Things had spiraled out of control.
Forget Jin Miaoshan's grim expression—outside, the cultivators were already testing Goldfull Pavilion's defenses with low-grade talismans.
With tens of thousands gathered, they didn't even need to use one talisman each. Their sheer numbers alone could shatter the second-tier formation protecting the building.
Inside, the Core Formation elder who had caused the disaster was growing nervous, though he still tried to sound confident.
"Miss, Elder Zhou and I are both late-stage Core Formation. We can kill—"
"Kill your mother! Kill—are you brain-dead?!"
Jin Miaoshan's long-suppressed fury finally erupted. The building was full of arrogant fools who didn't know their place. That was exactly why Goldfull Pavilion had been losing ground to Tianbao Pavilion in recent years.
"Business is built on harmony. You open your mouth and it's kill, kill—who would dare trade with Goldfull Pavilion?"
"Miss…" The elder looked aggrieved.
But Jin Miaoshan wasn't done.
"I just said Goldfull Pavilion values rules above all, and you immediately threaten someone in front of me. Are you trying to slap me in the face? What do you think you're doing? Huh?!
"Are you defending my honor? Since when is my business your concern? Have I been too lenient with you—letting your grandson disgust me with his antics?!"
Perhaps her usual restraint toward powerful subordinates had allowed resentment to build. Now, it burst forth uncontrollably.
Even Elder Zhou, who had just arrived, was stunned. He'd never seen her like this.
After three breaths, Jin Miaoshan calmed herself.
"This cannot be allowed to escalate. If word spreads, Goldfull Pavilion's reputation will be ruined. Tianbao Pavilion will seize the opportunity to steal our market."
Finally, Elder Zhou dared speak. His face was bitter.
"That brat has awakened everyone's greed. Even if he retracts his decree, it's too late. They'll attack regardless."
Indeed. There was no turning back.
Even Jin Miaoshan, who prided herself on her cunning, had no solution.
Then—
The scolded elder suddenly spoke again.
"The Spiritridge branch is lost. That brat won't get away either. The Pavilion won't let him go. Why don't I go capture him—"
"Shut up!"
This time, Elder Zhou snapped at him. Seeing Jin Miaoshan's face darken again, he quickly tried to save his old friend.
"Brother Liu, are you still not thinking straight? That's the City Lord of Spiritridge. This is Blood Reversal Sect territory!
"You want to kill their Enforcement Hall Master on their own turf? Are you insane? And he invoked three Nascent Soul clans—together they have over ten Nascent Soul elders. You want to take responsibility?"
"I… What if he's lying? Even if it's true, why would so many Nascent Soul elders avenge one dead man?"
"Heh…"
Jin Miaoshan shook her head, utterly disappointed in Liu. Her gaze turned icy.
"Does justice even matter? What if they use this as an excuse to extort the Pavilion? You know what happens when justice is denied—do we pay or fight? If a Nascent Soul elder dies, will you take the blame?
"Even if we kill Wang Yu, what's the point? Can we recover our losses? Do you know how much a merchant guild's reputation is worth? It's priceless!"
Liu finally realized the gravity of his mistake. His knees buckled, and he knelt.
"Liu… Liu is willing to die to atone."
"Die? Too easy. We'll deal with you after this mess is cleaned up."
Jin Miaoshan gritted her teeth and flicked a pearl from her fingers. It vanished into the air.
…
City Lord's Manor
Wang Yu stood calmly atop the highest point, watching Goldfull Pavilion surrounded by a sea of cultivators. He hadn't expected things to escalate this far—but he wasn't worried.
This was exactly why he'd signed a contract with the Blood Reversal Sect's Third Young Master. For moments like this, when he needed a tiger's skin to wave around.
Was the trouble big? Sure.
But no matter.
First, he'd kill someone. That old bastard had disgusted him. If his death aura trump card hadn't been lost with the destruction of his corpse arm, he would've slapped the elder on the spot—let him taste life-shortening death qi.
Just as Wang Yu was brimming with malice—
Space rippled before him. A translucent pearl pierced through the void and hovered in front of him. Wang Yu's expression changed.
Several golden chains from the third-tier formation lashed out, binding the pearl tightly.
A moment later—
Jin Miaoshan's voice emerged from within, gentle and cordial.
"Brother Wang, this matter was mishandled by me. Do you have a way to disperse these greedy cultivators? I'm open to negotiation."
She had no choice. Wang Yu's swift and ruthless retaliation suggested he might have a backup plan. Surely he didn't intend mutual destruction?
At this point, Goldfull Pavilion's losses were inevitable. Minimizing damage was her top priority.
Especially the fallout.
The blow to Goldfull Pavilion's reputation was severe—so severe that even as a succession candidate, she might be disqualified. Not even a couple Nascent Soul elders could protect her.
Because this incident harmed the interests of the many.
Wang Yu's heart pounded. He did have a contingency plan—but its success rate was only 20%. If this played out, he'd have to return to the sect and become one of the infamous "Four Wastes of Blood Reversal."
He might not dare leave the sect until reaching Nascent Soul. His cultivation would rely solely on the placement panel.
Still, even if tempted, he couldn't agree too easily. That would make him look weak.
"You're dreaming. I'd love nothing more than to see you all die here."
Then—
The pearl shimmered, phasing through the golden chains as if they didn't exist. It projected the top floor of Goldfull Pavilion.
There sat Jin Miaoshan, flanked by one standing and one kneeling elder.
"This treasure is the [Void Projection Pearl], a top-grade third-tier artifact. It possesses rare spatial phasing abilities. You can't hold me. Better to ask for something useful.
"If you truly destroy Goldfull Pavilion's Spiritridge branch, even if you're in the right, no one can protect you. Not even hiding in Blood Reversal Sect will help."
Wang Yu narrowed his eyes. Jin Miaoshan was trying to provoke him.
And why project the entire scene? Just the two of them talking would've sufficed.
He spotted the flaw.
The kneeling elder—the one who had threatened to kill him.
"Heh."
"If you want to negotiate, kill that kneeling old bastard. Send his corpse to the City Lord's Manor. Then we'll talk."
"Agreed."
Jin Miaoshan didn't hesitate. Before Wang Yu finished speaking, she crushed a jade token.
"Miss!"
Elder Zhou barely had time to speak before giving up. In that brief moment, Elder Liu collapsed. His soul vanished, though his body retained a trace of vitality.
He had become a perfect corpse-refining material—
A living dead.
This was Goldfull Pavilion's [Soul-Erasing Curse], planted in the Niwan Palace of select outsiders.
Only guardians of elite heirs received this "honor." It was a safeguard against betrayal in life-or-death situations.
Normally, guardians were carefully chosen. Their fate was tied to the heir they protected.
But—never underestimate the ruthlessness of demonic cultivators. There was always a reason. Just trust the system.
"Now… can we talk?"
Wang Yu burst into manic laughter, revealing a side of himself rarely seen.
He had to play the madman. The crazier he acted, the more leverage he'd gain in negotiations.
"Jin Miaoshan, you're more interesting than I thought."
"Hey—old man over there.
"Your colleague's death is on your lady's head. She baited me into demanding it. I'm sure things were lively on your end while I was gone."
Elder Zhou closed his eyes and ears, pretending to know nothing.
But he'd clawed his way up from the bottom. The Jin Clan's politics and schemes were more twisted than any imperial harem. He understood her intentions perfectly.
So what?
His Zhou Clan's bloodline was tied to the Jin Clan's blessed lands. It was both an honor—and a shackle.
Sigh…
"This has gone on long enough. Even if we find a solution now, it might be too late."
Jin Miaoshan was growing impatient. Her tone sharpened.
Wang Yu saw the opening and decided to press his advantage. He didn't have much confidence—but the timing was ripe.
"Give me all information Goldfull Pavilion has on Eastern Polaris. I mean all of it."
Jin Miaoshan paused, then understood his plan.
She hesitated. "Will that really work?"
"How should I know? Worth a try."
Wang Yu shrugged.
"You already know my exit strategy. My compensation demands aren't excessive. Give me those two third-tier materials. Then I want two top-grade Core Formation treasures—one must be yin or ice-aligned."
"Impossible!"
She refused without hesitation.
"Do you know how rare Core Formation treasures are? Especially with fixed attributes? Once they appear, they're used immediately. Even Goldfull Pavilion doesn't have purchasing channels for that."
"I don't believe you."
Wang Yu didn't even try to hide his skepticism. He sneered openly.
"Goldfull Pavilion spans two domains. If you told me you didn't have spare Nascent Soul treasures, I might believe it. But Core Formation treasures? Come on—who are you trying to fool?"
"I—"
Seeing her hesitation, Wang Yu switched targets.
"Not willing? Then hand over the [Everliving Spirit Branch] as compensation."
"No! That's an ultimate-grade—"
"This won't do, that won't do—then let's all die together."
Wang Yu turned to leave.
Jin Miaoshan couldn't hold back anymore. She lowered her bottom line once again.
"Wait! I'll agree to your previous terms. But I can't guarantee fixed yin or ice attributes. The Core Formation treasures will be standard grade."
To that, Wang Yu had only one word:
"Scram."
(End of Chapter)