To the Qi King Manor
To the Qi King Manor
The Eastern Mountain Marquis, a distinguished figure in the ancient Ye Country, led a formidable contingent of experts in a furious charge. His rage soared to the heavens, and he was willing to pay any price to exact vengeance upon the members of the Battle Sword Sect before making his escape.
Just how overwhelmingly potent was he, being a Celestial Phenomenon Ascendant? It was undeniable that the puppeteer lurking in the shadows had successfully manipulated the Marquis's emotions. They had foreseen the Marquis's inevitable quest for retribution following his son's tragic demise. Yet, what nobody could have fathomed, even in their wildest imaginations, was that the Marquis would meet his end mere moments after appearing on the battlefield.
As the onlookers gazed upon the severed halves of the Marquis's lifeless body, their hearts raced uncontrollably, and their breaths grew erratic.
The Battle Sword Sect, one of the nine great sects, had indeed earned its lofty reputation.
At the moment the Marquis made his entrance, Qin Wentian brandished a mighty fifth-ranked divine weapon with the potential to threaten low-level Ascendants. Although the Eastern Mountain Marquis managed to parry this attack, he found himself defenseless against Duan Han's swift sword stroke.
A beam of light flickered in Duan Han's palm, shrouding his weapon in mystery. All the spectators could discern was that Duan Han had expertly seized the opportune moment. Right after the Eastern Mountain Marquis blocked Qin Wentian's assault, Duan Han plunged the battlefield into darkness. Then, in concert with his comrades from the Battle Sword Sect, he unleashed their ultimate killing technique. A beam of light cleaved through the obscurity, bearing power even more formidable than Qin Wentian's fifth-ranked lightning umbrella, and brought about the Marquis's demise.
Duan Han, the ninth personal disciple of Sword Sovereign Ling Tian, possessed an arsenal of formidable techniques tailored to confront Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants. His ruthlessness and decisiveness were evident in the swiftness of his actions. The moment the Eastern Mountain Marquis materialized on the scene, Duan Han executed his ultimate technique with such celerity that the Marquis had no opportunity to unleash his full strength.
"DIE!" Duan Han pressed forward without hesitation, his black robes fluttering in the wind. His dark eyes sowed despair on the faces of the remaining Eastern Mountain Manor experts.
After the Eastern Mountain Marquis's untimely demise, how could they possibly contend with the potent members of the Battle Sword Sect?
Even if the remaining experts from the Eastern Mountain Manor chose to disregard all others and focused solely on Duan Han, his cultivation at the peak of the eighth-level of Heavenly Dipper already rendered him capable of vanquishing ninth-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns from their ranks.
Additionally, the Battle Sword Sect boasted other formidable members, including one at the eighth-level and several at the seventh-level. This combined force was more than sufficient to obliterate anything that dared oppose them.
As anticipated, Duan Han carved his way through the Eastern Marquis Manor's forces. Every swing of his sword resulted in a life being extinguished. The dark radiance from his black blade seemed to emanate from the abyss itself, leaving no room for resistance.
In a mere moment, the entire contingent from the Eastern Mountain Manor had been ruthlessly eradicated, sending shivers down the spines of the onlookers. The swiftness and decisiveness with which this merciless slaughter had been executed left everyone in awe. While it was understood that only one side would emerge victorious, the Battle Sword Sect's relentless brutality and resolve had left the entire assembly astounded. It was evident that there was a stark contrast between the nine great sects and others; their firm and unyielding nature was what allowed them to dominate and command respect in the world.
Qin Wentian's countenance remained as frigid as ever. He maintained control over Purgatory as he forged ahead, the members of the Battle Sword Sect trailing in his wake. Following the massacre at the Eastern Mountain Marquis Manor, no one dared to obstruct their path.
In the Qi King Manor, Yan Kongfan seethed with anger upon receiving the news. The coldness in his eyes sent shivers down the spines of his subordinates.
How had such a meticulously devised plan failed?
"Why did the Battle Sword Sect appear at such an inopportune moment? Didn't I instruct you to monitor their movements?" Ye Kongfan's voice was ice-cold. Once he learned that Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng had left the royal palace alone, he set his scheme into motion. His objective was clear: to eliminate Qin Wentian. He was quite pleased with the plan his subordinates had devised – making the Eastern Mountain Marquis the scapegoat for his scheme.
The Eastern Mountain Marquis was notorious for his impulsiveness and fearlessness. His only weakness was his excessive doting on the effeminate Dongshan Jin. If Qin Wentian were to kill Dongshan Jin, the Marquis would undoubtedly spare no effort and expense in hunting him down.
As expected, Dongshan Jin met his demise. Even though Qin Wentian was well aware that it was a trap, his unwavering determination to protect Mo Qingcheng and his strong desire for vengeance led him to slay Dongshan Jin. Everything was proceeding according to plan, but the one mistake Ye Kongfan made was underestimating Qin Wentian's strength and the capabilities of the Battle Sword Sect.
"Duan Han from the Battle Sword Sect sensed that something was amiss. He disregarded our attempts to hinder him and rushed off in pursuit of Mo Qingcheng and Qin Wentian," one subordinate admitted, bowing their head. Duan Han possessed a calm and decisive demeanor, making him a formidable opponent. Despite their various attempts to obstruct him, Duan Han had simply plowed through, ignoring all hindrances.
"Kongfan, since Duan Han is a personal disciple of Sword Sovereign Ling Tian, it's only natural he possesses exceptional abilities. Moreover, the trump card he used to eliminate the Eastern Mountain Marquis was likely bestowed upon him by Sword Sovereign Ling Tian. This time, we have truly underestimated our adversaries," another figure by Ye Kongfan's side remarked. Ye Kongfan's expression darkened, but he nodded slightly and commented, "Very well. But aren't they acting audaciously? They are advancing straight to my Qi King Palace to settle their score with me? In that case, we shall impart a lesson they won't soon forget."
"That's right, if they dare to make an appearance here, things would certainly get quite intriguing," remarked the person beside him with a chuckle. Ye Kongfan fixed a cold stare on him and issued a stern command, "Quickly summon back the peak-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns of our Qi King Manor. Since Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants aren't well-suited for battle, we'll employ the strongest force we can gather at the Heavenly Dipper level to crush them."
"Understood!" The subordinate promptly rushed off to relay the orders. Ye Kongfan rose from his seat, casually flicking his sleeve as he spoke, "Let's move out. We'll go and await their arrival."
......
Inside the chamber of the Human Emperor, the sovereign was resting in his bed, attended by the Empress and one of his concubines. Yet, at this very moment, the Human Emperor, who had been resting, suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flickered within them, and then he turned to the Empress, instructing, "Summon Shi Xuan here, and bring Lingshuang as well."
The Empress scrutinized the Human Emperor's expression and immediately acted on his orders. Before long, a man exuding an aura of determination and a fiery spirit entered the Human Emperor's chamber, accompanied by Ye Lingshuang.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Shi Xuan bowed.
"Summon the Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns from the Ironblood Camp and the Divine Arrow Camp, and transfer command authority to Lingshuang," the Human Emperor directed Shi Xuan, his gaze fixed on the loyal subject. Shi Xuan's eyes briefly flashed with intensity, but he wasted no time and humbly complied, "I hear and obey, Your Majesty."
With that, he retrieved two tokens from his robes. One displayed an image of an arrow, while the other featured a crimson emblem.
"Princess Lingshuang," Shi Xuan addressed her, extending the command tokens. Ye Lingshuang glanced at the Human Emperor, who nodded in affirmation. She accepted the tokens, though her heart brimmed with curiosity. As a princess, she had never heard of the Ironblood Camp or the Divine Arrow Camp before. These must be hidden forces meticulously arranged by her father, and undoubtedly formidable ones at that. However, she couldn't help but wonder why her father had entrusted her with the command tokens for these two army camps.
"Your subordinate takes his leave," Shi Xuan respectfully stated. However, the Human Emperor issued another command, "As for you, I want you to lead the Dragon-Elephant Army and remain hidden in the shadows, ready to provide reinforcements. Do not reveal yourself until the time is right."
"Understood," Shi Xuan nodded before withdrawing.
"Human Emperor," the Empress wore a worried expression. She knew Shi Xuan's character well and understood the significance of the Dragon-Elephant Army. Was the Human Emperor finally considering revealing their existence?
"Don't worry. The Qi King no longer regards me as a threat. In that case, I want to see how well-prepared he truly is," the Human Emperor's eyes gleamed with sharpness as he turned his gaze to Ye Lingshuang. "Wentian fell into a trap orchestrated by Ye Kongfan. Moreover, Ye Kongfan spread rumors tarnishing Mo Qingcheng's reputation. Right now, Wentian and the members of the Battle Sword Sect are heading back to the royal palace, but before that, they intend to visit the Qi King Manor. Ye Kongfan will undoubtedly order his men to confront those from the Battle Sword Sect. I need you to lead the two army camps and issue a decree on my behalf: The Crown Prince of the Qi King Manor, Ye Kongfan, is found guilty of spreading false rumors to defame the Holy Maiden's reputation and attempting to assassinate my adopted son. He is to be apprehended and brought in for questioning. If the Qi King Manor resists in any manner, they shall be labeled as rebels."
The Human Emperor's words left everyone stunned. The Empress and Ye Lingshuang's expressions changed dramatically. Currently, the Qi King had already gained control of most of the royal authority. He had refrained from seizing the throne outright because he feared the Human Emperor, whose combat prowess was unmatched in Ye. As long as the Human Emperor lived, the Qi King was unwilling to take the risk. However, the Human Emperor's decision now seemed to be provoking the Qi King to rebel openly, which was equivalent to lighting a fuse for a bloody confrontation.
"Royal Father!" Ye Lingshuang called out with concern evident in her voice.
"Lingshuang, just follow my orders. If the Qi King rebels, he will be the one to lead the way, drawing other traitors to his side. We can seize this opportunity to identify our true enemies," the Human Emperor replied calmly.
"But if the Qi King brings his forces to attack, do we have enough strength to defend?" Ye Lingshuang couldn't shake her apprehension.
"Don't worry, he won't dare to," the Human Emperor responded with confidence, as though he understood every aspect of the situation. Seeing his resolute and confident demeanor, the Empress's heart swelled with mixed emotions. She nodded and added, "Lingshuang, heed your Royal Father's commands."
"Lingshuang, Shi Xuan will take care of other matters. Your main task is to protect Wentian. I also want to witness how Wentian deals with Ye Kongfan," the Human Emperor's eyes gleamed with a sharpness that seemed to radiate an invisible pressure, causing those around him to instinctively step back. For a moment, it was as if he had returned to the pinnacle of his former power.
As the news of these commands spread, experts congregated outside the Human Emperor's Hall, and for some, their killing intent seemed to pierce the heavens. Hearts pounded with anxiety among those of the Human Emperor's bloodline, while members of the Qi King Manor concealed sinister smiles within their hearts. Was the Human Emperor's end near? Was he staking everything on one final gamble? But could it truly be that simple?
As these thoughts raced through their minds, wicked smiles crept across their faces. The moment the Human Emperor met his demise would mark the beginning of a significant shift in Ye's destiny.
......
The Qi King Manor stood as an imposing and heavily fortified structure in Ye. The pathway leading to the manor was adorned with gold, and at this moment, a group of formidable figures approached, exuding an aura that seemed to reach the very heavens. Unmasked killing intent radiated from them.
Who dares to barge into the Qi King Manor?" A thunderous, cold voice echoed from the walls that lined the gate of the Qi King Manor, sending tremors through the surrounding space. Duan Han emerged slowly, his tone icy as he retorted, "Ye Kongfan of the Violet Thunder Sect has committed such a despicable act. Get out of our way."
"Get out... get out..." Duan Han's voice resounded through the heavens and earth, its echoes reaching every corner of the Qi King Manor. The faces of the Manor's residents contorted in shock. Who could be so audacious as to directly challenge the prestige of the crown prince?
From a balcony within the Manor, Ye Kongfan watched the scene unfold outside. How could he step outside now? If he didn't shift the blame for this intrusion onto the Battle Sword Sect, how could he handle them?
"This is not a place for you to enter. Leave," Ye Kongfan roared, his voice clashing with the resounding echoes of Duan Han's shout.
A cold glint flashed in Duan Han's dark eyes. He was well aware of Ye Kongfan's scheme, but even so, he advanced and gave the order, "Clear a path."
"Hold on." A voice rang out from a distance. Duan Han and his companions turned their attention to see Ye Lingshuang, clad in armor, exuding a valiant aura, and leading two formidable battalions towards the Qi King Manor. It didn't take long for them to arrive at the gates.
Ye Lingshuang stood in mid-air, her voice filled with fury as she declared, "Ye Kongfan, the son of Qi King, has tarnished the reputation of the Holy Maiden from the Medicine Sovereign Valley. He is suspected to be the mastermind behind a sinister plot that resulted in the deaths of the Eastern Mountain Marquis Manor's members in an attempt to assassinate Qin Wentian, the foster son of the Human Emperor. Now, the Human Emperor has issued a decree: Ye Kongfan is to be captured. If there's any resistance, the entire Qi King Manor shall be treated as traitors and dealt with accordingly."