The Power of A 'Flash'

[It's not just that, Queen, If you catch them off guard when they're not protecting their bodies with qi, anyone below the Immortal level can be killed instantly.]

Mingyue arched a brow."That's quite a stretch, Vesa. Even I keep my qi shield up most of the time. People at higher levels will definitely do it as second nature."

[True, but there are plenty of poisons that can disrupt qi flow, Queen.]

"Yes, but making someone consume it is the real challenge. I'm not a poison expert, and I can't create something tasteless and odorless."

[Then gather some samples and give them to the King. I'm sure he can find plenty of solutions.]

Mingyue wanted to ask what Alex would do with it, but at that moment, the chariot came to a halt. A knock came from the window, followed by a solemn voice. "Lady Mingyue, we've arrived at Dai Ying City, but there's a problem—the city is on lockdown."

Mingyue frowned. Stepping out of the chariot, she took in the scene before her. A long line of people stretched in front of the massive city gate, which was tightly shut. Two guards stood at the entrance, managing the growing crowd with stern expressions. Turning to her attendant, a man from a humble background whom she had found to have some potential for cultivation—though nothing near a genius—she asked, "Zan Lu, what happened?"

Zan Lu bowed slightly before answering. "I heard one of the family heirs had an accident in the secret realm, so they decided to close the city gates."

Mingyue's frown deepened. That didn't make any sense. Even if someone important had been injured or killed, shutting down an entire city wasn't the way to handle it. If anything, the family would hold a grand funeral, parading their power with high-ranking cultivators and young geniuses at the forefront—a show of strength to deter any opportunists. She wasn't naive. She knew she wasn't the only talented one in the family. The last she heard, there was even a new nephew rumored to have potential close to hers. But potential alone meant nothing until it was proven. Her eyes narrowed as she sent a telepathic order to Zan Lu. He hesitated for a brief moment but ultimately had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, he strode toward the guards. "My Miss wants to enter the city. Open the gate." The guards snapped their heads toward him, their expressions instantly darkening. 'A commoner dared to make such a demand?'

"Who the hell do you think you are!?" one of the guards snapped, her temper flaring. "Do you not see everyone else waiting here? If you're looking for trouble, I'd be happy to oblige." he unsheathed his sword and pointed it straight at Zan Lu's throat.

A cold sweat broke out on his back, but Mingyue's order was absolute. Swallowing his fear, he forced himself to stand tall. And then— BAM! The sharp sound echoed through the tense air as Zan Lu smacked the guard across the face.

A stunned silence followed. Even he couldn't believe what he'd just done. But he pushed forward, voice firm despite the fear curling in his gut. "Do you know who my Miss is? Can you take responsibility for offending her?"

The guard stood frozen, caught off guard by Zan Lu's sudden movement. He was sure the man wasn't a cultivator, yet his movements weren't like those of an ordinary commoner either. Still, that didn't deter him. If anything, it only fueled his rage, his face flushing red. But before he could react, Zan Lu executed the next order from Mingyue. From within his robes, he pulled out a sleek, metallic object—something completely foreign to the guard. Then, he pointed it at him and pressed a button.

FLASH!

A brilliant light burst forth, causing everyone at the gate to flinch. But it wasn't just the light. Those with cultivated senses immediately noticed something off—there was no trace of qi. Which could only mean one thing. The person responsible for this… had a cultivation level far beyond theirs. Before the crowd could recover, the strange device whirred softly, spitting out a glossy piece of paper. Zan Lu plucked it from the machine and held it up.

It was an image. A crystal-clear depiction of the guard's face—so sharp, so detailed, that it seemed unreal. The guard's eyes widened in horror. "My Miss comes from a faraway country," Zan Lu announced, his voice calm yet commanding. "She seeks to offer certain artifacts to the Xueqi family. But if we are not allowed entry, we will take our offer elsewhere." He let his words sink in before lowering his voice, just enough for the guard to hear. "As for you—your soul has already been recorded."

The guard's breath hitched.

"Remember this. Your life is in our hands. We can crush it anytime we want." The man dropped to his knees instantly, all hostility gone. "I-I was only following orders, Master! Please… forgive me!" Hearing the word Master from a cultivator stronger than himself, Zan Lu nearly grinned. He had only just started cultivating, barely stepping into the early Foundation Stage. His progress was slow, but it was enough to use a storage ring.

Meanwhile, the guard—who was at least at the late Foundation Stage, possibly even Core Formation—was now bowing before him. The only reason the man even worked as a gate guard was that he had already exhausted his potential. Inside the carriage, Mingyue leaned back with a smirk. She could already sense a familiar presence approaching.

Creak…

The heavy city gates groaned as they parted, revealing a young cultivator with a prestigious air and a finely sculpted, handsome face. Jian Feng Xueqi. Her uncle. 'So old, yet still as pretentious as ever.' She lazily sent another command to Zan Lu.

FLASH!

The camera went off again. This time, capturing Jian Feng's face. The moment the light flashed, the man's expression stiffened, a cold sweat breaking out across his forehead. He had heard what was said before, and despite standing this close, he still couldn't sense any qi from them. Jian Feng's fingers twitched, the instinct to attack surging through him. But then Pressure.

An overwhelming killing intent crashed down on him from inside the chariot. His body reacted before his mind could. With a stiff, forced motion, he bowed. "I… apologize for the poor reception, Elder," he said carefully, his tone respectful. "But you have arrived at a rather difficult time."

From within the chariot, a soft, melodic voice answered. "Don't worry." Smooth, unhurried. Completely indifferent. "Just open the gate. We can talk business inside."

Inside the carriage, Mingyue pressed a hand against her mouth, barely holding in her laughter. Jian Feng thought that she had been the one releasing the killing intent. But in reality? It had come from a soul Vesa had captured. In her mind, a feminine voice spoke. 'Isn't he your uncle? I don't get why you wanted me to do this.'