Yanran Qingcheng promised, "I will replace the magic artifact I destroyed. For now, we have more important matters to attend to."
Ming Zhitian asked, "What matters?"
Yanran Qingcheng looked at him disdainfully, "Of course, it's to kill Liuli Qiansuo, the prime culprit. Don't you know that this Forgotten Kingdom is constructed by an illusion? And the one who created it is precisely Liuli Qiansuo."
Ming Zhitian inquired, "How so?"
Yanran Qingcheng explained, "He was once a lowly servant of the gods. Eventually, he stole and learned a magical book of illusions called 'Myriad Eons Law.' With it, he slaughtered the gods hundreds of years ago, leading to the legend of the Forgotten Kingdom."
Ming Zhitian nodded thoughtfully, "So, Liuli Qiansuo is the mastermind behind this Forgotten Kingdom. We must eliminate him, but first, we need to deal with the external patrols. You understand the principle that one cannot fight with bare hands, right?"
Yanran Qingcheng asked, "You mean the Law Guardians and the Penal Hall?"
Ming Zhitian affirmed, "Yes, let's start with the Penal Hall. We'll take it step by step, slowly dismantling Liuli Qiansuo's forces from within, weakening his power. It will be much easier to face him then."
"Alright." Yanran Qingcheng agreed. Her past failures were not without reason, and she couldn't help but look at Ming Zhitian with newfound respect, sensing his high level of wisdom.
Ming Zhitian stated, "To catch the thief, first catch the king. Who is the highest authority of the Penal Hall?"
Yanran Qingcheng replied, "The one in charge now is the Grand Pharaoh, whose cultivation is at the sixth level of the God-Sealing realm. The true authority is the Law King, who rarely appears, rumored to be at the ninth level of the God-Sealing realm."
Ming Zhitian understood, "Good, then we will start with the Grand Pharaoh. Is there a shortcut to the Penal Hall from here?"
Yanran Qingcheng said, "Yes, follow me."
Following her, they soon arrived at an exit. Upon emerging, they indeed found themselves directly outside the Penal Hall. The place was truly well-connected, befitting Yanran Qingcheng, an old god. Ming Zhitian became even more convinced that she was a descendant of the old rulers of the Forgotten Kingdom.
Yanran Qingcheng cautioned, "Don't act rashly. The Penal Hall has thousands of Law Guardians, and their strength should not be underestimated."
Ming Zhitian waved his hand, "It's fine. They are all out on patrol now. We'll go straight in."
"Hey, you!..." Yanran Qingcheng, seeing that he wasn't listening, could only follow, "Wait for me..."
Ming Zhitian strode in boldly. There were no guards, and he proceeded unhindered.
The Second Pharaoh, Third Pharaoh, and Fourth Pharaoh had all been dispatched, leaving only the Grand Pharaoh to preside over the Penal Hall, leisurely enjoying chilled grapes and fine wine.
Ming Zhitian walked directly across the threshold and confronted him. The Grand Pharaoh waved away the servant girl, "Who are you? How dare you trespass into the Penal Hall!"
Ming Zhitian did not answer and instead asked, "Who are you?"
Seeing Yanran Qingcheng follow him in, the Grand Pharaoh was instantly captivated by her beauty. His eyes lit up, "Good, you stay. Kid, I won't hold you responsible, be gone."
Ming Zhitian persisted, "I asked who you are?"
The Grand Pharaoh's gaze shifted away from Yanran Qingcheng, "You don't want to leave? Guards, capture him!"
Immediately, five Law Guardians, each at the first level of the Heaven-Sealing realm, rushed in, wielding starlight-grade halberds against Ming Zhitian.
Yanran Qingcheng was about to intervene, but Ming Zhitian said, "Why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken?"
Since stepping into the fifth level of the Heaven-Sealing realm, Ming Zhitian's punching speed had increased considerably. He flashed in front of the five individuals and, as fast as lightning, threw several punches!
"Bang, bang..." He struck one person in the abdomen and deflected their halberds with his fists.
Ming Zhitian then seized a halberd and, with a "churning wind and clouds" motion, pierced through the five individuals, incapacitating them. He then proceeded to absorb their cultivation.
He slowly realized that the Myriad Object Control Art, which controlled all things, not only encompassed natural conditions but also magic artifacts. He could treat the halberd as a fist, and thus, all things could be subdued with fist techniques.