Not a Brainless Villain

# Chapter 23: Not a Mindless Villain

After returning to the Branch Hall, Xu Zimo also began to cultivate.

Night fell, darkness devouring everything like a giant beast, a bright moon hanging in midair.

The moon rose atop the willow branches!

Xu Zimo was now cultivating the Three Blades Great Emperor's Nirvana Art. Once the Nirvana Art was cultivated successfully, a Nirvana Qi would be born within his body.

Xu Zimo had cultivated this technique in his Previous Life, so everything came naturally to him, familiar and without difficulty.

His main focus now was still deducing his own technique, the Myriad Freedom Art.

In his Previous Life, this technique had only been deduced to the Divine Meridian Realm level, after which he couldn't advance an inch.

But this rebirth gave him a deeper understanding of the future and the past.

Xu Zimo believed that before long, he would be able to deduce the technique beyond the Divine Meridian Realm.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Xu Zimo rose from bed.

The only Meridian Technique he was currently practicing was the Drawing Sword Technique. Xu Zimo was confident that his current drawing speed would be difficult even for Condensed Meridian, or even True Meridian Realm martial artists to react to.

But he felt it wasn't enough. Speed had no limits.

Moreover, he could also integrate the Nirvana Qi he had comprehended into the Drawing Sword Technique, greatly enhancing both power and speed.

Xu Zimo had also set daily cultivation goals for himself: practice drawing the sword a thousand times and swinging the sword a thousand times every morning and evening.

As they say, diligence can compensate for lack of talent. Even though he was reborn, he couldn't slack off. Effort was an indispensable element on the path to becoming a strong cultivator.

After breakfast and a busy morning, Xu Zimo finally stopped. At noon, he was to go to the Chang Family.

Xu Zimo curled his lips into a smile. "I should gather that item as soon as possible."

Accompanied by Guan Zhenhai, the group proceeded in a grand procession toward the Chang Family.

As the local hegemon of Tianjian City, the Chang Family's mansion was naturally located in the most prosperous section of the central street.

Standing at the Chang Family's entrance, two servants blocked the group, saying they needed to report before allowing entry.

Xu Zimo didn't stand on ceremony. Since he had come to cause trouble, there was no need to be polite.

Lin Ruhu kicked both servants to the ground, then barged in noisily.

The entire Chang Family mansion looked extremely imposing and magnificent—pavilions and towers, rockeries and courtyards, lotus flowers and flowing water, resplendent and majestic.

"I wonder which talented young disciple of the True Martial Sacred Sect has come to my Chang Family. I failed to welcome you from afar; please forgive me," Chang Tianxiong said, clad in a green robe with an imposing aura, laughing heartily as he walked out.

Behind him followed the five elders of the Chang Family, along with various clan members.

"Feng Buyu, elite inner disciple of the True Martial Sacred Sect," Feng Buyu said flatly, producing his Identity Token.

At this moment, Chang Tianxiong's heart skipped a beat. Elite inner disciples were all at the True Meridian Realm, capable of contending with the Chang Family's highest combat power.

And he could tell that Feng Buyu was not the main figure in this group. The true leader was the young man in a purple robe at the very front.

"This matter seems to have exceeded expectations," Chang Tianxiong frowned slightly. The other party's status was even higher than he had imagined!

"May I ask why the Sacred Sect's prodigies have come to my Chang Family? Is it because of my worthless son?" Chang Tianxiong pondered for a moment, then waved his right hand.

Chang Wei was dragged out by servants, bound hand and foot. Chang Tianxiong declared loudly and firmly, "My Chang Family has always followed the Sacred Sect's steps, vowing to uphold the Sacred Sect's authority.

If my son has truly offended any of you prodigies, the Chang Family will never shield him.

Today, I hand him over to you prodigies to be dealt with as you see fit. The Chang Family will have not a single word of complaint."

Xu Zimo watched Chang Tianxiong's one-man show with a smile, silently sighing: "Indeed, this man is just like in his Previous Life—a true hegemon."

As the head of the Chang Family, Chang Tianxiong was a dominant figure throughout Tianjian City.

But he was no Frog in a Well. He knew how vast the outside world was and could assess his own strength. When he needed to be tough, he wouldn't yield an inch. When he needed to back down, he could be utterly spineless.

Even if it meant sacrificing his own son, he could do it without changing his expression.

Xu Zimo knew the other party was setting a trap for him. Chang Tianxiong first declared how loyal the Chang Family was to the True Martial Sacred Sect.

Then he maintained a proper attitude, neither making excuses nor pleading for mercy, directly having his son bound and brought out.

If Xu Zimo actually killed Chang Wei over a minor conflict, what would outsiders think of the True Martial Sacred Sect?

"Head of the Chang Family, what are you saying? It's normal for young people to have conflicts due to high spirits.

But no one takes it to heart. I've long forgotten yesterday's conflict," Xu Zimo said with a smile. "The reason I came today is that Senior Brother Guan told me Tianjian City's prosperity today wouldn't be possible without your Chang Family's help. I simply came to pay a visit out of admiration."

Originally, Xu Zimo had planned to cause trouble directly, but he changed his mind on the spot.

The other party wasn't some mindless villain who would clash with him at the slightest disagreement.

Doing so would indeed be inappropriate. As a villain with professional integrity, Xu Zimo felt he should make others submit willingly and wholeheartedly.

"These young prodigies have far more magnanimity than my worthless son," Chang Tianxiong said, his gaze stern as he kicked Chang Wei to the ground. "You'd better scurry to the back courtyard and reflect on your actions. Stop ruining everyone's enjoyment here."

"Yes, yes," Chang Wei quickly nodded, scrambling away with the help of a servant.

He knew this was his father protecting him, telling him to leave swiftly and put this matter to rest.

"It's rare for you young prodigies to visit our Chang Family. How could we keep you standing outside? Please, come inside—I've already had the kitchen prepare a feast," Chang Tianxiong said with a hurried smile.

Xu Zimo smiled and nodded, walking inside with Lin Ruhu and the others.

Chang Tianxiong's gaze turned deep as he furrowed his brow in thought.

The moment Xu Zimo forgave Chang Wei, Chang Tianxiong knew something was off.

Xu Zimo's purpose in visiting the Chang Family wasn't because of his son.

Or rather, from the very beginning, Xu Zimo's target in coming to Tianjian City had been the Chang Family. Even if his son hadn't clashed with him, Xu Zimo would still have come.

But Chang Tianxiong couldn't figure out what the Chang Family had done to offend Xu Zimo, or what it was about them that had caught his interest.

After mulling it over in his mind for a moment, he had more or less guessed Xu Zimo's intentions.

During the meal, Chang Tianxiong kept probing from the sidelines, but Xu Zimo only smiled and ate, never once mentioning the purpose of his visit.

Finally, after several rounds of drinks, Xu Zimo and his group had eaten their fill.

Only then did he speak with a smile. "I've heard it said that your Chang Family's ancestor was originally just an ordinary villager from a small mountain hamlet.

It was only later that he stumbled upon some fortune, and thus set foot on the path of martial cultivation, building the prosperity the Chang Family enjoys today."