The female captain responsible for escorting was a very capable person. After ensuring the handover was complete and getting Yang Xiao’s signature, she wasted no words and left directly with her team.
Faced with such a precious treasure, Yang Xiao didn’t store it in the Provincial Office’s warehouse at all, but carefully placed it in the Mirror Secret Room.
This item isn’t from the Patrol Defense Office; it’s Yang Xiao’s own. Chief Commissioner Gu from the General Bureau is a sensible person and didn’t steal his belonging, which made Yang Xiao very satisfied.
Of course, it’s also possible that this item is simply too dangerous and hard to control.
But no matter how you see it, this is a spell-type magic artifact, a truly valuable good item.
If you also count the space-type magical artifact in the Great Protector’s hands, then Yang Xiao has two rare magic artifacts.
Tomorrow morning, he will set off for Rongcheng, but tonight Yang Xiao still has some matters to handle. After returning home, he called out the Soul-Capturing Mirror and entered the Mirror Secret Room, intending to settle things with this Great Protector.
The future battle at Yiling Academy is still uncertain what troubles it might bring, so he plans to try and refine this Great Protector first.
If he can successfully refine it, not only will he himself be able to harness space power, but the Great Protector puppet can too.
By then, he can utilize the Great Protector’s ability to segment the battlefield, and he himself can find opportunities to defeat opponents individually, making combat effortless.
However, such thoughts are always pleasant, but reality is quite different. When he faced the Great Protector again, the protector was already in a dying state with his pupils dissolved.
Even more troublesome, the flesh on his body began to drop away. It wasn’t normal decay but slowly turning viscous, akin to a muddy texture.
Yang Xiao knew immediately what was happening; the Great Protector’s physical condition was already terrible initially. Now that the artifact was taken away and isolated in a special metal box, losing its connection with the artifact, this body’s "collapse" commenced.
Yang Xiao had heard of similar cases, though none as severe as the Great Protector’s. Lu Youdao, hiding beneath the Lin’an Patrol Office, turned into that ghostly appearance because he was forcibly stripped of the Resentful Eye.
Dean Sheng was similar; all of his top-grade magic tools were taken by the Dharma Sect using secret techniques, with one item destroyed due to an accident, nearly ruining his foundation.
Yang Xiao didn’t have experience handling such corpses, so he had no choice but to drive overnight to the outer city experimental base to seek professional help.
Ku Daoist, half-asleep, suddenly sensed a presence nearby and quickly woke up, bringing his puppet rushing out of the room, only to see Yang Xiao admiring flowers in the courtyard with his hands behind his back.
"Dark... Ming Emperor!" Ku Daoist hurried over with shoes untied, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Yang Xiao could have appeared beside Ku Daoist directly, but to avoid misunderstandings, he chose to wait in the courtyard instead.
Yang Xiao wasted no words, directly instructing the Mirror Ghost to bring out the corpse. Upon seeing the body about to rot into mud, Ku Daoist frowned deeply.
"How is it? Is there any way to remedy this?" Yang Xiao asked urgently.
"This... I’m afraid it cannot be saved, it’s already about to turn into a pool of water." Ku Daoist admitted.
Knowing Yang Xiao wasn’t easy to talk to, Ku Daoist quickly added after his statement, "I’m not refusing Ming Emperor’s favor; I truly have no method."
"Even if it were me, not even the Bone Painting Tower’s Little House Lord could do anything. The primary condition for refining a puppet is that the body must be mostly intact."
Such is the logic, Yang Xiao is aware, but he is unwilling to give up; he didn’t come all this way at night for nothing.
In the end, Yang Xiao extorted quite a few herbs from Ku Daoist, managing to preserve what was left of the Great Protector’s remains.
If refining a puppet is unattainable, then he must settle for using the corpse for some dharma sect alchemy — this useless thing!
Seeing Yang Xiao brooding, muttering something under his breath, hearing some words clearly, Ku Daoist felt a chill in his heart.
He prided himself as ruthless, yet before Ming Emperor Ye Xiao, he seemed naïve as a greenhorn; his praised methods paled compared to this young man, worthy of the best citizen award instead.
Beyond the human realm are greater beings, and beyond the sky is the Ming Emperor.
One must never offend the Ming Emperor; he’s too ruthless.
The Withered Bone Pavilion was a renowned evil cultivation force, yet due to offending the Ming Emperor, it nearly faced extermination in short time, with thirteen Protectors dying or being refined into puppets.
"Ku Daoist, what are you scheming?" Noticing Ku Daoist’s changing complexion as if poisoned, Yang Xiao questioned.
"No... nothing, I was just thinking how the Ming Emperor Captain is as compassionate as a Bodhisattva, sparing the evil Great Protector from the Withered Bone Pavilion, leaving a whole corpse; truly charming like jade, of good-hearted kindness, noble and awe-inspiring, I am in admiration." Ku Daoist flattered Yang Xiao thoroughly from all angles.
"Hahaha!!" Yang Xiao laughed, "Ku Daoist, you’ve improved huh, quite interesting, keep going."
"Keep going..." Ku Daoist paused, confused.
Seeing Yang Xiao’s expression change slightly, Ku Daoist immediately brainstormed all the praiseworthy adulations and poured them out:
"Young talent with great aspirations, gentle like jade in brilliance."
"Grace and magnificence within, charming in demeanor."
"Lofty ambitions and wisdom, humble and rich in depth."
"Imposing presence with character, virtues thick and sustaining..."
"Alright, let’s stop here for today." With hands behind his back, Yang Xiao’s demeanor was unmistakable, smiling clearly pleased by this flattery, "Ku Daoist, you’re smart to know where loyalty lies; in return, the Ming Emperor will care for you."
"Thank you, Ming Emperor Captain." Ku Daoist raised his hand in salute, "Reporting to Ming Emperor Captain, that prisoner is unexpectedly missing."
"I took him away; I need him to help me with some things."
"When will he come back?" Ku Daoist asked.
Hearing this, Yang Xiao frowned slightly, "Why, do you need him for something?"
"No, no, I mean if he cannot return for a while, I, Ku Daoist, boldly recommend myself to replace him and watch over this place for you." Ku Daoist lowered his voice, smiling flatteringly.
Raising an eyebrow, Yang Xiao’s gaze on Ku Daoist became subtly intrigued, speaking slowly after a few seconds: "Alright, truly a veteran of the martial arts world, not simple; figured out he is my informant?"
"Haha, it’s an honor for the Ming Emperor to notice, after all, being so old, one must learn skills beyond just eating, no?" Ku Daoist bowed again respectfully, "I hope the Ming Emperor offers an opportunity; I won’t disappoint you."
Seeing Yang Xiao silent, Ku Daoist continued, "In fact, it’s not only you who has informants; there are others, someone..."
"A one-eyed thief monk and a trickster." Yang Xiao interrupted.
At that moment, Ku Daoist wore a somewhat embarrassed expression but adjusted quickly, nodding repeatedly with a grin, "Exactly, those two, Ming Emperor Captain’s sight is sharp, nothing can escape you."
"Ku Daoist, honestly, you’re not of much use to me, but today you took the initiative to share this, which pleases me."
"The prisoner won’t return soon; since you came to me, I’ll give you a chance. From today, you’re under Ming Emperor’s protection."
"Thank you, Ming Emperor Captain, for nurturing!" Ku Daoist was thrilled.
"Alright, I will leave for a while during this period. Keep a close watch here, report any changes upon my return."
"As one of mine, I won’t treat you unfairly." Yang Xiao assured.