The silent disappearance of a powerful Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the clan grounds was no small matter.

Zhang Pan’s back was instantly soaked with sweat as he recalled the old Daoist’s ruthless efficiency, cutting down men on the Flying Boat as if they were nothing but weeds. At his Realm, he was long past being affected by heat or cold, but on this hot day, he felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar.

If that Daoist were to go on a killing spree within their lands, the ultimate responsibility would fall on his shoulders.

His legs grew weak just thinking about the ancestor’s various methods of punishment.

Yang Jing, using Cloud Escape to remain hidden in the sky with his two disciples, watched the chaos unfold within the Bishui Zhang Family below. They were searching everywhere for any trace of him.

He took out a Token and recorded everything that had happened since his arrival in the Lu Kingdom, including the Bishui Zhang Family’s treatment of him, their supposed benefactor. He then sent it to Bai Shui True Monarch.

To make a move against the Bishui Zhang Family, he couldn’t bypass Bai Shui True Monarch.

After watching the commotion for a while, Yang Jing entered his Inner World. The Black Wind Thieves had been in the Wanhua Child’s hands for some time now; there should be results from the interrogation.

Yang Jing went directly to the Yin Qi World. The captured Black Wind Thieves had all had their Magical Power sealed by a Restriction. They were bound in iron chains and tossed carelessly in a pile.

These Black Wind Thieves had assumed they had fallen into the hands of Righteous Cultivators. They never expected to find themselves in what could only be described as a Demon Kiln, surrounded on all sides by ferocious, ox-headed Celestial Demons.

Compared to Tribulation Cultivators like them, who were numb to killing, these Celestial Demons were truly the embodiment of evil.

The once-vicious Black Wind Thieves were as docile as quails before the Ox Power Demons.

Yang Jing stood before the leader of the Black Wind Thieves, a Jade Scroll in his hand. It contained all the intelligence the Wanhua Child had extracted from the man’s mind using various Celestial Demon techniques.

"Who in the world are you?"

The leader’s eyes widened, unable to conceal the terror on his grim face.

Compared to the true methods of the Celestial Demons, the ways of Tribulation Cultivators like them were mere child’s play.

"Wu Jinglian. You’re a Golden Core Cultivator of the Wu Family, yet you’re willing to be a reviled Tribulation Cultivator with the Black Wind Thieves, giving the opportunity for fame and glory to your clan brother, Wu Jingyuan."

Yang Jing said, looking at Wu Jinglian, who was suppressed by the Demon-Catching Tripod.

Under the Wanhua Child’s various methods, Wu Jinglian had confessed nearly everything he knew. Naturally, his relationship with Wu Jingyuan could not be hidden from Yang Jing.

To Yang Jing’s great chagrin, most of the wealth plundered by the Black Wind Thieves over the past century had been converted into Wu Jingyuan’s Cultivation.

If not for the Black Wind Thieves’ support, the Wu Family’s resources would never have been sufficient to produce two Golden Core Cultivators.

The remaining liquid assets of the Black Wind Thieves amounted to only about eighty thousand Spirit Stones. While this was an astronomical sum for Independent Cultivators who hadn’t seen much of the world, it was no great fortune for Yang Jing.

The only thing that brought Yang Jing some consolation was that the plundered Spiritual Eye Objects had been placed within the Wu Family’s Spirit Vein to enhance its Spiritual Qi.

This was quite normal, however. Spiritual Eye Objects were Spiritual Objects strictly controlled by the Six Sects, and each one possessed unique characteristics. Without a reliable channel to fence them, they were extremely difficult to sell.

"Heh heh."

Wu Jinglian let out a shrill laugh, like the cry of a night owl.

"After two thousand years of accumulation, our Wu Family finally produced a heaven-sent genius like my clan brother, Jing Yuan! As long as he succeeds in reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, the Wu Family is destined to soar and become one of the most prominent clans in the Western Continent."

Yang Jing shook his head.

"Your clan brother has already lost that chance. Before long, I will bring you his head."

Wu Jinglian glared at Yang Jing, his eyes blazing with fury.

"My clan brother’s Power is ten times greater than mine! You Demon Cultivator, you will surely fall at his hands!"

"Then I will wait with great anticipation,"

With a wave of his hand, Yang Jing completely suppressed Wu Jinglian beneath the Demon-Catching Tripod.

If not for the fear that killing him would extinguish his Soul Lamp and alert the Wu Family, he would have ended his life long ago.

Leaving the Inner World, Yang Jing used his Cloud Escape to find the Black Wind Thieves’ hidden stash and retrieved all the goods.

These assets were partly Spirit Stones obtained from selling off stolen goods, and partly plundered Spiritual Materials, Spirit Medicines, and other merchandise that had yet to be fenced.

With a sweep of his Magical Power, Yang Jing moved all the assets into his Inner World. Afterward, he found a secluded mountain cliff and began Refining the Spiritual Qi within his Inner World to advance his Cultivation.

「Two days later.」 A Token flew back into his hand.

Yang Jing used his Divine Sense to open the Token and found just four words inside: "Do as you see fit."

He put the Token away.

’In that case, I’m going to make a real scene.’

Yang Jing summoned his Tunneling Light and shot straight toward the Lu Family’s ancestral grounds at a heaven-shaking speed.

The astonishing Tunneling Light immediately caught the attention of the Lu Family members. They hurriedly activated their Array Formation, pushing the Array’s Defensive Spirit Light to its absolute limit.

The situation in the Lu Kingdom was already extremely tense. Having recently lost a Golden Core Elder, their nerves were stretched to the breaking point, and they didn’t dare relax for a single moment.

"Who goes there!"

Three Golden Core Cultivators shot up on their Tunneling Lights, surrounding Yang Jing as if facing a formidable enemy.

"I am Yang Jing, a True Disciple of the Five Elements True Spirit Sect. I have come to see the ancestor of the Lu Family."

Yang Jing dispersed his Tunneling Light, revealing his true appearance.

As the most prominent True Disciple of the Five Elements True Spirit Sect for over a decade, his portrait had naturally been circulated throughout the Fiefdoms to prevent the younger generation from carelessly offending such an important figure.

"So it is Master Yang in person."

A man’s name is like a tree’s shadow; his reputation precedes him. Even in the Lu Kingdom, Yang Jing’s fame was legendary. Although the three Golden Core Cultivators remained wary, they were no longer on high alert as if facing a dire enemy.

The three exchanged a glance and immediately thought of the Bishui Zhang Family. The matter of a woman from the Zhang Family becoming a Nascent Soul True Monarch was a secret the Zhangs dared not publicize under pressure from Bai Shui True Monarch, but it couldn’t be hidden from an established local power like the Lu Family.

’Could it be that Bai Shui True Monarch couldn’t bear to see the Zhang Family wiped out and has specifically invited the renowned Yang Jing to support them?’

’The Lu Family would naturally be delighted to see this; anything that suppresses the Wu Family would be for the best. But knowing the temperament of that Qilin Child of the Wu Family, he probably won’t back down so easily.’

The matter was of great importance, so the three Golden Core Cultivators immediately welcomed Yang Jing into their clan grounds to meet their ancestor.

The ancestor of the Lu Family was an old man with snow-white hair. His lifespan was clearly nearing its end, and his aura was faint. Upon seeing Yang Jing, he was about to offer a few customary compliments when Yang Jing suddenly spoke, getting straight to the point.

"If I were to uproot the Wu Family on your behalf, I wonder, what price would the Lu Family be willing to pay?"