Chapter 18: The Will of Heaven Reveals Itself

Mr. Shang also whispered, "Young Master Ding, these people are truly like pigs and dogs. The opportunity to ask the will of heaven is so precious, it would be a waste!"

Ding Hao said, "No matter how precious the will of heaven is, it is not as precious as the justice in my heart! My nature is such that if someone wants to bully me, I would rather die with honor than live in disgrace!" As he said this, his eyes were fixed on the young prince.

The young prince pretended not to see.

Ling Yunxiao nodded and said, "The opportunity to ask the will of heaven is yours; you can use it without asking me."

Then, the group returned to the central square of Wuzhou City.

At the foot of the statue of Wu Xianzi, the crowd was so dense that it was impossible to move, layer upon layer.

Ding Hao faced the hundred-foot-tall jade statue and paid his respects again, "Ding Hao, a first-class immortal root of Wuzhou, pays respects to Wu Xianzi! I humbly request that Wu Xianzi reveal the will of heaven, for I wish to ask the will of heaven!"

As he said the words "ask the will of heaven," a loud thunderclap echoed through the sky, a sign of the will of heaven.

"The will of heaven is responding." Everyone looked up at the sky and saw a circle of colorful clouds gather above Wu Xianzi's head, with light flickering within, like colorful scales.

Beneath the five-colored auspicious clouds, Wu Xianzi, who had been looking up at the sky, suddenly lowered her head, her eyes seeming to come to life and look down.

"Wu Xianzi has revealed herself! She has truly revealed herself!" All the onlookers exclaimed in surprise.

Ding Hao continued, "Senior Immortal, this time I am not asking about cultivation or the path to immortality. I just want to ask this old Ding Four to speak the truth!"

The thunder rumbled twice in response. Ding Hao turned and shouted, "Ding Four, stand before Wu Xianzi!"

Ding Four dared not move; his legs were trembling, and his shrewish wife was too frightened to move.

"Drag him over!" Ling Yunxiao, seeing that Ding Four and his ilk were guilty, signaled his soldiers to act.

As Ding Four was dragged over, Ding Hao asked, "Ding Four, I ask you, did you give me the Pulse-Cutting Pill? Where did it come from, and how did you give it to me?"

Ding Four tried to deny it, but an invisible force from Wu Xianzi's eyes made him answer involuntarily, "This Pulse-Cutting Pill was made by my son, Ding Junjie, at the request of Zheng Qiang. His daughter, Zheng Peipei, delivered it. Then I told the little waste that it was a gift from the City Lord's residence, and I made him take it."

With these words, Ding Four's face turned ashen, and his shrewish wife, Ding Chen, collapsed, wailing, "I don't want to live! The little waste is so powerful, even Wu Xianni is helping him!"

Ling Yunxiao, seeing this, was furious, "This woman dares to insult Wu Xianzi; she must be executed first!"

Soldiers immediately dragged her away. She, who had been arrogant and lawless, now realized the gravity of her actions and fainted in fear.

Ding Hao then asked, "Ding Four, why did you harm me? What was your true purpose?"

Ding Four said, "Little waste, I wanted to kill you and take your immortal seed! Then I would kill you! Only then would my son, Ding Yibai, be the true successor of the Mu Shu Clan, and he would have a future in the Immortal Refinement World! You, a little waste, are still not awakened at 15 and a half years old, so don't stand in the way of my son's progress!"

Ding Hao coldly replied, "For your son's future, it is understandable, but tell me what methods you used to harm me?"

Ding Four, knowing he was doomed, did not resist and said with a grim face, "Little waste, we started to deal with you when you were eight years old. We deliberately made you go hungry and cold to weaken your body. I also ordered people to wake you up during your meditation, day and night, to prevent you from entering a meditative state. Heh, you might think this is the first time you've taken the Pulse-Cutting Pill, but you've already consumed the juice of the Pulse-Closing Grass and the Soul-Confusing Root! My goal was to prevent you from awakening and to make my son obtain the immortal seed! Besides, we buried a cursed doll at your door to curse you and hasten your death! Ha, when you were young and played with the maids, I made them deliberately hit your Baihui point to damage it, to prevent you from awakening! And more..."

Hearing Ding Four's evil schemes, Ding Hao finally understood why he could possess this body, as the original Ding Hao had almost been tortured to death by Ding Four!

Hearing that the Ding family was so malicious, the surrounding people all shouted, "Unforgivable! Kill him!"

Ling Yunxiao slammed his fist on the table and roared, "This Ding Four and his family are truly despicable! They dared to harm a first-class genius of Wuzhou! They deserve to die! If we don't execute them, it would be a disgrace! Soldiers, execute Ding Four!"

Ding Four was so frightened that he could not even walk and was dragged away by the City Lord's soldiers.

In the Nine States world, geniuses are highly valued. Those who harm a first-class immortal root genius deserve to die, and no one would sympathize with them!

The young prince thought to himself, "This Ding Hao is indeed a remarkable person, decisive and talented! If he develops and becomes powerful, my goal of winning first place in Wuzhou will be in jeopardy. I must find a way to block him!"

With this thought, the young prince stepped forward and clasped his hands, "City Lord Ling, I would like to plead for mercy."

Ling Yunxiao frowned, thinking, "Young Prince, don't go too far. Because of your interference, Ding Hao has already used the opportunity to ask the will of heaven. What more do you want?" He then sternly said, "Ding Four and his family have harmed a Wuzhou genius, and they deserve to die. Young Prince, there's no need to plead for them!"

The young prince smiled and said, "I am not pleading for Ding Four, but for Ding Junjie."

He wore a white robe and moved gracefully, addressing the crowd, "Fellow citizens, listen to me!"

He pointed at Ding Junjie and said emotionally, "This child is only ten years old. His parents committed evil deeds, but he was unaware! Even if he knew, he is too young to understand. I heard that he did not participate in the crimes against Ding Hao. His crime does not warrant death. Moreover, his talent, though not as great as Ding Hao's, is still a third-class genius! Geniuses have privileges, so I ask everyone to consider Ding Junjie's youth and talent, and give him a chance to redeem himself! Let him make amends and show that our world values not only law but also human kindness!"

It must be said that the young prince was very cunning and knew how to manipulate people. His eloquent speech and graceful movements made many of the women in the crowd shed tears.

"This..." Ling Yunxiao looked at Ding Junjie with some hesitation.

At this moment, the young prince's gaze turned to Ding Hao.

Seeing the young prince about to speak, Ding Hao preemptively said, "The young prince has a point. I also request mercy for Ding Junjie, as he is still young. I hope he gets a chance to turn over a new leaf!"

Hearing this, the young prince's eyes flashed with surprise. He thought, "This Ding Hao is indeed cunning; he has seen through my intentions."

Originally, the young prince was going to say that he believed Ding Hao, as a genius, would be magnanimous and forgive Ding Junjie.

But unexpectedly, Ding Hao understood his intentions and spoke first.

Ding Hao was not so magnanimous; he wished the entire Ding family would die. This Ding Junjie, though young, was mature and despicable, and leaving him alive would be a future threat!

However, knowing that the situation could not be stopped, Ding Hao decided to take the lead in pleading for mercy to gain a good reputation.

Ling Yunxiao, impressed by Ding Hao's maturity and magnanimity, nodded and said, "I did not expect that Ding Hao, a genius, not only has excellent talent but also a compassionate heart. Very well! We will spare Ding Junjie and have him come forward to kowtow to Ding Hao and thank him!"

Ding Hao knew that Ding Junjie hated him and deliberately asked as he kowtowed, "Ding Junjie, your parents' crimes are not your fault. However, people are pleading for you because they believe you are young and can distinguish right from wrong and have a good heart. Do you think the City Lord's decision to execute your parents is just?"

Ding Junjie truly hated Ding Hao. "You killed my parents and now want me to applaud it?" He knelt on the ground, wanting to pounce on Ding Hao and die with him, but he could only grit his teeth and say, "They deserved it. The City Lord is wise and just, and the decision is fair and reasonable!"

Saying this, Ding Junjie's eyes were filled with blood.

"You brought this upon yourselves. If you want revenge, I'll wait for you!"

Ding Hao laughed and said, "City Lord, the evil pill-makers, Zheng Qiang and his daughter, have not been punished yet! And the escaped Ding Junjie is likely at the Zheng family's residence!"

Ling Yunxiao said, "Then take a squad of soldiers and capture them yourself!"

"Yes!"

In the city, the soldiers of the Prefectural Office were responsible for such tasks. Ding Hao noticed that a few of them were the same people Ding Junjie had called to the Ding family. Ding Hao pointed them out and said, "City Lord, I do not want these few to follow me."

Ling Yunxiao asked, "Why?"

Ding Hao replied, "These few are friends of Ding Junjie and have privately gone to the Ding family to capture me."

Ling Yunxiao waved his hand, "Arrest them all!"

When Ding Hao had asked these people if they regretted their actions, they had all said they did not. Now, it was unclear if they regretted it.

Then, Ding Hao led a small general and dozens of soldiers to the Zheng family's alchemy shop.

At the Zheng family's alchemy shop.

Ding Junjie still did not know that Ding Hao had awakened. A few days ago, he and Zheng Peipei, in a moment of passion, had consummated their relationship. They were deeply immersed in their love affair and could not extricate themselves.

So when the Prefectural Office first questioned the case, Ding Junjie thought that with Prefect Zhou's support, Ding Hao was doomed. With nothing to do, he went to the Zheng family to find Zheng Peipei and indulge in their passion.

The news of the genius in the city was well-known, but they were completely unaware, focusing only on their final moment of passion.