The news of Elder Liu's death caused a great uproar within the entire Kaoshan Sect.
Elder Liu was a powerful martial king, even if he had only recently reached that level. Every martial king was considered an invaluable asset to the Kaoshan Sect, serving as one of the sect's backbones.
Sect Master Yun Yu was furious upon hearing the news and immediately ordered his subordinates to investigate the cause of Elder Liu's death.
Chen Ping, who had shared a good relationship with Elder Liu, volunteered to take on this critical task. After questioning Elder Liu's disciples about his activities prior to his death, Chen Ping learned that Elder Liu had traveled to Songyang City.
"Songyang City? Isn't that Wang Teng's hometown? Why would Elder Liu go there?" Chen Ping wondered, puzzled.
One of the disciples then explained that Wang Teng had asked Elder Liu to deliver some items to his family. Chen Ping suddenly understood. Wang Teng, who was currently in seclusion to prepare for entering the Jade Secret Realm, did not have time to visit his family. Elder Liu, who was heading out on a mission, agreed to deliver the items on Wang Teng's behalf.
Without delay, Chen Ping set off for Songyang City. After a long journey of a day and a night, he finally arrived at noon.
As soon as he entered the city, he overheard people talking:
"Have you heard? The Wang and Liu families have been exterminated!"
"Yes, it seems they went to the City Lord's Mansion to humiliate the young master, and the City Lord was furious. He wiped out both families."
"But why would the Wang and Liu families act so recklessly? Everyone knows the City Lord is the most powerful person in Songyang City. How could they dare provoke him directly?"
"Exactly! Everyone in Songyang City knows that Young Master Ye Yu is the City Lord's treasure. He dotes on him endlessly. No wonder they brought such a calamity upon themselves."
What these people didn't know was that Elder Liu of the Kaoshan Sect had also been at the City Lord's Mansion that day. However, news of Elder Liu's death at the mansion was known only to a few within the City Lord's inner circle.
Ye Hao, the City Lord, deliberately suppressed the news. Firstly, he deemed it unworthy of public attention. Secondly, he wanted to avoid unnecessary panic that could lead to chaos in Songyang City. The Kaoshan Sect was a colossus in the eyes of most citizens. If people learned that the City Lord's Mansion had crossed paths with the sect, it was highly likely that 99% of the population would flee, fearing collateral damage. This was a situation Ye Hao wished to prevent.
As a result, the information was incomplete, leaving Chen Ping confused.
"The Wang family? Which Wang family?" he muttered to himself. "Could it be Wang Teng's family?"
Chen Ping immediately approached the people discussing the incident.
"Excuse me, which Wang family are you referring to? Does their family include someone named Wang Teng?"
"Yes, it's that Wang family," one of them confirmed.
The revelation exploded in Chen Ping's mind.
Wang Teng's family had been wiped out.
The impact of this news was no less shocking to Chen Ping than Elder Liu's death.
Wang Teng wasn't just an ordinary disciple. He was the direct disciple of the Sect Master, a prodigy so talented that the Sect Master had openly declared, "This boy has the potential to become a Martial Emperor."
Wang Teng's status within the Kaoshan Sect was unparalleled, second only to the Martial King elders. He was also the likely successor to the Sect Master.
With his family annihilated, the repercussions would be unimaginable. Chen Ping shuddered to think of the rage Wang Teng would unleash once he learned of this tragedy.
There was also the unresolved question of Elder Liu's death. Had he indeed visited Songyang City? And was his death connected to this place?
Chen Ping found it hard to believe that anyone in this remote city could kill Elder Liu. According to his knowledge, the strongest individual in Songyang City was Ye Hao, a seventh-grade martial artist. It seemed impossible for anyone to be capable of killing a martial king.
Determined to uncover the truth, Chen Ping made his way toward the City Lord's Mansion.
First, he needed to investigate Elder Liu's death. Second, he wanted to understand how the City Lord's Mansion had dared to destroy the Wang family.
However, when Chen Ping was less than a mile away from the mansion, a terrifying pressure suddenly immobilized him.
"Stop!"
The voice, like the decree of heaven itself, echoed directly in Chen Ping's mind.
Divine consciousness transmission!
Chen Ping's heart sank. Such a technique could only be performed by a Martial Emperor or someone even stronger.
A Martial Emperor had taken notice of him!
Martial Emperors were exceedingly rare. The Kaoshan Sect had only one—its ancestor. Even the Sect Master was merely a ninth-grade Martial King, with an uncertain path to reaching the Martial Emperor realm. Crossing that threshold was considered harder than ascending to the heavens and had thwarted countless geniuses.
Chen Ping was overwhelmed with terror. Sweat poured down his face, his legs trembling uncontrollably. He wracked his brain, trying to determine how he might have offended such a powerful figure.
"Are you from the Kaoshan Sect?"
The voice rang out again, calm but imbued with immense authority.
Unbeknownst to Chen Ping, Ye Yu had been aware of his presence in Songyang City from the moment he arrived. Ye Yu's divine consciousness enveloped the entire city, making it impossible for anything to escape his notice.
In fact, with his invincible strength, Ye Yu could have extended his awareness across the entire Tianxuan Continent if he wished. However, there was no need for such an act.
In the face of absolute power, conspiracies and schemes were mere trifles.
Chen Ping tried to respond but found himself unable to speak. Clearly, Ye Yu had not granted him permission to do so.
Ye Yu, however, already knew Chen Ping's intentions.
"Go back. I killed Elder Liu, and I destroyed the Wang family. If you seek revenge, prove that you have the strength to do so."
With those words, Ye Yu withdrew the oppressive aura but left a faint trace of his energy lingering on Chen Ping.
Chen Ping collapsed to the ground, utterly drained.
The experience had been like walking through hell. The lingering fear made him feel as though the terrifying aura still clung to him.
Escape!
This single thought consumed him.
Chen Ping stumbled to his feet, panic-stricken, and fled the city in a disoriented state. He was so terrified that he forgot he could use his spiritual power to fly, instead running on foot like a common man.
The townsfolk watched him flee, bewildered by his bizarre behavior. To them, he appeared like a madman.
Chen Ping paid them no mind. His heart was still gripped by an overwhelming fear.
Once he was far from the city, he finally began to regain his composure. He realized he needed to report the incident to the Sect Master immediately.
Songyang City was not to be provoked.
There was an unspeakable terror in the City Lord's Mansion!