299: Nascent Soul Level 7

On the other side, at the Hua Clan Merchant House.

In the attic, the head manager stood with a bowed back, his expression respectful.

After hearing the report, Madam Hua's lips curled into a faint smile as she asked, "Did that Li Family Head truly say he would pay sixty million Spirit Stones to redeem his son?"

"Absolutely, Madam," the head manager replied quickly.

Madam Hua's smile faded, and her tone became indifferent: "Utterly foolish. They never had a chance of returning alive."

She waved her hand, no longer mentioning the Li Family or Feng Ming: "No need to concern yourself with this matter further. Pass down the orders: the time for the medicinal herbs to emerge is near. The Merchant Guild must be fully prepared."

"Yes!" The head manager bowed to accept the command and turned to withdraw.

Just as Madam Hua expected, the Li Family Head led his people away from the Hua Clan Merchant House. Scarcely ten minutes after leaving Liangzhou City, news that the entire group had perished spread throughout the various families of Liang Province.

The one who struck was none other than Feng Ming's ninth-rank puppet.

When the various families learned the news, they were all struck with awe and trepidation.

They knew that the negotiations between Li Cheng and Feng Ming had completely broken down, and they saw Feng Ming's methods even more clearly—decisive in slaughter and possessor of formidable strength. With a ninth-rank puppet by his side and the support of the Jiang Family, anyone in the Liang Province region who dared provoke him now would be seeking their own death.

Inside the Trial Grounds, by a clearing in the forest, Jiang Shuwan looked at Feng Ming and asked softly, "Husband, where shall we go next?"

Feng Mian, Qin Hu, and Guan Rong also looked over, waiting for his decision.

Feng Ming's gaze was solemn as he said slowly, "Qianqian is trapped at the Weak Water Pool by Zhang Bai. I must personally go to save her. As for you all, after the incident with Li Cheng, I imagine others won't dare provoke you easily. Do you want to try collecting heaven ranking ticketss?"

Jiang Shuwan smiled and shook her head upon hearing this: "You are my husband; it is enough if your heaven ranking ticketss are sufficient. I have no interest in the rankings or future official positions."

Feng Mian also spoke up immediately, his tone blunt: "Exactly. We've already discussed it. We brothers are one; since you already have enough heaven ranking ticketss, why should we bother collecting them? Once you obtain a position in the future, we will simply follow you."

Qin Hu and Guan Rong also nodded in agreement, their expressions sincere.

Feng Ming gave a helpless smile and nodded his consent. In the Liangzhou Trial, there were many who had no hope of reaching the top ten of the Heaven Ranking and would choose to serve a strong person in hopes of securing an official post later. Since these were his own brothers, he naturally would not refuse.

“Since you are all uninterested, then we shall head to the Weak Water Pool together.” Feng Ming’s tone shifted, “However, there is no rush. We are still far from the Weak Water Pool, and Zhang Bai is hiding deep at the bottom. Going there rashly would put us at a disadvantage.”

He looked at everyone and said in a deep voice, “We will stay here for two days. First, consume the moon gazing tears, and I will personally guide you in your Cultivation methods. Once everyone's strength has stabilized, it won't be too late to set out.”

“Good!” Everyone responded in unison, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Afterward, Feng Ming focused on guiding them, explaining the refining methods for the moon gazing tears and the secrets of Cultivation. Only his steady voice and the faint sound of everyone circulating their spiritual power remained in the forest.

On the other side, at the bottom of the Weak Water Pool.

Lu Qianqian looked at the news coming from outside the pool, her eyes full of joy. She shouted to Zhang Bai, “Zhang Bai, have you seen it? Li Cheng is dead, and my brother-in-law will be here to save me soon! If you know what's good for you, release me now while there's still time!”

Zhang Bai seemed not to have heard her, his eyes fixed intently on several jade bottles placed before him, his expression focused.

“I’m talking to you, did you hear me!” Lu Qianqian saw that he was ignoring her and stomped her foot in anger.

Only then did Zhang Bai slowly look up, his tone full of disdain: “Li Cheng was nothing more than a buffoon; is he even worthy of being compared to me? Do you perhaps think that Feng Ming breaking through to the seventh level of the Nascent Soul Realm makes him impressive?”

He raised a hand and patted his chest, his tone arrogant: “Have you forgotten? I am also at the seventh level of the Nascent Soul Realm now!”

It turned out that during the time Feng Ming was at the Wangyue Spring seeking an Opportunity, Zhang Bai had also found a chance to Breakthrough from the Golden Core Realm to the seventh level of the Nascent Soul Realm.

He pointed at the jade bottles before him, a smug smile appearing on his face: “Qianqian, take a good look. What are these?”

Lu Qianqian followed his finger. After seeing clearly what was inside the jade bottles, her face suddenly changed, her eyes filled with shock.

“This is...”