Threat of Death

Threat of Death

"Release him?" The words hung in the air, heavy with tension and unspoken consequences.

In Xuan King City, Shang Tong had been relentless in his pursuit of Qin Wentian's demise. His thirst for vengeance had extended to the Immortal Martial Realm, where he had even targeted Ye Lingshuang and her companions. Now, Shang Tong was in Qin Wentian's grasp, and releasing him without repercussions seemed unfathomable.

To release Shang Tong now would not only spare him further ridicule but would also shift the mockery onto Qin Wentian. The crowd would no longer laugh at Shang Tong; instead, they would taunt Qin Wentian for his perceived weakness.

Would Shang Tong even be grateful if Qin Wentian released him? The answer was clear – gratitude was a sentiment foreign to the Crown Prince of Grand Shang.

The experts from the royal Shang Clan narrowed their eyes, fixating their gaze on Qin Wentian. With Shang Tong held captive, it would take mere moments for Qin Wentian to end his life. Qin Wentian's intentions were unmistakable; he sought Shang Tong's death.

The elder from the Royal Sacred Sect seethed with anger. He had instigated this confrontation, implying that Shang Tong's life would be safeguarded even if he lost. Though never explicitly stated, everyone understood the unspoken guarantee. Qin Wentian had grasped this assurance, and now, by refusing to release Shang Tong, he was defying the elder's authority.

It had been years since the elder had encountered such audacity. Most members of the Royal Sacred Sect wouldn't dare to raise their voices in his presence, let alone challenge him openly. Yet today, a young upstart treated him as if he were invisible.

Adding insult to injury, Qin Wentian had initially been a candidate for discipleship under the elder. The irony was not lost on the spectators.

Two of the elder's youthful disciples stepped forward, exuding a surge of violent energy directed at Qin Wentian. Their eyes, sharp as blades, gleamed with deadly intent. They warned Qin Wentian sternly, "Do you comprehend the gravity of your actions?"

Qin Wentian's gaze remained unwavering as he locked eyes with the two disciples. He knew that his actions had little to do with them; he would have confronted Shang Tong regardless of their presence.

"Releasing someone who sought my death? Impossible," Qin Wentian responded firmly, refusing to yield to their intimidation.

The elder's eyes turned icy as he met Qin Wentian's gaze with an imperious command, "Release him."

Though the command consisted of only two words, its weight was undeniable. The elder cared not for the feud between Qin Wentian and Shang Tong; he cared only for his own authority. Qin Wentian had to release Shang Tong solely because he had ordered it.

Shang Tong's expression twisted with hatred as he glared at Qin Wentian. Today, he had not only lost face but had also suffered the indignity of being controlled by a junior. His reputation had been utterly tarnished.

The entire crowd held its collective breath, anticipation hanging heavy in the air. All eyes were fixed on Qin Wentian, waiting with bated breath for his decision.

Shang Tong, the Crown Prince of Grand Shang, stood before him, his status exalted and further complicated by the presence of an elder from the Royal Sacred Sect. Would Qin Wentian dare to lay a finger on Shang Tong?

Time seemed to crawl by, the silence so profound that the faintest whisper would shatter it. Would Qin Wentian choose the path of violence and end Shang Tong's life?

Among the onlookers, the Medicine Sovereign's gaze also rested on Qin Wentian. Beside him, Mo Qingcheng turned her head to peer at her master, a glimmer of hope shimmering in her eyes. Qin Wentian faced off against an elder of the Royal Sacred Sect, and if anyone could suppress that elder, it was the Medicine Sovereign. Without his intervention, there would be no one else capable of aiding Qin Wentian in this dire moment.

Mo Qingcheng's concern was evident, but the Medicine Sovereign, seemingly oblivious to her pleading gaze, maintained a serene smile. He watched the unfolding drama with an air of detachment, curious to see the choice Qin Wentian would make.

Standing beside the Medicine Sovereign, the old man appeared almost ethereal, as though he were a mere specter. Nevertheless, his narrowed eyes betrayed the intense focus he had on the unfolding events. Those who knew him understood that this was the most dangerous moment, the calm before the storm.

As the two disciples from the Royal Sacred Sect advanced, their steps filled with determination, the aura of impending violence swirled around them. If Qin Wentian refused to relent, they would not hesitate to end his life.

For them, their master's authority had been openly disregarded by a junior. If Qin Wentian failed to heed their warning, he would face swift retribution.

"If a single strand of hair on his head is harmed, you won't bear the consequences," one of the disciples declared icily. To him, Qin Wentian's status as the top-ranked Immortal Martial Realm contender held no significance. He was a disciple of the Royal Sacred Sect, and his primary concern was earning his master's favor. As for Qin Wentian, regardless of his exceptional talents, did he truly believe he could defy the decree of a Royal Sacred Sect elder?

Qin Wentian felt the crushing weight of their killing intent bearing down on him. His eyes flicked once more to the elder from the Royal Sacred Sect, whose expression remained emotionless and composed. It was as if he had no doubts whatsoever that Qin Wentian would never dare to harm Shang Tong. In this assembly, no one would risk defying the elder's orders, especially not when confronted by a senior figure from the Royal Sacred Sect. The consequences would be unimaginable. Qin Wentian, too, was not prepared to gamble with his life in this high-stakes confrontation.

On this fateful day, Qin Wentian faced a decision that would shape his destiny. If he released Shang Tong, the elder of the Royal Sacred Sect would likely harbor resentment, but he wouldn't openly target him – after all, Qin Wentian was still a junior. Yet, there was a lingering fear that the elder might manipulate the Grand Shang Empire from behind the scenes.

Inevitably, the seeds of enmity between Qin Wentian and the Grand Shang Empire had been sown today. There was already a deep-rooted grudge stemming from the time Shang Tong had sought to end his life in Xuan King City. Back then, Shang Tong was the aggressor, and Grand Shang had turned a blind eye. But now, the roles were reversed, and it was Qin Wentian dealing with Shang Tong.

"No matter the consequences, his life belongs to me," Qin Wentian declared with unwavering resolve, his voice carrying the weight of his decision. He unleashed a devastating attack, and an earth-shattering explosion followed as Shang Tong's life came to a brutal end.

A deafening silence hung in the air, and all eyes were fixed on Qin Wentian. The top-ranked Immortal Martial Realm contender had just slain the Crown Prince of Grand Shang in full view of everyone.

The ramifications of this act were immense. Shang Tong's death was a blow to the prestige of the Grand Shang Empire, a top-tier power in the Royal Sacred Region. Qin Wentian had dared to kill the son of an empire's ruler, challenging the established order.

Qin Wentian had contemplated all these factors. Even if he spared Shang Tong, could he guarantee that Shang Tong would halt his pursuit of revenge? Was he to remain passive, enduring humiliation indefinitely? Could he ever follow in his parents' footsteps and uncover the truth about their fate, let alone aspire to confront the fiendgod clans? This was not the path he chose.

Even as overwhelming killing intent bore down on him, he stood resolute. His determination to carve his own destiny remained unshaken.

The Grand Shang Empire's witnesses couldn't believe their eyes as Qin Wentian killed Shang Tong before them. An ominous tempest gathered around them.

"You're seeking death," the two young men from the Royal Sacred Sect sneered and advanced, but as they did, streaks of sword light darted past. Sword qi sliced through the air as several swords manifested before Qin Wentian, vibrating with a resonant hum.

Behind him, numerous figures materialized, exuding a formidable sword intent. These were none other than the disciples of the Battle Sword Sect, who had been silent until now. When the elder from the Royal Sacred Sect tried to recruit Qin Wentian, they remained passive. But now, with Qin Wentian's rejection and the threat against him, they couldn't stand idly by.

"Back off!" a chilling voice rang out as the Flame Mountain Sword Sovereign arrived at Qin Wentian's side, confronting the elder. "Do you take my Battle Sword Sect for fools?"

The Battle Sword Sect held a significant position within the Royal Sacred Sect, and this gave them the confidence to stand their ground, especially when it came to dealing with the Grand Shang Faction's attempts to recruit their members.

As both parties faced off, the tension in the air was palpable. The elder from the Grand Shang Empire, flanked by his experts, questioned the Flame Mountain Sword Sovereign, "He killed a junior of my clan right in front of my eyes. You all wish to interfere in this matter?"

The Flame Mountain Sword Sovereign responded with a mixture of humor and disdain, "What a joke. Everyone nearby heard Qin Wentian's words. Are you suggesting that Shang Tong was allowed to kill him when he was weaker, but Qin Wentian isn't allowed to retaliate now that he's stronger? Your junior from the clan was simply incapable. You, stepping out on behalf of someone who has tarnished the Royal Sacred Sect's reputation in front of witnesses, should think twice about saving face."

The Grand Shang Empire's elder seemed unfazed by the response, reiterating his stance, "My disciple warned him; if Shang Tong even loses a hair on his head, I will hold him responsible." His imposing aura surged, and he remained determined to kill Qin Wentian.

However, before the tension could escalate further, an ice-cold voice cut through the air, sending shivers down everyone's spines. The heavens and earth seemed to rebel against the confrontation as bone-chilling killing intent permeated the space. This aura was even more terrifying than the elder from the Royal Sacred Sect, and it was directed squarely at him.

Two colossal auras clashed in mid-air, creating deafening crackling sounds. The elder's aura was forcibly diminished by the bone-chilling intent, enveloping everyone from the Grand Shang Empire. Panic and fear spread across their faces as they turned their gaze toward an enigmatic expert.

Their eyes fixated on the Medicine Sovereign, but the bone-chilling killing intent didn't emanate from him. Instead, it originated from the old man standing beside the Medicine Sovereign. His narrowed eyes glinted with menace as he stepped forward, releasing chaotic qi that swept through the area like a tempest. In an instant, everyone from the Grand Shang Empire, except for the elder from the Royal Sacred Clan, involuntarily retreated, their faces drained of color.

"Try saying that again," the old man's voice was as icy as his intent. He emitted a terrifying aura, warning the elder from the Royal Sacred Sect that uttering those words again would result in the same fate as Shang Tong.