The First Venerable of All Paths

"Boss Qiu, did you hear that?"

The manager of the Haifeng Chamber of Commerce chuckled and said, "Move or leave, choose one."

The other managers also showed gloating expressions, looking at Lu Zhao and the others with amusement.

The shops in the city of Daowen are like radishes, each one a pit.

Everyone wants to do business here.

Although Qiu's Trading Company's shop wasn't in the best location or had the largest space, it was precisely because they had the least background.

The major trading companies had already investigated and found that Qiu's Trading Company was just a small trading company in Sunset Town.

By simply giving Zhao Yao a small benefit, the Qiu Clan Merchant Guild can be driven out of Daowen City.

This deal is very worthwhile.

"you......."

Unable to contain his anger any longer, Qiu Yun exclaimed indignantly, "You've gone too far!"

"Boss Qiu!"

Upon hearing Qiu Yun's words, Zhao Yao's face darkened.

Are you questioning my decision?

Zhao Yao's tone was icy, filled with intense displeasure: "Or are you saying you don't even respect my Dao Seeking Sect?"

"Manager Zhao Yao, that's not what I meant."

Qiu Yun's face turned pale instantly, and she quickly said, "But the lease for this shop hasn't expired yet. Isn't it against the rules to ask us to move out now?"

"rule?"

Zhao Yao scoffed, "My word is the biggest rule in this City of Inquiry!"

Such forceful words brought a look of despair to Qiu Yun's eyes.

The other managers of the merchant houses smiled even more broadly.

How dare this Boss Qiu question Deacon Zhao? He's really out of his depth.

"Deacon Zhao, I..."

Just as Qiu Yun was about to speak, Lu Zhao grabbed her wrist.

"Deacon Zhao, of course we did not mean to question you."

Lu Zhao faced Zhao Yao directly and said calmly, "I have a question: before the lease expires, is the order of the Dao Seeking Sect or of Steward Zhao to forcibly evict the merchants?"

"Is there a difference?"

Zhao Yao snorted coldly, "I am the steward of this Dao Asking City. All matters, large and small, in the city are decided by my word."

"Don't try to ramble on with me."

Zhao Yao waved his hand dismissively and said coldly, "Now, immediately, pack your things and leave Wendao City. You are not welcome here!"

Since taking office as a steward of Wendao City, no one has dared to question his decisions like this.

Zhao Yao was disgusted by the behavior of Lu Zhao and others.

It was just a small business association with no background, so they were expelled without a second thought.

They can't possibly turn the world upside down.

"Alright, since Deacon Zhao has said so, let's go now."

Lu Zhao said, "Xiao Yun, take the contract with you, let's go up the Mountain of Inquiry."

"I'm going to ask the dignified Daoist Sect if they still have any basic sense of contractual obligation!"

"good!"

Qiu Yun wiped away her tears, put away the contract, and prepared to leave.

But Zhao Yao's expression suddenly changed.

Under normal circumstances, they would never even be able to climb Mount Wendao.

Even if you go, the sect won't even bother with such a trivial matter.

But things are different now.

With the investiture ceremony of the Holy Son imminent, representatives from various factions and the other two major sects have come to observe the ceremony.

If something happens that damages the sect's reputation at this sensitive time, those members of the Enforcement Hall will definitely not let him off the hook.

At that point, he won't be able to continue as the steward of Daocheng.

The Holy Son and the Zhao family will not let him off easily.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yao shuddered.

"stop!"

Zhao Yao suddenly shouted coldly and stood directly in front of Lu Zhao.

"You can't go!"

A rare hint of panic crept into Zhao Yao's voice.

This matter absolutely must not be blown out of proportion.

"Why not?"

Lu Zhao said expressionlessly, "Since Deacon Zhao is going back on his word and unilaterally breaking the contract, then we have no choice but to go to the Dao Seeking Sect to demand justice."

"you......"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao's expression suddenly contorted.

A powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted from his body, pressing down on Lu Zhao.

Are you threatening me?

Lu Zhao was just an ordinary person, so how could he withstand the oppressive aura of Zhao Yao?

His body involuntarily staggered backward several steps, almost falling to the ground.

"Sister Lu, be careful!"

Qiu Yun exclaimed in surprise and quickly helped Lu Zhao up.

"Don't you dare bully my mother!"

Seeing Lu Zhao being bullied, Manman immediately became furious.

Her small body, like a young monster, rushed towards Zhao Yao, her pink fists carrying a powerful force as they smashed towards him.

"That's unacceptable!"

This scene caused Lu Zhao's expression to change.

Although she planned to use the Daoist sect to force Zhao Yao to retract his previous demands, she never intended to take action.

Once they really start fighting, the nature of the situation will change completely.

"presumptuous!"

But Zhao Yao was overjoyed.

He was just looking for a reason to make a move when the other party unexpectedly handed him the opportunity.

Zhao Yao feigned anger, but his attack was anything but slow.

Spiritual energy condensed in his palm, and he struck Manman directly with a palm strike.

"Boom!"

Fists and palms collided, producing a dull, loud thud.

Manman was sent flying backwards, but was caught by Li Guanlan just as she was about to land.

Zhao Yao also took a few steps back, looking at Manman in horror.

"How is that possible?"

This little girl, despite her low cultivation level, possesses terrifying power.

"You'd even bully a child? You've really lost all shame!"

Li Guanlan's eyes turned cold, and his spiritual power surged, sweeping towards Zhao Yao like a whirlwind.

"This aura..."

Sensing the fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from Li Guanlan, Zhao Yao became increasingly horrified.

But more than anything, there was anger.

"You dare to make a move in Daocheng? You have some serious nerve!"

Zhao Yao roared, and streams of spiritual energy surged from his body, his voice echoing in the air.

"Where is the enforcement team? These people are attempting to disrupt the investiture ceremony of the Holy Son! Seize them all!"

Zhao Yao sneered inwardly.

We're not afraid of you taking action.

If you dare to make a move, Zhao Yao will arrest all of you in the name of the City Deacon.

No one could find a single fault with it.

"Whoosh whoosh!"

As Zhao Yao's voice fell, figures rushed in like arrows.

In the blink of an eye, no fewer than thirty martial artists at the Qi Condensation Realm surrounded Lu Zhao and his group.

Meanwhile, on the rooftops and at the windows, there were archers who had locked onto them.

In addition, two martial artists at the Divine Intent Realm rode on dragon horses and carried long spears.

"Don't move!"

One of the armed commanders looked down at Li Guanlan and said in a chilling tone, "Everyone, surrender and await your fate!"

"Surrender!"

The guards of Wendao City also shouted in unison.

The surging aura merged into one in the air, forming an extremely powerful pressure.

Clearly, these guards are the elite of the elite.

Qiu Yun was so frightened that her face turned completely pale.

Lu Zhao took a deep breath, her beautiful eyes filled with determination.

Li Guanlan's expression remained calm, but a strange glint appeared in his eyes, which turned black and white.

Black light gathered in the palm of his hand.

"Still want to fight? You're asking for death!"

The commander, gun in hand, his eyes flashing with a cold light, roared, "Guards, on my command, attack!"

He pointed his spear and thrust it directly at Li Guanlan.

Just as Li Guanlan was about to make his move, a whooshing sound rang out, and a streak of blood-red light shot out from afar.

"when!"

A cold, red light gleamed precisely at the commander's spear.

The terrifying power that erupted in that instant not only shattered the commander's spear but also sent him flying, crashing heavily off his horse.

"Bang!"

The ground trembled violently, sending up clouds of dust.

As the smoke and dust cleared, a blood-red spear appeared in front of everyone, separating the Wendao City guards and Li Guanlan and the others.

"Anyone who dares to cross this line, die!"

The cold voice clearly reached everyone's ears.

Immediately afterwards, a steady and powerful footstep sounded, causing everyone to look up.

In my line of sight, a dashing young man dressed in white, carrying a sword case on his back, walked towards me expressionlessly.

As he approached, everyone made way for him.

Looking at the young man, Lu Zhao subconsciously covered his mouth, his eyes suddenly reddening.

Qiu Yun's pupils contracted, her pretty face filled with shock.

Li Guanlan's lips curled slightly, and his aura completely concealed itself.

"elder brother!"

Manman charged straight at the other person and buried herself in their arms.

"Okay, it's alright now."

The young man gently patted Manman on the back, then looked at Li Guanlan, his voice gentle.

"Sorry I'm late."

This person was none other than Fang Xuan!

From afar, he sensed that Li Guanlan and the others were in danger, and immediately took decisive action.

"Who are you?"

The manager of the Haifeng Chamber of Commerce jumped out at this moment, pointing at Fang Xuan and coldly shouting, "You dare to interfere in the affairs of Dao Wen City? You're tired of living!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan merely glanced at the other party indifferently.

Desolate Heavenly Eye, activate!

"Bang!"

At that glance, the head of the Haifeng Chamber of Commerce manager exploded.

The headless corpse fell straight to the ground.

Blood splattered everywhere, causing the other managers to retreat in horror.

What kind of martial art is this?

He actually killed the person with just one glare!

"hiss!"

The other spectators gasped in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.

This person actually dared to kill someone in the City of Inquiry?

Is he out of his mind?

"presumptuous!"

Zhao Yao was even more furious: "Boy, no matter who you are, daring to kill someone in my Dao Asking City, even if the Heavenly King himself came, he couldn't protect you!"

"Commander Tie, cripple him!"

The guard captain, who had been sent flying by a single shot, flashed a cold light in his eyes upon hearing this.

He sprang up like a ferocious beast, unleashing his full divine intent cultivation, and punched Fang Xuan.

Before the fist even arrived, a violent aura locked onto Fang Xuan.

"Snapped!"

However, just as Commander Tie's fist was about to land on Fang Xuan, Fang Xuan easily caught it.

"How is that possible?!"

The attack was caught, and Commander Iron looked horrified.

"roll!"

With a twist and a flick of his wrist, Fang Xuan unleashed a force that Commander Tie could not resist, which swept directly from his hand.

Commander Tie let out a muffled groan as he was thrown out and slammed heavily to the ground.

His arm, however, was crippled by Fang Xuan.

"Release the arrows!"

Zhao Yao's face hardened, and he roared, "Kill them all!"

"Whoosh whoosh!"

At Zhao Yao's command, the archers unleashed a barrage of sharp arrows, each targeting Fang Xuan, Li Guanlan, and the others.

"Buzz!"

However, these arrows mysteriously stopped in mid-air, as if they were imprisoned by an invisible force.

"This is......"

Zhao Yao was taken aback at first, then exclaimed, "Soul power? You're a Soul Master?!"

"go!"

Fang Xuan waved his hand lightly, and all the arrows returned along their original paths, severely injuring all the warriors.

With a single thought, a hundred arrows return!

In an instant, the entire audience was astonished.