I Can See Through Everything-Chapter 541

I Can See Through Everything-Chapter 541

Chapter 541
"It's over."
As Gongshu Yu’s aura gradually dissipated, the master of Tianji Workshop sank into despair.
Young Master Yu had died here. No matter what fate awaited Lu Qing and the City Lord of Canglan, he himself was certainly finished.
He knew the main family would never forgive him.
Thinking of how terrifying the main family was, the eyes of the master of Tianji Workshop filled with hopelessness.
"They actually killed him..."
The red-faced elder from Myriad Phenomena Pavilion also widened his eyes in shock.
That was the direct heir of the Gongshu Clan—one of the Thirty-Six Great Clans of the Upper Realm!
And Nangong Yuanwu had truly killed him.
He could already imagine the storm this news would stir once it reached the Upper Realm.
A dignified direct heir of the Gongshu Clan, dead here in the tiny Xiao Cang Realm?
This would not only shock the Gongshu Clan but likely attract the attention of other Great Clans as well.
The Xiao Cang Realm was bound to become a land of turbulent winds and rising storms.
"The direct heir of the Gongshu Clan died here?"
The mistress of the Treasure Pavilion, Mo Hongyun, stood frozen, equally stunned.
Part of her shock was the narrow escape from death, but more so it was the death of Gongshu Yu.
As someone from the Upper Realm, she knew all too well the power and influence the Thirty-Six Great Clans wielded across the vast righteous territories of the Tianyuan Great World.
Each clan, as a representative of powerful aristocratic lineages, held strength on par with top-tier immortal sects.
Not only did they command vast resources, but they were also teeming with mighty experts, including many Nascent Soul cultivators.
Even among these powerful clans, the Gongshu Clan ranked among the top ten.
And now, the direct heir of such a mighty family had perished in the Xiao Cang Realm.
Mo Hongyun didn’t need to imagine the fury that would erupt once the Gongshu Clan confirmed the news.
The Xiao Cang Realm would soon face endless upheaval.
"City Lord."
Compared to the others’ astonishment, Lu Qing remained composed.
He had never planned to spare Gongshu Yu, though he was a bit surprised the City Lord of Canglan had personally killed him.
"Forgive me, my friend."
The City Lord of Canglan, having forcibly used a Nascent Soul-level technique, had become visibly more weakened.
"For direct heirs of Great Clans like Gongshu Yu, it is customary for a Nascent Soul cultivator from their family to perform a secret ritual upon birth—embedding a karmic spell within their soul.
Should they perish, the spell activates and forges a karmic link with the killer.
Once bound by such karma, no matter where the killer runs, they cannot escape the reach of fate and divination.
If you had slain Gongshu Yu, you might find yourself with nowhere left to hide in the future."
The City Lord explained slowly.
"I see," Lu Qing said, now understanding.
These long-standing aristocratic clans were truly formidable.
Such bloodline karmic spells—he had never even heard of them before.
With this new understanding, his impression of the City Lord improved.
This man had not tried to plead for Gongshu Yu's life earlier. Rather, he had sought to shoulder the karmic burden himself, allowing Lu Qing to escape its reach.
Though Lu Qing’s Perfect Golden Core was formless and ever-changing—naturally resistant to karmic tracking—and he had many spiritual artifacts that could mask his presence even from Nascent Soul cultivators, the City Lord knew none of that.
The fact that he would voluntarily bear such karma showed admirable responsibility.
"City Lord, how should we handle these people?"
Lu Qing gestured at those around them.
"City Lord, spare us!"
The master of Tianji Workshop and the red-faced elder instantly tensed, eyes filled with pleading as they looked at the City Lord.
Their fates now lay in his hands.
The City Lord looked at the subdued individuals.
Even as he marveled at Lu Qing’s mysterious and formidable skills—beyond even his own comprehension—he paused in thought.
At last, he spoke under their desperate gazes.
"These people are, after all, citizens of Canglan City. Since Gongshu Yu is dead, let us avoid more needless killing.
Besides, I am gravely injured and cannot spare the strength.
For now, imprison them. Once I recover, I will decide their fate."
"Everything shall follow your will, City Lord."
Lu Qing had no objection.
He bore no deep hatred toward the people of Tianji Workshop and Myriad Phenomena Pavilion.
If the City Lord did not wish to press matters, he would not insist on further bloodshed.
As for silencing witnesses...
This conflict had been witnessed by tens of thousands of cultivators across the city. Silencing them all was impossible.
Were they to try, the sheer magnitude of the crime would surely provoke a Heavenly Tribulation.
Even someone as ruthless as Gongshu Yu, in his fury, had only dared to target specific individuals, not consider slaughtering the entire city.
"Thank you, City Lord!"
Relieved by the decision to spare them, the master of Tianji Workshop and the others were overjoyed.
Even imprisonment was preferable to death.
"Release your spiritual defenses and open your Golden Core. I will place a sealing restriction. Refuse, and you die," Lu Qing said flatly.
At those words, the captives shuddered.
None dared object. All obediently dropped their mental defenses and let their spiritual energy flow freely.
With Gongshu Yu’s death as a warning, none questioned Lu Qing’s resolve.
He had killed a direct heir of the Gongshu Clan—what wouldn’t he dare?
As each of the Golden Core cultivators lowered their defenses, Lu Qing began drawing complex runes with a wave of his finger. Glyphs formed in mid-air and quickly assembled into talismans.
"Void Script Runes!"
Seeing this, all the Golden Core cultivators were inwardly shaken.
They were reminded of Lu Qing’s identity as a talisman master.
In fact, this entire citywide turmoil had begun because of him.
They had long speculated about the true level of the mysterious talisman master backing the Treasure Pavilion.
Now, witnessing this display of void-drawing runes, they finally understood.
This was a true grandmaster of talismans.
Combined with his overwhelming strength—capable of effortlessly defeating Gongshu Yu—they realized why they had lost so thoroughly in the battle over the talisman market.
With someone this powerful and enigmatic behind the Treasure Pavilion, how could they possibly win?
Lu Qing moved quickly.
Though he did not split his attention with a soul-division technique, it wasn’t long before he finished placing sealing restrictions in the Golden Cores of all the captured cultivators.
As the seals took hold, the captives instantly felt their cores locked.
Not only could they no longer access the power within, even their connection to the outside world’s spiritual energy was severed.
Now, aside from their still-sturdy bodies, they were utterly powerless.
"What kind of restriction is this? So terrifying!"
Feeling their Golden Cores completely sealed, the captives gave up the last of their hopes. None dared harbor even the slightest rebellious thought.
"City Lord, I have sealed the Golden Cores of all these people. They are now unable to use any spiritual power."
Having finished the seals, Lu Qing turned and spoke.
"Thank you, my friend."
The City Lord of Canglan had been observing the entire time, visibly impressed by Lu Qing’s methods.
At the same time, his curiosity about this mysterious cultivator deepened.
He could tell that Lu Qing was definitely not at the Nascent Soul Realm.
There was no trace of the unique Nascent Soul aura on him.
Moreover, during the earlier fight with Gongshu Yu, Lu Qing had not employed a single technique typical of the Nascent Soul Realm.
And that was precisely what made him even more astonished.
By his spiritual senses, Lu Qing currently displayed the cultivation of a third-transformation mid-tier Golden Core.
But how could someone at merely the third transformation of the Golden Core Realm so easily crush Gongshu Yu, who had reached the eighth transformation?
There could be only one explanation—Lu Qing must be using some kind of secret technique or artifact to conceal his true cultivation.
And such concealment was so profound, even he—a Nascent Soul cultivator—could not see through it.
Still, despite his astonishment, the City Lord knew this was not the time for questions, so he held his tongue.
After sealing the Golden Core cultivators, Lu Qing’s figure suddenly vanished.
A dozen breaths later, he reappeared—dragging along two figures.
Thud!
He flung the two to the ground. “There are also these two, City Lord. How would you like to handle them?”
Everyone now saw clearly that the two figures Lu Qing had brought back were none other than the Nascent Soul cultivators who had accompanied Gongshu Yu.
Only now, the two Nascent Soul experts looked truly miserable.
Judging by their injuries, they were in far worse shape than even the City Lord.
Even being slammed to the ground by Lu Qing didn’t wake them.
The City Lord of Canglan glanced at the two old men and could tell they had taken the full brunt of his self-detonated spell seal.
Though they clung to a shred of life, they were as good as crippled.
After a moment’s thought, he said, “Imprison them as well. I’ll deal with everything once I’ve recovered.”
“Where shall we imprison them, City Lord?” Lu Qing asked.
“Take them to my residence. The City Lord’s estate has a Blackstone Prison, specially constructed for imprisoning cultivators.
It is not only extremely sturdy but also blocks all spiritual and soul-sense detection.
Even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find it difficult to break out in a short time.
It’s the perfect place for them.”
“That sounds ideal,” Lu Qing nodded.
Hearing that they were to be confined in the Blackstone Prison, the master of Tianji Workshop and the others felt even more hopeless.
There would be no sending for help from such a place.
“Hongyun, send two men to escort them to the City Lord’s estate,” the City Lord instructed.
“Yes, City Lord,” replied Mo Hongyun, the mistress of the Treasure Pavilion, respectfully.
“You still call me City Lord even now?”
The City Lord looked at her and sighed.
Mo Hongyun fell silent.
After a long pause, she finally said softly, “I understand… Uncle.”
Lu Qing’s heart stirred. Some lingering doubts were suddenly resolved.
He had always found it strange that the City Lord would risk offending Gongshu Yu for the Treasure Pavilion’s sake.
Even standing firm against three Nascent Soul cultivators.
And why had Mo Hongyun dared to disregard the rules and seize control of the entire talisman market?
Now it all made sense—there was a personal connection between her and the City Lord.
However, judging by their interactions, that relationship seemed… complicated.
Hearing Mo Hongyun call the City Lord “Uncle,” the master of Tianji Workshop and the others were all stunned.
Their eyes went wide with regret.
Had they known of this close familial bond between Mo Hongyun and the City Lord, they would never have dared act so brazenly against the Treasure Pavilion.
But it was too late now.
One misstep had led to a total defeat.
“Good… very good. You’ve finally acknowledged me,” the City Lord beamed, his face lighting up with joy. He even looked less wounded.
Mo Hongyun’s heart softened at the sight of his joy, but she kept a stern face. “Even though I’ve called you ‘Uncle’ again, that doesn’t mean I’ll forgive what you and the Nangong Clan did to my father and mother. I hope you understand that.”
The City Lord froze.
Then he gave a bitter smile. “I know. I know. It was my fault back then. I’ll make it up to you.”
Lu Qing now fully understood—these two did indeed have a complex past.
“There’s one more thing,” Mo Hongyun said. “Since I’ve called you Uncle again, I have a request.”
The City Lord straightened up. “What is it? Just say the word. If it’s within my power, I’ll do it.”
“It’s simple. You may imprison the others for now—but one of them, you must not take away.”
“Who?”
“That one. Qiu Rong.”
She pointed him out. “This man betrayed the Treasure Pavilion. He secretly activated a demonic artifact within our premises, setting off this entire conflict.
The others I can let go—for now. But he must stay.”
Qiu Rong’s face immediately changed.
He had just been celebrating his narrow escape.
He hadn’t expected this vicious woman to still remember him.
Terrified, he dropped to his knees with a loud thud.
He kowtowed desperately to the City Lord. “City Lord, spare me! Spare me! I was momentarily misled, bewitched by the people of the Tianji Workshop. Please, spare me this once!”
He knew begging Mo Hongyun was useless.
His only hope now lay with the City Lord.
So he knocked his head on the ground over and over, smashing the paving stones beneath him.
With his Golden Core sealed and his spiritual protection gone, his forehead cracked open and bled profusely. He looked utterly pitiful and pathetic.
But the City Lord of Canglan was not someone who could be swayed by mere groveling.
“If this man has betrayed the Treasure Pavilion,” he declared, “then I shall leave him to your judgment.”
“City Lord…” Qiu Rong began.
“Silence!”
Before he could plead further, Mo Hongyun lashed out with a streak of spiritual power, slapping him across the face.
With his Golden Core sealed, Qiu Rong had no protection.
He flew into the air, spun several times, and crashed heavily to the ground.
Half his face was torn apart, teeth scattered like broken beads, and he lost consciousness on the spot.

Chapter 541