Lan Xueyi felt a slight sense of relief seeing Ling Fan not as dejected as she had expected.
She hesitated for a moment, her clear eyes glancing away, and softly asked, "Do you... want to go back with me?"
Ling Fan's lips curved into a half-smile, his gaze fixed with interest on that beautiful, world-toppling face.
Lan Xueyi's ears turned red with shyness under his stare.
She stomped her foot lightly, "If you don't want to, then forget it. I'll go back with Father and Xiao Jie."
"Mm, you go back first. I still have something to do."
Lan Xueyi assumed Ling Fan had matters to discuss with Master Wang of the Armament Master Association and didn't think about the Mu Wang Ding at all.
Once Lan Xueyi left, Ling Fan sought out the proprietor of Tianxiang Tower.
As the owner of the largest restaurant in Jiangnan City, the proprietor of Tianxiang Tower was himself a peak Qi Refining realm cultivator, almost touching the Profound Gang realm.
However, before Ling Fan, this prominent figure of Jiangnan City appeared extremely polite, even somewhat flattered, standing with his hands clasped in front of him.
After all, no matter how large Tianxiang Tower was, it was far from comparable to the Armament Master Association of Jiangnan City.
This was a Yellow-tier armament master genius, his status equivalent to the head of a top aristocratic family. Moreover, any martial artist would eventually need the services of an armament master.
A business magnate like him naturally understood the importance of fostering good relationships.
"Master Ling, what are your instructions? As long as you ask, I will do my utmost to fulfill it."
Ling Fan nodded faintly.
"I heard that people from Yunmeng City are staying at your Tianxiang Tower."
Upon hearing this, the proprietor of Tianxiang Tower's body jolted. As if realizing something, he cast an incredulous glance at Ling Fan.
Could it be that he intended to...?
He quickly suppressed the shock in his heart and lowered his head, "That is correct, Master Ling. Your information is indeed well-informed."
Ling Fan remained silent, quietly observing the proprietor of Tianxiang Tower.
The proprietor of Tianxiang Tower gave a wry smile and said, "Tianxiang Tower has a strict rule: we absolutely cannot disclose guest information..."
"However!"
Seeing that Ling Fan had no intention of giving up, the proprietor of Tianxiang Tower gritted his teeth and said, "Others may be different, but since Master Ling desires it, even the strictest rule can be broken. I'll take the risk!"
"Zheng Bilie is staying in Earth-tier Room One, Zheng Bicheng in Earth-tier Room Two, Wu Yunfeng in Earth-tier Room Three, Jin Wudao..."
The proprietor of Tianxiang Tower listed them all out in one breath.
He paused when he mentioned Yun Qianlang and Yun Rui.
Ling Fan remained silent.
He sighed and said, "Yun Qianlang, due to the need to protect both the Young City Lord and the Mu Wang Ding, is staying with Yun Rui in Heaven-tier Room One. This room exclusively occupies the top floor, offering the most elegant scenery and environment."
Ling Fan nodded, having obtained the information he wanted, and closed his eyes to rest.
The proprietor of Tianxiang Tower didn't know what Ling Fan was planning and could only accompany him.
For the proprietor of Tianxiang Tower, time passed excruciatingly slowly.
Yet, from beginning to end, Ling Fan showed no emotional fluctuations, his expression indifferent. Even with the proprietor of Tianxiang Tower's keen insight into people, he inwardly sighed that he couldn't fathom Ling Fan's intentions at all.
This was nothing like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth.
He was entirely like an unfathomably profound old monster.
Even a seasoned business magnate like himself felt immense pressure.
After an unknown amount of time.
The night had grown deep.
The night outside was as dark as ink.
It was precisely the opportune time for a dark and windy night.
Ling Fan gently rose and left.
The proprietor of Tianxiang Tower's eyes widened in shock, and a thought that startled even him flashed through his mind.
Could it be that he was truly going to take the Mu Wang Ding!
Who was he planning to invite to act?
Master Wang?
His father-in-law, Lan Tianxiong?
Or perhaps the head of another aristocratic family who owed him a favor?
Or a rogue Profound Gang realm cultivator?
It was likely none of them would suffice. Yun Qianlang was a mid-stage Profound Gang realm cultivator, and most Profound Gang realm cultivators in Jiangnan City were in the early stages. Even if three or five of them joined forces, they might not be able to deal with Yun Qianlang.
Then who was Ling Fan going to invite!
Could it be the City Lord?
Or perhaps the heads of the top aristocratic families?
But Ling Fan shouldn't be able to invite cultivators of that caliber.
Moreover, Yun Qianlang wasn't alone. If he couldn't be dealt with quickly, people from Yunmeng City would swiftly reinforce them, and the outcome would be uncertain.
...
Tianxiang Tower was not just a single building.
Behind the main building, pavilions stood in rows.
The people from Yunmeng City resided in the most heavily guarded and secure depths.
At this moment, a figure, as if merged with the night, moved swiftly towards Heaven-tier Room One.
...
Meanwhile, in Heaven-tier Room One, the lights were blazing.
Besides Yun Qianlang and Yun Rui, Zheng Bilie, Zheng Bicheng, Wu Yunfeng, Jin Dazhi, Jin Wudao, and others were all present.
"Master Zheng, what exactly is going on?"
Yun Qianlang voiced the doubt in everyone's heart.
Could it be that that brat Ling Fan was really that divine?
"The Mu Wang Ding was originally a Yellow-tier low-grade spiritual weapon with thirty-six golden patterns. You all know this, and it is indeed true, this is not false."
"However, there is an uncontrollable, violent force within the Mu Wang Ding. Once this force fully awakens, it will far surpass the level of a Yellow-tier low-grade weapon!"
"Those thirty-six golden patterns are not so much a manifestation of the spiritual weapon's power as they are used to restrain that force within the Mu Wang Ding."
"Over time, that force repeatedly went out of control, causing the thirty-six golden patterns to become incomplete and damaged. I spent countless efforts to barely repair the golden patterns."
"Furthermore, I used the power of this string of black bone prayer beads to set up a deadly trap. As long as Ling Fan attempted to repair the Mu Wang Ding with his spiritual power, he would suffer severe spiritual damage or even become a living corpse."
"But unexpectedly, Ling Fan did not trigger the trap. Instead, by some means unknown to me, he caused the power of the Mu Wang Ding to fully awaken, and it did not go out of control!"
"This method truly surpasses me by far. I admit my inferiority."
Zheng Bilie sighed with emotion.
Yun Qianlang, Jin Wudao, and the others were all shocked to hear this.
Who was Zheng Bilie? He was the only Yellow-tier high-grade armament master in the surrounding five cities, the undisputed number one in armament mastery.
Yet, even he admitted that he was inferior to Ling Fan!
Then to what level had Ling Fan's armament mastery reached?
This was too terrifying.
"No, this Ling Fan must die. Otherwise, whether for you or for our Yunmeng City, the threat is too great!"
Yun Qianlang stated with absolute certainty.
His tone was filled with icy killing intent.
After deliberating for a long time, everyone dispersed.
"Uncle, why don't you just sneak into the Lan Mansion and kill this brat?"
Yun Rui said with a vicious look in his eyes.
"We cannot be so blatant. The entire Jiangnan City now regards Ling Fan as a hero. Killing him, while simple, no more difficult than killing a chicken, would easily offend the entirety of Jiangnan City. It would not be worth the trouble."
"Let's rest for now. I will report this matter to the City Lord tomorrow before we make further plans."
"Alright, then let this brat jump around for a few more days."
Yun Rui said with regret.
Just then.
A faint voice sounded from outside the door: "Were you just discussing killing me!"
A figure pushed the door open and entered.
Yun Qianlang and Yun Rui were startled, looking towards the door with expressions as if they had seen a ghost.
"Ling Fan!"