Chapter Fifty-Six: The Third Power

“My benefactor, you’re far too polite—come, quickly, come with me!” As Zituo Feng spoke, he pulled Tu Lu along, heading out. The attendants hurriedly made way for them.

Tu Lu kept pace, but his attention remained fixed on Jin Donghe. Jin Donghe’s expression was unreadable, but the vigilance in his eyes never wavered. It seemed Fang Jinrui’s words were true—Zituo Feng was indeed as timid as a mouse. Even within his own residence, he was uneasy. That would make any future action much more difficult.

Thus, Tu Lu and Fang Jinrui parted ways for the time being, and Tu Lu was led to the city lord’s mansion. The layout of the mansion further revealed Zituo Feng’s apprehension—dozens of attendants formed concentric circles around the estate, with the inner ring composed entirely of cultivators emanating the aura of the Mountain Shifting Realm. Such a formation might not deter a true master, but against anyone below the Violet Palace Realm, it served as an effective warning system. Combined with the great formation that protected Huangyun City, the city lord’s mansion was nearly impenetrable—not even a mosquito could get through!

“Benefactor, Elder Fang has grown more muddled lately, but the matter is indeed strange. Rest assured, I’ll investigate thoroughly and give you an explanation. Please, don’t trouble yourself over it.” Zituo Feng bustled into a room, opened a secret compartment, and retrieved a small bottle. He poured out a lustrous green pill and handed it to Tu Lu. “Here—this is my Ziling Purity Pill. No matter the poison, it will neutralize it instantly!”

Tu Lu’s voice trembled with gratitude. “Thank you, my lord!”

“No need for words—take it quickly!” Zituo Feng urged, his concern plain for all to see.

Tu Lu nodded, took the pill, and swallowed it in one gulp. The Ziling Purity Pill dissolved instantly, sending a torrent of vitality surging from his dantian, healing his wounds and eradicating the last traces of poison from his body.

A tremor coursed through Tu Lu. His aura soared, rising nearly to the peak of the Ocean-Filling Realm, before he hastily suppressed it, remembering he was still within Zituo Feng’s mansion. “My lord, I am deeply grateful!” he stammered, overwhelmed.

A flicker of pain flashed in Zituo Feng’s eyes, but he quickly masked it and said with bravado, “Think nothing of it! As I’ve said, you are my benefactor. A single Ziling Purity Pill is nothing—take the whole bottle if you wish. Nothing is more important than my life, after all!”

At these words, Tu Lu’s eyes brightened, his gaze drawn to the bottle in Zituo Feng’s hand, though he quickly looked away.

At that moment, the door to the room was conveniently ajar, allowing the guards stationed outside an unobstructed view of the proceedings within.

Zituo Feng’s face darkened. He could hardly miss Tu Lu’s obvious longing. Gritting his teeth, he extended the jade bottle. “Since my benefactor values this elixir, take the entire bottle—I insist!”

“Ah? I… I couldn’t possibly…” Tu Lu faltered in surprise.

Zituo Feng’s brows knitted in displeasure. “Do you mean to look down on me by refusing?”

“Never!” Tu Lu accepted the Ziling Purity Pills at once.

Zituo Feng finally relaxed. “Very good. The city is overrun with bandits; there’s no need for you to return elsewhere. Stay here at the mansion. Someone! Prepare the finest guest quarters for our benefactor!”

“At once!” came the response from the attendants outside.

Zituo Feng turned to Tu Lu with a smile. “After so many ordeals, you must be exhausted. Rest now—later, I’ll speak to you about the matter of the marriage proposal.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Tu Lu replied, once again full of gratitude.

He was then led by the attendants to a guest chamber in the western wing of the mansion. Fang Jinrui’s residence was on the eastern side, directly opposite, suggesting Zituo Feng had carefully considered Tu Lu’s situation.

Examining the Ziling Purity Pills in his hand, Tu Lu felt his mood lift. He was surprised to discover that, beyond instantly purging the toxins from his body, the pill seemed to have unexpected benefits for his plant-based avatar.

“If only there were more…” he mused, uncorking the bottle to find only three smooth, round pills within.

He breathed in the medicinal fragrance, then carefully put the bottle away, frowning in thought. Judging by the day’s events, Zituo Feng clearly meant to include him in the group set to propose marriage, but he would be under heavy surveillance for the time being; both of his avatars would have to suspend all actions.

As for Fang Jinrui, another avatar was already assigned to keep watch. Even if Fang Jinrui communicated with the other side through a sound-transmission stone, at some point he’d have to make direct contact to transfer the Spirit of Grass and Wood, and Tu Lu would still have an opportunity.

The rest was a matter of time.

Ever since he’d heard the rules of the challenge, he’d been forming a plan. The Tricolored Cloudflower remained his primary objective, but in addition, he would seize as many materials for the Shadow Guard Eighteen Formations as possible. If all went as he wished, so much the better—if something went wrong, he’d extricate himself quickly. No mere avatar was worth risking his life.

As for any gains, he would take whatever he could.

With these thoughts settled, he began meditating. Aside from the avatar stationed outside in the hope of catching his quarry, his true self and all other avatars devoted themselves to cultivating the Minor Celestial Imagery Technique.

This spiritual technique, passed to him by Zhao Yuyang, had only three stages but greatly enhanced his mental power. Without it, both inscription work and controlling his avatars would be far more difficult.

…

Within the city lord’s mansion, Zituo Feng nodded. “So, once our benefactor moved into the west wing, he’s done nothing but meditate?”

“Yes,” an attendant confirmed.

“Very well, you may go.”

Zituo Feng then turned to his advisors. “Elder Fang, Elder Jin—what do you make of it?”

The two men stood on either side of him, though Fang Jinrui kept a respectful distance.

“I still believe this youth is unsafe,” Fang Jinrui replied. “Though he saved the young lord, a never-before-seen cultivator at the peak of the Ocean-Filling Realm turning up at the young lord’s side out of nowhere—if he has no ulterior motives, I simply can’t believe it.”

Zituo Feng’s brows drew together. “Elder Fang, I’ve told you many times—this man saved my life. Even if he does have designs, he must not be harmed. Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?”

“I would not dare,” Fang Jinrui bowed his head hastily.

“Hmph!” Zituo Feng grunted in displeasure.

Jin Donghe spoke then. “I’ve investigated—he arrived in Huangyun City two days ago, and immediately joined in the assassination attempt. During the operation, he saved the young lord. Given the timing, I wonder—could he be from the other side?”

“The other side? But didn’t their people send word already?” Zituo Feng asked in surprise.

Clearly, the “other side” Jin Donghe referred to was not the same as the one Fang Jinrui had in mind.

“Even among those with ties to the late master, there are some who would rather see the city lord embarrassed, but not expose themselves. Having their subordinates protect the young lord isn’t impossible,” Jin Donghe analyzed.

Zituo Feng was silent for a moment, then nodded. “You make a good point. In any case, he’s already helped me escape death once—he won’t be a threat to my life. Even if he has other aims, it’s no matter if he joins the proposal party. With more than ten half-step Violet Palace experts watching, what trouble can a single peak Ocean-Filling cultivator cause?”

“By the way, Elder Fang, have all their people arrived?” He abruptly turned to ask.

Fang Jinrui hesitated, then shook his head. “The little disciple of the Sun Sovereign, Fairy Ziling, has yet to arrive.”

Jin Donghe frowned. “What is the Sun Sovereign up to, sending his youngest disciple over?”

Zituo Feng’s face darkened at that. “Elder Jin, I am the future husband of the Lady of the Great Void Palace. Isn’t it only right that the Sun Sovereign sends one of his disciples?”

“My apologies, I spoke out of turn,” Jin Donghe replied quickly, bowing his head.

Zituo Feng nodded. “And what of Young Master Tu?”

“I’ll see to him myself,” Zituo Feng declared, rising to his feet.