Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

The formation on the martial arts stage shattered instantly, and a powerful and imposing aura spread out like an invisible wave. However, this wave of energy was controlled to target only Monk Nusheng. The ordinary people below the stage only felt a suffocating sense of oppression, but were not injured at all.

The angry monk's body trembled violently. He, who usually only opened his eyes when the Vajra was glaring, opened them in astonishment.

Those who are proficient in the greatsword are few, and those who can reach the peak are even fewer. Wasn't there only one greatsword immortal woman? How come another one has appeared?!

His body was coated with a gleaming gold, his indestructible body covered from head to toe, as he faced the thunderous and fiery sword energy unleashed by his opponent.

—A deafening roar!

When the smoke and dust cleared, everyone opened their eyes and looked over. Starting from in front of the armored man, the sword energy had carved out a chasm that stretched all the way to the city wall of Tianya City, splitting the wall in two.

This sword actually cleaved the angry monk so far!

At the end of the sword energy, the golden body of the angry monk shattered, his flesh and bones caved in, and he coughed up blood.

He struggled to his feet, supporting himself with the monk's knife, and after bowing with his palms together again, he staggered away.

Chapter 224 Mother: Chu Mingkong, you are so despicable!

In his memory, Chu Mingkong remembered that every Tianya City Martial Arts Competition was very lively. Under the original elimination mechanism, those who made it to the end were all of similar strength, and the competition could last a long time from the start. But this year, it was really rushed.

The preliminary rounds didn't last long before the finals, because the participants were taken away from the venue. The last two matches were just one-sided battles where one person would take the other down with a single slash, losing much of the fancy and varied combat techniques.

But that's fine too. Chu Mingkong doesn't have time to linger in Xiling. The sooner they settle things...

Chu Mingkong had imagined how fierce the battle would be when he stood on that side one day, but his imagined plans always had many discrepancies. For example, the arm that he had gone to so much trouble to heal Xiao Fengnan was cut off by the bald Buddhist monk.

Thinking about it this way, Chu Mingkong wondered if he had been tricked by a bull!

Unable to swallow this insult, Chu Mingkong decided to remember the grudge of having Xiao Fengnan's arm stolen and would definitely seek an explanation from the Buddhist nun in the future!

"..."

Chu Mingkong let out a long sigh of relief, and raised his head, which had been slightly lowered, with a sense of relief. The matter that had been hanging over his mind was finally put to rest—his pants were fine!

He was also worried that his pants would be knocked off in public, and his trunk would swing helplessly wildly.

He glanced at the crowd; the room was completely silent. The shock of such a dramatic turn of events had left them all reeling, and some found it hard to believe what had happened that day.

In the direction of the Xiao family's group, Xiao Fengnan was dazed and unable to stand up. He lay in the arms of a servant, sometimes crying and sometimes laughing wildly. The blow of being defeated like a pig being slaughtered was too great for him, and his mind was not very clear.

Chu Mingkong stepped off the martial arts stage with a relaxed gait. To the crowd, it seemed as if the battle he had just fought was effortless and casual. The crowd parted to make way for him, and he walked straight to Luo Xiangyang, returning the Thunderfire Heavy Sword to him.

“Brother Luo, your father’s beloved sword is not bad. It supported me all the way to the end and helped me win the final battle of the martial arts competition. Now I return it to you.”

Luo Xiangyang took a long time to recover. He swallowed hard, looked at the new city lord of Tianya City, and stammered, his words struggling to stay coherent. He took the sword, placed it in his father's hand, and smiled heroically.

"You're too kind. When we first met, I knew you were aiming for the final battle and were determined to win, so I lent you a hand. Given time, Brother Cao will surely reach the realm of the Heavy Sword Immortal!"

The realm of immortality for any weapon is something many people never encounter in their entire lives. Most just talk about it for fun, but when they actually face a true master of weaponry, they may not even know what realm the other party is at, and can only give a rough estimate.

Luo Xiangyang assumed that "Brother Cao" was a Great Perfection of a Heavy Sword Immortal, or perhaps just half a step further.

"Then I thank you for your blessings, Brother Luo. The turmoil in Tianya City is not over yet, so it's best to leave early. Come back to visit again when things have settled down. I have other matters to attend to, so I cannot keep you company any longer." After saying goodbye, Chu Mingkong left.

Holding the beloved sword that had been used by a master, Mr. Luo felt an unforgettable familiarity with the heavy sword in his arms. It was as if he had returned to the first time he saw it, the feeling of first love!

Now, this beloved sword has been briefly borrowed by a strange master, used by him, accompanied him through a fierce battle, and has returned to Luo's father's side.

As spiritual energy was injected, the sword immediately responded, becoming more sensitive and easier to use. Even a wisp of spiritual energy could elicit a stronger response from it than before.

The unfamiliar master's cultivation was profound, and the spiritual energy he had previously injected into the beloved sword was even more intense and concentrated, forcibly widening and expanding the internal patterns of the sword. Now, when Luo's father used the sword again, he found that he could not fill it and could not meet its spiritual energy needs to bring it to its best performance.

"Mingming is back, but for some reason, she feels a little unfamiliar..."

At a restaurant near the martial arts arena, Xiao Chengren recovered from his long daze. Beside him was the call of the fat butler, who was extremely anxious. When he saw that the clan leader Xiao had responded, he almost cried with gratitude.

"Chieftain, you've finally woken up!"

"Now... is Tianya City under the Buddhist sect?"

Xiao Chengren's temples had turned white and dry, and his once handsome and dashing appearance had aged considerably. Although he had already guessed it, Xiao Chengren still heard it confirmed with his own ears, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in his heart.

The portly butler shook his head and said, "Tianya City now belongs to Lord Zuo. He cleaved that golden-bodied monk in two with a single sword strike. He is the ultimate victor!"

Xiao Chengren froze, and as his stiff mind gradually grasped the meaning of those words, his face lit up with joy, and he was overjoyed:

"So that Lord Zuo's cultivation is so powerful! It doesn't matter if he is the city lord. I'll give him my two daughters, and they'll be his father-in-law. I'll get a share of Tianya City too! He can even help Feng Nan heal his hand again!"

The portly steward lamented, "Princess Consort Chu and Consort Wan are gone! They've disappeared! Two powerful individuals of unknown origin first attacked Qingxin Mansion and took Princess Consort Chu away, and then they kidnapped Consort Wan!"

Xiao Chengren kicked his legs and fell to the ground. He was so angry that he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The disappearance of his two daughters meant that the Xiao family's relationship with the Xiling royal family and the Tianji royal family was severed! Moreover, they would have to face the questioning of the royal family afterward. Whether it was the disappearance of the imperial concubine or the Xiao family's attempt to seize Tianya City, they would be investigated!

"...Then, what about Feng Nan?"

"Young Master is unconscious; he's suffered too much, but his life is not in danger..."

--------------

The top floor of Tianya Tower is also known as the City Lord's Pavilion.

Many elders gathered, but in the end, it was Elder Ding who stood in front of "Lord Zuo" on their behalf.

Elder Ding walked over, holding a large jade box in his hands. He opened the box and showed the two jade talismans inside.

One of them is the Xiling King's Talisman, which looks similar to the Tiger Talisman. It is made of white jade and is smooth and translucent. The other is the Tianya City Lord's Talisman, which is a smaller version of the King's Talisman, about the size of a child's palm.

These two items symbolize the highest power in the entire Xiling. In the past, the winners of the Tianya City Martial Arts Tournament naturally had no chance to come into contact with the Royal Talisman, as it belonged to the King of Xiling. But now the situation is different, and these two items must be handed over together.

Elder Ding was filled with mixed emotions. Tianya Tower had schemed for so long, only to have the victory ultimately fall into the hands of a stranger. Admittedly, the Xiao family did have some problems, but there was no other choice. The fact that the Xiao family could move into Xiling was already the best outcome the elders of Tianya Tower could foresee.

Is this situation good or bad?

Moreover, this "Left Minister" seems suspicious no matter how you look at it. How did he manage to bring Princess Chu and Consort Wan into the City Lord's Pavilion in Tianya Tower?

Is this a case of someone becoming the new king and then taking the former queen as a concubine?!

Elder Ding glanced at the two stunningly beautiful women, chose not to say anything more, and said:

"Your Excellency Zuo, these two items are the King's Talisman and the City Lord's Talisman. Simply drip your essence blood into them to complete the binding process. Please complete it as soon as possible... There is one more thing. Please forgive my bluntness, but may I ask who Your Excellency Zuo is?"

In the long corridor outside the pavilion, the elders craned their necks, all looking at the mysterious armored man standing at the door, wondering which powerful figure he was.

To be able to defeat that monk who had achieved the Golden Body so easily, and to have such extraordinary means to bring the Princess and the Imperial Concubine in without anyone noticing, even though his identity is unknown, the elders would still welcome him if he truly wanted to take over Xiling, at least his cultivation level is terrifying.

A solid fist is always the most important asset in a dog-eat-dog world, bar none. If someone can outsmart you, it only means their fist isn't strong enough.

Chu Mingkong said:

"Who I am is not that important. Now, please leave for a while, and you will know in time."

The pavilion door closed, and the elders wore strange expressions. Were they perhaps eager to have their way with those two beauties...?

But they could only leave in silence, waiting for "Lord Zuo" to finish his business.

The City Lord's Pavilion quieted down. After letting the Xiao sisters in, Zuo Qiuchi and Feng Ying returned to Qingxin Mansion.

Chu Mingkong entered the room. Xiao Zhi, with her stunningly beautiful profile, glanced at "Lord Zuo" with a look of utter despair, her eyes practically spitting him out. Wan Hua, on the other hand, secretly glanced at Chu Mingkong, winked at him, and then remained silent, pretending not to know him, otherwise he wouldn't be able to explain himself to Xiao Zhi.

When Xiao Zhi thought about becoming someone else's plaything, and how this "Left Minister" had finally succeeded in controlling her and her sisters, she really wanted to end it all, but Wan Hua persuaded her to stay.

"This is truly a case of the snipe and the clam fighting while the fisherman benefits. The Tianji royal family and the Xiao family secretly plotted and fought each other for so long, and in the end, Minister Zuo came and reaped the rewards. What excellent methods and martial prowess! With such abilities, they must be immortals who have transcended the world. Why did they come to the mortal world to stir up trouble?"

After the plump and beautiful princess finished speaking in a cold voice, she secretly tightened her grip on Wan Hua's hand. She was worried that if this person had the means to make them wish for death but not be able to, they would only be treated as his playthings. What would they do then?

Wan Hua had been saying that nothing would happen and that things could turn around, so Xiao Zhi temporarily believed him. But once she calmed down, she felt that it was not very realistic.

Chu Mingkong sat down next to her, picked up her soft hand, and as soon as he grasped it, Xiao Zhi reacted violently, trying to pull her hand away, but she was no match for the man's strength and could only let him hold her hand.

"I want to take a few drops of your essence blood."

"Kill me or do whatever you want," Xiao Zhi said, turning her head away. She didn't think this man would do anything good.

Whether or not he actually let her in that night, or it was just a blindfolded illusion, the fact remains that she was humiliated by him all night, and that will not change.

Chu Mingkong made a cut on her soft, fair wrist, and, meeting her questioning and indifferent gaze, dripped blood onto the King's Talisman and the City Lord's Talisman.

"What are you doing?!" Xiao Zhi exclaimed in shock.

Blood had seeped into the two power seals, signifying their acceptance of the new master.

While Xiao Zhi was still in a daze, she saw the man take out a plaster, hold her wrist, and carefully apply the cool plaster to the wound.

Unable to see his expression, Xiao Zhi inexplicably thought of the morning after that night, when he carefully wiped her body with a warm towel and meticulously dressed her again. The calm atmosphere contrasted sharply with the wildness and savagery of the night.

The ointment was of excellent quality; after it was applied, her wrist was already completely healed. Chu Mingkong said:

"I'm giving you Xiling as compensation for that night. It was really inappropriate to threaten you with something like this. I'm sorry."

Xiao Zhi's beautiful eyes stared at him, trying to pierce through the thick armor to see his true face. She questioned him:

"Who...who are you?!"

Wan Hua looked at the two women with concern. Under the gaze of the two stunningly beautiful women, Chu Mingkong removed his armor.

Xiao Zhi's pupils suddenly contracted as she stared in astonishment at the boy emerging from the armor. Although they had been separated for long periods due to a strained relationship since he was young, Xiao Zhi recognized the boy's face at a glance.

"Chu Mingkong...were you the one who was there that night?!"

I was actually with my adopted son, whom I had personally breastfed and raised—the son Chu Mingkong who had caused her so much resentment for so many years…

Chu Mingkong felt more embarrassed than anything else. In this situation, facing her with his normal adult body and being honest about everything that had happened during this time was undoubtedly the best, most sincere, and most formal choice.

However, he was forced to shrink by his sister Xiao Yunhan and his master's wife Shen Xuejun, and it's not time for him to return to his normal form yet, so he can only make do with it as it is.

Wan Hua hugged Xiao Zhi and comforted her, saying:

"Zhi'er, calm down. Now is not the time to get agitated or angry. Let's talk things out."

If it were the usual Xiao Zhi, she would probably have been able to tell from Wan Hua's attitude that Chu Mingkong's relationship with her was unusual. However, the current Xiao Zhi appeared calm, but her heart was in turmoil.

Chu Mingkong knew how confused Xiao Zhi was, but he was sure she would listen to him. He said "Mother..." and then hesitated. He glanced at Consort Wan, who gave him a reproachful look, as if scolding him for not being proper at a time like this. She told him to just call her "Mother Consort" if he wanted!

Wan Hua was also very uneasy, fearing that Xiao Zhi would find out about her secretly taking her sister's son.

Chu Mingkong said:

“Mother, that night it was a jade dildo, there was no real sex. I’m not saying that jade dildos are without problems... it’s just that I was really angered by your arrogant attitude towards the Lu family at the time, and I did that in a moment of impulse.”

He knew that even if he apologized like this, Xiao Zhi might still be angry. His words were very simple, as if he had just pounded the medicine a few times. However, Chu Mingkong, who did everything himself, felt that he had gone too far afterward.

The reasons given at the time, aside from the erotic and angry aspects, also included the excessive and distorted expression of filial piety.