"They are good at reading the signs of the times," Yin Yuanming said with a laugh after the two great Clan Elders left. "Those who are pragmatic tend to live longer."

Qin Feiyang's eyes glinted with a cold light.

With the Zheng Family and Wang Family gone, only the Dong and Lu Families remained. The Dong Family was no longer a major concern and wouldn't last much longer. The Lu Family, on the other hand, was somewhat more troublesome to handle. But that was the extent of it.

Shortly after, Qin Dieyi delivered a teleportation portal.

Qin Feiyang wasted no time; he activated the teleportation portal and departed swiftly.

Yin Yuanming also immediately began preparations for auctioning the medicinal pills.

「Central City District!」

Before the gates of a vast mansion, Qin Feiyang appeared out of thin air.

This was the City Lord's Mansion.

The four guards at the gate, upon seeing Qin Feiyang, immediately greeted him with smiles. "Brother Qin, what good wind brings you here today?"

Qin Feiyang was indeed the most talked-about figure in Spirit State at the moment.

Crucially, they all knew that Qin Feiyang had an excellent relationship with Ren Wushuang.

Therefore, none of the four guards dared to show him the slightest neglect.

"Is the City Lord in?" Qin Feiyang asked with a polite smile.

One of the guards replied, "Yes. Would you like me to take you to him?"

"That would be very helpful," Qin Feiyang said with a smile.

Following the guard, Qin Feiyang entered the mansion. They proceeded down a corridor leading deeper into the estate, chatting idly along the way.

The mansion was immense.

It took them a good while, just under an hour, to arrive at a private courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, a vegetable garden spanning tens of meters lay to the left, its lush green vegetables radiating vitality. To the right was a pond, over three hundred meters wide, where small fish occasionally leaped from the water, their movements sending ripples across the sparkling surface. A two-story wooden lodge stood by the pond's edge.

The place was simple, rustic, and tranquil. At that moment, the City Lord was sitting by the pond, a fishing rod in hand, leisurely angling.

The guard announced respectfully, "My Lord, Qin Feiyang requests an audience."

The City Lord glanced at Qin Feiyang and said, "Let him enter."

Qin Feiyang pushed open the door and walked in.

The guard then turned and departed.

Walking over to the City Lord's side, Qin Feiyang glanced at the fishing float on the water's surface and chuckled. "Senior, you certainly seem to be enjoying a leisurely time!"

"With all the trouble you've caused me, do you think I can afford to be leisurely?" the City Lord retorted, rolling his eyes at him.

"Erk!" Qin Feiyang was taken aback, then gave an embarrassed smile.

"Sit," the City Lord said.

Qin Feiyang nodded. But as he scanned the surroundings, he saw no stools or chairs. Decisively, he sat directly on the ground.

The City Lord said, "You've come to see me about Butterfly Valley, haven't you?"

"Hmm?" Qin Feiyang paused. He had indeed come to inform the City Lord about Butterfly Valley. But he hadn't expected the City Lord to already know.

The City Lord said impassively, "'Why does Butterfly Valley exist? What sort of place is the Land of Oblivion? Who is that woman? I will not tell you. But you must remember: do not speak of this to anyone else.'"

"Understood," Qin Feiyang nodded.

"Is there anything else?" the City Lord asked.

"Yes," Qin Feiyang said, frowning. "Before Dong Qing challenged me, she agreed that if she lost, the Dong Family would leave the State City. The Dong Family's old ancestor and Family Head both consented at the time. Yet now, they seem to have no intention of leaving."

"Handle that yourself," the City Lord stated. "Additionally, you need to quickly find a way to deal with Lu Xingchen and Shuang'er's betrothal."

Qin Feiyang's heart leaped with joy. The City Lord's words meant he wouldn't intervene on behalf of the Dong Family. However, the matter of the betrothal puzzled Qin Feiyang. "Senior," he asked, "are you so eager to annul the betrothal because the Lu Family is up to something?"

"Indeed," the City Lord sighed. "Master Lu approached me not long ago. He mentioned that Lu Xingchen and Shuang'er are of marriageable age and hopes to arrange their wedding soon."

Qin Feiyang said with disgust, "Lu Xingchen's character is truly awful. My sister absolutely cannot marry him."

"I also heard about his conduct at the Holy Temple yesterday; it was indeed quite disappointing," the City Lord said. "In any case, deal with it quickly. Once the betrothal is annulled, I won't care how you handle them."

"Understood," Qin Feiyang nodded, then rose, activated the teleportation portal, and returned to Alchemy Room Number Two.

Originally, he had worried the City Lord wouldn't permit him to act against the Lu Family. Unexpectedly, the City Lord was now also displeased with them. This meant he could proceed without any reservations.

Sitting in the lounge, Qin Feiyang pondered for a moment, then took out the Image Crystal Stone and quickly activated it.

After a short wait, Fatty's projection flickered into view. He was, however, in disguise.

Qin Feiyang asked, "How's the investigation going?"

"How could it be so fast?" Fatty rolled his eyes.

"I have another task for you now," Qin Feiyang said.

"What task?" Fatty asked, puzzled.

"The City Lord has ordered us to quickly annul the betrothal between Ren Wushuang and Lu Xingchen," Qin Feiyang stated.

"Why is the old man in such a hurry all of a sudden?" Fatty was slightly taken aback.

"It's all because the Lu Family is pushing for the wedding…" Qin Feiyang briefly explained the situation.

Fatty nodded. "So that's how it is. What do you want Master Fatty to do?"

"First step: destroy Lu Xingchen's reputation. Tarnish his image in every way possible. The crucial part is to spread the word that he's unworthy of Ren Wushuang," Qin Feiyang instructed.

"And the second step?" Fatty asked.

"When the time comes, I'll tell you," Qin Feiyang replied with a smile.

"Alright! A trivial matter like this is a piece of cake. Just sit back and wait for the show!" Fatty chuckled, and his projection swiftly dispersed.

Watch a show? I don't have time for that, Qin Feiyang thought with a shake of his head and a smile. He put away the Image Crystal Stone, entered the castle, and resumed transcribing the War Technique.

He was halfway through transcribing the seventh stroke and estimated it would take at most another month to complete it successfully. By then, he would be able to break through to a Four-Star War Emperor!

「On the third day!」

The Zheng and Wang Families relocated their entire clans. Even their disciples in the Holy Temple and the Inner Palace departed from the State City.

They had thoroughly thought it through: As long as even one of them remained in the State City, there would be no peace.

The upper echelons of the Holy Temple and Inner Palace guessed the reasons for the departure of these two families' disciples. However, since the disciples left voluntarily, they couldn't be forced to stay.

On the same day, the Treasure Pavilion also lifted its sanctions against the two families.

「On the fourth day!」

The Treasure Pavilion simultaneously auctioned the Vermilion Glazed Pill in the four major city districts, causing a huge stir.

On the fifth day, the auction of the Potential Elixir caused an even greater frenzy, with countless people scrambling to acquire it.

「On the sixth day!」

A piece of news spread like wildfire through the State City.

The news alleged that Lu Xingchen was a vile hypocrite, not only insidious and cunning but also extremely ruthless in his methods. He frequently plotted against others and abused the Lu Family's domestic servants. Furthermore, he was exceptionally lecherous, to a horrifying degree. Virtually all the maids in the Lu household had suffered his abuses. However, due to Lu Xingchen's status, both maids and servants could only swallow their grievances. Moreover, under his tyranny, they were forced to help maintain his virtuous public image. It was even said that a maid once became pregnant with his child. Fearing it would affect his prospects, Lu Xingchen mercilessly killed her—a single act that claimed two lives! Such a hypocritical, debauched scoundrel who toyed with affections and discarded people was utterly unworthy of a 'chosen daughter of heaven' like Ren Wushuang.

When this news broke, it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, sending shockwaves of an uproar throughout the State City!

It was only then that many people learned Lu Xingchen was actually betrothed to the City Lord's granddaughter.

「Lu Family's Assembly Hall.」

"Preposterous!" the Lord of the Lu Family raged, practically fuming. "Absolutely preposterous! Who is spreading these malicious rumors?!"

Lu Xingchen was arrogant, true, but he had never even touched a woman's hand! And now there were claims of him causing 'one corpse, two lives'? Who the hell could be so damn vile!

"Family Head, this is not the time for anger," Steward Lu, standing below with a face etched in anger and worry, advised. "We must quickly issue a clarification and stop this from escalating further."

If this wasn't suppressed, eventually not only would the public believe it, but even the City Lord might. And if that happened, the City Lord would likely not consent to the marriage between Lu Xingchen and Ren Wushuang.

"Correct!" the Lord of the Lu Family roared. "Immediately announce publicly that these are fabricated rumors deliberately spread by someone! At the same time, get your men to investigate! We must unearth the person spreading these rumors! I will tear them limb from limb and scatter their ashes to the winds!"

"Yes, Sir!" Steward Lu responded respectfully and immediately left.

However, even though the Lu Family issued a prompt clarification, they couldn't stop the rumors from spreading. As for who initiated them, the Lu Family hadn't the faintest clue.

The rumors spread ever more fiercely, soon reaching the ears of Lu Xingchen and Ren Wushuang.

Undoubtedly, Lu Xingchen was incandescent with rage. He immediately sent a message to the Lord of the Lu Family, demanding that the instigator of the rumors be found, no matter the cost!

Ren Wushuang, however, was filled with suspicion. Who spread this news? Was it Qin Feiyang? But this nominal younger brother of hers shouldn't even know about her betrothal to Lu Xingchen, should he?

「One wave subsided, and another arose immediately!」

On the very day the Holy Temple competition concluded, the Chief Hall Master personally issued an order. Shi Ming was dismissed from his post as Law Enforcement Elder of the Martial Palace, and Yan Nanshan was appointed as his replacement.

Shi Ming was demoted to the position of Steward Elder and assigned to menial tasks in the Inner Palace. These 'menial tasks' were numerous, including greeting newly arrived disciples at the Inner Palace, overseeing the sanitation of the Inner Palace, and even running errands for its disciples. In essence, it was servant's work.

Naturally, Shi Ming was unwilling to perform such duties. He went to argue with the Chief Hall Master, but was dismissed with a single sentence: "If you are unwilling to do menial tasks, then leave the Holy Temple."

With Shi Ming reassigned to the Inner Palace, the Wolf King and Fatty could no longer continue their investigation there. Thus, they refocused all their efforts on discrediting Lu Xingchen.

The entire Lu Family, from top to bottom, was now occupied with only one task each day: damage control, trying to refute the rumors everywhere.

Despite their efforts, an increasing number of people began to believe the rumors. Naturally, some suspected this was the work of the Lu Family's enemies, intentionally trying to frame them. However, the Lu Family had made far too many enemies in the State City over the years, making it impossible to determine who was responsible.

「One month passed.」

「In the castle!」

Qin Feiyang's arm abruptly paused. Brilliant light burst forth from the seventh stroke of the War Technique as his aura surged wildly, finally stabilizing at the level of a Four-Star War Emperor!

Once I complete transcribing the eighth and ninth strokes, I'll be able to break through to Six-Star War Emperor, Qin Feiyang mused. At that point, I'll only be three minor realms away from War Ancestor. Phew! Progress is swift.

Qin Feiyang exhaled a long breath, closed the Six-Character Mantra, and turned to look at Lu Hong and the Mole Beast.

Ten days ago, Lu Hong had also finally recovered to a One-Star War King and was now working hard to catch up with Fatty.

However, the Mole Beast's situation left him feeling quite helpless. Eight months have passed, and this fellow still hasn't broken through to Five-Star War King? Such a pace is truly... unimpressive.

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