Chapter 232: Finally Reaching Wuyang Prefecture

Wuyang Prefecture is the core region of the entire Great Wu.

Its area is several times larger than that of other prefectures, and so is its population.

During this period, the entire Wuyang Prefecture is also seething with undercurrents.

Because the news that the Martial Saint of Great Wu is about to return has already spread among the major clans, some are happy, some have guilty consciences.

Wuyang Prefecture, outside the capital.

Several people have been waiting here early.

They are precisely from Shen Qiu's lineage.

A purple-clad middle-aged man spoke: "The day Shen Qiu mentioned is these two days, right?"

Immediately afterward, he looked toward another black-clad middle-aged man, who is precisely Shen Qiu's father, Shen Xiong.

"Let me say this, Shen Xiong, you gave the family head position to Shen Qiu too early; he is not steady enough."

"Look how easily you pledged loyalty—now the Shen household is a battlefield of rivals. Will we really be safe by entering so early?"

Before Shen Xiong could speak, an elder beside him spoke, lightly coughing twice.

The people around immediately stood up.

This elder is Shen Qiu's grandfather, the highest in status, named Shen He.

He lightly coughed twice: "In the folk, many women envy the general's wife, always resenting why they are not the general's wife."

"But they do not know that this general's wife has been by the general's side since he was still a common soldier."

"You all keep thinking about risks, risks, but when they truly grasp power, will our later flattery still be useful?"

"In my view, none of you are as good as Shen Qiu!"

"Shen Qiu pledged loyalty before Shen Qing defeated Shen Yun'ya."

"In the past, our Shen family's Wei River branch could only stand beside the gambling table and watch; now, we have a chance to sit at the gambling table."

"I must consider whether this is the only opportunity of my lifetime!"

"So let us give it our all!"

At this moment, Shen Qing's voice sounded from the sky.

"Old man, I like your words; I will give you a chance to sit at the gambling table."

Shen Qing had already arrived above their heads at some unknown time.

Several people immediately knelt on one knee: "Shen He/Shen Xiong of the Shen family's Wei River branch pay respects to the Third Young Master!"

The purple-clad middle-aged man's face showed guilt, but fortunately he had just not said anything out of line.

Shen Qing descended: "You arrived at the capital ahead of us—how is the situation?"

Shen He spoke: "These years, the heads of the Shen family have all been from Shen Shu's lineage, and these days I have been secretly monitoring; many experts from that lineage have secretly returned to the capital."

"But I do not know much more than that."

The Shen Shu lineage is precisely Shen Yun'ya's lineage, and these years it has also been growing stronger and stronger.

Shen Qing nodded: "No problem, let's first return to the Shen family and then talk."

Shen He suddenly thought of something, took out a letter from his bosom.

"Oh, right, Third Young Master, a few days ago someone delivered a letter to me, addressed specifically to you."

"That person did not give a name, but their cultivation is not low."

Shen Qing received the letter, opened it, glanced at it a few times, waved his hand, and laughed.

"Come with me to a place; we are not in a hurry to return to the Shen family."

Not long after, several people arrived at a mountain villa located on a mountain peak, hidden deeply, its construction simple, yet the exquisite decoration to the utmost told everyone that the owner of this place is not ordinary.

Shen He and the others felt some doubt—who could make Shen Qing come see them before returning to the Shen family?

Soon, everyone arrived at a place like a fairyland, a small lake, with heavy snow falling, yet here it is as warm as spring, and even the faint sounds of insects and birds can be heard.

At this moment, they saw an exquisite small pavilion by the lakeside, and a woman wearing a white Liuxian dress.

Shen He and the others only felt that person looked familiar, until she turned around.

Shen He and the others trembled, immediately kneeling on one knee on the ground: "Shen He/Shen Xiong pay respects to the Emperor."

Zhu Lingyue did not pay them heed; her gaze, like autumn water, fell on Shen Qing: "You have come, faster than I imagined."

Shen Qing laughed and spoke: "Someone is thinking of me; if I do not kill them, I cannot sleep."

"And you—are you waiting for me here?"

Although Zhu Lingyue knew Shen Qing would come to Wuyang Prefecture, she should not have known when he would arrive.

And Shen Qing, upon arriving here, just saw Zhu Lingyue.

Therefore, the greatest possibility is that Zhu Lingyue has been waiting here all along.

Zhu Lingyue turned and walked toward the small pavilion: "Let us sit and talk."

"Good."

After Shen Qing entered the pavilion, Zhu Lingyue raised her finger and pointed; the air suddenly turned cold, an ice mountain as high as a peak rose from the ground, blocking the entire pavilion, so outsiders could not know what happened inside.

Shen He and Shen Xiong stood up, took a deep breath.

No wonder the Third Young Master did not return to the Shen family but came here first—he must be meeting this great personage, and judging by this, their relationship seems not ordinary either.

Several people exchanged glances, each seeing two words in the other's eyes.

Steady!

Inside the pavilion.

Zhu Lingyue looked at Shen Qing: "Do you know the news that the Martial Saints are returning?"

Shen Qing shook his head.

Zhu Lingyue continued: "This time, not only the Martial Saints may return, but also your Shen family's ancestor, and even the Martial Emperor."

The Martial Emperor, the founding emperor of Great Wu, was thought dead by outsiders, but in fact he never died, and the same goes for the old ancestor of the Shen family.

He has simply been in some secret realm all these years.

"So some people just can't sit still."

"Naturally, that includes some people from your Shen family."

Shen Qing sat in the chair, casually picking up a grape and stuffing it into his mouth.

"Are the old fogeys of your Zhu family the same?"

Zhu Lingyue nodded.

Shen Qing gave a cold smile: "Because they've done too many dirty things, they must clean up everything before the Martial Emperor and the Shen family old ancestor return, is that it?"

"So what do you think?"

Zhu Lingyue's voice turned a bit colder: "They want to kill me, so why wouldn't I want to kill them?"

"So before the Martial Emperor returns, I will kill them all."

Shen Qing laughed: "I think the same."

Zhu Lingyue turned her head to look at Shen Qing: "But it definitely won't be that easy. Do you need any help?"

Shen Qing raised his eyebrows: "Since you asked, there really is."

Shen Qing directly spoke out a long string of names of precious medicines, dozens upon dozens.

"Originally I planned to return to the Shen family and just take them from the treasure vault, but a few of these precious medicines are indeed only available from your Zhu family."

Most of the precious medicines Shen Qing mentioned are for cultivating the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique.

The Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique has been stuck at the tenth layer for a long time, but the corresponding medicines have never been found.

After all, the eleventh layer of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique corresponds to the half-saint realm on the path of cultivation, and the medicines used are also of the half-saint realm—this is no common cabbage, basically only obtainable in Wuyang Prefecture.

Cultivating the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique to the eleventh layer, combined with the support of the Ancient Yuan Qiankun Body and various means of true qi, would formally announce that Shen Qing's combat power has reached the half-saint realm, truly stepping onto the first echelon of Great Wu.

Zhu Lingyue nodded, raised her finger and lightly tapped, and the huge ice mountain instantly turned into pale blue vital energy and dissipated into the air.

"I know, the precious medicines will be delivered here within half an hour."

"You can refine them here; this place is very safe."

After Zhu Lingyue left, Shen Qing turned his body to look toward the direction of the Shen family and said softly.

"Shen Ruoshan, Liu Lan, are you ready to welcome my arrival?"