News (Part 1)

At this moment, black blade shadows swirled around Zhang Rongfang in the courtyard.

The swords flashed, but Zhang Rongfang blocked them all with lightning speed using only one hand.

I felt the shadowy gaze suddenly disappear.

Zhang Rongfang snapped out of his daze and focused his attention on the people in front of him.

"Next, let's change the opponent."

His eyes were calm, and his right arm suddenly stretched forward, grabbing a Black Blade in front of him.

Without any defense, he simply grabbed the blade with one hand and pulled it to his side.

A tremendous force pulled a person rapidly closer.

Thud! Knee strike.

Uncle Lin immediately bent over and knelt on the ground, his internal organs and bones almost crushed by the blow.

His abdominal flesh was almost squeezed together with his spine.

Zhang Rongfang released the Black Blade, revealing only a faint white mark on his palm.

He glanced at Shangguan Zhi, who was now cowering in fear, and then ignored him.

"I came to Qingchuan today simply to see the martial spirit of this place. My brother is here to take up his Magistrate, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to see what you're capable of. Unfortunately, you have disappointed me greatly."

He spoke in a completely different voice, one that had been altered.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Zhi and many others around him immediately changed their expressions.

Only then did everyone realize that the crossbowmen and others who had just been defeated were all only injured and incapacitated, not dead.

Most people were simply stunned.

"So, you are the Magistrate's man." Shangguan Zhi's expression changed, but before he could finish speaking, the man in front of him leaped up and rushed straight to the left.

In the blink of an eye, the man crashed through the wall and quickly disappeared into the night.

The group of high-ranking officials of the Great Dao Sect, who were stunned by the force of the attack, were left behind.

"It seems that the Magistrate has no intention of dragging things out with us and is going to cut the Gordian knot." Shangguan Zhi helped up Uncle Lin, who was still recovering from serious injuries, his face grim.

But no matter how ugly it looks, you have to bear it.

Although he was a member of the Shangguan Family, he could not possibly deal with the powerful expert he had just encountered without the intervention of a high-ranking member of the Lineage.

Moreover, the opponent clearly held back. Judging from the strength they just displayed, it's still unknown whether they were going all out.

If it weren't for matters concerning the fundamental interests of the Lineage, these high-ranking figures would not be something a junior like him could control.

So, regarding tonight's events, either he finds someone to get revenge himself, or he must obediently live with the new Magistrate and submit to his policies.

At this moment, Jin Yonghe, dressed and ready, arrived late.

Both of them looked extremely pale.

They've made their stance clear now. Tonight's surprise attack had a very obvious meaning.

Either you follow him, or you get beaten to a pulp and replaced.

Unless they can defeat and repel that person, they have no third option.

For a moment, neither of them could express the frustration they felt.

The scions of the prestigious Jin Family and Shangguan Family were surprisingly powerless in the face of a newly appointed official.

"Where is the Prefect?!" Magistrate Shangguan Zhi voice.

"He's not in the room." Jin Yonghe immediately went to find Zhang Rongfang. Sure enough, the room was empty and no one was there.

This made him even more certain that the person he had just spoken to had an absolute connection with the Magistrate.

Otherwise, how could there be so many coincidences in this world?

In the darkness, Zhang Rongfang sped through the quiet streets.

Buildings and houses kept passing by him.

Suddenly, he leaped up, using the wall as leverage, and landed lightly on the top of a two-story antique wooden building.

At this moment, a person was standing at the top, holding a slender blade, with short white hair, a strong build, and calmly watching him.

"My name is Ming Xiong. I'm here to tell you that this is Qingchuan in Yuxu, not Great Capital in Tianbao!"

No nonsense.

The blade in Ming Xiong's hand suddenly disappeared, and with a speed far greater than Shangguan Zhi's, he viciously slashed towards Zhang Rongfang's chest.

In an instant, a much shorter blade of light also Blooming forth from Zhang Rongfang's hand.

He doesn't know any swordsmanship, but he can use a sword as an extension of his arm to perform palm-knife techniques.

The Autumn Rain Blade in his hand came from the Thousand Sect Alliance and was a trophy.

Its blade is so sharp it can cut through gold and iron.

The two knives suddenly clashed, producing a crisp clang.

With just one strike, Ming Xiong's expression changed as he felt an immense force surging down from the blade.

He had thought that Shangguan Zhi and the other two were being suppressed simply because they were too weak.

After all, I can do the same thing, and even more easily.

But who would have thought?

Hiss. The blade in his hand was forcefully pressed down, close to his face.

If he hadn't used all his strength to hold on, that blow might have sliced his face in half.

"What exactly are you?"

Before he could finish speaking, Ming Xiong's expression changed drastically. In the blink of an eye, a blur of figures appeared before him, and a storm of blades rained down upon him.

The chilling glint of the blade carried an icy edge, instantly tightening his skin and sending goosebumps flying all over his body.

Clang clang clang clang!! Amidst the frenzied crashing sounds, Ming Xiong couldn't use any of his techniques at all.

The absolute difference in strength left him with nothing to do but defend.

The increasingly intense blade flashes during his parries forced him to activate his Limit State.

"Too weak."

Bang!

With a muffled thud, Zhang Rongfang kicked Ming Xiong in the chest, the immense force sending him flying and crashing heavily to the ground from the second floor.

He didn't even glance at the man, his brows furrowing slightly.

Is there anything else?

That person was only at the Three Voids. He spoke arrogantly, but unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that he was weak.

No need for Limit State or Breaking Limit Skill; simply using physical strength to overwhelm someone is enough to easily defeat them.

The surroundings were completely silent.

Zhang Rongfang squinted, looked around, and was about to go downstairs and return.

Suddenly, he turned his foot and slashed backward with his sword.

The silver light of the Autumn Rain Blade fell heavily onto a long, black metal ruler, like a bolt of lightning.

When!!

At this, Zhang Rongfang took a step back.

His expression finally turned serious.

A grandmaster! And Worship God Grandmaster! He's finally emerged.

He knew that under such circumstances, Qingchuan Prefecture, as the largest city in Ze Province, was suppressing the conflict between the True One Sect and the Western Sect and restraining any possible surprise attacks.

For such an important place, the Jade Void Palace would definitely send experts to oversee it.

Now it seems, just as he suspected. But while he was surprised, the man in Blue Brocade Robe opposite him was even more shocked.

He had just launched a surprise attack from the shadows, but this person had actually blocked it with a backhand.

And the crucial point is that when the two exchanged a single blow, their strength was almost equal!?

That's an exaggeration.

"Such immense power!!" The handsome man in blue robes became solemn. "May I ask your name? I am Zhou Mengyi Looking at the Moon in the Clouds. I am a member of the Zhou Family, Twelve Clan Estates of the Jade Void Palace."

Every grandmaster is no ordinary person; they are all top-tier experts renowned Jianghu. Although the person before him is not a grandmaster, the terrifying pure power he possesses, capable of going toe-to-toe with Worship God Grandmaster, is enough for him to take this person seriously.

"Zhang Wuxu." Zhang Rongfang made up a name on the spot. "No need" simply meant "no need."

"I was merely testing the waters to see how strong Qingchuan Prefecture's defenses were. It seems they're quite effective. I can now rest assured that my brother will take up his post here."

"Is it Zhang Ying 'Magistrate elder brother?" Zhou Mengyi, the Zhou Family's grandmaster, felt a sense of relief.

Since they are members of the Great Dao Sect, things are alright.

"Indeed. I heard that the situation here is chaotic, with the True One and Western Sect fighting each other. I felt there might be danger, so I came to probe. My actions were a bit rough, please forgive me." Zhang Rongfang's tone softened at this point, and he clasped his hands in a fist and bow.

"Not at all, it's only natural to worry about the safety of one's family," Zhou Mengyi smiled.

"Since you are Brother Zhang Ying Daozi, why don't you come over and have a drink together? We have nothing to do in our spare time, and it would be a good opportunity to make friends."

He immediately extended an invitation.

It's also out of curiosity about the other person.

"No need, there will be many more opportunities to meet in the future. I'm sorry to have troubled Master Zhou this time," Zhang Rongfang said apologetically, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

The two chatted for a few more minutes, and after confirming that the other party really meant no harm, they went their separate ways.

That night, Zhang Rongfang achieved his goal.

To demonstrate force and show attitude.

Next, it was the turn of the Prefectural Office officials to make their move.

Too lazy to go back to the Prefectural Office, he went to a secluded place to change his clothes, went to a restaurant to drink and eat, listened to music until dawn, and then slowly returned to the government office.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Zhi, Jin Yonghe, and the others were already waiting obediently at the entrance of the yamen.

The meager benefits offered by the government are insufficient to motivate stronger members of the Lineage to step forward.

Therefore, their only option is to bow their heads.

Thus, on his very first day in Qingchuan Prefecture, Zhang Rongfang officially took control of all the power within and outside the Prefectural Office.

***A few days later. Great Capital, western suburbs.

"A wobbly belly means a carefree heart~~"

"I slept soundly until dawn."

"Having eaten and drunk my fill, let's take another nap, and another one~~"

Outside a farmhouse restaurant, Yue Dewen strolled slowly and drunkenly along the paddy field ridge, stumbling and swaying, reeking of alcohol.

The old man who was always talking nonsense and was the personal bodyguard of the Snow Rainbow Pavilion had already gone back to deal with clan affairs.

In return, he was met with a taciturn old man who would only follow him secretly.

The old man's name was Absolute Shadow, and he was also Fierce General. This guy who was temporarily assigned to guard the position was completely different from the previous ones, and there was no communication between them.

At this moment, Absolute Shadow gazed at Yue Dewen, who was humming a song and swaying unsteadily, from afar. A strange light flashed in her eyes.

The rotation period was changed to one month, during which the person temporarily took over all the work of the previous person.

But, "What's the situation?" A voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz quietly sounded from Absolute Shadow.

"I don't understand." Absolute Shadow frowned slightly. "I can't tell how much strength this old man has left."

"Then let's just take action. The true reliance of the Great Dao Sect is nothing more than that crazy woman in Ze Province. Heavenly Treasure Palace is just a facade to appease the Ling Ting; it's just an empty shell." The voice in the shadows said softly.

"Is everything prepared around here?" Absolute Shadow asked in return.

"Yes, the personnel have all been mobilized. The best opportunity will be five days from now, after we pay respects at the ancestral tablets."

At that time, all the surrounding guard forces would protect important figures from various noble Noble Imperial Clan.

"There won't be any oversight around, making it easy to escape afterwards." A voice rang out from the shadows.

At their level, no one is willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others.

After working hard for most of their lives, they inexplicably end up fighting with someone for some reason.

That's not impressive, that's stupid.

Therefore, without a proper escape route, no one would risk such a huge mission as an ambush or assassination.

"Five days from now? Okay." Absolute Shadow nodded slightly.

He decided to give the old man five more days to live. His gaze was calm and devoid of any emotion as he stared at Yue Dewen's retreating figure.