30: The emperor reigns supreme, and the county town changes hands.

When Chu He's figure appeared in the sky above Tianfeng Prefecture City, the entire majestic city—more than ten times larger than Qingyang City—fell into a dead silence.

Everyone looked up, staring at the young figure suspended in mid-air with eyes that looked as if they had seen a ghost.

Prefect Liu Cheng had led the elite of the Garrison, aggressively charging toward Qingyang City.

As a result, in less than an hour, this bringer of calamity had appeared above the prefecture city, completely unscathed.

Yet, Liu Cheng was nowhere to be found.

What this implied could be figured out even with one's toes!

The Lord Prefect... had been defeated!

Even, perhaps... he was already dead!

This thought was like a nuclear bomb, exploding violently in the hearts of all the prefecture city's residents, especially those of the great noble families!

The heavens were about to change!

The heavens of Tianfeng Prefecture were about to change completely!

Inside the Prefects Manor, things were even more of a chaotic mess.

Liu Cheng's sons, as well as the Guest Elders and enshrined experts of the Prefects Manor, completely lost their composure the moment they learned that Liu Cheng's 'Life Soul Lamp' had been extinguished.

Some advocated for immediately packing up the Family assets and fleeing.

Some advocated for gathering all forces and relying on the City Protection Array to fight Chu He to the death.

Others had already begun to secretly calculate how to offer their loyalty to this new king.

Before they could even reach a conclusion, Chu He had already arrived.

"Liu Cheng's offspring, come out and speak."

Chu He's voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered the ears of everyone within the prefecture city.

In his voice, there was no anger or killing intent, only a kind of unquestionable calmness belonging to a superior.

But it was precisely this calmness that made people feel even more terrified.

Inside the Prefects Manor, Liu Cheng's sons were pale with fright, looking at each other in dismay, none of them daring to go out.

They knew very well that since Chu He could kill their father, killing them would be as simple as crushing a few ants.

"What? Does no one dare come out?"

Chu He's voice rang out again, this time carrying a hint of impatience.

"In that case, there is no longer any need for this Prefects Manor to exist."

As he spoke, he slowly raised his right hand.

Seeing this movement, Liu Cheng's eldest son, Liu Jin, finally couldn't hold out any longer.

He scrambled out of the meeting hall, ran into the courtyard, and with a 'thud,' knelt on the ground, kowtowing frantically toward Chu He in the sky.

"Senior, have mercy! Senior, have mercy!"

"My father's death was well-deserved! It was he who failed to recognize your greatness and offended your celestial majesty! We... we are willing to offer everything in the Prefects Manor, only asking that Senior leave us a way to live!"

His kneeling was like toppling the first domino.

Inside the Prefects Manor, the psychological defenses of everyone still harboring a glimmer of hope completely collapsed.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

One after another, members of the Liu Family, Guest Elders, and guards ran out from every corner of the manor and knelt in the courtyard, forming a dense, dark mass.

The sounds of pleading for mercy and wailing resounded through the clouds.

In mid-air, Chu He watched this farce below with cold eyes, his heart without a single ripple.

This was the Law of the cultivation world.

The strong are respected, and the winner is king.

Since he had killed Liu Cheng, then from now on, he was the one who called the shots in Tianfeng Prefecture.

"From today onwards, Tianfeng Prefecture is incorporated under the jurisdiction of my Chu Family of Qingyang City."

Chu He's voice once again resounded throughout the entire city.

"The Prefects Manor is to be seized. All assets are confiscated."

"The Liu Clan is demoted to commoners; within three generations, they shall not serve as officials nor shall they Cultivate."

"As for the rest, those who wish to stay shall have their pasts forgiven and continue to serve my Chu Family. Those who wish to leave, I shall not stop."

"I give you three days to handle all affairs in the prefecture city. In three days, I will send people to take over."

"Anyone who dares to feign compliance while secretly opposing, or takes the opportunity to cause chaos during this period..."

Chu He paused here, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Liu Cheng's fate will be yours."

Having spoken, he did not linger. With a flicker of his body, he disappeared from the sky above Tianfeng City.

He left behind only the shock of the entire city and the desperate wails within the Prefects Manor... When Chu He returned to Qingyang City, he was greeted by the mountain-shaking and sea-tsunami-like cheers of the entire city's people.

"Long live Senior Chu!"

"Long live City Lord Chu!"

It was unknown who first shouted "City Lord Chu," but immediately after, everyone followed suit.

They knew that from today on, Chu He was the one and only king of this land!

In the meeting hall, the Family heads who had personally witnessed Chu He explode the Golden Core Ancestor with a single punch were even more excited beyond measure.

They knew just how thick a thigh they were clinging to!

Even the Prefect was killed just like that; from now on, in the territory of Tianfeng Prefecture, who would dare provoke their Qingyang Chamber of Commerce?

Their future was bright!

Chu He paid no mind to the clamor outside.

He returned to the backyard and immediately went to see Lin Waner, who had just given birth, and his precious daughter, Chu Yuning.

Little Yuning was already awake, her large eyes—so clear they contained not a single trace of Impurities—staring curiously at the world.

When she saw Chu He, she actually began to giggle and stretched out her tender little hands, seemingly wanting Chu He to hold her.

Chu He's heart melted instantly.

He carefully took his daughter into his arms, feeling as though the entire world had become incredibly gentle and peaceful.

"Husband, you're back." Lin Waner leaned against the headboard, a gentle smile on her face. "Are the matters outside all handled?"

"Yes, they're handled." Chu He nodded. "From today onwards, Tianfeng Prefecture is surnamed Chu."

He spoke nonchalantly, but Lin Waner's heart stirred with excitement as she listened.