The steward of the Wei Family was assassinated in broad daylight. This is undoubtedly the most significant event to occur in the Peach Mountain District in years!
Inside the pavilion, the attendants whispered among themselves, and even the stewards busy with alchemy and potion-making in the inner hall couldn’t contain their curiosity. They all came out, craning their necks to observe the street.
The thin steward, Ma Jun, shouted angrily, "The audacity of this thief! To dare assassinate a steward of the Lingyin Sect in public! If I ever find out this thief’s identity, I must slay this scoundrel!"
Finishing his words, his face showed a hint of melancholy.
He had always had a decent relationship with Wei Cheng, and as they were both stewards of the Lingyin Sect, he inevitably felt a sense of loss.
Moreover,
The assassination of Wei Cheng in broad daylight also symbolized the declining authority of the Lingyin Sect from another perspective...
"Hush... anyone who can swiftly kill three late Qi Cultivation cultivators must be outstanding even within the Ninth-Layer of Qi Cultivation. Perhaps, it was the work of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Where could such a ruthless character among the nearby Loose Cultivators come from? Could it be a cultivator from the Three Thousand Great Mountains?"
The stewards speculated in low voices.
These stewards held a certain status in the market and had a clearer understanding of the situation.
Before long, they concluded it was the work of a Tribulation Cultivator from the Three Thousand Great Mountains.
Someone muttered, "Could it be Yuan Haoxuan from Black Cliff City? I heard he was seen recently in Peach Mountain District. This man is from the Yuan Family of Qi Kingdom, notoriously ruthless, and exceptionally talented. At a young age, he’s on the verge of Foundation Establishment and is likely here in the Three Thousand Great Mountains seeking opportunities for it."
Chen Ye had a sudden realization.
Black Cliff City? Could it be a master originally coming to kill him?
Listening to what this steward said, the cultivator named Yuan Haoxuan was a master of the Ninth-Layer of Qi Cultivation.
This person was quite renowned, immediately sparking discussions among the stewards.
"It’s said this person is the prodigious son of the Yuan family, only twenty-one, and already close to Foundation Establishment! But what could the Yuan family lack that would compel him to risk coming to the Three Thousand Great Mountains?"
"It depends. The opportunity may not be material, but a life and death trial... Perhaps he wants to achieve Foundation Establishment quickly through such brutal training."
"Ultimately, he’s still not as extraordinary as our sect’s True Inheritor Bai, who established his Foundation at nineteen..."
After some conversations, the face of the thin steward Ma Jun, previously harsh, turned uncertain, with a slight paleness emerging.
Chen Ye’s face also showed a hint of shock, followed by a worried tone:
"This place is not safe for a long stay. Steward Liu, here are the Spirit Stones. I’ll take the Anodyne Snow Flower and quickly return to Lisong Valley..."
As he spoke, he placed a small bag of Spirit Stones on the counter.
Liu Quan then showed a look of realization. Indeed, Chen Ye had other two apprentices in Lisong Valley.
Hearing about such a demon roaming near the Three Thousand Great Mountains, worrying about his apprentices’ safety was only natural.
"Hey, Steward Chen, take care!" Liu Quan couldn’t bother calculating accounts any further and shouted at Chen Ye’s departing figure, "The market is currently under lockdown, and the road may not be secure. Steward, be extra cautious!"
Chen Ye waved and strode away.
The cultivators of the law enforcement team were shuttling back and forth, searching for clues.
However, they didn’t bother to interrogate the cultivators thoroughly.
This was because the market was a mixed bag of various people, and it was impossible to close it down completely to meticulously search for Wei Cheng.
Additionally, Chen Ye was cautious because he had past grievances with Wei Cheng, making it easy for others to suspect him.
"Steward Chen... please hold on!"
A slightly fawning and anxious voice rang out from behind him.
Chen Ye paused and looked back.
A disciple of the Outer Sect, dressed in sect robes, squeezed out from the crowd, running quickly to Chen Ye with a face full of a flattering smile.
Chen Ye recognized this person.
Named Wang Hao, he was a confidant of Wei Cheng back in Lisong Valley and had once instigated the disciples in the valley to leave.
Wang Hao ran up to Chen Ye and first made a respectful bow, then his face showed an expression of mixed sorrow and indignation, lamenting bitterly:
"Steward Chen, have you heard? That... that Wei Cheng was indeed killed! It’s truly... truly exhilarating... oh no, it’s really a pity..."
He wanted to express hatred for Wei Cheng but feared saying the wrong thing and offending the Wei family, making his expression somewhat comical.
Chen Ye raised an eyebrow slightly and feigned confusion, "Oh? What do you mean by this?"
Wang Hao, seeing Chen Ye engage, immediately became spirited, hurriedly moved closer, lowered his voice, and spoke indignantly:
"Steward, you may not know! The reason why we left Lisong Valley back then had nothing to do with any disrespect towards you. It was really... really because we didn’t dare to oppose Steward Wei..."
Wang Hao’s appearance seemed to have set a precedent.
All eight former disciples from Lisong Valley squeezed out from the crowd, awkwardly approaching Chen Ye.
Compared to the shameless Wang Hao, the other Outer Sect disciples looked embarrassed, hesitated, and said:
"Steward Chen, just as Senior Brother Wang said... we deeply apologize for the matters of the past."
Among them, a young-faced female disciple’s voice became softer and softer until it faded out, frequently glancing at Wang Hao.
Wang Hao’s eyelid twitched, and he quickly beat his chest and stamped his foot, saying with compelling sincerity:
"Actually, in our hearts, have we ever forgotten Lisong Valley for a day? Hearing how you, Steward, have managed the valley orderly, with the Spirit Plants flourishing, we are full of admiration and envy!"
These words were spoken so sincerely that, if it were someone else, they might truly believe them.
But Chen Ye only found it amusing.
A fence-sitter, swaying with the wind.
When they saw him being in a weak position, they didn’t hesitate to side with Wei Cheng;
Now that Wei Cheng’s body was not yet cold, they immediately switched sides, coming to him to beg with wagging tails.
The reason was simple...
In the Wei family, only Wei Cheng was a Spirit Plant Steward of the Lingyin Sect. With his death, these Outer Sect disciples lost their support.
They could no longer remain in the Spiritual Peach Garden and had to return to Herb Peak to be reassigned to various sect industries.