I Can Merge Techniques

Deep within the Zhang Residence, Qing Province City.

An unremarkable rockery stood, concealing a deep and secret passage behind it.

At the end of the secret passage was a hidden chamber.

The walls were carved with esoteric runes and embedded with Luminous Pearls, whose cold, faint light cast an illusory, dreamlike glow upon the room.

In the center of the chamber, a man and a woman sat at opposite ends of a long table.

The woman was exceptionally arrogant, lounging back in her chair with her feet propped up on the table.

Her fair, jade-like legs were dazzling to behold.

She was none other than the Moon Worship Sect’s Divine Sacrifice Envoy, Lingkong Jade, who had escaped from Yue Mankong back in Cyan Yang Ancient City.

A hidden tension surged through the air, so thick it seemed to stifle the very currents of wind.

The man, powerfully built with a commanding presence, had a hint of anger in his brow. He was Zhang Yanzong, Patriarch of the Zhang Family, one of the three great families of Qing Province.

His expression was terrifyingly dark, his rage simmering just beneath the surface. In a low voice, he said, "Lingkong Jade, you have some nerve! How dare you barge into Qing Province City and set foot in my Zhang Residence!"

"Don’t you know that ever since the incident in Cyan Yang Ancient City, the Demon Suppression Bureau has been watching my Zhang Family like a hawk?"

"What is your purpose in coming to Qing Province City and forcing your way into the Zhang Residence at a time like this?"

Lingkong Jade wore the moon-white robes of a Divine Sacrifice Envoy, tailored to fit her slender and graceful figure.

She casually twirled a Warm Jade Talisman between her fingertips, her relaxed posture a stark contrast to Zhang Yanzong’s tense, guarded demeanor.

"Patriarch Zhang—oh, my mistake. I should call you Divine Sacrifice Envoy Zhang now."

Lingkong Jade’s voice was ethereal and magnetic, yet it carried a chilling undertone. "To think the man who once bowed and scraped before me has grown so bold..."

"Daring to call me by my full name!"

Zhang Yanzong snorted coldly. "You’re mistaken, Divine Sacrifice Envoy Ling."

"I have been officially appointed by the Moon Worship Sect as a Divine Sacrifice Envoy, which makes me your equal."

"In terms of seniority, I’ve operated in Qing Province for decades. In terms of strength, I am confident I’m not your inferior."

"You have no right to order me or the Zhang Family around!"

"Right now, the Demon Suppression Bureau is watching you, and they’re watching my Zhang Family. Yet you still barged into Qing Province and came to the Zhang Residence..."

"Are you trying to lead the Demon Suppression Bureau straight to my family?"

"The Zhang Family has spent decades lying low and building its strength. An act like this could throw away all our past efforts and ruin us in an instant!"

"I’ve been nothing but respectful to you in the past and have done nothing to offend you. Don’t you think you’re going too far?"

"Look how scared you are." Lingkong Jade was unfazed. "Are you really that afraid of the Demon Suppression Bureau?"

"Is this a matter of being afraid or not?" Zhang Yanzong was furious. "You shouldn’t be here! The Main Altar sent no message announcing your arrival!"

"The Burial Immortal Valley plan is about to enter a critical stage. Qing Province City is rife with undercurrents, and all the major powers are making their moves in secret."

"If your appearance here, forcing your way into my home, attracts the attention of the Demon Suppression Bureau and ruins the Sect’s grand plan..."

"...Even the Lord Guardian will not let you off lightly!"

At the mention of the "Lord Guardian," Lingkong Jade’s imposing aura clearly faltered.

He was a true titan within the sect, his power unfathomably deep.

Rage churned in her chest, but she didn’t dare truly unleash it.

Lingkong Jade said coldly, "Zhang Yanzong, are you trying to use the Lord Guardian to threaten me?"

She took a deep breath, suppressing her killing intent, and said coldly, "I’ll be honest with you. I came here precisely for the matter of Burial Immortal Valley."

"With the Zhang Family’s pitiful bit of strength, you think you can have a piece of the Burial Immortal Valley pie all to yourselves?"

"You even want to use the Burial Immortal Valley incident to secretly harm the other major powers in Qing Province, scheming against even Prince Zhennan’s Mansion and the Demon Suppression Bureau? You truly don’t know your own limits!"

She glanced around contemptuously. "You think your plan is flawless? In my eyes, it’s nothing more than child’s play."

"Without my help, the Zhang Family is headed for self-destruction!"

"Silence!" Zhang Yanzong roared, undisguised killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"The matter of Burial Immortal Valley has long been decided by the sect—it is the Zhang Family’s responsibility! We don’t need you meddling!"

"Lingkong Jade, I advise you to leave Qing Province at once and not interfere with the Zhang Family’s plans."

"Otherwise, if anything goes wrong and the sect’s grand plan is ruined, I, Zhang Yanzong, will be the first to hold you accountable!"

The two locked eyes, their killing intent palpable.

The very air in the secret chamber seemed about to be torn apart by their invisible auras. The light of the Luminous Pearls flickered, casting harsh expressions on both their faces.

Suddenly, Lingkong Jade laughed. "Zhang Yanzong, you think too highly of yourself!"

"Likewise!" Zhang Yanzong’s gaze was like a hawk’s as he stared directly at her. "Who in the sect doesn’t know of your ’glorious achievements’ in Cyan Yang Ancient City?"

"For two years, you wasted countless resources and manpower searching for that ’key,’ only to end up with nothing. Instead, it vanished into thin air and fell into someone else’s hands."

"I sent Zhang Yunpeng to help you, and he ended up dead in Cyan Yang Ancient City, even causing the Demon Suppression Bureau to target my Zhang Family!"

"When word of this reached the Main Altar, the Lord Guardian was extremely displeased. Divine Sacrifice Envoy Ling, you cannot escape the blame for this!"

His words were like a vicious slap across Lingkong Jade’s face.

Her expression instantly turned ashen, rage swirling in her eyes as her killing intent flared.

"Zhang Yanzong!" Her voice was bone-chilling and filled with menace. "Are you trying to get yourself killed, bringing this up again and again?"

Zhang Yanzong stood tall, showing no fear. "I am merely stating the facts."

After a long moment, Lingkong Jade snorted. "Fine. Truly, you are something else, Zhang Yanzong! You’ve got guts!"

"I’d like to see what kind of trouble the Zhang Family can stir up without my help."

She turned to leave, but stopped at the chamber door and said, "The Demon Suppression Bureau is watching the Zhang Family, yet you dare to intercept people from Medicine King Valley in the name of the Moon Worship Sect, trying to recruit them?"

Zhang Yanzong was startled. "That incident—wasn’t it your subordinates who did that?"

"Don’t be ridiculous," Lingkong Jade scoffed. "I have no interest whatsoever in Medicine King Valley!"

"The Zhang Family didn’t do it either." Zhang Yanzong’s brow furrowed. "The Demon Suppression Bureau is watching our every move. Why would I do something like that at such a critical juncture?"

"Is that so?" Lingkong Jade’s tone was mocking. "But didn’t your daughter, Zhang Ling’Er, ask Medicine King Valley to blacklist the Seven Stars Gang?"