Naturally, Xie Lian didn’t dare answer that comment. Jun Wu continued.
“Eight hundred years ago, when I sent you down, I told you to keep in periodic communication with me so you would not have to roll in the mud all by yourself. But once you left, there was not a word from you for eight hundred years, and all the while you unnecessarily tormented yourself down below. You’ve been ascended for some time now, but not once have you reported to the Palace of Divine Might. If anyone else was this impertinent, the Palace of Ling Wen would have censured them directly.”
Of course, Xie Lian’s “I’m sorry” earlier wasn’t directed to this matter, and Jun Wu was aware of this also.
He added, “If your apology was for those few sword attacks, then let it go. You said it yourself: ‘All is forgotten after a stabbing.’”
Xie Lian smiled wryly. “…How could I forget?”
“Then look to the future,” Jun Wu replied quietly. “There is still much we need you for.”
Xie Lian rubbed his forehead. “Xianle is but a lowly scrap immortal, without power. There is no need for me. I only hope not to be a burden.”
“Why deprecate yourself so? Did you not perform splendidly in these last two cases?” Jun Wu said.
“Except I may have offended General Pei.” Xie Lian sighed ruefully.
“Ming Guang is fine. I will keep an eye on him; you do not need to worry. However…” Jun Wu turned around. “Tell me, what kind of extraordinary character did you engage with when you descended this time?”
Xie Lian raised his hand. “My Lord, I swear I did nothing. Just, one day by chance, I encountered an interesting young man on the road, and we spent some time together. I didn’t think much of it.”
Jun Wu nodded. “Chance encounter, young man, Supreme Ghost King. Xianle, surely you are aware what the consequences would be if Ming Guang was to question you further and you confessed to this in front of the other officials? No one would believe you.”
“Xianle knows,” Xie Lian replied woefully. “So, I am grateful for My Lord’s timely intervention. My Lord, you’re not actually going to interrogate me, are you? I wouldn’t collude with the Ghost Realm. These are absurd concerns.”
“Naturally, I know you would not intentionally collude with the Ghost Realm,” Jun Wu said.
“I am grateful for My Lord’s trust,” Xie Lian replied.
“However, with things thus, it may no longer be appropriate to send you to investigate an urgent matter that I have on hand.”
“What is it?” Xie Lian inquired.
At this time, the two of them reached the chamber behind the great hall, separated from the main hall by a large mural. The front depicted a golden palace towering above a sea of clouds, radiant and brilliant. The back of the mural was another view, depicting mountains and valleys spanning over an enormous distance. Gazing over the expanse of the painting, one could see many tiny pearls embedded on this giant map, glinting like stars.
Each one of those pearls embedded on the map represented the location of a Temple of Divine Might built in the Mortal Realm. Eight hundred years earlier, when Jun Wu brought the newly ascended Xie Lian to these inner halls, the twinkling stars on the mural weren’t as dense. But now, the shimmering jewels seemed to fill one’s vision, overwhelming in their radiance.
Jun Wu stood before the mural and pointed at a place in the east. “Seven days ago, many saw with their own eyes a dragon of fire suddenly soaring into the sky from the deep mountains in this area.”
Xie Lian’s face grew serious.
Jun Wu, with one hand behind his back, used the other to softly rap on a place on the mural. “That dragon of fire lasted for two incense time before burning out. In that time, many witnessed the sight, but not a single person was injured. Do you know what that means?”
“The spell for the Ascending Fire Dragon emits intense flames that do not harm but can be seen by many due to the vast expanse of its display. It’s a call for help,” Xie Lian replied.
“Correct. It was a distress signal, and it came from a heavenly official,” Jun Wu said.
“And it’s no ordinary call for help, it’s one of desperation,” Xie Lian added.
The flames of the Ascending Fire Dragon spell were extremely intense and needed to be strictly controlled to avoid causing any harm. Those strict controls would most assuredly drain an immense amount of a heavenly official’s spiritual power. If the casting official was not careful, their powers could easily backfire and they would destroy themself in the process. Unless they were absolutely desperate, very few heavenly officials would take such a risk. A sighting of this nature meant that a heavenly official had fallen into grave peril, with no other options left.