Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

58: Chapter 54: Capturing Zhou Qingzhu Alive

58 -54: Capturing Zhou Qingzhu Alive

Seeing Tian Zhang, Dong Zhao, and Cao Chun appear at the same time, Zhou Qingzhu realized that Zhou Ji had been captured.

Captured by the Jinshan Taoist Institute.

It was only a matter of time before he implicated Zhou Qingzhu as the mastermind behind the scenes.

What should he do now?

Or rather, what could Zhou Qingzhu do to escape with his life or secure a way to survive?

In a flash of lightning, Zhou Qingzhu considered many possibilities.

Even in that instant, Zhou Qingzhu imagined himself in Dong Zhao’s shoes.

If he were in Dong Zhao’s position, what would he do now to gain the most?

In a flash, Zhou Qingzhu broke out into a cold sweat.

Because Zhou Qingzhu discovered that at this moment, he was standing on the edge of life and death.

At this moment, if he were Dong Zhao, the best approach would be only one—to kill him.

To take advantage of his resistance to kill him, then fully confirm his name as an evil demon.

In doing so, Zhou Qingzhu would never be able to turn things around, and even the powerful Star Hall in Chen Country would not be able to intervene.

No matter how influential the Star Hall was, they could not rescue an acknowledged demon under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Suddenly, Zhou Qingzhu thought of his only chance.

Do not resist!

“Mountain Master Dong, to impose a crime upon someone, why worry about lack of justification!” Zhou Qingzhu sneered, and the Star Power that had surged around him suddenly calmed.

But as he retracted his Star Power, Zhou Qingzhu raised his hand, and a crimson signal shot up from his hand into the night sky, exploding into a dazzling firework.

That was the emergency rally signal of the Tianyang Branch.

Seeing Zhou Qingzhu suddenly withdraw his Star Power under the encirclement of five, Dong Zhao had an ominous feeling.

But seeing Zhou Qingzhu release the rally signal, Dong Zhao steeled his heart and said, “Audacious demon, on the brink of death, you still dare to summon demons to cause chaos…”

Dong Zhao bellowed angrily, ready to order the immediate encirclement and execution of Zhou Qingzhu.

But Zhou Qingzhu, having contended with Dong Zhao for so many years, had already deciphered Dong Zhao’s intentions and was now fully committed.

Zhou Qingzhu straightforwardly dispersed his Star Power, sat cross-legged on the ground, and pulled out the Tianyang Branch’s Mountain Master Seal, injected Star Power to activate it, held it before his chest, and sneered coldly, “Dong Zhao, I am the respectable Mountain Master of the Tianyang Star Hall’s Jinshan Branch, am I someone you can brand as a demon with just a word?

Tian Zhang, if you dare, chop me with your Blood Slaughter Blade, kill me now!

I’ll give you a thumbs up, you’re still the same Tian Zhang from twenty years ago!”

Seeing Zhou Qingzhu not resisting at all, Dong Zhao looked gloomy.

Tian Zhang’s Blood Slaughter Blade in his hand was slowly rotating, but he just couldn’t bring it down.

However, it was Ning Yuchan whose Starlight Iron Hammer, transformed from her iron crutches, was raised several times but each time was stopped by Superintendent Cao Chun.

In this situation, Zhou Qingzhu could not be killed.

His Mountain Master Seal would record this final scene.

The scene could be forged, but the information within the Mountain Master Seal issued by the Tianyang Star Hall could not be altered by anyone.

Once the seal was delivered to the Tianyang Star Hall, their justification would vanish.

Originally, the evidence was conclusive.

But if killed while he did not resist, it could be interpreted as framing and setting him up.

Dong Zhao could not help but admire Zhou Qingzhu’s cunning and slickness.

Surprisingly, he managed to react at the end.

Originally, Dong Zhao’s plan was to incite Zhou Qingzhu to furious resistance using the confession of the demon, then they could easily kill him together, a justifiable act everywhere.

The ironclad evidence proved Zhou Qingzhu was a demon, so why couldn’t they kill a resisting demon?

This rationale was something not even the powerful Tianyang Star Hall could refute.

But now, it was no longer feasible.

Even with conclusive evidence in hand, this matter had to proceed through the court, and the Tianyang Star Hall could intervene.

If they managed well, Zhou Qingzhu might even have a slim chance of survival.

Thinking this, Dong Zhao quietly sighed; the Dachen court was still somewhat weak.

But there was a reason for that; ever since three elders from the Tianyang Star Hall forcefully entered the palace ten years ago to execute Concubine Ling from the Lingji Star Hall, the Dachen Imperial Family had never been forceful again.

If the Imperial Family was weak, the officials beneath could hardly be stringent.

But ultimately, the plan had succeeded.

Only the final outcome was not perfectly achieved.

“Zhou Qingzhu, the evidence is irrefutable, public outrage is boiling, and the National Law is merciless; you cannot escape this.

Lock him up!”

Tian Zhang received the orders and stepped forward, his palm slowly drawing out a several-meter-long chain of Starlight, which astonishingly bristled with Thunder Light.

Fourth Tier Star Skill—Thunder Snake Lock.

As the Thunder Snake Lock wrapped around Zhou Qingzhu, Dong Zhao, Cao Chun, Feng Shu, and Ning Yuchan all watched intently, ready to strike with thunderous force the moment Zhou Qingzhu dared to resist.

It would be perfect to have Zhou Qingzhu’s Mountain Master Seal record this.

A demon resisting viciously—wasn’t that perfectly normal?

Regrettably, from beginning to end, Zhou Qingzhu made no resistance, even when Tian Zhang sealed his Star Palace, he still made no move.

Only one could say, utterly cunning and sly!

Just as Zhou Qingzhu’s Cultivation Level was sealed, numerous experts from the Tianyang Branch rushed over from all directions.

The first to arrive, Dean Wang Qiang of the Tianyang Branch, was enraged when he saw Zhou Qingzhu captured and was on the verge of taking action.

But when he saw Zhou Qingzhu’s calm gaze and the Big Seal floating in front of his chest, he suddenly realized something and immediately withdrew his hand.

Tian Zhang could only sigh helplessly, another clever one.

“This person might be a remnant of the evil demons, capture him and interrogate him together!” Dong Zhao ordered.

Dean Wang Qiang was also smart, he didn’t resist at all, and allowed himself to be captured.

He was well aware that behind them was the Tianyang Star Hall, and Dong Zhao would definitely not dare to kill them casually.

The more carelessly he killed, the more fierce the retaliation from Tianyang Star Hall would be!

Subsequently, others like Vice Mountain Master Liu Yelan and several instructors, including flag master Zhong Da, arrived in the same manner.

It wasn’t that they were all intelligent.

It was just that after seeing the Mountain Master, the Superintendent, and the Vice Mountain Master all not resisting and allowing themselves to be captured, they understood that resistance was futile.

Resisting would mean direct suppression and immediate execution by the experts of Jinshan Taoist Institute.

Even if others survived for now, those who died would have died in vain!

Zhou Qingzhu watched more and more high-ranking members of the Tianyang Taoist Institute being captured by Dong Zhao, and he felt increasingly pleased.

The more people were captured, the safer he was, and the bigger the commotion.

The bigger the commotion, the sooner and faster the Tianyang Star Hall would intervene.

Fifteen minutes later, after controlling all high-ranking members of the Tianyang Branch and sealing the Star Palace, Dong Zhao once again ordered, “Take them back to the institute for strict supervision, Superintendent Cao, you must immediately notify the prefect of a prefecture to assign a Judicial Officer to join you in the interrogation.”

“Military Governor Tian, from this moment, Jinshan County City is only open for entry, not for exit.

You arrange the Star Patrol Guard, please cooperate with the Spring Rain Department to follow the list and capture people, eliminating the evil influence!” Mountain Master Dong Zhao commanded.

“Your subordinate obeys!”

******

Xu Jin and his group were protected by several instructors as they returned to Jinshan Taoist Institute.

Even after the captives were taken away and their confessions submitted, Xu Jin still remembered the shocked expressions of the instructors when they heard about their achievements.

Two experts from the Star Refining Realm were slain, including one from the Seventh Layer.

These achievements…

He didn’t enjoy those shocked looks for long before a group of instructors hurriedly left, but Xu Jin and his team still enjoyed a large meal.

The institute’s cafeteria had already prepared all kinds of lavish dishes, with a continuous offering of chicken, duck, fish, and lamb.

Xu Jin asked a question, and the chef in charge of the cafeteria said this was the tradition, as long as the institute had a reasonably large operation, such meals would be prepared.

They would not let the disciples bleed without having a good meal after.

Just as they finished the meal, Niu Gui, who had just had his broken arm treated, came over and whispered a few words to Xu Jin.

Xu Jin was startled, then stood up and shouted loudly, “Assemble!”

In an instant, Xu Jin’s team, who had just been lazily picking their teeth, quickly got up and ran towards where Xu Jin was.

They ended up clustering together.

It was nowhere near the neat and beautiful troops from previous military training.

But the response was quick enough.

A tough career in the military was indeed the best training.

“The latest order from the Governor, he wants us to follow the list and capture all the bandits who have been causing trouble for the civilians inside and outside Jinshan County City, to thoroughly cleanse the county city.

Can you still fight?” Xu Jin’s voice was high and slightly tinged with laughter.

Given the difficulties they faced on the way back, these men hadn’t crumbled or scattered.

Not to mention following a list to capture people now.

This was Jinshan County City, essentially their home ground!

The reason for his laughter, Xu Jin thought, was also the spoils!

Capturing many meant a lot of spoils.

This was one of the benefits for the Star Patrol Guard.

To be honest, the gains for the Star Patrol Guard were indeed not small.

Fifteen minutes later, Xu Jin’s team split into two groups and began capturing people as per the list.

When leaving Jinshan Taoist Institute, Xu Jin saw Lu Xianbing’s team returning as well, bringing back both captives and a body, creating a somber atmosphere.

One person died in battle; the losses were bearable.

It wasn’t long before Lu Xianbing’s team also joined the capturing sequence.

That night was a sleepless one for Jinshan County City.

Or rather, a sleepless night for those in Jinshan County City with bad intentions.

Disciples from Jinshan Taoist Institute and a few personnel from the government office, along with a large number of county guards, spent the whole night capturing people.

Following the list provided by the Spring Rain Department, they captured over a thousand hooligans and criminals, focusing especially on gang members, particularly those who had mingled with the Heavenly River Gang; none were spared.

Ordinary criminals were handled by the county guard, but those with Cultivation Level were dealt with by the Star Patrol Guard.

That night, Xu Jin and his team were busy.

And they reaped rewards all night.

However, upon returning to Jinshan County City after daylight, they received tragic news!