Chapter 671: The Grand Plan for the Sect's Development

Ling Feng raised his eyes to Tuoba Yan and shook his head with a wry smile. "I assume you wouldn't start a fight without any reason, would you?"

Tuoba Yan snorted coldly. "Those two not only harassed the maids but also insulted Hong Xiu. I was already merciful in not killing them."

"

Oh

? Is that so?" Ling Feng touched his nose and stared at the two enshrined protectors. He asked coolly, "What exactly did they say that was so disrespectful?"

"General, that... that was just a misunderstanding!" The chubbier protector, clearly terrified after being beaten by Tuoba Yan, trembled as he spoke.

It turned out that this chubby enshrined protector had taken advantage of his status in the general's mansion to make inappropriate advances toward some of the maids. Su Hong Xiu had witnessed it and couldn't help but scold him.

As a Spiritual Element Realm expert, the enshrined protector couldn't tolerate being rebuked by a servant, so he retorted with a few unsavory words. Naturally, they weren't pleasant.

To the enshrined protectors, Ling Feng was famous, but only as a genius below the Spiritual Element Realm. They however were at the fourth level of the Spiritual Element Realm and were summoned by the emperor himself to assist Ling Feng, so they believed that their status was naturally higher.

It wasn't just Su Hong Xiu that they didn't respect. Even Ling Feng was beneath their notice.

But just as Su Hong Xiu found herself outnumbered, Tuoba Yan appeared. With a few swift punches and kicks, she turned the chubby enshrined protector's face into a swollen mess. The other protector who tried to help was also soundly beaten.

Tuoba Yan then dragged the two men to Ling Feng, forcing them to kneel and reflect on their actions, which was exactly the scene Ling Feng had walked into.

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? Enshrined Protector Wu, why are you so fearful?" The other enshrined protector, named Sun, seemed to regain his confidence when Ling Feng appeared. Clenching his fists, he said, "General, we were sent by the emperor to assist you. These two women disrespected us, and that's equivalent to disrespecting the emperor!

"What crime do they deserve for disrespecting the emperor?" Enshrined Protector Sun asked as he turned and glared at Tuoba Yan, hatred burning in his eyes. Ling Feng's title as general had been bestowed by the emperor, so surely bringing up the emperor's name would keep Ling Feng in check.

Ling Feng kicked Sun before he could even finish, sending him flying to the ground.

What a joke!

Does he really think he can play the "servant bullying the master" card before me

?

It doesn't matter if they are experts in the Spiritual Element Realm. Whether kings or emperors sent them, servants must always behave like servants.

"G-General... You... " Enshrined Protector Sun coughed up a mouthful of blood while staring at Ling Feng in disbelief.

If Tuoba Yan's strikes had been merciful, Ling Feng's kick was downright brutal.

Ling Feng's gaze turned extremely cold, fixing on Sun. His voice was icy as he said, "I don't care whose dog you were before. Since you're now under my roof, you'd better know your identity."

Enshrined Protector Sun's face twisted in despair. As a fourth-level Spiritual Element Realm expert, he had always been considered powerful and was even respected by the heads of great families. Yet Ling Feng was so ruthless and decisive despite being young, and his maid was strong enough to easily handle Spiritual Element Realm cultivators like him.

This master was not to be trifled with.

The oppressive killing intent in the air felt like an invisible hand gripping Enshrined Protector Sun's heart, threatening to crush it at any moment.

Next to him, Enshrined Protector Wu was drenched in cold sweat. Fortunately, he hadn't acted as recklessly as Sun. Otherwise, he would be in the same miserable state.

"General, I swear I'll never make the same mistake again! From now on, I, Wu Tong, will be loyal to you, serving you faithfully without complaint!" Wu quickly grasped the situation. His earlier underestimation of Ling Feng vanished. If he continued to see himself as the emperor's man and treated Ling Feng with any disrespect, he knew he wouldn't survive long in this mansion.

"And you?" Ling Feng's cold gaze shifted to Enshrined Protector Sun. Though strict, he valued his fourth-level Spiritual Element Realm subordinates, especially since his sect was expanding. In the future, these two could be sent to support the sect's development. With two Spiritual Element Realm experts, the Divine Ling Sect could rise to a fourth-tier sect.

If they served him whole-heartedly, he might even reward them with honorary elder titles.

But if they dared harbor any disloyalty, death would be their only fate.

"I... I will serve you." Enshrined Protector Sun coughed. His life was firmly in Ling Feng's grasp. He had no other choice.

"Smart choice!" Ling Feng snorted, lifting his foot off Sun. His voice turned cold again. "While I'm away, Hong Xiu and Yan'er are the mistresses of this house. You must treat them with the same respect you show me. Otherwise..."

Ling Feng's eyebrows shot up, and his voice became icy. "You wouldn't want to know the consequences.

"We... wouldn't dare!" Both enshrined protectors shook their heads vigorously.

"I thought not."

After a pause, Ling Feng tapped both men's dantians lightly. A flash of purple light surged out, and both enshrined protectors immediately felt weak with panic filling their eyes. "Gen... General, what are you doing?"

"Just taking precautions," Ling Feng shrugged. "If you remain loyal, this purple light won't affect you. But if you betray me, you'll learn what it's like to drop dead on the spot."

The purple light was divine thoughts sent by Zifeng, locking onto their life force. It could remotely drain their lifespan at any moment.

The two enshrined protectors exchanged a glance, sighing inwardly. It seemed they were now completely under this young general's control.

"Now, leave."

With a wave of his sleeve, Ling Feng dismissed them. The two enshrined protectors quickly retreated, their defiance fully extinguished. From that moment onward, no one in the general's mansion would dare show the slightest hint of disobedience toward Ling Feng.

"You didn’t have to be so harsh on them. They didn't really say anything that bad..." Su Hong Xiu approached Ling Feng and said through gritted teeth.

She was still young and inexperienced in the ways of the world, and her heart was too soft.

"I just used this chance to tame them. How else could I trust them to work for me in the Divine Ling Sect later on?"

Ling Feng smiled and patted Su Hong Xiu's head. "Now, go make me some breakfast. Your cooking is still my favorite."

"Okay!" Su Hong Xiu's face lit up with a smile, and she skipped off happily to the kitchen.

"Such a naive girl," Tuoba Yan muttered, watching her leave.

"You talk as if you're so much older," Ling Feng chuckled. "But you're just a few years older than her. Isn't it exhausting keeping that serious face all the time?"

"

Hmph!

" Tuoba Yan shot Ling Feng a glare and walked away without a word.

...

Ling Feng and his group returned to Tianwei Academy shortly after breakfast.

As for the newly acquired general's mansion, Ling Feng had no intention of leaving it idle. Instead, he planned to use it as a liaison point for the Divine Ling Sect.

He would convey a message to Elder Yao, asking him to send Luo Jianying and Jiang Wanqing to manage the mansion temporarily.

Ling Feng would of course use some of his resources to help the sect cultivate more Spiritual Element Realm experts.

Otherwise, the Divine Ling Sect would never rise to true prominence if he were to rely on his own strength alone.

Luo Jianying and Jiang Wanqing were just the beginning.