Chapter 211: Chapter 191: Le Family’s Reaction, Lu Zhao Takes Action

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingshan glanced at the surrounding black light curtain, which flowed with a faint glow. He sensed the stable power it contained, then looked at Lu Zhao’s young, placid face. In that instant, realization dawned on him.

Though his temperament was poor, he was no fool. ’For this senior to place us here at this moment... the intention is self-evident. He’s going to make a move! And his target is the Le Family—the very people who drove us to desperation!’

At this moment, an indescribable mix of emotions welled up inside him: the relief of having survived a calamity, the dread of the impending bloodbath, and a deep reverence for the mysterious senior before him.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his tumultuous thoughts. He gave Lu Zhao a deep bow, his voice carrying a faint, almost imperceptible tremor, yet it was exceptionally firm:

"Take care, Senior! This junior and Wan’Er will dutifully follow your instructions. We will remain peacefully within this Array, cause you no trouble, and await your triumphant return!"

Lu Zhao nodded slightly. Lin Qingshan’s reaction was within his expectations. ’Although this man’s Cultivation is not high and his character is lacking, he at least has a conscience and knows how to assess a situation.’

He said no more, only giving the two inside the Array’s light curtain one last look before his figure flickered.

HUM!

A nearly inaudible hum vibrated through the air. Lu Zhao’s figure blurred in an instant, as if dissolving into water ripples. The next moment, a pale blue Water Element Escape Light shot into the sky, tearing through the tranquil forest air. It was so fast that it left only a faint, rippling afterimage in its place as he shot off like an arrow released from its bow, speeding toward Celestial Mirror Lake.

「Half a day later.」

Lu Zhao’s figure appeared at the edge of a vast expanse of water.

Before him lay the foundation upon which the Le Family relied for its existence—Celestial Mirror Lake.

The lake truly lived up to its name! From a distance, its surface was boundless and as smooth as a mirror. Bathed in the noon sun, it reflected a dazzling, brilliant light across its vast expanse, sparkling as if it were a giant sapphire embedded in the earth.

The water was so clear it was pristine, perfectly reflecting the azure sky and the leisurely white clouds. Where water and sky met, the sight was enough to cleanse one’s Heart Spirit.

In the center of the lake, several verdant islands dotted the surface like flecks of jade on a mirror. The lakeside was lush with flourishing water plants, and the air was thick with a Spiritual Qi far denser than in ordinary places.

’What a fine place...’ Lu Zhao stood atop a high cliff, looking down at the beautiful and spiritually rich lake, and couldn’t help but praise it in his heart. ’The Water Attribute Spiritual Qi here is abundant and pure. There must be at least a Tier Two Spirit Vein. No wonder the Le Family was able to operate here for so many years and produce Foundation Establishment Cultivators.’

However, a cold smirk then touched the corners of his lips. ’A pity. Soon, it will no longer belong to the Le Family.’

After admiring the view for a moment, Lu Zhao’s gaze sharpened like a hawk’s, locking onto a cluster of buildings nestled by the mountains and water along the lakeshore, a well-ordered arrangement of pavilions and towers.

That was the Le Family’s core residence. The tall gatehouse, the faint Spirit Light of an Array, and the Le Family disciples in uniform coming and going—all of it spoke to the foundation and order of this Foundation Establishment Clan.

Lu Zhao did not approach rashly. His figure flickered and, like a phantom, he melted into the depths of a dense reed marsh by the lake.

The spot offered a wide, clear view of the Le Family residence’s main gate and some of the surrounding area, while his own aura was perfectly concealed by the natural water vapor and dense vegetation.

Sitting down cross-legged, Lu Zhao retracted all traces of his aura, becoming like a common stone. His Divine Sense, however, spread out like an invisible, intangible spiderweb, extending with extreme caution and stealth to faintly cover the gate of the Le Family residence and its immediate surroundings.

He wasn’t trying to probe deep into the core of the Le Family’s heavily restricted compound, as that would be easily detected by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. His objective was clear: to lie in wait for a rabbit, to bide his time until a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Le Family left the residence!

Like the most seasoned hunter, Lu Zhao began his long period of dormancy.

During the first month, the Le Family residence operated as usual. Disciples in the Qi Cultivation Stage came and went frequently, either carrying out clan assignments or heading out for training and procurement.

Among them, Lu Zhao even "saw" an "old acquaintance"—the Le Family Elder, Le Mingfeng. The man was hurrying, his face etched with anxiety. Lu Zhao’s Divine Sense swept over him like a breeze passing over a fallen leaf, causing no ripples. His current targets weren’t these small fries; striking rashly would only alert the enemy.

During the second month, the comings and goings of the Le Family disciples seemed to grow more frequent. Le Mingfeng appeared more often, and another middle-aged cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer even joined the ranks of those frequently entering and exiting.

On the surface, the Le Family residence remained calm, but Lu Zhao’s keen Divine Sense caught a trace of imperceptible tension spreading through the air.

The clan’s internal operations seemed to be accelerating, as if they were responding to something, or perhaps preparing for something. Lu Zhao remained perfectly still, like a great crocodile lurking in deep water, patiently awaiting the perfect moment.

By the third month, the "bustle" at the Le Family residence reached a peak. Le Mingfeng and the other Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivator practically became regulars at the main gate, rushing in and out.

Numerous Middle-Low Tier Disciples were also frequently mobilized, either heading out in teams or transporting supplies. The entire Le Family was like a tightly wound machine operating at high speed.

Meanwhile, deep within the Le Family residence, in a Quiet Chamber protected by a Sound Insulation Restriction, the atmosphere was so heavy you could almost wring water from it.

The Le Family’s Elder Ancestor, Le Zhongshan, sat in the main seat, his face a thundercloud. The deep ravines of his wrinkles seemed to deepen with fury. Before him, a family Steward at the Late-stage of Qi Cultivation was reporting something, trembling, with beads of cold sweat dotting his forehead.

"Patriarch, a message came back from Elder Mingfeng and Elder Mingyuan. They say that the mysterious Foundation Establishment Cultivator and that Lin Qingshan have both completely vanished..." The Steward’s voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was nearly inaudible.

"Enough!" Le Zhongshan slammed his hand on the nearby zitan wood table with a dull THUD. The tabletop was instantly covered in a spiderweb of cracks.

His chest heaved violently, flames of rage burning in his eyes, but he forcibly suppressed them. His voice was hoarse and low. "Useless! A bunch of useless fools! You can’t even find a single trace! Get out!"

The Steward scrambled out as if he’d received a great pardon, fleeing as though a primeval beast were chasing him.

Now, only Le Zhongshan and Le Mingcheng remained in the Quiet Chamber.

Le Mingcheng watched his father’s hand tremble slightly with rage. He frowned and said in a low voice, "Father, calm your anger. This matter is thorny, but not without a solution. I’ve already personally taken care of things with the Xuan Yang Immortal City’s Law Enforcement Hall. I slipped the Elder Liu in charge of external affairs a full fifty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."

"He took the Spirit Stones and gave his word. As long as no ironclad proof is brought directly to the Immortal City’s upper echelons, he has his ways of burying the matter. At the end of the day, what fatal evidence could a mere son-in-law-by-marriage like Lin Qingshan possibly have? It’s nothing more than baseless speculation and a few irrelevant trifles."

He paused, a flicker of worry in his eyes, and continued, "The real trouble right now is that Foundation Establishment Cultivator who’s been hiding in the shadows, whose background we know nothing about!"

"He first saved Lin Qingshan and Mu Wan’Er, then vanished without a trace. Who is he? What does he want? Is he simply righting a perceived wrong, or does he have ulterior motives? As long as we don’t know this person’s background and purpose, our Le Family will not know a day of peace!"

Le Zhongshan took a deep breath, forcibly quelling his anger, and looked at his son. "Then what do you propose?"

A sharp glint flashed in Le Mingcheng’s eyes, revealing his decisiveness. "Father, waiting to be slaughtered is not an option. I’ll personally lead a party out! With my Cultivation, as long as I don’t run into a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, I should be able to escape even if I’m outmatched."

"I plan to head to the area where Lin Qingshan was last seen and investigate carefully to see if I can find any trace of that mysterious cultivator. If I find him, I’ll either make contact, negotiate, or eliminate him! We must ascertain his true strength! If all he wants are some Spirit Stones and resources, we’ll appease him and give them to him!"

"But if he insists on making an enemy of our Le Family..." A cold light flashed in Le Mingcheng’s eyes, his killing intent palpable. "...then we will spare no expense, spend whatever Spirit Stones and resources are necessary to call upon a few of the Le Family’s old allies, and we will join forces to crush him!"

Hearing this, a muscle in Le Zhongshan’s face twitched, and a hint of conflict flickered in his eyes. Le Mingcheng was the future of the Le Family, the hope for the clan’s advancement. Le Zhongshan was extremely reluctant to let him take such a risk.

But every word Le Mingcheng said was reasonable. This mysterious Foundation Establishment Cultivator was like a sharp sword hanging over the Le Family’s head; they would know no peace until he was dealt with. He pondered for a long time, thinking of his son’s Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, the decent-quality Tier Two Spiritual Artifact he possessed, and that Tier Two Talisman. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, his voice tinged with exhaustion and helplessness:

"Sigh... very well. What you say makes sense. But you must be careful! If the situation becomes untenable, retreat immediately! Your safety is more important than anything!"

Seeing his father relent, Le Mingcheng broke into a confident smile. "Father, rest assured. I know what I’m doing. No matter how strong that fellow is, he can’t possibly be at the Late-stage Foundation Establishment, can he? As long as he’s not, even if I’m no match for him, I can still make a clean getaway! I’ll go and prepare now."

「Half a day later.」

Outside Celestial Mirror Lake, deep in the reed marsh, Lu Zhao’s tightly shut eyes snapped open. In their depths, an icy glint of light flared like a cold star, instantly shattering three months of silence.

His powerful Divine Sense clearly "captured" the Restriction’s light curtain on the Le Family residence’s tall gatehouse rippling like water. A figure dressed in a green brocade robe, with a calm and steady demeanor, exuding the Spiritual Pressure of an Early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, strode out, flanked by a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Elder and several Late-stage Qi Cultivation Stewards.

The man in the lead, whose brow carried the dignity of one long in a position of power, along with a hint of imperceptible worry, was none other than the Le Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivator—Le Mingcheng!

He scanned his surroundings with a sharp gaze but seemed oblivious to the faint, ice-cold Divine Sense that had locked onto him like a venomous snake from the depths of the reed marsh.

He gave a few low-voiced instructions to the Late-stage Qi Cultivation Steward beside him, then nodded to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Elder.

Then, with a flicker of his figure, he was the first to transform into a blue Escape Light, speeding away from Celestial Mirror Lake—in the exact direction of the area where Lin Qingshan and Mu Wan’Er had last disappeared.

Lu Zhao slowly rose to his feet. His aura remained as contained as an abyss, but an invisible, heart-stopping killing intent was brewing and surging within him, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

For three months, he lay dormant, as still as a maiden.

Now that his prey had appeared, he would strike like a clap of thunder.

The Le Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivator could not escape death.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.