Chapter 12 The Purpose of This Journey

On the city streets, the sounds of battle thundered across the sky! No one had expected that Summer Ninth Xuan, a mere youth, would be so ruthless and decisive! The other three family heads were nearly driven mad. They had thought there might be a way out, intending to flay him alive once their sons were safe, but who could have foreseen such an ending!

"Kill! Kill them for me!" The three family heads roared like crazed beasts, and their elders charged forward, heedless of their own lives.

"Your opponent is me." In midair stood a man, holding a long spear. Though aged, his spirit dominated the heavens!

"A group of you, besiege Summer Kongming, that villain. The rest, follow me and slay Summer Ninth Xuan!" The experts present split into two groups: one to deal with Summer Kongming, the other to pursue Summer Ninth Xuan.

Yet those who sought to chase Summer Ninth Xuan barely soared above the street before a powerful spear shadow, brimming with an overwhelming dominance, crashed into them, sending them all tumbling back.

"What in the world is this spear intent? How can it be so tyrannical!"

The technique stunned the entire crowd.

"Kill! All together, slay the old villain first!" Those who had tried to chase Summer Ninth Xuan were forced to turn back and attack Summer Kongming in unison.

...

On the pavilion, Willow Rain and Ah Yao were dumbfounded.

What was happening? How had things escalated to such chaos? Especially at the end—when escape was clearly possible—Summer Ninth Xuan deliberately chose to kill, striking down the three young masters in one blow.

This was something neither of them could have imagined. Even in the imperial capital, they had never encountered such a ruthless character.

Madness, absolute madness.

"Have you two seen enough?" Suddenly, a cold voice sounded behind them.

"Ah, you—" Willow Rain and Ah Yao turned to find Summer Ninth Xuan standing just behind them.

Their hearts tightened instantly, a deep sense of unease gripping them. After causing such havoc, he didn't flee but dared to linger nearby? Wasn't he courting death?

"We're here having tea and chatting. What business is it of yours?" Willow Rain's expression darkened slightly; she couldn't fathom Summer Ninth Xuan's intentions.

And how had he discovered they were watching in secret?

This, they would likely never guess. With Summer Ninth Xuan's sensitivity, he had heard their conversation clearly. Even martial artists at the palace-entry level could only sense certain realms and auras; they lacked the ability to fully perceive their surroundings. What Summer Ninth Xuan possessed was called spiritual sense, something ordinary palace-entry cultivators were unworthy of.

As his realm improved, so would his range of spiritual perception. Once he reached the palace-entry stage, it could cover half a city with ease.

For now, a range of ten yards was sufficient.

"Knowing you two hail from the imperial capital, I thought I'd come and greet you, especially you, Willow Rain. You must have grown and broadened your horizons these past years in the capital," Summer Ninth Xuan said casually.

"What do you mean? Do you think that just because you displayed some skill, I’ll suddenly see you in a new light?" Willow Rain adopted a haughty demeanor. "Frog at the bottom of a well, do you know what kind of talents thrive in the imperial capital? Your meager gifts are nothing compared to the prodigies I know—like heaven and earth.

Take my junior brother, for example. Born to a noble house, grandson of Minister Lu, at sixteen he’s already at the ninth level of palace-entry. What does that make you, huh?"

"There's someone even more impressive," Ah Yao added with a smirk. "Senior Brother Chu from the Ten Thousand Law Academy is only sixteen, but already a seventh-grade formation master, and he practices both martial arts and formations."

"Did you hear that? Even our academy’s ordinary students, regardless of family, background, looks, or talent, surpass you by a long shot. Do you think I’d look at you differently because of your pitiful gifts? Ha, laughable."

Throughout, Summer Ninth Xuan's face showed no emotion.

"Are you finished?"

"What’s wrong, your tone so cold? Feeling humiliated? I speak only the truth," Willow Rain said, never meeting his eyes. She took pleasure in belittling him.

"I came to tell you that if you ever want to save your life, we can make a deal. You’d best prepare something worthwhile to exchange—prepare well. Farewell."

That was Summer Ninth Xuan’s purpose. In truth, he had sensed Willow Rain carried something he needed, which drew him here. Otherwise, with his experience, what unrivaled beauties had he not seen? These ordinary girls could never catch his eye.

"Hmph, so angry! Get lost, and you dare curse me? You’ll suffer for it one day, you oddball!"

Willow Rain cursed him furiously.

"Let me remind you, don’t be so pleased with yourself. Not even your looks attract me—what right do you have for such arrogance?"

"You! You’re courting death!" Willow Rain shouted in anger, but saw Summer Ninth Xuan, carrying the sleeping Summer Ran, vanish at the stairwell.

...

After descending, Summer Ninth Xuan calmly exited through the back door.

As for the battle between Summer Kongming and the others, he cared little. If the man died, it was fate; if he survived, he might offer guidance later—either way, it was a transaction, nothing owed.

Given the current situation, Summer Ninth Xuan certainly wouldn’t foolishly return to the Summer estate. Who knew what vicious tricks his enemies might use to ambush him? He could handle it, but he wouldn’t let little Ran fall into danger again.

So, sticking to his plan, Summer Ninth Xuan prepared to leave the city for the Blackwater Mountains.

After a brief disguise, using a method to conceal his aura, he slipped out.

Along the way, Summer Ninth Xuan checked his Slaughter Arena. The people he had slain, along with the beast known as Beibei, had all been automatically turned into puppets by the arena.

The young masters of those four families possessed far greater talent than the earlier minions.

Summer Ninth Xuan directly refined thirty pieces of profound crystal, placing them inside the slaughter puppets to begin their cultivation.

To his surprise, the beast Beibei he had killed bore a trace of divine beast blood—a rarity among monsters.

Thus, Summer Ninth Xuan imparted the complete memory of the Blood Fury Nine Lives Technique to that dog-like puppet.

With a thought-command, the beast puppet began cultivating, though progress was slow, so the monster-hunting journey could not be postponed.

Moreover, Summer Ninth Xuan had another plan—to refine little Ran’s physique and open her meridians, so she could embark on the path of cultivation. After several years under his tutelage, few in this empire would be able to shake her.

He possessed countless supreme methods for body refinement and meridian awakening, all of the highest divine grade.

Unfortunately, they required rare medicinal ingredients, so Summer Ninth Xuan ultimately chose a method involving monster blood.

It was the most feasible approach for now.

Thus, whether for capturing monster souls, avoiding the wrath of the four families, or refining little Ran’s body and meridians, the journey to Blackwater Mountain could not be delayed.