"Brother Han, Brother Zhang, I'll leave the supervision to you. I need to return and consolidate my recent insights!"
"Rest assured, leave it to us!" Han Li and Zhang Da-niu replied in unison.
With the matter settled, Qi Ping flashed back into the Qing-Immortal Manor. He took out a vast quantity of spirit stones and resources from his storage rings, and his spiritual power began to circulate frantically, bolstering the foundation of this Treant Clone.
The Hurricane Sword-Seed would arrive in two days. Qi Ping didn't have time to replace this clone, so he could only do his best to strengthen it. The talent and combat power of a Sword-Seed were not comparable to ordinary Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators; with an Earth-Grade talent and a Hurricane Spirit Physique, Qi Ping couldn't afford any carelessness.
'I'll spend these two days solidifying my foundation as much as possible while familiarizing myself with the fusion and transformation effects of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Intents. I'll aim to push the power of my Water-Fire Intent to its absolute limit to maximize this clone's combat potential!'
Qi Ping's highest level of insight was currently in the Fire Intent, which was close to the Second Stage. By using the combined power of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Intents to boost his Water-Fire Intent, he could touch the threshold of the Second Stage.
'Combined with my mastery of spells and the enhancement of the Water-Fire Immortal Scripture—the most suitable method for this clone—I should be able to bridge the gap in our foundations.'
Qi Ping was essentially making the most of what he had. If this clone possessed the same foundation as his main body, he wouldn't have a single worry.
Meanwhile, after Qi Ping's departure, a massive wave of shock swept through Starfall City!
After years of silence, Lin Ya of the Qingyuan Sect had struck again, and his style and dominance surpassed even the battle at Lingxiao City! In Lingxiao, it was a desperate, bloody fight against six experts. This time, it was the absolute dominance of a ruler. With just two moves, he had forced the top-tier factions of Starfall City to their knees, begging for mercy.
The ones who felt most like they were dreaming were Han Li and Zhang Da-niu. Holding the treasures contributed by those factions, the shock in their hearts was beyond words. Even knowing Qi Ping would strike until he got the evidence, they hadn't expected it to happen in such a stunning fashion.
One man, standing at the peak of Starfall City, had terrified the city's powerful factions with just a few words and two strikes. In a matter of moments, he had resolved a "dead end" they had spent ages worrying about. This display of strength, strategy, and temperament was absolute!
'Senior Brother is just too incredible!'
Looking at the storage bags in their hands, they were deeply moved. Their respect and recognition of Qi Ping were now beyond words.
Down in the streets, the smaller factions, tourists, and rogue cultivators remained speechless for a long time after Qi Ping left.
"Is that Lord Lin Ya?"
"What terrifying strength and prestige!"
"I don't understand those idiots at Carefree Pill Pavilion and Fortune Commerce. Did they have holes in their heads, daring to provoke this man?"
"Lord Lin Ya's style is even greater than it was years ago!"
Years ago, a white-robed Qi Ping had stood atop the city gates, scaring countless people away. After years of dormancy, his return was even more magnificent! Faction leaders, relatives of high-ranking sect officials—they were all worthless before that figure.
A great cultivator should be thus!
However, the thought of Qi Ping having to "compromise" with the powers behind the city just to survive cast a shadow over many people's hearts. If even such a magnificent figure had to compromise, what chance did ordinary cultivators have? The more brilliant Qi Ping appeared, the more some people felt a sense of despair. Because after seeing him today, they couldn't believe he was the type of person who would truly collaborate with such scum...
Shortly after Qi Ping left, sounds of shouting and screams began to echo from the eight factions. Each was louder and more pathetic than the last! Everyone understood this was a deliberate show by the factions to give Qi Ping an account of their "sincerity" and appease his wrath.
This time, the top-tier factions of Starfall City had their faces slapped red and were forced to thank the one who slapped them! The high-ranking members of those eight factions were currently consumed by fear and rage.
They had initially thought that allowing their subordinates to frame Qi Ping would carry no risk; even if things went wrong, they could just throw the subordinates under the bus and come out clean. Their backers in the sect had agreed to this. Once the Law Enforcement team arrived, it would be Qi Ping's funeral. Then, Starfall City would be theirs again, and they wouldn't have to live in fear every day.
But they hadn't expected Qi Ping's methods to be so brutal—publicly shaming them atop the city and forcing them to admit their "guilt." Not only did they lose face, they nearly lost their lives! The President of Fortune Commerce was still on the brink of death, and it was uncertain if he would survive.
But they still had hope!
As long as the Law Enforcement Hall arrived, and as long as they struck fast without looking at the evidence, Qi Ping would still die! Lin Ya might be strong, but he couldn't possibly be stronger than the legacy disciple, the Hurricane Sword-Seed!
'Lin Ya! Two days from now will be your funeral!'
'When you die under the Hurricane Sword-Seed's blade, you will regret not killing us today! We will celebrate your death with drums and gongs!'
'You will die a failure of a Warden, cursed by countless people. I will personally spend my own wealth to publicize your incompetence!'
'I'll use your corpse as a urinal! The whole city will take turns!'
Roars echoed in their hearts. The leaders of the eight factions endured the humiliation, their eyes fixed on the arrival of the Sword-Seed. They couldn't wait to see Qi Ping defeated, insulted, and dead!
Yet, despite the hatred in their hearts, they moved with incredible efficiency. They handed over every scrap of evidence they could find and sent a massive sum of reparations. They were truly afraid that if Qi Ping wasn't satisfied, he would drag them out and butcher them. Based on his performance today, he was more than capable of doing exactly that!
Under the frantic efforts of each faction, in less than half an hour, all the useful evidence and a hefty sum of compensation were delivered into Qi Ping's hands.