I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

Chapter 267: Late-Stage Soul Formation, Kowtow and Admit Fault

When Wei Yushu crushed the communication jade talisman, a streak of light shot into the sky. At a height of 300 feet, it exploded into a massive family crest: the character [WEI].

Wei Yushu smirked, his confidence restored.

Just wait until Third Uncle gets here. Let’s see how arrogant you are then.

Even if this cultivator was a Late-Stage Nascent Soul, he was nothing compared to the might of the Wei Family. They had over a dozen Soul Formation experts!

On the street, the crowd buzzed with anticipation and fear.

“That’s the Wei Family distress signal!”

“Is that Wei Yushu causing trouble again?”

“Who is that young man? He actually dares to stand his ground against the Wei Family?”

“He’s dead. No matter how strong he is, he can’t fight a Soul Formation Elder.”

Less than half a quarter-hour later, the sky darkened.

A streak of ink-black light tore through the clouds, moving with the speed and violence of a thunderbolt. As it descended, the void trembled, and the spiritual qi in the street churned chaotically. Even the heavy bluestone slabs beneath their feet vibrated.

BOOM!

The black light slammed into the ground between Wei Yushu and Shen Xian, kicking up a cloud of dust.

When the dust settled, a middle-aged man in black brocade robes stood in the air, hovering a foot above the ground. Spirit patterns revolved around him like planetary rings, radiating a suffocating pressure.

His eyes were cold lightning. A single sweep of his gaze caused every cultivator below the Nascent Soul stage to buckle at the knees.

Behind him landed several other powerful figures, including an elderly man wearing the robes of a Fourth-Rank Refiner.

“It’s Wei Chengfeng! The Wei Family’s Third Master!” a knowledgeable spectator gasped. “He broke through to Late-Stage Soul Formation three years ago! He once suppressed three Mid-Stage Soul Formation evil cultivators by himself!”

Wei Chengfeng stood with hands clasped behind his back, his robes snapping in the wind.

“Who dares harm a member of my Wei Family?”

His voice boomed like heavenly thunder, shaking the defensive arrays of the nearby shops. Several weaker cultivators coughed up blood, staggering back from the sheer sonic pressure.

Wei Yushu’s face lit up with malicious glee. “Third Uncle! It’s him! It’s this kid!”

Late-Stage Soul Formation! One step away from Void Refinement! You’re dead, you beggar!

Wei Yushu pointed a trembling finger at Shen Xian. “He insulted the family! He broke my attendant’s sword! Uncle, make him kneel! I want him to beg for death!”

Wei Chengfeng’s gaze locked onto Shen Xian. Killing intent surged.

He raised a hand, gathering spiritual energy to crush the insolent junior into paste.

Suddenly, the old refiner standing behind him turned pale. He lunged forward, grabbing Wei Chengfeng’s sleeve.

“Elder Wei! Stop! Don’t strike!”

Wei Chengfeng frowned, his momentum stalling. “Master Zhang? Do you know this brat?”

Master Zhang was a distinguished guest of the Wei Family, hired to refine a batch of spirit treasures. Wei Chengfeng had to give him face.

Master Zhang’s voice trembled as he whispered urgently, “That… that is Master Wang! The one who broke two records at the Hundred Arts Sect! The Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce has listed him as a Top-Tier VIP!”

He had attended the banquet the previous night. He had seen Elder Shen You treat this young man as an equal. He had seen the Crimson Sky Burning Heaven Sword.

“What?!”

Wei Chengfeng’s body jerked as if he had been slapped. His pupils contracted to pinpoints.

Top-Tier VIP of the Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce?!

The spiritual pressure around him vanished instantly. The killing intent evaporated like mist in the sun.

His heart pounded with terror. The Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce had three Void Refinement Celestial Venerables. Offending a Top-Tier VIP was equivalent to slapping a Celestial Venerable in the face. The Wei Family would be erased from existence before the sun set.

In the blink of an eye, the majestic, terrifying Soul Formation expert transformed.

He rushed forward, his back bent so low his nose nearly touched the pavement.

“So it is Master Wang gracing us with his presence! I am Wei Chengfeng of the Wei Family. I had eyes but failed to see Mount Tai! How has my worthless nephew offended you?”

The silence on the street was absolute. Jaws dropped. Eyes bulged.

The crowd couldn’t process the image. The tyrant of the Sacred City was bowing like a waiter?

Wei Yushu stood frozen, his brain short-circuiting. “Th… Third Uncle? What are you doing? He’s just a rogue—”

“Shut up!”

Wei Chengfeng whirled around, his roar carrying genuine killing intent. Wei Yushu stumbled back, terrified.

Wei Chengfeng turned back to Shen Xian, his face a mask of fawning apology. “Master Wang, please forgive my lack of discipline. The boy is spoiled rotten.”

Shen Xian looked at the bowing elder, his expression cold and unimpressed.

“I asked him a question earlier,” Shen Xian said calmly. “I asked what the consequences were for offending the Wei Family.”

Wei Chengfeng broke out in a cold sweat. “Misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding! Mingxuan! Get over here and apologize to Master Wang!”

Wei Yushu’s face flushed green and white. “Uncle, I… why should I apologize? Even if he’s a VIP, we’re the Wei Family! The Ancestor loves me—”

“Kneel!” Wei Chengfeng roared.

Simultaneously, his voice transmitted directly into Wei Yushu’s ear, cold and venomous: [You idiot! The Chamber has three Celestial Venerables! Any one of them could wipe us out with a thought! Do you want to kill the entire clan?!]

Wei Yushu’s arrogance shattered. The reality of his situation crashed down on him.

His legs gave way. He collapsed to his knees.

“Ma… Master Wang… please forgive me…”

Shen Xian looked down at him. “Kowtow.”

“What?!” Wei Yushu looked up, humiliation burning in his eyes.

Kowtow in public? In the middle of the street? I’ll be the laughingstock of the Sacred City forever!

Wei Chengfeng’s face tightened. “Master Wang, this…”

“If he doesn’t want to kowtow,” Shen Xian said indifferently, “then he can apologize with his life.”

He meant it. He needed to establish dominance in the Sacred City. The Wei Family had volunteered to be the stepping stone; he would use them.

Wei Chengfeng gritted his teeth. He grabbed the back of Wei Yushu’s head and slammed it into the ground.

BANG!

Forehead met bluestone. Blood splattered.

“Master Wang, please forgive us!” Wei Chengfeng pleaded, forcing a smile.

Shen Xian nodded slowly. “Get lost.”

Wei Chengfeng let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He grabbed his bleeding, dazed nephew and fled, dragging his entourage with him. They disappeared faster than they had arrived.

The street remained silent for a long moment. Then, the whispers exploded.

“Who is he? Who is he?”

“To make the Wei Family eat dirt like that…”

“Master Wang… we need to remember that name.”

Qiu Ruoli watched Shen Xian, her heart pounding.

A VIP of the Chamber… he has this much power already?

Master Zhang, the refiner who had intervened, stepped forward anxiously. “Master Wang, are you unharmed?”

“I am fine,” Shen Xian said.

“The Wei Family refused a toast only to drink a forfeit,” Master Zhang spat. “Should I inform the Chamber? We can sanction them…”

“No need,” Shen Xian cut him off. “Go back.”

The Wei Family was a local tyrant. Humiliating them was enough to establish his prestige. Destroying them would create a power vacuum and unnecessary chaos. Shen Xian was here to make money, not war.

Besides, if the Wei Family was smart enough to survive in the Sacred City, they would know better than to seek revenge. If they were stupid… well, Shen Xian wouldn’t mind wiping them out later.

He turned and walked away, Qiu Ruoli following silently in his wake.

Looking at his broad back, a treacherous thought blossomed in her mind.

He is strong. He is influential. And he protects his own.

Maybe… staying with him isn’t the worst fate.

The thought terrified her, but she couldn’t deny it.

Perhaps… staying by his side isn’t such a bad thing…

This thought suddenly surfaced in her heart, startling even herself.