Chapter 315: Qi Jia Xian Tian, the Qinglong City Lord's Prayer

"Xian Tian Jing Pressure?"

In the courtyard, the entire squad of House Slave Guards lay paralyzed, utterly unable to move. Their faces were pale with dread as they stared at the young figure slowly stepping forward. The overwhelming pressure radiating from him sent shockwaves through their very souls.

As residents of Qinglong City—even the lowliest House Slaves—these men were no strangers to the world of martial cultivation. They knew, deep in their bones, that what they were witnessing was the legendary Xian Tian Jing Pressure.

But precisely because they recognized it, their fear only deepened.

A Xian Tian Jing cultivator so young—his origins had to be nothing short of extraordinary.

"Xian Tian Jing?"

The slender-faced youth, his body still aching from earlier, forgot his pain entirely. He stared at Lu Qing in disbelief, stunned that such a youth could wield such a terrifying power. Worse still, he felt something chillingly ominous in the air—this boy’s aura seemed even more terrifying than the Xian Tian Jing guest masters within the Wei Family estate.

"Dad, are you okay?"

Hu Ze Zhi rushed forward as soon as she saw Lu Qing subdue the villains, carefully helping Hu Lao San to his feet.

But Hu Lao San was already numb, his mind blank. He could only stand there, dazed and speechless, like a puppet with its strings cut.

Hu Ze Zhi’s heart dropped. "Dad, did you get hurt?"

Only after her urgent voice did Hu Lao San finally snap back to reality.

"I—I’m fine!" he stammered. "Just a few bruises. Nothing serious. Xiao Lian, who are these people?"

"Uncle Hu," Lu Qing smiled, "we met just a few days ago at the City Gate. You don’t remember?"

Hu Lao San froze. He’d already sensed something familiar about Lu Qing and the others. Now, with the reminder, it clicked.

His eyes widened in shock. "You’re… the young master from that day?"

"Indeed," Lu Qing said. "That’s me."

Hu Lao San was utterly stunned. He never imagined those seemingly ordinary travelers had been such formidable cultivators.

Especially Ma Gu—he remembered clearly. That man had bowed low, paid the entry fee with humility, even offering a small bribe. Now he realized: that humble demeanor had been nothing but a mask.

Ma Gu was no ordinary man. He was a peerless warrior—someone who could crush even the Inner Fu Jing Guards of the Qi Family in a single strike.

And more troubling: how had his daughter met such people?

Had she been with them all along? That was why she hadn’t attended the Xuan Xin Zong’s discipleship ceremony.

But before Hu Lao San could ask, Lu Qing raised a hand.

"Later. We’ve got company coming."

As if on cue, a shadow appeared atop the roof of the house.

A middle-aged man in rich robes, his face rosy and clean-shaven except for a thin black mustache, stood there. His eyes swept the courtyard, and his expression darkened instantly.

"Zheng, what are you doing here? What happened to your leg?"

"Uncle!"

The slender-faced youth—Qi Wen Zheng—saw the man and lit up with hope. He wanted to cry out, to beg for help. But Lu Qing’s Xian Tian Pressure held him utterly still. He couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.

All he could do was stare at the man with desperate eyes.

The man noticed. His gaze shifted to Lu Qing, and he felt the raw power radiating from the boy.

Though stunned by his youth, he still bowed respectfully.

"Sir, I do not know what offense Zheng has committed. But I beg you—on behalf of the Qi Family—show mercy. Spare him. We will repay you handsomely in the future."

"He hasn’t offended me," Lu Qing said coolly. "He offended my friends. If you want him released, ask my friends if they’re willing to forgive."

"Friends?"

The man blinked, confused. Who was he talking about?

"Uncle Hu," Lu Qing turned to Hu Lao San, "what should we do with these people?"

"Me?" Hu Lao San froze.

He looked at Qi Wen Zheng’s mangled leg. He knew full well: once this man returned to the Qi Family, he’d never let this go. He’d seek revenge with every ounce of his power.

But to kill him outright? Impossible.

The Qi Family was one of the four great clans of Qinglong City. They had multiple Xian Tian Jing guest masters. Even if Lu Qing’s group was strong, they couldn’t stand against such a force.

Hu Lao San’s mind raced. Finally, he bit his lip and said, "Master, we can’t let them go yet. The Qi Family is too powerful. If we release him without leverage, none of us will survive."

Lu Qing raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected such resolve from the timid man.

He looked up at the man on the roof.

"Friend," he said, "you heard my friend. We can’t release them—at least not yet."

The man on the roof heard every word.

He also realized—Hu Lao San was clearly a commoner from the city.

A lowly peasant daring to hold a Qi Family heir as a hostage?

A flicker of icy malice flashed in his eyes.

"Then I suppose I must test your strength," he said coldly.

With a sudden surge, a crushing pressure erupted from his body, pressing down on Lu Qing and the others like a collapsing mountain.

Just one minute before, at the Cheng Zhu Fu gates, a towering warrior had rushed inside.

He was stopped by two guards at the entrance.

"Zuo Cheng Shou, wait."

"Two of you, please inform the City Lord. I have urgent news."

The guards exchanged glances, then nodded. One vanished into the estate.

Moments later, a middle-aged housekeeper emerged, following the guard.

"Liu Zong Guan, where is the City Lord?" the warrior asked urgently.

"The master is practicing morning exercises in the courtyard. What brings you, Zuo Cheng Shou?"

"I have urgent news—something the City Lord himself ordered me to report, only to him."

Liu Zong Guan nodded without question. "Then please follow me."

The two entered the mansion, winding through corridors until they reached a secluded courtyard.

As soon as the warrior stepped inside, a wave of biting cold struck him. He shivered involuntarily.

The temperature here was several degrees below the outside air. Frost clung to the flowers, and a thin mist of cold vapor curled through the air.

It was a world apart from the warm sunlight beyond the walls.

In the center of the courtyard, a figure stood motionless, sword in hand, practicing slow, deliberate movements.

With every shift of his blade, the cold air twisted and writhed, forming silver serpents that danced through the air—awe-inspiring, terrifying.

The warrior’s eyes widened.

He had seen the City Lord train before, but each time, he was left breathless. The swordplay was incomprehensible—too deep, too complex for a Qi Xue Jing cultivator to grasp.

Silently, the warrior and Liu Zong Guan waited.

After a long moment, the cold mist slowly gathered, then vanished into the City Lord’s body.

Only then did Liu Zong Guan step forward.

"Master, Zuo Cheng Shou has urgent news."

"Hmm."

The City Lord nodded, turning his gaze to the warrior.

"City Lord… the group you asked me to keep an eye on—those travelers—you told me to watch for them—has entered the city this morning."

"What?"

The City Lord’s body tensed. In an instant, he stood before the warrior. "Are you certain?"

The warrior nodded. "I am. The city gates opened at dawn. A carriage entered. Inside was a young man—his appearance matches the scroll painting you gave me perfectly. There was also an old man and a little girl. And the carriage was pulled by two horses—each with white jade horns."

"Then it’s them," the City Lord murmured. "But why so fast? Ah… yes. Sheng Cheng’s report said the carriage was a legendary Yufeng Vehicle—capable of traveling ten thousand miles in a day. Two or three days to reach Qinglong City? It makes sense."

He paused, then added, "So it’s true. He’s from beyond the provinces."

He looked up. "Where did they go? Do you know?"

"I don’t. You specifically forbade tracking them. I wouldn’t dare disobey. Once I confirmed they were the ones you wanted watched, I came straight to report."

"Good," the City Lord said, nodding. "You did well. That man must not be provoked. If he’s offended, not even I could protect you. The entire city would burn."

His voice carried a weight of dread.

He remembered the report he’d received days ago—the one that spoke of a man who had slain a Third Holy Lord and slaughtered an entire lineage of Xuan Kong Shan monks.

The Qinglong City Lord was no fool. He knew: this man was a monster beyond reckoning.

And yet, he dared not even approach him.

The warrior shivered.

He’d been confused when first ordered not to follow. The City Lord had shown such interest in the group—why forbid tracking them?

But now he understood.

It wasn’t just caution. It was fear.

Absolute, trembling fear.

Who was this boy? How could a mere Qi Xue Jing cultivator command such terror from the City Lord?

Driven by curiosity, he asked, "City Lord… what is this young man’s origin? How can he command such respect from you?"

"None of your business," the City Lord snapped. "His origins are beyond your reach. Remember this: you must never provoke him. Even I cannot protect you if you do."

The warrior swallowed hard. He’d overstepped.

"Yes, sir!"

"By the way," the City Lord added, "did you see which direction they took? Are they leaving today?"

"I only saw them heading south. As for leaving… I don’t know."

"Hmph. I hope he leaves soon," the City Lord muttered. "I’d rather he didn’t linger."

He dared not wish otherwise. He wanted to live a few more years.

But he also knew: he couldn’t get involved.

That man was powerful—no one could fathom his true strength.

And he was also surrounded by endless troubles.

Just his feud with Xuan Kong Shan was enough to scare off anyone seeking alliance.

So the Qinglong City Lord could only pray—pray that Lu Qing and his companions would leave the city quickly.

Otherwise, with such a terrifying, trouble-laden presence in the heart of the city…

He’d never sleep again.

And just as the City Lord whispered his silent prayer, a sudden, colossal pressure erupted across the city.

A thunderous voice boomed through the streets:

"Then I have no choice but to test your strength!"

Instantly, every martial cultivator in Qinglong City felt it.

Xian Tian Jing Pressure? Who dares use Xian Tian-level power in the city?

"That voice… it’s Qi Jia Lao Wu!"

"Someone dared challenge the Qi Family? Let’s go see!"

In an instant, powerful figures burst from their manors, racing toward the source of the pressure.

"Uncle Five is fighting?"

Elsewhere, in a vast estate, several shadowy figures shot into the sky.

"What’s going on? Why is Qi Jia Lao Wu acting up?"

At Cheng Zhu Fu, the City Lord frowned.

Then, as he sensed the direction of the pressure… his face paled.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end