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n“What do we do now?” Little Zhou asked.

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nShen Yiming pondered for a moment before his gaze landed on Xiao Ran. “Lock him in the Purgatory and let him have a taste of the power of the Purgatory Netherflames and the foul Yin atmosphere.”

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n“All right,” Xiao Ran agreed.

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nHe turned to look at Little Zhou again.

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n“Bring the two Deputy Bookmakers of the Jade Manor over for interrogation. We must investigate the secret passage,” Shen Yiming instructed.

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nXiao Ran escorted the old man into the Purgatory.

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nHe locked him in one of the cells, and bound his hands and feet with the chains made of 10,000-year-old Mystic Iron.

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n“Ah…” He wasn’t a demon and didn’t have a powerful physical body. With his shoulder bones sealed, faced with the Purgatory Netherflames and foul Yin atmosphere that swept over him, the old man screamed miserably.

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nThe chains rattled as he rolled in anguish across the floor.

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nThe Golden Tome of Creation flipped open to a page and displayed three items. One million Mastery points, a hundred years of soul cultivation, and the Preeminent Great Fire-starting Divine Stone.

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nHe added the million Mastery points to the Universal Phenomenon.

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nAfter the attributes were refreshed,

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nUniversal Phenomenon: Perfection

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nIn terms of Spiritual Master Evolution, he had broken through to Level 4 and was 420 years away from breaking through to Level 5 of the Earth Realm.

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nPreeminent Great Fire-starting Divine Stone: Contains pure fiery flame power and increases the grade of fiery flames.

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nHe left the cell and locked the door.

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nAfter finding a place with no one around, he activated the Empyrean Conflagration Holy Fire and let it swallow the Preeminent Great Fire-starting Divine Stone. Compared to its original strength, its power doubled.

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nThe fiery flames rolled and burned with golden light, emitting a terrifying power.

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nHe left the Purgatory and returned to the hall on the ninth floor.

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nLittle Zhou’s interrogation had ended. The two Deputy Bookmakers had already been taken away.

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n“No clues?” Xiao Ran asked.

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n“Sigh!” Shen Yiming gave a big sigh.

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n“They don’t know either.”

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n“Xia Ming has already been eaten by the wolf demon. The only person left who knows about this is the Bookmaker of the Jade Manor. His whereabouts are unknown now. I’m afraid the trail will turn cold from here onwards,” Xiao Ran said.

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nShen Yiming shook his head. “There’s nothing we can do about that. Back then, when Deputy Sword Master Qin ordered the arrest of the people from the Jade Manor, the Bookmaker was no longer around. These two deputies were about to escape when they bumped into our guys. We captured everyone in one fell swoop.”

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nAt this point, Little Zhou returned.

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nHe was very unhappy. After a busy night, he had not even gotten a crumb of credit.

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nHe stared at Shen Yiming.

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nShen Yiming became so incensed that he gave him a knock on his head. “What are you looking at!”

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nLittle Zhou held the back of his head with an aggrieved look.

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n“Actually, it’s not like we didn’t gain anything.” Xiao Ran smiled mysteriously.

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nThey both turned in unison to look at him.

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nIn this hall, there were only the three of them left.

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nXiao Ran took out the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual. “I found this at Xia Ming’s residence just now.”

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nShen Yiming grabbed it at once. He was clearly agitated, his face filled with excitement and joy.

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nHe flipped it open and read it. It was the real McCoy.

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n“We’ve hit the jackpot this time!”

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n“Brother Xiao, didn’t you say you found nothing?” Little Zhou asked curiously.

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n“Are you stupid!” Shen Yiming kicked him angrily.

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nHe took the initiative to explain for Xiao Ran.

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n“There were so many people there just now. If Xiao Ran had taken it out, the Sacred Martial Bureau, the God Enforcement Division, and the Forbidden Martial Guards would probably join forces to attack us. With our strength, we won’t be able to protect it.”

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nLittle Zhou asked again, “Then why didn’t you take it out after coming out of there?”

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n“The cake is only so big. Xiao Ran is the main contributor. Isn’t it fine if we simply tag along for a few crumbs of credit?” Shen Yiming rolled his eyes at Little Zhou.

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n“What if Lady Ling asks?”

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nShen Yiming didn’t even want to bother with him anymore. “The item is in our hands. It is up to us to cook up a reason, right? As long as we didn’t get it there and we keep our mouths shut, what can Ling and the others do even if they find out?”

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nGulp!

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nLittle Zhou swallowed hard and began flattering his superior. “My Lord, you are brilliant. Brother Xiao’s luck is unparalleled. We can have some crumbs of credit again this time.”

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n“Of course,” Shen Yiming said.

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nHe put the item away.

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nLittle Zhou asked again, “Didn’t the God Enforcement Division and the Forbidden Martial Guards obtain this thing?”

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nSeeing that Shen Yiming was about to blow up, he quickly took a step back and knocked his own head in advance.

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n“I see! We have the real ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual. What they’ve got is fake.”

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nShen Yiming explained solemnly, “Let’s all agree on this. If anyone asks how I got the ‘Celestial Varg Guards’ manual, just say that I picked it up from the Jade Manor.”

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nXiao Ran naturally had no objections.

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nAfter all, Shen Yiming had even found a reason for him. Little Zhou nodded in agreement non-stop.

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n“Come! Let’s go back.”

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nXiao Ran stood rooted to the ground and met their puzzled gazes. “Too many things have happened recently. This place is overwhelmed with work. I’ll stay here and take care of some things.”

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n“All right! Remember to come back tomorrow.” Shen Yiming suddenly recalled Xiao Ran’s part-time job.

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nHe then left with Little Zhou.

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nXiao Ran entered the Purgatory again.

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nThe Eldest Princess was sitting on a chair, eating white lotus cake. She raised a piece and asked, “Want some?”

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n“Yes.” Xiao Ran opened the cell door and entered.

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nHe sat opposite her and started eating the white lotus cake.

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n“You’re not serving a prison sentence at all. You’re enjoying yourself.”

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nThe Eldest Princess stroked her hair and smiled sweetly. “I’m Sheng Wen’s sister. As long as he doesn’t convict me, I will always be the Eldest Princess of Great Xia.”

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n“Are you very proud of yourself?” Xiao Ran asked.

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nThe Eldest Princess was at a loss for words. She took up the kettle and poured him a cup of tea.

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nAfter they finished their cakes and tea,

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nthe Eldest Princess handed the calligraphy she had recently practiced to Xiao Ran.

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n“What’s this for?” Xiao Ran asked.

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n“It’s for you.”

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n“Just this?”

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n“It’s not much, there are only about twenty of them. It shouldn’t be a problem to sell them for twenty to thirty thousand,” the Eldest Princess said.

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nXiao Ran did not stand on ceremony and put away the calligraphy works.

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n“Is everything settled?” the Eldest Princess asked.

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n“What’s the point of asking when you have already guessed correctly?” Xiao Ran glared at her sternly.

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nHe then left her cell and stopped at the Deluge Dragon’s cell.

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nThe Deluge Dragon was humming a little tune and shaking his head along to it. His life had been very comfortable recently. When he sensed footsteps, he looked up and his happy mood instantly disappeared. With a terrified look, he stuttered, “W-Why are you here again?”

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n“You don’t welcome me?” Xiao Ran opened the cell door and walked in.

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nNaturally, the Deluge Dragon dared not say he was not welcome. In fact, he dared not even utter a single sarcastic word. It put on a warm smile and said, “Of course not! I’ve been dreaming of you coming over.”

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nInwardly, he was cursing, thinking that he was about to lose a lot of blood again.

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nHe took the initiative and stuck out his right limb hand of his own accord and looked away, unable to look on.

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nAfter waiting for a long time, he did not feel Xiao Ran make any move.

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nTurning his head around suspiciously, he asked tentatively, “Aren’t you going to take my dragon blood today?”

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n“What do you think?” Xiao Ran toyed with him.

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n“Why don’t you give me another two days?”

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nSlapping his hand on the Seven Treasures Rainbow Jade Belt, he retrieved the wolf demon’s corpse and threw it in front of him.

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nGasp!

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nThe Deluge Dragon gasped and his eyes widened in shock. This was a demon at Level 3 of the Profound Realm. He looked at Xiao Ran with his heart thumping wildly. How… how strong was he?

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n“To tell you the truth, even if you hadn’t come to me today, I would have sent word for you to come and collect my dragon blood.”

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nSeeing the smile on Xiao Ran’s face widen, he asked again, “Can I eat now?”

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nIt opened its mouth and swallowed very quickly, wolfing down Yin Jijie’s corpse in one bite.

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nThis time, his strength did not increase again. Although he was still at Level 2 of the Profound Realm, his skills evolution had advanced a lot more.

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n“Come on! Don’t stand on ceremony. Just leave me with one breath.” The Deluge Dragon was very generous.

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