Chapter 292: Storm

"Have you heard?"

"Three months ago, the Treasure Pavilion suddenly attacked Dongxuan City. The celestial phenomenon before that was caused by the battle between the Treasure Pavilion and Dongxuan City."

"Heh, who doesn't know that? I heard the Treasure Pavilion coveted something in Dongxuan City, which is why they attacked."

"What? Didn't the Treasure Pavilion always claim to be a neutral force? How could they do such a thing?"

"Hey, look at your naive face. You believe they are a neutral force? If they wipe you out without outsiders knowing, aren't they still a neutral force?"

"Exactly. Who knows how many forces the Treasure Pavilion secretly wiped out for their own benefit before?"

"Who would say otherwise? Look, they failed this time. I heard many branches of the Treasure Pavilion have been closed."

"Yes, the Treasure Pavilion is in a terrible state this time, suppressed by so many forces."

"What you say is nothing. Hehe, do you know there are at least two low-grade spiritual treasures in Dongxuan City?"

"Low-grade spiritual treasures? And two of them? Is that true?"

The news of the Treasure Pavilion attacking Dongxuan City had already caused a huge uproar.

Only three months had passed.

If not for the concern that the Treasure Pavilion was a neutral force, and that rashly offending them would cause them to side with their enemies.

But later, as the Treasure Pavilion grew larger and larger, stealing a significant portion of profits from these forces.

"Of course it's true. This matter has spread everywhere."

"Heh, so what? Dongxuan City has two low-grade spiritual treasures. What does that have to do with us scattered cultivators? Do you have the ability to snatch them?"

After the incident spread.

Previously, out of respect for the Treasure Pavilion's strength and to give them face.

The Soul Transformation-level forces that were already dissatisfied with the Treasure Pavilion unanimously and tacitly expelled the Treasure Pavilion branches within their territories and began to suppress the Treasure Pavilion's power.

A Treasure Pavilion guarded by a low-grade spiritual treasure is vastly different from one without.

Coupled with the Treasure Pavilion's arrogant behavior at the Dongxuan Auction.

The fact that the Treasure Pavilion possessed a low-grade spiritual treasure was no secret among the forces with a long-standing heritage in Xingluo Zhou.

"Uh? That seems right!"

So, although these forces gained some speculation through intelligence gathered near Dongxuan City.

They allowed the Treasure Pavilion branches to enter their spheres of influence.

These forces, already resentful of the Treasure Pavilion, had long since removed the Treasure Pavilion branches from their territories.

This had long secretly angered these Soul Transformation-level forces.

Now that the Treasure Pavilion's attack on Dongxuan City failed, the veil of their neutrality was torn away.

Part of this was due to Dongxuan City's deliberate promotion, but it also involved some hidden individuals stirring up trouble.

At the same time, their actions were also a test to see if the Treasure Pavilion had indeed lost its hall-guarding treasure as rumored.

All Soul Transformation-level forces in Xingluo Zhou tacitly began to expel the Treasure Pavilion branches within their territories.

But they still wanted to test the Treasure Pavilion to confirm their suspicions.

In an instant, the Treasure Pavilion's assets in Xingluo Zhou were directly halved.

If not for some medium and small forces lacking Soul Transformation experts to guard them, they would not have dared to expel the Treasure Pavilion branches.

The Treasure Pavilion's share of assets in Xingluo Zhou would have suffered even greater losses.

Suppressed by multiple forces, the Treasure Pavilion's assets were retreating step by step.

In a fit of anger and shame, the Treasure Pavilion directly exposed the fact that Dongxuan City possessed at least two low-grade spiritual treasures.

They wanted to divert attention and reduce the pressure on themselves.

Unfortunately, although the news that Dongxuan City possessed two low-grade spiritual treasures spread wildly in Xingluo Zhou as the Treasure Pavilion wished.

The power of a low-grade spiritual treasure was not something these forces, guarded only by Soul Transformation experts, could covet.

Although this news did indeed draw the attention of these forces.

It did not make them change their target or relax their suppression of the Treasure Pavilion.

Moreover, the Treasure Pavilion exposing that Dongxuan City now possessed at least two low-grade spiritual treasures further confirmed the speculation of the major forces in Xingluo Zhou.

The Treasure Pavilion's low-grade spiritual treasure had indeed been suppressed by Dongxuan City.

At that time, Ye Qingxuan used the Starlight Hall to resist the Zhen Tian Bell, which was witnessed by many cultivators.

However, the Dao resonance unleashed by the clash of low-grade spiritual treasures was not something ordinary cultivators could perceive.

Therefore, no cultivator witnessed the process of the Starlight Hall finally suppressing the Zhen Tian Bell with their own eyes.

Thus, the information obtained by those Soul Transformation-level forces through post-event investigation.

Although they had some suspicions in their hearts, they could not be certain.

Now that the Treasure Pavilion exposed that Dongxuan City possessed at least two low-grade spiritual treasures, it was like lifting a stone only to drop it on one's own foot.

Once this news broke, the suppression of the Treasure Pavilion by the Soul Transformation-level forces in Xingluo Zhou did not weaken; on the contrary, it became even more active.

They dared not provoke Dongxuan City, but they could kick a man when he is down against the Treasure Pavilion, which had incurred the wrath of all.

They did not dare to attack the Treasure Pavilion's main base directly.

After all, even if the Treasure Pavilion truly lost its low-grade spiritual treasure, its own strength was not to be trifled with.

More than twenty Supreme Pavilion Masters at the Soul Transformation realm; in terms of the number of Soul Transformation Venerables alone, they were enough to rank among the top three forces in Xingluo Zhou.

However, although they dared not attack the Treasure Pavilion's main base.

Every time they suppressed an asset of the Treasure Pavilion outside its main base, they could gain a share of the profit.

Having finally obtained this long-awaited opportunity, they were not willing to give it up so easily.

As long as the people of the Treasure Pavilion did not come out in full force.

Within their own spheres of influence, they did not fear the Treasure Pavilion's counterattack.

Moreover, at this critical moment, these factions were certain that the powerful figures of the Treasure Pavilion would not easily leave their main base.

The reality proved exactly as they had predicted.

After months of suppression, the Treasure Pavilion had been contracting its operations outside its sphere of influence.

It had not chosen to engage the major factions in direct confrontation.

In Xingluo City, within the City Lord's residence.

Bai Li, commander of the guard unit, entered the small courtyard where Xing Ze Jun resided and bowed respectfully, saying:

"City Lord, all branches of the Treasure Pavilion within the city and across a million li outside have been expelled."

At this moment, Xing Ze Jun was feeding the dragon fish in the pond.

Hearing Bai Li's words, Xing Ze Jun nodded absentmindedly and said lightly:

"Noted."

As he spoke, Xing Ze Jun did not stop the act of feeding.

In truth, Xing Ze Jun was not overly concerned with the expulsion of the Treasure Pavilion branches.

Expelling the Treasure Pavilion branches was merely him going with the flow.

Over the past thousand years, although the Treasure Pavilion's development had indeed been rapid, it was still far from enough to make Xingluo City wary.

Compared to the Treasure Pavilion, what truly made Xing Ze Jun wary was the Dongxuan City, which had appeared only a few hundred years ago.

With the strength and foundation displayed by Dongxuan City, it already had the qualification to challenge Xingluo City's status.

Seeing that Xing Ze Jun seemed somewhat absentminded, Bai Li spoke up to ask:

"City Lord, regarding the rumors causing a stir throughout Xingluo Zhou recently, should Xingluo City take any action?"

Upon hearing this, Xing Ze Jun pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said:

"No need to pay attention. Strength is the foundation of everything; the time has not yet come, and now is not the moment for us to step onto the stage."

After speaking, Xing Ze Jun turned his head to look at Bai Li and instructed:

"You may go now! Just maintain order in Xingluo City. From today on, do not disturb me unless absolutely necessary."

Hearing Xing Ze Jun's instruction, Bai Li replied respectfully:

"Yes, City Lord!"

After speaking, he withdrew immediately.

After Bai Li left, Xing Ze Jun continued to feed the dragon fish in the pond.

As Xing Ze Jun fed them, a faint prototype of profound rules began to appear and disappear around the dragon fish, constantly evolving before Xing Ze Jun's gaze.

(End of this chapter)