At the city gate.
Led by Zhou Xuan, the group was flanked by Li Yan and Yan Jing, the heads of two powerful families. Also present were Lin Changkong, Shi Tong, and Shen Tai, the three masters of the Divine Ability Hall.
Besides them, there were also some chamber of commerce presidents and heads of families with extraordinary abilities.
Zhou Xuan had invited all the prominent figures in Qingyuan Market.
Lin Changkong stood calmly with his hands behind his back. Xu Xiong stood behind him, his expression shifting between light and shadow. He enveloped his voice with his Primordial Qi, which subtly reached Lin Changkong's ears. "Master, Zhou Xuan is really favoring the Thunderfire Hall too much. This event is even bigger than the Hall's own gathering. Is the Thunderfire Hall really worth his attention?"
His words carried a strong sense of resentment.
Lin Changkong replied calmly, "I've been asking around these past two days, and it seems that Lu Ming has been frequently visiting the local government office lately, supposedly to study Dao of Alchemy under Zhou Xuan."
Upon hearing this, Xu Xiong was immediately startled and said, "No wonder... that kid is really lucky."
"Master, do you think that old bastard Lu Jin could kill Guo Kui in the Peach Miasma Mountain Range?"
Lin Changkong narrowed his eyes slightly. One of the main reasons he came to the city gate to wait with them was that he wanted to know the result as soon as possible.
He was also curious to know how Lu Jin, who should have been exhausted, seriously injured, and with all his potential depleted, was able to severely injure Guo Kui, who was in his prime.
"If the Peach Miasma Mountain Range were so easy to traverse, Guo Kui wouldn't have been able to entrenched himself in Qingyuan Market for so many years." In the end, Lin Changkong still didn't believe that Lu Jin could do it. After all, there had been many True Qi Master who had entered the Peach Miasma Mountain Range and returned empty-handed.
"That's good."
Xu Xiong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If that old guy Lu Jin had really killed Guo Kui, then the reputation of the Thunderfire Hall would have been in serious trouble.
While they were exchanging information in secret, the atmosphere at the city gate suddenly became restless. Lin Changkong looked towards the road in the distance and saw a wagon pulled by several Crimson Horse Beast approaching slowly.
Lin Changkong sensed Lu Jin's fluctuations in Primordial Qi.
Soon after, the truck arrived at the city gate, and Zhou Xuan led the group to greet it.
"Haha, Master Lu is truly vigorous despite his age. This time, you have dealt a heavy blow to the Peach Mountain Band, which should bring several years of peace to Qingyuan Market." Zhou Xuan said with a cupped hand and a smile.
Lu Jin and his group jumped off the truck and politely returned the greeting with clasped hands.
"Master Lu, I wonder if Guo Kui has escaped with serious injuries?" It was Yan Jing, the head of the Yan Clan family, who spoke. As soon as he asked this question, all the big shots present, including Zhou Xuan, couldn't help but turn their gazes to Lu Jin.
This is the answer they all want to know.
Whether Guo Kui lives or dies is very important. If he lives, even if he is seriously injured, he is still a hidden danger. Once he recovers, the Peach Mountain Band can still make a comeback.
Facing those gazes, Lu Jin calmly said, " Guo Kui has been executed. From now on, there will be no more Peach Mountain Band in Qingyuan Market."
The aged voice fell, causing many of the powerful figures present to hold their breath for several breaths.
A look of shock appeared on everyone's face.
Guo Kui was actually killed by Lu Jin?!
That was a ruthless and cunning Feather Robe Master prime!
Lin Changkong's gaze also focused on Lu Jin at this moment. His expression changed slightly because when he saw Lu Jin again, he found that the aura of old age that had always surrounded the latter seemed to have completely dissipated.
If Lu Jin in the past was merely an old beast with lingering power but somewhat weak inside, then now he seems to have undergone a transformation, his originally cautious eyes beginning to radiate a sharp and piercing aura.
After a moment of stunned silence, the powerful figures present all smiled and bowed to Lu Jin in thanks.
Their attitude instantly became enthusiastic, no longer the reluctant one they had been forced to come by Zhou Xuan.
Regardless of what Lu Jin's killing of Guo Kui signifies, the mere fact that the Peach Mountain Band completely disappeared from Qingyuan Market is enough to make them extremely grateful to Lu Jin.
After all, both the powerful families and various merchant guilds had been robbed by the Peach Mountain Band, and had suffered greatly as a result.
Faced with the enthusiasm of the crowd, Lu Jin returned the greetings one by one.
"Elder brother!"
While Lu Jin was dealing with the situation, Lu Ming heard a familiar voice. He turned around and saw Lu Mengmeng waving excitedly at him from the crowd not far away.
Standing next to Lu Mengmeng was Zhou Fuling.
Lu Ming rushed forward, Lu Mengmeng excitedly threw herself into his arms, her eyes red and sobbing. These past few days, she and Zhong Ying hadn't been able to sleep well at home. After all, the pillars of the family had all gone out this time, and if something happened to them outside, they really didn't know what to do.
Affected by Zhong Ying's low spirits, Lu Mengmeng, who is usually carefree, has even lost her appetite these past two days.
Fortunately, today, we finally saw Lu Ming and the others return unharmed.
Lu Ming patted her head and gently comforted her, calming Lu Mengmeng down.
"I went to the Thunderfire Hall a couple of days ago and told your mother and sister about your situation, which put their minds at ease a little. Today, I heard that you were coming back, so I brought Mengmeng along to avoid making her lose her appetite," Zhou Fuling said with a smile.
"Thank you, Senior Sister." Lu Ming quickly expressed her gratitude. The sooner she sent the message home, the sooner Zhong Ying would be at ease.
Zhou Fuling shook her head, then asked curiously, "Are you all alright? Did you really chase him into the Peach Miasma Mountain Range and eliminate Guo Kui?"
"Grandpa already said so, how could it be false?" Lu Ming said with a smile.
Zhou Fuling clicked her Lu Ming and the others had managed to do it, after all, even her fourth uncle had struggled to resolve the peach miasma.
"After this incident, your Thunderfire Hall will probably have to prepare for expansion," Zhou Fuling said with a light laugh.
The Thunderfire Hall was already packed with people after winning the top spot, and now with this huge commotion, it will surely become a place that many young people in Qingyuan Market aspire to visit. Its prestige may even surpass that of the Golden Gang Sword Hall.
"Thanks to the help of the sect leader and senior sister, otherwise my Thunderfire Hall would be in a completely different situation. If you need anything from me in the future, please feel free to ask, and I will do my best to repay you," Lu Ming said sincerely.
"Okay, I've got it." Zhou Fuling nodded with a smile, not being polite at all.
After Lu Jin chatted and laughed with Zhou Xuan and the others for a while, the various groups gradually dispersed. However, it was foreseeable that as this news spread, the reputation of the Thunderfire Hall would resound throughout Qingyuan Market for some time to come.
Shen Tai, the master of the Mountain Moving Hall, stepped forward enthusiastically and praised Lu Jin's bravery.
Even Shi Tong of the Red Sand Hall exchanged a few polite words with a stiff expression. The decisiveness and strength displayed by the Thunderfire Hall this time had indeed surprised him. At the very least, he needed to re-evaluate Lu Jin's strength.
Because he believed he was incapable of killing Guo Kui, and even if they did meet, it was uncertain who would kill whom.
Lin Changkong, however, did not exchange any pleasantries with Lu Jin and turned to leave immediately.
Lin Changkong knew that since Lu Jin had killed Guo Kui, he probably also knew about his role in it. Although Zhang Yue was the mastermind behind Guo Kui, it was Zhang Yue who provided more information and methods for dealing with the Thunderfire Hall.
Therefore, the feud between the two sides has now officially escalated, and there is no room for reconciliation.
Lin Changkong had no intention of mediating. Although he didn't know how Lu Jin had found the Peach Mountain Band's lair in the Peach Miasma Mountain Range and killed Guo Kui, it didn't mean much to him.
Faced with absolute power, any scheme is nothing but a fool's charade.
He could kill Guo Kui, and in his hands, Guo Kui wouldn't even have a chance to escape back to the Peach Miasma Mountain Range.
However, after this incident, Lin Changkong has toned down his previous disdain for Lu Jin. He now understands that if he wants to truly complete the task assigned by the noble lady of the Great Golden Crow Hall, he may no longer be able to hold back.
Lin Changkong's expression was indifferent, but a sharp killing intent flashed in his slightly lowered eyes.
From the day Zhang Yue left the school, everyone in Qingyuan Market thought that the Thunderfire Hall would collapse, and that with Lu Jin's exhaustion, it would even fall out of the ranks of the Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall. However, in just a few months, the result was far beyond everyone's expectations.
First, Lu Ming, a disciple with High-Grade Divine Ability Bone, emerged, stabilizing the morale of the disciples in the academy. Later, he seized the top spot at the academy meeting. If seizing the top spot could be attributed to Lin Changkong's clumsy attempt, how did he manage to not only survive his entire family's bloody battle against the Peach Mountain Band Peach Mountain Band, but also wipe them out in one fell swoop?
Even more shockingly, Lu Jin, this old man on his deathbed, killed Guo Kui, who was also at the Feather Robe Realm and in his prime.
Now, riding on the momentum of annihilating the Peach Mountain Band, the Thunderfire Hall will firmly secure its position as the top hall, and no one will ever again say that they obtained this position by chance.
It's easy to imagine that the already booming popularity of the Thunderfire Hall will surge even further in the coming period.
call.
Lin Changkong took a deep breath, his killing intent growing stronger. No matter what, he couldn't delay any longer.
Fortunately, the opportunity is coming soon.
In just over a month, the Rain Weakening Period in the " Black Rain Zone," at which point even Zhou Xuan will be too busy to attend to anything else.
This time.
He will personally and utterly destroy the Thunderfire Hall.