五月丁香五月丁香激情

Dying right under Liu Tianzheng\'s watch.

“It’s over. The Liu family is completely finished…”

Liu Tianzheng’s face turned pale, and his vision darkened.

He had just poured the entire family’s wealth and generations of effort into appeasing this Lord Ling, only for him to die…

The most critical part was that they had completely offended Zhang Xuan.

Ignoring the advice of the wise led to trouble in the short term, but not listening to the younger generation could lead to disaster right at the doorstep!

Liu Tianzheng’s body shook as he urgently looked at Xu Xin nearby. “Lord Xu, should we report to the Destiny Hall immediately… and seek revenge for Lord Ling?”

The Destiny Hall would never let the death of a Destiny Master go unanswered. Reporting this could at least keep Zhang Xuan preoccupied, buying him time and avoiding further trouble.

Smack!

Before he could finish, a burning pain spread across Liu Tianzheng’s face as Xu Xin slapped him.

Xu Xin’s face was pale, veins bulging on his forehead as he appeared nearly crazed. “Silence! If you dare to reveal even a word about Lord Ling’s death, I will wipe out the Liu family—down to the last member!”

“Why?”

Clutching his face, Liu Tianzheng was dumbfounded.

“I am a Fate Guardian. My greatest duty is to protect Destiny Masters from harm. Now that he has died in my presence, if the news leaks, even if others seek revenge, what will happen to me?”

Xu Xin said.

“This…”

Liu Tianzheng’s pupils contracted.

It was like the imperial guards, whose duty was to protect the emperor. If the emperor were killed in their presence, at best, they would be buried with him; at worst, they would be executed on the spot…

Even if someone avenged Ling Buyang later, Xu Xin was as good as dead!

Moreover, Ling Buyang, as a Destiny Master from the Zouyi Dynasty, must have made countless enemies over the years. Even if he survived, returning home would only spell further trouble…

“No…”

Understanding this, Liu Tianzheng realized something critical. His pupils shrank, and he dashed toward the exit, only to feel a sharp pain stab through his back before he could leave. It was as if his very soul were being torn apart.

Struggling to turn, he saw a dagger embedded in his back.

“You…”

He reached for Xu Xin, but his strength ebbed away like a receding tide.

“Dead men don’t spread secrets!”

Xu Xin’s eyes were cold.

Although only the two of them were in the room, there was only one way to ensure the news didn’t spread: kill the Liu family head!

Once Liu Tianzheng was dead, no one would know for a while, allowing Xu Xin time to escape.

Conveniently, Ling Buyang held the thirty million Source Coins he had taken from Liu Tianzheng. With those funds, Xu Xin could live well, hidden in any city.

After stripping Liu Tianzheng and Ling Buyang of all valuables, Xu Xin secured everything before stepping out, his voice laced with an unchallengeable authority: “Lord Ling has gone into seclusion to guide the family head’s cultivation. For now, the family is to be closed off to visitors. No one is allowed to approach. Any disturbance during this time will be met with death!”

“Yes!”

The Liu family members had no reason to doubt him.

Xu Xin walked away confidently.

This command would delay discovery for at least two or three days, enough time for him to vanish without a trace, leaving no leads behind…

---

Zhang Xuan walked out of the room, looking exhausted.

After returning to the Xuan World, he had reinforced the Source Pools of Zhao Ya and the others, consuming a hefty seventy thousand strands of Heaven’s Fate Energy. Although it was a huge expenditure, it significantly enhanced their talents and cultivation speed, making it worthwhile.

As he stepped outside, he saw Sun Qiang waiting with an eager expression.

“Young Master, after a night of training, I feel I’ve made some breakthroughs. Could we spar?”

Zhang Xuan was surprised by Sun Qiang’s newfound courage but smiled slightly. “Alright!”

“Forgive me then, Young Master!”

With a chuckle, Sun Qiang raised his pudgy fists and charged, shouting as his powerful force surged forward like a river breaking its dam.

“You’ve certainly improved!”

Zhang Xuan hadn’t expected such progress, feeling momentarily astonished before he matched the punch.

Boom!

Their fists collided, and Sun Qiang’s face twisted in pain as he was sent flying, landing heavily in the courtyard.

“Not bad, quite an improvement…”

Zhang Xuan nodded, then blinked in confusion. “When did you reach the Divine Soul Realm?”

He was genuinely shocked.

He knew Sun Qiang’s potential well. Zhang Xuan himself hadn’t broken through, yet Sun Qiang had managed to leap several major levels overnight. Was that even possible?

Struggling up, Sun Qiang looked disheartened.

He had thought that advancing to the Divine Soul Realm would make him stronger than his master, letting him show off a bit. Instead, he had been defeated with one punch… How tragic.

“It’s like this…”

Sun Qiang recounted the events of the previous night in detail.

“So, Ling Buyang’s soul detached, came to kill you, but was stunned by the Source Pool and devoured by Heaven’s Path Source Energy, which allowed you to break through?”

Zhang Xuan’s eyes widened.

That was even possible?

Talk about luck!

After painstakingly training for five or six days to reach the peak of the Jade Bone Realm, here was Sun Qiang, surpassing him overnight…

However, his rapid advancement left his strength somewhat hollow. Even with Divine Soul Realm power, his might was so unstable it hadn’t even reached 99 horsepower.

Still, for Sun Qiang, raw strength didn’t matter. With just the title of the Divine Soul Realm, he could deter others and accomplish many things.

“Wait… Ling Buyang’s death is a big deal!”

After a moment’s reflection, Zhang Xuan frowned.

Ling Buyang was an official Destiny Master of the Destiny Hall. While intimidating him was one thing, killing him would undoubtedly lead to being branded as a Chaotic Fate Practitioner if the news got out!

“No one came after Ling Buyang’s soul was devoured?”

He couldn’t help asking.

“No,” Sun Qiang shook his head.

The night had been unusually calm, with no disturbances.

Zhang Xuan found it odd.

A Destiny Master, especially one at the Dharma Aspect Realm, was at the pinnacle of White Roc City’s power. For such a figure to die, yet nothing to happen overnight—it was too strange.

“I need to check something…”

As Zhang Xuan prepared to investigate, urgent knocking sounded from outside.

“Is Elder Zhang here? Lu Mingrong and Yu Longqing request an audience…”

Lu Mingrong’s voice came through.

“Come in, Dean Lu.”

Zhang Xuan gestured, and Sun Qiang quickly opened the door. Yu Longqing and Lu Mingrong entered, their expressions heavy.

“Teacher Zhang, something major has happened…”

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, Yu Longqing spoke in a hushed tone.

“Oh?” Zhang Xuan looked over.

Yu Longqing continued, “The City Lord’s Mansion, under Lord Ling’s orders, had sealed the city gates and thoroughly inspected travelers. This morning, when the gates were opened, a traveler seemed suspicious, concealing their identity. The guards delayed him and informed the mansion. I happened to be available, so I took the Cangback Eagle to check. What I saw was shocking… The disguised traveler trying to sneak out was… Xu Xin!”

“With his status, he could leave with just a word. Why disguise himself?” Zhang Xuan asked, puzzled.

Leaving aside Xu Xin’s peak Jade Bone Realm strength, his status as a Fate Guardian made him untouchable even to the City Lord. Why sneak out in disguise?

“I had the same question and approached to greet him, but…”

Yu Longqing continued, “He attacked immediately upon recognizing me, trying to force his way out. Although his strength was considerable, he couldn’t match mine, so I captured him. Upon interrogation, I discovered… it seems Lord Ling is already dead!”

At this, the City Lord looked cautiously at Zhang Xuan, trying to discern his involvement.

“Yes, I already knew. Last night, Ling Buyang’s soul detached to ambush me but was killed by Sun Qiang…” Zhang Xuan nodded.

Yu Longqing and Lu Mingrong exchanged shocked glances.

Soul detachment, ambush, easily slain…

Each term made sense alone, but together, they were bewildering.

Wait… Sun Qiang?

Both experts turned to the plump steward, fists instinctively clenching.

Wasn’t he just at the Energy Storing Realm? Yet he had killed a Dharma Aspect Realm Destiny Master?

Could it be that he was hiding his true strength all along?

“Hic~”

Sun Qiang felt embarrassed by their stares and let out an involuntary hiccup, releasing a wave of energy.

“Source Pool eighth level, Divine Soul Realm?”

Both the City Lord and Dean Lu felt their vision darken, stunned into silence.

Just yesterday, he had been at the Energy Storing Realm. Now he was in the Divine Soul Realm. Even a fool could see he was hiding his strength! Otherwise, how could someone improve so dramatically in just one night?

The guess was accurate; this "Divine Soul Realm" wasn’t even Sun Qiang’s true level. If it were, there was no way he could have killed a Dharma Aspect Realm master quietly without alerting even the neighboring courtyards.

Their steward was not only beyond the Divine Soul Realm but was likely a super expert. And Zhang Xuan’s own talent must be even more formidable, surpassing common understanding. In an instant, the young man before them became even more enigmatic in their eyes.

There was no doubt—he had to be from an influential family.

Author\'s Note