Boom!


    A loud explosion echoed at the port. The city''s residents were startled by the sound and looked frightened.


    The once-proud cultivators, wholooked down upon ordinary mortals,werealsoterrified.They were retreating as if their lives were in grave danger.


    The city''s guardian cultivator had a grim expression when he arrived at the explosion site. Hewas dressedin a simple ck hanfu with golden patterns. He had short ck hair and gray eyes, and his appearance was average.


    "What the hell is happening here?!" he roared, looking at his subordinates, who had numerous minor injuries. The guardian cultivator looked furious: "You bunch of idiots! Did you get scared and retreat? What if this bastard destroys our city?! Huh?!"


    "I-I''m sorry, Mr. Xian Sheng... b-butthere was someoneat the Soul Nascent stage! We didn''t dare to approach!"


    "What?!"


    Xian Sheng''s expression darkened. Among his subordinates, there was not a single person who had reached the Soul Nascent stage. In fact, he was only at the Core Formation stage!


    Although it seemed that only one stage separated them, the difference in power was too immense!


    "This...!"


    Xian Sheng didn''t know how to react. He frowned, looking unhappy and scared.Thiswas an ordinary port city, and he was here only because he could live his days peacefully.


    Who would dare to cause trouble when the citywas guardedby a cultivator at his level?


    "Damn it! Damn it! How unlucky...!" Xian Sheng cursed.


    At the same time, the ship thathad been blownto pieces exploded again.From the clouds of dust,a young man with a cold gaze emerged.Hewas dressedin a beautiful white hanfu with long sleeves that fluttered in the wind.


    He looked grim. On his forearm, there was a small wound that was bleeding with pale-golden blood.


    "Son of a bitch. He managed to injure me at thest moment. He even sacrificed his soul to harm me...crazy! Devilish cultivators are just a pain in the ass!" Xie Qing thought and clenched his teeth in annoyance: "Not a pleasant experience, but in the future, I need to be careful."


    Devilish cultivators posed a potential threat to Xie Qing. Although he didn''t havea stronghatred for them...


    Xie Qing didn''t want anything that could hinder his goals to exist!


    "Well, to live peacefully, cultivating and achieving immortality... if these bastards rise, I''ll have to work hard to maintain such a lifestyle!" Xie Qing thought and sighed.


    Meanwhile, as the young manwas lostin his thoughts, cultivatorsbegan to approachhim. Xian Sheng was among them.


    "H-heavens..."


    The guardian cultivator looked terrified. His subordinates saw their master in such a state for the first time, so they couldn''t help but be shocked.Thismeant that...


    "This young man... is stronger than our master?!" they thought, their mouths agape.


    When hewas addressed, Xie Qing narrowed his eyes and looked at Xian Sheng, who shivered and lowered his head, not daring to look the young man in the eyes.


    "What?" Xie Qing said coldly. He was already in a bad mood because the devilish cultivator had caused him such harm.


    "P-please forgive me for the disturbance, b-but... um..." Xian Sheng shivered and, despite his fear, said: "The head of the ''Tiger Armor'' merchant organization is asking for an exnation regarding the destruction of their ship... I''m sorry, it''s their request..."


    "Ha-ha?"


    The young man let out an indeterminate sound and couldn''t help but frown. Then, he released his aura and snorted.


    "Nonsense! Who are they to dare to demand something from me?!" Xie Qing roared, making everyone fall to their knees in fear.


    "Calm down, sir!" the cultivators cried out.


    They clenched their teeth and cursed Xian Sheng, who shamelessly delivered such an arrogant message! In front of them was a cultivator at the Soul Nascent stage, who might not be thestrongest,but still had a strong influence!


    Xie Qing snorted and reduced the pressure. He did so not because he was angry...


    "Pfft, as if! I won''t pay a single Spiritual Stone!" Xie Qing thought.


    He was stingy! Xie Qing couldn''t stand the thought of his Spiritual Stonesbeing spenton something like this.


    Xian Sheng, it seemed, realized that he had messed up and beganto actively apologize and kowtow. He couldn''t afford to have the young man in front of him get angry. Otherwise, his shoulders would be relieved of their burden!


    Sighing, Xian Sheng looked at the young man, who had already disappeared into the night. A cold sweat ran down his forehead.


    ***


    The merchant organization, of course, was angry about this turn of events, but after conducting an investigation...they were left speechless.


    Headquarters, meeting room.At therge round table, there wereold menin expensive clothes.


    "This is...!"


    "The young genius, Imperial Censor Xie Qing... damn it... and how, in your opinion, can we demand an exnation from him?!"


    Their headquarters was in chaos. Xie Qing was a surprise for them. Although they had lost their goods and suffered losses...to offend someone who could be a Sovereign in the future...


    It was too wasteful! Too reckless! Too unprofitable!


    "Ha-ha, it seemsthat itwas a misunderstanding... send the gentleman a few gifts... I''ve heardthat he''sfriends with Miss Fan Lan from the Fan family. Oh, what acoincidence,Ijusthappen tohave a few investment opportunities avable!"


    "Oh, brother, you''re right! I also have a few Spiritual Stones. Why not support the youngdy? Ha-ha-ha, the elders should help the younger generation!"


    "How noble! How noble!"


    "..."


    Many representatives of the younger generation blushed with shame. They couldn''t believe that their elders had such thick skin!


    ***


    "Huh? Have you received investments from the ''Tiger Armor'' organization? O-o, they offered such arge amount...Well, I understand. Let me know if something happens."


    There was silence. Xie Qing was sitting in Lyu Lyu''s room. Ten minutes ago, he received a call from Fan Lan, who told himthat shehadbeen offeredrgeinvestment.


    At first, Xie Qing was surprised, but when he heard the name of this merchant organization, he couldn''t help but lose his voice.


    "It seems that their connections are deeper than I thought. They were ableto quickly identify my identity. Nevertheless, their skin is indeed thick, ha-ha..."


    Xie Qing didn''t know whether tough or cry. However, one thing wascertain- he had received an unexpected benefit.


    ***


    Lyu Lyu woke up from a deep sleep. She slept until the day, and when she opened her eyes and saw the weather outside the window and theposition of the sun...


    "Aaaa!"


    She screamed, and Xie Qing was startled. He was drinking wine and reading a book, so he didn''t expect this.


    Looking at Lyu Lyu, who looked shocked, the young man looked at her.


    "Good morning... although it''s already daytime," he said with a smile,ing to his senses.


    "D-day... I...overslept?" Lyu Lyu looked shocked: "Who would have thoughtthat Iwould oversleep for the first time in so many years!"


    "Are you in a hurry?" Xie Qing asked in confusion.


    "At this time, I practice on the zither!"


    Lyu Lyu didn''t bother to exin and quickly changed her clothes. Then, grabbing the zither, she ran to the backyard.


    A few secondster,a pleasant melody was heardfrom there. The young man was left speechless.


    "How active," he thoughtand shookhis head, heading towards her.


    ***


    The beautiful zither melody made the people at the port stop and listen. For them, it had already be a daily urrence.


    "It seems that she iste today. I was already beginning to worry that she had gotten tired of it!" said one of the sailors.


    "Oh, don''t say that... Her songs in the mornings are the best motivation for me!" said another sailor.


    For almost a year now, this girl has been ying the zither every morning. Her songs gave many workers the strength to work harder. Itis even saidthatsomeone was curedof a long depression.


    Therefore, the sailors even nicknamed her the "Sea Maiden"!This cute nickname wasperfectlysuitedto her appearance.


    Xie Qing was listening to her y the zither for the second time, and he couldn''t help but be amazed.


    "Your skills are improving every day!" Xie Qing said admiringly.


    "Thank you..." Lyu Lyu smiled gently, and her cheeks blushed. She closed her eyes and giggled: "I have one song. I wrote it myself, but it''s not perfect. Do you want to listen?"


    "Oh? Of course!"


    Lyu Lyu took a deep breath and then began to sing.


    Xie Qing listened carefully to every line of hers.Her hands gently yed the zither, and thebeautiful singing of the young girl pratedthe depths of the soul.


    The sailors were frozenin ce, and many of them had tears in the corners of their eyes. Xie Qing himself was also impressed.


    "Oh..."


    For the first time, he heard something so beautiful. His gaze at Lyu Lyu became gentle.


    ====


    *In the discord server,you will find a link to the song.Of course, there will not be 100% matching, as itis donewith the help of a neuralwork.