Chapter 86 Successor of Prime Minister Cao

Xiao Ming had already obtained everything he wanted, so naturally, he wouldn't linger. Looking at the increasingly explosive and eye-searing scene in the room, he waved his hand and commanded, "Elder Li, let's go!"

The two of them then vanished like two invisible ghosts, silently leaving the small courtyard and completely sealing off the flames of war and despair within the room behind them.

A moment later, the two had returned to the City Lord's Manor. Elder Li waved his hand to set up a restrictive isolation barrier. He, who had been silent all along, now had a rare flash of uncontrollable anger on his withered face. A cold light flickered in his murky eyes as he bowed to Xiao Ming and said indignantly:

"Saint! That fellow clearly knew that the Soul Suppressing Abyss's attack was significantly related to that damn 'Blood Pool,' yet he concealed it and didn't report it, thinking of monopolizing the Opportunity! Such a person harboring malicious intent will surely become a future trouble if left alive! Please allow me, Saint, to go and capture him right now, cripple his cultivation, and await your judgment!"

He had originally intended to capture Ying Gong and hand him over to the Saint after learning the secret, but seeing the Saint lost in silent contemplation throughout the journey, he hadn't spoken up to disturb him.

Back in the courtyard, Xiao Ming had returned to his lazy and casual self, leaning back casually in a reclining chair and playing with the soul-containing jade in his hand, as if that unsightly scene from earlier had never occurred. Hearing Li Feng's murderous request, not only did he not get angry, but he actually chuckled and slowly shook his head.

"Elder Li, stay calm." Xiao Ming's tone was flat, with a hint of playfulness. "Ying Gong indeed deserves to die for harboring malicious intent and concealing information, but... keeping him around is still useful to this Saint!"

Hearing this, Elder Li knew the Saint had other plans and didn't say anything more.

Looking at the deep night, Xiao Ming waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of lazy weariness. "Alright, Elder Li, I have a plan regarding Ying Gong; let's keep him for now as he still has some use. As for today's events, let it stay between us. The night is late, you should go back and rest as well!"

"Very well, Saint. Then I shall take my leave. You should also rest early." Elder Li bowed respectfully, and his figure slowly blended into the shadows and disappeared.

Xiao Ming sat alone by the window, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the soul-containing jade. He gazed deeply at the dark night sky outside the window, that half-smile on his lips never fading.

"Ying Gong, you could be considered a Successor of Prime Minister Cao, but... in this world, one Successor of Prime Minister Cao is enough! As for you, you'd better go back into the furnace and be remade!"

He already had a complete plan in mind, so he stopped thinking and turned to walk into the inner chamber to rest.

Xiao Ming lay alone on the relatively soft large bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep for a long time. He felt like something was missing. After a long while, he murmured in a low voice, 'That dead girl Qingzhu hasn't recovered yet...'

The waters of Yuan City had already been stirred by him. Next, he only needed to wait for the fish to take the bait—that is, for the Soul Suppressing Abyss to come knocking!

The next day, early morning.

Just as the sky began to brighten, a slightly hurried sound of footsteps and a faint commotion came from outside the City Lord's Manor. Soon, a guard walked quickly to the outside of Xiao Ming's courtyard and reported respectfully:

"Reporting to the Saint, the Head of the Yu Family, Yu Mingxuan, is outside with several Elders requesting an audience!"

Inside the courtyard, Xiao Ming, who had just gotten up and was being served by Mo Qingzhu to get dressed, paused slightly upon hearing this, a flash of doubt and confusion crossing his eyes.

Indeed... after a period of recuperation yesterday, Mo Qingzhu's complexion had recovered significantly. At this moment, she was gently and meticulously smoothing out the wrinkles in Xiao Ming's robes. Upon hearing the guard's report, her hands didn't stop, but she raised her beautiful eyes and looked at Xiao Ming with a hint of inquiry.

The doubt in Xiao Ming's eyes flashed and vanished, replaced by understanding and playfulness. He gently pinched Mo Qingzhu's pretty face and said calmly toward the door, "Understood, take them to the side hall to wait first."

"Yes!" The guard took the order and left.

Xiao Ming turned around, looking at his handsome yet somewhat wicked face in the mirror, a curve hooking at the corner of his mouth. "Qingzhu, tell me, what do you think the Yu Family is here for this time?"

Mo Qingzhu nestled obediently by his side and said softly, "The Saint is brilliant and surely already knows everything. No matter what they plot, they cannot escape the Saint's palm in the end."

"Heh, aren't you a sweet-talker." Xiao Ming chuckled and put his arm around her slender waist. "Let's go, accompany this Saint to meet them. Elder Li should have arrived by now as well."

When Xiao Ming walked slowly into the side hall with Mo Qingzhu, followed by the shadow-like Elder Li, the four people from the Yu Family, led by Patriarch Yu Mingxuan, immediately stood up. Their expressions were respectful but filled with unconcealable anxiety and panic as they bowed in unison:

"Yu Mingxuan (and the Yu Family members) pay our respects to the Lord Saint!"

Their gazes quickly swept over the stunningly beautiful and gentle Mo Qingzhu beside Xiao Ming, and then over Li Feng behind him, whose Aura was as deep as the sea and heart-stoppingly powerful. Their hearts trembled even more, and they lowered their posture even further.

"No need for formalities, everyone, please sit." Xiao Ming walked straight to the main seat and sat down, his expression lazy and his gaze overbearing.

Mo Qingzhu naturally stood by his side like a maidservant. Xiao Ming's calm gaze swept over the people below, finally landing on Yu Mingxuan, who looked haggard with bloodshot eyes, and asked indifferently, "I wonder what business Patriarch Yu has for visiting so early?"

Yu Mingxuan hurriedly bowed again, his voice carrying urgency and a hint of trembling. "The Saint's wisdom is clear! This time we have come to disturb you because... because my Yu Family has reached a critical moment of life and death! We have come specifically to beg the Lord Saint to save our lives!"

"Oh?" Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow slightly, picked up the spirit tea offered by the maid—no, Mo Qingzhu—and gently blew on the foam, his tone neither hurried nor slow. "Why do you say that, Patriarch Yu? With City Lord Ying and this Saint here, no matter how rampant the Soul Suppressing Abyss thieves are, they might not be able to break the city so easily, right?"

"The Saint does not know!" A look of urgency and fear intertwined on Yu Mingxuan's face, his voice even trembling. "According to news sent back at the risk of death by spies my Yu Family planted near the Soul Suppressing Abyss, they are already furious after being thwarted! They... they will come again tomorrow at the latest! And this time, they have sent another Soul Transformation Stage expert!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Yu Family Elders behind him also turned pale. Soul Transformation Stage! For the current Yu Family, whose highest combat power was only at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, that was an irresistible heavenly might! Once the city fell, the Yu Family would surely follow in the footsteps of the Zhao and Sun families, and the entire clan would be wiped out!

Hearing this, Xiao Ming's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, a flash of 'surprise' crossing his eyes just at the right moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He took a light sip of the spirit tea and his tone remained indifferent. "Oh? Another Soul Transformation Stage? It seems the Soul Suppressing Abyss is truly determined to take this place! However, Patriarch Yu need not be overly alarmed. With this Saint and City Lord Ying here, and with the protection of the City's Defensive Array, even a Soul Transformation expert might not be able to break the city easily."

These comforting words sounded reasonable, but to the ears of the already terrified Yu Family members, they seemed so hollow. Ying Gong? They had long since lost trust in that city lord who harbored malicious intent! As for the Saint... although he had a Soul Transformation protector by his side, the Soul Suppressing Abyss had more than one Soul Transformation expert!

Seeing that Xiao Ming didn't seem to take it seriously, Yu Mingxuan became even more anxious. With a thud, they actually knelt down directly, old tears streaming down as he said, "Saint! It's not that we are boosting others' morale and diminishing our own! It's just... it's just that the Soul Suppressing Abyss's goal this time isn't simply to conquer territory! Their goal... is my Yu Family!"

Xiao Ming frowned slightly, showing a perfectly timed look of incomprehension and doubt. He gently put down the teacup, leaned forward slightly, and looked sharply at the Yu Family members. "Patriarch Yu, what do you mean by this? Why would the Soul Suppressing Abyss pursue your Yu Family so relentlessly?"

Yu Mingxuan raised his head, his face full of struggle and determination. He took a few breaths and finally gritted his teeth, then said in a low voice, "Because... because they are after a massive place of Opportunity jointly held by our Yu and Zhao families!"

Then a sharp light flashed in Xiao Ming's eyes, yet his face showed a perfectly timed confusion. "Opportunity? What Opportunity? Patriarch Yu, at this point, do you still want to hide something from this Saint?"

"I wouldn’t dare! I absolutely wouldn’t dare!" Yu Mingxuan hurriedly bowed and said urgently, "It’s just... just that this matter is of great importance; it is the greatest secret my families have guarded for generations! I can offer it to the Saint, but... but I only ask that the Saint agree to two conditions from my Yu Family! If the Saint agrees, the Yu Family will not only offer up the location of the Opportunity but is also willing to pledge the entire clan's loyalty and follow the Saint for all eternity!"

Xiao Ming’s face instantly darkened, and the temperature in the entire side hall seemed to drop several degrees. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest with a dull "thud, thud" sound. He looked down coldly at the kneeling Yu Mingxuan, his voice carrying a hint of unquestionable authority:

"Yu Mingxuan, are you trying to negotiate conditions with this Saint?" As soon as Xiao Ming finished speaking, the Soul Transformation Stage pressure from Elder Li, who stood behind him, slowly began to radiate. That invisible Aura caused Yu Mingxuan to break into a cold sweat, nearly collapsing to the ground. The Elders behind him were also scared out of their wits and fell to their knees one after another.

"Please appease your anger, Saint! Please spare our lives!" Yu Mingxuan kowtowed like a woodpecker, his voice trembling as he said, "I am by no means threatening the Saint! It’s truly... truly because my Yu Family has no other way out! Once this secret is handed over, my Yu Family will have nothing left to rely on. If we do not receive the Saint's protection, my Yu Family will surely slowly fade into obscurity!"

Xiao Ming looked at him coldly without saying a word for a long time. The side hall was deathly silent, with only Yu Mingxuan’s heavy breathing and suppressed sobs. Mo Qingzhu still stood quietly to the side, as if in her eyes, no one else mattered except for the Saint.

After a long while, Xiao Ming finally spoke slowly. His voice was still cold, but it seemed to have softened slightly: "Speak then, what are your two conditions?"

Yu Mingxuan felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty and hurriedly raised his head. His face was a mess of tears and sweat as he said urgently, "My first condition! I beg the Saint to take action and protect my Yu Family through this Clan Extermination Calamity! No matter how fierce the Soul Suppressing Abyss's onslaught is, I beg the Saint to ensure that my Yu Family’s Bloodline is not extinguished!"

Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow. He had come here specifically to resolve the matter of the Soul Suppressing Abyss anyway, so this request wasn't exactly excessive.

"The second condition..." Yu Mingxuan paused, an embarrassed look appearing on his face. There was helplessness, expectation, and a hint of offering a treasure. "I have two daughters named Yu Linglong and Yu Linlang. Although their Aptitude is average, their looks are acceptable, and their temperaments are quite gentle... I beg the Saint to show mercy and allow the two sisters to follow the Saint by his side as slaves or handmaidens to serve his daily needs. This can be considered... considered a small token of my Yu Family's heart toward the Saint, hoping they might receive a bit of the Saint's pity..."

After finishing, he kowtowed deeply once more.

After listening, a trace of a strange expression that was hard to detect flashed in Xiao Ming’s eyes. He hadn't expected Yu Mingxuan’s second condition to be this.

'Offering a pair of sisters? This old fellow has certainly calculated well, wanting to use a beauty trap to entice me and thus strengthen our ties? ...What a joke. Am I, Xiao Ming, the kind of person who is blinded by lust?'

His heart stirred slightly, but his face remained expressionless. His fingers continued to tap the armrest as if he were weighing the options. The hall fell into silence once again, and the hearts of everyone in the Yu Family rose to their throats.

A moment later, Xiao Ming finally spoke indifferently. He neither agreed nor refused but instead asked, "You said the Soul Suppressing Abyss is after an Opportunity? What is that Opportunity... and where is it?"

As the head of a family, Yu Mingxuan understood Xiao Ming’s meaning instantly—this was a tacit agreement. He didn't dare to hide anything further and hurriedly said, "In response to the Saint! That Opportunity... is actually a 'Blood Pool'! The water in the pool can help one significantly increase their cultivation, just like an Empowerment, without any Bottlenecks. However, every time it is opened, it requires the sacrifice of living people as a price, and the increase in cultivation is proportional to the cultivation level of the sacrifices."

He recounted every detail regarding the Blood Pool, which largely matched what Xiao Ming had heard the previous night.

After listening, Xiao Ming pondered for a moment and suddenly gave a light chuckle. The sound of his laughter was exceptionally clear in the silent hall. "A Blood Pool... an increase without Bottlenecks... No wonder the Soul Suppressing Abyss is making such a big fuss. Yu Mingxuan, you have indeed brought this Saint quite a 'surprise'."

Hearing this, the heavy stone in Yu Mingxuan’s heart fell to the ground. His face immediately showed a look of wild joy, and he kowtowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Saint! Thank you, Lord Saint! Everyone in the Yu Family will forever be grateful for the Saint’s great kindness!"

The Elders behind him also kowtowed in gratitude, and the atmosphere immediately lightened considerably.

Just then, one of the Yu Family's rather clever Elders, who was skilled at fawning, had a flattering smile plastered on his face. He looked at the exceptionally beautiful and gentle Mo Qingzhu, who had been standing quietly by Xiao Ming's side, and spoke pleasingly: "The Lord Saint’s talent is extraordinary, and his cultivation is even more heavenly. With such a beauty by his side, he is truly the envy of others! Surely this lady is also the Lord Saint’s woman?!"

His words were intended as flattery to gain some favor.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Ming’s expression turned slightly awkward for a brief moment, but it returned to normal instantly.

Hearing this, Mo Qingzhu, who had been standing by his side, also had a flush on her pretty face, looking quite shy.

What a joke! If word of this got out and was heard by that "grateful" Little Brother Lu, wouldn't things explode?

"Ahem..." Xiao Ming coughed twice, interrupting the Elder's words, and said with a serious face, "Everyone, please speak carefully! This is this Saint’s Senior Sister—Mo Qingzhu. My Senior Sister has a cold temperament and dislikes mundane affairs. Her following me down the mountain this time is merely to relax. Everyone, do not speak nonsense and ruin my Senior Sister's reputation."

"Senior Sister?" That Yu Family Elder was instantly stunned, his mouth hanging open. The flattering smile froze on his face, looking quite comical. He looked at Mo Qingzhu, who was standing by Xiao Ming’s side with a shy expression, skillfully pouring tea for him, and then looked at Xiao Ming’s serious face. In his heart, he didn't believe it for a second: 'Senior Sister? Who are you kidding! Which Senior Sister serves her Junior Brother like this? And those ambiguous movements when you two entered the door were clearly...'

Not just him, but Yu Mingxuan and the other Elders were all stunned. Their expressions were strange, and their eyes darted back and forth between Xiao Ming and Mo Qingzhu, filled with doubt and confusion. No matter how they looked at it, this didn't seem like a simple relationship between a Senior Sister and a Junior Brother! Lord Saint, are you serious?

But seeing Xiao Ming’s eyes, which were smiling yet held a hidden sharpness, as well as the expressionless face of the Soul Transformation Elder behind him, the people of the Yu Family also realized—the Saint didn't want to admit it openly! Regardless of whether they were Dao Companions or not, if the Saint said she was his Senior Sister, then she was his Senior Sister!

Yu Mingxuan reacted the fastest. He immediately glared fiercely at the Elder who had spoken out of turn, then smiled apologetically at Xiao Ming: "Yes, yes, yes! It was our lack of insight! So it is the Saint’s Senior Sister who has graced us with her presence. We have been disrespectful! Fairy Mo is peerless in her elegance and has an extraordinary bearing. It was our rudeness; please, Saint and Fairy Mo, do not take offense!"

The other Elders also hurriedly chimed in, their tones incredibly respectful as if the previous doubt had never happened:

"Yes, yes! It was our lack of insight!"

"The deep bond between the Saint and his Senior Sister is truly touching!"

"It was my slip of the tongue, just talking nonsense!"

For a moment, the side hall was filled with awkward yet incredibly "harmonious" sounds of flattery.

From beginning to end, Mo Qingzhu kept her eyelids lowered as if everything had nothing to do with her, but the blush on her pretty face betrayed the turmoil in her heart.

Xiao Ming seemed completely unconcerned about this "misunderstanding." He nodded with satisfaction and sat back in the main seat, bringing the conversation back on track: "Alright, a minor misunderstanding, no need to mention it further. Patriarch Yu, rest assured—let alone two Soul Transformation experts from the Soul Suppressing Abyss, I can handle even three! If you have no other business, you may withdraw for now!"

Seeing Xiao Ming's confident manner, everyone in the Yu Family breathed a sigh of relief and felt much more at ease. As they walked out of the side hall, many of their backs were soaked with sweat, but their faces bore the relief of having survived a disaster and a hint of expectation.

After the Yu Family members left, Xiao Ming dismissed Elder Li. Now, only he and Mo Qingzhu remained in the hall.

Xiao Ming leaned back in his chair and rubbed his brow, a playful curve appearing at the corners of his mouth. "Senior Sister? Heh... who knows what those old fellows are thinking in their hearts!"

Mo Qingzhu finally raised her head, her pretty face flushed red. She gave Xiao Ming a reproachful look and whispered, "The Saint just loves to tease Qingzhu..."

"Haha!" Xiao Ming gave a light laugh and pulled her directly into his arms. "What? Does being this Saint’s 'Senior Sister' make you feel wronged?"

"Qingzhu wouldn't dare..." Mo Qingzhu buried her face in his chest, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.