The Ferocious God in the Celestial Master's Mansion

Zhang Yulei's figure completely disappeared into the morning light; this time, he was truly gone.

He no longer lurked beside Wang Ye, waiting for the forces of Biyou Village to surface. The fragments of the plot swirling in his mind gradually became clearer—Wang Ye would never easily leave his family before those three rascals from Xiaotaoyuan made their move to intimidate Wang Ai and Chen Jinkui. This gap was just enough for him to settle an old grudge that had been weighing on his heart.

The destination was already clear—the Wang family mansion, one of the Ten Elders.

As for why he went to the Wang family, it's because when he heard the name "Wang Ai," he recalled some events from the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony.

That day, Wang Ai and Lü Ci joined forces to coerce Zhang Chulan into handing over the so-called "Qi Body Source Flow" on the territory of Longhu Mountain. After Zhang Chulan admitted that he did not know this technique, Wang Ai went so far as to propose to forcibly read his memories using the Lü family's Soul-Clearing Technique, even if it meant turning Zhang Chulan into an idiot!

It's only because his senior brother, who is a Celestial Master, didn't know that these two old guys could have come down from Longhu Mountain unscathed. Otherwise, Zhang Yulei's name would be written backwards.

He was a disciple of Zhang Jingqing, a man of integrity whose reputation for protecting his own was renowned throughout the world of supernatural beings. Zhang Yulei and Zhang Zhiwei didn't learn much else, but they certainly picked up this "protective" temperament perfectly.

In his view, Zhang Chulan was from Longhu Mountain, his grand-nephew. How he and his senior brother beat or cursed him was an internal matter of the Celestial Master's Mansion, and it was none of his business to interfere. Wang Ai and Lü Ci dared to be so presumptuous on Longhu Mountain's territory, not only disrespecting the Celestial Master's Mansion but also trampling on the dignity of them, the older generation!

"If you don't give face to my Celestial Master's Mansion, then you can forget about protecting this place either."

Zhang Yulei gave a low, cold snort, his pace quickening even further. He wasn't a bloodthirsty man; although he had been ruthless towards the Quanxing sect after emerging from seclusion, it was only because they had crossed Longhu Mountain's bottom line. He might not intend to kill Wang Ai this time, but he was determined to tear a layer of shame from the Wang family.

Fortunately, the Wang family's headquarters wasn't far from Zhonghai, only half a day's journey away. If it were too far, he might have to wait until the matter of Biyou Village was resolved before making any plans.

The following afternoon, a simple figure stopped outside the Wang family mansion, which was designed in the style of a Suzhou garden.

Zhang Yulei, dressed in a faded Taoist robe and carrying a simple bag, stood before the vermilion gate inscribed with the words "Prince's Mansion," his gaze calmly sweeping over the nearly two-hundred-acre garden.

Pavilions, terraces, bridges, flowing water, artificial hills, and strange rocks—the layout is exquisite, showcasing the elegance of Jiangnan gardens. However, beneath this elegance lies a subtle sense of oppression, an atmosphere shrouded in sinister scheming.

"As expected of Wang Ai's residence, even the garden exudes a sense of calculation," Zhang Yulei thought to himself.

The two guards at the gate, seeing that he was dressed as a Taoist priest in simple clothes and didn't seem like anyone important, showed some disdain on their faces and stepped forward to block his way, saying, "Halt! This is a private residence, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to approach!"

Zhang Yulei didn't speak, but merely glanced at the two of them indifferently.

That gaze was calm and expressionless, yet it carried an undeniable pressure. The two guards felt as if they were being stared at by a ferocious beast; their bodies stiffened, and they were speechless, cold sweat instantly beading on their foreheads. Although they were merely guards on the outer perimeter of the Wang family, they had seen many extraordinary individuals, but none had ever made them feel such trepidation with just a single glance.

"Go and inform Wang Ai that Zhang Yulei from Longhu Mountain has come to pay a visit." Zhang Yulei's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of the two of them, carrying a power that penetrated their hearts.

"Zhang... Zhang Yulei?" One of the guards was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed drastically.

This name is legendary in the world of supernatural beings! Especially during the recent chaos at Longhu Mountain, when this senior who had been in seclusion for seventy years emerged, he swiftly killed dozens of Quanxing demons. His ruthlessness and strength had already spread throughout the entire world of supernatural beings.

Why did he come to the Wang family?

The guard dared not delay and quickly bowed, saying, "Senior... please wait a moment, I will go and inform them right away!" After saying that, he scrambled into the mansion.

The other guard was also terrified, his face turned pale, and he didn't dare to breathe. He stood to the side with his head down, not daring to look at Zhang Yulei.

Zhang Yulei didn't care. He stood with his hands behind his back, quietly in front of the door, his gaze fixed on the depths of the garden, as if he could see through the layers of buildings to the plump, white old man with squinting eyes.

In the inner courtyard of the Wang family, in an elegant study.

Wang Ai sat in a grand chair, toying with two shiny walnuts in his hands, his narrowed eyes gleaming with calculation. Standing before him was a middle-aged man, Wang Zhong, the current butler of the Wang family.

"...Master, the people we sent to monitor Wang Ye's family have all been arrested. Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao, and Zhuge Qing were the ones who did it." Wang Zhong lowered his head, his tone tinged with fear.

Wang Ai paused, her fingers fiddling with the walnuts, and slightly raised her eyelids: "Oh? Zhang Chulan? And the Zhuge family's kid? It seems that Wang Ye has hired quite a few helpers."

"Yes. Moreover... according to information from our sources, Zhang Yulei from Longhu Mountain also seems to have appeared in Zhonghai, and even saved Zhang Chulan and the others once," Wang Zhong added.

"Zhang Yulei?" Wang Ai's expression finally changed. "Why is that old monster coming down the mountain? What's he doing getting involved in this?"

He clearly remembered that back in Zhang Zhiwei's generation, although Zhang Yulei's talent was not as extraordinary as Zhang Zhiwei's, he was still one of the best among his peers, especially in his Golden Light Mantra, which he had mastered to a degree even higher than Zhang Zhiwei's. After seventy years of seclusion, no one knew what level of strength he had reached.

The sudden appearance of such a person in Zhonghai, and his connection with Zhang Chulan and his group, made Wang Ai wary.

"I don't know." Wang Zhong shook his head. "I only know that he seems to have been observing from the shadows, without making a direct move."

Wang Ai frowned, about to say something more, when suddenly a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

"Master! Master!" The guard who had gone to report earlier rushed in, his face pale. "There's a senior from Longhu Mountain requesting an audience at the gate. He says his name is... his name is Zhang Yulei!"

"What?!"

Wang Ai abruptly stood up from his armchair, the walnuts in his hand falling to the floor with a "thud" and rolling into a corner. His composure vanished completely, replaced by incredulous astonishment: "Who did you say? Zhang Yulei? He came in person?!"

"Yes...yes, sir, they're waiting at the door!" The guard trembled with fear.

Wang Ai's heart pounded wildly. Zhang Yulei coming to her door at this time could never be a good thing! Thinking of what she had done to Zhang Chulan at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, cold sweat instantly broke out on Wang Ai's forehead.

He didn't believe that this senior from Longhu Mountain, known for his protectiveness of his own, had come to reminisce with him.

"What's the panic!" Wang Ai forced himself to remain calm and scolded the guard. Then he took a deep breath and said to Wang Zhong, "Let's go greet the guests."

No matter how much he feared it, he couldn't refuse Zhang Yulei's request. At least outwardly, he couldn't be disrespectful.

Outside the Wang family gate.

Wang Ai led Wang Zhong out quickly. He still had that same plump and kind appearance, his small, squinting eyes filled with smiles, but those smiles looked somewhat stiff no matter how you looked at them.

"Hahaha! Brother Yulei, what brings you here, great one!" Wang Ai stretched out his hand from afar, his tone almost excessively enthusiastic. "It's been many years, Brother Yulei, you're still as energetic as ever!"

Zhang Yulei looked at his insincere manner and sneered inwardly, but his face remained calm and expressionless: "Wang Ai, how have you been?"

He did not shake Wang Ai's outstretched hand, his tone flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Wang Ai's hand froze in mid-air, her smile stiffening slightly, before she casually withdrew it and rubbed her hands together. "Thanks to Brother Yulei, everything's alright, everything's alright. Come in, please come in! I just got some new tea from my garden and was just thinking of having someone taste it!"

Zhang Yulei didn't move, but just looked at him calmly: "No need. I didn't come here today for tea."

Wang Ai's heart skipped a beat; he knew what was coming had finally arrived. His smile faded slightly, and he tentatively asked, "So...Brother Yulei, what brings you here today...?"

Zhang Yulei's gaze suddenly sharpened, like two drawn swords piercing Wang Ai's eyes: "I've come to ask Brother Wang Ai, what was your intention in everything you did to my grand-nephew Zhang Chulan at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony?"

The moment he finished speaking, a powerful aura erupted from Zhang Yulei, like a mountain pressing down on Wang Ai!

Wang Ai's expression changed drastically. She subconsciously circulated her Qi to resist, but it felt like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. She was forced to retreat by the invisible pressure, and several fine cracks appeared on the bluestone slab under her feet!

"Brother Yulei! What do you mean by this?!" Wang Ai was both shocked and furious. He hadn't expected Zhang Yulei to be so direct and get serious right from the start!

Zhang Yulei stepped forward slowly, each step feeling like it was treading on Wang Ai's heart: "What do you mean? I'd like to ask you, when did it become your place, Wang Ai, to boss people around? On my Longhu Mountain territory, you dare to even think about using the Soul-Brightening Technique? Who gave you the audacity?!"

His voice grew colder and his aura more imposing, as if the surrounding air itself had frozen. The Wang family guards retreated in fear, and even Wang Zhong turned pale and trembled.

Wang Ai was overwhelmed by that imposing aura, her fat face trembling: "Brother Yulei! Times have changed! What happened at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony was just a misunderstanding! I was only trying to maintain stability in the world of supernatural beings..."

"A misunderstanding?" Zhang Yulei sneered. "Turning someone into an idiot is a misunderstanding? Wang Ai, do you think I, Zhang Yulei, am senile?"

He suddenly raised his hand and slapped the stone lion next to him.

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the stone lion, weighing several tons, was shattered to pieces by his seemingly effortless palm strike! Shards of stone flew everywhere, and dust billowed into the air!

Wang Ai and the guards around her were terrified, their faces ashen.

What... what kind of power is this?!

Zhang Yulei withdrew his hand, dusted off his sleeves, and looked at Wang Ai with icy eyes: "Today, I will not kill you. But remember this: the people of Longhu Mountain are not to be trifled with."

"If there's a next time," he paused, his tone filled with undisguised murderous intent, "the Wang family's garden will cease to exist."

After saying that, he didn't look at Wang Ai again and turned to leave.

That simple figure gradually disappeared into the distant street, leaving behind only a mess and a group of Wang family members who were still in shock.

Wang Ai collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, his back soaked with cold sweat. He stared in the direction Zhang Yulei had gone, his eyes filled with fear and resentment.

"Zhang Yulei..." he spat out the name through gritted teeth, "This humiliation, I, Wang Ai, will remember!"

Wang Zhong quickly stepped forward to help him up: "Sir, are you alright?"

Wang Ai pushed him away, struggled to her feet, her face so dark it could drip water: "Pass on my order, have everyone withdraw! For now, don't provoke Wang Ye and Zhang Chulan!"