Trouble Came Knocking

"Then I'll take it as forging a good connection."

Ye Zichen opened his eyes and said nothing more. He picked up his tea and continued to savor it.

From the very beginning, he had known that the cold from the Ice Spirit Physique was leaking out.

Without anyone to nourish or awaken the physique, she would continue to be eroded by the cold until she died.

He had learned as much when he entered the city and scanned it with his Divine Sense.

Since the city lord had been so good to him, he might as well save her. But the Heavenly Dao seemed to have... fallen silent?

Never mind. The Heavenly Dao was of no consequence to him anyway, so why should he care what had happened to it?

Three more days passed.

Because the cold had lingered in her body for so long without relief, Zhang Xu's daughter only now woke up after her physique had been awakened.

During those three days, Zhang Xu had already come to visit twice, but Ye Zichen had turned him away both times.

Now Zhang Xu brought his daughter with him to express their thanks. Joy showed plainly on his face, which glowed with happiness.

"I am Zhang Xu. I pay my respects to you, my lord. My daughter recovered and woke up today. When she learned that you had saved her, she came with me especially to pay her respects."

The invisible force dispersed, signifying that the two had been granted permission to enter the courtyard.

Even from a distance, looking at his figure in the stone pavilion, Zhang Xu could feel that sacredness untouched by the smoke and fire of the mortal world. How it stirred his yearning.

Rather than enter the stone pavilion, the two knelt at the foot of its steps.

After kowtowing several times, Zhang Xu's daughter said with utmost reverence, "I am Zhang Lingyao. Thank you for saving my life, my lord. I will remember your immense kindness for the rest of my life!"

Looking at the man seated above her, with his unworldly bearing and sharply defined features as handsome as if carved with a blade, his whole person radiating the kingly presence of one whose might shook the world, Zhang Lingyao could not calm her heart for a long time.

"The Physique of the Ice Spirit is born with cold. By the time its bearer reaches the age of fifteen, the cold will attack the heart. I merely awakened your physique in passing."

Ye Zichen set down his teacup and spoke calmly. To him, everything was something he could do in passing.

"Even so, the fact remains that you saved my life. Thank you again, senior."

Many people of this kind regarded human lives as no more than blades of grass. Those like the man before her, willing to step in and save her and even grant her a fortuitous opportunity as vast as the heavens, were rarer still.

City Lord Zhang Xu said nothing at her side, but he was utterly astonished.

He had thought this lord had merely saved his daughter's life, but it turned out he had unlocked her immortal cultivation physique!

Didn't that mean his daughter's future path of immortal cultivation would soar straight up on a rising wind?

"Mother of my child, did you see that?"

At the thought, Zhang Xu could not help shedding tears as he thought of his late wife.

His wife had sadly passed away after giving birth to Lingyao, so he had always doted on his daughter, treating her as the pearl in his palm.

"Your Ice Spirit Physique has been unlocked, and your path of immortal cultivation has begun. Choose your own road from here on. You may leave."

Ye Zichen spoke slowly, his words leaving no room for refusal.

Seeing this, the two offered a few more words of thanks. Zhang Lingyao hesitated, but after much thought, she chose to give up, and the two quietly withdrew from the courtyard.

Watching them leave, Ye Zichen murmured, "Her talent isn't enough. She'd better find a sect and cultivate on her own."

Ye Zichen had noticed Zhang Lingyao's hesitation. He had already done all benevolence and duty required by helping her unlock her physique; she could forget about anything more.

Besides, though such a physique was top-tier in this lower realm, it still could not catch his eye.

Outside the courtyard, the two walked back, one happy and the other troubled. Seeing his daughter so lost in thought, Zhang Xu sighed.

"Ah, I know what you're thinking, my daughter, but his lordship has just ordered us to leave. That means he has no intention of taking a disciple."

Ye Zichen was extraordinary and unworldly. How Zhang Lingyao longed to be so powerful and free! She, too, wanted to venture out and see the world, but even with her extraordinary cultivation physique, she could not catch his eye. How could she dare aspire to such heights? So she put the thought aside. In the future, she would find a sect and cultivate diligently!

Shaking her head, Zhang Lingyao changed her mood and, smiling, took Zhang Xu's arm. "It's all right, Dad, you're overthinking it! I'll work hard at cultivation. Come on! It's been so long since I went out with you. I want to eat lots of delicious food!"

Looking at his considerate daughter, Zhang Xu smiled dotingly. "All right, all right! Come on, Dad will treat you to something good!"

Their figures gradually receded into the distance...

Nearly seven months passed like this...

Inside the Lingtong Inn, the largest inn in the city.

Ye Zichen chose the most secluded corner and sat down.

For a long time now, Ye Zichen had often come here to listen to storytellers, learn about the myths of the fantasy world, and hear all kinds of gossip among the common folk. It was a pleasure of its own.

Ye Zichen often came here to have a look around. Vast and prosperous as the city was, this place still offered a distinctive kind of enjoyment.

"Honored guest, it's you again."

The waiter spoke to Ye Zichen happily, his eyes smiling.

"The usual. Bring me a pot of your finest wine."

Ye Zichen responded with a polite smile.

"Coming right up!"

The waiter walked inside with a cheerful step.

"Have you heard? The Crimson Yang Sect and the Azure Mysterious Sect have gone to war. I'm afraid the fighting will reach this city before long!"

"Ah, ever since the Crimson Yang Sect cozied up to the Tyrant Saber Sect, they've burned, killed, and plundered, committing every evil imaginable! The Azure Mysterious Sect and the Crimson Yang Sect have never gotten along, either. I'm afraid there won't be any peace for a while!"

"The Tyrant Saber Sect is the second-greatest power among the major sects, yet they're this despicable too!"

"Just look at this. What a mess! Ah!"

Inside the inn, everyone chimed in, growing more agitated as they talked. They were all furious, but helpless.

Ye Zichen listened but paid it no mind, so long as they didn't come looking for trouble with him.

He had recently finished reading through all the cultivation method secret manuals of the myriad heavens and worlds, and felt a little restless.

The next moment.

"Oh? We've only just been talking about them, and trouble's already come knocking?"

Ye Zichen couldn't help raising a brow as he spoke with interest. Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrived. They really had nothing better to do on a full stomach.

Before long, a voice rang out at the inn's entrance.

"Up, up! We brothers are drinking here today, and we're not leaving until we're drunk. We'll settle accounts with the Azure Mysterious Sect tomorrow."

The man in the lead angrily drove away the people seated in the inn, speaking with displeasure.

Now that their Crimson Yang Sect had made connections with the Tyrant Saber Sect, the Azure Mysterious Sect would belong to them sooner or later!

As soon as he finished speaking, City Lord Zhang Xu rushed to the inn. He had just been patrolling the city as usual when he happened to spot these people.

"I am Zhang Xu, the city lord. Disciples of the Crimson Yang Sect, you honor us with your presence. Forgive me for not coming out to welcome you."

Zhang Xu, who had hurried over after hearing the news, cupped his hands to the men. He had rushed over as soon as the Crimson Yang Sect disciples entered the city; after all, none of them were easy to deal with.

"Cut the nonsense. Hurry up and give me and my brothers a proper welcome. If your service falls short, I'm afraid blood will be spilled in this inn of yours."

The disciple in the lead showed no courtesy. In his eyes, this so-called city lord was merely at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. With his own Golden Core Early Stage cultivation, he didn't take Zhang Xu seriously at all.

Zhang Xu was furious at those words. These people showed no courtesy whatsoever and put on such airs. But with his cultivation, he could do nothing about the six or seven people before him.

"How could Clear Wind City allow you to run wild?!"