"So—this is everything that happened?"
"Yes, City Lord."
Wang Yu covered his face in despair.
"Xu Ruozhou… you're truly hopeless."
He had just returned safely from the Yanluo Ghost Market and now stood at the gates of the City Lord's Hall, staring at the ruined central district—now reduced to a single surviving building. His fury was palpable.
Xu Ruozhou knelt, face flushed red with shame.
Wang Yu scolded him bitterly.
"Master Tianshui is Goldfull Pavilion's core refiner. He wrecked half the city, and you let him walk away with a 'thank you'?
"So many people died—he caused all of it. Rebuilding the city, compensating the victims—who's paying for that? Did he pay? Huh?!"
Xu Ruozhou suddenly remembered something. He fumbled in his pocket and produced a black iron pellet laced with lightning.
"Senior Tianshui said he misjudged the power of this item while killing the death warriors. He gave it to you as compensation and said that when he returns from the eastern shore, he'll make amends.
"He also said that when Lady Jin Miaoshan emerges from seclusion, she'll personally thank you."
Wang Yu took the Thunder Tribulation Pellet and sighed.
"Do I need her thanks? Why didn't you give me this earlier?"
"I… forgot."
Xu had recorded the lightning storm with a memory stone—not just for Wang Yu's review, but as evidence to demand reparations.
The pellet was deceptively small but terrifyingly potent. A one-time-use artifact with a blast radius far beyond its launch range. Powerful, but dangerous to use.
No one knew how many of these Tianshui had used to cause such devastation.
Wang Yu stored the pellet. His subordinates were already organizing repairs and relief efforts without needing orders.
What he really wanted to know was: when word spread that he'd "ordered another massacre," how would Yunling Province react?
Even if everyone knew it wasn't true, Crimson Kite Territory was never short on gossip.
After wrapping up the aftermath, Wang Yu was about to go pet Snowjade, the spirit beast he'd been raising in the manor. With premium pills, it was close to advancing.
Just then, Han Jia of Tianbao Pavilion arrived.
His voice came before his body.
"City Lord Wang! You've done it again—flattened Goldfull Pavilion! You're Tianbao's eternal ally now!"
"Hey hey hey—watch your words, Han Jia. You'll get me killed."
Han Jia came alone this time—his twin children weren't with him. He threw an arm around Wang Yu and chuckled.
"I get it. Big trees attract wind."
Wang Yu rolled his eyes.
"It wasn't me. Just wait—someone from Goldfull will step forward."
Han Jia squinted. "Really not you?"
"Obviously."
"Alright then."
He smacked his lips thoughtfully. From what he'd overheard, it seemed Wang Yu had been caught in Goldfull's internal power struggle.
Han Jia's expression turned sly.
"City Lord Wang, your talent for stirring trouble—I'm in awe."
"I didn't stir anything. Some people just ask for it."
"Fair point."
"So what brings you here, Han Jia? I've got a mountain of paperwork waiting."
"Oh right!"
He slapped his thigh and straightened up.
"Goldfull Pavilion's gone. Their market share in Spiritridge—does it now belong to Tianbao?"
Wang Yu frowned but didn't deny it.
"For now, yes."
Han Jia exhaled in relief.
"Great. I want to buy more land. Also, that Thunder Jade Banana Grove outside the city—how about selling it to me? Tianbao wants to expand."
"The land is fine. But the grove is off-limits. It's a legacy asset of the City Lord's Manor. I only hold rights for 300 years."
"Fair enough. Let's talk about the land—especially in the central district."
Han Jia didn't push for the grove. His real goal was to squeeze out the Guan, Jiang, and the three Core sects' businesses—and cancel the overpriced contracts they'd signed during the market rush.
Times had changed. Tianbao wasn't a charity.
His timing was perfect. Wang Yu couldn't refuse.
They argued until late afternoon.
After dinner, Han Jia finally left.
Wang Yu had just returned to his room and was loosening his belt when—
"Disaster! Disaster!"
Xu Ruozhou burst in, panicked.
"City Lord! The sacred tribute was robbed! Everyone's dead! No clues!"
BOOM—
The door exploded. Wang Yu grabbed Xu by the collar, eyes bloodshot.
"What did you say?!"
—
Night.
The main hall was packed with cultivators, led by Wang Yu and Qingyang.
Most were squad leaders, late-stage Qi Refining. Many were recruited rogue cultivators—average strength, questionable loyalty.
Wang Yu had only ruled Spiritridge for thirty years. His first batch of talent was still maturing, lacking battle-hardened experience.
The atmosphere was grim. No one dared speak. Wang Yu was seething.
For twenty-five years, the annual tribute of one million spirit stones had gone smoothly. But this year—everything unraveled.
The Fragrance Gathering failed. The lightning disaster struck. And now—the sacred tribute was stolen.
It was like fate had turned against him.
"Who the hell is targeting me?!"
Qingyang offered a theory.
"Could it be the Demon Earth Sect? Earth Puppet died in Spiritridge, and they've been suspiciously silent."
Wang Yu's killing intent surged, cloaking him in red mist. But his mind remained sharp.
"No. Demon Earth Sect is an old Yunling sect. Their silence is just playing dead.
"Better to pretend ignorance than admit weakness. Sometimes self-deception works."
"Then… could it be Little Talisman Lord Luo Chen? He did say the mission succeeded. Could this be revenge?"
Wang Yu paused, then shook his head.
"No. The Blood Reversal Sect doesn't mess with tribute—no matter the faction.
"Besides, Luo Chen is part of Zhuo Shouqing's lineage. He tricked me, yes—but he didn't burn the bridge. No mockery, no gloating. He's not looking for direct conflict."
"Then it must be Jinlin? But robbing tribute is a direct challenge to the sect. Even he wouldn't go that far."
Exactly. Jinlin had no reason to do this.
As Wang Yu and Qingyang exchanged thoughts, Xu Ruozhou suddenly spoke.
"City Lord… could it be the remnants of the Bai Clan?"
His words struck like lightning.
Of course.
Wang Yu had been focused on high-level threats and forgotten the Bai Clan—destroyed casually when he first arrived in Spiritridge.
In Crimson Kite, the stronger your backing, the more you understood the might of the Five Demonic Sects. They could fight seven powers and still hold the advantage.
In Lakeheart Domain, it took seven hegemonic powers to match the demonic sects.
But Foundation-level forces? They were far removed from Nascent Soul dominance. They had the recklessness of underdogs.
If anyone dared rob the tribute—it was likely the Bai Clan remnants.
Especially since their Grand Elder hadn't died. He'd been taken by Yellow Spring Temple.
If Yellow Spring was involved, this could escalate into a clash between hegemonic powers.
Wang Yu doubted Yellow Spring was directly involved—but they likely supported the Bai Elder. He might've even broken through to Core Formation.
After a moment's thought, Wang Yu admitted Xu had a point.
"Where's the Bai Clan's ancestral home? It's been twenty years—surely their old patriarch is dead?"
"City Lord, the Bai Clan wasn't originally from Yunling. We don't know where their ancestral home is."
"Useless."
Wang Yu snorted.
"First priority—replace this year's tribute. Qingyang."
"Here."
"Notify the Guan and Jiang clans, Purple Dragon Mountain, Inkveil Sect, and Fragrance Sect. Tell them the Bai Clan robbed the tribute—they all need to contribute."
"Understood!"
The City Lord's Manor had no surplus. This was the only way to plug the gap.
"Xu Ruozhou—take a squad and come with me to inspect the scene."
"Yes!"
"Everyone else—find the Bai Clan's ancestral home. This time, I want them wiped out. Not a single dog left alive."
"Yes!"
After the midnight meeting, Wang Yu penned a letter to the Yunling Provincial Capital.
Unlike Feng Province, Yunling was small but rich in spiritual veins. It had hotspots like Heavenly Demon Bone Forest and Eastern Capital Ruins, attracting cultivators from other regions.
Yunling's capital had multiple Nascent Soul cultivators.
Given the Bai Clan's ties to Yellow Spring Temple, Wang Yu had to act early—even if nothing had happened yet.
He sent the letter to test the waters. If trouble came, he'd have proof he'd warned them.
With that done, he departed with Xu Ruozhou and his men.
(End of Chapter)
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