However, Lin Xiao had made it clear that this artifact, the Binding Spirit Cage, was a lethal weapon for cultivators. Its use was permitted only for extraordinary situations like this one; under normal circumstances, it was to remain sealed in the sect's storage vault.
It was not to be used unless absolutely necessary.
Excessive use of such an item would cause fear and resentment among all cultivators, creating significant negative perceptions within the cultivation world. This would greatly harm the sect's positive reputation.
The resilience of the Binding Spirit Cage left Gui Jia Zun Zhe and his two subordinates in despair. No matter how hard they tried, they could not find a way to break out.
Cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage generally possess some understanding of spatial laws. Those with higher comprehension could even briefly tear open a small rift in space, just wide enough for one person to escape.
This maneuver, however, consumes a considerable amount of spiritual energy and does not allow for great distances to be crossed. Nevertheless, in critical moments, this ability to bypass external restraints can become a vital escape method.
But for Gui Jia Zun Zhe, who had achieved his cultivation level primarily through the consumption of resources, his comprehension of spatial laws was nearly nonexistent. Although he had spent years at the Nascent Soul stage, his understanding of spatial laws remained superficial.
At most, he could tear a needle-sized hole in space.
Faced with this dire situation, Gui Jia Zun Zhe decided to give it a try, only to discover that he couldn't create even the tiniest rift inside the Binding Spirit Cage.
To his shock, the cage not only neutralized spells but also completely suppressed the use of spatial laws. Gui Jia Zun Zhe realized he had run into a truly formidable adversary.
What he didn't know was that while using spatial laws indeed consumes spiritual energy, a Nascent Soul cultivator with a solid foundation and exceptional mastery over spatial laws could still manage to create a brief rift inside the Binding Spirit Cage and escape.
Of course, this would only be possible if Liao Pantu, who was guarding the cage, didn't notice or counteract the attempt.
Gui Jia Zun Zhe's failure wasn't due solely to the cage's restrictions but also to the depletion of his spiritual energy. The cage had drained enough of his energy that even his usual ability to create a needle-sized rift had been rendered ineffective.
Inside the iron cage, the two captives were at a loss. Apart from casting spells repeatedly to bombard the cage, they didn't know what else they could do. They hoped that their relentless spell attacks might eventually overwhelm the cage.
Gui Jia Zun Zhe even considered ordering his subordinate to self-destruct his Golden Core as a last resort.
However, the subordinate valued his life too much. For now, they were only imprisoned, not facing immediate life-threatening danger. Naturally, he refused. Though he feared Gui Jia Zun Zhe might retaliate later if they were rescued, he reasoned that such concerns would only matter if he survived. If he self-destructed, there would be nothing left of him to worry about.
This much was clear in his mind, so no matter what promises or threats Gui Jia Zun Zhe made, the subordinate wouldn't budge.
The two captives continued their futile assault on the cage while arguing with each other. Meanwhile, the Binding Spirit Cage silently absorbed their spiritual energy. The double drain from their spells and the cage itself quickly exhausted them, leaving them powerless.
Liao Pantu didn't pay attention to what the two prisoners were doing inside the cage. He simply secured the cage to a luxurious spirit ship he had previously collected, tied it to the prow, and began his journey back to Xiushui City.
On the way, he used his personal storage ring to inform Lin Xiao about his success.
Relaxing in a reclining chair on the opposite side of the cage, he enjoyed the ride. Next to him, a small table was piled with dishes, snacks, fruits, and a flask of freshly brewed spirit wine from Jiang Youfu, prepared just a few days prior.
Liao Pantu leisurely sipped from a small wine cup, savoring the lingering aroma in his mouth. In his other hand, he held a jade slip and casually asked the exhausted subordinate slumped inside the cage, "What's your codename in Wan Wan Tong? Where's your assigned station?"
The subordinate shot him a fierce glare, using the most menacing expression he could muster. But he didn't respond.
Liao Pantu returned the glare with a look that seemed to say, Are you an idiot? "If you don't talk, I can just kill you. It'll be a bit more trouble for me, sure, but I'll manage."
With that, he unleashed the full might of his Divine Transformation pressure upon the two captives inside the cage, showing no restraint.
Already drained of spiritual energy, the two were helpless against the sudden and overwhelming force. Both collapsed under the weight of the pressure.
The Golden Core subordinate fared the worst. Unlike Gui Jia Zun Zhe, who only felt suffocated and barely managed to endure, the subordinate started foaming at the mouth, his eyes rolling back as though he was about to pass out.
"You... You're a Divine Transformation cultivator!" Despite his precarious state, Gui Jia Zun Zhe managed to gasp out these words.
Liao Pantu glanced at him indifferently, not bothering to dignify the remark with a response.
Neither of the captives had expected their captor to be at the Divine Transformation stage. After all, this was the mortal world!
They had grown accustomed to the notion that Nascent Soul was the peak in the mortal world. The sudden appearance of a Divine Transformation cultivator led them to wonder if an external power from the cultivation world was trying to seize control of the mortal market.
But that didn't make sense. The sects of the Northern and Southern Spirit Realms knew that Wan Wan Tong dominated the mortal world and were unlikely to interfere.
Could this be someone from another spirit domain?
Before the Golden Core subordinate could completely lose consciousness, Liao Pantu withdrew his pressure. After all, these captives would be valuable laborers for reclaiming barren lands. He couldn't afford to let them die.
Every worker was a precious resource.
"Well? Ready to talk now?"
"Y-Yes... I'll talk! Please, spare me, honored senior!" The subordinate's resolve finally broke, proving that his stubbornness couldn't match the pressure of impending death.
Under Liao Pantu's oppressive aura and probing divine sense, the subordinate dared not lie or withhold anything. He obediently revealed his codename and station.
Satisfied, Liao Pantu gleefully marked the location as "captured" in his jade slip. With this accomplishment, he'd saved himself the trouble of visiting yet another location.
When Gui Jia Zun Zhe, the key figure of Wan Wan Tong's operations in the mortal world, was successfully captured, Lin Xiao immediately sent a message to Li Zhan Ying.
In truth, even before Senior Liao had set out to apprehend Gui Jia Zun Zhe, Lin Xiao had already informed Li Zhan Ying about their plan to capture all Wan Wan Tong agents. They had agreed that if Lingxian Sect successfully detained the head agent, the Li Clan would use its extensive network to notify all sects and royal families to help eliminate the remaining agents.
The mortal world had long suffered under the control and surveillance of these cultivation-world agents.
Once the Li Clan conveyed the news that Lingxian Sect had already captured the ringleader and eradicated all agents within Pusi Nation, the other factions were quick to act.
Li Zhan Ying made it clear: Pusi Nation had set the precedent. If trouble arose again, it would fall on their shoulders to bear the consequences. Their argument, presented with both reason and emotion, resonated deeply. Everyone felt that they had no reason to refuse the call to action.