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n“F*ck! Why can’t you come earlier? I’ve already paid for the ladies.” Little Zhou cursed out with a look of displeasure.

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nBack at the Celestial Dungeon,

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nthe lieutenant was standing beside an elderly man. Besides them, there was another student. It seemed that he was his student.

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n“My Lord, are you looking for us?” Little Zhou asked.

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n“Yes.” The lieutenant nodded.

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n“This is the renowned Great Scholar of the Dragon Lake Institute, Wen Fuxian. This is his student, Chen Wenheng, and they are in charge of interrogating the suspects regarding the matter of the stolen precious treasure.”

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nAfter introducing their identities, the lieutenant began assigning tasks.

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n“The two of you are in charge of interrogating the people locked up on the ninth floor. They are more suspicious. You can use torture as long as you don’t kill them.”

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n“What if they take revenge later?” Little Zhou was worried.

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nThe lieutenant smiled icily. “Don’t worry, just do it.”

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nAs the two of them were about to leave, he stopped Xiao Ran.

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nHe handed over the document and the Ethereal Pouch.

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n“Xiao Ran, you shall execute the Horse Demon imprisoned in the Purgatory first.”

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n“All right.” Xiao Ran accepted the items.

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nUpon reaching the ninth floor, the two parted ways and Xiao Ran proceeded to the Purgatory.

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nWhen she saw that he had returned, the Eldest Princess put down the brush in her hand and asked curiously, “Weren’t you transferred out temporarily?”

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n“The matter is settled, so I came back.”

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n“I want to eat the white lotus cake from the palace.”

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n“I’ll inform the Lieutenant later,” Xiao Ran said.

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nAs she looked at his departing figure, the Eldest Princess didn’t say anything eventually. She had wanted to ask why he was able to restrain the sequelae that resulted from her practicing the Nine Heavens Evil Spirit Purification Skill.

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nHe stopped outside cell number 102,

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nopened the door and walked in.

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nHe laid out the torture devices and wiped them clean. The document required him to remove all of the demon’s materials.

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n“Can you listen to me tell a story before taking action?” The Horse Demon’s expression was serene.

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n“Sure.”

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n“Once upon a time, there was a pair of father and daughter. The father treated his daughter as the apple of his eye. If she wanted the moon in the sky, he would think of ways to pluck it for her. But one day, his daughter went out, and when she returned, she brought back an injured man.

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nHer father wanted to kill him, but was stopped by his daughter. As time passed, the man’s injuries gradually recovered. The two of them developed feelings for each other over time and eloped while his father was away.

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nWhen the father returned, he saw a letter left by his daughter.

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nDesperately controlling himself from going mad, his father searched the whole world for his daughter. When he finally found her, she was lying in her grave.

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nThe father burst into tears. After investigating the cause of his daughter’s death, he found out that the two of them had gotten married after she eloped with him.

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nLater on, the man received news that the county governor’s wife was seriously ill. Unless she was given a demon’s heart of the Connate Realm level, the illness was incurable. The governor offered a handsome reward. Whoever obtained a demon’s heart of the Connate Realm level and above would be rewarded with the position of a high official.

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nIn order to gain the position of the official, the man used flattery to make his daughter dig out her heart. He then took the opportunity to cut off her head.

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nBy the time the grieving father found him, he was already a county magistrate. He was also the provincial governor’s son-in-law.

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nIn his rage, he killed their entire family,” said the Horse Demon.

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nXiao Ran remained silent. They were on different sides and they had different priorities to take into consideration.

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nNonetheless, he eventually said, “In the laws of Heaven, there exists reincarnation and retribution. Bad guys will eventually get their just desserts.”

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n“Thank you for listening to me tell this story,” said the Horse Demon.

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nHe invoked his powers to ignite his bloodline, interweaving it to form a secret hollow compartment.

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n“This is the innate divine ability of my Pegasus Tribe. Since you took the time to listen to my story, I will give you a big present.”

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nA complete skeleton flew out from this secret compartment.

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nAs soon as the skeleton appeared, a terrifying aura emanated from it. Just the aura alone was enough to compress the space into emitting a mournful wail. A thick and dense demonic energy blanketed the sky. In just a few breaths’ time, the prison cell had been transformed into a demon forbidden ground.

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n“This is a Sky Demon Skeleton,” said the Horse Demon.

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nAs his bloodline burned away, his last breath also dissipated.

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n“Have a good journey,” Xiao Ran said.

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nHis palm shone with golden light as he grabbed the skeleton.

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nUnder the force of the golden light, the skeleton shrank rapidly, becoming a miniature version about the size of an infant. However, the concentrated demonic energy became even more terrifying.

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n“Don’t tell me that the Sky Demon Skeleton is of the level of Profound Realm or higher?” Xiao Ran guessed.

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nHe put it into the Seven Treasures Rainbow Jade Belt.

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nHe stood looking at the horse demon’s corpse for a while. The demon was already dead, but the Golden Tome of Creation didn’t appear and no crimes were revealed. He then carried his intact corpse to Earth fire.

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n“You are the first demon that made me make an exception,” Xiao Ran said.

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nHe threw his complete body into the Earth fire.

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nThe fiery flames engulfed his corpse.

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nBack at the antechamber on the first floor,

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nhe passed the Ethereal Pouch and the document over to the lieutenant. As he looked over the document Xiao Ran said, “I failed.”

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n“Just this once, no more exceptions.” The lieutenant had always thought highly of him and gave him greater latitude.

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n“The Eldest Princess wants to eat the white lotus cake from the palace.”

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n“I will send the request over. After they have prepared it, I’ll get someone to pass it to you.”

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nXiao Ran left and returned to the ninth floor. Little Zhou hurriedly waved at him. “Brother Xiao, come quickly.”

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