Chapter 109: The Crisis of Jun Zhantian

“Young master, let me accompany you back. I simply cannot bear to see you travel alone,” Lin Mengyao said urgently upon learning that Jun Wushuang was returning to Jiangning City.

As Jun Wushuang’s personal attendant, she could never allow him to set off by himself.

“Master, I’ll go with you!” Aman insisted.

Liu Yiyi remained silent, but her beautiful eyes brimmed with tears as she stared intently at Jun Wushuang.

They had all heard about the tomb expedition and knew how perilous it was this time.

Jun Wushuang going alone was far too dangerous.

Moreover, since he intended to go ahead first, wouldn’t that give the Nangong clan and others an opportunity to assassinate him?

“Enough. You all stay here. Not a single one of you is to come,” Jun Wushuang said firmly.

He appreciated their goodwill, but their strength was too weak. Bringing them along would only increase the danger.

Even Lin Mengyao, the strongest among them, had only just broken through to the Divine Sea Realm.

“You should stay here and cultivate properly. Help the director manage the academy and prepare for the enrollment exams. As for the tomb expedition, there’s no need to worry,” Jun Wushuang reassured them with a smile.

“Wushuang, here are two Sun and Moon Sword Talismans. Keep them on you as life-saving tokens!” Mo Xingyun said, his face haggard.

He had burned his lifespan overnight to craft these two talismans.

“Thank you, Director,” Jun Wushuang replied without hesitation, storing the talismans safely inside his bronze demon ring.

“Cultivate well. When I return, I’ll test your strength!” he said before waving goodbye and setting off alone.

“Master, it’s far too dangerous for young master to go alone. Why don’t you come along?” Lin Mengyao said anxiously, watching Jun Wushuang’s retreating figure.

Though she had awakened the Ten Thousand Sword Saint Body and become a revered sword cultivator, in her heart, the young master was still the young master, and she remained his devoted attendant.

That bond would never change.

“Don’t worry. Your young master is far stronger than you imagine,” Mo Xingyun comforted, though he himself felt uncertain.

This tomb expedition involved far too many factions and powerful figures.

Though Jun Wushuang was extraordinary, he had only just broken into the Celestial Realm.

Could everything really go smoothly?

***

News of Jun Wushuang’s early departure quickly spread among the major factions.

“Father, Jun Wushuang is too arrogant, traveling alone. Should we send someone to assassinate him?” Nangong Xiong reported swiftly, seeking his father’s approval.

But Nangong Qing shook his head.

“If he dares to leave alone, he must have some backing.”

“We have already failed several times. If we act again, we must be absolutely sure, or we’ll only alert him.”

“Ignore him for now. He’s going to join the tomb expedition anyway. According to the original plan, we’ll deal with him once inside.”

Nangong Qing was shrewd and cautious, unwilling to act rashly.

Though Nangong Xiong was reluctant, he dared not disobey and nodded in agreement.

“Jun Wushuang, I’ll let you live a few more days. But once you enter the tomb, that will be your death sentence!”

Similar conversations echoed within the Dongfang clan and the Royal Martial Academy.

Dongfang Wuji and Dongfang Lan held the same attitude: focus on the tomb expedition first; as for Jun Wushuang, wait until he enters the tomb and then deal with him.

Thus, the three great powers refrained from sending assassins, maintaining an outward calm.

“No one’s coming? What a pity!” Jun Wushuang muttered in disappointment after traveling several days beyond the imperial capital without sensing any pursuers.

He had hoped to use himself as bait to kill a few enemies, but with no one taking the bait, he gave up.

“I’ll start the revenge plan once inside the tomb,” he resolved.

***

Shuichuan Town.

A small town under the jurisdiction of Jiangning City.

At present, the Jun family was temporarily settled here.

Following an imperial edict from Emperor Qian, the entire population of Jiangning City was relocated.

But with so many people, resettlement could not be accomplished all at once.

Therefore, they were dispersed to various cities.

The Jun family was a special case.

Not only were they the only great clan of Jiangning City, but Jun Zhantian, the head of the family, was also the city lord.

Thus, arranging the Jun family’s relocation was the most complicated.

The imperial court’s main focus was the tomb expedition, so they had no choice but to settle the Jun family here for the time being.

Further arrangements would be made after the expedition.

“I never imagined there would be a tomb of a Martial Emperor Realm powerhouse beneath Jiangning City!” Jun Zhantian stood in the courtyard, hands clasped behind his back, filled with mixed emotions.

The situation had arisen too suddenly, leaving him unprepared.

He knew Jiangning City was about to become the eye of the storm, so he evacuated the populace and brought the Jun family here at once.

A Martial Emperor Realm tomb was priceless and would surely trigger a fierce battle for control.

Jun Zhantian harbored no illusions.

He knew his own limits.

With his triple Divine Sea Realm strength, he was not even qualified to be cannon fodder.

His only concern was that the ensuing battle would destroy Jiangning City.

After all, it was his hometown.

If it were ruined, he would have to leave everything behind—a prospect he dreaded.

Unfortunately, his humble position meant he could not change anything.

“I wonder how Wushuang is doing in the imperial capital,” Jun Zhantian’s thoughts shifted to his son.

He was Jun Zhantian’s pride and joy; aside from a brief moment of confusion early on, he was flawless.

Now he had entered the imperial capital and joined the Qingyun Martial Academy.

He had even defeated the Royal Martial Academy, becoming a renowned prodigy.

Every parent wished for their child to succeed.

Jun Wushuang’s achievements made Jun Zhantian swell with pride.

“Ha ha, so this is the Jun family!”

At that moment, a strange, eerie laugh suddenly echoed, chilling and harsh to the ears.

A cold wind swept through, causing the courtyard’s temperature to plummet instantly, sending shivers down everyone’s spines.

“Who’s there?” Jun Zhantian’s heart jumped. He immediately became alert, extending his spiritual senses to locate the source.

“Are you Jun Zhantian?” the eerie laughter rang out again, directed specifically at him.

Suddenly, the entire Jun household was roused. People poured out and gathered around the courtyard.

Swish!

A black mist materialized out of thin air, drifting in like a sinister breeze.

“Danger! Fall back!” Jun Zhantian panicked, sensing a deadly threat.

But it was too late.

The black mist surged, enveloping several people.

One by one, they collapsed, their cheeks darkening, foam spilling from their mouths as they convulsed on the ground.

Within moments, their bodies turned pitch black and stiffened, becoming lifeless corpses.

Jun Zhantian’s face changed drastically.

Recognizing the terrifying nature of the black mist, he gasped aloud, “The Black Demon Sect!”