19: Chapter 19 Chen Xuan's Killing Intent

Immediately.

Xu Changsheng wanted to send Yun Xin far away, the further the better.

However, after a moment of wild speculation, he calmed down.

According to the intelligence, he still had at least a one-year buffer period, so there was no need to rush to deal with this matter right now.

Tomorrow, he had more important things to do.

With this thought, he was about to close his eyes and Cultivate again.

Suddenly.

A knock sounded from outside the door.

"Young Master Xu, may I ask if you need this Servant Girl to attend to your bed?"

"No need. I've told you several times, I don't need anyone to attend to my bed."

Xu Changsheng's expression changed, and he refused directly.

Although the intelligence also gave him methods to further delay the disaster, he was truly unwilling to try them unless absolutely necessary.

Not to mention that he didn't have much affection for Yun Xin.

With Yun Xin's astonishing Aptitude and Heaven-Defying Physique, if he got involved, the resulting Karma might be too great for him to bear.

He shook his head helplessly, "This girl is really stubborn. I don't know if she was taught this at Yichun Courtyard or if it's just her personality."

...

A few days later.

After confirming there were no further pursuit or assassination attempts.

Xu Changsheng arrived at the Prefects Mansion.

Looking at the magnificent palaces and pavilions, he was lost in thought.

There was a sketch of the Black Market layout in Liu Erniu's night-traveling clothes.

Yesterday, he went to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to find Wang Ye and ask about the location of the Black Market and how to enter it, intending to sneak in and sell the stolen goods.

As expected, the Black Market was located outside the market.

He was unwilling to risk leaving the market.

He was told there was a second way.

He flipped his hand and took out a crystalline token.

He thought to himself, "I didn't expect Liuyun Market to have a Temporary Teleportation Array leading to the market."

"Wang Ye is a bit shameless; he actually charged me two hundred Spirit Stones to use this Teleportation Token once, and even required my Guest Elder token as collateral."

He looked up ahead.

He felt an even bigger headache.

Because at this moment, there was a long queue at the entrance of the Prefects Mansion.

He remembered that today was the Prefects Mansion's Grain Distribution Day.

A Mortal Area was established in a part of the market where Spiritual Qi was scarce, allowing Mortals and low-level Cultivators who couldn't afford lodging to live for free.

Since there was a lack of farmland in the Mortal Area and life was difficult, the Xie Family would occasionally provide relief to show their kindness.

The voices were noisy, and the place was bustling.

Xu Changsheng didn't mind and bypassed the queue, going directly to the front.

The guard distributing grain was fat and greasy, his large ears wobbling incessantly.

Seeing Xu Changsheng, his Face immediately darkened, "Who are you? Why are you cutting in line? If you want to receive grain, go to the back and queue up."

Hearing this.

He rubbed his nose, remembering that in the past, someone always came to his door to collect his Talismans, so he had basically never been to the Prefects Mansion to make himself a familiar Face.

He cupped his hands, "I am Xu Changsheng, here to see the Second Miss. I wonder if Fellow Daoist could announce my arrival?"

Wang Ye had told him to take the Teleportation Token to Xie Wantang to arrange the teleportation.

The guard, seeing the person before him persisting, sized him up and down and sneered:

"Forget it. Who knows how many people in the market want to see the Second Miss every day? Your cultivation doesn't look like much, yet you want to be a toad eating swan meat? Keep dreaming."

Xu Changsheng didn't expect his inquiry to be mistaken for an attempt to curry favor.

He took out the crystalline jade token, "I truly have business with the Second Miss. This is the token of proof. Please, Fellow Daoist, pass the word."

The guard took the Teleportation Token, studied it for a long while, and burst into laughter.

"What a joke! What kind of token is this? This ordinary jade is smooth and shiny without a single word on it."

Xu Changsheng hurriedly explained, "Fellow Daoist, this is the Teleportation Token given to me by the Xie Family. Please take another look."

The guard grew completely impatient, "Get lost! I've been a guard at the Prefects Mansion for years and have never seen such a token."

"The Xie Family? At least make your forgery look convincing. It doesn't even have the word 'Xie' on it. Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?"

Xu Changsheng frowned. Wang Ye had said that the Temporary Teleportation Array had a limited duration.

He looked back at the endless queue.

If he waited until today's grain distribution was over for them to arrange a meeting with the Second Miss, the Teleportation Token would surely expire, and the two hundred Spirit Stones he gave Wang Ye would be wasted.

His brows furrowed into a knot, "Fellow Daoist, this is a special matter. Please report it as soon as possible, or you will be held responsible."

At those words.

The guard slammed the table and stood up abruptly, "Who do you think you are, daring to threaten me?"

He started pushing, "Just a mere fifth level of Qi Refining, and you're here acting like a big shot? Get lost."

He found that he couldn't budge Xu Changsheng, who was a Body Refiner.

Seeing the ice-cold, blade-like gaze and remembering that he was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining himself, the guard withdrew his hand.

Feeling a bit lacking in confidence, he said timidly, "W-what? Do you want to resist the law?"

He replied, "I wouldn't dare. I just want to trouble Fellow Daoist to announce me."

"Creak."

Suddenly,

the gates of the Prefects Mansion behind them slowly opened.

A handsome figure dressed in brocade robes walked out.

Xu Changsheng recognized him immediately.

"Chen Xuan? It's you?"

Chen Xuan looked over at the sound, his eyes filled with shock.

"Xu Changsheng?!"

Huang Laifu had told him before that Xu Changsheng was dead, yet here he was, standing alive before him.

The guard hurriedly went forward to fawn over Chen Xuan, "This person claimed he wanted to see the Second Miss as soon as he arrived. Is he an old acquaintance of yours, Fellow Daoist Chen? I'll let him in right away."

Chen Xuan raised his hand, "No. Although I know this person, there is no friendship between us; in fact, we have a bit of a grudge."

"Then..." The guard was a bit hesitant.

Chen Xuan smirked, "However, I can give you a reminder. This person was previously stripped of his spirit field qualifications by the market and no longer has a legitimate livelihood here."

"He probably has been forced to move into the Mortal Area. Coming here, most likely, he's claiming to see someone on the surface, but in reality, he's here to cut the line for grain."

The guard suddenly understood and cupped his hands in thanks, "So that's how it is. No wonder this person was so persistent; he's just a line-cutter."

He pointed at Xu Changsheng, "You ungrateful wretch! You still want to cut in line? Get to the very back of the queue right now, or don't blame me for carrying out justice!"

Seeing Chen Xuan distorting the truth.

Xu Changsheng was fuming with anger, but the most frustrating part was that he really didn't have any usable proof right now.

Seeing him still standing there.

The Mortals and Cultivators in the queue began to criticize him one after another.

"Fellow Daoist, hurry to the back of the line. If you're any later, there won't be any grain left."

"Don't get in the way. I have elders and children at home all waiting for me!"

Emboldened by the support.

The guard roared in anger, "How bold! You still won't listen after repeated warnings? Then don't blame this guard for doing his duty!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

A standard-issue long spear Low Grade Magical Artifact appeared in his hand, and he charged straight at Xu Changsheng.

In the next instant.

The latter's figure appeared thirty feet away.

He looked calmly at the startled guard not far away.

These past few days, he had reflected on his lack of combat ability and practiced desperately, cultivating the Water Arrow Technique, Water Shield Technique, and Light Body Technique to the Great Perfection level before daring to step out.

In terms of strength, he was already no less than a master of the Late Stage Qi Refining.

Seeing that his strike had failed, the guard stood there, somewhat hesitant.

But Chen Xuan suddenly made a move.

After obtaining Xu Changsheng's secret realm key, he had already put the latter on his must-kill list, but he hadn't expected to be unable to fulfill his wish until now.

It seemed as if some force in the shadows had been preventing this from happening.

"No, there's no time to lose. This boy absolutely cannot be left alive!"

His killing intent surged like a tide, and with a wave of his hand, he summoned a ten-foot-tall Flaming Bird.

"I'll help you!"

With a high-pitched cry, the Flaming Bird charged toward Xu Changsheng.

He reacted immediately, his hands forming the shape of a bow as he released the Water Arrow Technique.

In an instant, a massive water arrow, no smaller than the Flaming Bird, condensed.

"Swoosh—"

Water and fire collided, making a sizzling sound.

For a moment, they were evenly matched!

Just then.

A massive aura suddenly weighed down on the hearts of everyone present.

"Little Friend Chen, Little Friend Xu, for the sake of this old man's Face, how about you stop this conflict?"