The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Terrifying Donglin City Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Terrifying Donglin City Jing Yan smiled at Chen Bing.

Seeing Jing Yan’s smiling face, Chen Bing’s heart immediately filled with joy.

There’s hope!

There’s hope!

Chen Bing thought ecstatically.

In an instant, he felt that his previous groveling was very much worth it.

“City Lord Chen Bing, I am grateful that you are willing to help the Jing Family take over the South District Market, but I am just an ordinary member of the Jing Family.

Our Clan Leader is right here,” Jing Yan said with a smile.

“Jing Clan Patriarch, please allow me to help,” Chen Bing said urgently, his eyes darting swiftly towards Jing Chengye.

Even Jing Yan could see that City Lord Huo Chunyang intended to let Chen Bing off the hook; how could Jing Chengye, the Jing Family Patriarch who had lived for nearly a century, fail to notice?

Moreover, at this moment, Jing Chengye was still immersed in shock and delight.

Bringing the South District Market into their fold would greatly assist the development of the entire Jing Family.

Chen Bing’s previous disdain had, unbeknownst to him, faded significantly.

“Then we shall trouble City Lord Chen Bing,” Jing Chengye immediately said.

“As I should!

As I should!” Chen Bing promptly nodded eagerly in agreement.

“City Lord, is there anything else?” Zhao Dangyuan said, his face looking as if it could drip water.

“That’s all, you may go,” Huo Chunyang dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

After Huo Chunyang finished speaking, Zhao Dangyuan immediately started to leave.

“Patriarch Zhao, wait for me!” Cang Long, the Outer Court Deacon of Divine Wind Academy, also stood up and followed.

His relationship with Huo Chunyang had soured; he definitely didn’t want to continue staying at the City Lord Mansion.

With the selection in Donglin City scheduled a month later, and his needing to stay in Donglin City for more than a month, Cang Long felt uncomfortable at the thought of remaining at the City Lord Mansion daily.

Cang Long and Zhao Dangyuan, along with others, left.

Qing Mo and Leng Zhu continued to stay at the City Lord Mansion.

Since they hadn’t made an enemy of the city lord, it was naturally better to stay there.

“City Lord, I…” Cai Yunjian watched blankly as Zhao Dangyuan and the others left.

His feelings were incredibly conflicted.

“Cai Family Patriarch, you may also leave,” Huo Chunyang said to Cai Yunjian.

“Alas…” Cai Yunjian sighed helplessly.

He clearly understood that even if he begged on his knees, the Jing Family would not return the half of the workshop originally owned by his Cai Family.

Similarly, if the battle between Jing Yan and Zhao Zhenyan had resulted in Jing Yan’s death, Zhao Family taking over the West District Square wouldn’t have led the Cai Family to give half of the South District Market to the Jing Family.

Cai Yunjian and the Cai Family plodded away, carrying a forlorn image.

“Jing Yan, impressive!

Truly impressive.

I have never seen at Dao Yi Academy, a martial artist of your age with the combat power of a Late-stage Innate Martial Artist,” Qing Mo lavished praise on Jing Yan without reservation.

“Mr.

Qing Mo, you flatter me too much,” Jing Yan quickly responded.

Before City Lord Huo Chunyang returned, Qing Mo was the only person among all present who spoke in his favor, and he naturally felt grateful.

He also decided that if nothing unexpected happened, he would enter Dao Yi Academy for cultivation.

The people who still remained were mostly amicable, and after exchanging pleasantries, Jing Chengye also bid the city lord farewell.

He was eager to return and immediately arrange the subsequent tasks.

The Jing Family was about to take over the South District Market.

This meant that the Jing Family would now own two markets, and the prosperity of the Jing Family was to commence in Donglin City.

“Jing Yan, stay back for a while, I have something to tell you,” Huo Chunyang said to Jing Yan, who was also preparing to leave with Jing Chengye.

“Oh?

Oh!” Jing Yan was momentarily startled but quickly recovered.

Jing Yan was curious as to why Huo Chunyang was so kind to him.

He speculated that perhaps City Lord Huo Chunyang had a good relationship with his grandfather Jing Tian, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

If Huo Chunyang had an extraordinary relationship with grandfather Jing Tian, then he wouldn’t have remained unreactive regarding Jing Tian’s death.

Seeing the city lord and Jing Yan needed to speak privately, everyone else tactfully said their goodbyes and left.

In the blink of an eye, only Huo Chunyang, his wife Lv Yan, and Jing Yan remained in the square.

“Jing Yan, what is your relationship with Bai Xue, the City Lord of Duyang City?” Huo Chunyang directly asked.

“Bai Xue City Lord?” Jing Yan’s gaze shifted slightly.

He suddenly understood; Huo Chunyang’s vehement protection was evidently related to Bai Xue City Lord.

“Bai Xue City Lord is my savior!” Jing Yan said.

This was the truth.

Back at the Wei Family, if Bai Xue City Lord had not intervened, he might have already been killed by the Second Elder of the Qian Family.

“Bai Xue City Lord really treats you well!

Jing Yan, you little fellow, you know how to keep things hidden, making acquaintance with Bai Xue City Lord,” Huo Chunyang said with a laugh.

Hearing this, Jing Yan was momentarily taken aback.

Huo Chunyang’s words seemed to contain a hint of something unusual.

Could it be that Bai Xue City Lord had some other identity?

Recalling the time at Wei Family’s place, where Bai Xue City Lord personally executed Qian Family’s Second Elder, Qian Feng, Jing Yan increasingly felt this possibility was significant.

Because, in Donglin City, City Lord Huo Chunyang would absolutely not casually execute an elder from Zhao Family.

When Huo Chunyang mentioned Bai Xue, his demeanor was obviously one of respect.

It was not possible for Huo Chunyang to show such respect for Bai Xue City Lord simply because he favored her, especially since his wife, Lv Yan, was right beside him.

“Jing Yan, do you know that Bai Xue City Lord is the daughter of the Prince?” Lv Yan asked with a smile.

“What?” Jing Yan’s eyes suddenly widened.

He had guessed that Bai Xue had another identity, but he had not dared to assume that Bai Xue City Lord was actually the Prince’s daughter.

Such a background was too significant—the entire owner of Lanqu County was the Prince.

“You didn’t know?” Huo Chunyang’s eyebrows also furrowed.

“City Lord, I truly didn’t know that Bai Xue City Lord was the daughter of the Prince,” Jing Yan shook his head as he spoke.

“You lad, I don’t even know what to say about your luck,” Huo Chunyang said with a helpless expression.

Many people dreamed of forming a connection with Bai Xue City Lord.

And yet Jing Yan, ignorant of Bai Xue’s identity, managed to earn her concern such that she specifically sought out Huo Chunyang to look after him.

“Jing Yan, you have outstanding talent and a limitless future, but you must not become complacent.

The path of Martial Arts is full of hardships and obstacles, and to walk far, you must never slacken.

If you encounter any difficulties in the future, come to the City Lord Mansion to find me,” Huo Chunyang continued.

“You can also find me!” Lv Yan chimed in with a smile.

…

All of Donglin City was shaken!

“Jing Family’s Jing Yan, inside the City Lord Mansion, killed Zhao Family’s Zhao Zhenyan?”

“What?

Have you lost your mind?

Have you started spouting nonsense?”

“This is absolutely true!

Zhao Zhenyan is dead!

I heard that Zhao Zhenyan was already in the Late Innate Realm, but still, he was no match for Jing Yan and was killed on the spot by him!”

“It’s ridiculous, I don’t believe it!

The more it’s said, the more outrageous it sounds.

Zhao Zhenyan was in the Late Innate, and Jing Yan could kill him?” A scornful voice rose, clearly disbelieving.

Inside Donglin City, there was a stir.

When Jing Yan won the first place in the Jing Family competition and later re-attained the Innate level, it sparked discussions among only a small group of people.

But this time, the entire Donglin City was discussing Jing Yan.

Who was Zhao Zhenyan?

Reportedly, he was the next pre-chosen Clan Leader of Zhao Family!

What kind of status was that?

The future Clan Leader of the first family of Donglin City was killed by Jing Yan.

It was impossible for Jing Yan not to become famous.

With the renown of Jing Yan soaring, that of the Jing Family also greatly increased.

Gradually, the martial artists of Donglin City also learned that the Jing Family had acquired the South District Market.

Moreover, the City Lord had a close relationship with the Jing Family.

After killing Zhao Zhenyan and still living well, it was precisely because of his direct connection with the City Lord, who protected him, that even Patriarch Zhao Dangyuan of Zhao Family could do nothing against Jing Yan.

After returning to the Jing Family from the City Lord Mansion, Jing Yan had no time to rest before being summoned by the Clan Leader.

Inside the Jing Family Council Hall, the Clan Leader, family elders, family managers, etc., all gathered.

When Jing Yan entered the Council Hall from the outside, all eyes instantly fixated on him.

The current Jing Yan was incomparable to his former self.

Now, Jing Yan possessed the strength to kill a Late-stage Innate Expert, Zhao Zhenyan.

Within the Jing Family, Jing Yan’s strength subtly hinted at him possibly becoming the third highest in rank.

The first and second were, of course, Clan Leader Jing Chengye and Fourth Elder Jing Tianying.

Hence, third could very likely be Jing Yan.

“Jing Yan has arrived!”

“Jing Yan, come here and sit down!”

“…”

Voices quickly filled the air.

Jing Yan, also wearing a smile, continuously nodded and finally walked to a seat and sat down.

He swept his gaze around and realized that in the Council Hall, he was the only young person present.

Others were at least thirty years old.

He was the only younger generation member participating in this family council.

“Ladies and gentlemen!”

Jing Chengye turned his gaze and spoke.

The noise in the Council Hall quickly subsided.

Everyone looked at Clan Leader Jing Chengye.

Most people there had flushed faces and fervent eyes, clearly extremely excited.

They all knew that the Jing Family was set to take over the South District Market.

“As everyone is likely aware, the South District Market is now under our Jing Family’s control.

I’ve called you here to discuss management issues concerning the South District Market,” Jing Chengye said, narrowing his eyes and smiling broadly.

“Clan Leader, let me manage the South District Market!” Great Elder, Jing Chunyu, directly spoke up.

Hearing Jing Chunyu’s words, Jing Chengye’s eyebrows furrowed.

In his heart, he also felt a slight chill.

He certainly wouldn’t forget Jing Chunyu’s behavior inside the City Lord Mansion.

This old man wanted to break away from the Jing Family.

To put it unkindly, Jing Chunyu was a family traitor.

Such a person really had no true loyalty.

It was clearly impossible for Jing Chengye not to have an opinion about Jing Chunyu.

Jing Chengye sneered, looking at Jing Chunyu, “Great Elder, there’s no need to rush.

How the South District Market came into our hands, you are very clear since you were at the scene.

I think that I don’t have the authority to directly let anyone manage the South District Market.”