Deterrence

Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

The most extravagant restaurant in Ninghai City.

Sun Wuming was currently seated at the wine table, feasting heartily, utterly unaware that danger was about to descend.

"Elder Sun, with you personally handling this, the mission is surely foolproof."

Hearing this, Elder Sun naturally beamed with delight.

"Liu Sheng, I do enjoy listening to you speak—it refreshes the heart. Once the deed is done and I return to the sect, I'll promote you to the outer sect and take you on as a nominal disciple."

Liu Sheng, overjoyed at these words, quickly refilled Sun Wuming's cup. With Sun Wuming's promise, he now had a backer within the Jieqing Sect, no longer needing to grovel before others day in and day out or secretly steal those assassination techniques.

"Your disciple thanks you in advance, Master!"

With a bang, the wine cup in Sun Wuming's hand had just been raised when it was shattered by a blast of energy.

"Who's there!"

He was about to rise in fury when he saw Feng Yang step into view first, followed by a young man—none other than Shen Yi, the very target of Sun Wuming's assassination mission.

"So it's just some petty scoundrel—turns out to be Elder Sun of the Jieqing Sect!"

Feng Yang sat down across the wine table, picked up the flagon, and began drinking on his own, not even glancing at the sweat-drenched Sun Wuming.

"Dean Feng, you're well, I trust."

Sun Wuming wiped the cold sweat from his brow, composed his expression, and bowed respectfully to Feng Yang.

Feng Yang did not reply. He casually tossed a name card onto the table, eyeing Sun Wuming with amusement.

"My worthless disciple wished to make Shen Tianjiao's acquaintance—I never expected Dean Feng to grace us in person."

As he spoke, Sun Wuming hurriedly pulled Liu Sheng over to his side, desperately trying to explain to Feng Yang.

"Then what is the meaning of this spiritual sense?!" Feng Yang roared, slapping the name card. In an instant, a chilling spiritual sense shot out from the name on the card, straight at Liu Sheng's face.

"Master, save me..."

Liu Sheng tried to beg Sun Wuming for help, but the spiritual sense instantly obliterated him. A bloody hole appeared in his forehead, and blood dripped down his brow onto the wine table.

Sun Wuming's eyes turned vicious. He wanted to retaliate, but a single glare from Feng Yang suppressed him, leaving him unable to move. His heart trembled in shock: Golden Core Realm!

"A mere Foundation Establishment Late Stage brat dares to think of making a move before me? Overestimating yourself!"

Feng Yang casually snatched the Cosmic Ring from Sun Wuming's hand. With a flick of his divine sense, he wiped the spiritual imprint clean. Sun Wuming let out a muffled groan, clearly suffering backlash, yet dared not speak a word of defiance.

"Consider this your Jieqing Sect's compensation to my disciple. I know your sect's rules—I won't ask who your employer is. But if there's a next time, I'll raze your Jieqing Sect to the ground. Get lost."

Feng Yang flicked his sleeve, and Sun Wuming flew backward like a kite with a snapped string, vanishing from sight.

"Thank you, Dean!"

Shen Yi had witnessed everything and finally understood that someone had wanted to snuff him out. A chill of fear ran through his heart.

"Here, take this."

Feng Yang, eyes brimming with a sly grin, pocketed all the Spirit Stones and spiritual medicines for himself, then handed Shen Yi a Cosmic Ring stripped clean of valuables, along with a Movement Technique Manual. Watching his current miserly demeanor, who would have guessed this was the same man radiating such domineering authority moments ago?

"For now, no one in Ningzhou City will dare lay a hand on you. But once you're inside the Grotto-Heaven Ruins, you're on your own."

With that warning, Feng Yang took a single step into the air and vanished without a trace.

Shen Yi returned to his lodgings, intending to continue his Secluded Cultivation, but then recalled Feng Yang's advice and decided to meet with the various factions.

No matter what schemes the various powers harbored, the lingering shock of Feng Yang's might kept everyone in line. At every meeting, Shen Yi received no small number of gifts. This went on for several days until it finally came to an end, though Shen Yi had reaped a bountiful harvest—just the Spirit Stones alone left his hands sore from accepting them.

"Brother Shen, it's been a few days, and your cultivation has advanced again."

Wu Liujian was secretly alarmed. Shen Yi's cultivation had improved even further since their last spar. Such talent was truly terrifying.

Shen Yi took the wine jar Wu Liujian handed him, took a deep gulp, and washed away the fatigue of the past few days.

"So, any faction caught your eye?"

Wu Liujian asked, his tone deliberately casual.

"People's hearts are too complicated."

Shen Yi didn't answer directly, simply drinking heavily with Wu Liujian. Wu Liujian understood and said no more.

Suddenly, a fragrant breeze swept by. Shen Yi's expression turned cold as he punched toward a nearby river. A violent surge of spiritual power, roaring like an elephant's trumpet, blasted outward.

"Senior Shen, you're quite ruthless, aren't you!"

The newcomer raised a palm and dissolved Shen Yi's attack. When the mist of water cleared, Shen Yi and the other saw it was Yuwen Yue.

"You two slipped away here to enjoy yourselves, and you didn't even bring your junior sister along."

Yuwen Yue let out a coquettish huff, snatched a wine jar from beside them, and sat down across from the two.

Shen Yi's head throbbed. The more he interacted with her, the more he realized that Yuwen Yue's so-called elegance was all a facade. The real Yuwen Yue was more like a little demoness—sometimes seductive, sometimes willful.

"Senior Shen, if you have nowhere good to go in the future, why not come to the Yuwen Family? If you think it's a loss, I'll just marry you!" As she spoke, she leaned toward Shen Yi with a flirtatious look, sending him into full alert as he hastily dodged.

"The Yuwen Family of the Former Qin Dynasty—they wield power that shakes the realm. That's not a bad place to go."

Wu Liujian raised his wine jar, joining in the teasing from the side.

"The Yuwen family is merely a vassal clan of the Former Qin Dynasty. In my view, Senior Shen would be better off joining my Qianyuan Dynasty. My Jiang Imperial Clan will certainly not let you down."

Just as Shen Yi was at a loss for how to answer, a voice like heavenly music reached his ears, granting him a reprieve. But when he saw who it was, his headache only grew worse.

Jiang Miaoyi.

The moment Yuwen Yue saw Jiang Miaoyi, his face changed completely, and he squared off against her. Tensions flared instantly, as if the very air had frozen solid.

"I, Yuwen Yue, am willing to marry Senior Shen. Do you dare?"

Yuwen Yue thrust out his chest, staring at Jiang Miaoyi with a provocative look.

"You—you—how would I not dare!"

Jiang Miaoyi stammered out the words, then her face flushed crimson, and she dared not look at Shen Yi again. Yuwen Yue stood dumbfounded, never expecting such an answer from Jiang Miaoyi. As for Wu Liujian, his face turned red as he barely held back his laughter.

Shen Yi was also stunned. Though he was a transmigrator, he had never witnessed such a scene. He could only clear his throat awkwardly. "Let's not talk about this today. How about you tell me about the major powers instead?"

That single sentence broke the tension for everyone.

Wu Liujian swallowed a mouthful of wine and spoke first. "The world is divided into thirteen prefectures, ruled by three great dynasties: the Former Qin Dynasty, the Qianyuan Dynasty, and the Later Zhou Dynasty. Beyond these, there are the five great sects—Heavenly Evolution Sect, Misty Palace, Mysterious Nether Cult, Return to One Pavilion, and Immortal Hermit Sect—and the three great immortal academies: Zhi Shou Immortal Academy, Tianxuan Academy, and Tianyi Immortal Academy. As for the hidden families, they are too numerous to count. Take my Wu Family Sword Pavilion, for example. Though it has some renown in Huafeng Prefecture, across the thirteen prefectures, it is merely a second-rate bottom family."

Shen Yi nodded, a plan already forming in his mind.