The group of men who entered radiated a fierce and murderous aura, their presence bringing with it a strong scent of blood. Their cultivation levels were not weak either—over ten Golden Core cultivators, and their presence was far more imposing than that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators.
However, the leader, a Nascent Soul cultivator, did not seem as formidable. Dressed in embroidered robes and a light fur coat, his status was clearly not ordinary, yet he wore an arrogant expression, resembling a pampered young noble from the mundane world rather than a transcendent cultivator with an otherworldly bearing.
Yu Tianze swept a glance over them. This guy was not worth mentioning. Mu Zirun also paid little attention. In his opinion, those with high strength had low cultivation realms, while those with higher realms lacked true power. None could compare to his master’s comprehensive abilities. Their personalities were clearly not as straightforward and lovable as his master’s…
So, for now, it was better to continue serving his master as he ate. However, while the two of them paid no mind to the newcomers, that did not mean the newcomers were easygoing. As the young noble entered, the burliest man beside him shouted fiercely, “Manager! Can’t you see Young Master Wu is here? Clear the hall immediately! Our young master wants to book the whole place!”
Silence instantly fell over the hall. The manager frowned inwardly, cursing his luck. This was an inn with an attached restaurant, not just a standalone eatery. How could they possibly drive away the guests? And of all people, why did this particular one have to show up? Usually, he only caused trouble at his own family’s establishments. Why had he chosen theirs this time? It was truly a stroke of bad luck! Even if they could compensate for the losses, it would severely affect their business. Once this troublemaker left, what would happen to their customer base? What about their reputation?
Taking a deep breath, the manager knew he couldn’t afford to offend them. He stepped forward with a forced smile, ready to appease them. But before he could even speak, several of the Golden Core cultivators had already begun driving out the guests. Many were angry but dared not protest, hastily leaving before even being directly confronted. Those who showed reluctance were swiftly subdued and thrown out—truly an arrogant display.
The manager’s face instantly turned pale. Upstairs, the two remained unmoved. Mu Zirun was busy picking out fish bones and deboning the beast meat for Yu Tianze, too occupied to pay attention. Yu Tianze, enjoying Mu Zirun’s attentiveness, also hadn’t noticed the commotion.
But suddenly, a loud crash erupted from below, followed by a spell hurtling upward. Whether it missed its target or was deflected, it struck the railing beside their private booth, blasting a hole in it and startling the two who had been peacefully eating. Yu Tianze was annoyed. He didn’t need to eat, but he appreciated the young one’s thoughtful care. Over the years, only this little one had ever paid attention to his preferences.
But what was all this racket downstairs?! Having lived two lifetimes, aside from the two enemies who had killed him, Yu Tianze had never tolerated any disrespect. He certainly wasn’t going to start now. Immediately, he slammed his palm down. “Behave yourselves!”
His voice thundered through the hall, stunning everyone below, who all looked up. They saw a young cultivator in deep purple robes, looking down upon them with an icy, frost-like expression. Faint crackling sounds surrounded him, and his face was cold as frost, his demeanor chilling as snow, clearly on the verge of fury. He seemed to possess a high cultivation level. The manager’s heart sank. This was bad!
Rewind to a minute earlier.
Young Master Wu was indeed arrogant, and his men were indeed ruthless, but not every guest was willing to bow down. After most had been driven away, one cultivator, angered by the treatment, clashed with the group. Unfortunately, he was clearly outmatched and quickly defeated. But Young Master Wu’s side refused to let it go. Whether to assert dominance or save face, several Golden Core cultivators began toying with the defeated cultivator, using spells that narrowly missed him. One stray spell had ruined Yu Tianze’s mood.
Now, back to the present.
Yu Tianze’s furious shout had silenced the hall, but it was followed by a pained scream. The Golden Core cultivator who had misfired the spell was struck by Yu Tianze’s palm. His chest caved in, and his internal organs were damaged, leaving blood spilling from his mouth. His companions quickly retrieved pills and forced them into his mouth. Fortunately, they acted fast enough to keep him alive, but his injuries were severe—a single misstep could mean death.
Enraged by the attack on his subordinate, Young Master Wu felt personally insulted. Without a word, he unleashed a flying sword—a top-grade treasure artifact—imbued with intense, scorching heat, like a blazing sun. It shot straight toward the man who had dared to strike back, aiming to pierce his chest and claim his life.
Yu Tianze, already in a foul mood, spread his fingers, lightning crackling at his fingertips, transforming his hand into a thunderous palm. He slapped the flying sword—clang! With a thunderous blast, the sword was sent flying back toward Young Master Wu. Of course, a soul-bound sword wouldn’t harm its master, but the lightning energy still attached to it scorched most of Young Master Wu’s hair as it narrowly missed his head. The sight was pitiful.
Young Master Wu was both shocked and furious, immediately pulling up his hood. How dare he! How dare he! Yu Tianze gave it no further thought. He slammed his palm down again, creating a deep, barrel-sized crater in the floor. Had it struck a person, they would have met their end on the spot.
He spoke coldly, “Get out, or suffer the same fate as this floor!”
Young Master Wu’s face twisted with humiliation. He had never suffered such a loss or been so thoroughly embarrassed! Especially after what had just happened. But a wise man knows when to retreat. From that single move, he could tell this man was beyond his ability to contend with. Swallowing his anger, he turned away. “…Let’s go!”
In an instant, the entire group vanished. After they left, most of the remaining guests on the first floor also hurried away, leaving only the Golden Core cultivator who had rashly fought back earlier, now climbing to his feet in a disheveled state. The manager looked at the wrecked hall, nearly on the verge of tears.
Yu Tianze stood expressionlessly until someone tugged at his sleeve. He looked down. The young one was holding out a plate of meticulously deboned fish. To be honest, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, Yu Tianze would never be troubled by fish bones, but having someone care for him so attentively was a pleasant feeling. Gradually, Yu Tianze’s anger subsided.
Mu Zirun spoke calmly, “Master, please enjoy your meal. I’ll go gather some information.”
Yu Tianze frowned: “It’s nothing to worry about.”
Mu Zirun smiled. “Master is indeed powerful and fearless, but we should still guard against petty schemes. That Young Master Wu dared to act so arrogantly—we should learn who backs him.” He thought for a moment before adding in a flattering tone, “It’s just that I’m a bit timid and prefer to understand the whole situation.”
Yu Tianze continued frowning, eyeing Mu Zirun for a few moments before nodding. “If you want to know, go ahead.” He pondered briefly. “Tell me what you find when you return.”
The young one enjoyed gathering information and was cautious by nature. Since Yu Tianze had decided to take him as a disciple, it would be good to share some common interests.
Yu Zirun’s smile deepened. “Yes, Master. I’ll be back soon.”
Yu Tianze ruffled his hair. “Mm.”
Mu Zirun hurried downstairs to find the manager. Downstairs, the manager was dealing with the aftermath, not daring to disturb Yu Tianze, the one who had caused further damage to the inn. After all, if Young Master Wu, an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, had been sent fleeing with a single palm strike, the one who did it must at least be a mid-stage Nascent Soul or higher. As a mere Golden Core cultivator, he knew better than to provoke someone with such a volatile temper.
Mu Zirun quickly descended, eager to gather information. As he had told Yu Tianze, he believed his master was strong and unafraid, but Young Master Wu’s arrogance suggested he had powerful backing. Although his master had the support of the Jiuyang Sect, it was only a mid-tier sect. If Young Master Wu had a stronger background, they would need to be more cautious. After all, no matter how powerful an individual might be, they could hardly contend with an entire faction. The more he understood, the clearer his approach to handling the situation would be.
Thus, Mu Zirun approached the manager with a warm smile. “Manager, do you have a moment?”
The manager, initially frowning at the sight of the seemingly weak young man, suddenly remembered who he was and softened his tone. “Of course.”
A shrewd man, he recognized Mu Zirun as the servant of the one who had driven off Young Master Wu and guessed his purpose. Assuming Yu Tianze had sent him to inquire, the manager explained in detail once Mu Zirun asked. It turned out that Young Master Wu Hui was a notorious tyrant in Qinghe City. He wasn’t particularly capable himself, but he had two advantages that allowed him to run amok in the city.
First, his status as the son of the city lord, a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator who doted on his precious son. Second, his older brother, Wu Yao, a peak late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, who was rumored to be on the verge of breaking through to the Divine Transformation Stage. He was also a prospective core disciple of the nearby Zhenggang Immortal Sect, a figure of considerable influence.
The father doted on his son, and the older brother doted even more. Using the resources he had secured within the sect, Wu Yao had forcibly elevated his younger brother to the Nascent Soul Stage and provided him with over ten powerful Golden Core bodyguards and lackeys.
Thus, Wu Hui spent his time alternating between occasional cultivation, leading his guards on hunting trips outside the city, and wreaking havoc in various establishments upon his return. While he never caused major disasters, his minor misdeeds were constant, leaving a trail of trouble in his wake, yet no one dared to confront him. As a result, Qinghe City had many restaurants and eateries.
The inn managed by the proprietor was owned by a late-stage Divine Transformation stage cultivator, whom even the city lord treated with caution. However, Wu Hui had never harmed anyone within the inn, merely driving away guests and taking over the place. The Divine Transformation cultivator would not risk conflict with the city lord and Wu Yao over such a matter.
Thus, whenever Wu Hui caused trouble, the manager could only count himself unlucky. After hearing this, Mu Zirun fell into thought. That Wu Yao was actually a disciple of the Zhenggang Immortal Sect…
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