Chapter 167

Chapter 167: Had Your Fill of Watching? Then Come Out!

Leaving the city of Qingyang Jun.

Xu Ming took Shen Shengsheng and headed in the direction of Heavenly Profound Gate.

Since there was still ample time, having been away from the capital for less than half a year with over a year left before needing to return to Wudu for the Rootless Mystic Realm selection, Xu Ming wasn’t overly anxious.

After going to the Heavenly Profound Gate, he needed to figure out the impact of Qingwan losing that Dao Lotus and if there was any way to remedy it.

“Did you hear?”

“Heard what?”

“It’s about Baiwa City, the border town of Qingyang Jun.”

“Baiwa City? What happened to Baiwa City?”

“Baiwa City is now just an empty plain. The entire city along with mountains within dozens of miles has vanished, turned into a vast flatland as if it never existed.”

“Hmm? What happened?”

“I know. I heard that Baiwa City itself became a Secret Realm, integrated into a scroll, and all sorts of divine beings from various sects are fighting over it.”

“Who ended up getting it?”

“Our kingdom’s Prince Consort, Xu Ming.”

“Prince Consort? Is he really that powerful?”

“Yeah, yeah! I also heard that our Prince Consort got his hands on Baiwa City, but the methods… they weren’t quite honorable?”

“Dishonorable? How so?”

“I heard the son of the Sect Leader of Heavenly Profound Gate formed an alliance and fought fiercely with a great beast from Baiwa City. In the end, our Prince Consort reaped the benefits without much effort.”

“I’ve heard something similar. It seems the Prince Consort cooperated with a few others, set up a magic array, and then claimed the scroll.”

“Is that true? I heard those people were actually trying to ambush our Prince Consort. Only after obtaining the Baiwa Secret Realm did he release them.”

“I also heard the Prince Consort deceived Immortal Maiden Qin. She had obtained the Baiwa Scroll initially, but our Prince Consort tricked her out of it.”

“Immortal Maiden Qin? Which Immortal Maiden Qin?”

“Could it be anyone else? Of course, it’s Qin Qingwan from Qin Mansion, currently cultivating at Heavenly Profound Gate.”

“Is the Prince Consort really like that?”

“Don’t know.”

Inside a tavern, diners chattered back and forth.

In a corner of this tavern sat a young man and a little girl.

The little girl wore a straw hat that concealed a pair of horns on her head.

Eyeing the food on the table, the little girl reached out to grab a big drumstick.

But just as her hand was about to touch it, the young man tapped her hand lightly with chopsticks.

“Auuu…” The little girl withdrew her hand and looked up.

The young man pointed to the chopsticks next to her bowl.

“Ohh…” The little girl picked up the chopsticks reluctantly and struggled to use them to pick up the chicken.

After several failed attempts, she grew so frustrated she wanted to bang the table.

Finally, she came up with a solution—she stabbed the chicken leg with her chopsticks, placed it in her bowl, and started munching happily.

Xu Ming watched Shen Shengsheng and sighed softly but didn’t stop her.

Compared to before, Shen Shengsheng had made some progress.

These days, Xu Ming taught her how to speak, recognize characters, and use chopsticks.

Many things required Xu Ming to patiently teach her.

Though Shen Shengsheng learned slowly, there was indeed gradual improvement.

Xu Ming wanted Shen Shengsheng to understand that she wasn’t a monster beast but a living human being.

Perhaps adopting human habits and lifestyles could gradually diminish the beastly nature in her bloodline.

Xu Ming picked up his bowl and chopsticks and began eating.

As for the discussions around him, they naturally reached his ears.

News of the Baiwa Secret Realm incident had begun to spread widely.

Because Xu Ming had offended too many people within the Baiwa Secret Realm.

He released them only to have them face the Black God Sect.

Whether Xu Ming intended it or not, many definitely felt disgruntled.

Some cultivators painted him as a “petty person” both for their own pride and to hinder or retaliate against Xu Ming.

However, not everyone involved in the Baiwa Secret Realm was dishonorable.

Some truthfully recounted what happened inside.

Moreover, Wu Kingdom wouldn’t let its Prince Consort’s reputation become too tarnished and would control public opinion accordingly.

Thus, regarding the events of Baiwa City, different narratives emerged, leading to mixed evaluations of Xu Ming.

But Xu Ming paid no heed.

After eating his fill, Xu Ming took Shen Shengsheng and left the small town.

Another five hundred li ahead, they’d reach the territory of Heavenly Profound Gate.

Just as Xu Ming stepped out of the town, Shen Shengsheng gently tugged at his clothes, looking up with blinking eyes.

“I know, don’t worry.” Xu Ming nodded as if noticing nothing unusual and continued walking forward.

When Xu Ming reached a desolate mountain, he suddenly disappeared.

“Where did he go?”

“How did we lose him?”

At the spot where Xu Ming disappeared, several cultivators looked around anxiously, regret evident on their faces.

“What do you want?” Xu Ming suddenly appeared behind them and spoke.

Startled, the group quickly turned around.

“Since you’ve discovered us, fine. Hand over the Baiwa Scroll, and I’ll spare your life,” said the leader among them.

“Think carefully. I’m advising you not to seek death needlessly. Cultivation isn’t easy,” Xu Ming kindly warned.

“Ho ho.” The lead cultivator waved his hand. “Attack! Kill him!”

“Ah,” Xu Ming shook his head. “Including you lot, I’ve killed about a hundred people during this period.”

As he spoke, Xu Ming moved forward.

In less than three breaths, these five cultivators were all killed with one punch, exploding into blood mist, their forms and spirits utterly annihilated.

After cultivators died, the seals on their storage bags disappeared. Xu Ming put all the silver coins and spirit stones from these fellows’ storage bags into his own small cosmos bag.

This task usually fell to Shen Shengsheng.

Every time she cleaned out someone’s bag, Shen Shengsheng was extremely enthusiastic.

She would hold Xu Ming’s small cosmos bag and diligently pick up items from the ground, not letting even a single coin escape.

Because Shen Shengsheng knew—one coin could buy a steamed bun!

“Have you watched enough? If you’ve had your fill, come out.”

Just as Shen Shengsheng was enthusiastically cleaning out the bags, Xu Ming spoke.

“Hehehe…”

A soft, cheerful laugh echoed through the woods as a woman dressed in black emerged barefoot.