Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen stood at the bow of the ship, his long robes billowing in the wind, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Old Ancestor of the Chen Clan, it would be wise not to meddle in matters that don't concern you. Lest you become a pawn in someone else's game and bring the calamity of annihilation upon your entire clan!"
Chen Heguang's face darkened, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes.
"Your arrogance knows no bounds."
"Oh, really?"
Song Wen's lips curled slightly upward as his Void Refinement Stage aura erupted with overwhelming force, sweeping outward like a mountain collapsing into the sea.
Chen Heguang felt an irresistible pressure crashing down on him, his body swaying involuntarily. He nearly lost his footing, the sudden surge of power threatening to knock him from mid-air.
"Void... Void Refinement Stage cultivator!"
His expression twisted in shock, the earlier anger vanishing instantly, replaced by sheer terror.
Regaining his composure, he hastily bowed deeply, clasping his hands in a respectful salute.
"Senior, please forgive my ignorance. This junior failed to recognize your esteemed status and has been most disrespectful. I humbly beg for your magnanimity and implore you not to hold my offenses against me."
Song Wen ignored Chen Heguang and turned his gaze to Zhu Yi.
"Zhu Yi, it's time to settle our score."
The moment Song Wen unleashed his Void Refinement Stage aura, the last glimmer of hope in Zhu Yi's heart was extinguished like a candle in a storm.
Had Song Wen failed to break through, Zhu Yi might have had a sliver of a chance to survive.
Having successfully advanced to the Void Refinement Stage, Song Wen's opponent, already critically wounded, didn't even consider fleeing.
"Hahahaha..." Zhu Yi suddenly burst into laughter, his voice filled with despair. "A moment of greed led to the annihilation of my entire clan. My sins are grave, and death is too good for me. But... I can't bear the thought of dying without personally killing Zhu Tianlei. My hatred burns too fiercely. He orchestrated the ambush against Senior, and when it failed, he slaughtered our entire clan to save his own life. He must die! Only then will I find peace in death!"
"Don't worry," Song Wen replied. "It won't be long before Zhu Tianlei joins you."
As he spoke, a massive surge of gray-white Malevolent Qi erupted from Song Wen's body.
This was the Bone-Corroding Baleful Qi he had obtained from Xu Zhi.
The Malevolent Qi swept through the area like a raging gale, howling toward Zhu Yi.
Seeing the overwhelming force of the Malevolent Qi, Zhu Yi offered no resistance. He allowed the Qi to engulf him, seep into his body, extinguish his physical vitality, and seal his divine soul and dantian.
Song Wen retrieved a Corpse Coffin, stored Zhu Yi's body within, and turned to Chen Heguang.
"Old Ancestor of the Chen Clan, you were unaware of the feud between Zhu Yi and me, yet you intervened without understanding the situation. Shouldn't you offer me an explanation?"
Chen Heguang remained bowed with clasped hands. Only after hearing Song Wen's words did he finally raise his head to meet Song Wen's gaze.
"Senior, this junior was blind to your true stature and dared to offend you. Whatever punishment you deem fit, I will accept without complaint. However, I implore you not to vent your anger on the Chen Family. I alone will bear the brunt of your wrath."
Earlier, from Song Wen and Zhu Yi's conversation, Chen Heguang had vaguely surmised that Song Wen was deeply implicated in the Zhu Clan's downfall.
Terrified that the Chen Family might suffer the same fate, he no longer dared to hope for Song Wen's forgiveness. Instead, he only begged Song Wen not to direct his anger toward the Chen Family.
"Rest assured," Song Wen said, his tone mild, "I am not a bloodthirsty man. I will not kill you, nor will I harm a single member of the Chen Family. As for your earlier offense... it was a trivial matter. A small compensation will suffice to settle the matter."
Though Song Wen's words were casual and his tone gentle, Chen Heguang understood perfectly: the man was demanding compensation.
Far from being displeased, Chen Heguang was overjoyed.
If he could turn this misfortune into an opportunity to curry favor with a Void Refinement Stage cultivator, it would be a boon for both him and the entire Chen Family.
"Here are some spirit stones. Please accept them as a token of my sincerity, Senior."
A storage pouch suddenly appeared before Chen Heguang, drifting slowly toward Song Wen.
Song Wen accepted the pouch and examined its contents. A dark glint flashed in his eyes.
"A mere five thousand high-grade spirit stones? Is this meant to appease a beggar?"
When he was in Cloudveil City, Song Wen had possessed over sixty thousand high-grade spirit stones. Later, in preparation for his advancement to the Void Refinement Stage, he had spent over fifteen thousand spirit stones on high-level souls and cultivation materials.
His advancement to the Void Refinement Stage in the Corpse Soul Ravine had consumed nearly thirty thousand more spirit stones.
Now, he was left with only fifteen thousand high-grade spirit stones.
If he hadn't intended to extract more spirit stones from the Chen Family, he would never have wasted time allowing Chen Heguang and Zhu Yi to converse earlier.
Song Wen weighed the storage pouch in his hand, pondered briefly, and then said, "I'll accept these spirit stones. Let's consider the previous matter resolved."
"Senior's generosity is deeply appreciated," Chen Heguang replied, his face beaming with delight.
But his smile vanished almost instantly.
Song Wen spoke again, his voice ringing with authority:
"As a rogue cultivator who has wandered aimlessly for years, I have no fixed abode. Now that I've finally reached the Void Refinement Stage, it's time to find a place to settle down. Lotus Square City, with its abundant Spiritual Qi, suits my needs perfectly. I hereby declare that from this day forward, Lotus Square City shall be my cultivation grounds."
Chen Heguang's face froze in shock.
Lotus Square City had been the Chen Family's territory for tens of thousands of years. Could it really change hands with just a few words?
Not only Chen Heguang, but everyone in Lotus Square City found this declaration utterly unbelievable.
When Song Wen unleashed his Void Refinement Stage aura, the onlookers were utterly stunned.
A Void Refinement Stage cultivator had actually come to Lotus Square City!
In this Spiritual Qi-scarce region, it had been many years since such a powerful cultivator had last appeared.
Moreover, upon hearing Song Wen declare Lotus Square City his own, some astute rogue cultivators began to flee the city.
"S-Senior, surely you jest. Lotus Square City has been the ancestral home of my Chen Family for generations. It would hardly be appropriate for you to establish your cultivation grounds here," Chen Heguang stammered, unwilling to offend Song Wen yet unwilling to surrender Lotus Square City so easily.
Song Wen smiled faintly. "Oh? Your Chen Family also wishes to reside permanently in Lotus Square City? That's easily resolved. Simply purchase it."
"Purchase?" Chen Heguang's face twisted in disbelief.
Pay to buy back his own ancestral land?
Such absurdity had never been heard of!
"Naturally. Lotus Square City is now my cultivation domain. If your Chen Family desires it, you must acquire it with spirit stones," Song Wen stated matter-of-factly.
Chen Heguang finally understood: the five thousand high-grade spirit stones he had offered earlier were insufficient. Song Wen wanted more.
Though inwardly furious, Chen Heguang knew he was outmatched. He had no choice but to swallow his pride and pay to avert disaster.
"May I inquire, Senior, at what price you value Lotus Square City?"
"Modest enough," Song Wen replied. "One hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones."
(End of the Chapter)
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