[My name is Chen Sheng. When you read these words, I... Under the threat posed by the Gao Family’s annihilation, the Huang Family has finally felt the sting of real pain and the danger of utter destruction. No longer daring to harbor any shred of false hope, they have urgently contacted their in-laws in the Prefecture City—the Xu Family—in a vain attempt to use the Xu Family’s power to pressure me.

However, the Huang Family has already lost its will to fight. Deep down, they only wish to sue for peace and save their own skins, unwilling to risk their entire clan by continuing to oppose me. But to my utter surprise, the person the Xu Family sent this time is none other than their direct heir, Young Master Xu Shenzhi. And this man is currently nurturing a strand of high-quality Innate Spiritual Qi, something the Xu Family prepared in advance for his future breakthrough into the Innate Realm.

If I can obtain it, not only will I be able to skip the long, arduous process of nurturing it myself, but I can also prepare for my future breakthrough into the Innate Realm. It is, in essence, a shortcut to the heavens.

Most importantly, seizing this opportunity is not impossible. This Young Master of the Xu Family has a fatal weakness: his fiancée, Han Ling’Er. Xu Shenzhi cherishes her above all else and is deeply in love. If I can use her as leverage, I might be able to compel Xu Shenzhi to hand over the Innate Spiritual Qi willingly. Otherwise, the object is intimately linked to him and kept on his person; he could destroy it with a single thought. Taking it by force would be next to impossible...]

’Innate Spiritual Qi...’

Chen Sheng stared at the golden words slowly materializing on the ethereal Celestial Book deep within his consciousness. His eyes suddenly blazed, like a flash of lightning in the dead of night.

He knew exactly what it was.

He was now just a hair’s breadth from the peak of Foundation Establishment, and thanks to the Golden Jade Ointment, reaching it was only a matter of time.

It was only natural that he begin preparing for his future cultivation in the Innate Realm.

The Red Lotus Evil Qi he had obtained from the Demon Monk Shan Xin was one such preparation, though he had no use for it at present.

But Innate Spiritual Qi was an essential component for breaking through to the Innate Realm.

Though far less precious than Earth Fiend Qi, it was still a rare Spiritual Object.

This was especially true in a remote place like Changshan County. Unless one had heaven-defying luck and stumbled upon it in the wild, the only way to acquire such a thing was to travel to the resource-rich Ning’an Prefecture City.

Chen Sheng’s original plan had been to completely eliminate the Huang Family and clear the water bandits from Changshan’s waterways. He would then use these great merits to either petition his superiors for a reward or trade his spoils of war for a strand of Innate Spiritual Qi.

He had never expected that what he was prepared to search high and low for would be delivered to him so effortlessly.

This Young Master of the Xu Family had unexpectedly delivered a generous gift right to his doorstep.

And he had a very obvious weakness, to boot.

’A weakness is a good thing.’

A weakness made it easier to threaten and bribe, perhaps even allowing him to achieve his goal without a single drop of blood being shed.

’It truly is... a double blessing.’

The corner of Chen Sheng’s mouth curled into a cold smirk.

’Treasures belong to the virtuous, they say?’

’No. They belong to the powerful and the cunning!’

Since the Xu Family had decided to involve themselves in the turmoil of Changshan, they couldn’t blame him for graciously accepting this "generous gift."

’And as for the Huang Family...’

He had already thoroughly investigated the backgrounds and underlying relationships of the three major families.

’The Huang Family seeking outside help was well within my expectations, so that wasn’t much of a surprise. But to only think of surrendering now that they’re cornered, and to even try using an outside power to force me into "peace talks"?’

’How naive.’

He had tolerated the Yang Family for several reasons. First, the enmity between them was not deep. Second, his relationship with Madam Yang had served as a mediating factor, easing the conflict. Third, Yang Yi was pragmatic enough to cut his losses decisively. Besides, Chen Sheng didn’t want to see the Huang and Yang Families unite against a common foe, so he had employed a strategy of ’divide and conquer’.

’But the Huang Family? What right do they have to enjoy such favorable treatment?’

Besides, the Huang Family had a century of accumulated wealth, a deep heritage, and countless treasures in its collection.

’If I let them surrender so easily, how would County Captain Wu and I get our promotions and fortunes?’

’They want to surrender?’

’Not a chance!’

A blight like the Huang Family, which has plagued Changshan for years, must be eradicated to restore justice and order for the people.

And now that he had completely suppressed County Magistrate Lin Shou, the Changshan County Government Office was united as one. His power in this place had reached its zenith.

’It’s time... to let Changshan County truly feel my might!’

"Commander, the Huang Family sent someone with a formal invitation."

The flap to the main tent of the Military Preparation Camp was thrown open, and Commander Yan Ming strode in, holding an exquisitely crafted card with a special pattern on its cover.

Chen Sheng took it nonchalantly. His gaze merely swept over the large, gold-stamped words—"From the Xu Family of the Prefecture City"—and a flicker of scorn crossed his eyes. He couldn’t even be bothered to open it.

He channeled Force into his five fingers, and a fierce, tyrannical surge of it erupted.

"PFFT—"

The invitation was instantly crushed as if by an invisible hand, disintegrating into countless tiny shreds of paper that fluttered to the ground.

"Yan Ming."

"I am here!" Yan Ming’s heart skipped a beat, and he responded with grim formality.

Chen Sheng slowly raised his hand and stroked the cold steel of the Shehan Treasure Saber resting across his lap. A biting chill spread from his fingertips, and his voice became equally cold and resolute:

"Order the entire camp: Don your armor and take up your arms! Assemble and prepare for war!

We will not wait for some feigned reward from the Huang Family, nor will we pay any mind to some invitation from the Xu Family!"

He snapped his head up, his gaze as sharp as a knife:

"I... am going to the Huang Family personally to ’pay a visit’ and hold them accountable for their crimes!"

...

"Ling’Er, believe me. Once my invitation is delivered, I might not even have to pay him a visit myself. The moment that Commander Chen learns of my Xu Family name, he’ll come to the Huang Family of his own accord to meet me."

In a meticulously prepared guest courtyard of the Huang Family, Xu Shenzhi watched Han Ling’Er, who sat by the window with an indifferent expression. He tried to capture her attention with a light, confident tone, but deep in his eyes lay an almost imperceptible flicker of hope.