DIV Chapter 57: Black Wind Mountain's Rage

The Zheng family's ancestor had been defeated!

Would Qinghe Market still belong to the Zheng family in the future?

This question arose in many people's minds.

However, the development of the situation was beyond most people's expectations.

"Buzz—"

The entire market suddenly trembled.

Immediately after, streams of enormous spiritual power surged from various parts of the market, connecting together like an inverted translucent giant bowl that instantly enveloped the entire market.

"What happened?"

This sudden unexpected change caused quite a few people's expressions to change.

Especially the robber cultivators who had been frantically plundering earlier, they all felt a trace of uneasiness in their hearts.

The entire market seemed to be locked by a terrifying formation!

Zheng Yuandao entered the formation array, his aged eyes staring directly at Cao Zhenghong.

"Cao Zhenghong, do you dare enter the formation for battle?"

"Enter the formation?"

Cao Zhenghong stopped his movement.

He looked at that massive formation array, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes.

"A second-tier mid-grade formation array, the Water Magnificence Sky Curtain Formation!"

There was a well-known saying in the cultivation world: Never enter any formation carelessly!

Even the simplest formation array should not be entered lightly.

Cao Zhenghong did not enter the formation, shouting loudly, "Old ghost Zheng, years ago you blocked outside the Cao family's ancestral land, forcing this old man to not dare leave the formation. Now it's this old man's turn to block you!"

Inside the formation array, Zheng Yuandao's expression was grave.

At this moment, it was exactly like that moment. Only the identities of the two had been swapped.

"Words are useless, do you dare enter the formation for battle?"

Positioned within the formation array, Zheng Yuandao shouted again.

Cao Zhenghong's figure remained motionless, only letting out a cold laugh.

"Old ghost Zheng, your lifespan is limited. How much longer can you hold on? After you die, with no one to control this formation array, this old man has plenty of ways to break it!"

"Hmph!"

Zheng Yuandao snorted coldly and waved his large hand.

Instantly, a terrifying spiritual power condensed and formed. Like a sharp sword, it immediately cut through the night sky, heading straight for Cao Zhenghong.

"Under this Water Magnificence Sky Curtain, there really is another formation hidden, formation within formation!"

Cao Zhenghong's figure flickered, dodging this attack.

He stared at the formation array, revealing even more wariness in his eyes.

Continuing to fight was meaningless.

Cao Zhenghong chose to leave. After all, he was younger and had no need to take risks.

Before leaving, he laughed loudly, "Old ghost Zheng, I heard you have a descendant named Zheng Qingqing. Let her marry my clan's Qilin son as a concubine. With our two clans united in marriage, after you die, this old man can help you maintain control of the market."

Upon hearing this, many Zheng family disciples showed angry expressions on their faces.

How could the Zheng family's eldest miss become someone else's concubine?

These words from Cao Zhenghong were pure humiliation to the Zheng family.

...

Below, in the courtyard, Luo Kun was explaining to Li Chang'an the grievances between the Cao family and Zheng family over the years.

"The young clan leader of this generation of the Cao family is named Cao Shaolin, called the 'Qilin son' by the Cao family. He has outstanding talent and is a Foundation Establishment seed of the Cao family. Despite his young age, he is already a late-stage Qi Refining expert."

In terms of status and position, he was equal to Zheng Qingqing.

"If the two families truly wanted to unite in marriage, the young miss could not possibly be a concubine, she would have to have the status of a legitimate wife. However, the possibility of marriage is too small."

Luo Kun spoke slowly, analyzing seriously.

Li Chang'an looked up at the formation array covering the entire market.

"Such a powerful second-tier grand formation."

If he could have a second-tier formation array, his cultivation would be much more secure.

Just as he was thinking, the formation array changed again.

Spiritual energy surged violently, and countless blades formed within the market, suddenly striking at those robber cultivators who had previously plundered.

"Ah—Ah—"

Screams rang out in various parts of the market.

Some begged for mercy in panic, others desperately resisted, but all results were futile.

In the blink of an eye, the entire market fell into silence.

All robber cultivators were mercilessly killed, and the bloody smell was so thick it wouldn't dissipate.

The slaughter of this night came to an end.

"It looks like there shouldn't be any more accidents."

Luo Kun cupped his hands in farewell and returned to repair his courtyard.

Li Chang'an's puppet body also returned to the house.

His real body was still outside the market, planning to hide for a few more days.

...

Time passed quickly.

Before he knew it, several days had gone by.

"The market has mostly recovered."

Li Chang'an's puppet body walked through the market, observing everywhere.

All corpses and bloodstains had been cleaned up, and even the damaged houses and shops had been repaired.

Everything seemed to have returned to its former appearance.

However, some people could never return.

On his way home, he unexpectedly encountered Zheng Qingqing.

"Greetings, young miss."

"Fellow Daoist Li."

Zheng Qingqing wore a smile, her tone as gentle as usual.

She seemed unaffected by this incident.

The two chatted casually for a moment.

Most of the conversation content was related to the changes of the past few days.

After chatting for a while, Zheng Qingqing suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Li, Zheng Jinbao has been nowhere to be seen these past few days. Have you seen him?"

Li Chang'an immediately shook his head, his tone unchanged.

"I have not seen him."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qingqing's expression remained normal, and she didn't pursue the matter further.

Before long, the two ended their conversation.

Several more days passed.

Zheng Jinbao still had not returned to the market.

The Zheng family announced publicly that he had perished, killed by Black Wind Mountain robber cultivators.

When the news came out, many rogue cultivators in the market were secretly delighted.

"Excellent, that dog finally died!"

"Those robber cultivators from Black Wind Mountain actually did something good for once!"

At this moment, in the Hall of All Affairs at the center of the market, Zheng Ming temporarily took over some of the steward's responsibilities.

He found it strange and asked quietly, "Young miss, was Uncle Jinbao really killed by Black Wind Mountain robber cultivators?"

Zheng Qingqing's bright eyes were like water as she glanced in the direction of Li Chang'an's residence.

"Perhaps."

...

Soon, this news reached Li Chang'an's ears.

He immediately felt surprised.

"Black Wind Mountain?"

It should be known that Zheng Jinbao had always maintained connections with Black Wind Mountain.

The two sides had cooperated for years.

Now, Zheng Jinbao was announced to have died at the hands of Black Wind Mountain robber cultivators.

It was quite ironic.

"This is good, someone is taking the blame for me."

Li Chang'an felt relieved and continued cultivating.

...

However, the robber cultivators of Black Wind Mountain were unwilling to take this blame.

"Pure nonsense!"

A furious roar suddenly rang out from the robber cultivators' hiding place.

"That dog Zheng Jinbao could provide us with inside information about the Zheng family. I would protect him before it was too late, how could I possibly kill him?"

Hearing this voice full of rage, many robber cultivators looked at each other and all remained silent, none daring to respond.

This was because the angry person was none other than the chief of Black Wind Mountain.

"Fourth and Fifth, have you investigated clearly? Who has Zheng Jinbao made enemies with recently?"

"This..."

The Fourth and Fifth Chiefs of Black Wind Mountain looked at each other.

Finally, the Fifth Chief steeled himself and stepped forward.

"Big Brother, a few days ago, Zheng Jinbao hired us to kill someone."

"Kill whom?"

"A talisman master named Li Chang'an."

The Fifth Chief answered honestly.

"But at that time we had accepted tasks from the Cao family and Wu family, we really couldn't spare the manpower."

"Oh? Is that Li Chang'an still alive?"

The Chief frowned.

The Fifth Chief wasn't certain, because too many people had died in the market chaos, and hesitantly answered.

"He should still be alive."

"Go to the market and see. If he's still alive, bring him to me!"

"Yes."

...

Before long, a funeral for Zheng Jinbao was hastily held.

Li Chang'an was actually considered one of his close friends in life and received a funeral invitation.

"I'm considered a close friend too?"

He truly found it both funny and exasperating.

In the end, Li Chang'an did not attend, only entrusting Luo Kun to convey his condolences.

At the funeral, the atmosphere was somber.

Many Zheng family disciples were present.

Zheng Ling'er came to Zheng Qingqing's side and asked quietly, "Sister Qingqing, is that senior who saved me before alright? Why haven't I seen him all this time?"

Her pretty face was full of worry, concerned that the senior had met with misfortune during the market chaos.

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