Chapter 132: Cheng Yuan Master

A hush fell over the once-lively mall.

Is this real? Did I mishear? This guy not only had someone smash Lord Ling's stone lion, but he also directly insulted his entire family? He's got some nerve...

Sun Qiang, who was standing nearby, stumbled, almost turning to run away. *My Lord*, he thought, *are you a master teacher, or are you intentionally trying to get me into trouble? Lord Ling doesn't know you; you can just turn and leave. But I have a family to support, and we all live in Tianxuan Royal City...*

"What did you say?" Already suppressing his anger, Ling Tianyu nearly exploded when he heard those words. *We don't know each other, yet you directly insult my entire family. This is no longer just a provocation; it's blatant abuse and humiliation!*

"Oh? You didn't understand? Then let me rephrase: Are your family members in good health?" Zhang Xuan's expression remained unchanged, seeing the other man ready to explode with rage.

"Whether my family is well or not is none of your concern!" Ling Tianyu's gaze was like lightning, ready to erupt at any moment.

"None of my concern? I was just thinking that saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. If you don't need it, then never mind!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"You... what do you mean?"

"Nothing!" Zhang Xuan drained his tea. "Ti Nan Azure Jade is a good item. Not only is it beautiful, but if you wear it regularly, it can promote blood circulation, dissolve stasis, clear meridians, and keep you healthy. However... Ti Nan Blood Jade is different. This item can absorb a person's vital energy for nourishment, evolving into a jade essence. Your cultivation has reached the seventh level of the Martial Artist realm, the initial stage of the Tongxuan realm, with surging *qi* and a strong physique, so you're not afraid of this negative effect. But your family members, it seems, cannot withstand it. If I'm not mistaken, because you're in daily contact with this blood jade, its aura has permeated your home, and someone there must be gravely ill, on the verge of death. Alright, Xiao Qiang, let's go!"

Having said that, Zhang Xuan put down his cup, adjusted his sleeves, and stood up. Ignoring the other man, he clasped his hands behind his back and slowly walked towards the exit of the merchant guild. Sun Qiang looked left and right as he walked, fearing that others might rush over and beat him up again.

"Sir, please wait..."

Just as everyone expected Ling Tianyu to stop this arrogant man who had insulted him and teach him a lesson, they saw his tall frame tremble slightly as he urgently called out.

Zhang Xuan paused.

"Sir, are you saying... this stone lion isn't Ti Nan Azure Jade, but... Ti Nan Blood Jade? Yuruo... Yuruo's illness, is it because of this?" Ling Tianyu's face paled; he had lost his previous composure and couldn't help but ask.

Others knew him as a billionaire, a man whom even high-ranking officials treated with deference, enjoying boundless prestige. But only he knew that for the past six months, he had been overwhelmed with anxiety, on the verge of collapsing. Yuruo was his beloved wife. When they were poor, even if there was only one flatbread, this virtuous woman would save it for him to eat, falsely claiming she had already eaten outside. Later, his business grew, and his cultivation deepened, but he knew that without this woman, he would have long ago become a pile of uncollected bones in the wilderness. Precisely for this reason, despite his vast wealth, he had never indulged in debauchery or sought other women. Instead, he had remained steadfastly devoted to the wife who had journeyed with him through poverty.

But alas, unforeseen misfortunes befall people. Six months ago, for reasons unknown, she suddenly fell gravely ill, became bedridden, and was on the verge of death at any moment. He had searched for healers throughout Tianxuan Royal City; even Master Yuanyu had come to personally diagnose her. All efforts had been in vain, and she was deemed beyond cure, left to simply await death. Especially in the past few days, she was close to giving up, her breathing liable to stop at any moment. He had been constantly by her bedside. Only urgent business at the mall forced him to come today. His mind was agitated, and upon hearing that the stone lion had been inexplicably shattered, he had rushed over in a fit of rage, losing the composure of a successful merchant. He had initially thought the other man was simply causing trouble without reason and had never in his wildest dreams expected him to say such a thing—to declare so readily that his family member was ill, to say that the stone lion wasn't Ti Nan Azure Jade, but blood jade...

"Your wife must be an ordinary person, with cultivation no higher than the second level of the Martial Artist realm, correct?" Zhang Xuan said indifferently, without turning his head.

"You... how do you know Yuruo is my wife? And how could you possibly know her cultivation level?" Ling Tianyu was startled once more. He had only mentioned Yuruo just now, yet the other man spoke of his wife and directly stated her cultivation level. This assessment was incredibly accurate.

"The Ti Nan Blood Jade's power to absorb vital energy means that anyone below the second level of the Martial Artist realm has no resistance. Once affected, their bodily functions will rapidly decline: hair will whiten, skin will sag, speech will become unclear... and their lifespan will not exceed half a year!" Zhang Xuan said calmly.

"This..." Ling Tianyu's pupils contracted. Everything the other man described matched his wife's symptoms exactly, without the slightest discrepancy.

"I happened to pass by and saw this item. To prevent it from causing harm, I had my steward smash it. If Lord Ling considers this reckless, I will send someone with compensation tomorrow!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand, saying no more. His tone was neither sad nor joyful; he didn't seem angry about the other man's misunderstanding, just a little weary. "I imagine, with Lord Ling's capabilities, finding my residence won't be difficult. You needn't worry that I'll run away!"

With that, he disregarded the other man and walked forward once more.

"My Lord..." Seeing his master about to leave after only a few words, Sun Qiang was stunned for a moment, then quickly chased after him.

"Sir, should I stop them?" Seeing the two men gradually walking away, about to disappear from sight, the former leader of the enforcement team approached.

"No need!" Ling Tianyu stood rooted to the spot, his face alternating between pale and green, lost in thought. He was a merchant, unlike the students and teachers Zhang Xuan had encountered before, who were simple-minded and easily trusting. Having weathered countless storms, he no longer trusted people so readily. Although what this middle-aged man, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, said was incredibly accurate and shocked him immensely, he still didn't impulsively rush over to stop him. After all, he had consulted countless healers about his wife's illness; anyone with enough effort could easily inquire about it.

"Go find Master Chengyuan!"

Master Chengyuan was the official appraisal master for Tianyu Merchant Guild, a first-grade appraiser, and one of the three great appraisers in Tianxuan Kingdom. He was far more skilled than the swindler Yang Mo. Almost every valuable item purchased by the guild required his personal inspection.

It wasn't long before Master Chengyuan arrived.

"Brother Ling, why did you call for me so urgently?" As a matter of etiquette, even Ling Tianyu addressed him as an equal.

"Help me determine whether this stone lion is Ti Nan Azure Jade or Blood Jade!" Ling Tianyu pointed to the shattered stone lion on the ground.

"I've already examined this; it's Ti Nan Azure Jade!" Master Chengyuan stroked his beard and smiled faintly. Since the item could be moved here, he must have appraised it beforehand.

As he spoke, he approached, looked down at the shattered parts of the stone lion, and his pupils suddenly constricted. He stumbled back repeatedly: "This... this... how is this possible?"