Sometimes, things often take unexpected turns!
Ye Zhen had not anticipated that the affair at Qingshui Pier would escalate like this.
What Ye Zhen received was the news that merely moments after he left, Head of the Inner Affairs Hall, Zhu Ling, coughed up blood—yes, he sprayed out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Then, in utter haste, Zhu Ling rushed to Qingshui Pier because... Qingshui Pier had been overtaken.
Slightly over half an hour after the disturbance at Qingshui Pier began, the Heavenly Net Sect’s subdivision quietly moved into Qingshui Martial City and seized control of the pier with little resistance.
The dozen or so Soul Sea Realm Martial Artists stationed there were no match for the invading Vein Forging Realm powerhouses from the Heavenly Net Sect.
As for the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s subdivision in Qinghe Martial City, they received no call for help, since the remaining Soul Sea Realm Martial Artists at Qingshui Pier didn’t have the qualifications or means to contact the sect’s subdivision.
By the time the Helm Master of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s subdivision noticed something was amiss with Qingshui Pier, the Heavenly Net Sect had already taken over.
Zhu Ling, as Helm Master of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s subdivision in Qingshui Martial City, had made special arrangements, immediately attempting to lead a counterattack, given that the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s presence was much larger in Qinghe Martial City than the relatively small Heavenly Net Sect, which reaped less profit.
However, they were met with the Heavenly Net Sect’s desperate resistance, and before a conclusion to the battle could be reached, reinforcements from Qinglan Martial City of the Heavenly Net Sect arrived at Qingshui Pier, forcing the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s subdivision back.
What was even more fatal was that at this time, the Heavenly Net Sect bit back at the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
Wug Mengshan, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Net Sect, sent a harshly worded Talisman Communication directly to the Sun and Moon Divine Sect Leader, Jian Qianxiong.
"Does your Sun and Moon Divine Sect intend to start a war?"
Such wording made Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong take the matter extremely seriously because the Sun and Moon Divine Sect had just secured the rights to use a Supreme Spirit Vein for five years. It was a critical time for nurturing vitality and rapidly enhancing strength. During these five years, the Sun and Moon Divine Sect absolutely did not want to engage in major conflicts with any party.
After a few Talisman Communications were sent to investigate, the whole reason became clear. Then, Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong felt deflated and, at the same time, sent an extremely stern Talisman Communication to Head of the Inner Affairs Hall, Zhu Ling, ordering him to quickly resolve the matter.
Why would Jian Qianxiong make a decision that seemed to favor outsiders?
This was not in line with Jian Qianxiong’s usual way of doing things!
The main reason was that, fundamentally, the Sun and Moon Divine Sect was in the wrong!
Factually, it was the Heavenly Net Sect that took the initiative to seize Qingshui Pier. The Heavenly Net Sect was unreasonable first, but the problem was, on the surface, Qingshui Pier was not the property or territory of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect!
The Heavenly Net Sect simply took the initiative to seize the property of a local tycoon.
On the other hand, it was the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s subdivision from Qinghe Martial City that took the initiative to attack the Heavenly Net Sect, thus putting themselves in the wrong.
This was also why Zhu Ling was able to maintain control of Qingshui Pier; whenever an external enemy invaded, the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s subdivision would come to assist, and the matter would then escalate to the level of whether the two major powers would wage war, naturally deterring anyone from forcefully taking Qingshui Pier.
This time, however, everything went completely awry.
In such a situation, even the typically resolute Sun and Moon Divine Sect Leader, Jian Qianxiong, had to bow his head.
The root cause of all this was because Head of the Inner Affairs Hall, Zhu Ling, used the might of the sect to privately possess property.
Originally, Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong was somewhat aware of such affairs, yet he had always turned a blind eye; it was no big deal for high-ranking sect members to have some private property as long as it was not excessive—after all, water that is too pure holds no fish.
But the problem was that this time, it caused a load of trouble and forced Jian Qianxiong to bow his head. Hence, the Dao Talisman Communication that Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong sent to Zhu Ling at noon was extremely harsh, even containing a tinge of reprimand.
In addition to the various losses at Qingshui Pier, especially the death of his six trusted followers stationed at the pier, the numerous severe blows led to Zhu Ling spurting out a mouthful of fresh blood on the spot!
It didn’t matter that they lost territories, with people they could snatch it back, but once people were gone, they were truly lost....
Not only that, Ye Zhen had also predicted one thing correctly—Zhu Ling was too busy to concern himself with Ye Zhen, at least for the short term.
The Qingshui Pier was lost forever, occupied by the Heavenly Net Sect, so expecting them to vomit it back up was outright impossible. Far from giving it back, Zhu Ling had to speak a few soft words regarding the Sun and Moon Divine Sect Subdivision’s attack on the Heavenly Net Sect, truly a situation where he was aggrieved at every turn.
The Heavenly Net Sect had seized the advantages, naturally letting the matter pass.
The challenge lay in dealing with the many merchants of the Qingshui Pier, those who had paid deposits for goods, those who provided surety deposits, and those who lost merchandise in the chaos of battle, all swarming to Zhu Ling at this time.
Because Zhu Zhong had always conducted his operations under the name of Zhu Ling, Head of the Inner Affairs Hall, it was only with Zhu Ling’s endorsement that merchants dared to do business at Qingshui Pier.
Now, all the trouble had fallen squarely upon Zhu Ling’s head.
Normally, Zhu Ling could completely ignore them, shirking any responsibility, regardless of their complaints.
However, with the Heavenly Net Sect watching on the side, backing these merchants, and with instructions from Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong overhead, Zhu Ling had never felt so humiliated and beleaguered in the latter half of his life.
It wasn’t just about being aggrieved, the Spirit Crystals were flowing out like water.
For all cases with solid evidence, he could only compensate on the spot. This was a matter concerning the reputation of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, and it had to be done this way.
One thing led to another, and the Mid-grade Spirit Crystals Zhu Ling had thrown out had exceeded one million pieces. Counting his losses, it was a figurative drop in the ocean for Zhu Ling, making him itch with hatred!
Every day, from morning to night, he was consumed with thoughts of revenge!
But he had no idea who the target was!
Although he strongly suspected that Ye Zhen was the perpetrator, after having several experts examine the scene, they all came to one conclusion—the method that could kill a Martial Artist at the Fifth or Sixth Stage of the Vein Forging Realm without a sound or trace could only belong to an Establishment King, and not just any ordinary Establishment King at that.
Ye Zhen’s suspicion was washed away, but Zhu Ling was extremely perplexed as to how Ye Zhen knew he would be tied up with other matters?
Or to say, was it not Ye Zhen who did it himself, but Ye Zhen had someone else do it?
In other words, did Ye Zhen have a relationship with a terrifyingly powerful Establishment King?
Zhu Ling considered a possibility that sent chills down his neck.
Of course, all these thoughts would come later.
While Zhu Ling was flustered and raging inwardly, Ye Zhen arrived back at his Spirit Academy, covered in dust.
"You’re back, eh? Looking at you, it must have gone quite smoothly?" Not long after Ye Zhen returned, Feng Qingyue arrived.
Ye Zhen, of course, would not share the dangers he encountered on the way with Feng Qingyue. Instead, Feng Qingyue began to arrange a wine spread to celebrate and cleanse Ye Zhen from his journey’s hardships.
"Oh, right, there’s something I almost forgot!" Amidst their light drinking, Feng Qingyue suddenly took out an Invitation sealed with Spiritual Power, "Someone has been looking for you, and not just once!"
"Who?"
"Elder Yang Yiguan of the Beast Taming Sect!"
The cup Ye Zhen had just raised was abruptly suspended in mid-air. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to qi dian (qidian.com) to vote for the recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com).

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