Chapter 81: After‑War Ripples

"Our lord, he actually killed Mu Renjie? He was the number one master of Nanshan Fang, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

"Moreover, Mu Renjie seemed to be plagued by evil spirits, stronger than ordinary late Foundation Establishment cultivators, not even a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Luoxia Sect could match him!"

"How could our lord… how could his strength be so terrifying, incomprehensible? Sister, is our lord really only a lower‑grade spiritual root? Is he truly just a nine‑layer refined Qi cultivator?"

"Could it be that our lord has secretly already completed Foundation Establishment?"

Lin Zixi obediently followed the order and returned to the room.

At such a critical moment, she naturally had to listen carefully to understand exactly what was happening.

After hearing Xiao Zhangqing's conversation with Gong Wansheng, she was stunned.

Xiao Zhangqing's Talisman Script talent needs no introduction; he is undisputedly the number one of Nanshan Fang, and even the former Symbol Master Lu Qiu seems inferior in comparison.

Thus, upon hearing Xiao Zhangqing admit that he had long been promoted to Second‑rank Talisman Master, the two sisters, though shocked, were able to accept it quickly.

Being a Symbol Path genius already, becoming a bit more demonic wasn't particularly shocking.

But Xiao Zhangqing's combat technique could actually match and threaten a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, which Lin Zixi could no longer accept.

Although Xiao Zhangqing is her lord and she is wholly devoted, she believes that a strong concubine must be useful and valuable, not wholly dependent on the lord.

In the past, Xiao Zhangqing's greatness made her feel she could still look up to him and that her own efforts might be of some help.

For example, at Guangju Tower, the monthly profit is a decent income even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

It was precisely because of Guangju Tower that Lin Zixi felt a bit smug, believing she was qualified to become Xiao Zhangqing's concubine, and thus offered herself.

But who could have known that right after she offered herself, she discovered that the lord she knew was only the tip of the iceberg, and the true Xiao Zhangqing was far more powerful than she had imagined!

Even if you look up, you can't see the top!

Lin Zixi felt shock and joy, and inevitably some sense of frustration.

Promoted to Second‑rank Talisman Master, slaying the late Foundation Establishment's top master of Nanshan Fang…

How can she prove her worth from now on?

"The lord truly has only a lower‑grade spiritual root; as for his cultivation, the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Luoxia Sect just mentioned that the lord is still at nine layers of refined Qi… it's just that his Soul Transformation is so powerful that he can wield the legendary Divine Perception secret technique that normally only a Nascent Core Real Person can use! It seems the lord is not only a Symbol Path genius but also a naturally gifted cultivator! Perhaps the lord will become, in the Da Yu Cultivation World, the second legendary cultivator in four hundred years to successfully establish a Foundation with a lower‑grade spiritual root!"

"No. The lord is still at nine layers of refined Qi, yet already possesses the strength to slay a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, surpassing the legendary lower‑grade spiritual root cultivator who established a Foundation four hundred years ago in the Da Yu Cultivation World!"

Lin Ziyu exclaimed with delight.

Unlike Lin Zixi's complicated feelings, the elder sister's mind is far simpler—just happiness.

The higher the lord's cultivation, the stronger his power, the more outstanding his talent, the higher their status as concubines will rise!

For instance, previously, when younger sister Lin Zixi ran Guangju Tower, the Mu family covertly targeted her, almost forcing her to shut the doors for good.

But after tonight, the lord killed Mu Renjie and took the position of Nanshan Fang's top master.

Then within Nanshan Fang, who would dare target the sisters?

In a sense, the sisters only need Xiao Zhangqing to be 'below one but above ten thousand'! "Sister, we were forced into desperation, with no way out, so we had to ask the lord for help, begging him to take us as concubines. At that time we felt resentful and ashamed, as if we had lowered our status."

"How is it that now it seems even becoming the lord's concubines was overreaching?"

Lin Zixi murmured to herself, happy yet bitter.

"Being able to become the lord's concubines may be the greatest opportunity of our lives."

Lin Ziyu watched Xiao Zhangqing's silhouette in the courtyard, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Out of admiration, and also recalling the unbearable memories of when they were neighbors in the Peng Hu Qu.

Not to mention becoming concubines, back then she was so ignorant that she thought the lord wasn't even worthy of being her Dao Partner.

But in hindsight, she was lucky.

Although she missed the best chance, at least she still became the lord's concubine.

And having once abandoned the lord to follow a local 'well‑housed' cultivator of Nanshan Fang who took Zhou Yun'e, after tonight the lord's deeds will be fully spread throughout Nanshan Fang, and who knows what feelings that will bring…

Gong Wansheng left, heading to the Cao family to deliver a notice to the two Foundation Establishment members of the Cao clan.

Xiao Zhangqing finally returned to the bedroom.

The Lin sisters immediately went up to greet him, ready to serve the lord properly once more.

For some reason, whether it was the wildly excited elder sister Lin Ziyu or the somewhat conflicted younger sister Lin Zixi, the admiring glint in their eyes toward Xiao Zhangqing deepened; recalling the calm, composed scene of Xiao Zhangqing slaying Mu Renjie, both women felt a surge of heat, their bodies tingling, hard to restrain.

It was as if they had taken an aphrodisiac… or rather, a man's power and status is inherently a love potion for women!

"Lord, you must be tired from that combat, allow me to give you a massage~"

"Please feel free to command me~"

After Gong Wansheng left, Xiao Zhangqing finally didn't have to hide his fatigue. Seeing the sisters' fiery enthusiasm, he waved his hand irritably and said, "You know I'm exhausted from combat and you two still pull this stunt, deliberately not letting me rest, huh? Tonight I'll be alone in the cultivation chamber, recuperating slowly…"

"What's this, as if I'm no longer able, starting to avoid battle? Once I've readjusted, I'll deal with you both slowly! …"

……

Tonight, Nanshan Fang is destined to be sleepless.

The final battlefield commotion occurred at Cave No. 10 of the Yi sector; cultivators residing in the Yi area all know this is Xiao Zhangqing's cave.

But after a whole night, no one dared to approach Cave No. 10, let alone break in to check the situation.

Fearing that Cave No. 10 might still be dangerous, a single misstep inside could cost one's life.

The entire Yi cave sector was very quiet; no one dared to wander out.

It wasn't until the head of the Cao family, Cao Hao, personally arrived at Cave No. 10 and paid his respects to Xiao Zhangqing that the crisis was deemed over, and the cave returned to its original state.

Immediately thereafter, the upper‑tier cultivators of Nanshan Fang began frantically inquiring about what had happened last night.

Mu Renjie's death was certainly to be made public; Gong Wansheng and Cao Hao had no intention of concealing it.

Thus, shortly after, the higher‑ranked cultivators of the Yi cave roughly learned the course of events from members of the Cao clan.

Mu Renjie, the Foundation Establishment cultivator behind Feng Lou, and the manager Zhou of Lingfu Pavilion have all perished! The latter two were killed by Mu Renjie, who was plagued by evil spirits and fell into darkness!

Gong Wansheng, a core direct disciple of the Luoxia Sect, at a late Foundation Establishment level, was defeated after battling Mu Renjie, and ultimately Mu Renjie was eliminated by Xiao Zhangqing, who had long since been promoted to Second‑rank Talisman Master…

A series of shocking news left everyone dizzy, and for a moment they weren't sure if the Cao family was joking!

Even if the preceding news is abrupt and far‑fetched, everyone can barely believe it.

Especially Ruan Qingzhu, Zhu Youlong and others, who not long ago experienced the incident of Ruan Qingzhu's son being plagued by an evil spirit, know how bizarre and terrifying such spirits truly are.

But Xiao Zhangqing killing Mu Renjie, the Mu family head in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, is what kind of tall tale? Even if Xiao Zhangqing were promoted to Second‑rank Talisman Master and possessed numerous Second‑rank inferior Talisman Scripts, he still could not have slain Mu Renjie in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment! Hence some doubt the authenticity of this matter.

Some conspiracy theorists even think the Cao family is spreading false news.

Perhaps the Cao family wants to recast its former glory, unwilling to be crushed by the Mu family, or maybe the Luoxia Sect aims to back the Cao family while covertly eliminating the Mu family.

Yet the series of massive changes that follow in Nanshan Fang force the doubters to start believing.

First, the Cao family began a full‑scale suppression and seizure of the Mu family's territories and businesses; the Mu family was left in despair, yet no one dared to resist, and even the Mu elders collectively fell silent.

In just a few days, the Mu family was driven down from its position as Nanshan Fang's top family on the altar…

The head Mu Renjie did not appear; instead, his daughter, the Mu family's eldest lady Mu Chunfeng, stepped forward, announcing the relinquishment of all Mu family assets, a complete retreat of the clan's power, and compliance with the arrangements of the Cao family and the Luoxia Sect, daring not to voice any grievance.

Later, Lingfu Pavilion swiftly verified the news: the Foundation Establishment cultivator Zhou Zhanggui had died, and the Luoxia Sect would soon appoint a new shopkeeper. For the time being, Xiao Zhangqing has taken full charge of Lingfu Pavilion…

A few more days passed, and the other major Great Dan Pillar sect, Baihua Valley, which was slow to catch up, conveyed concrete news to Baibao Lou's shopkeeper Ruan Qingzhu: henceforth, the security of Nanshan Fang will be primarily under the Cao family and Xiao Zhangqing.

With that.

The Late Stage of Lian Qi cultivators of the Yi Zi Cave had to admit that Nanshan Fang had truly changed!

The former top family and top master of Nanshan Fang have become nothing but bygone clouds.

The Cao family, with two branches at the Foundation Establishment level and its head Cao Hao still at the Mid‑stage of Foundation Establishment, has once again become Nanshan Fang's top family; yet the top cultivator of Nanshan Fang, or rather the most deterrent cultivator, turned out to be Xiao Zhangqing, a Ninth‑tier Lian Qi practitioner with a strong Talisman Path talent! Such an inconceivable and explosive piece of news, after a week of fermenting and spreading, moved from the Yi Zi Cave to the Bing and Ding Caves, and finally disseminated throughout the vast Scattered Cultivator community.

Xiao Zhangqing, who was already a prominent figure among the Scattered Cultivators, this time became a universally known presence in Nanshan Fang.

No longer merely worshipped by Scattered Cultivators, even many local cultivators and higher‑ranking cultivators now hold Xiao Zhangqing in great awe.

Of course, even with ironclad evidence laid before everyone's eyes, some still refuse to believe and express doubt.

Many think Xiao Zhangqing may already have been promoted to Second‑rank Talisman Master, which is not false. Yet elevating Xiao Zhangqing to Nanshan Fang's top master, capable of threatening Late Stage of Foundation Establishment cultivators, is baseless.

It is a lie fabricated jointly by the Luoxia Sect and Nanshan Fang's decision‑makers, used to paint a picture of peace and preserve Nanshan Fang's stability.

In reality, the situation in Nanshan Fang may already be deteriorating, possibly heading toward the same fate as Yin Ye Peak, being breached by evil cultivators!

In an instant, the once calm, impregnable Nanshan Fang felt a sense of stormy sway.

(End of chapter)