Three months later, Qiong-Subduing Hall.
On the white jade plaza outside the hall, wind swept away the clouds, and banners snapped.
The Black Armor Guards stood like cast-iron statues, waiting silently.
Qing Chen emerged alone from the depths of the hall, his aura steady and profound, with nothing unusual about him.
Su Zixuan, Lin Changsheng, and the others waiting at the edge of the plaza visibly relaxed and immediately approached.
"My Lord!"
"Master!"
Qing Chen raised a hand, signaling them to say no more.
"Dispense with the pleasantries. Business first. How has Qiongzhou fared during these months of my seclusion? Has anything major happened? You two, give me a brief account."
Su Zixuan exchanged a glance with Lin Changsheng, then stepped forward, dropped to one knee, and cupped her hands. "Since that person from the Origin-Initial Devil Sect frightened off the Black Bird Heaven-Bearing Sect's three Great Cultivators three months ago and followed you inside for a private discussion, all of Qiongzhou has been utterly peaceful!"
She spoke faster, listing everything as readily as treasures in her own home:
"The Qiongzhou Merchant Alliance hardly needs mentioning. Since the Qian Household, the Nangong Household, and more than twenty other great clans were exterminated, they have all behaved themselves. The day before yesterday, Jin Tongtian even personally delivered two stalks of fourth-tier low-grade thousand-year blood purple ginseng and a bottle containing five Infant Transformation Pills, saying they were a tribute to help the Marquis stabilize his cultivation."
"True Lord Golden Snake of the Snake Spirit Way made another secret visit, leaving a pile of high-grade spirit stones and spiritual materials worth no less than thirteen million Low-Grade Spirit Stones, saying they made up for his congratulatory gift when you reached Nascent Soul."
"Gong Shisan of the Infinite Extremity Devil Palace-the Palace Master