Initially, only the City Lord's Mansion of Jiangnan City and the major top families received the news.
As the sky gradually brightened, the news began to spread throughout the Jiangnan City martial arts world and the weapon forging world.
By the time the next day dawned and the morning sun emerged from the horizon.
The entire city was in an uproar.
"Ling Qingyun... Ling Fan, Master Ling, who exactly are you..."
On the highest floor of the Weapon Forgers Association, Master Wang stood with his hands behind his back, lost in thought.
"Good riddance!"
Regarding the deaths of Yun Qianlang and Yun Rui, a crowd of powerful figures and craftsmen clapped their hands in approval.
Everyone had an extremely poor impression of these two. If it weren't for their fear of the forces of Yunmeng City and Yun Qianlang's own formidable strength, many would have wished for these uncle and nephew to never return.
After the shock and satisfaction.
The crowd could not help but feel immense curiosity and deep reverence for this "Ling Qingyun" who had suddenly appeared.
To be able to kill Yun Qianlang, who was in the middle stage of the Xuan Gang realm, in such a short period, and prevent the numerous powerful figures of Yunmeng City from coming to his rescue, demonstrated his terrifying strength.
When did such a powerful figure emerge in Jiangnan City?
He was likely at least in the late or even peak stage of the Xuan Gang realm, ranking among the top three strongest individuals in Jiangnan City.
Yet, such a powerful figure also bore the surname Ling.
Furthermore, at the meeting, after Ling Yun uttered the threatening words, "No one can take his things without paying a price," Yun Qianlang and Yun Rui met their demise that very night, and the Mu Wang Ding was also missing.
It was impossible not to connect this incident with the mysterious Ling Qingyun and Ling Yun.
"Could this Ling Qingyun really be in league with Master Ling?"
"If that's the case, then we absolutely cannot provoke Master Ling in the future."
For a time, the powerful figures of Jiangnan City were filled with speculation.
"It's truly incredible. I never expected our Jiangnan City to have such a peerless expert, and one who is so arrogant, daring to leave his name at the scene of the crime and directly confront Yunmeng City! As martial artists, we should be like this."
More young martial artists, upon hearing the name Ling Qingyun, felt their blood boil, wishing they could take his place.
However, some also worried that Ling Qingyun's unbridled provocation of Yunmeng City might lead to a furious retaliation from Yunmeng City.
Even if the city gates caught fire and the fish in the pond were affected, implicating the entire Jiangnan City?
For a time, the name Ling Qingyun became the focal point of Jiangnan City, even overshadowing the upcoming Jiangnan City Martial Arts Summit.
"Hurry and investigate thoroughly. We must ascertain the identity of this Ling Qingyun."
"Could this person be a remnant of the Ling family? Have the family's secret department spare no effort and use all their connections to uncover the truth as quickly as possible."
"I have dealt with this Yun Qianlang. His strength is not weak. Even I could not kill him in such a short time. This Ling Qingyun's strength is terrifying... Just the thought that such a fierce tiger is lurking so close by, who could sleep soundly? We must find out if he is friend or foe."
...
Unlike the majority of powerful figures in Jiangnan City who were merely gossiping, the major top forces in the city were all acting swiftly. Orders and messages were issued from the Li family of the City Lord's Mansion, as well as from top families like the Wu, Tan, and Huo families.
The entire Jiangnan City seemed to be in turmoil. Those with keen intuition vaguely felt that the long-standing peace in Jiangnan City had been broken, signaling an impending storm.
Within the Lan Mansion.
Including Lan Tianxiong, Lan Junjie, Lan Xueyi, and Li Huimei, everyone was filled with anxiety. They also had a stomach full of questions they wanted to ask Ling Fan.
However, Ling Fan had returned to the Lan Mansion at some unknown time and had gone into seclusion immediately upon his return, which made them even more anxious.
Ling Fan did not emerge for several days.
If it were in the past, Li Huimei would have long since had Lan Junjie break down the door and drag Ling Fan out to question him thoroughly.
But things were different now. Ling Fan had become the incredibly distinguished Master Ling.
Moreover, he was suspected of having a top expert as his backer.
Even with ten times the courage, Li Huimei would not dare to do so.
Lan Junjie also no longer dared to be as reckless as before.
Since the incident of setting fire to the brothel, his fear of this live-in brother-in-law seemed to be growing.
"Where is my father? Let my father ask!"
Lan Junjie said with some timidity.
"Your father went to take over the Jin family's red iron ore yesterday! You go!"
Li Huimei said with a stern face.
"Sister."
Lan Junjie looked at Lan Xueyi beside him with a pleading gaze.
Lan Xueyi giggled, covering her mouth, and shook her head playfully. Her bright eyes and white teeth illuminated the room.
Lan Junjie had no choice but to steel himself and approach Ling Fan's door.
"Knock, knock."
Lan Junjie cautiously knocked twice.
"Something?"
A faint voice came from within.
Lan Junjie couldn't help but shrink his neck and said, "Brother-in-law, this... my mother, uh, no, my sister told me to ask you if you know anyone named Ling Qingyun?"
"If it's about this, you will know in due time! Is there anything else?"
Lan Junjie stared, what kind of answer was this? Did he know him or not?
However, although Lan Junjie was confused, he did not dare to press further.
"Also, also! There's another thing. The Jiangnan City Martial Arts Summit is about to be held. All the young geniuses of Jiangnan City will participate and showcase their talents. Do you want to participate?"
Lan Junjie still held a sliver of hope in his heart.
Ling Fan becoming a Yellow-grade Weapon Forging Master was very sudden. Could it be that he was also a hidden martial arts prodigy?
If it were any other time, he would never have harbored such hope. But the anomalies that had occurred around Ling Fan recently were too numerous for him not to think in that direction.
"No!"
Ling Fan refused outright.
As the dignified Emperor Qingyun, how could he compete with a group of Qi Refining realm cultivators? Wouldn't that be beneath his dignity?
In his previous life, his enemies were at least peerless prodigies like Holy Sons, Divine Maidens, and Heavenly Sect Chiefs. They were all supreme talents in the Celestial Realm, individuals who could suppress an era.
Such monstrous geniuses would have entered the Heavenly Origin realm by the age of twenty, forged a peerless Golden Core by thirty, and even become saints and ancestors within fifty years of cultivation. How could they compare to the so-called geniuses of the lower realm who were only in the Qi Refining realm?
In Ling Fan's eyes, this Jiangnan Martial Arts Gathering was like a child's game of make-believe.
Hearing Ling Fan's firm refusal, Lan Junjie's sliver of hope was dashed.
In his opinion, if Ling Fan were truly a hidden martial arts prodigy, he would never give up such a good opportunity to show off as the Jiangnan Martial Arts Gathering!
It seemed that his brother-in-law, despite creating miracles repeatedly, had no hope in the martial arts aspect.
As the saying goes, every inch has its length, and every foot has its short.
Hmph, no matter how powerful you are, you are not omnipotent after all.
Lan Junjie finally regained a little bit of confidence, even holding his head higher as he walked out of Ling Fan's residence.
What Lan Junjie didn't know was that inside Ling Fan's room, it remained as calm as a tranquil lake, as if undisturbed by the outside turmoil.
Who would have thought that the perpetrator of the earth-shattering act of killing Yun Qianlang and seizing the Mu Wang Ding was already detached from the situation, engaged in strenuous cultivation?
A black cauldron, continuously emitting lightning, floated before him, crackling with electric arcs.