The Sword God of the Universe
Chapter 344 - 344 344 One Year Later

Chapter 344: Chapter 344: One Year Later Chapter 344: Chapter 344: One Year Later Peaceful days passed swiftly.

In the blink of an eye, more than a year had passed since Jing Yan joined the Dao Yi Academy.

During this year, Jing Yan’s Cultivation had steadily increased, reaching the limit of the Peak of Innate, just a hair’s breadth from advancing to the Dao Spirit Realm.

During this period, Jing Yan mainly shuttled between the Dao Yi Academy and the Alchemist Association.

Occasionally, he would also visit Chief Mu Liantian at the Manager’s Mansion and Jing Ziqi at the Red Lotus Academy.

He had also visited Jing Qingzhu once, entrusting her with some resources and asking her to deliver them to the Jing Family in Donglin City to enhance the family’s strength.

The resources Jing Yan accumulated had reached a terrifying number.

Although his cultivation consumed a great deal, the speed at which he acquired resources far surpassed his consumption rate.

His proficiency in Alchemy had also reached an astounding level; he could now refine First-class Third-level Elixirs.

This also meant that he had earned the title of a Third-level Pill King.

After cultivating the Flash Spirit Secret Technique to perfection, Jing Yan had exchanged it for another Secret Technique called ‘Void Flame,’ which was more advanced.

The purpose of Void Flame was to enhance the power of his Swordsmanship.

Jing Yan’s Holy Light Sword Technique had already reached the level of Human-level Martial Art.

In summary, throughout this year, Jing Yan had made substantial progress in various aspects, especially in his combat power.

Although he was still at the Peak of Innate Realm and had not advanced to the Dao Spirit Realm, his combat power was incomparable to when he had been preparing to battle Shang Qu.

A typical martial artist in the Mid Dao Spirit Realm stood no chance against Jing Yan.

In fact, Jing Yan had reached the limit of the Peak of Innate six months ago and could have tried to break through.

However, he always felt something was lacking.

Because of this feeling, Jing Yan had been suppressing his realm, not attempting to break through.

Otherwise, he might have already stepped into the true Dao Spirit Realm by now.

…

“Jing Yan, my young friend, it has been some time since I’ve seen you.”

In the Manager’s Mansion, Chief Mu Liantian greeted Jing Yan with a smile.

“It hasn’t been long, I saw you three months ago, Lord Chief,” Jing Yan replied with a smile.

“Haha…” Mu Liantian laughed heartily.

“By the way, there’s something I need to tell you,” Mu Liantian’s voice lowered.

Jing Yan looked at Mu Liantian.

“There have been some issues in Donglin City recently.

The City Lord, Huo Chunyang, seems to have run into a problem.

I’ve received some intelligence indicating some chaos now in Donglin City,” Mu Liantian said with a serious expression.

“What?” Jing Yan was shocked!

Since entering the Dao Yi Academy, Jing Yan had not seen Huo Chunyang.

Now, hearing Mu Liantian suddenly mention Huo Chunyang, Jing Yan was indeed surprised.

Mu Liantian said there was an issue with Huo Chunyang?

What did he mean by that?

“Jing Yan, I know you come from Donglin City and your family is there.

That’s why I’m mentioning this to you.

It seems like City Lord Huo Chunyang has disappeared.

I don’t have the details yet, I just want to give you a heads-up,” Mu Liantian shook his head slightly.

Jing Yan’s gaze sharpened.

While Mu Liantian hadn’t provided detailed information, Jing Yan could imagine that if Huo Chunyang wasn’t presiding over Donglin City, it would surely fall into chaos.

The Jing Family was in Donglin City and was significantly weaker than the Zhao Family.

With Huo Chunyang present, the Zhao Family wouldn’t dare to act rashly.

But if Huo Chunyang had disappeared, would the Zhao Family remain restrained?

Moreover, why had Huo Chunyang suddenly disappeared?

There was a significant issue there.

The sudden disappearance of Huo Chunyang could be directly related to the Zhao Family.

Maybe the Zhao Family was behind it.

“Chief Mu, is there no new appointed City Lord in Donglin City now?” Jing Yan took a breath and asked.

“There hasn’t been a new appointment yet.

Donglin City is quite remote, and the news has just arrived.

The details are still being gathered, so the Prince Manor hasn’t immediately appointed a new City Lord.

However, the Wen Family has been very active lately; the Wen Family Patriarch has seen the Prince several times, seemingly trying to recommend a candidate for the new City Lord of Donglin City,” Mu Liantian said slowly.

Hearing this, Jing Yan let out a cold laugh in his heart.

The Wen Family?

The backer of the Donglin City Zhao Family was the Wen Family.

Hearing what Mu Liantian said, Jing Yan became even more convinced that Huo Chunyang’s disappearance was connected to the Zhao Family and the Wen Family.

From the time Jing Yan had killed Zhao Zhenyan, the son of Zhao Dangyuan, the Family Head of the Zhao Family, he knew the Zhao Family would not let the matter rest.

It seemed the Zhao Family was already taking action.

The Jing Family must be experiencing significant difficulties now.

When Jing Yan left Donglin City, although the Jing Family had acquired two of the Four Major Markets in the city and greatly increased their resources, time was still too short.

It would take more than a year or two for the Jing Family to surpass the Zhao Family.

Now with Huo Chunyang missing, wouldn’t the Zhao Family seize the opportunity to act against the Jing Family?

Absentmindedly bidding farewell to Mu Liantian, Jing Yan left the Manager’s Mansion.

Instead of returning to the Dao Yi Academy, he headed straight for Donglin City.

With Jing Yan’s current Cultivation, using the Sky Wings which had reached the Second Level, the time it took him from Lanqu County City to Donglin City was not much slower than if he had taken the Sky Swallow Car.

After more than half a month, Jing Yan arrived outside Donglin City.

He wore a hat, hiding his face as he entered Donglin City.

Jing Yan did not head directly to the Jing Family Mansion but went to the South District Market.

His Splendid Pill Tower was located there.

Standing outside the Splendid Pill Tower, Jing Yan, wearing a hat, stopped abruptly.

It was noon now, which under normal circumstances should be the busiest time for the Splendid Pill Tower.

However, it was currently closed, showing no signs of business.

Meanwhile, on the street outside, several martial artists wearing uniforms were passing by from time to time.

Jing Yan noticed that these uniformed martial artists were not Jing Family Guards but Zhao Family guards.

“It really does seem like there’s a problem,” Jing Yan’s eyes narrowed.

The South District Market was owned by the Jing Family, and the guards patrolling the streets should be from the Jing Family.

Yet now, the Zhao Family’s guards were everywhere; Jing Family guards were nowhere to be seen.

However, seeing that the name of the Splendid Pill Tower was still there, Jing Yan was slightly reassured.

Things apparently hadn’t escalated to an uncontrollable extent yet; otherwise, the Splendid Pill Tower would probably have been reduced to rubble.

The person the Zhao Family hated the most was him, Jing Yan.

The Splendid Pill Tower was his, Jing Yan’s, property, which the Zhao Family knew very well.

If there were conflicts between the Zhao Family and the Jing Family, the Zhao Family would likely have destroyed the Splendid Pill Tower first to vent their anger.

The fact that the Splendid Pill Tower was still there at least indicated that the two powerful families, the Zhao Family and the Jing Family, had not fully commenced hostilities!