Chapter 206: Calculated Against the Unaware — Once More, Pay Homage to Xian Tian! Intimidation!

When the gazes of the four Xian Tian Jing masters fell upon Lu Qing, their expressions flickered with shock once more.

For from Lu Qing, they sensed nothing—no trace of the unique Essence of the Xian Tian Realm that defined Xian Tian Jing cultivators.

What did this mean?

It meant Lu Qing was not yet a Xian Tian Jing cultivator.

And yet, he had just slain Zheng Jia Lao Tai Po with such ease.

A wave of unease swept through the four Xian Tian Jing masters. Their respect for Lu Qing instantly turned to deep wariness.

Facing the piercing stares of four elite Xian Tian Jing warriors, Lu Qing remained utterly calm. Yet, beneath his serene exterior, he had already activated his hidden abilities, silently scanning the identities and origins of the men before him.

Seeing that Lu Qing said nothing—just standing there, meeting their gazes without a hint of fear—their unease only deepened.

After a long silence, the White-haired and Rosy-faced Elder spoke, his tone solemn.

"Esteemed young master, may I ask your name? And what grudge do you hold against this old woman, that you would torture her so before ending her life?"

"Oh? So you must have a personal vendetta to justify killing her?" Lu Qing’s voice was cool. "Or can’t I just be someone who saw injustice and acted on impulse—simply because I found her repulsive?"

At that moment, Lu Qing had already finished probing the four men’s backgrounds. He lingered a breath longer on the Refined Elder.

Hearing the elder’s words, Lu Qing replied, "You."

The Refined Elder’s eyes snapped open. A faint ripple of killing intent surged from his body.

"Simply finding her unpleasing—was that reason enough to slaughter her so brutally?"

"Such a venomous old hag," Lu Qing said, "what use is she to anyone? Old man, surely you’re not unaware of how cruel her heart truly is?"

Though his inner probe confirmed the Refined Elder wasn’t a true villain, Lu Qing still held no respect for him. A senile fool, blindly loyal, and ready to attack without reason—Lu Qing had already shown more patience than most would.

"And this woman," Lu Qing continued, "was planning a Living Human Sacrifice Ritual to avenge her worthless grandson. Such abominable acts—shocking even to Heaven and Earth. What’s wrong with killing her?"

The Refined Elder hesitated, then protested: "That’s just rumor. Zheng Jia hasn’t committed such a crime. To judge a man by what might happen? That’s far too hasty."

"Old man," Lu Qing sneered, "you’ve truly gone mad from licking her boots."

Seeing the Refined Elder still defending the old woman, Lu Qing dropped all pretense.

"Tell me, can you honestly say she wouldn’t do it? That she wouldn’t cross that line?"

The Refined Elder’s fury flared—but then, Lu Qing’s next words struck like ice.

The elder’s breath caught. He wanted to deny it, but the truth was clear: such a promise was meaningless. Given Zheng Jia Lao Tai Po’s nature, she might very well have already done it.

Seeing the elder silenced, Lu Qing pressed on.

"And even if she hasn’t done it now, what about before? Have you forgotten her past deeds?"

The words landed like thunder.

The four Xian Tian Jing masters stiffened. The Refined Elder blurted out, "What?!"

The Zhou Fu Cheng City Lord spoke gravely: "Young master, are you certain? Did Zheng Jia Lao Tai Po truly perform a Living Human Sacrifice in the past?"

"Want the truth?" Lu Qing smirked. "Go dig up the tomb of her eldest son. There, you’ll find the answers."

The Tomb of the Eldest Son of the Zheng Family.

The four Xian Tian Jing masters exchanged glances. Memories of a long-forgotten tragedy surfaced—Zheng Jia Lao Tai Po’s hysterical grief, her wild, desperate rage. Their doubts wavered.

If her grief was that deep, could she really have committed such a horror?

"Very well," the Refined Elder said, voice hard. "I’ll say this now—once we investigate, if no signs of sacrifice are found in that tomb, don’t blame me when I demand justice."

"Justice?" Lu Qing laughed coldly. "What right do you have to demand justice? If anyone has a claim, it’s Zheng Jia’s family. Who are you?"

He paused, eyes sharp.

"And besides… we still have a score to settle."

"A score?" The Refined Elder blinked.

"Old man," Lu Qing said, tone icy, "you don’t seriously expect me to forget your sneak attack earlier? Did you think I’d let that slide?"

"Then what do you want?"

The Refined Elder, stung by the constant ‘old man’ taunts, narrowed his eyes. "I want you to face the consequences."

"Simple," Lu Qing said. "You attacked me with three sword qi strikes. My demand is fair: you take one of my strikes. If you survive, our debt is settled."

"Confident, aren’t you?" The Refined Elder laughed bitterly. "I don’t know how you defeated Zheng Jia Lao Tai Po, but do you really think we’re clay dolls to you?"

"Enough talk. Will you take it?"

"Fine," the Refined Elder said, drawing his sword. "I’ll accept your strike."

The White-haired and Rosy-faced Elder gasped. "Lin Xian Sheng!"

"It’s fine," the Refined Elder waved him off. "I’d like to see just what this young man is capable of—enough to best Yun Mei."

"Be careful, my friend," the elder warned, knowing full well the mention of Yun Mei meant the Refined Elder still held feelings for the old woman.

He stepped back, worry etched into his face.

As for the City Lord and his companion? They had no objections at all.

A chance to test this mysterious youth’s strength? They welcomed it.

But now, their eyes held a new curiosity—how deeply did this man truly care for Zheng Jia Lao Tai Po?

"Please, strike," the Refined Elder said, standing still, sword in hand, calm and composed.

"Good."

Lu Qing didn’t hesitate.

A flicker of golden light danced across his body. A crushing aura erupted from him—like a caged beast finally unleashed.

He charged forward, a whirlwind of death.

Clang!

The long blade drew, slicing through the air with a silver flash of lethal intent—unstoppable, overwhelming.

The blade cut across all directions, leaving no escape.

That technique!

The Refined Elder felt his soul tremble. The sheer killing intent pressed against him like a mountain. His eyelids twitched.

Never had he expected such a ferocious attack from someone who’d seemed so calm.

He sensed it immediately—Lu Qing’s technique was simple in form, yet infinitely complex in execution. There was no opening. No flaw.

This youth’s swordsmanship surpassed even his own!

Though he refused to believe it, the Refined Elder had no choice but to admit it.

He couldn’t dodge. He couldn’t block.

The only option left—to endure.

But to endure meant risking death.

Faced with imminent peril, the Refined Elder abandoned all composure. His eyes flared wide. The Xian Tian Qi surged through his body, and in an instant, he unleashed his Explosive Secret Technique.

He poured every ounce of his Xian Tian Jing energy into his sword, thrusting it forward with a cry—meeting Lu Qing’s blade head-on.

Boom!

The clash exploded.

Sword Qi erupted in all directions, tearing through the air, shredding trees and rock. Had ordinary people been nearby, they’d have been vaporized.

The Refined Elder staggered back, his face ashen. A force beyond measure struck him from Lu Qing’s blade. His sword, charged with all his might, could not hold.

His arms trembled. His feet slipped. He stumbled backward, retreating ten steps before slamming his heel into a massive tree, halting his fall.

He lifted his head—blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He stared at Lu Qing, eyes wide with shock.

He had been wounded—deeply.

What?!

The other three Xian Tian Jing masters recoiled in disbelief.

The Refined Elder—ranked among the top two of their group—had reached the peak of the Early Xian Tian Stage, only one step from Xian Tian Minor Mastery.

And yet, this mysterious youth had forced him to use his Explosive Secret Technique… and still sent him staggering back, bleeding.

How was this possible?

Even more unnerving—none of them could sense the slightest trace of Xian Tian Realm essence from Lu Qing.

They saw clearly: the power Lu Qing had unleashed was Hou Tian level—mere blood and qi, not the true essence of the Xian Tian Realm.

Yet, with just that, he’d shattered a Xian Tian Early Stage Peak cultivator.

Who—or what—was this man?

The White-haired and Rosy-faced Elder and the others stared at Lu Qing in stunned silence.

"Admirable," Lu Qing said, stepping back—but with far less effort than the Refined Elder. "To survive my strike is no small feat. Unlike that old woman—she didn’t even last a single blow."

The Refined Elder spat blood.

"Lin Xian Sheng!" the White-haired elder cried, rushing forward and handing him a medicinal pill.

"I’m fine," the Refined Elder murmured, swallowing the pill. "Just internal injuries. My Qi is scattered, but it will settle with rest."

"Good," the elder said, relieved.

But his mind was shaken. If even Lin Xian Sheng—a man stronger than him—had been thrown off balance by one strike… what would happen to him?

"Since you endured my strike," Lu Qing said calmly, "our debt is settled. If you still wish to avenge her, I’ll be waiting. But next time… you may not be so lucky."

As the Refined Elder began to recover, Lu Qing turned to leave.

"Wait!" the City Lord called out. "Your cultivation and swordsmanship are truly astonishing. Might I ask your name?"

"Name?" Lu Qing glanced back. "You’re not worthy of knowing it."

He didn’t pause. With a few swift leaps, he vanished into the forest—his speed and agility matching even the Xian Tian Jing masters.

And still… not a trace of Xian Tian Realm essence.

The four masters stood in silence, watching the direction he’d gone.

Only when Lu Qing’s aura faded completely did the Middle-aged Man with Face Like White Jade speak.

"What do you think… is he truly a Hou Tian Jing cultivator? Or just pretending?"

"Does it matter?" the City Lord replied. "He wounded Lin Xian Sheng with one strike. His strength rivals ours. Unless we all join forces, we can’t stop him. But tell me—would you dare try?"

The man said nothing.

No, they couldn’t. Not with a man who defied all logic—slaying two Xian Tian Jing masters with only Hou Tian-level force.

It was impossible. Unheard of.

And such a being? He couldn’t be alone. No one with such power had no backing.

Realizing this, the City Lord and the others decided—no point in angering him.

They had no desire to invite a wrathful sect or hidden power upon themselves.

So when Lu Qing left, they did not stop him.

"Indeed," the Middle-aged Man said after a long silence. "The rumors were true. The world is changing. Monsters are rising. Today… we’ve met one."

The others stirred.

They all knew of the whispers spreading across the land—of a coming upheaval, of geniuses and monsters rising to reshape the world.

They’d doubted it before.

But now? They believed.

"This old woman," the Middle-aged Man added, a grim smile on his lips, "was truly cursed. To have drawn the ire of a demon like this."

Among them, he had the deepest hatred for Zheng Jia Lao Tai Po.

Before he’d even entered the Xian Tian Jing realm, he’d suffered countless humiliations at her hands.

Now, with her dead, his joy was palpable.

The others knew his history. Only the Refined Elder looked down, sorrowful.

The rest remained silent.

"Brothers," the White-haired elder asked, "what now?"

"Of course," the City Lord said. "We go to Zheng Jia’s family. We open the tomb of her eldest son. And we find out if that young man’s words were true."

"But—" the Refined Elder started.

"Lin Xian Sheng," the City Lord cut in firmly, "you know as well as I do—Living Human Sacrifice is forbidden by Sheng Shan. If she committed such a crime, as City Lord, I must investigate. I must punish her."

The Refined Elder opened his mouth, then closed it.

He had no argument.

Yet he knew—if the truth came out, Zheng Jia would face punishment beyond imagination.

Thinking of his promise to her long ago, he sighed.

What could he do?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end