Volume One: Turbulence in the Small Town Chapter 33: The Exquisite Saintess

At this moment, everyone was filled with deep regret. They had held onto a shred of hope in their hearts, but now, with their strongest ally fleeing in fear, it was clear that the woman’s power was utterly overwhelming. There was not the slightest chance left for them. If only they had left when she first told them to go, how much trouble could have been avoided.

Now, everyone wished they could flay Lin Ye alive for his foolishness. Realizing the disaster he had caused, Lin Ye’s legs trembled uncontrollably. With cultivation at only the sixth stage of the Returning Ruins Realm, he was surrounded by those far stronger than himself. Even if he managed to escape the Zhang family, he would likely be killed by others.

Yuan Yi was likewise anxious. He had led the resistance moments earlier; if the woman decided to act against them, his followers would surely be unable to withstand her. Yet he was a prince of the Yuan Kingdom—if he bowed his head now, his future would be ruined.

The crowd could barely move, panic-stricken and gazing at Qian Mu Yun with desperate, pleading eyes. Among them, only the members of the Zhang family remained composed. These past days, they had lived in endless terror; their lives were held in the hands of powerful cultivators, and their own strength was pitifully low, leaving them powerless to resist, at the mercy of others.

But now, the young master had brought a towering figure, so powerful that the bullies could hardly breathe under her presence. The humiliation they had suffered these days seemed to dissipate, and pride surged within them.

Zhang Qing Cang, seeing the life and death crisis of his family finally resolved, looked at Zhang Heng with nothing but pride. His weathered face was alight with smiles—his son had truly done well.

The bewildered crowd watched as the ethereal woman, with an aura like that of a fairy, walked toward them. Fear gripped them all; faced with overwhelming strength, they did not even have the courage to muster their spiritual energy.

The two elders at the Transformation Realm, Yuan Yi, Liu Tian Qing, Wang Ze Wei, and others, had always been high and mighty, bullying others without ever imagining they would one day be bullied themselves.

Murong Qing Xue ignored their reactions, walked two or three steps forward, and then paused. She reached to her waist and took out an object, tossing it into the air.

A wave of alarm swept through the crowd—should they defend, flee, or beg for mercy? None knew what to do; cold sweat broke out in their anxiety, and those of lesser strength simply fell to their knees.

Watching this, Zhang Heng could not help but laugh aloud: “You fools, your courage is far too small! Is this all? I think you’d be better off farming than cultivating immortality.”

Zhang Heng had always believed that cultivators were fearless, indifferent to life and death, with hearts as solid as stone. The scene before him shattered that belief.

The crowd thought the woman was about to attack them and searched desperately for a way to respond. Yet, the object seemed to hold nothing special. Confusion spread among them.

But then, above Murong Qing Xue’s head, the jade token began to radiate rings of white light, layer upon layer, forming a massive phantom of a jade token in the sky. A circular token of light rotated slowly above, and in its center were carved two large characters: “Linglong.”

Once the people could see clearly, those with some knowledge were so frightened that they immediately knelt.

“Yuan Yi pays respect to the Saintess of Linglong Sanctuary.”
“Liu Tian Qing pays respects to the Saintess of Linglong Sanctuary.”
“Wang Ze Wei of Lieyang Palace pays respects to the Saintess.”
…
Seeing even the strongest among them kneel, the rest finally understood what it was and all knelt as well.

“We all pay our respects to the Saintess of Linglong Sanctuary.”

Linglong Sanctuary. Saintess?

Zhang Heng was also startled. He had seen that jade token before—and even snatched it once. Who would have thought it was the identity token of the Saintess of Linglong Sanctuary? And even more surprising, Murong Qing Xue, that little woman, was the Saintess herself.

Had he known, he wouldn’t have agreed so readily to dissolve the engagement. He should have seized the chance for greater benefits; now he’d suffered a great loss.

(Just kidding, I’d like to live a few more years.)

Hearing the words “Linglong Sanctuary,” the Zhang family hurriedly knelt as well.

“Zhang Qing Cang pays respects to the Saintess. Thank you for saving my family.”
“Greetings, Saintess. Thank you for your rescue.”

Before long, only four remained unknelt.

(Zhang Lie was lying down—he couldn’t kneel.)

Zhang Heng, hailing from another world, felt nothing toward Linglong Sanctuary. Besides, he had once been the Saintess’s fiancé; how could he possibly kneel to her?

Besides, she probably wouldn’t mind, right?

If it were merely a Transformation Realm powerhouse, they would be feared but not enough to make everyone willingly kneel. But people from the Sanctuary were different. The Four Great Sanctuaries were the guardians of this world, the faith in everyone’s heart, and the lifelong aspiration of all cultivators. Their kneeling was entirely voluntary.

Seeing that calm had returned, Murong Qing Xue retrieved the jade token, then bowed gently to the crowd and said softly, “No need for formalities. Please rise.” Her ethereal voice was serenely steady, showing not the slightest fluctuation in response to their reverence.

Upon hearing this, everyone finally stood.

Knowing now that the two women were from the Sanctuary, the crowd breathed a sigh of relief. Their lives were no longer in danger. Linglong Sanctuary represented purity and perfection; if the visitors had been from another Sanctuary, punishment might have followed. But those of Linglong Sanctuary would never do so.

Linglong Sanctuary cultivators practiced the Linglong Sacred Arts, untouched by mundane desires, focused solely on cultivation, pure and flawless (of course, there are exceptions, such as, well…).

No wonder they appeared, asked nothing, and were willing to let everyone go. So these two were fairy-like maidens from Linglong Sanctuary, the crowd thought.

Having relaxed, everyone began to observe Murong Qing Xue closely. Worthy of her title, she possessed a flawless figure, a voice brimming with spiritual energy, and an aura like a celestial maiden. Though her face was veiled in white gauze, it must surely be stunning enough to captivate all. Even more remarkable was her character—the Saintess not only spared them but treated them with kindness. Such an extraordinary woman, truly deserving the title of the most beautiful on the cultivation continent.

Many present had already become admirers of Murong Qing Xue.

Murong Qing Xue was about to let them leave, but Zhang Heng, who had been watching from behind, suddenly stepped forward.

Zhang Heng lightly tapped Murong Qing Xue’s arm, then said gently, “Miss Qing Xue, leave the rest to me.” With that, he put on what he believed was a perfect smile.

Though puzzled, Murong Qing Xue asked no questions and retreated behind Qian Mu Yun, silently observing.

This scene infuriated the crowd.

“You brat, how dare you disrespect the Saintess!”
“The Saintess’s arm is not something you can touch.”
“You ignorant child, you refuse to kneel and stand so close to the Saintess—I won’t forgive you!”

They instantly became Murong Qing Xue’s protectors, wishing to kill Zhang Heng for his perceived disrespect.

They forgot that Murong Qing Xue had come for Zhang Heng, forgot they were a pack of bullies, forgot that they had driven the Zhang family to the brink.

But Zhang Heng had not forgotten.

Qian Mu Yun and Murong Qing Xue came from Linglong Sanctuary and would not hold grudges.

But Zhang Heng was no saint.

He could not pass up such a perfect opportunity to make a display.