Chapter 3056 — The Eastern Elder

So when a peak mid-Heaven-tier expert barged in and stuck his nose into the matter, Vice Chairman Ouyang found himself in a bind. Such was the world of cultivation: the strong preyed on the weak. Had Wei Zhao not done exactly the same thing once? Only after he had overawed Vice Chairman Ouyang had the vice chairman begun to regard him differently.

Though his cheek still stung with humiliation and anger burned in his chest, the other man's strength left Vice Chairman Ouyang no choice but to swallow his pride. "Sir," he said, "this medicinal herb has already been reserved by this Mr. Ling. If you want it, you may negotiate with him directly. Please do not make things difficult for us at the Cultivators' Guild! And though you may be a peak mid-Heaven-tier expert, the Cultivators' Guild has those of even higher cultivation behind it! Are you not afraid of retaliation?"

The cultivator gave a nod. After hearing the vice chairman out, he troubled him no further, but turned his gaze upon Wei Zhao. "Boy, this herb is yours? Yield it to me and I won't kill you! Otherwise, even if you get your hands on it, you'll have the life to take it and not the life to use it!"

"Oh? You mean if I don't hand it over, you'll kill me and seize the treasure?" Wei Zhao regarded the cultivator with keen interest. He circulated the mnemonic of his inner art, and at once his early Heaven-tier cultivation stood fully revealed!

"Early Heaven-tier? And you dare show that before me?" The cultivator shot Wei Zhao a scornful glance. "That's right, you can take it that way. I am threatening you! Don't doubt my word—I mean what I say. Say one word in refusal and I can finish you where you stand! This herb happens to be exactly what I need, and I will have it!"

"Is that so? Then you may die." Wei Zhao gave a cold laugh, and the ninth stance of the Wildfire Eight-Trigram Palm shot straight out!

Vice Chairman Ouyang's eyes narrowed slightly. He had been startled enough when Wei Zhao first revealed early Heaven-tier cultivation—Wei Zhao had never had such strength before. Yet how long had it been since then? To leap several tiers in one bound?

And now that Wei Zhao stood at early Heaven-tier, judging by his old habit of defeating foes above his level, this peak mid-Heaven-tier cultivator before him was truly in danger!

Sure enough, Vice Chairman Ouyang's guess proved right. With a great boom, the cultivator's body was blasted through the air. By the time he struck the ground, a huge bloody hole gaped in his chest, froth of blood covered his lips, and he writhed ceaselessly upon the earth—though he would likely never rise again in this life.

"You... you actually... dare kill me... an elder of the Eastern... Family... Our... Eastern Family... will not... let you..." With his last strength the cultivator forced out these words, then could hold on no longer. His eyes rolled back, and he was dead beyond any doubt.

The corners of Vice Chairman Ouyang's mouth twitched twice. The look he turned on Wei Zhao had changed from the equal respect of before to something like awe. What terrifying power was this—to slay a peak mid-Heaven-tier expert in a single move! If Wei Zhao wished to annihilate him, it would be as easy as lifting a finger!

At that thought, Vice Chairman Ouyang could not help but feel a pang of regret for his earlier conduct. He had not stood clearly at Wei Zhao's side, but had chosen, from the standpoint of the Cultivators' Guild, to hang the matter high above him as none of his concern.

"The Eastern Family?" Wei Zhao knitted his brows slightly. What sort of family was this? Could it be another clan from the ancient era? No matter—dead was dead. Wei Zhao did not go looking for trouble, but neither would he ever fear it. Let this Eastern Family serve as his stepping stone into the ancient order!

Wei Zhao was certain that even had he not killed him, the man would have schemed by every means to wrest the herb from his hands. And if he returned to carry word back, the Eastern Family would come for Wei Zhao in force—which would be far more trouble still.

"Vice Chairman Ouyang, what did you see?" Wei Zhao turned to him, his voice ominously cold. As for the vice chairman's having pointed the cultivator at Wei Zhao, Wei Zhao knew the man could hardly have done otherwise—yet resentment had taken root in him all the same, and so his tone was anything but courteous.

"Senior... Senior Ling, I... I saw nothing at all..." Vice Chairman Ouyang's whole body went taut with fright. He hastened to answer.

"Oh? Then how did this elder of the Eastern Family come to die?" Wei Zhao asked mildly.

"I wouldn't know. It seems he was fighting with disciples of some other ancient sect, but by the time we arrived the other man had already fled, and this Eastern Family fellow was dead. Isn't that so?" Having spoken, Vice Chairman Ouyang turned to look at the disciple who had been preparing the herbs.

"Er... yes, a wretched death it was. We just don't know how he died." The disciple nodded in agreement.

"Heh heh..." Wei Zhao smiled and turned to the disciple. "Are my herbs ready?"

In truth, Wei Zhao knew it would be impossible to keep today's affair wholly secret—walls have ears the world over. Vice Chairman Ouyang and this disciple might swear solemn oaths before him now, but face them with a peak late-Heaven-tier expert stronger than himself, and Wei Zhao did not believe for a moment they would keep to the truth!

Moreover, those who had fled earlier might not have witnessed what followed, but they could surely guess the gist of it. Even if they did not know Wei Zhao's true identity and knew him only as Ling Yi, a careful observer could connect the dots from those few trials and trials past. It was only a matter of time!

And time was precisely what Wei Zhao lacked! Give him just a little more, and Wei Zhao was confident that once his strength was sufficient, the Eastern Family would think twice before moving against him.

So Wei Zhao did not much mind.

"At once, ready at once!" the disciple said, all trembling deference.

"Hurry it up. And prepare several portions of the pill-refining ingredients for Spirit-Gathering Pills, Minor Qi-Gathering Pellets, Minor Restoration Pills and the like for Senior Ling as well—consider it the Cultivators' Guild's way of giving back to an old customer!" Vice Chairman Ouyang had offended Wei Zhao earlier, and now had no choice but to bend over backward to mend fences with him!

Wei Zhao had said nothing on the surface, and the matter of the Eastern elder's death seemed to have passed—but there was no guaranteeing Wei Zhao would not quietly come back later to silence witnesses. So Vice Chairman Ouyang could only ply him with further bribes, hoping he truly bore no grudge.