Chapter 135: Character: Liyang Guard

The Song family can rank among the top three of the ten great families in Character: Liyang Zhenren City, except that Song Ping'er's father Song Wen Tian is a Fake Core True Person cultivator.

Song Ping'er's older brother Song Changning, the heir of the Song family, has not only reached a perfect Foundation Establishment Realm, but also possesses the Earth‑spirit root talent! He has a good chance of forming a genuine Golden Core!

One could say that if Song Changning had taken Character: Liyang Zhenren as his master, the current "Character: Liyang Seven Heroes" should already be "Character: Liyang Eight Heroes".

Song Changning's strength and talent even surpass some of the Character: Liyang Seven Heroes.

If in the future Song Changning truly forms a Golden Core, then the Song family will no longer just be in the top three of the ten great families, but can vie for the top spot.

Apart from the City Lord's Residence, the Song family is the biggest power in Character: Liyang Zhenren City! So in terms of arrogance, with a father and older brother shielding her, Song Ping'er is even more excessive than He Yuan! Although she is not as libertine as her fiancé He Yuan, who flirts with male cultivators everywhere, she acts willfully; anyone who dares to offend her or make her displeased is swiftly grievously injured, and in severe cases she even ensures the victim's entire family finds no peace.

For example, Mu Chunfeng is a typical case.

Although Mu Chunfeng did nothing wrong and it was entirely He Yuan's fault, Song Ping'er, because she was displeased, wants the whole Mu family to suffer as well.

Even when the Jiang clan, also one of the ten great families, stepped in to mediate and the Song family head agreed to drop the matter, Song Ping'er still secretly refuses to let go, refusing to force Mu Chunfeng into a corner or to cease.

So now, when Song Ping'er sees her fiancé He Yuan wounded in this miserable state, she feels greatly insulted and swears to shred the perpetrator who injured He Yuan into countless pieces, leaving them with no place to be buried.

"This…," He Yuan was stunned by the words.

Yeah.

He had previously only thought of asking his uncle for help with revenge, but he could have asked his fiancée's Song family for help! Now his heart burns with hatred, eager to exact revenge at once.

However, his uncle recently has pressing matters that keep him occupied, and he needs to investigate first; when he will actually act is uncertain.

So He Yuan embellished the story again, recounting the events to Song Ping'er.

Of course.

This time his account changed again, for instance how he coveted the Lin sisters and how his impatience forced Xiao Zhangqing to hand over the two girls; he painted it all in a flattering light.

He portrayed himself as someone who merely greeted beautiful women normally, wanting only to befriend them, with no real intention of anything else, let alone seizing the Lin sisters.

He couldn't, in front of his fiancée Song Ping'er, admit that he fell for other women, that he was instantly smitten…

Song Ping'er, after listening, didn't doubt whether it was reasonable or whether He Yuan had lied.

She has always been indifferent to right or wrong.

"He Lang, rest assured. No matter who Bai Wuji is or what background he has, having injured you like this seals his death! As for his two concubines, I'll sell them to the lowest‑ranked kiln…" Song Ping'er said with murderous intent in her eyes.

He Yuan felt a bit reluctant to part with the Lin sisters and wanted to keep them for himself.

Yet in front of Song Ping'er, he dared not reveal his thoughts.

Having settled the revenge plan, He Yuan, a bit embarrassed, asked, "Ping'er, do you still have any Anshen Pill? My Soul Transformation injury is too severe; the Pill just now didn't even restore a tenth, I need more."

Song Ping'er shook her head: "Anshen Pill is an extremely rare second‑tier Pill, harder to find than a Foundation Establishment Pill. The one I have was only given to me by my brother who happened to obtain it."

He Yuan asked resentfully, "Then does the Song family still have any in stock?"

Song Ping'er shook her head again.

He Yuan fell into despair.

His Soul Transformation injury looks hopeless to heal in the short term; after this Anshen Pill's effect wears off, he will continue to suffer.

"He Lang, don't worry. In a dozen days or so, the City Lord's Residence and the Nine Alliance Chamber will co‑host the once‑every‑ten‑years auction. At the auction, there will surely be treasures that can aid in treating Soul Transformation injuries…" Song Ping'er comforted him.

"Yeah. The auction…"

He Yuan's eyes lit up, recalling that the Character: Liyang Zhenren City's decennial auction was about to begin.

This is a major event in the Da Yu Cultivation World.

At that time, not only the high‑ranking members of the major forces within Character: Liyang Zhenren City will attend, but also some Jie Dan sects thousands of miles away will send representatives, and even the two great Nascent Soul sects, Xingyue Palace and Seven Star Sword Sect, will come to join the festivities.

Because the auction is merely a supporting role for Character: Liyang Zhenren City, essentially acting as the organizer, the actual collection of treasures for sale is handled by the Nine Alliance Chamber, which spans several nearby cultivation realms.

Thus, at the auction, countless treasures appear one after another; even the main ingredient of a Condensing True Pill would not be surprising! In the past hundred years, ten auctions have occasionally featured items that can even aid a Nascent Soul true monarch.

Of course, such odds are low—perhaps only one or two times out of ten.

Even without Nascent Soul‑level treasures, even a Condensing True Pill is scarce in the two major Nascent Soul factions' stock, and the various Jie Dan sects will go to extreme lengths, even their core disciples fighting desperately, to seize the chance for a Condensing True Pill.

"The Spirit Stones I have aren't many…" He Yuan said tentatively.

Song Ping'er reassured, "When the auction offers treasures or Pills that treat Soul Transformation, I'll bid for you, He Lang. For now, come with me to my home, and I'll have my father and brother intervene to avenge you…"

……

……

I have to admit.

Though Song Ping'er has a quirky temper and erratic behavior, she's still a love‑driven person.

She not only shows bizarre tolerance toward her fiancé He Yuan, but also regards him as immensely important, almost to the point of being equal to herself.

Originally, when she brought He Yuan home, her father Song Wen Tian and brother Song Changning were reluctant to get involved, since although He Yuan was betrothed to Song Ping'er, he is the nephew of the Blood Crow True Person, and this matter should wait for the Blood Crow True Person to intervene.

But Song Ping'er was so meddlesome that the two had no choice.

Thinking that He Yuan would eventually become their son‑in‑law or brother‑in‑law, it was appropriate for them to help him.

Since the Blood Crow True Person has been busy lately and cannot spare a hand, let the Song family step in.

Of course.

The prerequisite for all this is that the Song family also spent two days thoroughly investigating Bai Wuji.

They confirmed that this person has no significant background, no ties to the City Lord's Residence, and is merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator from a small locale, possibly concealing a strong cultivation and Soul Transformation.

A "Crossing River Dragon" poses no concern for the Song family; they can handle him easily.

Even if Bai Wuji had some fates or hidden tricks, so what? One cannot match a Fake Core True Person with a Foundation Establishment Realm, right?

Talents who fight above their stage do exist in the Da Yu Cultivation World, but they are extremely rare, far scarcer than Jie Dan True Persons! At least in Character: Liyang Zhenren City, such individuals do not exist.

Only the top elites cultivated by the two major Nascent Soul factions—the future successors—might have the Foundation Establishment level to challenge a Fake Core True Person, or even an early‑stage Jie Dan True Person.

Therefore, after the Song family fully investigated Xiao Zhangqing's background, they were willing to help He Yuan avenge him. Besides Song Ping'er's meddling, the family head Song Wen Tian also harbored the intention of possibly gaining something valuable from Xiao Zhangqing! However, this caused both the Song family and the Blood Crow True Person to extensively investigate Xiao Zhangqing, turning what was originally a minor issue into something fully spread among Character: Liyang Zhenren City's upper echelons.

Even the City Lord's Residence took notice.

This day.

Zhu Xiaochuan received a summons from the Lord's Residence, inviting him to go there.

The one who invited him was Gu Zongyuan, one of the Character: Liyang Seven Heroes who is said to have a "very good relationship" with him.

Gu Zongyuan currently ranks fourth among the Character: Liyang Seven Heroes; his Foundation Establishment is complete, yet he is still inferior to the Golden Core Real Person Guangqin and two other senior brothers at the pseudo Golden Core realm.

However, with his complete Foundation Establishment and being an Earth‑Spirit Root, he is favored and valued by the Character: Liyang Real Person, who has entrusted the Character: Liyang Guard to his command.

If he later succeeds in Foundation Establishment, he will rise to second place among the Character: Liyang Seven Heroes.

In the whole Character: Liyang Zhenren City, when ranking prospects for the next ten years, he is among the cultivators most likely to achieve the Golden Core.

Gu Zongyuan ranks first, Song Changning second.

It's not that Gu Zongyuan's talent surpasses Song Changning's; it's simply because Gu Zongyuan is a disciple of the Character: Liyang Real Person, while Song Changning is only the young master of the Song Family.

The Song Family is clearly no match for the Character: Liyang Real Person.

Thus, in the eyes of most cultivators, Gu Zongyuan's reputation exceeds Song Changning's, merely because he occupies the glory of the Lord's Residence.

But Gu Zongyuan himself does not agree with this statement.

He believes that even setting aside background factors, Gu Zongyuan should still surpass Song Changning.

Both openly and covertly they have been competing, also betting their pride to see who can achieve the Golden Core first! "Brother Zhu, please sit."

Gu Zongyuan looked at Zhu Xiaochuan's arrival and greeted him with a smile.

Zhu Xiaochuan was somewhat startled by the favor.

He does indeed have a connection with Gu Zongyuan, but their relationship is far from as good as he boasts to the outside; normally it is more him flattering himself.

An invitation like today, with Gu Zongyuan proactively asking him over, may not happen even once in several years.

"Brother Gu, what brings you to ask me over? Is there a formation that has a flaw needing my repair?" Zhu Xiaochuan asked curiously.

As a second‑tier formation master, the main protective formation of Character: Liyang Zhenren City is beyond my ability.

But if a small part of the formation has an issue, I can still fix it.

"Today's reason for calling Brother Zhu is not about the formation," Gu Zongyuan said without withholding, and asked directly: "Brother Zhu, do you know anything about the new neighbor living next door, the cultivator named Bai Wuji?"

Zhu Xiaochuan felt a slight surprise.

No way.

Did Dao Companion Bai previously decline the Lord's Residence's Yue Feng's invitation, and now even Brother Gu has taken an interest, wanting to recruit him into the Lord's Residence?

Can a second‑tier low‑grade Symbol Master be so popular? "I get along well with Dao Companion Xiao, we communicate often, so I know him quite well…" Zhu Xiaochuan answered after consideration.

"That's perfect. I want to learn the details of this Bai Wuji and find out what kind of person he is," Gu Zongyuan said.

"Dao Companion Bai is generally gentle and easy to get along with, but sometimes rather stubborn, his ideas are odd, he has little ambition, perhaps due to coming from a small place with limited experience…"

Although Zhu Xiaochuan did not understand Gu Zongyuan's intention, he spoke openly, summarizing the months he had spent interacting with Xiao Zhangqing.

Including the earlier incident where Gu Zongyuan's junior brother Yue Feng invited Xiao Zhangqing to join the Lord's Residence, which Xiao Zhangqing declined.

He also added his impressions of Xiao Zhangqing and what he thinks Xiao Zhangqing is like.

After listening, Gu Zongyuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, deep in thought, his mind unreadable.

He waited for a while.

Just as Zhu Xiaochuan was about to stand up, eager to ask what was happening, Gu Zongyuan spoke again: "Dao Companion Bai is indeed a remarkable person…"

To refuse the Lord's Residence's recruitment and not become a guest minister—if that were mere coincidence, it would not reflect this person's keen insight. Yet now he dares to give no face to Blood Crow Real Person, confronting the looming pressures of Blood Crow Real Person and the Song Family, yet remains unflustered, takes no action, and does not consider fleeing; that is certainly not coincidence!

In Gu Zongyuan's view, Xiao Zhangqing's secret may be larger than what the Song Family, even Blood Crow Real Person, speculates!

He has developed a genuine interest in Xiao Zhangqing.

Moreover, after years of open and covert rivalry with Song Changning, he now truly wishes to bring Xiao Zhangqing under his command!

However.

At this moment, Xiao Zhangqing has openly offended Blood Crow Real Person and the Song Family; if he were to intervene personally later, it would not be good.

Thus Gu Zongyuan roughly recounted to Zhu Xiaochuan how Xiao Zhangqing refused to give Blood Crow Real Person face, severely injured his nephew, and how the Song Family now also seeks trouble with Xiao Zhangqing.

"Dao Companion Bai… is he so reckless?" Zhu Xiaochuan widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

He originally thought Xiao Zhangqing's refusal of the Lord's Residence's recruitment was already incomprehensible enough.

He did not expect Xiao Zhangqing now to directly offend the ten great families and a Golden Core Real Person! "Brother Zhu, may I ask a favor of you?" Gu Zongyuan asked.

Zhu Xiaochuan quickly composed himself and bowed, saying, "Brother Gu, feel free to give orders."

Gu Zongyuan smiled and said, "I would like Brother Zhu to inform Bai Wuji of the recent movements of Blood Crow Real Person and the Song Family, so he knows a great disaster is imminent. If he is fearful or feels trouble he cannot resolve, he may choose to join my side; I will promote him into the Character: Liyang Guard as a captain."

Wow! Zhu Xiaochuan almost dropped his jaw in shock.

The Character: Liyang Guard is not a ordinary guest minister of the Lord's Residence.

Even before this round of the Lord's Residence's expansion recruitment, its guest ministers were not as high‑ranking or powerful as a Character: Liyang Guard Captain! As everyone knows, Character: Liyang Zhenren City belongs to no sect or family; it is a city of Scattered Cultivators.

Even the Lord's Residence is merely a force formed by disciples of the Character: Liyang Real Person, lofty in status yet without authority to govern the whole city.

The true "official army" of Character: Liyang Zhenren City is actually the Character: Liyang Guard!

Joining the Lord's Residence is equivalent to being "covered" by the various disciples of the Character: Liyang Real Person.

But joining the Character: Liyang Guard is akin to being directly "covered" by the Character: Liyang Real Person himself! So.

Joining the Character: Liyang Guard is difficult; becoming a captain is even harder! Once one becomes a Character: Liyang Guard Captain, even Golden Core cultivators in Character: Liyang Zhenren City dare not act rashly! (End of chapter)