Utter Humiliation

Utter Humiliation

At this very moment, Ye Lingshuang's words reverberated through the entire space, reaching every corner of the Qi King Manor. The gravity of her announcement sent shockwaves throughout the Manor, leaving everyone within it in a state of profound unease.

The Human Emperor had actually issued a decree for Ye Kongfan's capture? Moreover, if they resisted, they would be labeled as traitors attempting to rebel.

"Is the Human Emperor acting recklessly, gambling everything on a last-ditch effort to provoke the Qi King into rebellion?" This notion began to take root in the minds of those in the Qi King Manor. It was the only explanation that seemed to make sense for Ye Lingshuang's current actions. If not, considering the Human Emperor's fragile state and the fact that more than half of the royal authority had already fallen into the Qi King's hands, he would never dare to issue such an order.

As this thought took hold, the expressions of those within the Qi King Manor underwent a drastic change. They couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation as they recalled the Human Emperor's immense power. If he were to go all out in his final moments, the devastation he could wreak would be catastrophic. Caution was imperative.

Ye Kongfan's face contorted with displeasure as well. Initially, he had been awaiting the arrival of the Battle Sword Sect's members, intending to use their intrusion as a pretext to eliminate them. However, he had not anticipated that the Human Emperor would issue a decree for his capture, using it as a justification to mobilize his forces. In an instant, the Qi King Manor found itself at a disadvantage.

As Ye Lingshuang's voice faded, she joined forces with the members of the Battle Sword Sect. Behind her, the experts from the two army camps—the Divine Arrow Camp and Ironblood Camp—stood ready for battle, their aura filled with an unmistakable readiness to engage at any moment.

Qin Wentian stood atop the purgatory vermilion bird, gazing at Ye Lingshuang with a hidden trace of worry crossing his face. The Human Emperor's injuries had not yet fully healed, and this risky maneuver to expose traitors might, in fact, be detrimental to him.

However, there was no need for him to overanalyze. The Human Emperor had issued this order, and he had surely made a resolute decision.

Together, they charged into the Qi King Manor. Many experts attempted to block their path, but with a wave of Ye Lingshuang's hand, the Divine Arrow camp's experts unleashed a barrage of arrows. Brilliant streaks of light filled the sky, accompanied by the echoing death cries of their targets.

"Who dares to obstruct us? These are all traitors—show them no mercy!" Ye Lingshuang commanded coldly. They forged a path through the Manor, but the experts of the Qi King Manor were not to be underestimated. They retaliated with their own auras, aware that the Qi King already had control over more than half of the aristocracy. They could not allow the forces of the Human Emperor to freely intrude upon the Qi King Manor. Such a humiliation was unacceptable.

"Kill!" In response to Ye Lingshuang's command, scores of arrows filled the air, creating a storm of death. The sky was obscured by hundreds and thousands of arrows, resembling an intricate web that covered the entire world, cutting off all escape routes.

"Swish, swish, swish..." The sharp sounds of arrows cutting through the air were unceasing. Blood sprayed in their wake, sowing terror in the hearts of those from the Qi King Manor. The strength of these Divine Archers was exceptionally fearsome, their instantaneous explosive power seemingly boundless, capable of piercing through anything. There were practically no survivors wherever their arrows struck.

"Impudence!" A thunderous voice resounded as an elderly figure emerged from within the Qi King Manor. He soared into the sky and roared, his voice carrying a potent, invisible energy that sent shivers down the spines of those nearby.

"Who dares to invade our Qi King Manor?" Another aged figure appeared, draped in opulent robes and exuding a commanding aura. These two were none other than venerable figures from the previous generation who had served the Qi King, holding esteemed positions in his command.

Yet, at this critical juncture, several formidable auras erupted. The sky itself seemed to shift as starlight descended, and these mighty figures appeared amidst the stars, positioned directly above the Qi King Manor.

Among them stood Shi Xuan, radiating an aura of absolute coldness as he fixed his gaze upon the elderly experts aligned with the Qi King. He spoke icily, "We are here today, following the orders of the Human Emperor, to capture Ye Kongfan. This matter has nothing to do with the Qi King Manor. If you, elders, choose to shield Ye Kongfan, you will be defying imperial orders and labeled as traitors. Don't blame me for being impolite in such a case."

"How dare you speak to me in this manner?" One of the elderly men tilted his head, his icy gaze locked onto Shi Xuan in mid-air, his expression growing increasingly frigid.

"Annihilate anyone who disobeys the Human Emperor's edicts. Although I believe that the Qi King Manor harbors no traitors," Shi Xuan retorted coldly, his aura exuding an icy, domineering power.

In the distance, waves of experts were relentlessly converging upon the Qi King Manor. It was clear that these individuals had hurried here upon hearing the Human Emperor's command. Among them, a substantial number were kings and dukes.

"Has the Human Emperor lost his mind? He actually ordered an assault on the Qi King Manor?" A member of the aristocracy bellowed with such intensity that it sent tremors through the very constellations in the sky.

Shi Xuan's expression remained unaltered. His perception extended outward, revealing that these newly arrived experts had already encircled his forces. Yet, they had not initiated any hostile actions. Instead, they awaited a command from the Qi King. The moment that order was given, they would eliminate Shi Xuan's forces before storming the royal palace to seize the throne.

This dramatic scene was beyond Qin Wentian's expectations. Ye Kongfan's slandering of Mo Qingcheng's reputation had made him a target for Qin Wentian's vengeance. However, when the members of the Battle Sword Sect invaded the Qi King Manor, they did not anticipate that the Human Emperor would issue such a decree, drastically altering the situation and revealing who sided with the Qi King.

Ye Lingshuang led the troops from the two army camps, relentlessly pressing forward with their slaughter. Despite the increasing number of Qi King Manor guards who arrived to counter them, the Celestial Phenomenon Realm powerhouses remained on the sidelines, as the Qi King had not issued an order.

If the Ascendants joined the fray and attacked Ye Lingshuang's forces, the situation would instantly escalate to a point of no return, pushing both sides into an endgame scenario.

Ye Kongfan and the Violet Thunder Sect members hovered in the air, glaring at Qin Wentian and his allies who were carving a path toward them with bloodshed. Their eyes burned with icy determination and towering killing intent. Initially, they had devised a perfect trap for Qin Wentian to walk into, but they had not foreseen the Human Emperor's interference, which had inflicted severe losses upon the Qi King Manor.

"Ye Kongfan, do you admit your crimes?" Ye Lingshuang stared at him, her voice cold and resolute.

"What a ludicrous accusation. What crimes have I committed?" Ye Kongfan's countenance twisted with malevolence, and his eyes blazed with intense malice.

In the heart of the conflict-ridden lands, amid the power struggles and hidden agendas, a drama was unfolding that would shake the very foundations of the martial world. It all started with accusations and a clash of egos, set against the backdrop of the Eastern Mountain Manor.

Ye Kongfan, a member of the Violet Thunder Sect and a supposed genius, found himself at the center of a storm. Accusations of despicable deeds and sinister plots swirled around him like a dark cloud. It was Ye Lingshuang, a member of the royal clan, who confronted him, her voice dripping with ice, as if each word could cut through steel.

"As someone from the royal clan and a member of the Violet Thunder Sect, you were actually so despicable," Ye Lingshuang began, her words laced with righteous anger. "Spreading rumors about the purity of the Holy Maiden, tarnishing her reputation, as well as scheming to wipe out the Eastern Mountain Manor and attempting to kill my foster brother, Qin Wentian. Such a despicable man like you isn't fit to be named as a genius of the Violet Thunder Sect. The prestige of our royal clan has been completely thrown away by you, and yet you still dare to say you don't know what crime you have committed?"

The tension in the air was palpable, like a storm about to break. Ye Kongfan, though accused and cornered, refused to admit any wrongdoing. He denied his involvement in the nefarious schemes that had plagued the Eastern Mountain Manor.

"Oh, is that so?" Ye Lingshuang retorted, her determination unwavering. "In that case, allow yourself to be captured to aid in our investigations. If this matter has truly nothing to do with you, I shall bow to you and personally apologize. My royal father would do so as well."

Ye Kongfan's response was as defiant as ever. "Extremely ridiculous. Since I, Ye Kongfan, have never done this, why do I have to go back with you?" His words were like sparks in a powder keg, threatening to ignite a full-blown conflict.

But just as the confrontation was reaching its zenith, unexpected figures intervened. A few individuals, their auras crackling with the power of lightning, appeared before them. These were no ordinary martial cultivators; they were Ascendants from the Violet Thunder Sect, bearing the weight of their sect's reputation.

"The Human Emperor uses numbers to bully others and even wants to unjustly pin a crime on a disciple of my Violet Thunder Sect. Tell me, how can I not interfere?" declared the old man among the Ascendants, his voice filled with a chilling resolve. Lightning danced in the sky as if nature itself protested against the injustice.

Duan Han, a keen observer of the unfolding drama, spoke up. "No wonder the Qi King didn't appear. So, it turns out that members of the Violet Thunder Sect are nearby. Junior Brother Qin, how do you propose we should settle this matter?" All eyes turned to Qin Wentian, who had been silently watching the confrontation.

Qin Wentian's gaze never wavered from Ye Kongfan, and his voice held a cold, emotionless tone. "Ye Kongfan, as a genius from the Violet Thunder Sect, you don't even dare to admit what you've done? How lamentable." Contempt flickered in his eyes, further infuriating Ye Kongfan.

"I've heard that you, Ye Kongfan, possess the calamity lightning bloodline along with a heavenly lightning physique," Qin Wentian continued. "You are so well-suited to the lightning element that you effortlessly became a Heaven Chosen from the Violet Thunder Sect." His words cut deep, exposing Ye Kongfan's strengths and weaknesses.

Then, Qin Wentian issued a challenge that would change the course of their conflict. "The battle arena situated in the royal clan was constructed for the purpose of letting royal descendants practice their skills and exchange pointers there. I hereby issue a challenge to you, Ye Kongfan. Do you dare to fight against me on that stage?"

Ye Kongfan's hesitation was clear, and a sliver of fear crept into his heart. The royal battle arena was well-known for its ability to level the playing field, allowing fighters of different cultivation levels to compete on equal terms. But he had witnessed Qin Wentian's fearsome combat prowess before, and he hesitated to accept the challenge.

"You don't dare to?" Qin Wentian taunted, his words cutting deep. "The genius of the Violet Thunder Sect? The Crown Prince of the Qi King Manor? Nothing but a coward."

Just as the tension seemed to reach its breaking point, the old man from the Violet Thunder Sect intervened once more, questioning the logic of restricting cultivation levels in a real fight.

The drama had taken a new turn, and the fate of these characters hung in the balance. As lightning crackled in the sky and emotions ran high, the martial world watched with bated breath, eager to see how this clash of titans would unfold.

In the midst of tension and confrontation, Qin Wentian's unwavering gaze locked onto the old man from the Violet Thunder Sect. His voice dripped with cold disdain as he responded, "I, Qin Wentian, have only recently become a member of the Battle Sword Sect. Although rumors suggest that the Violet Thunder Sect shares a similar ranking with the Battle Sword Sect, my experience during the disciple recruitment event in Xuan King City painted a different picture. The members I encountered then proved to be so feeble that they couldn't withstand even a single strike. They were nothing more than a sorry bunch. Of course, it's entirely possible that the individuals I met were the weakest among your esteemed sect. However, since we are all here now, I wonder if there are any Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns from the Violet Thunder Sect present who dare to face me? If none step forward, perhaps senior could point out a few candidates? I am more than willing to accept any challenges."

With these words, Qin Wentian's challenge ceased to be directed solely at Ye Kongfan; it extended to the entire Violet Thunder Sect, casting a humiliating shadow over all of them.

The experts from the Violet Thunder Sect seethed with rage upon hearing his audacious words. Bolts of lightning seemed to erupt from the heavens themselves, striking the ground near Qin Wentian, a subtle warning for him to choose his words wisely.

Qin Wentian, however, remained unfazed. He continued, "There is no need for senior to issue such threats. I am but an insignificant member of the Battle Sword Sect. I will be waiting in the royal palace for one month. During this time, I will spread the word that I am open to accepting challenges from any Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns of the Violet Thunder Sect, including Ye Kongfan. But, if after a month, Ye Kongfan still lacks the courage to engage in battle, I need not say more. The people of the Royal Sacred Region will come to understand what a laughingstock the members of the Violet Thunder Sect truly are."

Mockery and contempt radiated from Qin Wentian's eyes as he continued, "The experts of the Qi King Manor are far too numerous for someone like me, Qin Wentian, to take on the despicable coward, Ye Kongfan. If you possess even an ounce of courage, I shall meet you on the royal battle arena one month from now. If you are truly as inept as I suspect, I won't hold back, and there will be no need for you to suppress your cultivation base."

With his final words, Qin Wentian turned and began to walk away. His motivations became clearer - he sought to avoid further conflict with the Human Emperor, who was still nursing injuries. This calculated humiliation of the Violet Sword Sect and Ye Kongfan, along with the challenge set for one month later, served as a delay tactic. Once the Human Emperor had fully recovered, the impending battle against the Qi King would mark the end of an era.