He had actually had both legs severed by the sword, and fainted from the pain on the spot. 

The sword strike from Fang Juejian even drew Sang Qing’s attention. 

She tossed the needle aside and gave Fang Juejian another look: “You are not a cultivator.” 

Someone without spiritual power had unleashed such a stunning move. 

Fang Juejian seemed to have used all her strength just now, and now her face was bloodless, and her breathing was rapid. 

She slowly sheathed her sword, and after a few breaths, she said with a slight pant, “The second day after I was born, he tried to kill my mother and me. Fortunately, my mother had a secret technique that allowed her to barely conceal us.

After he left, my mother tried every possible way to save me, but while my life could be preserved, my meridians were difficult to repair. I could never cultivate like ordinary cultivators. But my mother said that if a person only focuses on doing one thing in their life, they can’t be too bad no matter what. So, for the past ten years, in addition to the basics, I have only practiced this one sword.” 

Sang Qing said, “This sword is enough to comfort your mother.” 

At this time, Cen Wuyue had already picked up the silver needle that had fallen on the ground again, and was playing with it between her fingers while saying, “No wonder he was so tough at the beginning. He really thought he wouldn’t be exposed.” 

Fang Juejian saw the needle in her hand, recalled what had just happened, and immediately bowed again: “I must also thank the two of you for the plan that made him lose his composure.” 

She didn’t know exactly what the needle was for, but she didn’t ask too much, just thanked them generously. 

Cen Wuyue got up with a smile, generously put the golden needle in Fang Juejian’s hand, and said, “Is it pretty? I’ll give it to you.” 

Fang Juejian was a little puzzled: “Give it to me? Shouldn’t this be something that Steward Sang gave you?” 

Her eyesight was excellent, so she naturally did not miss Fang Heng’s action of looking at Sang Qing after seeing the golden needle. 

“No, I whittled it on the way here.” Cen Wuyue said happily, “How is it? It looks real, right? You and Fang Heng were both deceived, right?” 

As she spoke, she pulled out a still-hot meat skewer from her storage ring, bit off the piece of meat at the top, broke off the exposed small section of iron skewer, manipulated her spiritual power to polish it this way and that, and in the blink of an eye, she had polished a glittering thin needle. 

Fang Juejian was surprised and praised very sincerely, “You… you can lie so easily, you’re really amazing.” 

“I never lie.” Cen Wuyue said with a smile, “I just said to him, ‘You should know what this is, right?’ He completed the part that I didn’t say himself.” 

Cen Wuyue also readily gave Fang Juejian the second needle she had just sharpened. 

Fang Juejian looked down at the thin needle in her hand, and barely resisted the urge to lower her head to smell if it had a meaty scent. 

Cen Wuyue had already excitedly ran to look at Fang Heng, who had been cut in half and scattered all over the ground. 

Whether Fang Juejian did it on purpose or by accident, the position of the cut was quite delicate. 

At first glance, it looked like he was in two pieces, but it seemed like he could be said to be in three pieces… or maybe four pieces? 

Fang Heng was obviously planning to escape in the end. Is the punishment for violating the sect rules so terrible? 

“Senior Sister, what is the punishment of ‘forever imprisoned in the Thousand Machine Tomb’?” Cen Wuyue turned to ask the insider. 

Sang Qing approached and took off the siskin automaton from Cen Wuyue’s head – the little bird’s claws had messed up her hair in order to maintain balance – she gently flicked with her slender fingers with calluses, and opened the siskin’s breastplate from a place that was almost seamless. 

Cen Wuyue’s eyes widened instantly. 

Fortunately, the siskin seemed to have no pain, and still calmly stayed in Sang Qing’s hand, letting her operate. 

“–All disciples of my Xuanxu City must learn automaton making when they enter the sect, so they will inevitably disassemble and assemble them thousands of times. If it is just ordinary low-level automatons, they will be too easily damaged.” Sang Qing lowered her eyes to check the condition of the automaton, adjusted a few parts, and then closed it again. “But if nourished by divine soul, low-level automatons can also be used for a long time.” 

As soon as she finished speaking, Fang Juejian and Cen Wuyue’s eyes simultaneously fell on the round, black siskin. 

It looked incredibly cute and harmless, but who knew whose soul was inside? 

“It’s certainly not this kind.” Sang Qing raised her hand and released the siskin automaton, saying, “But the most rudimentary and immobile kind. Giving too exquisite automatons to beginners is a waste of resources.” 

Fang Juejian looked at Fang Heng’s tattered body and fell into deep thought. 

She thought: This seems to be enough punishment for him… 

On the other hand, Cen Wuyue was about to ask again: “What if someone who hasn’t violated the sect rules is still locked up? Will someone use this method to harm people after they know about it?” 

Fang Juejian looked up at Cen Wuyue, who suddenly hit the nail on the head, and pondered again. 

She also thought: Indeed, this method is very risky… 

“Everything in the world that can be used to disadvantage others can be exploited. All we can do is try to restrict the ways in which these methods are used.” Sang Qing said, “In Xuanxu City, only the City Lord knows how to carry out this punishment.” 

Cen Wuyue asked curiously, “What if the City Lord makes a mistake? I heard that the former City Lord wasn’t a good person, right?” 

Of course, it wasn’t just what the owner of the flying shuttle said, but also what the shopkeeper who ate with Fang Juejian said. 

In the past ten days, Cen Wuyue had already heard many of the same statements. 

The former City Lord was unkind, and the current City Lord killed him and replaced him, and is a well-deserved “benevolent ruler.” 

Cen Wuyue hadn’t met the current City Lord yet, but had already heard a lot of praise about him. 

… 

In the end, Sang Qing did not answer that question, but said that she had to return to the dungeon to interrogate the prisoners, and waved her hand to send Cen Wuyue and Fang Juejian away together. 

Cen Wuyue didn’t mind the other party’s seemingly offended attitude, and happily started a new chat with Fang Juejian: “You’ve completed your mother’s request. What are you going to do with your time after this?” 

Fang Juejian did not hesitate, as if she had already thought it through: “I will go to Duanchao Sword Lodge nearby, concentrate on honing my swordsmanship, and challenge the disciples there. When I feel the time is right, I will go to the next sword-wielding sect.” 

Seeing her so determined, Cen Wuyue was also happy, clapped her hands and decided, “In that case, let me treat you to a farewell dinner!” 

Fang Juejian hesitated for only a moment, feeling that she didn’t need to be too fussy in front of Cen Wuyue, and directly asked, “I heard that cultivators try not to eat mundane food as much as possible.” 

Cen Wuyue said seriously, “If a person is killed, they will die – if a person doesn’t eat, they will die.” 

“Cultivators won’t, right.” 

“They will die in another way!” 

“Then that means death has nothing to do with not eating, doesn’t it?” 

“Fang Juejian, you don’t have much money left, do you?” 

“Indeed.” 

“Then do you still want to eat this meal I’m treating you to?” 

“You’re right, if a person is killed, they will die.” 

“No! It’s the other sentence.” 

“…That’s right, if a person doesn’t eat, they will die.” 

The next period of time passed in an orderly manner. 

The owner of the flying shuttle was healing in his room. 

Sang Qing was interrogating the stubborn dead soldiers in the dungeon. 

Cen Wuyue ate and drank every day, observed the situation at the entrance of the dungeon, and by the way, stared at Chef Li in the City Lord’s Mansion to quench her thirst with the image of plums. 

The chef surnamed Li was the best Osmanthus Fish Fillet master in the city. 

Cultivators advocate abstaining from grains and not eating mundane food, but given the proportion of cultivators in this world, it is almost impossible to operate such a large sect without using mortals. Therefore, the survival of each sect is inseparable from mortals, and these mortals who work for cultivators always have more guarantees in terms of income and safety than other mortals. 

For example, Chef Li would close his restaurant and go to work in the City Lord’s Mansion, also for this stability. 

“–Although, when it’s time to die, you still have to die.” Chef Li said helplessly, “The last time the City Lord made a move a few days ago, although it wasn’t intentional, some houses were right in the path of that move… sigh.” 

Another chef next to him said, “At least they died in the blink of an eye in their dreams, without any pain at all. I’d say they were pretty lucky.” 

“That’s right. Before I fled to Xuanxu City, I passed by a village where men, women, old and young were all slaughtered, and not even a few chickens survived. That’s what you call tragic! So much blood flowed that when I stepped on the ground, the mud was wet and soft, and the muddy water mixed with blood oozed out! At least the kind of mad demon who enters the city and kills people everywhere won’t happen in our Xuanxu City. That’s enough.” 

Cen Wuyue was waiting for food by the stove, waiting so long that she was looking forward to it. She had to listen to everyone’s chat to distract herself. 

Although she had been down the mountain for less than a month, she had already seen scenes like the one just described once or twice. 

Although they are all essentially human and active in the same world, there is a deep chasm between cultivators and mortals. 

Cultivators do not abide by the laws of mortals. 

Mortals also have almost no possibility of killing cultivators. 

Therefore, people like Fang Juejian would not think of reporting to the authorities, but would directly wade through mountains and rivers to find the sect where the enemy was located to get an explanation. This is a more common logic. 

Cultivation sects have absolute power to dispose of their disciples. 

Of course, the premise is that the sect does not protect its disciples and will take the words of mortals like Fang Juejian seriously. 

Sang Qing can represent Xuanxu City in dealing with Fang Heng and is also prepared to let Fang Juejian leave safely, indicating that this city can indeed be regarded as a “Shangri-La.” 

“Xuanxu City is a good place.” Cen Wuyue said with emotion. 

“It’s not that good, it’s just better than bad,” Chef Li said, skillfully taking the pot off the stove and plating the dish, “Otherwise, why would we have to suppress that Karma Abyss every three years?” 

Karma Abyss, Cen Wuyue had heard her master talk about this. 

“But aren’t there only four Karma Abyss?” Cen Wuyue asked puzzledly, “That’s what my master said.” 

Everyone looked at each other: “Immortal, there are now thirty-three Karma Abyss. How many years ago were there only four?” 

Cen Wuyue blinked: “My master is a bit out of touch with the world.”