61: The Arrival of the Prince of Zhennan

The Prince's Mansion in the Prefectural City.

"Your Highness, news has come from Pingze. Someone came down the mountain alive and they are asking how to handle it!"

The Prince of Zhennan was currently fishing in a pavilion in the middle of a lake. His fishing rod, made of high-grade Emerald Spirit Bamboo, looked like green jade, and the fishing line woven from spirit silkworm silk shimmered with white light under the sun.

The float bobbed up and down on the water's surface.

Zhou Tianyi lifted his right arm, and a green spirit fish was pulled out of the water by him.

The attendant waiting nearby hurried forward to take the spirit fish and set the bait.

With a gentle flick, Zhou Tianyi cast the hook out again.

"Since they've returned, reward those who should be rewarded and punish those who should be punished!"

"And regarding the situation in the mountains?"

"They are useless trash; do they expect us to send people back in?"

At that moment, a person dressed in black with a mask covering their face approached quickly from outside.

Seeing this person arrive, Zhou Tianyi waved his hand. Everyone immediately withdrew, and the surrounding guards instantly became alert, preventing anyone from approaching.

"Your Highness, an urgent report from the Secret Guards."

As he spoke, he pulled a bamboo tube containing a secret letter from his robes.

Zhou Tianyi checked the seal and then opened the lid.

He opened the secret letter.

A long silence followed.

"Tell the Secret Guards they must find out the specific details. If all else fails, start from the Imperial City."

"In three days, I will inspect Pingze County. Notify Third Martial Uncle and have him accompany me. At the same time, relay this news to the Foundation Establishment forces of Autumn Water Lake."

"Yes!"

There was no questioning, only obedience.

"Hmph, trying to take away the spiritual essence directly from my fief? How could I let them leave without leaving something behind?"

"If there's a chance to obtain even a wisp, then..."

However, Zhou Tianyi knew this would be difficult, nearly impossible.

————

The news that the Prince of Zhennan would arrive in Pingze in three days quickly spread throughout the county town. There were even rumors that those who returned alive from the mountains would receive rewards from the Prince, and the families of those killed in action would receive compensation.

Ever since they came down the mountain yesterday, the families of those soldiers and Martial Artists had received the news. Almost every coffin in the county town was bought up. Moreover, because there were no bodies, many could only set up cenotaphs.

In Pingze, almost every household hung white silk in mourning.

Lu Xuan learned about the situation in the other counties from traveling merchants. They were in even worse shape than Pingze; almost everyone who went was wiped out, and funerals were held every day.

Furthermore, yesterday he had intended to go straight home, but he was invited by the county authorities to the military camp where everyone who returned was being kept.

Besides hosting a feast to welcome them back, they were told they had to stay in the camp for the next few days, saying that the Prince of Zhennan would be coming and there would be rewards then.

At the banquet, Li Yan also appeared. While others did not know the truth of what happened, Lu Xuan and Wang Yuanhua did. However, neither of them exposed him on the spot; instead, they drank and chatted as if nothing was wrong.

During this time, Lu Xuan asked Wang Yuanhua to have someone bring a message home to tell his family he was fine, so they wouldn't worry.

Time flew by, and it was soon three days later.

Early in the morning, the entirety of Pingze began a lockdown.

The southern gate of the county town was thrown wide open. The guards at the gate were heavily armed, each wearing brand-new armor and carrying fresh weapons. A large group of Pingze County officials arrived at the gate to welcome the Prince before dawn.

Meanwhile, Lu Xuan and the others were all waiting in the military tents to be summoned due to their 'status'.

However, they clearly sensed that the number of guards watching the tents had increased from one Grandmaster to three.

Lu Xuan gave a light chuckle and ignored it. If the Prince of Zhennan really intended to kill them, he wouldn't have come in person.

Between 9:00 and 11:00 AM.

The messenger flag-bearer of the Prince of Zhennan finally appeared before everyone.

"His Highness is ten li away."

After delivering the message, he immediately returned.

"All officials, prepare to welcome him."

The commoners of Pingze County had never seen such a magnificent motorcade in their lives, but most of them had sorrow etched between their brows.

This was because the county yamen had ordered that no funerals were allowed during the Prince's inspection; everything had to wait until after the Prince of Zhennan left.

Since the day before yesterday, bailiffs from the yamen had been going door-to-door to enforce this.

"Your Highness, Pingze is just ahead."

"Mm. Have the various families from Autumn Water Lake arrived?"

"They will arrive this afternoon."

"In whose hands is that spiritual essence now?"

"It is in the hands of State Preceptor Xu Qing. However, another Foundation Establishment great cultivator named Xiang Hong fought for it. I heard the two of them battled for a whole day, and in the end, neither could defeat the other, so they reached a deal!"

"Yesterday, the Secret Guards sent word that the earth dragon rolled in that place, and mountains hundreds of zhang high were turned into valleys."

"The barbarians were completely slaughtered; they must all be dead by now."

"Mm. Originally, our share in Thousand Peaks Mountain was small. Now that a spiritual essence has appeared, those families from Autumn Water Lake probably won't be able to sit still. They will definitely want a piece of the pie!"

"Your Highness, this official does not understand. Isn't this move equivalent to inviting the wolf into the house?"

"Hahaha, inviting the wolf into the house? I prefer to call it borrowing a knife to kill!"

"That Xu Qing is merely at Peak Foundation Establishment, yet he represents the Purple Sun Sect and wants to take fifty percent of the profits. He thinks I don't know the contents of the Nascent Soul Daoist Lord's decree from the Purple Sun Sect that day."

"Previously, there was no profit, or the profit was too small to be worth offending him. Now, with such profit before us, do you think the other families will still yield to him? If he wants to safely take away that spiritual essence, it depends on whether he has the ability."

Over the years, he had been suppressed too harshly by these immortal sects and clans. Now that he had the chance, he naturally wanted to set them up.

"Enter the city!"

————

Immortal Fate Pavilion.

Xu Qing sat cross-legged on the bed, healing his injuries.

Although he had narrowly won the battle against Xiang Hong that day, he had also sustained some injuries.

"That Xiang Hong's nine heavens pagoda truly lives up to its reputation. He is indeed a Purple Mansion sprout who used Thick Earth Suppressing Yuan Qi to break through to Foundation Establishment. To think he could duel with me, a Peak Foundation Establishment, despite only just breaking through to Late Stage Foundation Establishment."

Xu Qing withdrew from his cultivation cycle and slowly opened his eyes.

"However, now that I have this flame marrow earth core qi, I can later exchange it for a spiritual essence I need. It won't be too late to integrate it when I break through to the Purple Mansion."

He took out the earth core profound jade marrow and looked at the spiritual essence stored inside, secretly sighing at his good fortune.

Just after arriving in the Yue Kingdom, he encountered a Purple Mansion Great Demon that had perished and transformed into a Dao Treasury. After absorbing it, he reached Peak Foundation Establishment in just a few years. Now he had obtained another wisp of spiritual essence, and a top-tier one at that.

This Spirit-Severing Land was simply his blessed land. Originally, his chance of breaking through to the Purple Mansion was less than twenty percent, but with this spiritual essence, it could be increased to at least fifty percent.

Knock, knock, knock~

Just as he was calculating in his mind, a knock sounded at the door.

"Enter!"

The manager of the Pingze County branch of Immortal Fate Pavilion walked in and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Immortal, the Prince of Zhennan has sent a letter and asked me to hand it to you."

After speaking, he presented the letter with both hands.

Xu Qing reached out with his hand, and the letter flew into his grasp.

After opening the letter and seeing its contents, his brow furrowed deeply.

The Spiritual Pressure in the room instantly spiked. The manager, who was standing to the side, was pressed directly to the floor, unable to get up.

Only then did Xu Qing realize his loss of composure and withdrew his Spiritual Pressure.

"You may leave."

The manager, as if granted a great reprieve, scrambled out of the room.

"Damn that Prince of Zhennan, does he really think I wouldn't dare to kill him?"

The letter read: "I am delighted to hear that the Immortal Master has chanced upon a secret treasure. This evening, the county yamen will host a banquet to congratulate you. The various families of Qianqiu Lake have heard this news and will also attend. I hope the Immortal Master will grace us with your presence."

Xu Qing knew this matter would not end peacefully; he had to go.

However, he did not just sit and wait for death; he sent out two voice transmissions in quick succession.