41: Subduing forces

[And Liu Caiping and Ji Bin are both Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.]

[However, Cultivators have too great a natural advantage; they almost completely crush Martial Artists of the same Realm.]

[Just as it is very difficult for a Great Grandmaster to kill a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it is very easy for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to kill a Great Grandmaster.]

[No wonder those Yao Beasts are so abnormal—fast speed, high defense, and all sorts of strange methods!]

[As for Cultivating slowly?]

[For you, who is cheating, this is not a problem at all!]

[You suddenly grab her wrist: "Can you get me a spirit awakening pill? I want to change my fate against the heavens!"]

[She looks at you with a completely bewildered expression.]

["My fate is mine to control, not the heavens'!" you shout, as if having an episode of chuunibyou.]

[You then pretend to be affectionate and add: "When I make something of myself, can I marry you?"]

[She thinks seriously for three seconds and nods: "Alright, wait for my return. Remember, absolutely do not expose..."]

[Saying that, she pulls out a purple double-fish jade pendant and stuffs it into your hand: "Wear it, it can keep you safe."]

[You take the opportunity to press further: "Can you tell me your true identity now?"]

[Liu Caiping bites her lip and finally speaks: "Actually... I am not from this world."]

[These words are like a bolt of lightning striking you; your whole body goes numb! No wonder this world has never heard of any Cultivation Sects.]

[She continues to drop bombshells: "I am a member of the Liu Clan Immortal Family..."]

["This so-called Tianhuang Continent is actually called the Tianhuang Secret Realm..."]

["It is just a Small World controlled by my Family..."]

["The entire Tianhuang Secret Realm is actually inside the Small World of a grotto-heaven magical treasure..."]

["The earliest people to live here were all descendants of criminals exiled by our Family..."]

[This is too much information; you feel like the sky is falling!]

[After all that, the entire continent is just a luxury prison?]

[Those Cultivators are all prison guards?]

[The Yao Beasts are just their guard pets?]

[Your vision goes dark—this is freaking Hell difficulty!]

[With this situation, how can you escape???]

[The second year,]

[After Liu Caiping leaves, you also leave the Great Yan Dynasty and come to the Yan Imperial Capital.]

[You return here for two reasons: first, you are unfamiliar with the Great Yan Dynasty, and second, the most dangerous place is the safest.]

[More importantly, you still have things to do.]

[You rent two adjacent small courtyards opposite the Martial Arts Academy.]

[Following your old method, you subjugate Chang Qingyi and have him keep an eye on a young man named Zhang Rui, telling him that this person will enter the city within a year.]

[One night, wearing a white smiley-face mask, you arrive at the Vermilion Bird Tower.]

["Who is Your Excellency? Why have you come uninvited, and for what purpose?" Ye Wuhen looks at you vigilantly.]

[Although you broke into the Vermilion Bird Tower at night, you didn't show any Killing Intent, so he isn't too nervous yet.]

[You deliberately release your Killing Intent—]

[His expression changes drastically, and with a wave of his hand, three cold lights shoot toward you with a "swoosh, swoosh, swoosh."]

[Amused, you stand still and move your hands like lightning, catching all the hidden weapons with a "shua, shua, shua."]

[With your Heavenly Human Realm cultivation, dealing with a Grandmaster like him is indeed like bullying.]

[Upon discovering your strength, his face turns ashen, and he turns to flee.]

[But he has barely taken two steps when you block his path.]

[Terrified, he retreats repeatedly, breaking out in a cold sweat, jumping several meters away like a startled rabbit.]

["Senior, spare my life!" He falls to his knees with a thud. "This Junior has realized his mistake and will definitely change professions in the future!"]

[You deliberately lower your voice: "Seeing as you are sensible, I will spare your life."]

["Thank you, Senior! Thank you, Senior!" He kowtows incessantly.]

[Looking at him, you feel a secret sense of satisfaction—this fellow had teased you plenty of times in previous simulations.]

[You leave a single sentence before disappearing: "Investigate the situation in Longyang Town. I will return in three months."]

[Ye Wuhen heaves a long sigh of relief and immediately sets off for Longyang Town.]

[Three months later, you pay another nocturnal visit to the Vermilion Bird Tower.]

[The news you receive disappoints you—the Qin Family has been wiped out.]

[Although this is a simulation, the news still feels like a knife through your heart.]

[The third year,]

[Wearing a white smiley-face mask, you kill Zhang Rui at the entrance of the Martial Arts Academy and seize the heaven-plundering pill.]

[Xiao Tianci arrives upon hearing the news, sizing you up vigilantly while sensing the Killing Intent on you.]

[Without giving him a chance to act, you close in instantly and strike with your palm.]

[The true essence shield he hastily condensed is easily shattered by you, and he is sent flying, rolling several times on the ground.]

["Senior, stop!" he shouts in a panic. "I will exchange spiritual vein essence for a way to live!"]

[Without waiting for your answer, he leaps up and turns into a streak of light to flee.]

[But how could a Great Grandmaster be faster than the Heavenly Human Realm?]

[Your figure is like lightning as you intercept him mid-air, throwing a punch that resounds through the clouds like the roar of a tiger and the cry of a Dragon, killing him on the spot.]

[There is no other way; for the sake of slaying Immortals, anyone can die.]

[Then, you carry his corpse to the Cheng Residence.]

[Seeing Xiao Tianci's corpse, Cheng Wenbo's legs tremble uncontrollably.]

[Cheng Tianrui slumps to the ground, his legs weak, feeling as if his whole body has been struck by lightning.]

[At this moment, a petite figure bursts in.]

[It is none other than Cheng Rongrong.]

[She raises her sword and slashes at you—]

["Clang!" The longsword snaps.]

[Only a shallow mark is left on your skin.]

[Recognizing her as Cheng Rongrong, you smile slightly.]

[Your smiling eyes, seen through the white smiley-face mask, are very eerie, making her whole body shudder in fear.]

[Cheng Wenbo is also terrified.]

[But realizing you have no Killing Intent, his eyes dart around, his mind in a state of chaos.]

[Cheng Rongrong's small mouth hangs slightly open.]

[She looks at the broken sword in disbelief.]

[Cheng Tianrui hastily begs for mercy: "Senior, spare our lives!"]

["My daughter is ignorant; please show mercy!"]

[You wave your hand: "It matters not; she cannot harm this venerable one."]

[You turn to Cheng Rongrong, your tone gentle: "Young Miss Cheng is unafraid of life and death; it is truly admirable."]

[Cheng Rongrong's eyes widen.]

[She stands there like a wooden chicken, her mind buzzing.]

[You look back at Cheng Wenbo and ask directly: "Do you know of spiritual vein essence?"]

["I know a little," he says tremblingly. "This item is rare; each Dynasty has no more than two bottles in reserve."]

["Find out its whereabouts for me. I will come to find you once every half year." After saying this, you disappear with the corpse.]

[You use the same method on Yue Tianxiong, Fang Yanbo, and Cold Dustless.]

[Seeing Xiao Tianci's end, they are all terrified and follow your orders implicitly.]

[This is the fastest way to subjugate them; you can only kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, as you have no desire to waste time with them.]

[These forces have many eyes and ears, making things more convenient. Besides, you need to hide your identity.]

[The benefits brought by strength make you emotional.]

[In just a few days, you have secretly taken control of the entire Yan Dynasty.]

[No one knows that you have become the true Dominator behind the scenes of this Dynasty.]

[The fourth year,]

[You step into the gates of the Cheng Residence for the sixth time.]

[Cheng Wenbo, Yue Tianxiong, Fang Yanbo, and Cold Dustless have long been waiting, respectfully handing over a bottle of spiritual vein essence.]

[You are delighted—with this treasure, your Cultivation speed can increase by a few more points.]

["Not bad. Where did this spiritual vein essence come from?" you ask, playing with the jade bottle.]

[The three of them look at Cheng Wenbo in unison.]

[They have been wondering: why do you always come to the Cheng Residence? Could there be some connection with the Cheng Family?]

[Actually, Cheng Wenbo saw through it long ago—you are here for Cheng Rongrong.]

[Cheng Wenbo steps forward and cups his hands: "Senior, this was collected from over a dozen mineral veins, combined with the Imperial Family's collection to make it up."]

[You raise an eyebrow: "So rare?"]

["Senior may not know, but unless we go and rob neighboring countries..." Yue Tianxiong stops mid-sentence and quickly shuts his mouth.]

[You wave your hand: "I dislike fighting and killing; all of you, behave yourselves."]

["Yes, yes, yes!" The four of them nod like chickens pecking at grain.]