Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

”Th-this... sir, that’s Guardian Elder Wang Zongping’s residence up ahead. A-are you really going inside?”

Before long, Liu the Sixth had led Yang Xiao to the front of a towering, imposing residence.

He had calmed down considerably by this point, and he asked with some hesitation.

”Of course I’m not going in. Tell him to come out and see me.”

Yang Xiao said it matter-of-factly.

His expression suggested he wasn’t speaking of a powerful Guardian Elder, but of some insignificant stray.

It sent a chill down Liu the Sixth’s spine.

Yet, he didn’t dare disobey.

He shuddered at the thought of Yang Xiao’s previous ruthlessness.

He hurried forward a few steps, wanting to quicken his pace, but then he feared Yang Xiao would think he was trying to flee. He couldn’t help but slow down again, taking it one step at a time.

It was like dancing on the edge of a knife.

This made Yang Xiao even more puzzled.

’What on earth is he so afraid of?’

’Has he done something wicked, and now he’s afraid I’m going to deliver justice?’

’I’ll have to ask Wang Zongping about him in a bit. If he’s truly committed evil acts, I won’t spare him,’

Yang Xiao thought to himself.

Meanwhile, a trembling Liu the Sixth finally stepped into Wang Zongping’s residence.

Of course, the gatekeeper recognized him.

White Cloud Town wasn’t very populous. Besides, Liu the Sixth was an Innate Realm Martial Artist and one of the town’s hunters. Whenever he needed to trade for Level 4 Spirit Medicine or handle the remains of a slain Barbaric Beast, he had to go through the Guardian Elder’s residence.

The gatekeeper was no stranger to him and immediately asked, ”Liu the Sixth, you’re here early. Got some good stuff for us today?”

”Good stuff? N-no, it’s not that... Third Master Wang... something’s... something’s happened to him...”

Liu the Sixth thought for a moment and finally decided to lead with what happened to Wang Qianshan.

Otherwise, if he just said a young man wanted to see the Guardian Elder, the gatekeeper probably wouldn’t even give him the time of day.

Wouldn’t that make him a laughingstock?

”What happened to Third Master Wang?”

Just as he’d expected, the gatekeeper was startled at the mention of Third Master Wang.

This Third Master Wang was the local tyrant of White Cloud Town; even his own master had to show him a certain degree of respect. Naturally, the gatekeeper wouldn’t dare treat any matter related to him lightly.

”Th-Third Master? He’s dead.”

Liu the Sixth sighed.

”What?”

The gatekeeper was utterly shocked.

”Who did it?”

he pressed.

”It... it was that youth outside who did it.”

Liu the Sixth said, trembling.

The gatekeeper was even more astonished. He glanced at Yang Xiao in the distance, his first reaction a jolt of surprise at how young the youth was.

But then, a cold sneer appeared on his face. ”He dared to touch Sect Leader Wang’s own brother? It doesn’t matter who he is, he’s a dead man. You watch him. Don’t let him run. I’m going to inform the Elder.”

With that, the gatekeeper hurried into the courtyard.

Left behind, Liu the Sixth was completely at a loss.

He didn’t know whether to enter or to stay put.

He was so terrified he didn’t even have the courage to turn his head.

He was terrified that Yang Xiao would kill him with a flick of a finger.

Fortunately, this didn’t last long.

After just a short while, a middle-aged man in a blue robe walked out.

Seeing Liu the Sixth, he immediately demanded, ”Where is the murderer? Take me to him at once!”

This man was, of course, the Guardian Elder of White Cloud Town, Wang Zongping. He was the Purple Sun Sect’s Chief Steward for the area and an Elder of the Foreign Affairs Hall.

Although he had just received news today that First Elder Wang Qianhe had been killed, Wang Qianshan was still, in the end, a member of their Purple Sun Sect.

Moreover, Study Lord Cheng had specifically sent someone to instruct him to protect Wang Qianshan’s life. And now, he was hearing that Wang Qianshan was dead.

How was he supposed to explain this to Study Lord Cheng?

Naturally, his mood was foul.

”Say something!”

Therefore, seeing Liu the Sixth standing there motionless, he became rather displeased.

”Master, it’s that youth! He’s got some nerve. After killing someone, he dared to show up at our door! He has no respect for the Purple Sun Sect, and no respect for you, Master!”

The gatekeeper, who didn’t share Liu the Sixth’s reservations, declared arrogantly.

But as Wang Zongping turned to glare coldly at the youth, beads of cold sweat instantly trickled down his face.

’It’s... that devil!’

Yang Xiao, however, just smiled faintly.

”Master, he’s so arrogant! He sees you, Master, and not only is he not afraid, he dares to laugh! The nerve of that son of a...”

The gatekeeper hadn’t finished his sentence.

SLAP!

A sharp pain bloomed on his cheek.

Wang Zongping had slapped him squarely across the face.

He glared at him. ”Are you blind?! This is the new Vice Medicine Peak Master, Elder Yang Xiao! You worthless, unobservant fool.”

At these words, the gatekeeper was stunned.

Liu the Sixth was stunned too.

They never would have imagined that a youth who looked so young, even if he possessed some strength, would have such an extraordinary background.

Vice Medicine Peak Master!

Heavens! In the entire Purple Sun Sect, across its two main branches and six halls, only twelve people held the title of Vice Master.

Aside from those in the Guest Hall, every single one of those twelve was a highly respected figure at the Peak of the Innate Ninth Layer.

Even those in the Guest Hall were at least at the Innate Eighth Layer.

Not to mention, Medicine Peak was one of the two main branches. Its status ranked in the top three of the six halls, on par with the Dharma Transmission and Law Enforcement Halls. It was a true major hall, controlling over sixty percent of the entire Purple Sun Sect’s Cultivation Resources.

Places like White Cloud Town, although managed by the Foreign Affairs Hall, received resources that were allocated by Medicine Peak.

Otherwise, how could Wang Qianshan have run so rampant in White Cloud Town?

It was all because his brother, though not Wang Zongping’s superior in rank, was the one who held the reins.

If his brother so much as held up the resources or made things difficult, Wang Zongping would be in for more trouble than he could handle.

Similarly, now that Wang Qianhe had fallen and Yang Xiao had taken his place, Wang Zongping likewise didn’t dare to show any disrespect.

And so it was that he showed no contempt for Yang Xiao’s youth. On the contrary, he stepped right up and bowed respectfully.

”Vice Chief Yang, you’ve traveled a great distance. It must have been a tiring journey. I am Wang Zongping, Guardian Elder of the Foreign Affairs Hall here in White Cloud Town. Please forgive my discourtesy.”

”You’re being too courteous, Elder Wang.”

Yang Xiao waved his hand.

He paid it no mind.

He hadn’t come to see Wang Zongping to cause him trouble, but to gather information.

Killing Wang Qianshan, the brother of his enemy Wang Qianhe, was no big deal.

Killing his subordinates was also fine.

But Wang Zongping was a legitimate Elder of the Foreign Affairs Hall. Even as the Vice Medicine Peak Master, Yang Xiao couldn’t punish him arbitrarily.

Besides, this Wang Zongping was a man who understood the situation.

Based on his attitude alone, Yang Xiao had no reason to move against him.

And so, after exchanging a few pleasantries, Yang Xiao was invited into the residence by Wang Zongping to have a seat.

As for Wang Zongping…

If Wang Qianshan had been killed by someone outside the Purple Sun Sect, he would have had to intervene to protect the sect’s dignity. But his death at the hands of Yang Xiao, the new Vice Medicine Peak Master and potential future Master of Medicine Peak, was perfectly understandable.

Even Study Lord Cheng could only sigh.

He wouldn’t pursue the matter.

Wang Zongping was even less inclined to meddle. He and Wang Qianshan had never been close. In fact, he’d long resented the man’s shameless greed, as he was often forced to clean up his messes.

Moreover, from Wang Zongping’s perspective, his priorities were clear: curry favor with this new powerhouse from Medicine Peak and completely sever ties with Wang Qianshan. Everything else was trivial.

As the Foreign Affairs Hall’s Guardian Elder for this region, Wang Zongping certainly understood this much.