Chapter 221: City Lord

And taking advantage of this opening, the two in hemp robes finally broke free from the opponent’s spiritual lock.

In the end, they escaped from Bailian City in less than half an incense stick’s time, before the city’s lockdown was fully sealed.

However, after the two left Bailian City,

Without the Xishan Dao Sect to cover for them, and still undecided on how to infiltrate Luoshen Peak, they decided to temporarily halt on a small hill beside Bailian City.

They did this for two reasons: first, to deliberate and adjust their revenge plan; second, to secretly observe Li Muxian’s condition, who still remained inside the city.

“If he took advantage of our distraction to flee immediately, he might have had a chance to escape from Baixiang Pavilion.”

The pink-clad girl gazed down at the foot of the hill; Bailian City below, even in the darkness, still glowed brightly with lanterns.

The hemp-robed elder fell silent, then shook his head and said:

“He comes from the Great Li court, his status is not low—he must have backers behind him. Moreover, I sense he has no intention of fleeing. But what is his purpose—or rather, what does the Great Li court intend?”

Hearing this, the pink-clad girl furrowed her delicate brows, her small face filled with suspicion as she turned to the hemp-robed elder:

“Could it be that the Great Li court plans to seize Bailian City tonight, then use it as a base to attack Luoshen Peak?”

“That’s unlikely. Along our journey, we’ve seen no trace whatsoever of any other Great Li forces besides their group. Clearly, Luoshen Peak is not among the Great Li court’s primary targets.”

The hemp-robed elder spoke with thoughtful expression, then fell silent for a moment, gazing down at Bailian City.

At this moment, the city seemed to have reacted—dark streets now flickered with numerous city guards carrying torches, moving rapidly, appearing chaotic.

All gates of Bailian City had been completely sealed; the entire city now resembled an iron barrel.

At this moment, the hemp-robed elder suddenly frowned and said slowly:

“To be honest, I truly don’t understand his intent. If he came here to die, he doesn’t act like it; but if he didn’t come to die, then provoking Luoshen Peak is no different from suicide.”

Hearing this, the pink-clad girl’s eyes flashed with hatred as she spat:

“That guy is utterly annoying—I’ve always felt something’s off about him. He’s surely hiding some sinister scheme, but he won’t likely lose his life.”

Then, in the night, the girl turned her gaze to the hemp-robed elder:

“What we should be worrying about now is how to enter Luoshen Peak. Miss this chance, and our opportunity to avenge Sister will grow even slimmer.”

The hemp-robed elder remained silent, then gave a slight nod and said:

“There’s still time before Zheng Yunfeng’s birthday. Bailian City is the mandatory route to Luoshen Peak; martial sects will gradually pass through here to pay their respects. As long as we wait here, we’ll still have our chance.”

…

The murder of Bailian City’s young master and the son of Jiufeng’s peak seat inside Baixiang Pavilion plunged the entire pavilion into panic and chaos.

Many guests, sensing danger, scrambled from their beds and slipped away quietly; even Baixiang Pavilion’s own staff began to harbor thoughts of fleeing.

After all, such high-ranking figures had been killed inside Baixiang Pavilion—everyone there would inevitably be implicated, and all feared they might not survive.

News of Zheng Zhi’s death was reported immediately to the City Lord’s mansion; the lord of Bailian City was Zheng Zhi’s elder brother.

Zheng Yunfeng, peak seat of Bailian Peak, had taken many wives and fathered twenty-four children, yet only a few were truly favored and entrusted with major responsibilities on Luoshen Peak.

Zheng Shangzong, as lord of Bailian City, ranked first among them. He was now forty-seven years old and had already broken through to the Heavenly Realm four years ago, having reached the Grand Master level of martial cultivation.

Possessing formidable martial strength and nearly controlling half of Bailian Peak’s power, Zheng Shangzong held an extremely high status within Luoshen Peak, and his personality was arrogant, even obstinate.

Upon hearing the news of Zheng Zhi’s death, he did not even bring his bodyguards—he rushed alone to Baixiang Pavilion at once.

Shortly after he arrived, the two Luoshen Peak elders who had lost track of the hemp-robed elder returned.

They sensed something was amiss inside Baixiang Pavilion, but had not yet determined what had happened.

Seeing his brother’s corpse, Zheng Shangzong, already enraged, launched an attack on the two returning elders without a word:

“Negligent duty—deserve death!”

The peak’s signature martial art was “Hundred Peaks Divine Fist.” Zheng Shangzong had trained in it since childhood; by the time he reached the Heavenly Realm, he had perfected it, leaving only half a step short of full mastery.

Now, as he struck, his fist surged like a colossal mountain crashing down—the terrifying fist wind nearly crushed Baixiang Pavilion beneath its weight.

The two Luoshen Peak elders were nearly equal in martial cultivation, but Zheng Shangzong’s fist art surpassed theirs.

Moreover, he was the son of the Bailian Peak seat—they dared not truly fight back.

So, they defended with martial qi while avoiding direct contact, retreating toward the outer edges of Baixiang Pavilion.

“Lord Zheng, what has happened? Why attack us?”

Elder Shen spoke with a grim face; the other elder, retreating as he spoke, explained:

“Just now, Young Master Zheng ordered us to pursue a Heavenly Realm expert. We were gone only a moment—we had no idea what happened inside Baixiang Pavilion!”

At this moment, Zheng Shangzong unleashed a punch—the night sky twisted and roared as a brilliant golden fist light erupted; the surrounding heavenly qi boiled violently, the collision of power exploding like thunder, as if ready to tear apart the heavens and earth.

The two elders immediately leapt upward, condensing their qi to stand on empty air, retreating to the upper levels of Baixiang Pavilion.

Zheng Shangzong’s punch seemed to have slightly relieved his fury—he was now gradually calming down.

He looked up at the two Luoshen Peak elders standing in midair, his voice cold as ice:

“My brother and Yuwen Feng were killed.”

At these words, the two elders’ expressions changed drastically; they both exclaimed in unison:

“What?”

“Impossible!”

…

Elder Shen, utterly stunned, involuntarily asked in a low voice:

“Didn’t that man named Miao protect the young master and the others?”

Hearing this, Zheng Shangzong flashed instantly—vanishing from his spot and reappearing before the two elders, his eyes brimming with murderous intent:

“He’s dead too. Killed by a single finger piercing his skull—the exact same death as my brother.”

“You failed in your duty, allowing my brother to die—your crime is unforgivable. But right now, I only want to know: who killed him?”

“I swear I will tear him into a thousand pieces!”

Zheng Shangzong’s murderous intent surged violently; the two elders’ faces turned grim.

Elder Shen opened his mouth to speak—but at that very moment, a voice suddenly echoed in everyone’s ears:

“Don’t ask. I did it.”

(End of Chapter)