Chapter 68: The Massacre of Clearwater Town

At the same moment, a colossal and extravagant flying vessel descended from the sky above the Southern Region’s Prefecture City, landing directly in the City Lord’s Residence.

“That’s... a flying vessel from the Imperial Dynasty!”

“The Imperial Dynasty has actually sent someone to investigate the events of the celebration!”

Inside the City Lord’s Residence, chaos erupted at once, as if a great enemy had arrived.

Back when the Southern Region Prefect slaughtered all the representatives of the major powers who had come for the celebration using the Heaven-Bane Sword Formation, he took the formation and left, and has yet to return.

With jade-like features, Zhuge Yu stepped out of the flying vessel, followed by a host of powerful figures from the Imperial Dynasty.

The air still carried the lingering stench of blood, causing Zhuge Yu to frown slightly.

“Where is the Southern Region Prefect? Tell him to get out here at once!” Zhuge Yu bellowed, his voice laced with profound inner strength, sending a shock through everyone present, making their blood surge uncomfortably.

Thump!

An elderly man hurried forward and fell to his knees before Zhuge Yu. “My lord, the Prefect is not in the City Lord’s Residence. He left that very day and has not returned since.”

Zhuge Yu reached out, gripping the old man’s throat, his voice icy: “Where did that wretch go? If you can’t give me a clear answer, you die!”

“Mercy, my lord!” the old man wailed in pain, his face contorted. “The Prefect went to find... to find that Young Master Chen. He wants to use the Heaven-Bane Sword Formation to kill Young Master Chen.”

“So that dog really took the Heaven-Bane Sword Formation to kill Young Master Chen?” Zhuge Yu frowned deeply.

By now, the name Young Master Chen had already spread throughout the entire Spring and Autumn Sacred Nation—he had, of course, heard it.

The others in the City Lord’s Residence all trembled, not daring to even breathe loudly.

These were powerful figures from the Imperial Dynasty; wiping out the entire City Lord’s Residence of the Southern Region’s Prefecture would be effortless for them.

“Zhuge Yu, quickly ask this man where exactly Young Master Chen is!” a middle-aged man barked. “The Princess has surely gone there as well. This concerns her safety—we must rush to Young Master Chen’s residence at once to annihilate the Southern Region Prefect. And as for Young Master Chen, we absolutely cannot let him live!”

They knew well how much the Sacred Emperor feared and guarded against him—otherwise, the Emperor would never have lent him the Heaven-Bane Sword Formation in the first place.

“Speak! Where is Young Master Chen?” Zhuge Yu demanded coldly.

“In—he’s in Qingshui Town, White Emperor City!” The old man shivered uncontrollably.

“Move out! Head for Qingshui Town at once!” Zhuge Yu flung the old man aside and beckoned to his followers.

With a whoosh, the group, led by Zhuge Yu, surged back into the flying vessel.

The vessel shot into the heavens, speeding in the direction of White Emperor City.

Watching the departing flying vessel, everyone in the City Lord’s Residence heaved a collective sigh of relief, feeling as though they had narrowly escaped death.

“Our City Lord’s Residence in the Southern Region’s Prefecture is truly doomed this time.”

“It’s been doomed for a while now. Sigh, it’s all that wretch’s fault—the Prefect has ruined everything.”

“That’s not entirely fair. People strive for greater heights. Now that the Prefect holds the Heaven-Bane Sword Formation, we’ve witnessed its terrifying power. With such a treasure in hand, ambition is only natural.”

The people of the residence discussed in hushed, anxious voices.

...

On the mountain where Chen Changsheng lived in seclusion.

“Daddy, what are we eating today?” Chen Die’er tilted up her exquisitely carved little face, gazing expectantly at Chen Changsheng.

Donggong Qianxue, Nalan Ruoshui, Bing Muer, Elder Hua, and the others all looked at Chen Changsheng with anticipation.

Young Master Chen’s culinary skills were legendary—the food he made was utterly delicious.

More importantly, his dishes were imbued with a surging Daoist essence. During their stay here, the benefits they’d received were beyond imagination.

Chen Changsheng fondly ruffled Chen Die’er’s hair. “How about hotpot today? With so many people, it’ll be lively and festive.”

“Great!” Chen Die’er beamed with happiness. Her father’s hotpot was simply the best.

Hotpot?

What on earth was that?

Donggong Qianxue, Nalan Ruoshui, Bing Muer, and Elder Hua all looked puzzled, yet anticipation glimmered in their eyes.

“Come, let’s head to Qingshui Town to buy some meat for the hotpot. We’ll get a variety,” Chen Changsheng called as they descended the mountain together.

Before long, the group arrived in Qingshui Town.

“Haha, Young Master Chen, you’ve brought so many guests today! Are you here to buy groceries? Two jin of beef, on the house for you.”

“Uncle Zhang, I’ll take the two jin of beef, but it’s not easy for you to make a living—so I must pay.”

“Young Master Chen, the girls with you are truly beautiful. Haha, it’s high time Die’er had a mother.”

Donggong Qianxue, Nalan Ruoshui, Bing Muer, Mu Wanqing, and Huangfu Meng all blushed, their hearts pounding.

“Haha, Aunt Wang, you’ve misunderstood—they’re all just friends of mine,” Chen Changsheng laughed heartily. “Aunt Wang, I’ll take two jin of chicken as well.”

“Alright, I won’t take your money. Consider it a gift!”

“That won’t do—I must pay.”

At that moment—

A grand and luxurious flying vessel appeared above Qingshui Town.

Before the vessel even touched the ground, countless sword-lights erupted from its sides, shooting in all directions.

They were war-swords.

An endless sword intent filled the air.

Tens of thousands of war-swords swept through the sky at breakneck speed, dazzling and overwhelming, forming an enormous sword formation that enveloped all of Qingshui Town in the blink of an eye.

Zhuge Yu stood proudly on the vessel, hands on his hips, and shouted coldly, “Hand over the Southern Region Prefect and Young Master Chen, or everyone here dies!”

Panic swept instantly across Qingshui Town; terror reached its peak.

Who were these people that they could unleash such a terrifying sword formation the moment they arrived?

“Is that my cousin?” In the crowd, Donggong Qianxue looked up at Zhuge Yu atop the flying vessel and frowned.

She knew well how close Young Master Chen was to the townspeople. If anyone in Qingshui Town were harmed, it would enrage him, and the consequences would be dire.

Suddenly, the Heaven-Bane Sword Formation shot from her hand. Endless golden sword-light surged forth from the massive stone sword.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

In an instant, tens of thousands of war-swords shattered into dust.

A deathly silence fell over Qingshui Town. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

Everyone was frozen in shock, petrified.

Even the dogs were stunned.

Zhuge Yu and the gathered imperial experts were dumbfounded as well.

Their execution sword formation had just been unleashed, and before they could even make a show of strength, it was shattered in a blink.

It was utterly laughable!

“The Heaven-Bane Sword Formation!” Zhuge Yu reacted in the next instant, streaking toward the giant stone sword in the sky.

But someone was faster.

A lithe figure shot upward, snatching the Heaven-Bane Sword Formation in her grasp before he could even reach it.