Liu Wang City.
Its prosperity far surpassed that of Han Shan City, by more than tenfold.
The streets teemed with powerful figures.
Saint Kings were a common sight.
Even cultivators at the Great Emperor realm were not rare, traveling in luxurious carriages, surrounded by retinues, entering and exiting upscale restaurants and establishments.
Ling Fan arrived before the gates of Liu Wang City.
An aura of ancient times instantly washed over him.
This was a city with a long history, its city walls bearing countless traces of sword and blade marks.
"Halt, routine inspection."
A city guard of Liu Wang City stepped forward to question him.
"Blind fool, this Emperor is the Inspector dispatched by the Heavenly Court to Han Shan City, Tian Heng. Open your dog eyes and see clearly."
Ling Fan had transformed into Tian Heng's appearance. He produced Tian Heng's identification token and simultaneously projected an aura of a peak second-tier Great Emperor. Instantly, all the powerful figures at the city gate felt this trembling aura, and their gazes projected over in surprise.
"So it's Envoy Tian! Please forgive our transgression."
An aura of a top-tier Saint King descended.
The commander of the city guards stationed at the gate hurried forward, apologizing to Ling Fan.
"Envoy Tian is stationed in Han Shan City for the Heavenly Court. May I be so bold as to ask why you have come to our Liu Wang City?"
Ling Fan was utterly unapologetic.
Since he was using Tian Heng's identity, his demeanor, words, and actions had to mimic Tian Heng's arrogance and imperiousness.
"This Emperor comes and goes as I please, do I need your permission? Begone."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The city guard commander, sweating profusely and under immense pressure, quickly cleared the path.
Ling Fan put away his identification token and entered Liu Wang City with great ostentation.
After seeing Ling Fan depart.
The city guard commander, his expression grim, said solemnly, "Quickly report to the City Lord. The Heavenly Court Inspector from Han Shan City has actually come to our Liu Wang City. When something unusual occurs, there is bound to be a reason. He is likely also after the treasures of the Sealed Demon Forbidden Zone!"
"Yes, sir."
...
Ling Fan entered a restaurant.
This establishment was called the Azure Waves Pavilion, one of the most renowned establishments in Liu Wang City.
Ordinary cultivators could not even enter this restaurant.
Saint Kings were the minimum requirement for entry.
Only cultivators at the Great Emperor realm were eligible for private rooms.
As for the most exclusive top-floor private seats in the Azure Waves Pavilion, one needed a cultivation of third-tier Yuan Emperor or above, or an equivalent status, to enter.
Ling Fan, using Tian Heng's identity, had his Heavenly Court Inspector status revealed. The staff of the Azure Waves Pavilion promptly escorted Ling Fan to a top-floor private seat. From this vantage point, nearly half of Liu Wang City was visible, with its picturesque scenery of willows, painted bridges, wind-blown curtains, and verdant screens.
Ling Fan ordered a pot of wine.
He savored it leisurely in the top-floor private seat.
Suddenly.
A haughty female voice echoed, "Today, the top floor of the Azure Waves Pavilion is booked by this young lady. Please move down, and this young lady will compensate you."
Ling Fan acted as if he heard nothing.
He continued to drink his wine as usual.
Ignoring her.
The Azure Waves Pavilion cultivator attending to the woman was sweating profusely. "Esteemed sir, this is the daughter of our Liu Wang City Lord, Miss Liu. Miss Liu is hosting a banquet at the Azure Waves Pavilion today. We implore you to relocate your esteemed person. You may choose any private room downstairs, and as a token of our apology, all your expenses today will be waived. We would be immensely grateful for your understanding!"
But Ling Fan still paid no heed.
He didn't even glance at them.
The woman became enraged. With her status, she was akin to the princess of Liu Wang City. To think that someone would dare to disregard her face on her own territory was utterly outrageous.
"Who are you? Are you deaf! Did you not hear what this young lady said? I'll give you three seconds. If you don't disappear from here, I'll make you disappear from Liu Wang City."
The woman, hands on her hips, imperiously pointed at Ling Fan's nose and reprimanded him.
Ling Fan finally cast a sidelong glance at the woman.
He observed that the woman was indeed beautiful and exquisite, with skin like ice and bones like jade. However, her spoiled temper diminished her charm.
Ling Fan's eyes remained impassive.
It was as if the woman's beauty was mere dirt in his eyes.
While this woman was arrogant and domineering, he was even more so.
"Who I am is not for you to inquire. You ill-bred thing, do not think you can be petulant and willful just because you are a woman. Put away your temper and get out of my sight."
"What!"
Upon hearing that Ling Fan dared to call her ill-bred, Miss Liu was instantly incensed.
She was followed by numerous servants.
At this moment, an elder exuding the aura of a third-tier Yuan Emperor stepped forward, his face contorted with anger.
"My lady, please calm your anger. This rustic certainly does not know your noble status and dares to be presumptuous before you. This old servant will now make him disappear from your sight."
This third-tier Yuan Emperor elder, who had been silent, unleashed a thunderous assault the moment he acted. A potent force swept towards Ling Fan.
Just as everyone's attention was drawn to the elder's move.
A terrifying killing intent erupted without warning. A sharp, peerless, and fearsome blood-red long sword shot out from the void, striking directly at the haughty Miss Liu at the critical moment.
Miss Liu herself was a genius-level cultivator at the second-tier Yuan Emperor realm.
However, before this terrifying killing sword, she felt a chill run through her body. Locked by the killing intent, she couldn't even lift a finger and could only watch in despair as the sword tip approached inch by inch.
The third-tier Yuan Emperor elder responsible for her protection could not react in time.
For him to retract his offensive against Ling Fan and go to protect the lady now was a significant delay.
It had to be said.
The timing seized by this assassin was exceptionally opportune.
*Swish!*
The sword light flashed past.
Blood splattered.
By the time everyone fully reacted.
The sword edge had already slain two second-tier Yuan Emperor guards beside Miss Liu and then stopped at Miss Liu's fair, swan-like neck.
"Audacious villain, you dare assassinate our young lady! Release our young lady quickly, or you shall be annihilated!"
The third-tier Yuan Emperor old servant roared in fury, but he dared not act rashly.
"Heh heh, my target is to capture Liu Yan alive and hold Liu Wang City hostage. As for you all, perish! Use your blood to issue a warning to Liu Wang City."
The assassin's voice was like the coldest venomous snake.
With one hand, he subdued Liu Yan, his body floated out of the Azure Waves Pavilion, and then with a casual sword strike, he slashed towards the top floor of the Azure Waves Pavilion. This strike encompassed the third-tier Yuan Emperor elder, the other powerful figures from Liu Wang City, and Ling Fan. He intended to kill everyone on the top floor with a single sword strike, creating a bloody incident.
"Puff puff puff!"
This sword light was truly terrifying, like the purest sword of killing, imbued with the Way of Ruthlessness, reaping all. Except for the third-tier Yuan Emperor elder, all the powerful figures from Liu Wang City and the few attending Azure Waves Pavilion cultivators were instantly decapitated, all slain by this single sword.