Devouring Soul Emperor

Young Master Liu’s pathetic display naturally drew scornful gazes.

But he was too busy staring imploringly at Chu Qingyun to care about any of that.

He could be scorned all they wanted; it was better than being targeted by Chu Qingyun and the Great Xia Dragon Guard!

Chu Qingyun shook his head. He couldn’t be bothered with such a person and walked straight into the Zhao Mansion.

Young Master Liu heaved a long sigh of relief, then hastily shoved his way through the crowd with his guards, fleeing as if his life depended on it.

For a Great Xia Dragon Guard to barge into the Zhao Family’s home like this... Something momentous was about to happen. The winds of change were blowing!

Right then, all Young Master Liu wanted was to get as far away from this place as possible!

The crowd of onlookers outside the gate was a clamorous hubbub of excited and intense discussion.

Unlike people such as Young Master Liu, they weren’t afraid of the Great Xia Dragon Guard.

For one, the Great Xia Dragon Guard would have no interest in them. For another, they hadn’t done anything wicked enough to warrant such attention.

Finally, with a few people taking the lead, they swarmed into the Zhao Mansion, following Chu Qingyun from a safe distance.

They wouldn’t dare venture anywhere else, but surely, if they stayed behind the Great Xia Dragon Guard, the Zhao Family wouldn’t dare lay a finger on them.

Inside the Zhao Mansion, what was once the most formal main hall had now been converted into a memorial hall.

Many guests and distinguished visitors had gathered there, chatting in small groups.

Regardless of their true feelings, every one of them wore a solemn and sorrowful expression.

The Zhao Family Patriarch stood at the entrance, half-heartedly chatting with Boss Huang, looking quite distracted.

Ever since he had woken up this morning, he’d had a terrible premonition, a nagging feeling that something was about to happen.

When he saw the man who was supposed to be greeting guests at the entrance come running in flustered, his heart skipped a beat. The ominous feeling intensified.

’Something has definitely... gone wrong!’

"Boss Huang, we’ll have to chat later. I have a small matter to attend to."

Zhao Yongzhi casually dismissed Boss Huang and intercepted the messenger, dragging him to a secluded corner.

Some matters were not for outsiders to hear.

"Patriarch, the Great Xia Dragon Guard... that Chu Qingyun, he’s here! He’s forcing his way in through the main gate right now!" the man said, his face a mask of anxiety.

At these words, Zhao Yongzhi shuddered. "How many Great Xia Dragon Guards are there!?"

"Just Chu Qingyun, all by himself!"

’Just one...’

Zhao Yongzhi pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I understand. You’re dismissed. Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone."

After the man left, Zhao Yongzhi immediately headed for the secret chamber to report to the Zhao Family Ancestor.

Although Zhao Yongzhi was the Patriarch of the Zhao Family in name, he was, in reality, nothing more than a Puppet for the Zhao Family Ancestor. Every important decision was orchestrated by the Ancestor from behind the scenes.

Even within the Zhao Family, only a select few were aware of this, to say nothing of outsiders.

Outside the secret chamber, Zhao Yongzhi bowed slightly and reported respectfully, "Ancestor, Chu Qingyun has come to challenge us, all by himself."

What!

’All by himself!’

The four Martial Spirits from the Martial Soul Hall inside the secret chamber were also stunned.

However, they quickly realized this was a golden opportunity. Regardless of his reasons for coming, it was the perfect chance to pry the Vermilion Bird’s location from him!

The four exchanged glances and nodded.

"Yongzhi, are you certain that the Great Xia Dragon Guard’s Grand Commander and Guard Generals have all left the city?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The Zhao Family Ancestor asked an additional question, just to be safe.

"Reporting to the Ancestor, I am certain. My men witnessed them charging out of the city together and they have not returned. We have every gate and all the walls under tight surveillance," Zhao Yongzhi answered respectfully.

"Excellent!" A trace of delight entered the Zhao Family Ancestor’s voice. "Immediately arrange for men to capture that Chu Qingyun for me!"

"Make a move against a Great Xia Dragon Guard?"

Zhao Yongzhi couldn’t help but cry out in alarm. "Ancestor, I urge you to reconsider!"

"Yongzhi, just do as I say. I know what I’m doing."

The Zhao Family Ancestor’s tone turned cold, filled with an authority that left no room for argument.

"This... As you command, Yongzhi."

The Zhao Family Ancestor had made up his mind, leaving Zhao Yongzhi with no choice but to carry out the order.

This wasn’t just a matter of ingrained obedience; it was also because the Zhao Family Ancestor’s position within the Zhao Family was absolute.

The so-called Patriarch could be deposed and replaced with a single word from him.

As the primary power in Flame City, the Zhao Mansion had undergone countless expansions. Its grounds were now vast enough to rival the City Lord’s Mansion, far beyond what the likes of the Cao Family could ever hope to match.

As for Chu Qingyun, he strolled inward at a leisurely pace, even pausing for a moment to admire the scenery, deliberately giving the Zhao Family time to prepare.

A large crowd of servants trailed Chu Qingyun from afar, continuously sending runners to report his location.

Chu Qingyun paid them no mind.

Before long, the first person sent to capture him arrived.

Zhao Chaofeng. More than a decade ago, he too had been a prodigy of Flame City, a genius from Zhao Yongzhi’s generation, the one before Zhao Hanfeng.

But after reaching the rank of a Level-Nine Martial Artist, he had rarely made public appearances. He spent his time in secluded cultivation deep within the Zhao family compound and was considered one of its pillars.

As a core disciple, Zhao Chaofeng was utterly loyal to the Zhao Family.

Even when ordered to confront a Great Xia Dragon Guard, he didn’t hesitate in the slightest, becoming the first to step forward.

"A Level-Eight Martial Artist... So you’re Chu Qingyun? Come with me to beg the Ancestor for forgiveness. You might just be able to keep your life."

Seeing that Chu Qingyun was merely a Level-Eight Martial Artist, Zhao Chaofeng’s gaze turned disdainful.

He had been in secluded cultivation deep within the family compound and wasn’t very aware of worldly affairs. He had only heard Zhao Yongzhi briefly mention something about Chu Qingyun’s strength.

In truth, however, Zhao Chaofeng didn’t believe it.

Though he had been stuck at the level of a Level-Nine Martial Artist for over a decade without a breakthrough, Zhao Chaofeng had spent that time diligently cultivating his Saber Technique and honing his Martial Soul Power.

He was confident he wouldn’t necessarily lose even to a captain of the Great Xia Dragon Guard, let alone a mere Level-Eight Martial Artist.

However, a detail unknown even to Zhao Yongzhi was that a captain of the Great Xia Dragon Guard couldn’t even survive a single one of Chu Qingyun’s sword strikes!

"Beg for forgiveness? Is a coward who hides in the shadows, not even daring to show his face, worthy of that?" Chu Qingyun sneered.

He was here today to provoke and to kill! Naturally, he wouldn’t be the least bit courteous.

Hearing the Martial Spirit Level Ancestor he had always revered get insulted, Zhao Chaofeng’s expression turned grim.

"Heh, good. Very good. It seems that after more than a decade of inactivity, you’ve all forgotten the name Zhao Chaofeng."

Hearing this, Chu Qingyun gave a helpless shrug and thought to himself, ’Even if you’d been out fighting every day for the past decade, I still wouldn’t have a clue who you are.’