Volume One: City Under Currents Chapter 32: A Show of Power

After a long silence, Qian Muyun began to look around at the crowd. Those who met her gaze trembled in fear, lowering their heads, terrified that this woman might strike them down without mercy.

Zhang Heng stood behind Qian Muyun, wearing a mischievous grin that unsettled everyone even more. They knew his temperament well—he would not easily let them go.

Yuan Yi, Liu Tianqing, Wang Zewei, Lin Ye, and the other cultivators surrounding the Zhang family were all formidable figures in their own right. They had thought destroying the Zhang family would be a trivial matter, but now, the situation had far exceeded their expectations.

Who could have imagined that a small, remote clan would know a superpower whose cultivation surpassed the Divine Transformation realm?

After surveying everyone, Qian Muyun did not make a move. She withdrew her gaze and spoke calmly, “You may leave.”

Upon hearing that Qian Muyun was willing to let them go, everyone felt as though a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. They hurriedly began casting their escape techniques.

Yet, there are always fools who fail to grasp the situation and refuse to let matters rest—such as Elder Lin Ye from the Xuan Heaven Sect.

Seeing the crowd about to disperse, Lin Ye shouted, “Fellow Daoists, wait!”

Everyone paused in their tracks, and Lin Ye, pleased with himself, continued, “Though that woman broke through our spiritual attacks, no one saw her personally act. Perhaps she relied on the power of forbidden artifacts. Besides, even if she truly is a Divine Transformation expert, there are four of such realm present here. If the other three seniors can hold her off, we might seize Zhang Heng. We could interrogate him about the secrets of Dragon Burial Abyss, or use him to force the woman to yield. What do you all think?”

The crowd hesitated.

Lin Ye pressed on, “All of you came here for the secrets of Dragon Burial Abyss; how can we leave empty-handed? We are heroes of our respective domains—if we are frightened away by a mere woman, our reputations will suffer when word spreads.”

His reasoning was not entirely unfounded. After Lin Ye finished speaking, some who had intended to quietly slip away decided to remain.

Prince Yuan Yi of the Yuan Kingdom was also unwilling to leave. Today, he had suffered the worst insults from that wretch Zhang Heng. If he did not kill Zhang Heng, he would become a laughingstock, unable to command the loyalty of the Liu Kingdom’s cultivators.

Moreover, although the woman was powerful, he had two Divine Transformation bodyguards beside him, and along with the black-robed Daoist, he believed they could contend with her. Then he could seize the chance to eliminate Zhang Heng.

Even in the worst-case scenario, with two Divine Transformation protectors, his safe retreat was assured—or so Yuan Yi believed.

Seeing others stay behind, Lin Ye was overjoyed. He had sacrificed so much for the secrets of Dragon Burial Abyss; now, to leave empty-handed would be unbearable. If he could obtain those secrets, he would be the greatest beneficiary—perhaps even ascend to the pinnacle of his life.

Yet people like Liu Tianqing cursed inwardly: “Lin Ye, you fool, you’ve doomed us all now.” With most choosing to stay, they dared not leave rashly. At this moment, trying to stand out would be the stupidest move.

As everyone halted, the happiest among them was Zhang Heng. “Lin Ye, you really are a good man.” Zhang Heng had been wondering what excuse to use to make everyone stay; after all, this was his first time putting on airs—if everyone left, who would he show off to? He didn’t want this performance to end so soon.

Now, with everyone remaining, they were practically offering themselves up. With a figure like Qian Muyun, she surely wouldn’t tolerate such provocation—she might annihilate them all, and she certainly had the strength to do so.

Yet, seeing the crowd unwilling to leave, Qian Muyun did not become angry. She simply beckoned Murong Qingxue forward and whispered in her ear, leaving Zhang Heng dumbfounded—since when had this elder sister’s temper become so gentle?

Yuan Yi straightened his robes and retreated behind his two elderly protectors. Feeling safe, he then declared righteously to Qian Muyun, “Senior, I know your strength is great, but the Dragon Burial Abyss is a resource for all cultivators. Zhang Heng intends to monopolize its treasures—this is a grave offense. If you wish to protect him, you must give us an explanation; otherwise, thousands of cultivators will not accept it.”

Qian Muyun remained silent, maintaining her icy, immortal demeanor.

Seeing Qian Muyun unresponsive, Yuan Yi gathered his courage and continued, “How about this, senior: let Zhang Heng reveal the secrets of Dragon Burial Abyss, so everyone may safely enter and seek fortune. This benefits us all, and we will remember your great kindness.” Having said his piece, Yuan Yi finally relaxed, hiding behind the Yuan Kingdom crowd to watch Qian Muyun’s decision.

With Yuan Yi taking the lead, the crowd felt somewhat reassured. After all, the Yuan Kingdom had two Divine Transformation experts; Yuan Yi’s stance determined theirs.

Several braver souls echoed his words.

“Senior, Prince Yuan speaks truly—revealing the secrets of Dragon Burial Abyss benefits everyone.”

“Senior, if you do not provide an explanation, we cannot accept this.”

Of course, they only dared to mutter quietly, not raise their voices.

Liu Tianqing thought to himself, “A bunch of fools! If you won’t accept it, she’ll make you submit—if she acts, your lives will be forfeit.”

Before Qian Muyun could respond, the black-robed Daoist at Divine Transformation Stage Three abruptly knelt, kowtowing three times toward Qian Muyun, not daring to lift his head as he pleaded cautiously, “Senior, I was merely passing through, neither troubling the Zhang family nor disrespecting you. Please let me go.” He then resumed his kowtowing.

Qian Muyun raised her right hand and dismissed him impatiently, “Go.”

She was exasperated—why were these people so obtuse? When told to leave, they should do so quickly; lingering only made her cold act exhausting. If they didn’t leave soon, she might throw them into Dragon Burial Abyss herself.

Those few words were like celestial music to the black-robed Daoist. He rose slowly, retreated into the distance, and only then traversed the void to escape.

The higher one’s cultivation, the more one values their life. After centuries of training, death meant losing everything; only the living could continue to pursue the Dao.

Low-level cultivators, ignorant as they were, could not perceive it, but he could feel the aura emanating from this woman—a profound sense of powerlessness, a force that instilled utter despair.

Witnessing how the Divine Transformation Stage Three Daoist feared her so much, everyone present, except the Zhang family, panicked.

To be fair, that Daoist alone had the strength to slaughter them all.

Yet here was a woman who terrified such a powerful cultivator—she must be a high-level Divine Transformation expert, perhaps even one of the legendary Transcendence Realm masters. An existence like that could erase them all with a mere wave of her hand.