Chapter 111: Summon the Army to Accuse!

Over the jungle not far from Nanshan Fang, the top young talent of the Luoxia Sect, Gong Wansheng, was lazily lying on his Flying Sword, basking in the sun, occasionally sipping fine wine, feeling delighted.

He beside him was a middle‑aged cultivator meditating with his eyes closed.

Although the middle‑aged cultivator did not deliberately exude pressure, the mere fluctuation of his cultivation aura was enough to startle a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

This person was the Third Elder of the Luoxia Sect, Zhou Songbai, who, aside from Sect Leader Lu Daoming, ranks among the top three in strength today! He is a Fake Core True Person! "If you spent the time you waste on drinking wine on diligent cultivation, perhaps your chances of achieving the Golden Core will increase," the Third Elder Zhou Songbai said calmly.

Gong Wansheng grinned and said, "There are plenty of people in the sect who never drink, but how many actually succeed in forming a Golden Core? It's like you, Master, never drink…"

Bang! The eyes‑closed Zhou Songbai suddenly waved his hand, and his overwhelming magical force instantly coalesced into a massive palm that slapped toward Gong Wansheng.

Gong Wansheng was caught off guard, and both he and his sword were knocked down, breaking countless branches. Moments later, he scrambled up in disheveled clothes, complaining, "Master, don't expect me to succeed in forming a Golden Core. Otherwise, how will you continue to trample me later?"

The Third Elder opened his eyes, irritated, and said, "You spineless thing! I'd rather you one day have the ability to turn around and trample me!"

Gong Wansheng was about to say something when Zhou Songbai, looking into the distance, said, "Reinforcements have arrived."

Soon, a figure piloting a flying boat sped toward them, and then another figure appeared before the two.

It was Wu Zhanggui of the Lingfu Pavilion.

After a respectful bow upon meeting, Wu Zhanggui relayed the news from Nanshan Fang to the two.

"It seems Xiao Zhangqing is truly formidable. Su Rongrong inherited some of her aunt's true teachings; although she is only at the mid‑stage of Foundation Establishment, she once defeated a late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator using a Soul Transformation secret technique. Now, she was beaten by Xiao Zhangqing in her strongest mental attack and suffered serious injuries. That suggests Xiao Zhangqing's Soul Transformation strength may indeed have reached the realm of complete Foundation Establishment," Zhou Songbai commented.

Gong Wansheng helplessly said, "I've told you before, Master, but you never believed me. When he killed that half‑human, half‑evil spirit Mu Renjie, I was there; how could I have misread it?"

Zhou Songbai shook his head and said, "Evil spirits are indeed bizarre and hard to guard against. Yet the Demon‑breaking Talisman and the Stabilizing Soul Talisman are remarkably effective against them. As a Second‑rank Talisman Master, if he happens to possess these two Talisman Scripts, killing the evil spirit becomes much easier, not solely due to the Soul Transformation secret technique."

"Then why does Master now acknowledge Xiao Zhangqing's prowess?" Gong Wansheng insisted on his assessment; he knew how terrifying Mu Renjie was, and even if he had used costly secret techniques, he still fled in panic.

Zhou Songbai glanced at him and said, "He successfully entered Foundation Establishment years ago; can that be compared to the time he killed Mu Renjie?"

Gong Wansheng fell silent.

Indeed.

The ninth layer of refined Qi and the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage are not comparable.

"A Second‑rank genius Talisman Master with such a strong Soul Transformation, even though his cultivation is a bit weaker, is indeed very useful, and not in vain that the Sect Leader specially sent me on this trip," Zhou Songbai said, satisfied.

As a Fake Core True Person, his status is highly esteemed, yet now he must travel a thousand li for a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator, and to prevent leaks, he must also linger outside Nanshan Fang for a while.

Even a late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would not merit such effort from him.

"Su Rongrong took a heavy loss; when the Real Person Liang Yuehua of Baihua Valley arrives, she will certainly not easily spare Xiao Zhangqing. Then I, as the teacher, can intervene…" Zhou Songbai said with full confidence.

Gong Wansheng, however, was somewhat worried and asked, "Our Luoxia Sect is willing to go to such lengths to win over Xiao Zhangqing… When that Real Person Liang arrives at Nanshan Fang and also deems Xiao Zhangqing worth courting, what should we do?"

Zhou Songbai shook his head and said, "That's because you have dealt too little with Baihua Valley and don't understand the ways of those women there. Especially that old lady Liang Yuehua… *cough cough*, that Real Person is extremely hard to deal with. Even if she thinks Xiao Zhangqing is worth courting, she will first give a strong warning and beat him severely before anything else."

According to the Luoxia Sect's knowledge of Xiao Zhangqing, they have persistently invited him to the sect for years, and Xiao Zhangqing has always declined.

This shows that he is not a pushover; once he makes a decision, he sticks to it and cannot be easily swayed.

That is also why he expends great effort to lie low and wait for the right moment.

If Xiao Zhangqing were a pushover, they would have stormed Nanshan Fang by now and forcibly taken him back!

They even ceded Nanshan Fang so that Xiao Zhangqing would willingly go to the Luoxia Sect.

Otherwise, considering distance, Nanshan Fang is even closer to the Luoxia Sect and should be assigned under Luoxia Sect's jurisdiction!

…

…

Jia Yi Cave.

Lin Ziyu, after seeing Xiao Zhangqing return, wore a look of heavy concern and asked, "Lord, are things not going smoothly? Are the people of Baihua Valley unwilling to return Master Zhu Dan's relics?"

Xiao Zhangqing shook his head, "They did return them, actually. Moreover, they returned everything, even spitting out the portion that Shopkeeper Ruan had…"

Lin Ziyu was puzzled, "What does that mean, my lord?"

Xiao Zhangqing said thoughtfully, "I am contemplating whether to leave Nanshan Fang soon and head to Character: Liyang Immortal City."

He had a premonition that the Demon Sect Evil Cultivator Su Rongrong mentioned would invade again, on a full‑scale massive level, and the Golden Core True Person‑level combat power would also be at stake… it would truly happen.

Although he didn't know exactly when, it was only a matter of sooner or later.

In that case, the Southwest Region of the Da Yu Cultivation World would be engulfed in continuous war; although he had some confidence, he did not wish to be trapped and fight to the death for Baihua Valley or the Luoxia Sect.

Moreover, even if the war would wait a long time, it wouldn't start immediately.

Later, Nanshan Fang became Baihua Valley's territory, the Cao family was absorbed, and even if he could remain neutral, he wouldn't be as free as before.

It would be better to leave.

He originally intended to wait a while longer, hoping that after breaking through to the mid‑stage of Foundation Establishment, his Soul Transformation would strengthen, his power would rise, giving him confidence to directly confront Golden Core cultivators.

Now it seems he cannot wait.

Reducing risk is a matter of acting early rather than late.

After hearing Xiao Zhangqing's brief outline, Lin Ziyu said without hesitation, "If you think Nanshan Fang is unsafe, Lord, we should relocate as soon as possible. Zixi and I will follow your command. However, before leaving, the Guangju Building needs to be transferred, right? It currently fetches many Spirit Stones, and discarding it would be a loss."

Xiao Zhangqing pondered for a moment and decided, "You should have Zixi handle the Guangju Building now. Transfer it within ten days. After ten days, we will leave Nanshan Fang."

Cut off what must be cut, lest chaos ensues.

Since it's decided, there's nothing to linger over.

During these ten days he will close his sect for the final time, to see if he can smoothly advance to the mid‑stage of Foundation Establishment.

Even if he cannot breakthrough, it's nothing.

With his current strength, the Foundation Establishment Realm is essentially invincible.

He has not yet encountered a Golden Core True Person, so he doesn't know how a duel would turn out, but he likely has some self‑preservation ability.

…

In the blink of an eye, five days passed. Two imposing female cultivators arrived at Nanshan Fang aboard a flying device.

Upon reaching Nanshan Fang, they did not falter; the mountain‑protecting formation of Nanshan Fang seemed nonexistent to them, and they proceeded to Baibao Lou.

Su Rongrong, who was nursing and repairing her Soul Transformation wounds, sensed the newcomers and immediately manifested to greet them.

Aunt Liang~ Aunt Sun~

Su Rongrong, upon seeing the two receive the instant, felt an inexplicable grievance; the recent pain of Soul Transformation and its difficulty to heal had made her inner resentment and anger grow day by day.

At this moment, seeing the sect elders arrive, her nose reddened slightly and her eyes grew a bit sore.

"Rongrong, what's happening? Who injured you?"

A middle‑aged woman in a gray Daoist robe, looking like a nun, walked ahead.

Although she wore no makeup and had an air of "no strangers allowed" as if everyone owed her Spirit Stones, one could still see her thousand charms and exquisite beauty.

Her voice was the same.

Her tone was icy and fierce, yet the essence of her voice was gentle.

This person was the Fifth Elder of Baihua Valley, a cultivator of the Fake Core realm, Liang Yuehua! "But you encountered an Evil Cultivator?"

Another female cultivator wore a green robe, very petite, apparently under 1.6 m, yet her figure was unusually voluptuous. Though the green robe was not form‑fitting, as she moved the exaggerated fullness occasionally showed its outline.

She was the Sixth Elder of Baihua Valley, in the late Foundation Establishment stage, a third‑rank Array Master, Sun Fengyi.

It must be said that the cultivators of Baihua Valley are among the top in appearance in the Cultivation World.

Especially those who grew up in Baihua Valley and received focused cultivation, even more so.

"It's not an Evil Cultivator. It's a cultivator from Nanshan Fang, named Xiao Zhangqing…"

Su Rongrong forced herself not to cry and recounted the events of the past few days.

The petite Sixth Elder Sun Fengyi furrowed her brows after listening and asked in puzzlement, "A tiny Nanshan Fang has such a person? Moreover, since they came from Lingfu Pavilion, why didn't Luoxia Sect recruit them? It's truly strange…"

Liang Yuehua, clad in a Daoist robe, erupted in fury, his murderous aura blazing as he said, "How dare you meddle in Baihua Valley's affairs? Even Lu Daoming wouldn't dare! Where did this nameless petty thief come from to be so audacious?! What about that girl Ruan Qingzhu? This incident started because of her; summon her first. After dealing with her, we'll go find Xiao Zhangqing to settle accounts!"

Soon.

Ruan Qingzhu was brought before the two elders, kneeling and not daring to lift her head.

"Raise your head!" Liang Yuehua barked coldly. "Ruan Qingzhu, back then you disobeyed the sect's orders and committed a grave mistake. I thought you were still young, deceived by a man, so I was lenient and spared your life, merely exiling you to Nanshan Fang for reflection. I never expected that after all these years you still retain your seductive nature, flirting and entangling with men without end!"

Liang Yuehua is the Law‑Enforcement Elder of Baihua Valley.

Originally, Ruan Qingzhu's hidden embryonic formation led to a great error, for which Liang Yuehua punished her.

Ruan Qingzhu felt uneasy and ashamed, thinking she had no face to meet the sect's higher-ups.

Because when she first entered Baihua Valley, she was a prodigious seedling, a focus of attention and cultivation, not much weaker than Su Rongrong, the sect master's niece.

But due to her own choices back then, she fell to this state today.

She wouldn't call it regret, for regret is useless; she only feels she has let the sect down.

But now, hearing the Fifth Elder's words, she couldn't help but protest in grievance, "Fifth Elder, I didn't… my relationship with Pill Master Zhu is pure!"

"How dare you argue!" Liang Yuehua roared, instantly unleashing a trace of his power as a Fake Core True Person; Ruan Qingzhu instantly felt her breath constricted, her entire cultivation energy unable to circulate, let alone speak.

"You should be grateful that Rongrong escaped serious injury this time; otherwise you and the offspring you bore would not escape death!"

Liang Yuehua never intended to give Ruan Qingzhu a chance to explain, nor wanted to hear it, and said coldly, "That Xiao Zhangqing isn't friendly with you to defend your paramour? I'm going to bind you and take you over there, see how he handles it!"

Sun Fengyi, standing nearby, felt a pang of compassion and urged, "Fifth Elder, although Ruan Qingzhu erred, she is still our disciple; this would only make outsiders laugh. Just deal with Xiao Zhangqing."

Liang Yuehua was resolute, unyielding: "Fifth Elder, I know you're soft‑hearted; you needn't follow today. Time is precious—go find the Cao family, have them cooperate with you to upgrade Nanshan Fang's Mountain‑Guard Array. Leave Xiao Zhangqing to me! I want to see how much skill this so‑called mountain rogue truly has to meddle in Baihua Valley's affairs and wound our people!"

Having said that, he lifted the mute Ruan Qingzhu and, with Su Rongrong, headed straight for Jia Yi Cave.

On the way, their murderous aura roared, creating a huge disturbance deliberately for many cultivators of Nanshan Fang to sense.

……

……

Outside Nanshan Fang.

Zhou Songbai and his disciple Gong Wansheng, who had been observing the commotion, discovered it the moment Liang Yuehua and Sun Fengyi swaggered in.

"Master, the two elders of Baihua Valley have arrived," Gong Wansheng said, gazing at the two fleeting rainbow lights.

After a moment, Zhou Songbai finally opened his eyes, ending his cultivation, rose calmly and said, "Let's go then. I've been 'old friends' with this Liang Real Person for years, yet we've never truly sparred. Today, it seems we'll finally settle who's superior."

……

……

Jia Yi Cave.

The two Lin sisters were present.

The business of Guangju Building had been transferred out; in the next few days the sisters had little to do, planning to tidy up Jia Yi Cave, and after the lord exits the pass in a few days, they could set off directly.

Although they had long been mentally prepared, Lin Zixi especially yearned for Character: Liyang Immortal City, yet when the time to depart came, both sisters felt a tinge of reluctance.

After all, they'd lived here so long.

Once they leave, they don't know when they'll be able to return.

Or perhaps, in this lifetime, they may never have a chance to come back.

Just as the sisters were tidying up, suddenly...

Boom! The array of Jia Yi Cave was smashed open by force.

"Xiao Zhangqing, get out of here!"

(End of chapter)