Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Lin Zhao didn't believe for a second that the dynasty had no intention of taking any action against the Cangyun Mountain Market in recent years.

It's fine as it is now.

He fought a battle with a Core Formation cultivator, which shocked everyone.

Next, the dynasty should take the initiative to express its willingness to reconcile, after all, the Zheng family patriarch has personally witnessed the methods and backgrounds displayed by the four of them.

Things should get much better in the future.

Lin Zhao opened her eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air.

My spiritual energy has recovered to about 50%, which is enough for now.

He stood up and walked out of the meditation room.

---

In the backyard of the garrison, Xu Chuan was sitting on a stone bench, holding the sect token, laughing so hard he was doubled over.

"Hahaha—come and see!"

Fang Yue sat to the side expressionlessly, too lazy to pay him any attention.

Yan Chiheng stood at the courtyard gate, looking at the bustling market in the distance, a faint smile on his lips.

As Lin Zhao came out, Xu Chuan immediately waved, "Lin Zhao, Lin Zhao, come and see!"

Lin Zhao walked over: "What are you looking at?"

"The sect's reply!" Xu Chuan handed over the token. "The message I sent a few days ago has finally received a reply. You have no idea, our fellow disciples from that year have been buzzing with excitement!"

Lin Zhao took the token and glanced at it.

The comments were densely packed; I scrolled through several pages.

"Holy crap? Really? A Foundation Establishment cultivator defeated a Core Formation cultivator?"

"Xu Chuan, are you bragging? Lin Zhao can actually drive away a Core Formation cultivator?"

"Is there a photo stone? I don't believe it if there isn't one."

"I'm near the Tongming Domain, do you need help? I've brought my master's sword talisman!"

"Xu Chuan, send me your location, I'm heading out right now!"

"Don't go, it's too late, they're done fighting."

"Is it really over? Lin Zhao won?"

"We won. The Zheng family patriarch escaped."

"……Grass."

Lin Zhao's lips twitched, and she continued scrolling down.

Then his gaze stopped.

The two messages came from the same person.

Qin Tianjun.

The first message, posted seven days ago, said: "Feel free to call me if you need any help. I'd also like to test my Core Formation strength."

The second message was posted today, right after Lin Zhao and the others defeated the Zheng family patriarch: "When you have time back at the sect, we can spar."

Lin Zhao's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the two messages.

Xu Chuan leaned closer and chuckled, "See? Qin Tianjun is feeling the pressure."

Lin Zhao remained silent.

Qin Tianjun.

Their strongest disciple of that year possessed unfathomable combat prowess.

Lin Zhao didn't have much interaction with him, but she had heard little about his deeds.

"I really want to experience his full strength firsthand," Lin Zhao said softly.

Xu Chuan's eyes lit up: "That's great! I'll be the referee then!"

Fang Yue rarely spoke up: "You should improve your cultivation first, or you might get blown down by the aftershocks of the battle."

Yan Chiheng stood at the door and smiled.

Everything has just begun.

-----

Ten days later, a guest arrived at Cangyun Mountain.

When Lin Zhao saw him outside the garrison, her first reaction was that this person was very strong, no less so than Princess Blood Phoenix.

The newcomer introduced himself as "Xuan Guangzi," a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. He appeared to be in his early thirties, wearing a drab gray Taoist robe, but always had a faint smile on his face.

Lin Zhao knew this name.

The "unaffiliated cultivators" who suddenly appeared during the suppression of the unrest destroyed two markets in a row, using ruthless methods and killing without blinking an eye.

He then disappeared without a trace, and some people said he was a spy trained by the dynasty to handle shady matters.

But when Lin Zhao looked at him, he felt that something was off; his status in the dynasty was probably not low.

Xuan Guangzi didn't say much, but simply handed over a brocade box.

"A small token of appreciation from the Dynasty," he said, his tone as calm as if he were talking about the weather. "The Zheng family patriarch said that what happened before was a misunderstanding, and from now on, Cangyun Mountain and the Dynasty will keep to themselves."

Lin Zhao took the brocade box but did not open it.

Xuan Guangzi glanced at him, smiled, and turned to leave.

A flash of light appeared, then disappeared into the horizon.

From beginning to end, it took less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Lin Zhao stood at the entrance of the garrison, watching the disappearing spiritual light, his brows furrowed slightly.

This person... seems to have come just to get to know him.

What's he doing here? Delivering a message? Bringing a gift? Or... something else entirely?

Lin Zhao thought about it for a while, but couldn't figure it out.

He looked down at the brocade box he was holding, and he had a rough idea of ​​what was inside.

---

Meanwhile, in the Purple Mystic Royal City, a thousand miles away.

The patriarch of the Zheng family sat motionless in the quiet room, staring at the chessboard in front of him.

He had been sitting like that for a long time.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and someone whispered, "Ancestor, Xuan Guangzi has returned."

"Let him in."

The door opened, and Xuan Guangzi walked in and sat down opposite the Zheng family patriarch.

"Has it been delivered?"

"It's been delivered."

The Zheng family patriarch nodded, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "What do you think of that kid?"

Xuan Guangzi thought for a moment: "Very strong. Stronger than I thought."

The patriarch of the Zheng family sighed.

"Those are the true prodigies of the Holy Sect," he said. "They are not comparable to those ordinary inner disciples."

Xuan Guangzi remained silent.

The Zheng family patriarch looked at him with a complicated expression.

This Xuan Guangzi was known as Zheng Xuan in the dynasty.

He is also known as Jiang Xuan in the outside world, and is the only son of Chongguang Zhenren.

True Man Chongguang – the only Core Formation True Man cultivated outside the Zixuan Dynasty in all these years.

The Zixuan Dynasty and the Chengtian Dynasty have maintained contact for thousands of years, and every now and then they would send people to the Chengtian Dynasty to learn, exchange ideas and cultivate.

A hundred years ago, the ancestor of the Zheng family sent a group of young people to study in the Chengtian Dynasty, hoping to cultivate some talents for the family line.

Unexpectedly, among this group of people emerged a prodigy, namely Jiang Xuan's father, who, with the support of the Chengtian Dynasty, successfully formed his core.

Chongguang Zhenren.

Logically, his succession to the Zixuan Dynasty was perfectly legitimate.

But the Zheng family patriarch had a nagging feeling—that the True Man Chongguang had no affection for the dynasty.

He formed his elixir during the reign of Emperor Chengtian, and received favors from that side, so his heart leaned towards them.

If the dynasty is truly handed over to him, the dynasty will be preserved, but how many members of the Zheng family's main lineage will be left in the future?

Therefore, the Zheng family patriarch has been suppressing the matter all these years, preventing Master Chongguang from taking over his position.

He wanted to cultivate a Core Formation cultivator within his own lineage, someone he could trust more easily.

Of the so-called five candidates, only three are truly promising: the Blood Phoenix Princess, the current King of Qin, and the Xuan Guangzi before us—Jiang Xuan.

But now, Blood Phoenix is ​​useless.

Jiang Xuan... isn't truly one of us.

Only the King of Qin remained.

Looking at the chess pieces on the chessboard, the patriarch of the Zheng family suddenly realized that he was truly old.

It seems it's time to arrange for the King of Qin to leave; if he doesn't leave soon, he might not be able to.

---

Cangyun Mountain, the garrison headquarters.

Lin Zhao opened the brocade box.

A familiar aura wafted over – the power of the Void Return, the lingering aura of the Breaking Law Needle.

Inside the box, a human head lay quietly, its face bright and beautiful.

Blood Phoenix Princess.

Her eyes were open, and her face still showed the shock and resentment she felt before her death.

The incision on the neck was clean, and traces of the erosion by the power of the Void were still faintly visible.

No doubt about it, it's her.