Journey Training, Trouble in a Small Town

After leaving Shrek Academy, Ling Yun did not choose to travel by carriage. Instead, he relied on his own two feet and headed north along the official road. To him, this was itself a form of cultivation. The Chaos Dragon God Martial Soul placed extremely high demands on the body. Traveling long distances and enduring the elements would temper his will and strengthen his foundation.

He traveled by day, then found secluded places to cultivate at night, consolidating his cultivation and comprehending the origin power of his two Martial Souls. As his understanding of the Chaos Dragon God Technique—the name he had given his cultivation method—and the life energy of the Nine-Heart Begonia Emperor deepened, his strength steadily improved. His first Origin Soul Ring also grew increasingly solid, advancing toward the hundred-year level as an outward disguise.

Along the way, he encountered quite a few Soul Masters and merchant caravans, but most kept to themselves. He deliberately restrained his aura, appearing to be nothing more than an ordinary young Soul Master, and attracted little attention.

Several days later, he arrived at Qingshi Town, a small town on the border of the Balak Kingdom. The town was far more prosperous than Holy Soul Village and served as a resting place for passing merchants and travelers.

Ling Yun planned to rest here for a while and replenish his supply of dried rations and water.

Upon entering the town, he saw shops lining both sides of the streets, with people constantly coming and going. It was quite lively. Ling Yun found a restaurant that looked reasonably clean, ordered several dishes, and sat in a corner eating slowly. At the same time, he spread out his Spiritual Sense slightly, sensing the situation around him.

The restaurant was a mixed crowd, filled with ordinary townsfolk as well as passing mercenaries and Soul Masters taking a break. Several tables of mercenaries were loudly discussing recent events.

"Did you hear? Those people from Black Wind Stockade robbed another merchant caravan a few days ago! They're getting more and more arrogant!"

"Ah, these are troubled times. I heard the chief of Black Wind Stockade is a Soul Ancestor, with several Soul Elders under him. Even the authorities can't do anything about them."

"Exactly! We'd better be careful when transporting goods in the future..."

Black Wind Stockade? Ling Yun remembered the name but paid it no mind. As long as they did not provoke him, he could not be bothered with such trivial matters.

As he ate, a commotion suddenly arose at the restaurant entrance. Several young men in matching azure outfits entered, their expressions arrogant. The leader appeared to be around twenty years old, fair-skinned with frivolous eyes. A gorgeous longsword hung at his waist, and his Soul Power fluctuations were around level thirty. Several lackeys followed behind him, all of them Soul Grand Masters.

The moment they entered, their gazes swept wantonly across the restaurant patrons, carrying an air of superiority.

"Shopkeeper! Bring this young master your finest food and wine! Hurry up!" The leading youth sprawled at an empty table and shouted while rapping the tabletop with his sword sheath.

The shopkeeper clearly recognized them and hurriedly replied with a flattering smile, "Yes, yes, Young Master Liu. Please wait a moment, it'll be here right away!"

Young Master Liu's gaze swept around before suddenly landing on Ling Yun, who sat alone in the corner. When he saw Ling Yun's unremarkable yet undeniably handsome features and composed bearing, a flicker of displeasure flashed through his eyes. He had long been used to throwing his weight around in Qingshi Town, and he could not stand seeing anyone calmer than him.

"Hey! You over there!" Young Master Liu pointed his sword sheath at Ling Yun and said haughtily, "You look unfamiliar. Where are you from? Do you know the rules? When you see this young master, don't you know to come over and pay your respects?"

Ling Yun did not even raise his eyelids. He continued eating at an unhurried pace as though he had heard nothing.

Seeing Ling Yun ignore him, Young Master Liu immediately felt humiliated before his lackeys, and his face darkened. "Damn it, are you deaf? This young master is talking to you!"

One of the lackeys behind him instantly understood. He stepped forward and slammed a palm onto Ling Yun's table, making the bowls and plates rattle as soup splashed everywhere.

"Kid! Young Master Liu is talking to you! What the fuck are you playing dead for?!"

Ling Yun finally raised his head. He calmly looked at the lackey, then glanced at the so-called Young Master Liu before saying flatly, "Get lost."

One word, cold enough to pierce the bone.

When the lackey met Ling Yun's gaze, a chill instantly rose from the soles of his feet, making him subconsciously take a step back. Young Master Liu's expression also changed. He sensed an indescribable presence around Ling Yun.

But having been arrogant for so long, how could he possibly be intimidated by a boy who looked even younger than himself? He abruptly rose to his feet, so angry that he laughed. "Good kid! You've got some nerve! In Qingshi Town, no one has ever dared speak to me, Liu Qing, like that! If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know that even Lord Horse has three eyes!"

As he spoke, Soul Power surged from his body. Two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath his feet, and his Martial Soul was a slender sword gleaming with azure light, pointed directly at Ling Yun. "Show me your Martial Soul! Let this young master see what gives you the right to be so arrogant!"

The other restaurant patrons hurriedly moved away, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. The shopkeeper stamped his feet anxiously but did not dare step forward to stop them. Liu Qing was the young master of the Liu Family, one of the major families in town. Relying on his family's influence and his Soul Ancestor-level father, he ran rampant through the town, and no one dared provoke him.

Ling Yun looked at Liu Qing and shook his head. An ant trying to shake a tree, utterly unaware of its own limits. He could not even be bothered to lay a hand on him.

He set down his chopsticks and stood, preparing to leave. Arguing with someone like this was simply a waste of time.

Seeing Ling Yun about to leave, Liu Qing assumed he was afraid and became even more smug. He sneered, "Trying to leave now? Too late! Stop him!"

Several lackeys immediately surrounded Ling Yun and blocked the entrance.

Ling Yun frowned slightly, impatience flashing through his eyes. He did not want trouble, yet trouble always came looking for him.

Just then, the urgent sound of galloping hooves and panicked shouts suddenly came from outside the restaurant!

"Bad news! The people from Black Wind Stockade have attacked the town! Run!"

"What? Black Wind Stockade?!" The restaurant instantly descended into chaos as everyone rushed toward the exit in terror.

Liu Qing's face changed as well. He knew Black Wind Stockade's fearsome reputation. Those were vicious bandits whom even his father feared!

"Young Master, what do we do?" The lackeys panicked too.

Liu Qing gritted his teeth and shot Ling Yun a vicious glare. "Kid, consider yourself lucky! Don't let me catch you next time!"

With that, he could no longer be bothered with Ling Yun. He hurriedly rushed out of the restaurant with his lackeys, evidently intending to go home and hide.

Ling Yun stood amid the chaotic restaurant, his Spiritual Sense already spreading outward. On the streets of the town, dozens of bandits rode swift horses, weapons in hand and savage faces exposed, slaughtering and looting as they pleased. Cries and screams rang out without end. At their head was a one-eyed burly man with a fierce aura. He was clearly a Soul Ancestor, likely the chief of Black Wind Stockade.

"What a... constant nuisance." Ling Yun sighed. He had not intended to meddle, but as he watched innocent townsfolk being slaughtered, waves of compassion pulsed from within his Nine-Heart Begonia Emperor Martial Soul.

So be it. Since I've come across this, I'll count it as one good deed for the day.

He slowly walked out of the now-empty restaurant and headed toward the direction where the shouts of battle were fiercest.

What kind of outcome would Qingshi Town's turmoil meet because of his arrival?