Chapter 209: No Name

The weather gradually turned cool on the long street.

On the wide streets of Haojing City, there had been plenty of rain recently, and scenes of water storage could be seen everywhere.

Early winter temperatures had begun to drop; many commoners had put on cotton-padded jackets, but even more were still wearing thin single-layer garments, bustling about on the streets.

Before Xihua Gate, many small sedan chairs from official and noble households had stopped, and numerous servants had arrived leading donkeys and horses—these were all family members of martial generals and aristocrats.

Yuyao and Qu Lian were also among the crowd, beside whom stood two stout, rough-looking women, along with two guards holding sabers; all six were waiting for Zhang Yi and Zhang Zhao to come out.

As Xihua Gate opened, the crowd seemed to hear the cheers and joyful leaps of several young boys coming from within.

Only to see, as the gate opened, several boys emerged carrying bamboo baskets and cases; inside the baskets and cases were mostly food, or brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

Not long after, Yuyao and Qu Lian saw the 'tall and sturdy' Zhang Yi rushing out while shielding Zhang Zhao.

Unlike the thin and small Zhang Zhao, who resembled his mother, Zhang Yi now appeared tall and sturdy, looking like a seven- or eight-year-old boy, his height shooting up rapidly.

One hand held the case, the other helped Zhang Zhao carry the bamboo basket, and he could also shield Zhang Zhao as he rushed out.

"Elder Brother Yi, Elder Brother Zhao!"

Seeing the two, Yuyao and Qu Lian quickly waved their hands to summon them.

The two stout women, however, relying on their height and strength, had already walked over, each taking one of them.

"Grandmother, Aunt Yu, Aunt Qu!"

At this moment, Zhang Yi's face was full of excitement, as if he had escaped from a great mountain upon leaving the academy; Zhang Zhao's small face was red and puffed in the cold wind, and he was somewhat introverted and shy.

Yuyao and Qu Lian, seeing this, quickly ushered the two into the sedan chair and hurried back.

Along the way, Zhang Yi was quite lively, often waving to some young boys nearby, appearing to have made many friends within Xihua Academy.

Zhang Zhao preferred quietness, holding the hand warmer handed to him by Yuyao, merely gazing curiously at Zhang Yi and his companions as they greeted each other.

Yuyao, finding it interesting beside them, then asked Zhang Yi about what he had seen and heard in the school; Zhang Yi immediately began to vividly describe what he had witnessed and heard in the academy, his words full of novelty and joy.

In his words, it was far more interesting than staying at home.

At this moment, several people were completely unaware that, in the shadows, several figures disguised as foreign merchants had long been watching the sedan chair's occupants from afar.

Tiebi Daoist had disguised himself as a foreign merchant, at this moment followed by caravan guards, pretending to pass through here.

"Sir, should we seize one or two?"

At this moment, beside him, a middle-aged man with intense qi and blood in his body glanced with a fierce gleam in his eyes; he did not glance toward the sedan chair's direction, only his pupils flashed with a chill.

Tiebi Daoist turned his gaze.

"Seizing one is still seizing, seizing two is still seizing—take them both back together; but if resistance is met, then seize the elder first—that older child has better aptitude!"

Tiebi Daoist's eyes flickered with a hint of greed.

He glanced around, subtly making a hand gesture, signaling everyone to prepare to act.

Those who came with him this time to participate in the mission were all body-tempering martial artists summoned from the sect; each one was unafraid of the suppression of dragon-tiger qi, and once the target was captured, they could retreat at any time.

But just then, Tiebi Daoist's pupils shifted—yet he saw that, unbeknownst when, the surrounding commoners had suddenly turned their gazes toward them; these street vendors, wandering porters, and bearers had inexplicably gathered around.

The subordinates' chests bulged; upon closer inspection, they were hiding weapons!

Leading them was a tall young martial artist, his entire body radiating intense qi and blood like a furnace.

Merely sensing it slightly, Tiebi Daoist's expression changed.

"Earthly Immortal Demon?"

The opponent's qi was vast and magnificent, his entire body's qi and blood unified like a wish-fulfilling jewel, resembling a blazing crimson golden core; such a martial arts powerhouse was like a myth, yet he had actually run into him.

At this moment, he was still some distance from the golden core realm; even if he had condensed a golden core, in this situation encountering a body-tempering myth, an Earthly Immortal Demon, would mean certain death with no chance of survival.

He barely suppressed his inner panic, then clasped his hands and said: "May I ask, sir, who are you, and why do you block our merchant convoy's path?"

Zhao Hu glanced at him coldly and said indifferently: "Cut the nonsense—we are the Black-Clothed Guards, and you have committed a crime now!

Come with us to the Black-Clothed Guards' office for a visit!"

As he spoke, a vast surge of qi and blood like a flood erupted from his body, directly seizing Tiebi Daoist's neck in one grab and slapping him unconscious with a palm.

The other assassins in the caravan, intending to act, found multiple weapons silently appearing at their waists—indeed, even ten or more.

Seeing this, the many death warriors also knew that, under these circumstances, there was no need to act.

"It seems we no longer need to do anything?"

At this moment, in the shadows, Wei Fang arrived with several divine generals manifesting from the doorway of a nearby farmer's house; each divine general wore iron armor, clearly distinct from ordinary divine generals—their qi and blood were vigorous, not resembling ghostly or divine bodies, but rather mortal flesh.

One possessed magnificent qi and blood, faintly resonating with the spiritual mechanism in the void.

These were divine generals worthy of matching heaven's beings, formidable martial warriors who also seemed to possess a portion of the profound mysteries of divine Dao arts.

Seeing the Black-Clothed Guards' squad seize control of the situation, this City Lord Prince stroked his beard and gave a light chuckle, then vanished with the many divine generals in place.

Zhao Hu's eyes flashed with purple qi; he glanced in the direction the City Lord Prince had departed, then immediately led everyone away at high speed.

……

On the Observatory Terrace, Zhang Jian quickly received the message sent from the Black-Clothed Guards' office.

Below the Observatory Terrace, Zhao Hu at this moment revealed a smile, clasped his hands, and said.

"Assistant Reader Zhang, the Commander has ordered: that Tiebi Daoist and his gang are to be handled by you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's gaze remained calm, and he spoke lightly.

"They still have backers behind them—then continue to uncover their backing; I believe you Black-Clothed Guards certainly have the means for this!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hu immediately revealed a knowing smile.

"Please rest assured, Assistant Reader Zhang—this is our forte!"

After a brief pause, he added: "In the future, the two young masters of the Zhang family will also have Black-Clothed Guards' protection accompanying them at all times; please do not misunderstand, Assistant Reader Zhang—if you dislike it, we will also withdraw these personnel!"

Zhang Jian glanced at them, waved his hand, and said: "This matter does not require your help—I have my own arrangements!"

Zhang Jian directly refused.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hu nodded, then immediately left the Observatory Terrace.

……

On the Watching Heaven Platform, after Zhao Hu left, Zhang Jian's expression remained unchanged.

These minor setbacks he did not care about.

Zhang Yi and Zhang Zhao have special constitutions, which always attract some trouble, but with him protecting them, nothing will go wrong.

Moreover, he secretly asked the City God King to help watch over them, with a hundred gods accompanying, enough to suppress any cultivators with ill intentions.

"Seizing the Spirit?"

Zhang Jian chewed in his mouth, a cold smile at the bottom of his eyes.

Immediately he turned his gaze to his own cultivation.

At this time he was preparing for his first divine journey through the Five Cities, to break through that barrier.

The first city is named Wu Ming.

It contains the profound mystery of the First Calamity of the Yin Spirit.

"Wu Ming Karma Fire!"

Wu Ming Karma Fire burns away the killing qi.

This calamity penetrates the deep imprint of the soul; if there are resentful spirits in the depths of the soul across countless lives, one must undergo the judgment of the Nine Netherworld Hell, to forgive past faults; to pass this calamity, one can accumulate countless merits, or find various heavenly materials and earthly treasures between heaven and earth, transform them into secret treasures for overcoming the calamity, or cultivate the secret method of the Dao heart to resist the refining of the Wu Ming Karma Fire.

After passing this calamity, the soul's imprint is redeemed from the Nine Netherworld Hell, and one truly begins to escape life and death.