The rampant wind and snow continued to rage, to the point that the sky was dark.
The grain carts on the official road moved through the wind and snow, stopping and going, swaying from side to side.
Feng Province was already a disaster area, especially the northwestern direction where the official road was located, which had deep snow.
This was actually good, because Feng Province's official road had, after all, been repaired, but after leaving Feng Province, the other four affected provinces had all sorts of road conditions.
Under extremely cold temperatures, extremely low visibility, and unpredictable road conditions, ordinary coachmen, who were originally the main force of transportation, were practically risking their lives.
But hearing that it was for saving lives, some coachmen still drove one cart after another without hesitation.
At the same time, He Zhang and Qiu Zhong of Feng Province's State Prefecture were sitting in the front hall of Ji Village, looking at the required grain amount and the consumed grain amount, their expressions solemn.
“Even if the first batch of grain is delivered smoothly, it will be difficult for the coachmen to return with empty carts.”
“Yes, the disaster covers too large an area. Relying solely on Feng Province's transportation capacity, it is indeed difficult to reach the required amount.”
“If the Zhenbei Army were here, it would be good, but the barbarians in the Northern Territory are acting up again. It's strange, this year the extremely cold Northern Territory hasn't had snow, but the five provinces of Qingyun World—”
“What do we do now?”
“Load the carts first. Once they're loaded, we'll always find people. If not, we old guys will step up.”
“What about those outside?”
“Just as Young Master said, no matter what they say, push everything onto him.”
He Zhang and Qiu Zhong raised their heads, listened to the scolding in the front hall, and walked out holding their breath.
In the front hall of Ji Village, Sect Disciples from all over the world were sitting there with angry expressions, their bodies exuding Killing Intent. As Qiu Zhong appeared, a sharp sword unsheathed with a clang, flashing with cold light, and slashed horizontally towards his neck without a word.
Just then, Pei Ruyi, who was in the front hall, reacted quickly and slashed out with her sword.
The two swords collided, and amidst a burst of sound, the porcelain vase placed in the hall instantly shattered.
The cultivator who drew the sword's eye twitched, and he spoke furiously: “Do you know that because all Spirit Stone supplies in Qingyun World have been cut off, my Young Master is waiting to break through a Realm? If he loses this Opportunity because of this, who among you can bear the responsibility?!”
Pei Ruyi looked at him coldly: “This is Ji You's decision. He said he would bear all the consequences.”
“Him? Heh heh, there were no cultivators in Feng Province, so he picked up a bargain. Is he really acting as if he's the lord of Feng Province? I advise you to quickly resume Spirit Stone transportation, otherwise, the consequences are not something you can bear.”
“The road from the Northern Territory to Feng Province has been closed. The snow is deep, so even if we wanted to transport, it would be very difficult.”
The cultivator's eyes instantly sharpened: “If Spirit Stone transportation is difficult, then how are your disaster relief grains being transported?”
Qiu Zhong lowered his head even further: “After the heavy snow, our road department in Feng Province cleared the official road for a day, which allowed the grain carts to depart—”
“Since there's a way, then transport Spirit Stones the same way you transport grain!”
“Young Master said grain saves lives, Spirit Stones do not, so they won't be transported for now. No one can change this. If you have a way, you can naturally go to the Northern Territory to get them yourselves.”
Qiu Zhong bowed his waist and said in a hoarse voice: “We are just servants. If Young Master doesn't change his decision, even if I agree, the road department and the Immortal Supervisor will not cooperate. Immortal Lord, please understand.”
The cultivator who drew the sword looked furious: “Are you saying that no one in this world can control him?”
“My Young Master is a Disciple of Tianshu Academy. Without Tianshu Academy stepping forward, Worldly Families naturally cannot control him.”
“I will report your words truthfully to the Family Head, but after this winter, there will be no Ji Family in Feng Province.”
The other cultivators also cast a gloomy look at them, then left the Feng Province State Prefecture.
The Yao Race did not want the Human Race's silver. Their Snow Region was even more barren than Feng Province, so they wanted firewood, rice, oil, salt, and manual tools.
This involved a very large amount of accounting work. Previously, Feng Province and the Immortal Supervisor jointly handled it, which allowed the snowy region demon stone to circulate smoothly.
Therefore, the transportation of demon stones was not just a simple road problem.
In fact, most of Feng Province's grain production was converted into silver through exchange with demon stones.
But because of Ji You's order, all government offices and the Immortal Supervisor in Feng Province were now busy with disaster relief, and no one was handling this matter at all.
If the Yao Race couldn't get their goods, they naturally couldn't give them Spirit Stones. Getting them themselves was simply a joke.
So the simplest way to resume transportation was to first deal with that Ji You.
After everyone discussed, seeing that it was getting late, they decided to stay one night at their respective Family's Immortal Villa here, and then go to report.
The cultivator who drew the sword was named Guo Liu, a Disciple of the Liang Province Guo Family. At this moment, he arrived at the Ten Thousand Tree Immortal Villa under the Guo Family, still grumbling.
There were several of his cousins in the Ten Thousand Tree Immortal Villa: Guo Zixing, Guo Ziyi, and Guo Pingrong. They listened to his curses, occasionally snickered, and then remained silent.
Guo Liu cursed for a long time until he felt his throat dry, then stopped. He then looked at them with a frown, thinking that staying in this remote place had made their brains stupid.
Although Guo Liu's Realm was not high, only at Condensation, he was still of the main Family Bloodline. Even when sent out to travel, he received a grand reception from the Ten Thousand Tree Immortal Villa.
He ate and drank until deep into the night, then returned to his room to rest.
After sleeping soundly for a while, in the middle of the night, he was woken by the urge to urinate. As soon as he got out of bed, he heard a commotion in the courtyard, so he peered out the window.
Under the hazy snowy night, his cousins were sneaking out of their rooms like thieves.
The few of them didn't seem to have planned it beforehand, and they couldn't help but be slightly stunned when they met in the central courtyard.
However, the few of them didn't say much afterward. After exchanging glances, they walked out of the Immortal Villa.
At the same time, in a house on the west side of Feng Province State Prefecture.
Zhang Pingyang saw his pregnant wife, Lanlan, sleeping soundly, so he quietly got out of bed, dressed neatly, and left the house.
He was a side branch Disciple of the Liang Province Zhang Family. His talent was ordinary since childhood, and even now, his cultivation was only at the Condensation Realm. After cultivating for many years in Feng Province, he finally married the common woman Lanlan.
Since then, he rarely left his wife, not even returning to the Immortal Villa. This was the first time he decided to leave.
As he walked out of the room, Lanlan, lying on the bed, gently opened her eyes and looked at the departing figure for a long time without speaking.
Actually, she used to be very afraid of cultivators, trembling whenever she saw one, but after getting married, she felt they were just like that. When they couldn't sleep, they also looked troubled, completely without any profound mystery.
Under the snowy night, the cold permeated to the bone, as if even the moonlight was frozen.
Zhang Pingyang walked along the road, past the wall that read, “I am born between heaven and earth, and there must be stories for future generations to see.” From afar, the grain carts had stopped at the threshing ground not far from the city gate. When he walked closer, he couldn't help but be slightly surprised.
Because he found that cultivators from other Immortal Villas had also arrived. Some had already hitched their horses to the carts. Upon seeing him, they all turned their heads, their expressions somewhat strange.
“Brother Zixing, why are you here too? There are no Spirit Stones to be gained this time.”
“I'm going for Brother Arong.”
“Ah, that person from Northwest Village who took us hunting last time?”
“His wife is about to give birth. We are cultivators, after all, much stronger than Mortals.”
“A sickle can be called a curved moon saber, cutting wheat can be said to be learning the Dao of the sword, but being a coachman is hard to conceal. What will you say when you go back?”
“We agreed not to tell anyone, didn't we? Anyway—we're all in this together.”
Zhang Pingyang couldn't help but chuckle, thinking, 'We'll just keep deceiving ourselves.' Then he climbed onto the cart, took hold of the reins. Guo Zixing was also adjusting the reins and couldn't help but glance at him, “By the way, when is Lanlan due?”
“Probably after New Year.”
“You—don't plan to return to the Liang Province Zhang Family?”
Zhang Pingyang looked at the distant wind and snow and chuckled: “Actually, when I was forced to come to Feng Province back then, I knew in my heart that I couldn't go back.”
Guo Zixing was silent for a moment after hearing this: “I lived in Central Province until I was sixteen, and in Feng Province until I was thirty-eight. I really shouldn't think about going back anymore.”
Zhang Pingyang tightened the reins and wrapped them around his right wrist: “Let's see who drives more steadily?”
“You lowly coachman, how dare you speak to me, an Immortal Lord, like that?!”
“Hey, we agreed not to talk about being coachmen.”
“Didn't you say you weren't going home?”
“I'll have to go back for my parents' birthdays eventually. If those people from the main Family find out, I'm afraid I'll be laughed to death…”
After muttering to himself, Guo Zixing turned to look at the back of the cart, where some other voluntarily transporting coachmen were harnessing their carts. He then shouted with renewed vigor: “You all follow behind us later, we—”
Zhang Pingyang saw him stop abruptly and couldn't help but glance at him.
Guo Zixing pursed his dry lips: “We are Immortals!”
Under the dark night, the agricultural official responsible for checking the quantity waved his hand.
Seeing this, Zhang Pingyang gripped the reins and shouted “Gee up!”, and the grain convoy rushed into the snowy night along the yet-to-rise dawn, their Faces filled with immense solemnity.
Yesterday, to ensure safety along the way, the road department along the official road worked for a full day, sweeping the snow, and finally managed to send off the first batch of grain carts with great difficulty.
But after another heavy snowfall in the evening, it was estimated that the road ahead would be covered again.
When Feng Province originally designed the grain carts, they had considered the conditions of snowy roads, so the wheels were custom-made to be very large.
But even so, the deep snow was still a considerable challenge for the horses.
Sure enough, as the second batch of grain carts drove out of Feng Province State Prefecture, they hadn't gone far before the official road ahead was already buried under deep snow.
Looking out, the vast expanse of white made it impossible to distinguish the road's direction.
However, just as everyone felt disheartened and worried about how long the horses could gallop in such deep snow, a powerful Aura suddenly swept across, whistling and roaring in the snowy night.
In a trance, Guo Zixing was startled to see a figure in a double-breasted cloth shirt, standing with hands behind his back, soaring directly into the clouds.
With a roar, pressure descended from the sky.
A crack suddenly appeared on the deep snow of the road, cut from the middle, and then endless snowstorms were blown to both sides by the strong wind.
In the instant of the explosion, snow waves rolled for thousands of miles, and the road surface was swept clean.
Seeing this, Guo Zixing was stunned. When he looked up again, he only saw black clouds and no figure.
It was then that Zhang Pingyang's “Hurry!” startled him awake, and then a convoy of grain carts sped along the main road…
The five provinces were covered in wind and snow, a vast expanse of white everywhere.
In just five days, Qingyun World, with no new Spirit Stones transported in, completely ran out of supplies.
Many who were breaking through Realms, those planning to enter Immortal Sects to challenge the Inner Courtyard, and those waiting for Medicinal Pills, all stopped their cultivation, showing expressions of disbelief.
They hadn't expected the transportation of Spirit Stones to truly stop like this.
Seeing that every Spirit Stone shop had a “sold out” sign, those who came to the snow viewing party, such as Liu Junchi, Peng Peng, and others,
all began to nervously await the reaction of their respective Families.
They understood the Worldly Families behind them and knew that this matter would inevitably provoke their wrath.
Thinking of this, Liu Junchi's scalp tingled, because once they put themselves in Ji You's shoes, it was as if they felt a mountain-like pressure.
Sure enough, not long after the Spirit Stone supply was completely cut off, a carriage arrived through the air amidst whistling Spiritual Qi.
An Elder from the Liang Province Zhang Family appeared with a gloomy gaze, landing aggressively.
On Yong'an Street, the uncleaned snow was blown into a snowstorm, mixing with the falling goose feather snowflakes.
Peddlers and commoners, constantly exhaling white mist, immediately moved aside, their hands tucked in their sleeves, hurrying along the sides of the road with their heads down.
Following that were the Liang Province Guo Family, Qing Province Long Family, Ling Province Hua Family, and Zeng Family.
Countless figures with profound Auras continuously roared in from outside the city, accompanied by their Disciples who also flew alongside them, entering in a continuous stream amidst the wind and snow.
Next came the Yong Province Chu Family, Yu Province Lu Family—
As countless important figures arrived in Shengjing, carriages embedded with Magical Artifacts for aerial travel also entered from the West City Gate. The Yunzhou Lu Family's Ling Shi Business Association also arrived in Shengjing, looking towards Ni Mountain Tianshu Academy.
Lu Qingqiu had just returned to Bi Shui Lake Elegant Courtyard at this time. She used Spiritual Qi to ignite the charcoal brazier in the room, warding off the cold coming from all directions.
Ji You's disaster relief efforts caused the Spirit Stone supply in Qingyun World to be cut off, leading many people in the courtyard to send her invitations, asking if there were Spirit Stones for sale.
In their eyes, Lu Qingqiu was the Young Miss of the Yunzhou Lu Family, who had grown up sleeping in a nest of Spirit Stones since childhood.
However, because too many people came, the Spirit Stones in her hand were quickly snatched up, leaving not many.
She did not continue to sell the remaining ones but went to the Inner Courtyard and gave them to her younger sister, Lu Hanyan, who was in seclusion to break through a Realm.
Lu Hanyan blew away the snow from her shoulders with Spiritual Qi, changed out of her outer clothes, then took out a teapot and sat it on the charcoal brazier.
And when the kettle hissed, Lu Qingqiu, who was about to make tea, heard a knock on the door. Then Wen Siyuan from the Master's Courtyard entered and handed her an invitation.
Lu Qingqiu couldn't help but shake her head: “I don't have many Spirit Stones left. If any more invitations come, please help me refuse them, Senior Brother.”
Wen Siyuan spoke upon hearing this: “It's not to buy Spirit Stones. This invitation is from the Lu Family Head.”
“My father?”
“The Lu Family Head arrived in Shengjing this morning and is currently in the city.”
Lu Qingqiu felt something was unusual, unclear why her father would come to Shengjing at this time.
She took the invitation and glanced at it. It only had the name of a restaurant and the name of a private room written on it.
After pondering for a while, the Young Miss Lu opened an umbrella and walked out of the continuously snowing courtyard. She followed the deeply snow-covered divine path to Shengjing City.
After some twists and turns, she arrived at the restaurant mentioned in the invitation. She then reached out to brush off the snow on her paper umbrella, stepped forward, and entered.
This restaurant usually had very good business, bustling and lively every day, and with singing and dancing at night, it was even more boisterous.
But today, the building was completely silent, with a somewhat chilling Aura Cohesion.
Lu Qingqiu passed through the corridor and saw many important figures dressed in luxurious clothes with profound Auras sitting in the front hall. She recognized some of them, and for those she didn't, she could roughly guess who they were based on the Family crests on their clothes.
The Family crests represented the great Worldly Families of the Qingyun World, and the people seated there were all high-ranking members.
Some were Elders, some were Enshriners, and all had serious expressions.
As she moved about, servants constantly went in and out of the building, delivering one message after another, and then relaying one communication after another.
Lu Qingqiu felt slightly puzzled, but still courteously greeted several people she knew, then stepped towards the upper floor.
Seeing this scene, those below couldn't help but look at each other.
"This Yunzhou Lu Family really knows how to go with the flow. First, they came uninvited, and now they've set their sights on the Guo Family..."
"Merchants are all like this, so it's not surprising. Otherwise, would they let their daughter marry a dying man?"
"?"
"After the Tiandao Conference, the Lu Family impulsively made a move, but thankfully, it wasn't a done deal."
At this moment, Lu Qingqiu had already gone upstairs and arrived at the private room written on the invitation, pushing the door open and walking in.
There were five people in the room: her father, her mother, as well as Ding Mao, the Patriarch of the Yunzhou Ding Family, and Ding Shaojie. In the center, on the main seat, sat a man.
This man wore a tall cap and jade belt, had a dignified Face, and was dressed in a lavish Young Master's robe. Between his brows, there was a faint Divine Qi.
Lu Xiong stood up upon seeing her: "Daughter, come, let me introduce you. This is Young Master Guo Ran of the Liang Province Guo Family."
Lu Qingqiu curtsied slightly: "Greetings, Young Master Guo."
"Young Miss Lu, I've heard much about you. Seeing you today, you are truly beautiful and captivating."
"Young Master Guo, you flatter me."
Madam Lu gently held Lu Qingqiu's hand at this moment: "Young Master Guo is young and promising, with extremely strong cultivation talent. He will soon reach the Rongdao Realm, but because his heart is set on the Dao, he has not yet married."
Hearing this, Ding Shaojie, who was nearby, couldn't help but clench his fists.
He had been infatuated with Lu Qingqiu since childhood. He thought that after the news of Ji You's failure to break through spread, Lu Qingqiu would be with him again, but he didn't expect another person to appear.
Lu Qingqiu also understood her parents' intentions, knowing that they were once again thinking of choosing a husband for her.
In fact, ever since the news spread that Ji You had emerged from the Xianxian Holy Land without breaking through, her parents' intentions had begun to show.
When her younger sister entered the Inner Courtyard previously, the Family specially gave a Spirit Core to He Lingxiu. On one hand, it was to ask her to take good care of her sister in the Inner Courtyard, and on the other hand, they also asked He Lingxiu to introduce some talented young men to her sister.
Lu Qingqiu didn't object to this matter. She thought it would be good to marry off this saucy girl who was always rushing to get her butt spanked by Ji You.
But what she didn't expect was that after her sister went into seclusion to break through and there was no news for half a year, her parents turned their attention to her again.
Actually, she had written to her father before, telling him that Ji You's combat power was not as simple as it seemed, but her father did not heed it.
In fact, Lu Qingqiu could understand, because for thousands of years, there had never been a cultivator like Ji You, and even she was not clear about the true level of Ji You's combat power.
Merchants prioritize profit; all decisions are based on profit, and marrying off a daughter is no exception.
Friends today might turn against each other tomorrow for profit, and friends yesterday might be drinking happily together today for profit. Such things are not uncommon in their Ling Shi Business Association.
Lu Qingqiu came back to her senses and did not directly reject the situation. Instead, she used the excuse of "Mother hasn't seen me for a long time and wants to have a private chat" and went to the next room with Madam Lu.
Madam Lu followed her to the next room and couldn't help but whisper, "Although Young Master Guo is already thirty-two, being able to enter the Rongdao Realm is already considered a Prodigy. What do you think?"
Lu Qingqiu slightly raised her eyes: "I have already given myself to Ji You."
Madam Lu's Face changed dramatically: "What did you say?!"
"Dual Cultivation among cultivators is nothing to be ashamed of. However, my younger sister hasn't given herself yet, so she would be suitable."
"Do you know that when Hanyan was in seclusion, she wrote to the Family and said the same thing as you?!"
"This little girl—"
Lu Qingqiu sighed softly, then looked at her mother: "Since that's the case, there's nothing that can be done. I won't go there. Mother and Father should worry less about this in the future."
Madam Lu watched her turn and leave, then after a moment of silence, she spoke softly: "Actually, I don't want you to marry that man surnamed Guo either."
Hearing this, Lu Qingqiu couldn't help but turn her head.
Madam Lu's eyes narrowed: "The Guo Family is one of the largest Worldly Families in Liang Province, and that Guo Ran's cultivation is extremely high. Mother is also afraid that you would suffer if you married him. You can leave, but you must never tell anyone that you've given yourself to Ji You."
Lu Qingqiu glanced at her mother, then turned and left, returning to Tianshu Academy through the wind and snow.
However, as she walked up the mountain path covered in deep snow and reached the mountain gate, her brows couldn't help but furrow. Then she looked back at the wine house behind her again.
She had only remembered to evade the marriage matter just now, and only now did she recall the confusion she felt when she first entered.
What were these people here for?
The Guo Family is a large Family. With her father's connections, he shouldn't be able to directly call people to Shengjing for a meeting.
The key was that there were other great Immortal Sect Families in that wine house, and she even saw several Families from Ling Province.
Thinking of this, Lu Qingqiu paused slightly, her brows gradually furrowing.
These Worldly Families came like a storm, for the matter of Ji You cutting off Spirit Stone transportation. In fact, Lu Qingqiu's guess was correct. Their Lu Family indeed did not have the Face to make so many well-known Worldly Families from the Nine Provinces come here for their marriage.
They came here for the Spirit Stones.
When Ji You established a Sect in Feng Province and took away Feng Province's tax tribute share, these great Families were already filled with anger, but they couldn't act due to Immortal rules.
Now, he cut off the Spirit Stone supply as he pleased, sending grain to the affected Mortals, forcing the Prodigies in their Families who wanted to break through to stop. This matter made them even more furious.
To the cultivators of the Nine Provinces, Ji You was merely a character responsible for transporting Spirit Stones to the Nine Provinces, but he mistakenly believed that he controlled the Spirit Stones and could cut them off at will.
His actions this time were a huge overstep. With a suitable excuse, the Ji Family could cease to exist.
They urgently needed Spirit Stone supplies and decided not to keep this person any longer. At the same time, they also decided to reclaim Feng Province's tax tribute at this moment, restoring everything in Feng Province to its original state.
The Lu Family and Ding Family also knew about this development, which was why they rushed to Shengjing, because in their view, if Feng Province were to return to the ownership of the Worldly Families and Immortal Villas, the management of that road should naturally be taken over by them.
As for calling their daughter to meet Guo Ran, it was actually just as those people had discussed earlier, going with the flow.
However, Ji You was ultimately a Disciple of Tianshu Academy, and his Sect was also established under Tianshu Academy. Therefore, for the Worldly Families to hold him accountable, the most crucial step was to gain Tianshu Academy's approval.
This matter did not seem difficult to them, because they knew that some people in Tianshu Academy had long disliked him.
Moreover, a person who had entered the Xianxian Holy Land but failed to break through had no value for Tianshu Academy to protect.
Those servants who were going in and out just now were actually taking letters from various Families to Prince Chong's Mansion. Through Prince Chong, they arranged to meet Elder Fang and pressured the Master's Courtyard to make Ji You suffer eternal damnation.
Messengers went back and forth, from noon until dusk.
At the same time, Worldly Families from all directions gathered here, and a murderous atmosphere, along with the sudden snow and cold wind, poured into Tianshu Academy.
Thus, in the pure white Tianshu Academy, Tianshu Academy Disciples whispering while looking towards Shengjing could be seen everywhere.
The continuous gathering of Worldly Families from the Nine Provinces in Shengjing was indeed a grand spectacle.
If it were truly an ordinary Disciple who had attracted so many people, they would probably be in constant fear.
But many things happened in Tianshu Academy before the beginning of winter.
Xiang Fu entered the Inner Courtyard, Peng Yu was forcibly expelled from the academy and taken away, and Fang Jincheng was confined to a mountain stream for seclusion.
The clues pointing to these events ultimately had no clear explanation, yet they were incredibly concerning.
And if the reasons for those events were truly as rumored before, they felt that these Families had probably come in vain.
And with the same thoughts were the officials remaining at the Immortal Supervisorate, as well as Prince Chong's Mansion and the various large and small Worldly Families in the capital.
In the small imperial capital, countless people sat silently around their stoves, holding their breath and waiting.
From evening to night, from night until the snow intensified.
In Prince Chong's Mansion, Chong Wang, dressed in a large red robe, paced back and forth, and his daughter also held her tea until it was cold, yet did not drink it.
It wasn't until the morning of the next day that countless Sect Elders descended upon Ni Mountain like a dark cloud.
Lu Xiong had not slept all night yesterday, as he had learned from his wife that both his daughters had lost their virginity to Ji You. He got up early and came to the front hall.
Elder Guo Huai of the Guo Family was about to get up and raised his eyebrows slightly upon seeing Lu Xiong: "Patriarch Lu, will you come with us today?"
"Elder Guo, uh, I have something to say. I've thought about it for a long time yesterday, and I ask everyone to listen."
"Oh?"
"Everyone just wants the Spirit Stone supply to resume. It's not necessary to stand against a Holy Sect like Tianshu Academy. I have some friendship with that Ji You, so why don't I go and persuade him?"
Hearing this, Ding Mao, who was following behind him, changed his expression and turned to look at Lu Xiong.
As for the others, their expressions suddenly became a bit strange, then they looked at each other, deep in thought.
After the eldest daughter of the Lu Family came yesterday, she left in a hurry, and then the distinguished direct descendant of the Guo Family left in a huff. They knew that this marriage alliance had not been finalized.
But the problem was, the major issue at hand was not this marriage alliance, but to eliminate that young man surnamed Ji and revert the matters of Spirit Stones and tax tribute to four years ago.
This matter was greatly beneficial to their Yunzhou Ling Shi Business Association, and as the association's president, Lu Xiong had always been the most active.
Logically speaking, even if his marriage alliance with the Guo Family didn't materialize, he shouldn't object to something that benefited the Foundation of the Yunzhou Worldly Families. Yet, he suddenly changed his mind.
It seemed that the daughter of the Lu Family had already given herself to that dying man.
Although Ding Shaojie was uneducated, his mind was quick, and at this moment, he felt a wave of greenness wash over his forehead.
However, the powerful Sect figures present did not heed his advice. They turned and roared away into the wind and snow, their magnificent Aura causing snow explosions on the divine path and exerting pressure in all directions.
Many Worldly Families had already gathered here from their respective inns and taverns, and with their addition, the momentum became even more imposing.
However, what surprised these Worldly Families was that they were not the only ones who had come here.
By the roadside not far away, many officials from the capital stood in the wind and snow, and people from the Immortal Supervisorate were also among them.
And then there were some Tianshu Academy Disciples, faintly visible behind the mountain gate.
However, they were clearly not here to cause trouble with them; instead, they had a scrutinizing and observing gaze.
Elder Guo Huai of the Guo Family stood still in the wind and snow, looked around, and couldn't help but frown: "Why aren't the Hua Family and Zeng Family from Ling Province here?"
Everyone suddenly noticed that none of the Hua Family and Zeng Family, who had been furious last night due to the lack of Spirit Stones, had appeared.
"Could it be—they overslept?"
"?"
Guo Huai pondered for a moment, then called a Family Disciple named Guo Yong and sent him to search the inn where the Ling Province Worldly Families were staying.
So Guo Yong, using Spiritual Qi to propel himself, quickly disappeared into the swirling snow.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Guo Yong returned through the heavy snow, but he was still alone.
Guo Huai frowned upon seeing him: "Where are they?"
Guo Yong bowed at the sound: "Reporting to Elder, the inn's waiter said that two young ladies came to visit yesterday, and then several Worldly Families from Ling Province left overnight."
Hearing this, Guo Huai was slightly startled: "Left overnight?"
"Yes."
"Where did the young ladies come from?"
"I don't know either."
Ling Province is not close to here. For Ling Province to arrive at the agreed time, they must have traveled through wind and snow.
But since they had already come, why did they suddenly all leave overnight? This made the Worldly Families present frown slightly, finding it a bit strange.
And those around them, whose eyes were full of scrutiny, also couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
Just at this moment, Elder Zhang Ao of the Zhang Family stroked his long beard and looked at everyone: "He's just a Tianshu Academy Disciple who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. Even if one or two Families are missing, it won't affect the overall situation."
Guo Yong nodded, and just as he was about to compose himself, he suddenly saw another figure running through the wind and snow, arriving before them.
This person was dressed like a steward, wearing black clothes and black boots. He walked through the deep snow and bowed slightly: "Reporting to all Immortals, my Prince suffered a serious illness yesterday and cannot get out of bed today."
"Sick?"
"It's an acute illness—"
"Then what about the messages we sent to Elder Fang?"
"My Prince said that although he cannot come here today, the messages have still been delivered to Tianshu Academy for all you Immortal masters. All you need to do is wait for a response."
All the Sect Elders in the field frowned, deep in thought amidst the wind and snow.
First, the Ling Province Worldly Families retreated overnight, and now Prince Chong claimed illness and didn't come. The sense of strangeness in their hearts inevitably intensified.
Especially Ding Mao and Lu Xiong, whose eyes showed increasing confusion.
Chong Wang held shares in the Ling Shi Business Association. If he could get the transportation rights for the snowy region demon stone, why would he bother so much to reclaim the tax tribute collection rights from the Immortal Supervisorate?
He wouldn't dare not be active in such a matter, let alone claim illness to avoid it.
Just as questions continued to arise, a figure suddenly whistled down from the wind and snow above Tianshu Academy.
The person wore a gray Daoist robe and had white hair and beard, instantly making everyone present straighten their backs, their expressions becoming a few shades more serious.
However, when he landed in front of the divine path, everyone realized that he was not Elder Fang, but Elder Peng, who hailed from the Peng Family.
Elder Peng stopped in the wind and snow, looked up at them: "Elder Fang said, let's just drop this matter—"
"???"
(Seven thousand words, asking for monthly votes)
