Chapter 720 - 343: The Corpse of the Heavenly Art; The Lotus Transformation

Henggao Divine Mountain, Exorcism Bureau, Amaterasu Prison.

Amaterasu Prison is the highest-level prison within the Exorcism Bureau’s sky prisons, always as bright as day inside, as if the sun that banishes evil in the world is hidden here, making it impossible for any evil spirit that could hide to remain unseen within Amaterasu Prison.

Therefore, only the most terrifying demons can be imprisoned in this place.

A man gently tapped the ink-glazed tabletop with his fingertips, the crisp sound forming a melodious tune in the air above Amaterasu Prison, seemingly in a good mood.

He appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with a hooked nose, thick eyebrows, and round eyes. He exuded an aura of authority without anger.

He seemed to thoroughly enjoy this solitary time, though he was not truly alone. In front of him was a transparent crystal palace-like cage, inside which were several dark and mysterious bones.

He scrutinized this pile of remains, his gaze as if he were looking at a familiar old friend.

However, his time reminiscing with this old friend was soon interrupted by an uninvited guest.

"Give me the Celestial Technique’s body."

An authoritative and cold female voice suddenly broke the silence, and a dignified purple and a streak of divine silver appeared in the daylight-bright cell.

Hua Jing Chief’s face was still shrouded in enigmatic mist, making it impossible to discern her emotions through her expression. Only her exposed, pure white eyes revealed a hidden but contained anger, making others dare not make eye contact.

"Hua Jing, you’ve overstepped."

Henglian Chief stopped his ’performance’, his thick eyebrows slightly furrowed.

The three chiefs of the Exorcism Bureau each had their duties, independent and counterbalancing each other. Each chief had their own responsibilities and powers, and they could not overstep these boundaries, seize the tasks of the other chiefs, or set foot on another chief’s territory without permission.

Since the establishment of the Exorcism Bureau, this tripartite system of power was meant to prevent excessive power concentration in one chief, so that the Bureau’s original intention of eradicating evil and cleansing the Five Continents remained unpolluted.

Hua Jing Chief’s abrupt intrusion into the sky prison was clearly unauthorized by Henglian Chief, the prison’s master. Not to mention that Hua Jing Chief’s arrival at Amaterasu Prison suggested many rules were broken along the way, and she might have even killed some of Henglian Chief’s subordinates.

Thus, Henglian Chief’s displeasure was only natural.

"The one who can punish me is right here in your prison."

Hua Jing Chief’s tone remained unchanged, yet a hint of defiance could be detected.

Instances of overstepping boundaries among the chiefs in the Exorcism Bureau’s history occasionally occurred, and typically, the task of punishing the transgressor would fall to a third chief. But the Zhongyuan Continent Exorcism Bureau now lacked a third chief.

Strangely, Hua Jing Chief’s provocation didn’t anger Henglian Chief, as if his earlier frowns had been merely an act. He sat up straighter, his tone leveling out:

"When there are no restrictions, one indeed tends to act wantonly..."

He shook his head with a sigh, and after this self-reflective remark, he raised his eyes and said, "How did you know his body was here?"

"The Drum Skin Ghost has occupied this prison for ninety years. You have always taken pride in capturing it, yet you willingly let it go today. This indicates there’s something in Amaterasu Prison you treasure even more."

Hua Jing Chief simply used her white eyes to gaze directly at Henglian Chief, attempting to discern something from his face.

Henglian Chief, hearing this, nodded knowingly:

"He was the person I admired most in my life, and the elder I respected most. Therefore, I naturally kept the best cell for him."

"Don’t you think the word ’cell’ sounds particularly jarring in your words?"

Hua Jing Chief did not advance; she merely stood at the door.

Even though she knew the Celestial Technique Chief’s remains were inside, she did not enter. This is because Amaterasu Prison, the sturdiest prison across the Five Continents, possesses Restriction Techniques forged over a hundred years by predecessors, using countless treasures, and only Henglian Chief, who controls the sky prison, holds the key.

"I just wish to clear his name." Henglian Chief stood up, observing the black bones before him.

"If you truly want to clear his name, you should hand over his body to me. I will prove to everyone that no evil has tainted these remains."

Hua Jing Chief’s tone was angry. The Celestial Technique Chief had sacrificed his life to secure a future for the Zhongyuan Continent and even the entire Five Continents. But the remembrance of this martyr hadn’t lasted long before doubts about his honor arose, and these doubts intensified, exploding once the Celestial Technique Venerable’s remains were found.

This situation was truly disheartening. The moment Hua Jing Chief learned of this, she sought out his remains to attempt to clear his name immediately. However, his remains mysteriously vanished from the site shortly after appearing.

"This is not within your responsibility scope, and I will not give him to you." Henglian Chief shook his head, "Hua Jing, you handle the affairs of the living; matters of the dead..."

Before he could finish, Hua Jing Chief slightly raised her chin, interrupting, "Did you deliberately hide his body here?"

Henglian Chief turned his head, his eagle-like eyes sharp and piercing:

"This concerns the five-thousand-year reputation of the Exorcism Bureau! How can I treat this as a child’s play?! Whether he was righteous or evil, I will find out the truth!!"

"What’s there to investigate?! He could never have made a pact with demons! You should be just as clear about that as I am!"