The Immortal Official

Shangguan Wan'er couldn't stand the Second Prince's arrogance and snapped angrily, "If you have the guts, never step beyond the Border Pass! Otherwise, my master will surely kill you!"

The Second Prince laughed even more wildly. "You think you can ambush me outside the Border Pass? Hahaha... You won’t get the chance. I’ll send word to the Ascendant Immortal Dynasty right away and summon Celestial Immortal experts to escort me! By then... who’s getting cornered at the Border Pass remains to be seen!"

Bang!

A flash of demonic light streaked through the air—and the Second Prince, who had already lost one ear, now lost the other.

Stunned, the Second Prince stared blankly at Gu Qingfeng, who was leisurely retracting his finger, his face filled with disbelief.

He had never imagined anyone would dare to strike within the Border Pass. In his mind, no one in this world could be so audacious—until today.

And then... something eerie happened.

In an instant, the bustling street fell into a deathly silence, an unnatural hush. The pedestrians all froze in place, their eyes wide as they gaped at Gu Qingfeng, as if turned to stone.

It was like a movie suddenly paused.

The sheer shock rendered everyone speechless.

Like a gunshot ringing out in the middle of a crowded street—the moment it happened, the air itself seemed to freeze.

"AHHH!!!"

Agony surged through the Second Prince, and his piercing screams shattered the silence, echoing down the entire street.

At that moment, the "movie" resumed.

Gasps and shouts erupted from the crowd.

"By the heavens! That man actually attacked inside the Border Pass?!"

"How many years has it been? Aside from the Immortal Officials, who dares to kill freely within the Border Pass?"

"Run! Get out of here! If the Immortal Officials unleash their wrath, we’ll all suffer!"

Panic spread like wildfire. People screamed and scattered in terror, as if fleeing from a monstrous beast.

"You’re dead! Dead! How dare you strike within the Border Pass?! The Immortal Officials will—AHHH!!!"

Gu Qingfeng flicked a finger, and a beam of light pierced the Second Prince’s thigh.

Pain drowned out the prince’s furious ranting, leaving only screams.

The rule against violence within the Border Pass was an ironclad law, as fundamental as common sense.

Yet today, someone had shattered that "common sense." How could people not be stunned?

Watching the terrified crowd, Gu Qingfeng merely smiled and uttered words that left his listeners utterly speechless.

"Immortal Officials? Pfft. What are they worth? Soon enough, they’ll just be this Emperor’s lapdogs."

The residents of the Border Pass were dumbfounded. From birth, they had been taught that the Immortal Officials were supreme, their word absolute law.

Because the Immortal Officials represented the Stellar Zenith Immortal Dynasty—the highest rulers of this starry domain, their words akin to divine decree.

Yet now, someone had not only attacked within the Border Pass but even insulted the Immortal Officials?!

"He’s insane! A madman!" The Second Prince, now crippled with one leg, had wet himself in terror. Only a lunatic would dare provoke the Immortal Officials. What else could Gu Qingfeng be but a madman?

Hopping desperately on his remaining leg, the Second Prince fled toward the Immortal Officials’ residence.

If he could just hold out until the Immortal Officials intervened, he might survive!

Then Gu Qingfeng would face the most brutal punishment imaginable—regretting his defiance for the rest of his miserable life.

Watching the fleeing prince, Gu Qingfeng didn’t immediately seize him. Instead, he followed at a leisurely pace, like a cat toying with a mouse.

The Second Prince soon reached another street. The moment passersby saw him, they recoiled as if seeing a ghost.

Mortals and immortals alike scrambled away in terror.

Anyone could tell Gu Qingfeng was hunting the Second Prince. No one dared get close, fearing they’d be caught in the crossfire.

Then—

A deep, ancient horn blast echoed in the distance, filling the air with oppressive weight.

In response, figures bathed in immortal light descended from all directions, their auras sharp as blades. A disciplined army of rogue immortals assembled, their combined presence darkening the skies.

Those who hadn’t escaped in time paled at the sight. "We’re doomed! It’s the Immortal Officials’ army!"

But the Second Prince’s face lit up with manic joy. He lurched toward the soldiers, screaming, "Lord Immortal Officials! Save me! Someone has broken your laws—they’re killing inside the Border Pass!!"

Then—

The heavens split open, a yawning abyss like the maw of a monstrous beast.

Four celestial maidens in white descended gracefully, carrying an ornate, luxurious palanquin as if dancing through the air.

"All kneel—the Immortal Officials have arrived!"

A voice like divine proclamation rolled across the land.

The pedestrians immediately looked as if they had lost their parents, yet they dared not run further. One by one, they halted in their tracks and dropped to their knees with a series of thuds, showing reverence to the Immortal Official.

The Second Prince, upon seeing this, frantically hopped toward the sedan chair on one leg.

"Immortal Official, this humble one is the Second Prince of the Ascendant Immortal Dynasty. A thousand years ago, when Your Excellency celebrated your longevity, I once accompanied my imperial father to kowtow and offer blessings!"

"Pfft—hahaha..." Suddenly, an unrestrained burst of laughter came from within the sedan chair.

Then, a rotund, greasy-faced official in court robes lifted the sedan curtain, his eyes fixed on the one-legged hopping Second Prince as he laughed uncontrollably.

"Hahaha... How amusing, truly amusing! To think someone would walk like this—go on, take a few more steps for this official!"

Seeing the Immortal Official laugh, the Second Prince was overjoyed. Laughter meant hope—whether it was mockery or not didn’t matter. He immediately hopped even more enthusiastically.

While bouncing, he wailed, "Immortal Official, save me! That man dared to kill me within the Boundary Pass, showing no respect for Your Excellency!"

"Oh?" The spherical Immortal Official narrowed his already tiny eyes, turning his gaze toward Gu Qingfeng.

With his eyes already small, squinting made them look like mere slits—one might wonder if he could even see.

But the next moment, the Immortal Official’s eyes suddenly widened, locking onto the three women behind Gu Qingfeng with an unmistakable greed.