Free Web NovelChapter 511: Chapter 280: Taking Control of 5 Sea Regions
"...Alright. Playtime’s over."
Ling Changqing shook his head and said with a hint of regret.
He had intentionally delayed for a moment, hoping to draw out all the attackers’ accomplices and capture them in one fell swoop. However, it now seemed there were only the three Nascent Soul True Monarchs and no one else.
A fierce sword light erupted, instantly flooding the entire hall. A terrifying, suffocating pressure descended, silencing all the Cultivators present.
Several shrill screams echoed faintly before the hall fell silent once more.
When Cen Wen Zhong’s vision cleared, he saw three heads lying at Ling Changqing’s feet. Their headless bodies were already mangled beyond recognition.
Three Nascent Soul True Monarchs, each powerful enough to found their own Sect and be hailed as a regional ancestor, had just been beheaded by Ling Changqing. It was a gruesome, horrifying death.
"The results of the Soul Search are in,"
Ling Changqing looked at Cen Deyang, his tone calm.
"Elder Cen, your family has quite a number of problematic members. What you do next is your decision."
A Jade Scroll, shimmering with a faint glow, flew from his hand into Cen Deyang’s.
The Jade Scroll contained memory fragments that Gong Ling had extracted and organized from the Divine Souls of the three Nascent Soul True Monarchs. It held information on numerous members of the Cen Family.
Cen Deyang’s face instantly darkened. He gritted his teeth and said, "Rest assured, Patriarch. I will handle this matter properly!"
Ling Changqing nodded. The Ling Family had already displayed more than enough power; he was confident Cen Deyang wouldn’t make a foolish mistake.
With these three unlucky souls sent to their graves, even if some of their followers remained, they wouldn’t be able to muster several Nascent Soul True Monarchs anytime soon.
"Husband, why don’t you come to my quarters and rest for a bit?"
Cen Xuyi gently tugged on Ling Changqing’s sleeve and whispered.
After what had happened, she was certainly in no mood for a banquet. Her only hope was that Ling Changqing wouldn’t hold this against her grandfather, or worse, the entire Cen Family.
"Alright."
Ling Changqing patted her hand, letting her know he wasn’t angry with her. ’A bunch of dead men aren’t worth my time, anyway.’
Cen Xuyi breathed a sigh of relief and took Ling Changqing’s arm as they departed. Ling Yuzhu and Fu Yin Xue followed close behind.
In the private embroidery tower of the Cen Family’s young lady, Ling Changqing sat down, his expression calm. Cen Xuyi immediately instructed the Maids to serve Spirit Tea and Snacks, waiting on him with attentive care.
Fu Yin Xue wanted to ask how many Cen Family members were involved, but she glanced at Cen Xuyi and held her tongue. They had always gotten along well, and there was no need to put her in an awkward position.
"This Spirit Tea is quite good."
Ling Changqing praised with a smile, setting down the exquisite teacup.
Cen Xuyi’s face bloomed into a smile. "The leaves for this Spirit Tea are a specialty from my family’s domain. In any case, it’ll be the Ling Family’s property soon enough. You’ll be able to drink it every day, Husband."
Ling Changqing beckoned. The beautiful woman walked over obediently, her fragrant, voluptuous yet graceful form settling into his lap.
"I know what you’re thinking,"
Ling Changqing said gently. "Regardless of how your grandfather handles this, I won’t pursue the matter further. More importantly, I won’t hold it against you in any way. You can rest easy."
Cen Xuyi’s body trembled slightly. Biting her lip, she gave a small nod.
It wasn’t that she wanted to plead for those family members; she simply hadn’t adjusted to the situation yet.
Ling Changqing understood her feelings, of course. These were people she had grown up with, and she was probably close to some of them. If Cen Xuyi had shown no reaction at all, it would have made her seem rather cold-hearted.
"The good news is, the Ling Family is about to gain two more sea regions," Ling Changqing sighed. "It’s all so troublesome, really."
Among the three beheaded Nascent Soul True Monarchs, Shen Tu Ji Yun had been the leader of the Guiqing Sea Region. The middle-aged man, Zhong Xiangshan, had been the leader of the Dragon Horn Sea Region.
The Dragon Horn Sea Region had previously been fragmented and disorganized. Zhong Xiangshan was an outsider, a Nascent Soul True Monarch who had put down roots there forty years ago and founded his own Sect.
Thus, less than twenty years after its unification, the Dragon Horn Sea Region was about to get a new master, just like the Guiqing Sea Region.
As for the old crone, Zhang Qingxi, she was an accomplice Shen Tu Ji Yun had recruited from gods-know-where. He had promised that if they annihilated the Cen Family, the Linsha Sea Region would become her private domain.
It was a simple, empty promise, yet that old hag of a Tribulation Cultivator had actually fallen for it. She had eagerly come along for the assassination, only for Ling Changqing to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.
As for the members of the Cen Family who had participated in the assassination plot, their numbers were quite high. They included Cen Deyang’s two youngest sons and a daughter, as well as several of Cen Wen Zhong’s own children.
Therefore, if Cen Deyang was determined to see the investigation through to the end, nearly thirty percent of the Cen Family’s disciples would lose their heads, including some of the Powerful Elders.
"Husband, if the family decides to take control of those two sea regions, why don’t we..."
Ling Yuzhu said softly.
"Use slave Cultivators to manage them for now? That’s a viable option."
Ling Changqing immediately understood what she meant.
Those two sea regions were surely home to many Core Formation and Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had been subordinates of the two Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
Ling Changqing would just need to go over and subjugate them. By using powerful Restrictions to bind their Divine Souls, he could guarantee their loyalty.
In the Cultivation Realm, where the strong ruled and the law of the jungle prevailed, slave Cultivators were a reality in every Sect and faction. Even the many so-called righteous powers were no exception.
