Zhen Family Residence.
Today, Zhen Ying was in a good mood. Just moments ago, she had successfully annexed several small families.
"Family Head, we have taken over both the Yan and Du families. From now on, the underground spiritual herb market in Cloud Sea City will belong to the Zhen family," said the second elder of the Zhen family.
"That's right. With this, we'll have even more leverage against the City Lord's Mansion," added the first elder, a middle-aged woman dressed in white robes.
"What about the remnants of those families?"
"The women will be enslaved and sent to the mines. The men, depending on their looks, will either be sold to the brothels or locked in the dungeon. The elderly and children will be killed."
Zhen Ying's face remained calm, as she was no stranger to such matters.
"Make sure everything is handled cleanly."
"Understood!"
Zhen Ying looked around but did not see Zhen Xuejian. "Where's Xuejian? I don't see her."
"Miss left with some people this morning, saying she was going to look for a handsome man," replied a young woman.
"Oh? What kind of man has captured Xuejian's interest so much that she went looking for him herself?" Zhen Ying asked, puzzled.
She knew Zhen Xuejian's temperament well. Normally, when she fancied a man, she would have him directly captured and brought to the estate. Today's situation was rather unusual.
"According to the butler, he's a young master from the Ling Residence."
Zhen Ying felt a chill run down her spine. "Could it be that Ling Residence? I'll need to question Xuejian when she returns."
Cloud Sea City was large, and there were at least a dozen residences with the same name.
"No need. She's already returned," a strange voice suddenly echoed through the room.
"Who's there!"
"Who dares cause trouble in the Zhen family?"
...
The elders and younger disciples of the Zhen family jumped to their feet, spiritual energy bursting from their bodies.
Above Zhen Ying, two black Cave Heavens appeared, radiating a terrifying aura.
Second level of the Cave Heaven Realm!
"May I ask which fellow cultivator has come? Could you show yourself?" Zhen Ying asked, cupping her fists respectfully.
Anyone who could silently infiltrate the Zhen family's discussion hall was no ordinary person.
Bang!
At that moment, the doors of the hall swung open, and a black, spherical object rolled inside.
The people inside focused their gazes on it, and to their horror, they realized it was Zhen Xuejian's head.
Her face was frozen in terror, as if she had seen something unimaginable.
"Xuejian!" Zhen Ying's eyes widened in grief, her heart torn apart.
Zhen Xuejian wasn't just the only heir to the family; her cultivation talent was outstanding. In just over twenty years, she had reached the Foundation Establishment stage and was the family's hope for future greatness.
"It's been years, and you're still a failure, stuck at the second level."
A figure slowly emerged—it was Li Rou.
After sending Ling Yun back to the residence, she had come straight to the Zhen family. On the way, she had unexpectedly encountered Zhen Xuejian wandering around.
"It's you!" Zhen Ying glared at Li Rou with venomous hatred.
She knew Li Rou's power was terrifying, but the hatred of losing her daughter overshadowed any fear.
"Die! Flame Palm!"
Zhen Ying formed hand seals, and a red palm made of spiritual energy shot toward Li Rou.
The Flame Palm! Zhen Ying's signature technique. If hit, the victim's body would be consumed by fire, and they would die without a doubt.
"Like an ant trying to shake a tree."
Li Rou casually waved her hand, and a flicker of black light shattered the Flame Palm, much to the astonishment of everyone present.
Suddenly, a blade flashed toward Li Rou's neck—it was the first elder of the Zhen family who had launched the attack.
"Ghost Slash!"
Li Rou remained calm as she turned around and caught the blade's energy between her two fingers, effortlessly dissolving it into the air.
"This one's tough. Let's attack together."
"Diamond Finger!"
"Fireball Spell!"
...
One after another, the Zhen family members launched attacks at Li Rou, but all their efforts were in vain. Every attack disappeared without even disturbing the hem of her clothes.
"Divine... Divine Soul Realm!" Zhen Ying screamed in horror.
There was no other explanation. Only a cultivator in the Divine Soul Realm could easily withstand so many attacks.
"Ghost Sea Pagoda."
Li Rou's red lips parted slightly, and black mist enveloped the room.
"Ah! My eyes!" The second elder of the Zhen family screamed as her eyeballs fell out of their sockets the moment they touched the mist.
Some of the other Zhen family members' skin melted off, and they bled to death; others had limbs suddenly drop off without any warning...
The hall filled with agonized screams, but within minutes, all was silent. Only Zhen Ying remained, barely holding on.
"I warned you, but you didn't listen," Li Rou said coldly.
"Why? Why?" Zhen Ying looked around at the dismembered bodies in the hall, her mind unraveling.
Li Rou took out the ghost banner. "Blame your daughter. She wanted something she could never have."
"I'll kill you! Blazing Hand!" Zhen Ying's hands glowed red as she charged at Li Rou.
Li Rou's figure flickered, and with a single kick to Zhen Ying's chest, she sent her flying.
Zhen Ying's body halted after a few meters, her eyes wide open in death.
Li Rou approached the body and waved the ghost banner, absorbing Zhen Ying's corpse into it.
"A second-level Cave Heaven cultivator, barely worthy of becoming my corpse puppet."
Then, Li Rou's gaze pierced through the walls, focusing on a figure frantically fleeing into the night.
"Damn it! That fool Zhen Ying! Where did she provoke such a terrifying enemy?" Zhen Rufang cursed inwardly.
As the Zhen family's ancestor, she had sensed the battle as soon as it started. The more she watched, the more alarmed she became, and eventually, she decided fleeing was the wisest choice.
"Sorry, children. I'll avenge you once I've regained my strength."
At over 700 years old, Zhen Rufang still had two or three hundred years left to live. She wasn't about to die for the younger generation.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. The ancestor of a family fleeing in the face of danger? You truly are something."
A voice echoed in her ears. Zhen Rufang instinctively turned her head and saw Li Rou standing right beside her.
"This woman... we have no grudge between us. Let's pretend this never happened. Please, let me go," Zhen Rufang said, knowing escape was no longer possible. She stopped and secretly gathered her spiritual energy in preparation for a fight.
Li Rou wasn't interested in wasting time. She jabbed a finger toward her.
"Pagoda Finger!"
Zhen Rufang, realizing the danger, didn't dare hold back. She responded with all her strength.
"Withered Wood Palm!"
In the next moment, Li Rou's blackened finger easily pierced Zhen Rufang's palm and went straight through her heart.
A gaping hole appeared in Zhen Rufang's chest, blood pouring out.
"I... I'm so full of hate... I refuse to accept this..."
The once-mighty Zhen family ancestor died at Li Rou's hands.
Li Rou collected the body and vanished from sight.
...
By the time Li Rou returned to the Ling Residence, it was already deep into the night. The first thing she did was use her spiritual sense to check on Ling Yun.
She saw him sound asleep, curled up with his blanket, one long, snow-white leg exposed under the moonlight.
Seeing this, a wave of heat rose in Li Rou's abdomen, and her breathing became quick and shallow.
Hoo~~~
Li Rou took a deep breath, withdrew her spiritual sense, and forced herself to calm down.