Chapter 52

For half a month, rain fell continuously.

The Su Family's lanterns burned day and night; one lantern outside the reception hall had been blown down and no one dared to pick it up.

Chen Zhao sat in the secondary guest seat, gazing at his palm.

He had already notified his sect, and knew the reinforcements were already in the city.

As for his fortune, only the character "lucky" remained.

When the hour of You arrived, the master of ceremonies announced loudly.

"The groom arrives!" Read novels every day -> ttk​s. tw

Chen Zhao turned his gaze toward the sound.

Beneath a red paper umbrella, Fang Zijing stepped over the threshold, glanced at the lanterns in the water, and smiled faintly.

The visitor meant ill—he must have prepared long in advance.

Liang Chenfeng followed behind, cast a glance at Chen Zhao, and gave a slight nod.

Seeing he received no reply, he sighed inwardly—talking to a cow about music.

Just then, the master of ceremonies called out again.

"Perform the ancestral temple rite—please, the groom, light incense and bow at the altar!"

Hearing this, Chen Zhao raised an eyebrow.

According to traditional wedding rites, Su Can should have served as the chief incense-bearer, performing the rites alongside the newlyweds.

Now they demanded Fang Zijing perform it alone—clearly forcing him to break ties.

Yet this man actually endured it patiently.

After three prostrations and nine kowtows,

two young maidens led him into the bridal chamber.

Inside the East Wing Room.

Su Muqing's veil was lifted, her red lips trembling.

She had been bound by the Contract Jade Slip, forced to marry Fang Zijing.

At first she thought she'd climbed to a high branch, but since being poisoned, she now saw Chen Zhao's true potential.

"Zijing, in our Su Family weddings, consummation usually happens after the wedding ceremony…"

Su Muqing summoned her courage and spoke.

Fang Zijing and she were bound only by mutual interest, with a vast gap in status and little affection between them.

He let out a light laugh.

"Then consider it done."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Contract Jade Slip in his Storage Bag quietly shattered, and he began his true purpose.

"Qing'er, the Evil Cultivators are in position—contact my father."

"Once my father obtains the method for the Jiesha Pill from the Evil Cultivators and seizes the Su Family's fortune, when the Jiesha Pill is complete, we'll secure our Foundation Establishment without worry!"

Su Muqing was slightly surprised, but followed Chen Zhao's orders and contacted Elder Fang, luring him into the trap.

Seeing her so obedient,

Fang Zijing lowered his guard and chatted with her to stall for time, waiting for Elder Fang's arrival.

Three hours later,

the Jade Tablet in his arms suddenly grew hot—it was his father's message.

Seeing the moment had come, he gently coaxed Su Muqing:

"A great battle is imminent—this place is no longer safe, my dear, come with me to the sect's ruins for refuge."

He had long known of this opportunity and had lain low in the city for years, confident he would claim the fortune.

But he never imagined—

Su Muqing's eyes revealed a flicker of struggle.

One step further, and she would be colluding with Evil Cultivators, doomed to eternal ruin.

Opposite that, redemption lay before her—succeed and live, fail and die.

She had to consider whether this might be her only chance in life.

Long silence.

Su Muqing chose loyalty to Chen Zhao!

Heaven has no two suns—loyalty that is not absolute is absolutely disloyal.

She snatched up a Communication Talisman, kicked her leg out, and shattered the window, leaping out.

"I'm sorry—I'm already Master Brother's."

Su Muqing was drenched, whispering softly.

Outside the window, rain poured in torrents, thunder roaring endlessly.

Fang Zijing wasn't sure if he'd heard correctly.

Betraying your sect, conspiring with Evil Cultivators—you, Su Muqing, did it all—and now you want to turn and wash clean?

Could Chen Zhao's offer be higher than a Foundation Establishment Pill?

Could it be that behind him is Zhang…

A flicker of surprise and anger flashed in his eyes.

"Wife" betraying him—even with his mastery of inner calm—he felt a surge of suppressed rage.

But fortunately, after days in this city, he had prepared backup measures.

Fang Zijing flung out five Apricot Yellow Small Flags, and formed a hand seal.

Suddenly.

In the dim, rain-blurred sky, over a dozen withered yellow beams shot up from different locations, piercing straight into the clouds.

Boom!

A deafening roar drowned out the thunder; countless cultivators in the city looked up and saw a scene of apocalypse.

The Second-Grade City Protection Array shook violently, cracking open a gap several zhang long.

Dozens of figures seized the chance and flew into the city; three among them radiated the aura of Foundation Establishment Stage.

Two were drenched in Evil Qi, one with a long white beard and crane-like hair.

The Evil Qi surged outward like a black sun.

Chen Zhao naturally noticed as well.

He had received a message from Su Muqing and had been waiting outside the East Wing Room for a long time.

At the same time, the Jade Tablet finally glowed.

"Youngster, find a place to hide. The sect has intervened in this matter of Evil Cultivators—you need not concern yourself further."

The voice was ancient and hoarse—not Elder Zhang's—but even more righteous and imposing.

Chen Zhao acted instantly, channeling his Qi violently into the Array Disk, then retreated with Xin Tong and the two women into the room.

And on the bed.

Fang Zijing watched the three approach; just as he was about to form a hand seal to fight, his vision suddenly changed!

A dim alley, empty all around.

At the alley's end, two figures covered their eyes and sang, standing on one leg, a classical qin resting on their thigh.

"You've gone in circles just to use minor tricks—this is all your skill?"

He mocked aloud, yet dared not slacken his guard.

He tried to activate the Array-Breaking Small Flag, but found he could no longer sense it.

Fang Zijing's gaze sharpened; he flung open a Folding Fan, preparing to break the illusion with brute force.

At that moment, the two singers plucked a string on the qin.

Zing!

Silent Sword Qi struck without warning.

Fang Zijing sensed it and sidestepped.

A sound like shattering glass rang out—his Folding Fan lost all spiritual essence in an instant.

This was a Mid-Grade Dharma Treasure!

Before he could even react, his mind buzzed again, his spiritual sense trembling.

"Spiritual attack—your methods are truly numerous!"

Fang Zijing coughed blood uncontrollably, filled with bitter frustration.

He had endless resources; his spiritual sense had already reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer—how could anyone's spiritual sense be stronger than his?

But so what?

He pulled out a Black Magical Bead and held it before him.

A purple light flashed—the illusion melted away like spring snow, unmistakably the power of a Top-Grade Dharma Treasure!

Seizing the opening, Fang Zijing leapt into the rain.

At the same time.

Above Shanlian Immortal City.

Su Zhiyuan rose into the air, facing off against the three.

"Fang Zhang, old friend, long time no see."

He frowned, a surge of anxiety rising in his heart.

The Tiankui Sect had made some arrangement—he had done nothing, said nothing.

Leaving him to fight three alone—were they waiting for Evil Cultivators to seize the Su Family?

"Friend Su Dao, glancing around like this—who are you waiting for? Not Zhang Chunfeng, the one who watches over his son?"

Fang Zhang smiled slyly.

He wasted no time; forming a hand seal, a great sun blazed into existence.

Even from ten li away, the mere glow turned the street to ash.

A Mysterious-Grade Spell—its initial momentum was already terrifying.

Su Zhiyuan remained calm, summoning a Green Bamboo Long Sword.

With a single strike, it pierced through the great sun; where it passed, green bamboo sprang forth from the ruins, flying alongside the blade.

In an instant, hundreds of Green Bamboo Swords reached Fang Zhang's front.

"You begin with a Top-Grade Magical Tool… the Su Family's wealth is truly substantial."

Fang Zhang's eyes gleamed with greed; he summoned a Bronze Small Mirror and aimed it from afar.

Inside the mirror appeared a great mountain.

And the next instant.

The mountain materialized before Fang Zhang, intercepting every Green Bamboo Sword.

The earth trembled, massive rocks collapsed.

Stone rain suddenly fell from the sky, each stone dozens of zhang wide, radiating Foundation Establishment aura.

The crowd on the ground scattered in panic; some Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivators failed to dodge and were crushed on the spot.

"Two Daoists, I'll handle the attacks—you two kill this one!"

Fang Zhang shouted at the two Evil Cultivators.

The two men chuckled softly, hands cupping the air.

Two black dragons bared their fangs and brandished their claws, each more powerful than the Great Sun.

Though their cultivation was only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, bolstered by Evil Techniques, they could actually exert the power of Foundation Establishment Mid Stage.