What Ji Yuan had worried about earlier was that if the Nine Profound Sect made a move too soon, it would provoke the hostility and combined efforts of many forces.
But since some people had already made their move first.
Then his actions would only be considered self-defense and counterattack.
In this way, Lin Yubai and others making a move would naturally be more justified, and would not cause excessive reactions from other forces.
“In this kind of situation, how do you usually handle it?”
Ji Yuan pondered for a moment. Although he had already made up his mind, he still asked.
Hearing this, Qian Nishang immediately replied, "If no lives are lost, then both sides fight, and the loser pays double compensation."
With the laws of the imperial court, few people dared to act directly in the city, even in a remote county town.
Unless there was a powerful backer who could, to some extent, ignore the existence of the law.
But individuals with such capabilities were at least among the high-ranking officials in the prefectural government.
Even in the prefectural city, there would not be more than seven or eight such people.
So, if one did not want to be cornered in the city, losing all their properties outside the city and the channels they had painstakingly built,
Then they could only agree on a time and place when confronted, and let their own abilities decide.
“If lives are lost, then it’s blood for blood.”
Qian Nishang added, “What do you intend to do?”
The usual methods would definitely not apply to the current situation.
Even if they succeeded in venting their anger and obtaining appropriate compensation,
In the eyes of some forces, it would still be seen as a sign of weakness, making certain people even more impatient to make their move.
“Decapitation.”
Ji Yuan’s eyes flashed, and he said in a calm tone.
The people present were stunned. Especially Qian Nishang and Lin Yubai, they did not expect to hear such a statement from him.
Although Ji Yuan had always appeared decisive and resolute, he had always given a gentle impression.
They had considered his attitude in this matter, but they did not expect him to be so firm.
That same day, Lin Yubai, along with some cultivators from the Mingxin Pavilion, left the county seat of Luoxia Prefecture.
Accompanying him were the two elders Cui Yinghong and Shangguan Wuxiang.
In fact, with Lin Yubai’s strength, the presence of two elders was not necessary. This action was only to ensure absolute certainty.
Within three to four days, the high-ranking officials of the few forces that had been sent out to probe were all killed on the spot.
The Mingxin Pavilion, which had already made preparations, then took over the industries of these forces.
The entire process went exceptionally smoothly, without the slightest ripple.
The cultivators of the third realm, who were dispatched by the forces that had promised to act in secret,
Upon seeing the elders of the Nine Profound Sect make a move, they did not hesitate at all and quietly retreated.
They did not even show their faces, showing no intention of rescuing those minor forces.
This, of course, was within Ji Yuan’s expectations.
The forces behind the scenes would not risk their third-realm cultivators for some pawns.
After all, there were significant differences even among third-realm cultivators.
The elders of the Nine Profound Sect had a significant advantage among their peers, usually able to fight against multiple opponents.
Moreover, Lin Yubai’s identity was not a secret to many forces in the prefectural city.
“With this, we should have at least one to two months of peace.”
Qian Nishang said with a smile.
The strength of the Mingxin Pavilion was enough to make some people wary.
Most importantly, the appearance of Lin Yubai and others would make the forces lurking in the shadows carefully reconsider.
“But when they make their next move, they will be even more ruthless.”
Ji Yuan shook his head.
It was conceivable that once those forces made a decision, they would certainly not act alone.
The combined efforts of multiple forces would bring about very troublesome issues.
However, he was not worried at all. As long as it wasn’t a joint effort by the top-ranked forces in the prefectural city, then there was nothing to fear.
Ji Yuan had this piece of information.
And as they had predicted, for the next month, everything was indeed calm and peaceful.
The enfeoffment ceremony of the Zhuang family also proceeded without any accidents.
On this day, prominent figures and somewhat renowned forces in the city all came to offer congratulations.
The usually quiet Zhuang family residence was bustling with activity.
Many influential figures, rarely seen, also came to congratulate them, and they did not seem to care about their whereabouts being known.
They appeared openly in the front hall and were personally welcomed into the residence by the head of the Zhuang family, Zhuang Lindao.
Ji Yuan was invited early and brought into the main hall, positioned next to the main seat.
Today, he had truly opened his eyes, seeing more than half of the high-ranking and influential figures in the prefectural city.
For example, from the prefectural governor’s office, apart from Governor Fan Yuqing, almost everyone with some status had arrived.
Even the Deputy Prefect Wu Wei was among the congratulatory crowd.
And about eighty percent of the leading forces in the prefectural city had also sent representatives, though most were elders of a sect or the second or third-in-command of a force.
Only a few sect leaders personally attended with their disciples.
As for outside the main hall, there were even more arriving forces.
Ji Yuan estimated that more than seventy percent of the forces with some strength in the entire prefectural city had likely come.
The Zhuang family, with its centuries of heritage, was not a sect or a guild in the traditional sense, and coupled with the rules they adhered to,
It naturally led to them having extensive connections, with all sorts of forces being able to establish some relationship.
“This is Tianxin’s master.”
Zhuang Lindao introduced him to the guests.
Although the enfeoffment had not yet taken place, it was essentially a done deal, so saying so now was not incorrect.
Then, he introduced the guests in the main hall to Ji Yuan one by one.
Although he had seen their portraits from the Mingxin Pavilion's intelligence, this was his first time meeting them face to face.
And some things were difficult to discern from portraits and text alone.
At the same time, this was also the first time Ji Yuan had truly appeared before most of the forces in the prefectural city.
“Greetings, Daoist Lingyu.”
Some people clasped their fists in greeting, while others nodded in acknowledgment.
However, most people merely observed from the side with a detached air.
Except for a few forces, others were not very familiar with Ji Yuan’s identity, and Zhuang Lindao did not provide overly detailed introductions.
It was only when someone pointed out his identity as an elder of a peak within the Nine Profound Sect that the others cast their serious gazes.
“Such a young third-realm cultivator, Daoist Zhuang has found a great master for the child!”
Someone chimed in, though it was merely polite flattery.
Being young and having a high cultivation realm did not necessarily make one a renowned master; it only indicated exceptional talent.
But the people present were not ordinary cultivators. Although geniuses were not abundant, they had seen their fair share.