Volume One: The Turbulence of a Small Town Chapter Twenty-One: Conspiracy

Watching Du Gu Bai and his disciple preparing to leave, Zhang Heng gritted his teeth and steeled himself. It seemed he had no choice but to use his trump card.

He called out loudly, “Senior Du Gu, please wait!” Then he bowed deeply toward Du Gu Bai and spoke slowly, “Senior Du Gu, in truth, my sister and I are in dire peril, our lives hanging by a thread. That’s why we hoped to follow you, seeking your protection.”

At his words, Du Gu Bai paused and said, “I was puzzled before—neither of you possesses any cultivation. What are you doing in these mountains? So, you’re here to escape trouble. Speak, what happened to you?”

No cultivation? Look more closely, I’m already at the first stage of body training. Your mother has no cultivation!

Forget it, not worth arguing.

Zhang Heng collected himself, subtly signaling Xiao Hong behind him, then choked out, “Three years ago, some villains falsely accused our parents, claiming they knew the secret of the Dragon Burial Abyss. Many powerful people sought to capture them, hoping to use them to obtain treasures from within the Abyss. To protect us, our parents went far away, drawing everyone’s attention. The matter should have ended there.” As he spoke, two tears slid from Zhang Heng’s eyes.

Not bad, Zhang Heng thought, quite satisfied with his own performance.

He continued, “But unexpectedly, with the Dragon Burial Abyss about to open, those villains struck again, hoping to use my sister and me to force our parents to appear. Not long ago, someone tried to kill me—if not for my luck, I would already be dead. To escape them, I brought my sister deep into these mountains. Pity us, brother and sister, powerless, forced to survive in forests filled with spirit beasts. I beg you, senior, to show mercy and take us in.”

Receiving Zhang Heng’s cue, Xiao Hong kept her head lowered and replied in a trembling voice, “Please take us in, senior.”

Zhang Heng was pleased with Xiao Hong’s performance. Not bad, after following me for so long, you’ve finally picked up a bit of my skill.

Before Du Gu Bai could speak, Yan Xueqing beside him fumed, “This is outrageous! You two will follow me. When the spatial turbulence clears and your enemies arrive, I’ll deal with them myself.”

“Thank you, Senior Du Gu. Thank you, Lady Yan.”

Seeing that Du Gu Bai did not object, Zhang Heng happily led Xiao Hong to follow along.

The so-called “playing the pity card”—not omnipotent, perhaps, but it works well enough on this justice-obsessed young lady.

While the four wandered the mountains, over in Liunan City, the sky changed.

The Yue family, one of the city’s four great clans, sat in council. Lin Ye, head of the family, looked at Yue Xiong below him, face full of suspicion. “Are you certain about what you said?”

Lin Ye was the leader of this round of training for the Xuan Tian Sect, the eighth elder, already at the sixth stage of the Return to Ruins realm.

Yue Xiong bowed obsequiously, his face ingratiating, “Everything I said just now is true. Even if I had ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare deceive you, Elder.”

Yue Xiong, though head of the family, now grovelled like a dog before Lin Ye.

“Hmph,” Lin Ye snorted coldly and spoke in a chilling tone, “I doubt you’d dare.”

He lowered his head in thought for a while, then added, “But this is a matter of great importance. I need to consider it carefully. You may leave for now.”

Just moments before, Yue Xiong had informed Lin Ye that someone from the Zhang family of Liunan City had entered the Dragon Burial Abyss during the spatial turbulence and emerged unscathed. If they could capture that person, there was a chance to obtain the treasures hidden within the Abyss.

The Dragon Burial Abyss was one of the four forbidden zones of the Immortal Cultivation Continent—a forbidden place, yet also a land of opportunity. No one dared venture deep inside, so countless high-grade spirit herbs and medicines grew unchecked, attracting legions of cultivators in longing.

Yet Lin Ye knew that, despite being a Return to Ruins stage six cultivator, he had no means to secure such treasures. Destroying the Zhang family would be easy, but if word got out, his own life would be forfeit. Thus, Lin Ye dared not act rashly.

Yue Xiong left the chamber with a dark expression. Zhang Qingyu, aren’t you so capable? When I destroy the Zhang family and kill your son, let’s see if you show yourself.

Hmph, Lin Ye...

Three days later, Lin Ye arrived at the Liu family estate.

“Hahaha! It’s been years, and King of Southtown’s cultivation has advanced even further. I imagine you’ll soon reach the Sky Origin realm. Congratulations, indeed!” Lin Ye greeted Liu Tianqing with hearty laughter.

Liunan City was Liu Tianqing’s domain, and with his considerable cultivation, he was the ideal partner.

“Not at all, Elder Lin, you flatter me. You, as an elder of Xuan Tian Sect, outstrip me in status, though my cultivation may be slightly ahead. As King of Southtown, I’m no match for you.” Liu Tianqing laughed as he welcomed Lin Ye.

They were old acquaintances, having had certain dealings in the past that could not be spoken of openly.

“Elder Lin, please, come inside,” Liu Tianqing said, leading Lin Ye into the Liu estate.

“You’re here about this matter?” Liu Tianqing, knowing Lin Ye’s purpose, spoke calmly, “Elder Lin, I am already aware.”

“Oh? You know as well?” Lin Ye felt a pang of doubt, but after a moment’s thought, he understood. If even the useless Yue Xiong had heard, surely the Liu family in Liunan City knew too.

Liu Tianqing laughed, “Three years ago, this matter was the talk of the realm. Who in Liu country with any standing does not know?”

Lin Ye simmered with secret anger—three years ago, he had been in closed-door training, only just emerging after his breakthrough. No one had informed him of such an important event. Clearly, Liu Tianqing was mocking him.

“King of Southtown, do you have any plans?” Lin Ye probed. Within the Dragon Burial Abyss lay countless treasures. Whenever the spatial turbulence subsided, waves of cultivators risked their lives for opportunity. Someone like Liu Tianqing could not fail to be tempted.

“Elder Lin, when it comes to the Dragon Burial Abyss, who wouldn’t have plans? But we cultivators can only dream.” Liu Tianqing spoke with frustration. He had coveted the Abyss’s secrets for years, but remained merely a lowly Return to Ruins stage cultivator.

Lin Ye was puzzled. “King of Southtown, for us, capturing that person from the Zhang family would be effortless. Why are you hesitant?”

“Elder Lin, aren’t you the same? The Immortal Cultivation Continent is vast beyond measure, with countless powerful figures. Beyond Return to Ruins, there are Sky Origin, Spirit Transformation... The opening of the Dragon Burial Abyss will draw every cultivator’s attention, including Spirit Transformation experts, perhaps even Tribulation Crossing masters. What can we, mere Return to Ruins cultivators, hope to accomplish?”

Liu Tianqing spoke, truly unwilling to deal with this fool. If not for Lin Ye’s status as an elder of Xuan Tian Sect—useful for future dealings—he would never associate with him.

With their cultivation, they could rule unchallenged within Liu country. Yet, in the context of the entire Immortal Cultivation Continent, they were nothing but small fry.