Chapter 315: Chapter 302: The Dominant Xu Zhengyang
Silence.
Faced with Xu Zhengyang’s questioning, Zhong Chuming remained silent.
He had anticipated Xu Zhengyang’s arrival. After all, as the Head Shopkeeper of Profound Sun Pavilion and the Deputy City Lord of Immortal Sun City, it was reasonable for Xu Zhengyang to investigate after receiving the rescue signal from the Profound Sun Order.
However, he hadn’t expected that Xu Zhengyang would directly break through the Cave Mansion Array with brute force and enter without any greeting.
And he still hadn’t figured out how to explain this matter.
"Since Fellow Daoist Zhong won’t speak, Fellow Daoist Zhou, you speak!"
Xu Zhengyang didn’t look at Zhong Chuming again, but instead nodded slightly at Zhouyang, signaling him to speak.
Upon hearing this, Zhouyang moved instantly, first stepping behind Xu Zhengyang, then truthfully recounting everything he had discovered.
"Elder Xu, please observe carefully. At that time, this junior brought a spirit pet to visit, hoping to ask Elder Zhong to help establish the Demonic Soul Contract. Elder Zhong agreed readily, but when this junior took out the spirit pet, Elder Zhong suddenly changed his mind and attempted to forcefully buy the spirit pet. This junior pretended to stabilize him with words, secretly took the opportunity to store the spirit pet in the Spirit Beast Bag, and then activated the Profound Sun Order to send the rescue signal..."
"Also, Elder Zhong said that even if the Profound Sun Order could protect this junior temporarily, it couldn’t protect him forever. He would eventually find an opportunity to kill this junior!"
His voice was devoid of emotion, like a feelingless recorder.
Yet, the words from his mouth caused both Xu Zhengyang and Zhong Chuming, these two Golden Core Stage cultivators, to turn pale, filled with shock and anger.
Zhong Chuming was understandably furious, as Zhouyang openly revealed his threat in front of him, clearly showing disdain, rich with sarcasm and contempt.
However, Xu Zhengyang’s expression puzzled Zhong Chuming.
He couldn’t comprehend why Xu Zhengyang would show such shock and anger because of Zhouyang’s words. In his view, Xu Zhengyang had already fulfilled the obligation of a cultivator from the Profound Sun Immortal Sect by coming to rescue Zhouyang, so there was no reason for him to be angry over Zhouyang’s words.
After all, he admitted his wrongdoing today, but he was a Golden Core Stage cultivator from the esteemed Beast Taming Sect. Xu Zhengyang had no reason to be angry with him over an unharmed Zhouyang!
He could never have imagined that, in his eyes, Zhouyang, whom he could kill casually, was actually a highly favored talented junior of a Nascent Soul Stage Zhenren, and that he had almost killed the treasured junior right under the eyes of that Zhenren.
Xu Zhengyang naturally wouldn’t explain this. He glared angrily at Zhong Chuming and shouted, "Zhong Chuming! Is what Fellow Daoist Zhou said true? Considering your standing with the Beast Taming Sect, I’ll give you a chance to explain!"
Being questioned like a criminal and directly called by name in front of outsiders infuriated Zhong Chuming.
He was a dignified Golden Core Stage cultivator; did he really have no face at all?
He flicked his sleeve, and with a dark face, he coldly snorted, "Hmph, Xu Zhengyang, what explanation do you wish to hear from Zhong? Do you perhaps want to fight Zhong here in Immortal Sun City for this kid?"
Others might fear the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, but Zhong Chuming did not.
While the Beast Taming Sect’s overall strength might be weaker than the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, they held the Secret Technique of Demonic Soul Contract, making them desirable allies for many high-tier cultivators and sects.
Any force opposing the Beast Taming Sect would be unable to establish Demonic Soul Contracts with Demon Beasts through them.
Unfortunately, he thoroughly underestimated Zhouyang’s position and overestimated his own and Beast Taming Sect’s standing.
Upon hearing his confident and arrogant words, Xu Zhengyang’s face instantly turned cold, and he shouted, "You said it yourself, now take a sword from me first!"
Before the shout had faded, Xu Zhengyang threw his flying sword, which shot directly towards Zhong Chuming.
Zhong Chuming never expected Xu Zhengyang to actually dare to strike!
In that moment, he couldn’t react at all, only instinctively activating his Body-Protecting Divine Techniques to manifest a blue-black giant turtle phantom to shield himself.
The Body-Protecting Divine Techniques of Golden Core Stage cultivators were formidable, and Xu Zhengyang didn’t genuinely intend to kill.
Thus, although the sword broke through Zhong Chuming’s divine protection, it only left a sword wound on his shoulder, not truly harming his core.
Yet, even so, to be wounded by Xu Zhengyang in front of some junior cultivators caused Zhong Chuming, a Golden Core Stage cultivator, to lose face entirely, nearly making him explode in anger!
"Xu Zhengyang, have you gone mad? You dare attack me for the sake of a junior who’s not even a disciple of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect!"
His fiery gaze locked onto Xu Zhengyang, letting out an angry shout, his face full of incredulity.
Yet Xu Zhengyang merely looked at him with icy eyes, and with a cold, heavy snort replied, "Hmph, who’s truly mad? Don’t you know yourself? Or do you think that with the Beast Taming Sect backing you up, my Profound Sun Immortal Sect wouldn’t dare punish you?"
"Today, I, Xu Zhengyang, will use the blood of Zhong Chuming to tell everyone that the rules in Immortal Sun City are the rules of our Profound Sun Immortal Sect!"
"Anyone who dares ignore the rules of my Profound Sun Immortal Sect in the city, no matter who they are or which sect they come from, cannot escape the punishment of my Profound Sun Immortal Sect!"
The resounding words echoed throughout the cave mansion, giving Zhong Chuming an utterly absurd feeling in his heart.
Rules, what rules? In the eyes of Golden Core Stage cultivators, they’re merely spoken for those below Golden Core Stage.
As a Golden Core Stage cultivator, when have they ever truly abided by such rules?
Even in a place like "Liuyun Immortal City," if a Golden Core Stage cultivator occasionally oversteps the rules, as long as they clean up afterwards and the other party lacks significant background, the city’s law enforcement cultivators generally pretend not to see it.
After all, with cultivation reaching the Golden Core Stage, one has truly entered the upper echelons of the Cultivation Realm, and the upper class, no matter the world, is a privileged class, possessing special privileges ordinary people do not.
Therefore, hearing Xu Zhengyang speak to him so righteously about rules, Zhong Chuming felt it was laughably absurd, and his anger became hard to contain.
Of course, despite his immense anger, he wasn’t foolish. Xu Zhengyang’s protection of Zhouyang made him realize that this young man with merely the first-layer of the Purple Mansion cultivation might not be as simple as he imagined of an ordinary cultivator from a small sect or clan.
Thus, even though he was extremely angry, he wasn’t so foolish as to make a move against Xu Zhengyang, who controlled the city defense array of Immortal Sun City. Instead, he looked at Xu Zhengyang with cold eyes and said in a cold voice, "Xu Zhengyang, I will remember this sword, let’s see how things go between us in the future!"
After saying this, he immediately flung his sleeve and walked straight out of the cave mansion, seemingly deciding not to stay in Immortal Sun City any longer.
What he never expected was that even after he’d swallowed his anger and showed weakness, Xu Zhengyang still wouldn’t relent!
"Stop!"
Xu Zhengyang shouted in a low voice, suddenly calling out to Zhong Chuming who hadn’t yet left the cave mansion.
Then, as Zhong Chuming turned back with extreme shock and anger wanting to say something, Xu Zhengyang interrupted, "You hurt Fellow Daoist Zhou’s feelings, and you wish to just walk away like that?"
Upon hearing this, Zhong Chuming couldn’t hold back any longer. His aura surged wildly, and pointing at Xu Zhengyang, he angrily shouted, "Xu Zhengyang! Don’t go too far!"
"Enough with the nonsense, if you don’t complete the transaction with Fellow Daoist Zhou today, I will use the city defense array to suppress you within the Flame Prison in the city for ten years as punishment!"
As Xu Zhengyang spoke, he flipped his palm, revealing a glowing crimson array banner in his hand, which was the controlling array banner of the city defense array in Immortal Sun City.
With this array banner, as long as Xu Zhengyang was within Immortal Sun City, he could employ thirty percent of the power of the city’s Tier Six Lower Grade array for his use.
Although it’s only thirty percent of the array’s power, it’s sufficient to easily suppress all opponents below the Ninth-Layer Golden Core.
And Zhong Chuming’s cultivation was merely at the Fourth-Layer Golden Core!
"You dare!"
Zhong Chuming was in shock and anger, looking at the array banner in Xu Zhengyang’s hand with a faint trace of fear.
If Xu Zhengyang truly suppressed him in the "Flame Prison" for ten years, never mind how it would hurt his reputation, the mere ten-year experience in the "Flame Prison" would be enough to deplete his Primordial Qi for decades, and whether he’d even be able to advance to the Late Stage of Golden Core in the future would become unknown.
"If you think I dare not, you are welcome to find out!" Xu Zhengyang shook the array banner in his hand, his face full of a cold smile.
Hearing these words, Zhong Chuming’s expression shifted between shades of green and white, looking profoundly uncomfortable.
He honestly did not believe Xu Zhengyang would truly risk sect rivalry to suppress him, but Xu Zhengyang’s attitude today was extraordinarily strange, strange enough that he no longer dared to gauge the situation by standard logic.
If, if Xu Zhengyang really did do it, his reputation would be forever ruined, reduced to a joke!
"Well? Have you made up your mind? I, Xu, have no time to waste here with you!"
While Zhong Chuming hesitated with his expression darkly uncertain, Xu Zhengyang’s voice rang out again, urging him as if chasing death.
This chilled his heart, prompting him to look at Xu Zhengyang with hateful eyes and angrily said, "Xu Zhengyang, you’re ruthless, sooner or later you will rely on me, Zhong Chuming!"
The words were vicious enough, but obviously, he had conceded defeat.
Immediately, under Xu Zhengyang’s watchful eyes, Zhong Chuming reluctantly helped Zhouyang and the little eagle complete the "Demonic Soul Contract" ritual through gritted teeth, then departed with anger clouded to the west from Immortal Sun City, flying off to an unknown place.