The Sword God of the Universe
Chapter 658: Collecting Interest

Chapter 658: Chapter 658: Collecting Interest

Jing Tianying and the others simply couldn’t imagine that Jing Yan had already reached the Dao Emperor Realm.

That was unrealistic!

Just how old was Jing Yan? He was only in his thirties.

"I have reached the Dao Emperor Realm! Although I have only just entered this realm, my combat power should be fully comparable to the Peak of the Dao Emperor Realm. The Ancient Family Ancestor, Gu Wanquan, is only at the Peak of the Dao Emperor Realm as well. In a confrontation with me, it’s uncertain whether he could defeat me," Jing Yan said calmly.

This statement left Jing Tianying and the others completely dumbstruck!

The Dao Emperor Realm?

A Dao Emperor in his thirties?

On the Heavenly Origin Continent, this was absolutely unprecedented. Even Dao Emperors over three hundred years old were scarce since the great battles with the Human Gods.

Jing Yan had become a Dao Emperor Powerhouse!

Did that mean the Jing Family now had a Dao Emperor Realm Practitioner as well?

What did this signify?

Families with Dao Emperor Realm Practitioners on the Heavenly Origin Continent were undoubtedly among the upper echelons of power! Even if they couldn’t match the heritage of the Seven Great Families, they were certainly a colossus that struck awe into the Continent. Having a Dao Emperor Powerhouse was like possessing a stabilizing force; besides the Seven Major Families, there was hardly any other power that would dare provoke them.

Moreover, Jing Yan had said his combat power was completely comparable to that of Peak Dao Emperor Realm Strong People!

Jing Tianying and the others had no idea that Jing Yan was actually being modest. Jing Yan’s true combat power was perhaps enough to make him the number one individual below the Saint Realm. That is to say, except for those in the Saint Realm, it was virtually impossible for practitioners below that level to defeat Jing Yan. Even if multiple Dao Emperor Realm Practitioners joined forces, the likelihood of killing Jing Yan was extremely slim.

Jing Yan was currently wielding a Dao Artifact, but if he were to switch to a Spiritual Artifact, then his combat power would increase even more dramatically.

Spiritual Artifacts on the Heavenly Origin Continent were considered the utmost pinnacle of weapons. Only those super powers held Spiritual Artifacts. Ordinary martial artists or powers below the top tier wouldn’t easily deploy them, even if they possessed such artifacts, often treating them as Supreme Treasures of the Clan, not to be used lightly.

It took a while before Jing Tianying and the others regained their senses, each gasping for breath.

"Fourth Elder, pass down the order to lift the restrictions on Donglin City! Any martial artist, adventurer, may freely enter and exit Donglin City. I will stay in Donglin City for the near future. Heh, if there are any who are blind to their own limitations, they will be killed on the spot," a sharp light flashed in Jing Yan’s eyes as he spoke.

"Yes!" Jing Tianying had no hesitation.

With such a strong figure as Jing Yan present, what did the Jing Family have to fear from those of minor consequence?

Even if they were Assassins at the Dao Spirit Realm or even Daoist Master Realm, wouldn’t they still be easily crushed with a single finger in Jing Yan’s hands?

With that in mind, why bother to continue the lockdown on Donglin City?

Therefore, Jing Tianying promptly ordered the lifting of the restrictions on Donglin City.

"There’s another matter."

"I know there are many adventurers active within Donglin City’s region; they make a living by hunting down Jing Family Disciples. I want to know who is exchanging resources for the assassinations of our family disciples?" Jing Yan asked with a furrowed brow and a deep voice.

The person paying Spirit Stones to these adventurers was definitely aligned with the Gu Family, possibly even a member of the Gu Family.

Jing Yan would certainly not let this person off the hook.

Perhaps Jing Tianying and the others lacked the ability to cut down this person. But Jing Yan believed that Jing Tianying and the others must have already investigated news about this individual. If they hadn’t even found out that much, then Jing Tianying and the others were truly incompetent.

After all, it wasn’t difficult to locate this person’s whereabouts. Because this person had dealings with many adventurers, it was clear he wouldn’t intentionally conceal his movements. Moreover, there was no need for him to hide; in his view, the Jing Family posed no threat to him.

"The person responsible is named Gu Yang; he is a member of the Gu Family with a not-insignificant position within it. According to the information we’ve gathered, his own realm should be at the Daoist Master Realm, but he is protected at all times by two Daoist King Realm Powerhouses," Jing Tianying said angrily.

"Oh?" Jing Yan’s eyes flashed.

A position of importance, protected by Daoist King Realm Powerhouses?

Jing Yan knew that the Gu Family had two candidates for Clan Leader; one of them, Gu Xinghe, had already been killed by Jing Yan. As for the other one, Jing Yan didn’t know his name, but from Jing Tianying’s words, he felt that this Gu Yang could likely be the other candidate for Clan Leader of the Gu Family.

For a candidate for Clan Leader to establish their prestige within the family, it was necessary to take actions that were seen by others. With a little thought, it seemed very likely that Gu Yang was indeed the other candidate for Clan Leader.

Protected by two Daoist King Realm Powerhouses, one more protector than Gu Xinghe had, this was probably an added precaution by the Gu Family after Gu Xinghe’s death. With only one candidate for Clan Leading remaining, it was logical for them to be more careful. Cultivating a candidate for Clan Leader was not a simple matter.

If Gu Yang was truly another candidate for Clan Leader of the Gu Family, then Jing Yan had all the more reason to take him down.

"Where is this person?" Jing Yan asked, narrowing his eyes.

"This Gu Yang is generally active around the periphery of the Black Stone Mountain Range, occasionally lingering near Donglin City. Every so often, he would strut above Donglin City in a show of force, hurling all sorts of vile insults at our Jing Family. Since he hasn’t directly attacked in public, the City Lord Mansion and the Commandery Prince were unable to take any action," Jing Tianying said, taking a breath with a teeth-clenching anger.

"If he’s asking for death, then I shall deliver it!"

"Fourth Elder, I shall now go and find this Gu Yang. If he is indeed a candidate for Clan Leader of the Gu Family, then should Gu Yang die, the Gu Family would surely feel the pain. They’ve killed so many Jing Family Disciples, it’s about time they paid some interest," Jing Yan said with a smile.

Outside Donglin City, Black Stone Town.

"Ha ha, that fool Qiao Si really went to see if Donglin City had opened up to strangers."

"How could it be!"

"He’s just wasting his time. Donglin City, in order to protect the Jing Family, how could they let strangers into the city?" A man with triangular eyes sneered, addressing the crowd.

Both he and the aforementioned Qiao Si were those who had witnessed Jing Yan kill the three adventurers who had hunted down Jing Family Disciples in the Black Stone Restaurant.

Before Jing Yan left, he mentioned that the Donglin City restriction would be lifted.

Nobody believed it.

But Qiao Si really went to the city gate to check. This made the man with triangular eyes find the situation amusing.

Hearing this, those around him also burst into laughter. The ban on Donglin City had been in effect for ten years. How could it be suddenly lifted? Even if the mysterious martial artist from the restaurant was a member of the Jing Family or closely associated with them, could he really dictate the entire decision-making of the Donglin City Lord Mansion? Would he not be afraid of the Jing Family Disciples being assassinated en masse?

"Look, Qiao Si is back!"

"Quick, ask what happened. Ha ha...Qiao Si must be disappointed!"

"Brother Qiao Si, is Donglin City accessible now?" The man with triangular eyes shouted from afar, his tone full of mockery.