188: Swift and decisive action, uprooting them completely!

Three simple sentences directly pronounced the downfall of a Family.

These thunderous means completely awed everyone present.

Those who originally harbored small schemes were now green with regret.

They wished they could immediately dig out those petty thoughts from their minds and discard them.

Too ruthless!

This new master, while appearing young and refined, was truly merciless when taking action!

"Zhao Wuji."

Chen Xu suddenly spoke.

"This humble one is here!" Zhao Wuji jolted, hurrying forward.

"You are a smart person, and a discerning one."

Chen Xu looked at him, his gaze profound: "Although you were somewhat indecisive before, you hadn't taken that crucial step yet."

"The death penalty can be avoided, but living punishment is unavoidable."

Zhao Wuji's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed his head: "Please punish me, Master!"

"From today onwards, your position as City Lord is revoked."

Chen Xu said indifferently: "I will also place a Seal on your Cultivation."

With that, he extended his hand and pressed it virtually on Zhao Wuji's Dantian.

Buzz—

A complex purple-gold rune instantly entered Zhao Wuji's body.

Zhao Wuji felt his entire body sink, his original Late Void Refining Stage Cultivation.

Was instantly suppressed to the Early Void Refining Stage.

The feeling of losing power made him uncomfortable, but he dared not show the slightest resentment.

"This Seal, if you perform well, I will personally undo it for you after ten years."

Chen Xu withdrew his hand: "From now on, you will be Dao Xuan's deputy."

"Assist him in managing all the miscellaneous affairs of Zhenyuan City. If you do well, Zhenyuan City will still be yours to manage in the future. If you don't do well..."

"This humble one understands! This humble one will dedicate my life and efforts until death!"

Zhao Wuji kowtowed repeatedly, but inwardly, he let out a long sigh of relief.

Although his Cultivation had fallen and his official position was gone, at least his life was still intact.

And there was still a chance to rise again.

As long as he clung to this powerful figure, with the potential and means this master had shown, even being his dog.

Might be better than being a bullied City Lord before!

"Dao Xuan, the rest is up to you."

Chen Xu stood up and stretched: "Pull out all the thorns in this city, and change all those messy rules."

"In three days, I want to see a clean Zhenyuan City."

"Yes!" Chen Dao Xuan bowed in acceptance.

Watching Chen Xu's departing figure, the crowd in the main hall slowly dared to raise their heads.

They exchanged glances, seeing a trace of awe and... relief in each other's eyes.

Although a great mountain now loomed over them, this mountain was strong and tall. In this chaotic world, being a subordinate to such a powerful being might also be a kind of Luck... In the following three days, Zhenyuan City experienced an unprecedented purge.

Chen Dao Xuan, though appearing gentle and refined.

Was decisive and meticulous in his actions.

With the cooperation of Zhao Wuji, the 'local tyrant,' he quickly sorted out the various forces in the city.

Those families and Loose Cultivators who usually committed many evil deeds and incurred great public anger.

Were directly uprooted by the Blade Camp.

Confiscated property piled up like mountains; half was deposited into the treasury, and the other half was generously distributed by Chen Dao Xuan to the low-level Cultivators in the city.

This act of 'robbing the rich to help the poor' instantly won the hearts of Zhenyuan City's populace.

The common people, who originally had some resistance, now gave a thumbs-up whenever the Chen Family was mentioned.

They wished they could erect longevity tablets for Chen Xu.

As for those forces that had some minor flaws but were not guilty enough to warrant death.

Chen Dao Xuan adopted a strategy of both warning and winning over.

As long as they were willing to pledge allegiance and abide by the Chen Family's rules, past offenses would be forgiven, and they could even receive business shares they previously dared not even dream of.

Under these tactics of both carrot and stick, the situation in Zhenyuan City stabilized at an astonishing speed.

Three days later, in the early morning.

As the sunlight shone on Zhenyuan City's city wall, the Tianyu Holy Land banner, which had flown for thirty years, was slowly lowered.

In its place was a huge purple-gold battle flag.

On the flag, the vigorously written character 'Chen'.

Shone brightly in the morning sun.

As Zhenyuan City completely changed hands, Chen Xu could feel a vast, unseen power converging towards him.

The feeling was like a timely rain after a long drought.

Or like a dry riverbed suddenly being filled with surging river water.

"Roar—!"

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the purple-gold Dragon coiled in the Luck cloud sea suddenly raised its head.

Although its body did not surge again, its originally somewhat ethereal Dragon scales.

Now became as solid as reality, with profound Dao patterns flowing on each scale.

This was not just the surrender of a city, but the Chen Family's first step of expansion in this cruel Spirit Realm.

Annexing Zhenyuan City meant the Chen Family's territory instantly expanded by more than three times, and its population doubled.

This level of increase, for Chen Xu.

Was the most direct tonic.

[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully annexed Zhenyuan City, and the Family's sphere of influence has expanded significantly, achieving a phased accomplishment—Overlord ( nascent form).]

[Family Luck is being calculated... Calculation complete.]

[Rewards are being distributed...]

The clear System prompt sounds, like the most beautiful symphony in the world, continuously played in Chen Xu's mind.

[Reward One: Eighth-Tier Spirit Gathering Array Diagram (complete version). Once this array is deployed, it can forcibly plunder Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within a radius of 100,000 li and purify it tenfold. At the core of the array eye, even a High Grade Spiritual Vein can condense.]

Chen Xu's eyes lit up.

Good stuff!

Although Tianxuan City had undergone multiple expansions, the underground Spiritual Vein was ultimately built up with previous resources, with limited potential.

As more and more Void Refining Cultivators appeared in the Family, the original Spiritual Qi concentration was already somewhat insufficient.

With this Eighth-Tier Spirit Gathering Array Diagram, Tianxuan City could truly become a blessed land for Cultivation.

Not to mention the Void Refining Stage, even supporting several Body Integration Stage Grand Elders for daily Cultivation.

Would be more than enough.

[Reward Two: Cultivation Infusion (Middle Body Integration Stage). Detected that the host has a profound Foundation and is protected by Primordial Violet Qi. This infusion will ignore Bottlenecks, directly enhance Cultivation, and have no side effects.]

Before Chen Xu could react, a power even purer and vaster than during his previous Undergoing Tribulation exploded within him.

There was no agonizing pain of tearing Meridians; this power was incredibly docile.

It was like the finest craftsman, meticulously carving and refining within his vast, sea-like Dantian and Purple Mansion.

The Dao Embryo Nascent Soul, which had just merged with his Physical Body and was still somewhat immature, rapidly solidified and grew taller under the nourishment of this power.

Chen Xu's aura began to climb steadily.

This ascent was not a violent explosion, but a natural rise like a swelling tide.

In just half an incense stick's time, he crossed the threshold that ordinary Cultivators, even with exceptional talent, would need a thousand years of arduous Cultivation to overcome.

Chen Xu felt his entire body lighten, and a grander, clearer worldview unfolded before his eyes.

If Early Body Integration was just gaining the power to set rules.

Then Middle Body Integration was already proficient in wielding this power.

He could even hear the sound of the surrounding Law of space flowing, like harp strings gently trembling in the wind.

"Is this Middle Body Integration?"

Chen Xu clenched his fist, feeling the seemingly endless power within his body.

Now, if he were to face the previous Zhao Wuji again, he probably wouldn't even need to make the 'kneel' gesture.

Just a glance would be enough to shatter the opponent's Divine Soul.

But this was not over; the System's rewards continued.

[Reward Three: Ancient Secret Art—Primordial Nine Revolutions Divine Ability.]

[This is a supreme method for achieving sainthood through the Physical Body. Each revolution can double the Physical Body's strength, and in a short period, activate the 'Primordial Battle Body' state, causing a comprehensive surge in combat power, ignoring all mental control and negative statuses of those at the same stage.]

As a golden light entered his glabella, countless complex and obscure golden characters arranged and combined in Chen Xu's mind.

Finally forming a complete cultivation route map.

Chen Xu slightly circulated the Mind-Cultivation Technique of the first revolution.

Buzz—

A faint purple-gold pattern instantly appeared on the surface of his skin, and a wild, ancient, and overbearing aura emanated from his body.

"What an overbearing Divine Ability!"

Chen Xu was overjoyed. This was simply a cheat designed for cross-level combat.

With this, coupled with his abnormal defense and the 'One Palm, One World' control method, let alone Late Body Integration.

Even if he encountered an old monster at the Peak Body Integration Stage, he would dare to confront them head-on.

Having assimilated all the rewards, Chen Xu slowly opened his eyes.

At that instant, the dimness in the secret chamber was dispelled by two sharp lights.

As if lightning flashed across the Void Realm.

He stood up, tidied himself slightly, and pushed the door open.

Chen Dao Xuan had long been waiting, holding several thick registers in his hands.

"Father, you've emerged from seclusion?"

As Chen Dao Xuan looked up, he was slightly startled.

Although only one night had passed, he felt that his father seemed to have grown stronger again.

That unfathomable feeling was several times more intense than when he suppressed Zhao Wuji yesterday.

But he was smart enough not to ask further, instead bowing in salute.

"Mm."

Chen Xu nodded slightly, walked to the stone table in the courtyard, and sat down: "How is the situation in the city?"

"Replying to Father, everything is under control."

Chen Dao Xuan presented the registers in his hand, reporting clearly: "The mess left by Zhao Wuji has mostly been cleaned up."

"The treasury has been sealed, and the main troublesome families have been uprooted. Now, the order in Zhenyuan City has basically been restored, even better than before."

"This is the list of resources found in the City Lord's Mansion, and the roster of important figures in the city."

Chen Xu casually flipped through the resource list, his eyebrows slightly raised.

Although Zhao Wuji was spineless, his ability to amass wealth was indeed first-rate.

His Family fortune was even richer than he had anticipated.

Just as Chen Xu's finger moved across the roster of figures.

The long-silent System suddenly issued another prompt.

[Ding! Detected the presence of an individual with an extremely High Grade special Physique near the host!]

[Physique Name: Hundred Flowers Jade Body.]

[Physique Rating: Heaven Rank High Grade (growable).]

[Characteristics: Naturally close to plant spirits, able to communicate with Spiritual Plants. Under its care, the growth rate of Spirit Medicine increases tenfold, the probability of mutation increases threefold, and the success rate of Alchemy greatly increases. It is an excellent companion for managing Spirit Medicine gardens and Alchemy Families.]

Chen Xu's finger paused slightly.

Hundred Flowers Jade Body?

He had seen this type of Physique in ancient texts; it was the mark of a born Spiritual Planter.

In the Cultivation World, the value of a high-level Spiritual Planter is even greater than that of a Void Refining Mighty Expert.

After all, cultivation can be achieved through practice, but some Spirit Medicines that are rarely seen even after ten thousand years require special methods to Cultivate.

They might wither and die over the long passage of time before they can mature.

"Is there anyone special in this roster?"

Chen Xu closed the roster and asked, seemingly casually.

Chen Daoxuan was stunned for a moment, then seemed to recall something, pulling out a slightly thin sheet of paper from the bottom of the roster.

"Speaking of special... there is indeed one."

Chen Daoxuan said with a strange expression, "When we were cleaning up the backyard of the City Lord's Mansion, we discovered a secluded small courtyard."

"Inside lived a concubine daughter of Zhao Wuji named Zhao Lingyan."

"This woman held an extremely low status in the Zhao Family because her mother was a Mortal maidservant, so she was never favored by Zhao Wuji, and didn't even have a proper name recorded in the Family genealogy."

"She named herself Lingyan."

"But the strange thing is, although this woman didn't have many cultivation resources, her cultivation base had only just reached the Foundation Establishment Stage."

"However, her dilapidated courtyard was filled with all sorts of rare flowers and strange grasses. She even managed to Cultivate several rare Spirit Medicines that I couldn't even name."

"Oh?"

Chen Xu nodded slightly: "Take me to see."

...The backyard of the Zhenyuan City Lord's Mansion was vast, with pavilions, terraces, and towers that were extremely luxurious.

But in the furthest corner of that splendor.

There was a small courtyard that was completely out of place with its surroundings.

The courtyard walls were somewhat mottled, and the wooden door was peeling paint.

But as soon as they approached, a refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted into their noses.

That was not the scent of a Medicinal Pill, but the purest fragrance of herbs and vegetation.

Chen Xu pushed open the unlocked wooden door.

What met their eyes was a garden full of lush greenery.

Although the courtyard was small, every inch of land had been utilized to the extreme.

There were no expensive peonies competing for beauty, nor were there artificial mountains and flowing water for viewing.

There were only neat rows of meticulously planned Medicinal Fields.

A woman dressed in coarse linen clothes was squatting by the Medicinal Field, holding a small shovel.

She was carefully loosening the soil around a small purple flower.

She hadn't noticed anyone entering, or perhaps.

Her entire focus was immersed in the small flower before her.

The woman wore no makeup, and her hair was simply tied up with a wooden hairpin.

A few strands of hair hung by her ears, swaying gently with the breeze.

Although her attire was plain, even shabby, the contour of her profile was astonishingly beautiful, exuding a peaceful detachment from worldly affairs.

Chen Xu did not speak, but stood there quietly watching.

In his Divine Sense perception, a faint green halo, invisible to the naked eye, indeed surrounded the woman.

That was an extremely pure aura of life; the surrounding Spirit Medicines seemed to be nodding slightly in greeting to her.

Cheering joyfully.

After a long time, the woman seemed to finally finish her work.

She straightened up and gently wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.

Only then did she notice two grown men standing at the courtyard entrance.

"Ah!"

Zhao Lingyan was startled, and the small shovel in her hand nearly dropped to the ground.

She nervously took two steps back, her eyes like a startled fawn.

When she clearly saw Chen Daoxuan standing behind Chen Xu.

Her face turned even paler.

Although she had hidden in the courtyard and hadn't gone out during the major upheaval at the City Lord's Mansion, she had heard the commotion.

She knew that the heavens of Zhenyuan City had changed.

Her father, who had never looked her in the eye, was now a prisoner.

"Who... who are you?"

Zhao Lingyan's voice trembled slightly, but she forced herself to remain calm.

Chen Xu stepped into the courtyard, his gaze not lingering for too long on her beautiful face, which was enough to make any man's heart stir.

Instead, he looked at the Medicinal Field behind her.

"If I'm not mistaken, this Purple Cloud Dragon Snake Grass should be less than a hundred years old."

"Logically, it is extremely delicate and cannot survive without the warmth of Earth Fire. Yet you managed to grow it in ordinary soil, and it even developed Dragon patterns."

Chen Xu nodded approvingly: "You have some capability."

Hearing the other party discuss her herbs, the fear in Zhao Lingyan's eyes dissipated considerably.

It was replaced by the pleasant surprise of being recognized.

"You can tell this is Dragon Snake Grass?"

Zhao Lingyan's eyes lit up, as if she had met a kindred spirit: "I tried many methods, and finally discovered that by mixing ground Spirit Stone powder with morning dew, and then combining it with a specific soil loosening frequency, I could simulate the effect of Earth Fire without damaging its Foundation!"

Speaking up to this point, she seemed to realize her impropriety, quickly covered her mouth, and lowered her head: "I... I'm sorry, I talked too much."

Chen Xu smiled and waved his hand, indicating it was fine.

"Your name is Zhao Lingyan?"

"Yes..."

"Your father Zhao Wuji has submitted to me, and this City Lord's Mansion now belongs to the Chen Family."

Chen Xu spoke in a calm tone.

Zhao Lingyan's body trembled slightly, but she didn't show much sadness.

She didn't have deep feelings for that cold father.

What she worried about more was how this new master.

Would deal with her.

Would he drive her out like those legendary tyrants, or... "You don't need to be afraid."

Chen Xu seemed to see through her thoughts: "I have no interest in bullying women."

He walked under a Spirit Tree, reaching out to catch a falling leaf.

"I see you are someone who cherishes flowers and herbs. Keeping you in this dilapidated courtyard is truly a waste of talent."

Chen Xu turned around and looked directly into Zhao Lingyan's eyes, not beating around the bush: "My Chen Family has a newly established ten-thousand-mu Medicinal Garden in Tianxuan City. It gathers several Supreme Grade Spiritual Veins, and the soil is fertile."

"But I haven't been able to find the right person to manage it."

"Ten... ten-thousand-mu Medicinal Garden?"

Zhao Lingyan's breathing instantly became rapid.

For someone obsessed with spiritual plants, this was simply an irresistible temptation.

In this small courtyard, due to the lack of resources, many of her ideas could not be verified

She could only watch many rare seeds wither and die.

"That's right."

Chen Xu nodded: "If you are willing, that Medicinal Garden will be under your management from now on. Whether it's Spirit Stones, Spirit Springs, or various rare seeds, whatever you need, I will provide."

"Really?"

Zhao Lingyan subconsciously asked, but then her eyes dimmed again.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Although she was naive, she wasn't stupid.

"Then... what do I have to give in return?"

She raised her head and asked, biting her lower lip.

Chen Xu looked at her eager yet wary appearance and nodded inwardly.

Although this woman had a gentle personality, she was not without her own opinions.

"It's simple."

Chen Xu took a step forward. His aura was not deliberately oppressive.

Yet it carried an overbearing force that made refusal impossible.

"Enter my Chen Family gate, become a person of my Chen Family."

"Only my woman, Chen Xu's woman, is qualified to manage that ten-thousand-mu Spiritual Field."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Lingyan's cheeks instantly flushed red, the color reaching her earlobes.

She hadn't expected this new City Lord, who appeared high and mighty, like a deity.

Would actually make such a request.

She lowered her head, her fingers tightly twisting the corner of her clothes.

Should she refuse?

Where could she go after refusing?

As a weak woman only in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the daughter of the former City Lord, wandering the streets would likely lead to an even worse fate.

Moreover, the temptation of that ten-thousand-mu Medicinal Garden was simply too great... that was her lifelong dream.

"I... I only know how to plant herbs, I don't... I don't know how to serve people."

After a long time, Zhao Lingyan finally spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.

Chen Xu smiled.

He reached out, gently lifted her chin, and looked into those eyes clear as water.

"It's fine."

"It's enough that you know how to plant herbs."

"As for the rest..."

Chen Xu leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I can teach you slowly."

Zhao Lingyan's body instantly tensed up, and she blushed so fiercely, like a cooked shrimp, that she nearly wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground from embarrassment.

But she didn't pull away; she just nodded lightly, the movement so small it was almost imperceptible.

"I... I agree."

...That night, the Zhenyuan City Lord's Mansion was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers.

Although it wasn't a grand affair, all necessary courtesies were observed.

Chen Xu was not a heartless person; since he took her in, she naturally had to be given proper status.

Zhao Lingyan changed out of her coarse linen clothes and put on a red wedding dress embroidered with a hundred flowers.

Reflected by the red candlelight, her already beautiful and refined appearance.

Was enhanced with a seductive charm that seemed ready to drip with allure.

Warm silk curtains, short spring night.

For Zhao Lingyan, this night was the turning point of her life.

She transformed from a forgotten concubine daughter into the bedmate of the Northern Region Overlord.

As for Chen Xu.

This was more than just adding a beauty to his backyard... Time flows like water, never stopping due to war, nor hesitating because of regime change in a certain place.

In the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed since Zhenyuan City changed hands.

For the Mortal World, this was just the rotation of two seasons, but for the Northern Region Cultivation World, this half-year was a quiet yet thrilling reshuffling.

Under the swift and decisive methods of the Chen Family, Zhenyuan City did not decline due to the change in governance; instead, it burst forth with unprecedented vitality.

The previously multi-layered exploitative checkpoints were removed, replaced by a unified commercial tax implemented by the Chen Family.

Trade routes that had been blocked due to war were reopened under the escort of the Blade Camp cavalry.

Most importantly, Chen Xu presiding here was like a stabilizing divine needle.

Whether it was rogue Demonic Cultivators or bandits taking advantage of the chaos, as long as they dared to show their faces within Zhenyuan City's jurisdiction.

Within half a day, their heads would be hung at the city gates for public display.

Over time, the four words "Zhenyuan Chen Family," in this relatively safe area behind the Northern Region front lines.

Their weight became heavier than that of the former Tianyu Holy Land.

The news spread as if it had grown wings, reaching every corner of the Northern Region.