Chapter 36: Taking Action, Establishing Authority
“A bunch of ants dare to cause trouble at my Luminous Trading Firm?”
“Die!”
As soon as Lin Weinan appeared, he showed no intention of holding back.
The aura of an early-stage Master erupted, crashing down on the intruders infiltrating below.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In an instant, all the martial artists who had snuck in—whether they were on the beams above or concealed in the shadows of the night—were forced into visibility under Lin Weinan’s overwhelming aura. Some who were positioned high up were particularly unlucky, falling straight to the ground.
If not for the fact that those targeting Luminous Trading Firm were all at least at the Postnatal Realm of cultivation, many would likely have perished or been gravely injured just from the fall.
Even so, several weaker Postnatal Realm martial artists were still severely injured.
“Who are you?”
“The one who will kill you!”
After forcing these petty thieves into the open with his aura, a cruel smile appeared on Lin Weinan’s face. With a spear in hand and moving with intricate footwork, he charged straight at them.
Ahhh!
Under the immense power of a Master, these martial artists—whose strongest were only at the Seventh Stage of the Prenatal Realm—had no power to resist. Agonized screams resounded one after another.
“A Master… Luminous Trading Firm actually has a Master! Retreat! Retreat quickly!”
Seeing Lin Weinan’s overwhelming might, many martial artists who had not yet infiltrated the Trading Firm were instantly shocked and terrified. They wished they had more legs to flee with, using every ounce of their strength to run as far away as possible.
And it wasn’t just them.
Even the hidden forces and martial artists who had planned to act as “the third party that profits” were now shaken to their cores, a trace of relief flashing across their faces.
Thankfully, they hadn’t acted yet. Otherwise…
The mere thought of potentially facing the pursuit of a Master sent shivers down their spines.
A Master!
In the entire Qingfeng City, there were only a handful of such figures. Even across the whole Qianyuan Country, a Master was considered a formidable powerhouse.
For someone like this, killing them would be effortless.
“Let’s go! Leave this place at once!”
“Damn it, what’s the deal with this Luminous Trading Firm? How has it managed to grow so much in just a few years to have a Master guarding it?”
“Turns out, every faction daring to make a big scene has their own trump card. From now on, I’ll just focus on earning spirit stones and cultivating quietly. This is way too dangerous.”
“After tonight, Luminous Trading Firm will likely become Qingfeng City’s fourth major power, alongside the City Lord’s Mansion, the Feng Family, and Qingmu Sect.”
“…”
The moment Luminous Trading Firm revealed its Master Realm guardian, those cultivators who had been coveting its pills realized that their goal for the night was no longer achievable.
Some martial artists even started thinking about giving up this line of work for good. It was just too dangerous.
Who knew if they’d meet their end at the hands of some powerful figure tomorrow if they continued down this path?
Unfortunately, this realization came too late.
From the moment they set their sights on the Luminous Trading Firm and took action, their fate had already been sealed.
With Lin Weinan’s intervention, coupled with the recognition from the other forces and hidden Prenatal Realm martial artists of the vast gap in strength, the decision to retreat was made in barely a single breath.
As they prepared to leave, Lin Sihuang, who had remained still until now, finally moved.
“Do you think my Luminous Trading Firm is a place where you can come and go as you please?”
“Luminous Trading Firm Guards, heed my order—stop them!”
“Yes!”
With Lin Sihuang’s command, the Luminous Trading Firm Guards, who had been hidden in the shadows, surged forth, surrounding the courtyards that concealed those coveting their treasures.
At the same time, Lin Sihuang’s figure began darting through the crowd with astonishing speed, leaving behind only afterimages.
Before the intruders could react, cries of anguish began echoing in their ears.
“A Master—another Master!”
“Damn it! What kind of backing does this Luminous Trading Firm have? How could another Master appear? And it doesn’t look like he’s recently broken through to the Master Realm!”
“We’re finished. This is the end for us.”
With the Luminous Trading Firm Guards blocking their escape and two Master Realm powerhouses ruthlessly mowing them down, many of the martial artists broke down in despair.
Against two Masters in their prime, their combined strength offered no resistance whatsoever.
In less than fifteen minutes, the forces eyeing Luminous Trading Firm’s pills were entirely wiped out.
Among them was the Bai family, one of the so-called “Top Ten Families.”
Before a Master, families without one of their own to protect them—whether the Bai family, the Wang family, or any other of the top ten families—were nothing more than clouds passing in the sky.
“Clean up the aftermath. I’m going to visit the Bai family.”
Lin Sihuang’s sharp gaze swept across the area, finally settling on Lin Weinan. With that calm statement, his figure disappeared.
After this disaster, most of the Bai family’s Prenatal Realm martial artists had fallen. They no longer qualified to remain among the top ten families.
Since that was the case, Lin Sihuang saw no reason to waste the opportunity—he planned to ransack their resources for the Trading Firm’s benefit. Otherwise, the Bai family’s inevitable fate would be far worse.
“An early-stage Master and a mid-stage Master… Tsk, the Luminous Trading Firm has been hiding its strength remarkably well!”
“I told you, Luminous Trading Firm wouldn’t dare act so boldly without significant backing. I just didn’t expect their hidden strength to be this overwhelming.”
“Exactly. In just twenty short years, they’ve grown from a faction with its strongest being a Seventh Stage Prenatal Realm warrior to a force comparable to a second-rate power. At this rate, it won’t be long before they truly become a second-rate power.”
“A new dominant force in Qingfeng City is rising.”
“…”
Within the City Lord’s Mansion, many of the elders were silent as they watched the aftermath unfold.
Initially, they had planned to clean up the other forces and monopolize the benefits as soon as the Luminous Trading Firm showed any sign of weakness.
But contrary to their expectations, Luminous Trading Firm not only avoided any disadvantage, it eradicated all its enemies with thunderous resolve.
An early-stage Master and a mid-stage Master.
Two Masters guarding their Trading Firm.
And this was only the strength they had revealed to the public.
If Luminous Trading Firm were secretly hiding yet another Master, then it would indisputably be a second-rate power, fully comparable to the City Lord’s Mansion itself.
<+>
The night passed without further disturbance.
When the first rays of morning sunlight pierced the darkness, Qingfeng City began to buzz with activity.
The thick smell of blood lingering around the Luminous Trading Firm left many citizens in fear, though those with higher cultivation or access to information knew exactly what had transpired during the night.
From this day onward, Luminous Trading Firm was veiled in an aura of mystery, strength, and inviolability in the eyes of countless martial artists.
Starting that day, all the city’s factions and martial artists quietly sold off unneeded assets and treasures, biding their time in anticipation of the upcoming auction.