“It seems your ‘cheat code’ has expired.”  

A voice laced with amusement sounded beside him.  

Liang Zhiyuan suddenly looked up, only to see the man in black he hated with all his heart had somehow appeared before him, looking at him with the mocking eyes of a jester.  

“It’s you! You’re the one behind this!”  

At that moment, Liang Zhiyuan’s mind was struck with a sudden clarity, instantly understanding everything.  

No wonder he had recently felt his destiny flow disrupted, no wonder there were problems at the ritual altar!  

From the very start, an invisible hand had been quietly stealing away his foundation, severing his connection with the dynasty!  

And he, this self-righteous hunter, had all along been nothing more than prey caught in the opponent’s net!  

“Who... exactly are you?”  

“Too late to ask now.”  

Li Pingcan shook his head, the amusement in his eyes gone, replaced only by cold killing intent.  

Without the dynasty’s destiny protection, Liang Zhiyuan was nothing but an ordinary Refining Qi Stage Six cultivator, utterly incapable of contending with someone of Divine Martial Realm.  

In a blur, Li Pingcan shifted his stance with an incredible step, turning his body in an instant to stand behind Liang Zhiyuan.  

The next moment, his long sword was drawn, the returning wind sword flashed out, sword aura stretching like a rainbow, lightly slicing across Liang Zhiyuan’s neck.  

A fine head flew high into the air, tracing a sorrowful arc in the sky.  

Finally, with a “plop,” it rolled into the snow.  

Those eyes, wide open from shock and unwillingness, still stared fixedly in Li Pingcan’s direction.  

Blood stained the dead and silent valley.  

Seeing this, Li Pingfu felt a surge of satisfaction. This county magistrate who tyrannized others and treated lives like grass had finally received his due retribution.  

However, before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, a terrifying pressure that shook his very soul suddenly descended!  

Above Liang Zhiyuan’s corpse, a dazzling golden dragon energy, imbued with overwhelming heavenly authority, soared upward like a waking true dragon!  

This dragon energy was not physical but carried an unquestionable, judgmental majesty over all living beings.  

It circled once in midair, then the dragon head formed purely of destiny energy sharply turned toward Li Pingcan, its golden eyes instantly locking onto his aura!  

“Not good! It’s the dynasty dragon energy’s backlash!”  

Li Pingfu’s face changed drastically. Although unfamiliar with immortal methods, he had heard that killing a royal official would inevitably trigger the dynasty’s fate to pursue and punish, sparing neither life nor death!  

The golden dragon let out a silent roar, carrying the momentum to annihilate all as it charged straight at Li Pingcan!  

This was no longer a spell but a rule-level attack—inescapable and unstoppable!  

Li Pingfu’s heart leapt to his throat; instinctively, he wanted to rush forward to shield his brother from this deadly pursuit.  

Li Pingcan stopped him cold, his face calm without the slightest panic, eyes locked on the dragon energy as he snorted coldly: “You come to cause trouble in my home? Did you ask me first?”  

In that instant, an even older, gentler, yet equally boundless power quietly emerged from the void.  

Centered on Li Pingcan, the space within several miles was as if softly draped with an invisible emerald green veil.  

The golden dragon energy’s speed visibly slowed the moment it entered this area.  

It was like a drone losing signal, confusedly circling in place. The overwhelming heavenly authority seemed “blocked,” turning into a “weak signal.”  

“What is this...” Li Pingfu was stunned; what was happening was completely beyond his understanding.  

“Come here!”  

The Emerald Dream, Druid training site!  

A mischievous smile tugged at Li Pingcan’s lips as he stretched out his hand, vaguely grabbing at the confused golden dragon energy.  

Inside the training site, the “Nature’s Heart” blazed with light, generating a domineering suction out of thin air, forcibly “intercepting” the golden dragon energy.  

The golden dragon energy gave an unwilling dragon roar but was unable to resist and was brutally dragged into the emerald dream.  

Under the purification of the White Jade Lotus Platform, the personal mark representing “Liang Zhiyuan” and the “pursuit” attribute belonging to the Great Yu Dynasty were instantly stripped away from the dragon energy.  

Then, this no longer pure dragon energy was cleverly “packaged” by the Druid training site and violently “thrown” toward Old Yin Mountain!  

Afterwards, the corpse was tossed into Old Yin Mountain, and the scene disguised with Yin energy using the command token, thus completing the setup.  

Deep within Old Yin Mountain, in a blood-colored abyss where Yin energy was most dense,  

a sleeping dead stiff over ten zhang in length, covered in bone spikes, opened a pair of lifeless gray eyes.  

It seemed to sense something and was about to awaken from its slumber.  

“Whoosh!”  

A golden light descended from the sky at an incredible speed, imprinting precisely on its forehead before it could react.  

“Roar?”  

The dead stiff tilted its massive head, seemingly confused.  

It felt as if it had been “scammed” by something, but upon closer sensing, nothing had actually happened.  

Yet mysteriously, it seemed to have taken on a heavy, inexplicable black mark.  

Unable to understand, and unwilling to think further, it flipped over, found a comfortable position, and fell back into deep sleep.  

...........  

Having resolved the dynasty dragon energy’s backlash, Li Pingcan felt refreshed and clear-headed.  

He turned to look at his brother’s dumbfounded expression and couldn’t help but laugh.  

“Big brother, snap out of it.”  

“Little brother, it’s over just like that?”  

Li Pingfu’s face was dazed. Although he had been ruthless in his attack, seeing Liang Zhiyuan die before his eyes and witnessing that mysterious aftermath made it all feel unreal.  

“What else could it be?” Li Pingcan shrugged and walked over to Liang Zhiyuan’s corpse, unceremoniously beginning his favorite part.  

“Big brother, don’t just stand there, come help loot the spoils! Quick hands get the goods!”  

While speaking, Li Pingcan skillfully unfastened the storage pouch at Liang Zhiyuan’s waist, ruthlessly erasing the marks with his divine consciousness as he investigated.  

“Pfft, no wonder he was a county magistrate—fat as hell!”  

He burst into laughter. “Big brother, look! High-grade spirit stones! And these pills—just smelling them, you know they’re good stuff!”  

Li Pingfu twitched at his brother’s greed but the shock in his heart finally eased a bit.  

Well, it was what he was used to. He shook his head and crouched down to search through Liang Zhiyuan and Old Wu’s belongings.  

Soon, all the loot was counted and piled together, radiating a tempting treasure glow under the moonlight.  

First, naturally, was all of Liang Zhiyuan’s possessions.  

Over thirty mid-grade spirit stones and a large heap of low-grade spirit stones—combined value enough to drive any Refining Qi cultivator crazy. This was much faster money than robbing broke rogue cultivators!  

Several bottles of first-grade healing pills “Shengji Pills” and mana replenishing “Qi Gathering Pills” of extremely high quality, obviously rare treasures exchanged through merits.  

A jade scroll recording formation insights, detailing Liang Zhiyuan’s understanding and application of the “Sword Formation” and several first-grade formations. Although rough in Li Pingcan’s eyes, it still contained some clever ideas worth referencing.  

Also, a first-grade high-quality magical implement, the “Seven-Star Peachwood Sword,” and Old Wu’s terrifying “Soul-Chasing Sword.”  

What caught Li Pingcan’s attention most was the black, ice-cold token he retrieved from Liang Zhiyuan’s chest.  

It was the “Spectral Soldier Command Token!”  

Carved on the token was a fierce ghost head, with pure Yin Sha energy flowing within.  

“Nice!” Li Pingcan’s eyes lit up.  

This Spectral Soldier Command Token was a perfect “golden finger” tailored for the Old Yin Mountain expedition!  

With it, securing the Martial God’s treasure would be that much easier!  

He contentedly tucked the token into his chest, then looked at the “Yunshui Mirror” symbolizing the county magistrate’s authority.  

This item was a primary dynasty magical implement linked to national destiny. Although Liang Zhiyuan was dead, its imprint would not be erased anytime soon. But Li Pingcan wasn’t in a hurry; with the Emerald Dream’s power, he could slowly “turn” it, leaving only a hidden seed within.  

Once successful, he could secretly monitor and influence the destiny flow of all Yunshui County.  

“Big brother, you pick first.” Li Pingcan pushed several pill bottles and the “Soul-Chasing Sword” toward Li Pingfu.  

“I’m just a warrior. What do I need these immortal toys for?” Li Pingfu waved his hand. “You keep them.”  

“This Body Tempering Pill is great for stabilizing your Innate Realm.” Li Pingcan insisted, shoving it into his brother’s arms. “And this sword slices through iron like mud. Take it for self-defense but don’t show it off in public.”  

Li Pingfu could only accept. Watching his brother expertly sort and store the remaining treasures into his storage pouch, he was full of mixed emotions.  

He didn’t know when exactly, but the little brother he had watched grow had quietly become a towering tree capable of sheltering the entire family.  

“Little brother, with the county magistrate dead, this matter... I’m afraid we can’t keep it secret for long.” Li Pingfu’s face showed a trace of worry.  

“Big brother, don’t worry. Liang Zhiyuan isn’t missing—he died for the country.”  

Li Pingfu was stunned. “What do you mean?”  

“Think about it,” Li Pingcan smiled. “Yunshui County Magistrate Liang Zhiyuan, to investigate the source of the anomaly, disregarded his own safety, ventured deep into Old Yin Mountain, battled the ancient ghost creature dwelling there for three days and nights, exhausted himself, and perished alongside the demon.”  

“Really?”  

“Why not?” Li Pingcan remained unfazed. “Whether Liang Zhiyuan dies disgraced or becomes a hero depends on us. As long as he’s dead, it’s good for us, for him, and for all the people of Yunshui County. It’s basically a win for us!”  

Although Li Pingfu felt something was off, it also somehow made sense.  

History is written by the victors; who would chase after a dead man?  

Seeing his brother’s serious nonsense, he finally laughed, and his worries vanished like smoke.  

With such a rock-solid brother, even if the sky fell, it could be spun into an auspicious sign.  

Just as Li Pingcan predicted, news of Liang Zhiyuan’s “disappearance” soon reached the prefectural government.  

The celestial official investigation team dispatched was impressive. Led by a late-stage Refining Qi immortal master, their divine consciousness swept over the entire Yunshui County.  

They investigated thoroughly, tracing the last remaining traces of dynasty dragon energy all the way to Old Yin Mountain.  

But at Old Yin Mountain, the trail ended completely.  

The dense Yin Sha energy there was terrifying, and the faint horrifying aura made them unwilling to venture deeper.  

Only on the mountain’s outskirts did they find the battlefield saturated with intense Yin Sha energy, and a torn fragment of Liang Zhiyuan’s official robe.  

Both physical and eyewitness evidence existed.  

Just as the investigation team was at a loss, the people of Yunshui County erupted in outrage.  

No one knew who led the charge, but overnight, thousands of blood-written petitions flooded the prefectural government like a snowstorm.  

The petitions enumerated Liang Zhiyuan’s countless evils over the years.  

Excessive taxes, treating lives like grass, forced labor, large-scale construction... each item too numerous to record.  

Now the prefectural officials were in trouble.  

On one side, a celestial official mysteriously died in service; on the other, the masses’ blood petitions condemned him.  

Whether Liang Zhiyuan was a meritorious official or a villain became a confusing mess.  

To appease the people and prevent the scandal from damaging the prefectural government’s “achievements,” the matter was loudly raised and then quietly dropped, ending unresolved.  

The prefecture only publicly announced that Liang Zhiyuan had entered a dangerous place investigating the disaster and had unfortunately died, posthumously granting him a meaningless title to close the case.  

As for the vacant county magistrate position, the prefecture soon appointed a new person.  

The new magistrate, named Wen Yuzhi, came from a small cultivation family in the prefecture allied by marriage to the Mu Family.  

This Magistrate Wen was no older than forty and had reached late Refining Qi stage, but his personality was completely different from Liang Zhiyuan’s.  

He disliked political scheming and conflict. His greatest hobbies were drinking tea, playing chess, and reading Daoist classics, seeking only peaceful cultivation and an early Foundation Establishment.  

He sounded like someone who wanted to be a hands-off manager.  

After taking office, his first action was to review county archives. When he saw the Li brothers’ impressive records, a satisfied expression appeared in his eyes.  

“One Innate Realm martial artist, one top celestial official, and connected to the Mu Family...  

Not bad, not bad. They get things done. With them around, I can have peace and focus on my Dao.”  

At this time, the elderly county captain submitted a resignation letter citing old age and inability to bear the burden.  

Wen Yuzhi readily approved.  

Soon after, a new appointment letter arrived on Li Pingfu’s desk.  

County Captain of Yunshui!  

A sixth-rank military officer commanding county troops, security, and policing, wielding real power, truly a local strongman!  

From then on, the Li family had no worries in Yunshui County and firmly established their foothold.  

...........  

Li Pingfu’s promotion to county captain was well-deserved. The entire Yunshui County population remembered this “good official,” celebrating with lanterns and decorations.  

Li Pingcan watched his big brother put on the imposing official robe, feeling deeply emotional.  

He concealed his aura and went to Yunshui County’s largest restaurant, “Wangjiang Tower,” overlooking the scenery from above, while “participating” in his brother’s “promotion ceremony.”  

Without choosing a private room, he sat at a window seat on the second floor, ordered several signature dishes, and was soon drawn by a crisp, bell-like laughter from a neighboring table.  

Turning to look, he saw a girl dressed in a goose-yellow dress resting her chin on her hands, listening to a white-haired elder telling a story. Her bright eyes curved into crescent moons as she laughed.  

The girl’s skin was fairer than snow, her features delicate like a painting. When she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks, making her look both charming and lively.  

She carried a clear, unworldly aura that seemed out of place in the smoky atmosphere of the restaurant.  

Li Pingcan’s heart stirred. These two concealed their true aura, making it impossible for ordinary people to discern their real identities. Even if not cultivators themselves, they were connected to cultivation and carried some aura-concealing “magical treasure.”  

“Master, stop bragging! That ‘one sword chills nineteen provinces’—your sword would at most cut through Uncle Wang’s pancake stall downstairs!” The girl’s voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of coquettish daughterly teasing.  

The white-haired elder stroked his beard and glared: “Hey! How dare you talk like that! Back in my day...”  

Before he finished, the girl suddenly turned her curious eyes directly toward Li Pingcan.  

More precisely, they landed squarely on the “Sweet and Sour Immortal Carp” just served on his table.  

Li Pingcan was stunned and instinctively looked at himself, then at the fish.  

The girl unabashedly pointed at his plate and said to the elder, “Master, I want to eat that!”  

The elder looked in the direction she pointed, blushed, and cleared his throat: “Ahem, disciple, don’t be rude.”  

Li Pingcan smiled seeing this; the master and disciple were amusing, and it was rare to see cultivators who didn’t treat ordinary people like dirt.  

He instructed the waiter to bring the fish over to the girl and said gently, “If the young lady likes it, this dish is yours.”  

“Really?” The girl’s eyes lit up with delight.  

“A gentleman does not take what another desires.” Li Pingcan placed the fish on their table and slightly bowed to the elder. “Since you two get along, this meal is on me.”  

The white-haired elder appraised him and, seeing his exceptional aura and polite demeanor, smiled with approval, stroking his beard: “Hehe, young friend, you are too polite. I am Sun; this is my useless disciple. Sorry to trouble you.”  

The girl ignored the introductions and eagerly picked up a piece of fish, closing her eyes happily: “Mmm! Delicious!”  

She mumbled softly, still smiling gratefully at Li Pingcan.  

“Thank you for your hospitality, sir!” After finishing, she wiped her mouth and said gracefully to Li Pingcan, “As a gift for this fish, please accept this jade token. If fate allows, we may meet again.”  

She paused, a charming blush blooming on her cheeks, her voice clear as pearls falling on jade.  

“My name is Li Qian.”