Bloodslaughter Hall

Zhang Lingyue smiled. "Thank you for the compliment, Young Master Yun!" Yun Shaomeng abruptly turned to Jiang Ming. "Brat, state your name! This young master does not kill nameless nobodies!" In the blink of an eye, Jiang Ming appeared before Yun Shaomeng and kicked him flying straight off the upper floor. "Young master, hurry and leave! Yun Shaomeng is the eldest young master of the Yun Clan. If you do not leave now, it will be too late," Zhang Lingyue said anxiously.

"I am not even anxious. What are you so anxious about?" Jiang Ming glanced at Zhang Lingyue and said blandly.

"I fear you do not understand the Yun Clan's power!" Zhang Lingyue was frantic inside. Although this Young Master Yun possessed remarkable skills, he did not know how formidable the Yun Clan was. She knew full well that the Yun Clan was a great family in this city, with immense influence. Offending them would bring consequences too dreadful to contemplate.

"I am more curious why a Nascent Soul cultivator like you is hiding in a brothel." Jiang Ming smiled faintly, though golden light flickered in his eyes. He narrowed them slightly and stared fixedly at Zhang Lingyue before him, as if trying to peer through her appearance and uncover the secrets buried deep within her heart.

"What is Young Master talking about? This little woman is merely an ordinary woman." Zhang Lingyue seemed confused by Jiang Ming's words. She frowned lightly, attempting to conceal her true identity. Yet Jiang Ming's sharp gaze made her feel there was nowhere to hide.

"You can deceive others, but not me. Tell me. I am truly quite curious." Jiang Ming's golden eyes flickered, revealing a trace of imperceptible majesty. His voice was low and resolute, impossible to ignore. He stared at Zhang Lingyue without overlooking even the slightest change in her expression.

Zhang Lingyue remained silent. She knew Jiang Ming had already seen through her, and that continuing the disguise would be useless. She took a deep breath and decided to face reality.

"Not answering is rude, you know." Jiang Ming's lips curled up in a slightly teasing smile. With a flash, he appeared instantly before Zhang Lingyue, moving so fast that she had no time to react. Jiang Ming reached out, seized Zhang Lingyue by the throat, and lifted her high into the air.

"You..." Zhang Lingyue stared at Jiang Ming in utter shock. She had not expected him to act so decisively. She struggled to break free from his grip, but his strength far surpassed anything she had imagined.

Jiang Ming gradually tightened his grip, forcing Zhang Lingyue to reveal her Nascent Soul cultivation. A trace of resolve flashed through her eyes. Yet Jiang Ming was faster. He suddenly threw a punch, smashing it heavily into Zhang Lingyue's stomach. The immense force instantly scattered the spiritual energy she had painstakingly gathered, and Zhang Lingyue spat out a mouthful of blood.

Only then did Jiang Ming release his hand and set Zhang Lingyue down. He looked at her coldly, without the slightest hint of pity.

"You have one last chance!" Jiang Ming's voice was icy.

"This little woman had no choice but to hide in Jadeite House." Zhang Lingyue's tone was cold, carrying a trace of fear.

Jiang Ming looked at her blandly and waited for her to continue.

"Bloodslaughter Hall is looking for me."

Jiang Ming stepped forward and slapped her. "Do you fucking take me for an idiot? You have already become the courtesan queen, and Bloodslaughter Hall is still looking for you? They must have known you were here long ago."

Though Zhang Lingyue had been slapped, she did not dare talk back. "I have something they want on me."

"So they want to capture you alive?"

"Mhm..." Zhang Lingyue lowered her head slightly.

"That is not right. Even if they wanted to capture you alive, a mere brothel could not stop them. Unless capturing you alive would not get them the thing on your body either. Then, as far as I know, it must be some kind of inheritance, and it has already fused with you." Jiang Ming could not help giving himself praise for his own cleverness.

Once an inheritance had fused with someone, there was no way to obtain it unless the inheritor willingly gave it up. Even body possession would not work.

"It is indeed an inheritance." Zhang Lingyue hurriedly agreed, afraid that if she spoke too slowly, she would receive another slap.

"Bloodslaughter Hall itself has Saint Realm experts. For something to attract them, it would have to be at least a Saint Realm inheritance or higher."

"It is a Great Emperor inheritance!" Zhang Lingyue cooperatively replied.

Jiang Ming was slightly surprised. Then he stepped forward and slapped her again. "Fuck you, you still want to set me up. Do you think this young master does not know that you told me this because you want me to deal with Bloodslaughter Hall?"

"You were the one who wanted to know, Young Master." Zhang Lingyue said aggrievedly.

"You still dare quibble?" Jiang Ming raised his hand as if to strike again. Looking at her exquisite cheeks, both reddened by slaps, he did not hit her face. Instead, he struck Zhang Lingyue's ample chest.

"Ah—" Zhang Lingyue cried out, overwhelmed with shame and fury.

"What are you screaming for?"

Zhang Lingyue pursed her lips and did not dare speak.

Jiang Ming secretly laughed. The Jiang Clan of Great Emperors in Central Province had records of them all; over the past tens of thousands of years, only the Azure Emperor's whereabouts had remained unknown.

"Who are you?" Jiang Ming asked.

"I come from Backing Mountain Sect in the Martial Domain."

"Backing Mountain Sect of the Martial Domain? Never heard of it." Jiang Ming shook his head.

"Backing Mountain Sect has already become history." Zhang Lingyue gave a bitter laugh.

"Xisuo!" Jiang Ming pressed.

"I accidentally obtained the Azure Emperor Inheritance. For reasons unknown, the Hall Master of Bloodslaughter Hall learned of it. To save me, Backing Mountain Sect was slaughtered from top to bottom by Bloodslaughter Hall." Zhang Lingyue's face was full of sorrow, tears welling in her eyes.

"Backing Mountain Sect was that pathetic? They did not even have a Saint Realm expert?" Jiang Ming asked in surprise.

"Backing Mountain Sect's ancestor was at Peak Tribulation Transcendence. Besides, even Saint Realm experts have been assassinated by Bloodslaughter Hall." Zhang Lingyue felt uncomfortable inside, but she did not dare flare up.

"Since your sect was slaughtered and Bloodslaughter Hall has not taken action to capture you, that means they have not yet found a way to obtain the inheritance," Jiang Ming said.

Bang— The door was kicked open.

"Brat, you dared hit this young master! No one has ever dared hit me in all my life!" Yun Shaomeng barged in again. Seeing the palm prints on Zhang Lingyue's cheeks and her tearful expression, his blood surged to his head. "You actually dared steal Fairy Lingyue! Get him!"

At Yun Shaomeng's command, three guards at the First Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm rushed in and attacked Jiang Ming together.

Jiang Ming's gaze remained calm. With three punches and two kicks, he sent the three guards flying. Then he walked up to Yun Shaomeng once more.

Yun Shaomeng looked at him in terror. "Do not do anything rash. My father is the City Lord of Cloud City. If you hit me again, you will not even be able to leave Cloud City!"

Without another word, Jiang Ming kicked him out and shut the door again.

"Young Master, perhaps you do not know this, but the Yun Clan is the ruling family of the Cloud Domain. Yun Shaomeng's father is even a mighty expert at Peak Tribulation Transcendence." Zhang Lingyue feared that Jiang Ming did not know whom he had provoked.

"So what? What does it matter if he rules a domain? What does it matter if he has transcended tribulation?" Jiang Ming was unconcerned.

"Impressive!" Zhang Lingyue praised him.

"What are you being so sarcastic about?" Jiang Ming frowned.

Zhang Lingyue lowered her head and did not dare speak.

Outside the door

"You two stand guard at the entrance. Do not let anyone escape." Yun Shaomeng instructed two of the guards, then turned to the other. "Go back and tell my father that I was beaten. Tell him to come quickly."

"Yes!" the three replied in unison.

"Oh my, Young Master Yun, what happened to you?" the madam came forward and asked.

"What does it have to do with you? Hurry and arrange a few beauties for me to relax with!" Yun Shaomeng snapped.

"Yes, yes, I will arrange it right away." The madam replied with a fawning smile.