Chapter 79

Shen Lang's display of martial talent and innate ability was something Zilan could not fully comprehend.

However, what was even more terrifying was his ability to control the entire situation with a mere gesture, to manipulate the game of chess, and to hold the lives of his enemies in his hands.

Even some of the older generation of experts within the Xuan Dao Sect might not have such means.

This was not about martial talent or martial insight, but rather great wisdom, the sedimentation of time.

Yet, this young man was only sixteen or seventeen years old...

If he so wished, even the Eighth Heaven Qi Martial Realm expert would have no chance of escape!

As for Yao Chengjie, it was merely a deliberate act to give him a way out...

From the first glance at this young man, Zilan felt that he was extraordinary, and now he found the other party even more unfathomable and profound.

...

Zilan's speculations were indeed correct; Shen Lang truly thought this way.

Although the Eighth Heaven Qi Martial Realm expert was formidable, if Shen Lang really wanted to keep him, with the cooperation of the Green Robe Guard, it would not be difficult.

As for Yao Chengjie, Shen Lang did not care about the Holy Light Sect at all. In a certain sense, the War Emperor was Shen Lang, and Shen Lang was the War Emperor. How could a mere Xuan Iron-level force be of any concern to him?

However, Shen Lang did not arrogantly kill Yao Chengjie.

Because with Shen Lang's current cultivation, if he truly faced an Xuan Iron-level force at this stage, it would be extremely dangerous, if not fatal.

Bringing such a powerful enemy to his family and friends for no reason would be foolish, not skillful.

Moreover, Yao Chengjie was right; a living him was more valuable than a dead one...

Shen Lang handled everything flawlessly.

Shen Lang was confident but not arrogant.

"I'm tired, I'm going to sleep." Shen Lang lazily waved his hand and said.

Just as Shen Lang was about to take a step, Mo Ge, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Go to the Xuan Dao Sect."

This exceptionally handsome silver-haired youth spoke very little, valuing every word.

Shen Lang glanced at him and nodded, saying, "Alright."

Of course, Shen Lang would go to the Xuan Dao Sect, because there was something that had been there for thousands of years, and it was time for him to retrieve it.

The people of the Xuan Dao Sect probably did not even know that this thing could change the fate of their entire sect.

Now that the Xuan Dao Sect had fallen from a Spirit Copper-level force to an Xuan Iron-level force, and had become so destitute that even a sect like the Holy Light Sect, which had only been around for less than two thousand years, could bully them, it was likely that they had not discovered this thing.

"Yuanli fragments, what a good thing..."

Shen Lang's usually calm eyes finally showed a hint of change.

...

As Shen Lang returned to the Shen family, in the secret room of the City Lord's residence, a group of people were in a state of great unease.

"Slap!"

A crisp sound echoed in the spacious room, and the two people standing inside trembled, lowering their heads.

"Father... you... you hit me?"

Ye Xue, unable to believe it, covered her face and looked at the middle-aged man in front of her, who was still fuming with anger.

The middle-aged man who had slapped her was none other than Ye Xiao Zheng, the City Lord of Tianfeng City.

Ye Xue had always been treated like a treasure, cherished and pampered, and had never even been scolded, let alone slapped.

Unexpectedly, this time, he was so enraged that he slapped her, and with considerable force.

"Hit you? I hit you, you idiot!" Ye Xiao Zheng shouted angrily, "I worked hard to raise you, and went to great lengths to get you into Jialan Academy, hoping you would learn something there and enter the Imperial Dragon Sect. And you did this!"

"Lord, the assassination of Shen Lang has nothing to do with the young lady. Tang Sheng used a thousand low-grade spirit stones and a third-grade Spirit Dust Pill to hire me... Tang Sheng concealed most of what happened at the Polytreasure Pavilion auction, leading to my incorrect judgment and subsequent defeat. Please punish me, Lord!"

A pale-faced middle-aged man knelt on one knee and said solemnly.

From his figure and voice, it was clear that he was the Eighth Heaven Qi Martial Realm black-clothed man who had escaped alone after the assassination of Shen Lang!

"Brother Cheng Kun, there's no need to protect her. A father knows his daughter best... If it weren't for her instructions, how would Tang Sheng have the nerve to do such a thing? Tang Sheng was merely a tool for her to use, to kill with a borrowed knife. Unfortunately, this ungrateful daughter thought she was clever, but now she has brought disaster upon herself! Alas..."

Ye Xiao Zheng sighed in despair and slumped into his chair.

Tears welled up in Ye Xue's eyes, and she said stubbornly, "So what if that boy has some ability, and even if he has some connection with the Polytreasure Pavilion, does that mean our City Lord's residence should fear him?"

"You!" Ye Xiao Zheng was almost driven to the point of spitting blood.

The man with the mustache, who had not spoken until now, gently waved his fan and said calmly, "The young lady may not yet realize the severity of the situation... Let me explain a few points for the City Lord..."

"Uncle Feng, do you also think I was wrong?"

Ye Xue's heart sank at his words, and her face turned even more pale.

Feng Hai, though not highly cultivated, was extremely wise. Together with Cheng Kun, one in civil and one in military, they were her father's most capable subordinates, his left and right arms.

Therefore, Ye Xue respected this man very much.

"Regarding Shen Lang, many things are still a mystery, but since Tianfeng City is our City Lord's territory, it's not easy to hide anything from us. When the two old men from Ta Yun Academy, Mo Liusheng and Sima Yan, personally came to the City Lord's residence to help him deal with the matter of injuring Tang Chaotian, we began our investigation. Now, we know the following points..."

"First, although Shen Lang is called a waste, four days ago he defeated the Third Heaven Qi Martial Realm Shen family member Shen Jianfeng at Ta Yun Academy."

"Second, he once intruded into the Alchemy Hall during Mo Liusheng's alchemy class, after which Mo Liusheng, who had no prior connection with him, changed his attitude, calling him 'little brother' and punishing the Xiao family member Xiao Chunfeng, who had a grudge against him."

"Third, he made a show of force at the Tianfeng Wine House, not only injuring Tang Chaotian and others but also subduing all the young masters of the major families, none of whom dared to resist."

"Fourth, the Polytreasure Pavilion suddenly and very openly courted him, and even displayed a significant Xuan Iron token in front of everyone at the auction."

"Fifth, Shen Lang faced off against the Xuan Iron-level forces of the Evil Wind Valley and the Holy Light Sect at the auction, not giving an inch; and sixth, Brother Cheng Kun led a group of assassins to kill him without knowing his true strength, but returned defeated..."

Feng Hai spoke calmly, listing the information they had gathered, then added solemnly, "With the sixth point, the first and third points seem insignificant. Even Brother Cheng Kun... cough, as for the second point, there is no other concrete information, but I speculate that it might be related to the two old men suddenly standing up for Shen Lang. Perhaps Shen Lang has a surprising talent in alchemy, or he provided some treasure or information; and the later points are even more astonishing..."

"A waste from a minor family, to be recognized by the two major figures of Ta Yun Academy is one thing, but why would the Polytreasure Pavilion court him so vigorously? Why would he receive a Xuan Iron token, which is even higher than what our City Lord's residence has? Moreover, the Polytreasure Pavilion openly displayed the Xuan Iron token, seemingly wanting to bind him completely and make it known to all of Tianfeng City that he has a close relationship with the Polytreasure Pavilion?"

"Furthermore, even if he has a surprising talent in alchemy or some other profession, why would he dare to offend an Xuan Iron-level force? The Evil Wind Valley is a higher-level force than our City Lord's residence, with countless experts. To put it bluntly, if they wished, they could flatten Tianfeng City in a day! Yet this boy not only dared to offend the Evil Wind Valley but also made the Holy Light Sect lose face in front of so many people!"

"What kind of confidence does he have to act this way? If he were just a young, inexperienced boy, why would the cunning old man Mo Liusheng dare to speak up for him? Is he not afraid of offending the Holy Light Sect, known for its 'eye for an eye' policy?"

As Feng Hai spoke, he began to sweat, "Of course, even so, I have not placed him in a very high position. It was only after Brother Cheng Kun's defeat that I truly realized how terrifying this person is... Too terrifying. If my guess is correct, not only can our City Lord's residence not afford to offend him, but even the Holy Light Sect might not be able to afford to offend him..."

"The bastard Feng..."

Cheng Kun glanced coldly at Feng Hai, his eyes flashing.

Although he had no objections to Feng Hai's analysis, the bastard had already mentioned "Cheng Kun's defeat" three times in just a few sentences!

This bastard was clearly doing it on purpose!

At this moment, Feng Hai continued his analysis.

"Have you noticed Xue Dang and Shui Qingwu? We already know Shui Qingwu's identity; she is the granddaughter of the famous Divine Marshal of the Imperial Divine Marshal's Mansion, and the Shui family is renowned in the Zichu Kingdom. Although they are not classified in terms of force levels, they are not inferior to Xuan Iron-level forces, and may even be higher. As for Xue Dang, this woman is even more mysterious. According to information from the Imperial Dragon Sect, even few people in the Imperial Dragon Sect know her background. In the Imperial Dragon Sect, she is treated like a princess, and no one dares to offend her, and she is even favored by the old ancestor of the Imperial Dragon Sect, getting whatever she wants..."

Ye Xue, pale-faced, said in a trembling voice, "Xue Dang has such a background? Was that why Father didn't want me to conflict with her? But what does her background have to do with Shen Lang?"

Feng Hai, with a smug look, said, "This has to be explained starting from Brother Cheng Kun's defeat..."

Cheng Kun, who had already shown a sinister look, was almost driven to the point of exploding with anger. This damn thing, it just wouldn't end!

For the fourth time!

"Feng Hai, you bastard, I'll remember this!" Cheng Kun snorted coldly and held back.

...