Tyrant
Tyrant...
Luo He's original plan had been thoroughly upended by the arrival of this young man.
Her gaze shifted towards the demon sword standing just outside the Pill Emperor Hall. The person she had been waiting for had yet to make an appearance.
"Who are you, and to which power do you belong?" Luo He inquired coldly.
"I go by the name Si Yan. I don't belong to any transcendent power; I've been cultivating on my own all this while. Now that the competition has concluded, could Senior Luo He please arrange for Miss Qingcheng to meet with us?" Qin Wentian smiled, appearing somewhat impatient. When it came to the prospect of marrying Mo Qingcheng, nearly all men would feel this way, regardless of who won the selection.
And now, he was the only one left out of the three participants.
"Si Yan?" Luo He pondered. Surname Si...and familiar with the Stellar Transposition technique. She couldn't help but connect it with the power from which Si Qiong had originated.
"Bring Qingcheng out," Luo He instructed as her disciples behind her moved to carry out her orders. Qin Wentian's heart involuntarily quickened, but he forced himself to remain composed. He couldn't afford to be distracted at this moment.
Today, no matter the cost, he would bring Qingcheng away.
Luo He remained cautious, staring intently at him. She then spoke slowly, "You mentioned that you're not affiliated with any major powers. So, where did you learn the Stellar Transposition?"
"I learned it from an elder in my clan," Qin Wentian replied with a laugh. He knew that since he had revealed his knowledge of Stellar Transposition, Luo He would surely ask about it. There weren't many transcendent powers that knew about Stellar Transposition, which was why he had chosen the name Si Yan, intending to mislead Luo He from the very beginning.
"Oh? Where is your clan located then? Will the elders of your clan permit you to marry into my Pill Emperor Hall?" Luo He continued to probe.
"Of course. Although my clan's elders are much stricter with my older brothers and have invested a lot of resources in nurturing them, they take a more relaxed approach with me, allowing me to roam Grand Xia as I please. They have no objections to me joining the Pill Emperor Hall, especially for a marriage with such a beautiful woman," Qin Wentian replied sincerely, having long prepared his responses and hinting that his elder brothers were more exceptional than he was.
"You still haven't answered my question. Where is your clan located?" Luo He persisted.
"It's not in Grand Xia," Qin Wentian replied softly. Luo He pressed on, "If it's not in Grand Xia, then where is it?"
"Does Senior truly need to inquire so deeply?" Qin Wentian maintained his composure, concealing the turmoil in his heart, and appeared as serene as ever, making it difficult for anyone to discern his true thoughts.
Luo He fixed a cold gaze on Qin Wentian. At this moment, Mo Qingcheng's silhouette emerged in the distance, accompanied by several figures.
Mo Qingcheng, as beautiful as ever, bore visible signs of exhaustion and concern on her face, stirring an innate desire in the spectators to protect her.
"Halt," Luo He quietly ordered. "To be truthful, my disciple still harbors reservations about matters of marriage. But as her master, I must act in her best interest. I've temporarily sealed her cultivation and will attempt to persuade her. I hope she will comprehend my actions today in the future."
Luo He's words sent a chill down Qin Wentian's spine. He sensed the arrival of a few formidable auras, as if the Pill Emperor Hall had been on high alert, eagerly awaiting his appearance.
"For this selection, given your outstanding performance, you are naturally at the top of my list. However, before that, you'll need to undergo a background check by my Pill Emperor Hall. Come with me; I'll take you to the necessary place," Luo He remarked softly.
Qin Wentian hesitated but didn't move. Luo He arched an eyebrow and asked, "Why? Are you unwilling? In that case, I may have to select another participant."
"May I speak with Miss Mo first? I'd like to understand her thoughts on this matter," Qin Wentian inquired, his eyes darting towards Mo Qingcheng, who remained distant due to Luo He's command.
"Of course. Approach us," Luo He nodded. Qin Wentian took a deep breath and prepared to walk toward Luo He.
The spectators from various transcendent powers remained riveted on Qin Wentian. They sensed something amiss.
Qin Wentian continued his slow approach to Luo He.
Luo He observed him calmly, as if everything were perfectly ordinary. Finally, as Qin Wentian neared her, her hands darted out suddenly, lunging at him.
BOOM!
Qin Wentian stamped the ground, triggering a burst of astral light as he vanished. Vines shot out from the ground where he'd stood. Had he been even a fraction slower, he would have been ensnared by Luo He.
Luo He's hand remained suspended in the air. She shifted her gaze to where Qin Wentian had been, her eyes flashing with coldness. "You are indeed powerful. There's no doubt about it now. You are... Qin Wentian!"
As her voice trailed off, members of the Chen Clan, Wang Clan, and Star-Seizing Manor all stood up, locking their eyes on the young man before them. A potent killing intent swelled, filling the air and shrouding Qin Wentian.
BANG!
Astral light surged once more as Qin Wentian vanished. In the instant of his disappearance, a middle-aged man from the Chen Clan emerged in the very spot Qin Wentian had occupied, extending his hand to seize him, while Great Solar energy radiated from him, incinerating the air.
Qin Wentian executed Stellar Transposition with unwavering determination, each shift so rapid that his very silhouette became a blur. In moments, he stood atop the demon sword, his eyes radiating a chilling intensity.
"Indeed, my hunch was right," Luo He mused. Earlier, she had merely been speculating, harboring doubts when the young man secured a spot among the final four. Knowing Qin Wentian's character, how could he stay away? Even when Mo Qingcheng appeared, Qin Wentian failed to surface, while the stranger named Si Yan expressed his interest in Mo Qingcheng.
Luo He decided to investigate further by launching a surprise attack. Her expectations were met; the Si Yan before her was none other than Qin Wentian.
All eyes were riveted on Qin Wentian. The features of Si Yan morphed, revealing Qin Wentian's true face. Gasps rippled through the crowd; it was indeed him.
Heavenly Fate Rankings' top ranker, Qin Wentian, had infiltrated the selection as a participant after breaking through to Heavenly Dipper. Following Shi Kuang's injury and Chen Lie's demise, he emerged as the sole contender. He had come tantalizingly close to success, but Luo He's suspicions had prompted her to launch an attack.
Mo Qingcheng froze upon seeing Qin Wentian. Her gaze, misted with emotion, locked onto his figure perched atop the demon sword. She understood Qin Wentian well. From the moment he shielded his adoptive father against Chu Tianjiao's wrath to avenging Hua Xiaoyun's misdeeds against her, she knew he would sacrifice everything for her. Regardless of her words now, Qin Wentian would never give up on rescuing her; he would rather die trying than abandon the attempt.
Her heart ached. It was her fault that Qin Wentian had walked into this trap. The pain was so intense that her entire body trembled.
"If anything happens to you, I will follow you into the eternal slumber. I won't want to live anymore," Mo Qingcheng's voice transmitted, her resolve evident in her eyes.
She understood that words no longer held sway in their dire situation. All she could do now was to face everything together with him, with the young man who had sacrificed everything for her love.
"You can't die. I won't allow it," Qin Wentian declared, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve that matched hers.
"Luo He, you vowed never to interfere between Qingcheng and me once I defeated Zhan Chen. Yet here you are, blatantly breaking your promise and using Qingcheng as bait to lure me out. Is this the conduct of the so-called saintly and prestigious Pill Emperor Hall?" Qin Wentian's voice was sharp, his lips curled into a sardonic grin. He cut his palms, letting his blood drip onto the demon sword.
The moment his blood touched the blade, the demon sword let out mournful wails, and a towering sword intent shot skyward.
"Saintly Pill Emperor Hall? If you don't release Qingcheng today, even if it means my death, I'll make sure to bury the entire Pill Emperor Hall with me."
Qin Wentian's blood continued to flow onto the demon sword. His other arm transformed into a demonic beast's limb as he released a torrent of demonic qi. With a furious roar, he tried to lift the demon sword, but it was still too heavy. He could only drag it step by step toward Luo He.
The sounds of the sword resonated throughout the area, its eerie melody filling the air. The chilling sword intent within a ten-mile radius seeped into everyone, causing them to shiver uncontrollably.
"For those who have nothing to do with this matter, I offer you a chance to retreat," Qin Wentian's voice blended with the sword's melody. Several onlookers quickly withdrew, unwilling to be involved needlessly. However, more Pill Emperor Hall experts gathered, forming an encirclement around Qin Wentian.
Even these experts trembled. The sword intent was overwhelming, carrying an aura of absolute annihilation.
The fabled demon sword was said to despise the heavens for its lowly position. Qin Wentian had fed it his blood, dragged it across a hundred thousand miles, and spent three months bringing it to the Moon Continent, where he embedded it just outside the Pill Emperor Hall.
When the rumors first circulated, no one believed such an absurd story. But now, as they felt the inexhaustible might of the sword bearing down on them, even those of Luo He's caliber struggled to withstand its aura. Furthermore, the demon sword was still at a distance; its power would be unimaginable in battle.
At the peak of the ninety-nine steps, experts abounded like clouds. They waited for Qin Wentian to fall into their trap, intrigued by the secrets surrounding him. Beyond pulling out the demon sword, just possessing the Divine Stele and the nine ultimate arts of Grand Xia made him an irresistible target for any transcendent power.
Yet, none of these experts dared to make the first move. They could only watch in silence as Qin Wentian advanced, each step he took seeming impossibly heavy. Fissures appeared in the ground wherever the sword touched as he dragged it toward the bottom of the ninety-nine steps.
"BOOM!" Qin Wentian stepped onto the first step.
On this fateful day, Qin Wentian laboriously ascended the ninety-nine steps, dragging the demon sword with him, one step at a time.
"Everyone, retreat!" A Chen Clan expert waved his hand, signaling for the younger generation to leave. They'd be mere baggage in the impending battle. Chen Wang, once awe-inspiring, now had no choice but to step back in the face of Qin Wentian's dominance.
Not just the Chen Clan, but all the transcendent powers ordered their younger members to withdraw. They knew their juniors would only hinder the coming confrontation. As they joined forces with the Pill Emperor Hall's experts, they formed a tight circle around Qin Wentian.
"You've gone through so much trouble dragging that demon sword here. I'll ensure you never leave this place," declared Luo He, her face ice-cold as she stared down at Qin Wentian from the steps above.
Qin Wentian nodded, his icy gaze locked onto Luo He's. His voice was chilling as he spoke, "Unless the Pill Emperor Hall crumbles, I won't be leaving here today."
"Die!"
In an instant, an overwhelming sword aura surged toward Luo He. She reacted swiftly, summoning ancient, towering trees to shield herself. The trees crumbled under the relentless sword force but were instantly regenerated by Luo He, a cycle that continued endlessly.
In the airspace above the Pill Emperor Hall, numerous formidable figures appeared, hands clasped behind their backs. Their eyes blazed like torches as they observed the young man dragging the demon sword.
In addition to these figures, hidden in the shadows, other experts silently observed the scene.
Today, the Heavenly Fate Rankings' top-ranked Qin Wentian had single-handedly infiltrated the Pill Emperor Hall to rescue Mo Qingcheng. He boldly declared that he wouldn't leave unless the Pill Emperor Hall fell. Even if he were to fall today, his audacious actions would be recorded in history.
Far above the clouds, two figures emerged.
One of them wore a simple, unadorned blue robe, yet his aura was overwhelmingly terrifying, as if he ruled the entire world.
Beside him lay a figure on a cloud, his previously dull eyes now shimmering with an eager light. He watched the scene in the Pill Emperor Hall unfold with anticipation, eager to witness the outcome of Qin Wentian's audacious endeavor. Dragging the demon sword over a hundred thousand miles and storming the Pill Emperor Hall alone—so many experts from opposing transcendent powers had gathered. But in the end, whose blood would paint the sky and clouds red?