Chapter 529: Night Falls, Murder in the Wind!

Zhao Cheng had collected quite the harvest. Only 30 new Arbiter recruits had reported to the Wind Pavilion this year. Yet, he'd managed to gather a tribute of 400 True Immortal Jades—a sum equal to four years of Yun Xiao's yearly stipend.

"It proves he holds some sway in the Skyruler Immortal Manor to sit there and collect such money," Yun Xiao mused.

Without a moment's hesitation, Yun Xiao fed the 400 True Immortal Jades to Red Moon, then stood quietly at the street corner, waiting as the night began to deepen.

The night was still young. In the Celestial Court, nighttime was a different world altogether. Many deeds that daylight forbade could now be discreetly conducted.

In the meantime, the little black coffin spirit beast started producing Tri-Heavenly Sariras one by one.

Yun Xiao leaned against the wall at the corner, popping the tri-colored beads into his mouth like peanuts, followed by a swig of wine from his flask. This was his unique path of Immortal cultivation.

Slowly, as he consumed the Tri-Heavenly Sariras, the celestial power within his Dantian swelled. His Dao Heart had been complete for some time, and now his power was finally catching up.

"Establishment Yang Immortal Realm," Yun Xiao murmured as he pocketed his flask. "I've finally reached the real bottleneck."

Next came the Third Dao Tribulation of the Immortal path—True Immortality.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

This level demanded a transformation of the Genesis Spirit, a separation from the body. For a Sword Cultivator like him, this step was critical, as the freed spirit could command the Flying Sword with more precision and power, striking foes from even further away!

"Ordinary Arbiter Initiates remain below the Mid True Immortal Realm—just two stages above me," Yun Xiao noted to himself. His own record for slaying enemies beyond his level had reached six, even seven stages higher.

Yang Immortal to True Immortal was a significant threshold, perhaps slightly challenging. But once Yun Xiao broke through to the True Immortal Realm, he would soar like a dragon.

"I must become a True Immortal soon! The myriad worlds cannot wait..." Lifting his gaze, Yun Xiao stared up at the dim stars scattered across the sky. It was his homeworld.

With a whoosh, his figure, a blur of white, vanished from the street corner. When he appeared again, he was near the gates of Sangju City. Standing at the street junction, he looked ahead.

At the end of the street, a couple wrapped in each other’s arms and oblivious to the world, strolled toward him.

Noticing someone in their path, they looked up, annoyance flickering across their faces.

"Weren't you supposed to set up an ambush at the city gates?" Yun Xiao asked.

Chi Yu chuckled and turned to Gu Yuan, saying, "Ever heard the old saying?"

"What is it?" Gu Yuan fluttered her eyelashes flirtatiously.

"A good dog doesn't block the path." Chi Yu raised an eyebrow at Yun Xiao, then shot him a glare. "Otherwise, it might just get its legs broken."

With that, he wrapped his arm tighter around Gu Yuan’s slender waist and walked straight towards Yun Xiao. His demeanor suggested he might just walk right through him.

Yun Xiao watched them coolly, making no move to step aside.

As Chi Yu approached, his mocking tone took on an edge of anger. In front of his woman, he could not show weakness!

"Lu Yao, look at you, acting tough when Deputy Changfeng was just teasing you. You really take yourself too seriously." Chi Yu shrugged with a laugh.

"Pathetic," Gu Yuan shook her head in disappointment at Yun Xiao. "We’ve been with Deputy Changfeng for ten years. Are you closer to him than we are? Zhao Cheng has been restless lately. So, Deputy Changfeng made you squad leader to remind him to keep a low profile, not because you’re actually useful, get it?"

"Don’t be too blunt with this fool; his brain can’t handle it." Chi Yu waved dismissively, his impatience clear. "Enough, just stay out of our way. You can pretend to be in charge in Zhao City, but don’t bother us."

However, Yun Xiao didn't step aside but repeated, "I ordered you to set up an ambush, and you disobeyed. If the criminal escapes, it's on you."

Chi Yu rolled his eyes, thoroughly exasperated. "So what if I disobey? I might as well be done with you!"

Unable to restrain himself any longer, he let go of Gu Yuan's waist, and with a sweep of his hand, a green tempest of electricity thundered towards Yun Xiao's forehead.

Should it connect, Yun Xiao's head would surely explode. Those who knew the couple were aware that despite Chi Yu’s generally jovial demeanor, his actions were far more ruthless than that of Zhao Cheng.

Underneath the thunderous strike, Yun Xiao's eyes remained unshaken. With a flick of his finger, a streak of azure light shot out, too fast for the night to conceal.

With a soft, grisly pop, an eyeball and skull shattered.

Chi Yu froze on the spot, his hand raised just three inches from Yun Xiao's head, trembling violently. With a splurt, blood and gore from his eye slid down his face.

His features twisted grotesquely, as though his face were a twisted pretzel. With only one eye left, nearly split in two, he gazed at Yun Xiao in agonized confusion.

POP!

Yun Xiao flicked again, and a streak of azure light flashed past Chi Yu's other eye.

"Agh…" Chi Yu's body shook violently as his raised hand slowly dropped.

"What's wrong, husband?" Gu Yuan asked, puzzled.

In her mind, Chi Yu never held back once he struck.

"What are you afraid of, you're a big man. Finish him! Our parents will cover for us," she said with disbelief.

"He's dead." Yun Xiao spoke as he turned Chi Yu's body to face Gu Yuan.

"Hah… KYAAAH…!" Gu Yuan first laughed. But when she suddenly saw the trails of blood and tears and Chi Yu's mangled face, she screamed as if plunging into an abyss, her cry tearing through the air.

"Look over there," Yun Xiao pointed towards the street corner.

A burly man sat against the wall on the ground, his eyes hollow, his neck bound by a hemp rope.

"Zhao... Zhao Cheng!" Gu Yuan gasped, staggering backward and collapsing to the ground, utterly breathless.

She couldn't catch a breath, her body convulsing in shock.

What's going on!? Nonono! Why does he want to kill us? Why? Why…? Why…!?

She couldn't make sense of any of these questions.

"No choice," Yun Xiao shook his head, pointing to the stars above. "My family, my lover, my hometown, my homeworld—all doomed to destruction within a fortnight due to the heedless ravages of you Immortals. I've had to rob and kill here, to empower myself quickly. I lack money, resources, backing—everything. I'm out of time. You crossed my path, provoked me. Tell me, if you don’t die, who should? Why should you Immortals treat mortals like pigs and dogs?"

"What?" Gu Yuan raised her trembling hands, tears streaming down as she cried, "Lu Yao, don’t kill me. I can marry you, serve you. You said you have no backing—my family does, my father is..."

Before she could finish, Yun Xiao cut her off, pointing towards the city gate. "Tonight, the murderer in Sangju City will hang three Arbiters at the city gates, a grave provocation to the Skyruler Immortal Manor. You're the third."

"NO!" Her scream was abruptly cut off.

With a thud, blood dripped from her eyes as she lay on the ground, her hands limp, motionless.

A thick hemp rope looped around her neck, dragging her into the shadows of the street corner.

?ι══????????══ι?

In Sangju City, at the mayor's mansion… It was late at night, and soft moans filled the air in Lu Qian's bedroom. Before long, Lu Changfeng opened the door. He stepped out and took a deep breath, his expression somewhat embarrassed.

"Little brother, done already? That was way too quick..." Nestled in bed, Lu Qian was slowly putting her dress back on, her voice tinged with reproach.

"Recently, that Chi Yu lad sent me a few exotic songstresses; it's been a bit taxing." Lu Changfeng scratched his head. "Sorry, cousin."

"At your age, you should practice some restraint," Lu Qian said as she slipped into a wide floral robe and stepped barefoot beside him at the railing. She was of age, ripe as a peach, her sultry gaze smooth as silk.

"Indeed." By day, Lu Changfeng was a revered prospective Arbiter commander of the Skyruler Immortal Manor, but here, he was just a younger cousin!

The air was thick with awkwardness, and Lu Changfeng, desperate for a change of subject, coughed and ventured, "You killed those nine people, didn't you?"

Lu Qian paused, surprised. "How did you know?"

"Well, one of the deceased was your sister. I know you've had your differences lately," Lu Changfeng remarked coolly.

"..." Lu Qian pressed her lips together, a cold smile playing across her face.

"Just say it. You asked me here for a reason, what is it?" Lu Changfeng asked, looking at her.

Lu Qian took his hand, her gaze earnest. "Little brother, since you were 13 years old, we've been close. It's been over a decade. You're like family to me..."

"Get to the point," Lu Changfeng interrupted, growing impatient.

Lu Qian sighed softly. "Recently, I skimmed off some treasures at the Northern Immortal Jade Mine. Eight people found out."

"So you killed them all, and with such fanfare?" Lu Changfeng asked, puzzled.

"If I had killed them quietly, it would've been too easy to trace back to me. With all this commotion, the Arbiters of the Skyruler Immortal Manor personally investigating makes it easy. We just need a scapegoat to close the case smoothly. Once the Manor closes the case, everything settles..." Lu Qian explained with an awkward chuckle.

"Got a scapegoat ready?" Lu Changfeng asked.

"Already set up. It’s Mo Ya, one of my father’s old generals. He’s nearing the end of his life. I've arranged the deputy mayor position for his son. He'll help me out before he passes," Lu Qian stated earnestly.

"Alright, as long as everything’s arranged. I’ll arrest them and close the case." Lu Changfeng nodded, accustomed to such maneuvers within their circles.

"You mentioned eight people. Your sister wasn't involved, was she?" Lu Changfeng suddenly recalled.

Lu Qian’s gaze turned icy. "I've wanted her dead for a while. Took the opportunity to handle it. Besides, we appeared close in public. With her gone, it's hard for the common folk to suspect me."

"Alright then!" Lu Changfeng, ever the stoic in matters of authority, clapped Lu Qian on the shoulder. "How are we handling the scapegoat? Another murder tonight to hang at the city gate?"

"Yes, I told him to kill three nobodies tonight," Lu Qian glanced at the sky, estimating the time. "He should be hanging the bodies about now."

As her words fell, a guard came rushing in, panic-stricken.

"Arbiter, Young Master!" The guard knelt before them, pale-faced and trembling.

"Speak up," Lu Qian said coldly, then gave Lu Changfeng a suggestive eyebrow raise, signaling that their plan was about to conclude.

The guard stammered, "The murderer killed three more today, hung them at the city gates!"

Lu Qian and Lu Changfeng exchanged a smile.

But the guard added in terror, "This time, the victims were three Arbiters!"

At that, Lu Changfeng's trousers, which he had just pulled up, slipped down again, exposing his unimpressive stature.