For most ordinary people, the lack of understanding led them to feel a sense of awe toward cultivators. So when Qin Jingzhou used that makeshift taser to instantly drop He Huisheng, it seriously boosted morale among the housekeepers and bodyguards on the scene.
First, he instructed the housekeeper to have people throw both He Huisheng and the terrified thug who was squatting on the ground out of the house. Then he reminded them, “Did you get it on video? Send me a copy.”
Auntie in the corner chuckled. “Boss, I’ve recorded everything!”
Qin Jingzhou had barely returned to the study when the manager had already transferred the video from Auntie’s phone and sent it to him.
After watching it, he felt there was no problem suing He Huisheng for “insult and slander” as well as “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” and immediately contacted the original host’s lawyer to make preparations in advance.
Before the full awakening of spiritual energy, there had always been a thin presence of it in the world. Thus, in this world, both martial artists and cultivators existed in the Eastern cultivation circles, and in the Western mystery world, there were priests and mages. These people were collectively called Extraordinaries.
When spiritual energy awakened for real, the power levels of Extraordinaries all over the world improved to some extent, giving them enough confidence to finally come forward and show themselves in public.
Faced with this planet-wide environmental shift, the authorities of all major nations understood well that they could neither conceal this from the public nor stop this trend. So what could they do?
Naturally, they chose to go along with it.
Governments everywhere unanimously decided to cooperate with the strongest local Extraordinaries.
Among them, the closest partner to the Huaguo authorities was the Taiyi Sect, a righteous sect. At present, their conduct seemed fairly reasonable and their methods were not too ugly—but that only applied to official disciples of Taiyi Sect.
He Qingya’s current husband had managed to cling to the thigh of a Neimen Disciple from Taiyi Sect—his own cousin.
Once this Neimen Disciple successfully advanced to Golden Core stage, becoming the leader among the disciples, his relatives, friends, and lackeys all followed in his wake, enjoying the perks of his rise.
This was also why He Huisheng, after hearing the good news from his own mother He Qingya, strutted over to the original host’s house to deliberately stir up trouble.
Incidentally, at this time, the world’s most powerful Extraordinaries were all at Golden Core stage. Generally speaking, one round of concentrated fire from modern firearms could still take down a Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, those at Golden Core stage could fly as they pleased and even escape briefly above the atmosphere. With current technology, it might be possible to seriously injure a Golden Core cultivator with the right preparations, but as for killing them... no one could say for sure.
There’s an old saying: never leave a snake half-killed. So by the time one reached Golden Core stage, they really did have some audacity to behave as they pleased.
Qin Jingzhou rarely waxed sentimental. “Guess I haven’t been beaten enough. I won’t dare talk big until I reach the Body Integration stage.”
The progression of cultivation realms from lowest to highest is: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, Void Refining, Body Integration, Mahayana, and Tribulation Transcendence. Cultivators who reach Divine Transformation must head to the Spiritual Realm, otherwise their progress will stall and quickly regress.
Of course, exceptions always exist. Qin Jingzhou, now just a step from ascension in Tribulation Transcendence stage, was one.
“Brother Zhou, you’re... a bit too careful,” the System continued. “This is only the first round of spiritual energy awakening. There are still three more to come, until the world’s spiritual energy density can nurture multiple Divine Transformation cultivators.”
Qin Jingzhou chuckled. “This World Will is quite a big boss, even among mortal realms.”
The System agreed, “Yes, she’s got a deep foundation and has no small ambition. That’s why she’s willing to spend so much at the start of spiritual energy revival to hire someone for maintaining order.”
Anyone with half a brain could figure out that, unlike those earlier worlds where ordinary people could still threaten cultivators by banding together, here, after complete spiritual revival, high-level cultivators really could treat mortals like ants.
If there weren’t powerful enough cultivators to restrain their own kind, soon the cultivator and mortal classes would turn hostile. Cultivators would see mortals as livestock, while mortals would view the lofty cultivators as mortal enemies—after all, the majority of people simply don’t have cultivation talent, or even if they do, lack any value for nurturing.
“Class hostility” was putting it mildly.
Qin Jingzhou had seen worlds where, because spiritual revival came too fast and order was not rebuilt in time, the whole world ended up entirely destroyed by war between cultivators and mortals.
The System listened to his explanation, suddenly enlightened. “So that’s how some apocalypse worlds come to be?”
“That’s right.”
Qin Jingzhou closed his laptop. “What she needs is a cultivator who, after the full revival of spiritual energy, is so powerful that all the Extraordinaries in the world put together still couldn’t beat him. On one hand, he’ll lay down the law for Extraordinaries. On the other, he’ll help lift up mortals, guide them in developing relevant technologies strong enough to make even Extraordinaries wary. Only then can this world enter a virtuous cycle after spiritual awakening.”
With newfound understanding, the System sighed, “No wonder she put out such a huge reward.”
Qin Jingzhou was straightforward, “She may ask a lot, but the reward matches the work.” He tapped his temple. “This is a big job. I need to think.”
He’d barely said it when his phone rang. Though the number was unfamiliar, he already knew who it was. “What is it?”
Ling Jing’s energetic voice came loud and clear: “I transmigrated as He Qingya’s half-sister. They’re about to give He Qingya as a gift to some Neimen Disciple’s father in Taiyi Sect. Boyfriend, hurry up and come save me!”
Qin Jingzhou laughed, “On my way.”
As he drove toward the destination, the System endlessly relayed info from Ling Jing’s System. “Didn’t He Qingya’s whole family just latch onto the Taiyi Sect’s newly-advanced Golden Core Neimen Disciple? This disciple is favored by several sect Elders and is now seeking to marry one of their disciples, his Senior Sister who’s also a Neimen Disciple. She’s at full Foundation Establishment, just one step from Golden Core.”
Qin Jingzhou got it. “The disciple himself hasn’t said anything, but his lackeys are already anxious to smooth the way?”
“Exactly. The Senior Sister is a talented young woman, but her father is already eighty, just an ordinary person. She’s very filial, bringing him all kinds of benefits through the years, but at the end of the day, he’s utterly ordinary.”
Qin Jingzhou grinned. “Looks like He Qingya has no love lost for her own family.”
The System went straight for the heart. “Don’t forget, He Qingya is an illegitimate daughter. Her father used to look down on this daughter who only cared about clawing her way onto the rich list. Now... seems circumstances are stronger than people.”
That’s just business as usual.
Less than an hour later, Qin Jingzhou finally arrived at the location Ling Jing had sent him. As he got out and walked toward the clubhouse, he muttered, “Such a short trip, and traffic made it half an hour. This is the worst Capital City I’ve ever lived in. I really need to invent those hovercars.”
Walking out of the parking lot and heading alone toward the heavily guarded private clubhouse gate, the security staff in the courtyard instantly grew tense.
Because the original host was a business tycoon, often featured in financial programs and magazines, and had even appeared on news because of genuine charitable work, the security guards immediately recognized him.
But they could only watch as he walked straight toward the clubhouse. They wanted to stop him but didn’t dare, and the head guard anxiously contacted the lounge manager to come handle the situation... because a translucent sword, about as tall as a person, was floating behind Qin Jingzhou.
Just as one guard dared to show some attitude, the sword twisted sharply in mid-air, its tip pointing at him, clearly ready to strike.
The guard caved instantly, covered his head, and squatted down. “Boss Zhang, please let this little guy off the hook!”
Qin Jingzhou didn’t spare him a glance, striding straight into the clubhouse.
Now, the owner of this private clubhouse was a social butterfly and had recently entertained quite a few cultivators, which directly spiked business.
On a weekday afternoon, several local movers and shakers of the Capital City elite circle were waiting at the door.
On seeing Qin Jingzhou—and the sword floating behind him—these folks exchanged several looks, then nudged out an old man they thought had some acquaintance with Boss Zhang.
The old man greeted him tentatively. “Old Zhang?”
Qin Jingzhou gave him a brief glance and responded, “Mm.”
The old man realized there was room to talk and, since it seemed he wouldn’t get stabbed right away, hurriedly asked, “This is quite an entrance... May I ask what’s going on?”
Qin Jingzhou said, “Someone’s trying to steal my girlfriend.”
Hearing that it was a “wife-snatching grievance,” no one dared come close to intervene.
Standing before the tightly closed main doors, Qin Jingzhou announced, “Will you open the doors yourselves, or shall I do it for you?”
No answer came from inside, so instead, he simply made the flying sword draw a long rectangle in the air.
No fancy effects—just the sword tracing a humdrum path—yet the front of the clubhouse now sported a giant rectangular hole.
Stone, tiles, and steel rods rained to the ground, but not a speck of dust touched Qin Jingzhou.
Everyone stared in shock.
After a short, trembling silence, someone blurted, “Holy crap! So this is where the hidden big boss was!”
Immediately, all those at the door, whether wealthy patrons or security staff, felt a collective sense of post-crisis relief. They reached a tacit agreement—no one wanted to participate in this spectacle any further.
With a single move, Qin Jingzhou cowed every soul present. Entering the grand lobby, he looked toward the lounge manager, who was wearing a staff badge. “You, come here.”
The manager hustled over, nodding and bowing, desperately wishing the boss would hurry down to the scene.
Qin Jingzhou had no interest in making things hard for employees. He just had the man lead the way.
Luckily, the owner proved to have some backbone. Upon receiving the news and seeing the state of the front doors, he dashed down from his rooftop office. Confronted with Qin Jingzhou and the serene, floating flying sword behind him, he greeted him with utmost respect. “Boss Zhang, you’re here! If only you’d told me ahead of time and let me come greet you.”
Qin Jingzhou smiled, “I’m not looking to cause trouble. Tell me which private room He Qingya’s party is in. Spare me the trouble of tearing your club apart searching for her.”
He’d already found the target with a sweep of his divine sense, but he said it on purpose.
The club owner didn’t hesitate. He gestured to lead the way. “Boss Zhang, please follow me.”
He Qingya’s group was in a private room on the eighth floor. The owner personally opened the door. There, he saw Ling Jing sitting calmly in the corner, the original host’s biological son crouching on the floor by the wall, and He Huisheng—just about to kick the boy.
So, yes, after eating a loss at Qin Jingzhou’s hands, He Huisheng had vented all his anger on the child.
He Qingya, seated at the head, turned pale at the sight of the sword floating behind him and desperately shot looks at the cloudy-eyed old man beside her and at the graceful young woman next to him.
Ling Jing leapt up and threw herself into Qin Jingzhou’s arms. “Bad guy! What took you so long? I was terrified! Boo hoo hoo!”
Qin Jingzhou caught his girlfriend securely: Xiaoling, your acting is way over the top.
Of course, he only dared think this and not actually say it.
At this point, that cloudy-eyed old man... was joined by the poised young woman, who also stood up. “I’ve called my Master and Senior Brother.” She pulled out a stack of talismans from thin air. “Let me teach you something. Not just any backwater cultivator can...”
She never finished. She was sent flying backwards, smashing straight out the window, her shrill scream knocking half the room unconscious.
Ling Jing slowly withdrew her hand. “Kids these days really have no idea how dangerous the world is.”
Everyone else: ...
He Qingya was especially lost at this point: Where am I? What have I just witnessed? And since when did my sister become a cultivator?
He Huisheng collapsed face-down on the floor. And he still wasn’t the most pathetic; the cloudy-eyed old man next to He Qingya... wet himself on the spot.