Chapter 139: Here it Comes!

"What? Bai Wuji is Xiao Zhangqing?"

Jiang family.

When Jiang Jiyue returned home and recounted today's events to Hong Jiantao, Hong Jiantao showed the same incredulous expression he had shown her before.

First, it's unbelievable that a low‑level Scattered Cultivator who was pointed out by him to have a Talisman Path talent, after just a little over ten years, not only succeeded in Foundation Establishment but has already transformed into a great cultivator whose strength rivals that of the late Foundation Establishment stage! Such speed is simply inconceivable! Even a top‑tier Golden Core sect elite prodigy is worthless at this pace! Second, it's hard to believe that if it really is Xiao Zhangqing, he would be so audacious, daring to slap the nephew of the Blood Crow True Person in the face, showing no regard for the Golden Core True Person's dignity.

"What on earth is going on, Jiyue? Tell me quickly!"

Having seen countless storms and accustomed to remaining unperturbed, Hong Jiantao's composure slipped a bit at this moment.

Jiang Jiyue recounted the matter of her and Mu Chunfeng going to Jin Xiu Fang to find Xiao Zhangqing.

During her retelling, Hong Jiantao, whose sideburns were frosted white, never lost the look of shock on his face, his expression constantly shifting.

After Jiang Jiyue finished, it took Hong Jiantao a good while before he came back to himself, sitting in his chair muttering: "Escaping from the two great Golden Core True Persons of Baihua Valley and Luoxia Sect—doesn't that mean Xiao Zhangqing isn't merely at the late or fully completed Foundation Establishment level, but already comparable to the Fake Core Realm? How could that be possible...?"

Without waiting for Jiang Jiyue to explain, Hong Jiantao immediately gave a wry smile and shook his head: "Indeed. Given this kid's former temperament—steady and cautious, never arrogant—if he didn't have sufficiently strong power, he wouldn't be so brazen after arriving at Character: Liyang Zhenren City, daring to slap a Golden Core True Person's face."

Jiang Jiyue agreed.

When he was at Nanshan Fang, Xiao Zhangqing was famously low‑key.

Even after rising from the lowest Scattered Cultivator in the "Slum" to become a Symbol Master of Lingfu Pavilion, he remained unpretentious; his mindset and behavior showed no change.

"Uncle, regarding Xiao Zhangqing's matter, should we tell the family, and my father as well?" Jiang Jiyue suddenly asked hesitantly.

Although she has already acknowledged her lineage and sincerely accepted Jiang Canghai as her father.

But.

Jiang Jiyue still feels closer to Hong Jiantao.

After all, she was raised by Hong Jiantao and never knew who her parents were before coming to Character: Liyang Zhenren City.

Even after later learning the truth and understanding that her father had reasons that forced him to hide, the missing affection and companionship remain missing.

Therefore, whenever there is a secret, she will first discuss it with Hong Jiantao and ask for his opinion.

Hong Jiantao did not answer directly, but asked, "Jiyue, what do you think?"

Jiang Jiyue said: "When I left Jin Xiu Fang, Xiao Zhangqing instructed me that I should only convey his matter to you, Uncle, and not reveal it to anyone else, especially not let the Jiang family know. Because with his current trouble, he can handle it without fear. But if the Blood Crow True Person and the Song family learn his details, given our close ties, it might not be good for the Jiang family. So... I think Xiao Zhangqing is right; we should keep it hidden from the family for now."

Hong Jiantao nodded appreciatively and said, "We should indeed keep it hidden for now."

His thinking differs somewhat from Jiang Jiyue's and Xiao Zhangqing's.

Besides Xiao Zhangqing's current irreconcilable conflict with the Song family and the Blood Crow True Person, the main issue is that the Jiang family itself is riddled with troubles, and its future is uncertain.

Family head Jiang Canghai is about to head to the Southwest Region of Da Yu in the Cultivation World to seek a path for revenge.

If Jiang Canghai learns that Xiao Zhangqing has already arrived at Character: Liyang Zhenren City and possesses such formidable power, comparable to a Fake Core True Person, he would likely devise ways to 'invite' Xiao Zhangqing into the western expedition team to help avenge the Luoxia Sect.

He might even ask him and Jiang Jiyue to help persuade Xiao Zhangqing.

After all, this matter is Jiang Canghai's obsession; the importance of any person or matter must be placed after the revenge.

Of course.

Given Xiao Zhangqing's temperament, even if he were to act and the condition were based on past favors, he might still refuse.

But Hong Jiantao does not wish to try.

Back then, his assistance to Xiao Zhangqing, such as gifting a brush, was done spontaneously from the heart, without any thought of investment or return.

This is an internal feud of the Luoxia Sect; there's no need to involve Xiao Zhangqing.

If the Jiang family were thriving, courting Xiao Zhangqing would be justifiable.

But with the Jiang family's future uncertain, trying to court Xiao Zhangqing would be a trap.

The Jiang family should first look after themselves and not think about courting anyone.

……

……

City Lord's Residence.

Guided by Zhu Xiaochuan, Xiao Zhangqing arrived for the first time at the most 'sacred' place in Character: Liyang Zhenren City and met the commander of the Character: Liyang Guard, Gu Zongyuan.

"My fellow Dao companions, I've finally gathered you."

Gu Zongyuan, though middle‑aged in appearance, looks not very old.

In fact, he truly isn't that old.

Just a little over eighty, his cultivation has already reached a great completion of Foundation Establishment; if all goes well, he'll surely aim for the Golden Core stage before turning a hundred.

Foundation Establishment cultivators have a lifespan of at least 180 years; if their methods are special or they encounter luck, their lifespan can increase further.

Take Xiao Zhangqing, whose Longevity Technique raises the lifespan ceiling above that of ordinary methods after the Foundation Establishment stage; combined with his current body‑refining method, his lifespan exceeds two hundred years.

Thus, for Foundation Establishment cultivators, attempting the Golden Core stage before a hundred years old is the peak period.

Before reaching 120, the impact is not significant.

Only after surpassing 120 does attempting the Golden Core stage later have considerable effect.

Therefore, Gu Zongyuan is considered 'very young' among Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Moreover, with his Earth‑spirit root quality, he is genuinely regarded as one of the two most promising candidates in Character: Liyang Zhenren City to achieve Golden Core success within the next twenty years.

"I've met you, Commander Gu."

Xiao Zhangqing gave a slight bow.

"You're welcome. From now on, I'll call you Captain Bai, okay?" Gu Zongyuan lifted Xiao Zhangqing's arm, speaking warmly: "Come, yesterday I heard Brother Zhu say you agreed to join the Character: Liyang Guard, so I reserved the finest restaurant in Character: Liyang Zhenren City, 'Drunken Immortal Hall', and invited one of the city's three top courtesans, the 'Peony Immortal', to perform, as a welcome for Captain Bai."

After speaking, Gu Zongyuan turned to Zhu Xiaochuan and said, "Brother Zhu, let's go together." Zhu Xiaochuan chuckled and, without hesitation, followed.

Usually Gu Zongyuan doesn't often get the chance to invite him for drinks.

As for Drunken Immortal Hall, though the cost is steep, Foundation Establishment cultivators grit their teeth and occasionally are willing to splurge.

However, the city's three top courtesans are fairies that Zhu Xiaochuan rarely encounters.

Because these three top courtesans are themselves Foundation Establishment cultivators, not only are they stunningly beautiful, but they have also reached astonishing mastery in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, which can greatly aid other Foundation Establishment cultivators.

So they invited the three top courtesans specifically to perform for entertainment; normally only cultivators in the later stages of Foundation Establishment, and who are core figures of families like the Ten Great Families, can be invited.

The party left the City Lord's residence, boarded a flying boat, and sped toward their destination.

Inside the flying boat, Gu Zongyuan suddenly sent a voice to Xiao Zhangqing: "Captain Bai, this is our first meeting; I don't yet know your temperament. If you dislike such formal gatherings, you need not attend in the future. The Character: Liyang Guard has no scheming or need to curry favor. Today, besides giving you a warm welcome, it also serves as an official announcement of your status to outsiders, mainly for the Song family and the senior Blood Crow to see."

Xiao Zhangqing nodded and replied via voice: "Thank you, Commander Gu. However, since arriving at Character: Liyang Zhenren City I've mostly been cultivating and haven't really had a chance to explore. Today I'll just see the world a bit; I have no trouble adapting."

"That's good, that's good…" Gu Zongyuan said with a smile.

……

……

With Gu Zongyuan publicly hosting a banquet for Xiao Zhangqing.

Word spread in Character: Liyang Zhenren City that the Character: Liyang Guard had a new captain called "Bai Wuji."

Countless low‑rank Qi‑link cultivators and Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivators without background treated it as idle gossip, secretly envying this suddenly emerged cultivator, not knowing what exceptional qualities allowed him to be promoted to Character: Liyang Guard Captain.

From now on, Character: Liyang Zhenren City has another name on the do‑not‑mess‑with list.

However, the insiders such as the Ten Great Families were taken aback, then simply waited to see the reaction of the Song family and the Blood Crow True Immortal, like onlookers eating melon and watching a joke.

They do know about Xiao Zhangqing and He Yuan, and are aware that the Song family has been investigating Xiao Zhangqing's background lately.

Many people secretly speculate when the Song family will act and how ruthless their move will be.

So the Character: Liyang Guard recruited him?

The Character: Liyang Guard Captain, even the Song family—one of the top three among the Ten Great Families—does not dare act lightly.

But if the Song family simply concedes with their noses held high, does nothing, and pretends nothing happened, the Song family's prestige will be severely affected.

Prestige, as a matter, isn't especially important to an individual cultivator.

Yet for families and sects, it is something they literally rely on for survival!

Once damaged, a family's or sect's interests are greatly reduced.

This case is no different.

If the Song family does nothing, not only will its prestige suffer, it may be seen as easy to bully, and speculation will arise that the Song family has offended the Character: Liyang Guard or even the Character: Liyang True Immortal! Thus, when Gu Zongyuan took Xiao Zhangqing to the "Drunken Immortal Pavilion" for a drink, the meal had just finished and they were about to listen to the "Peony Fairy" play the qin.

The young master of the Song family, Song Changning, who many cultivators in Character: Liyang Zhenren City consider equal to Gu Zongyuan and is the other person most likely to achieve a Golden Core in the next twenty years, arrived in a hurry! He intends to confront the matter directly and even ask the Character: Liyang Guard commander Gu Zongyuan what it all means.

The Song family's response was certainly timely.

It was also decisive.

Xiao Zhangqing becoming Character: Liyang Guard Captain was already a done‑deal; they could not stop it.

Moreover, Gu Zongyuan made such a fan‑fare public, letting everyone in Character: Liyang Zhenren City know.

After today, the Song family cannot trouble Xiao Zhangqing again or seek revenge.

From now on, whatever they do, even covert retaliation, it will be hard to regain lost dignity.

Given that, the Song family decided to burn their boats.

Gu Zongyuan, you're still boldly announcing Xiao Zhangqing as Character: Liyang Guard Captain at this moment, right?

Then I won't be lurking in the shadows to take revenge.

I'll be outright! Back then I interrogated, demanding an answer from Gu Zongyuan and also from Xiao Zhangqing! I can't kill you now, nor can I take direct revenge, but you must apologize and preserve the Song family's face!

The Song family dares not oppose the Character: Liyang Guard, but as one of the Ten Great Families they control many channels in Character: Liyang Zhenren City and even have a "marital‑relation" with the Blood Crow True Immortal, so they're no pushover!

They won't be easily manipulated by your Character: Liyang Guard!

So the Song family didn't send subordinates; they let Song Changning appear directly.

"Brother Changning, what a coincidence you're here today, also coming to Drunken Immortal Pavilion for a drink? Come, come, sit and have a glass together." Gu Zongyuan, seeing Song Changning approach unopposed, broke through the formation, pushed the door open, squinted slightly, then quickly smiled and warmly welcomed him.

Song Changning usually engages in superficial politeness with Gu Zongyuan; after all, they are both 'equally renowned' geniuses, and even if they compete covertly, they cannot make it too ugly.

But today he had no such mood; he coldly demanded, "Brother Zongyuan, I'm not here to drink; I'm here to get a clear answer! When did my Song family offend you? Or perhaps the senior Blood Crow, when did they offend you?"

Gu Zongyuan deliberately evaded, saying, "Brother Changning, how can you say that? How could the Song family possibly offend me? The senior Blood Crow is a mentor I deeply respect; I would never speak such words."

"No offense?" Song Changning suddenly shifted his gaze, his expression fierce as he stared at Xiao Zhangqing, asking, "Then why, Brother Zongyuan, at this moment, recruit Bai Wuji into the Character: Liyang Guard and grant him the captain's rank? Don't tell us you didn't know this person offended our Song family and the Blood Crow True Immortal! If you say that, no one would believe it!"

Gu Zongyuan inwardly sighed, thinking Song Changning truly lived up to being his equal, adept at counter‑moves.

"I am naturally aware of some of this," Gu Zongyuan said with a wry smile, "but it is not at all that I am opposing the Song family or the Blood Crow senior. In fact, before this happened I had already negotiated with Captain Bai about joining the Character: Liyang Guard. As for the matter of Captain Bai and He Yuan, that occurred later. Brother Changning, I cannot simply back out of an agreement over a mere He Yuan and kick Captain Bai out of the Character: Liyang Guard, can I?"

"If that were the case, my own reputation would be a minor issue. But the Character: Liyang Guard was personally founded by my master, representing his face; how could I be unfaithful?"

Song Changning's face darkened, and he coldly said, "I certainly would not dare to tarnish the Character: Liyang True Immortal's face. But as for this Bai Wuji, when was he…"

"If indeed it is as Brother Zongyuan says, then neither my Song family nor the Blood Crow senior would have any grievance."

"But if Brother Zongyuan knowingly knows Bai Wuji offended my Song family and the Blood Crow senior, yet deliberately…"

(End of Chapter)