Lost Game

Lost Game . . .

Qin Wentian and his companions fixed their gaze upon Ji Lanfeng. Despite the measured tone in Ji Lanfeng's voice, his words painted a different picture. It seemed as if he believed that Qin Wentian and his companions were the instigators in this conflict, the ones in the wrong.

However, as the sect leader of the God Extermination Palace, Ji Lanfeng was naturally inclined to act in the interest of his sect. With a mere utterance, he cast the three of them as the transgressors, demanding they relinquish their interspatial rings and offer an apology. Ji Lanfeng presented this as a charitable act on his part, as if he were extending a gracious offer to the newcomers.

This scene, though absurd, was par for the course in the cutthroat City of Ancient Emperors, where the strong preyed upon the weak.

"You claim we're newcomers, yet in the next breath, you accuse us of seizing your God Extermination Palace members' interspatial rings. Do you realize how comical that sounds?" Qin Wentian mockingly chuckled. It wasn't lost on the spectators below, who understood the underlying message. Even if it were true that the God Extermination Palace's members were weaker, the crux of the matter remained the same.

Qin Wentian and his companions were evidently the weaker party, ripe for bullying. Such was the price of being newcomers, especially those unfamiliar with yielding.

"If you remain recalcitrant, what are you waiting for? Proceed." Ji Lanfeng turned to the experts surrounding him, prompting them to step forward and encircle Qin Wentian and his companions. An air of danger loomed, yet Ji Lanfeng remained remarkably composed. He gazed at Qin Wentian and added in a dispassionate tone, "My previous offer still stands."

"Apologize? Dream on," Jun Mengchen retorted icily. Their pride would not permit them to surrender their interspatial rings and offer apologies. It was a matter of dignity. Even if they faced defeat, they would fight to the end.

"Very well. Allow me to remind you, newcomers, that in the City of Ancient Emperors, the use of immortal-ranked weapons is strictly prohibited. Once such weapons are introduced, the situation can rapidly spiral out of control. This warning is necessary because there's no shortage of immortal-ranked weapons in this city."

Ji Lanfeng's words struck home. Qin Wentian and his companions immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. Everyone here, being the descendants or disciples of immortal emperors and kings, possessed formidable immortal weapons.

Within the City of Ancient Emperors, there were unspoken boundaries. Most conflicts wouldn't escalate to the point of fatality due to the participants' esteemed backgrounds. However, the introduction of immortal-ranked weapons, still at the Celestial Phenomenon level, could easily tip the scales towards an outcome neither party desired.

Not using immortal-ranked weapons was an unwritten rule in the City of Ancient Emperors, widely understood and accepted.

"Subdue them," Ji Lanfeng ordered. Qin Wentian and his companions found themselves in a dire predicament. Defeat appeared inevitable.

"Youngster, I'll spar with you once more," the green-eyed young man from earlier declared, conjuring countless emerald arms to snatch at Jun Mengchen.

Jun Mengchen ascended higher into the sky, donning a kingly suit of armor. The Clear Skies Worldly Diagram materialized, emitting a dazzling radiance that left the spectators awestruck.

"Attack!" Jun Mengchen's battle cry reverberated, a manifestation of boundless strength surging forth from him. It coalesced into a regal chariot, racing through the cosmos to collide with the green-hued arms. Yet, their sheer number and power overwhelmed him. Jun Mengchen's lower cultivation level left him struggling to defend against this onslaught.

Meanwhile, Little Rascal barked fiercely, initiating the consumption of constellation energy. But in an instant, a golden spear, hurled with astonishing speed by the crowned young man, darted toward him. This young man had decided to avoid confronting Qin Wentian directly after their earlier encounter. Back then, he, an eighth-level ascendant, had been pushed back by Qin Wentian, a seventh-level ascendant. Engaging Qin Wentian now would only further tarnish the reputation of the God Extermination Sect in public view.

A thunderous rumble echoed as a shroud of fiendish light enveloped Qin Wentian, causing his colossal form to swell to a towering 700 meters. He resembled a giant, his palms radiating a fearsome runic brilliance. With a mighty thrust, he unleashed his palm imprints, possessing the power to shake the very heavens.

The expressions of the God Extermination Palace's members contorted as they explosively retreated. Nonetheless, the gargantuan palm imprints howled through the air, their horrifying force undeniable. Forced to pool their constellation energy, they managed to break the imprints but were still pushed back by the tremendous impact.

"What kind of innate technique is he using? Its unleashed power is immensely terrifying," the spectators marveled as they beheld the imposing figure of Qin Wentian, surrounded by a formidable battle halo and an ancient demon king's protective aura.

"These newcomers are no ordinary challengers," murmured onlookers, their astonishment evident. An awe-inspiring battle halo encircled Qin Wentian, accompanied by an eerie demonic light that materialized into an ancient demon king, providing him with a formidable shield.

The experts from the God Extermination Palace stared at Qin Wentian, trepidation gnawing at their hearts.

Ji Lanfeng furrowed his brow, unleashing a potent aura that emanated from him as he advanced. Witnessing his sect members joining him, he turned and uttered, "Leave him to me."

"Ji Lanfeng is personally stepping in." Spectators expressed their surprise. Ji Lanfeng was an Immortal Ascension Rankings ranker, yet he was about to confront a seventh-level ascendant. This development promised an intriguing battle.

A vast expanse of runic radiance enveloped Ji Lanfeng, a practitioner of the Thousand Talisman Immortal Text. Above him, a constellation materialized, resembling a celestial realm of stars. The boundless runic brilliance sparkled brilliantly, reshaping itself into a colossal giant.

"Ji Lanfeng's Thousand Talisman Constellation has the ability to assemble and disassemble into anything. Its power is overwhelming. His rank on the Immortal Ascension Rankings is solely attributed to his Thousand Talisman Immortal Text and the formidable constellation. Remarkably, his cultivation level hasn't yet reached the pinnacle of the ninth level, and yet he exhibits potential for further advancement," whispered the spectators, contemplating this display. Ji Lanfeng's lineage traced back to an immortal emperor, and the Thousand Talisman Immortal Text was the very cultivation art mastered by that immortal emperor.

A colossal thousand-talisman giant, newly summoned into existence, lifted its gargantuan foot and advanced menacingly toward Qin Wentian. With a mere wave of its hand, a colossal, ancient cauldron shot forth, adorned with the radiance of a thousand talismans, casting brilliant golden light across the heavens. This celestial vessel possessed the destructive power to obliterate everything in its path.

Upon sensing the formidable force of his adversary's attack, Qin Wentian bellowed in fury. His arms expanded, unleashing a fearsome Star-Seizing Palm Imprint. His mastery of the Ten Thousand Law Record had elevated all his innate techniques to a higher realm, granting them the potential to shake the very heavens and annihilate anything obstructing his path.

"BOOM!" The thousand-talisman ancient cauldron collided with the palm imprint, causing it to shatter. The relentless cauldron continued its relentless pursuit, while Qin Wentian's palms continued their ceaseless barrage, creating explosive shockwaves that echoed through the air. This relentless assault exacted a heavy toll on his energy reserves.

In this moment, Qin Wentian's attacks reached an unprecedented level of power, but this also heightened their energy consumption. Under normal circumstances, an ordinary seventh-level ascendant would never sustain such intensity. However, Qin Wentian's cultivation of the Art of Nine Astrariums had endowed him with significantly more astral energy compared to his peers at the same level.

Finally, with a mighty effort, Qin Wentian shattered the colossal cauldron. Ji Lanfeng floated gracefully in the air, enveloped by his constellation. He gestured, and the thousand-talisman giant conjured a massive sword pulsating with terrifying energy, descending with a relentless strike aimed at Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian's complexion paled; Ji Lanfeng, a descendant of an immortal emperor, undoubtedly possessed formidable talent. His strength was unquestionable. As the sword sliced through the air, Qin Wentian could already feel his body being torn asunder.

In desperation, Qin Wentian roared, summoning countless suppression figures that soared upward, desperately attempting to defend against the sword strike. Yet, they were effortlessly cleaved into oblivion. The slash's speed was staggering, and in an instant, it hovered just inches from his head. It was then that the ancient demon king let out a resounding howl, its palms extending upwards to grasp the blade of the massive sword.

"Puchi..." The thousand-talisman sword continued its downward trajectory, almost severing the ancient demon king. Qin Wentian, retreating with all his might, narrowly evaded the sword's edge. Nevertheless, the blade's sharpness inflicted a wound on his body, even through the protective fiendgod armor.

"Not bad. You managed to withstand one of my sword strikes," Ji Lanfeng observed, standing within his constellation, regarding Qin Wentian with icy arrogance.

A sardonic smile flickered in Qin Wentian's eyes. "A ninth-level ascendant, a ranker on the Immortal Ascension Rankings, and a direct descendant of an immortal emperor—yet you're just average."

Ji Lanfeng froze, then retorted, "Such arrogance! It's absurd that you, already defeated, still dare to be so bold. You're not even remotely my equal."

Qin Wentian remained silent but turned to see Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan in perilous predicaments. Jun Mengchen bore grievous injuries, and had his opponent aimed for the kill, he might have already perished.

"BANG!" Another explosion resounded as Jun Mengchen was brutally sent hurtling, crashing into Qin Wentian. Coughing up blood, his face turned pallid as he roared with fury, "THESE DAMNED BASTARDS! LET'S BET EVERYTHING AND FIGHT THEM TO THE END!"

"Why must you persist? A wise person adapts to the circumstances," Ji Lanfeng responded emotionlessly. In the face of the full might of the God Extermination Palace, these individuals had no hope of enduring.

"Damn it, damn it all! We can't win," Little Rascal lamented as it scurried back to Qin Wentian, perching on his shoulder, whining in inconsolable frustration. The injuries on its body were evident, bearing witness to the fierce battle they faced.

"Do you still not understand what to do?" The crowned young man hovered in the air, his laughter dripping with icy mockery. The members of the God Extermination Palace drew nearer, their predatory gazes fixed upon Qin Wentian and his companions, like wolves closing in on their prey.

"These newcomers do have some strength, but it seems they're destined to meet their end here," murmured the onlookers below, their voices a blend of fascination and anticipation.

"Even Ji Lanfeng has taken action; their fate is sealed. However, such encounters are commonplace in the City of Ancient Emperors. Many geniuses from the outside world have been humbled and taught the value of humility here. Even descendants of immortal emperors have been robbed before. There's no shame in it. The real test is whether they can reclaim their possessions once they grow stronger."

"BOOM!"

Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy, essence, and even lifeforce ignited within Qin Wentian. A profound might enveloped the heavens and earth, causing even Ji Lanfeng's expression to stiffen. In that moment, Qin Wentian's Sword Slaughter Constellation emerged, radiating an overwhelming sword energy that coursed into his body. He still possessed one ultimate technique yet to be unleashed—the Immortal Vanquishing Swordplay!