Golden Scale in the Pool

Zhou Shijie stood there in a daze, lost and bewildered. It was midday. The first snow had been falling for hours, and frost was gradually forming on the lake.

Screams rose and fell.

Cao Shuang, Lin Bei, Yu Wen Hou... The elders of the various lineages had not died, but their fates were miserable. Nearly all were crippled, either completely or partially. Ouyezi had tried to get a share, only to lose a finger and see his forging skills greatly diminished.

"This... this..."

Zhou Shijie stared blankly down the street. He saw Li Xian supporting Madam Wen as they walked into the distance. Along with his jealousy, admiration had already begun to stir in his heart.

"What an incredible woman. Her cunning and guile, her methods... Her ruthlessness chills you to the bone, while her bearing leaves you entranced."

After a long while...

Soldiers from the various lineages streamed into the streets on all sides. Cao Zhengge, the Cao Family's chief elder, arrived fully armed, wearing Silkworm-Silk Soft Armor and carrying the Black Tiger Vajra Spear.

The Lin Family, Chu Family, and Yu Wen Family were all the same. After hearing the news, each family's chief elder had immediately set out. Prefectural Soldiers and lineage troops gathered in layers, their numbers and momentum far greater than before.

Zhou Shijie couldn't help feeling even more contempt. "You lot are a bunch of good-for-nothing fools. You've occupied this place for so long, yet you never try to improve. You're rotten and backward. By the time you arrived, Madam was long gone. What use are more people?"

Lin Aoshang had been watching from beside Dragon Gate Tower. The elders inside the tower knew she was acquainted with Li Xian and feared she would interfere when they went after him. Lin Aoshang was highly