Chapter 6121 - 6130
After thirty rounds,
Chen Tiangang’s breathing became erratic, and his movements gradually slowed.
“Bang!”
A palm struck his shoulder hard, the sound of bones shattering clearly audible. He groaned, his body swaying violently, blood gushing from his mouth.
“Bang!”
Another palm struck his back!
Chen Tiangang could no longer hold on, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and plummeted from mid-air like a kite with a broken string!
“Father!” Chen Wanqing cried out, her voice heart-wrenching.
But after landing, Chen Tiangang didn’t hesitate for a moment, immediately forcing himself to his feet and rushing towards Chen Wanqing again.
He couldn’t fall!
He couldn’t die!
Wanqing was still waiting for him!
“Wanqing, go! Get out of here quickly!” he shouted hoarsely, his voice filled with despair.
Chen Wanqing shook her head desperately, tears blurring her vision: “I won’t go! I won’t go! I want to stay with Father! We’ll die together!”
Chen Tiangang’s eyes were bloodshot with anxiety, his voice trembling: “Silly child! If you don’t leave, we’ll both die here! You must live! If you live, go find Kai! Go find him! For the sake of our Chen family, apologize to him! Apologize to him!” ”
Father…” Chen Wanqing sobbed uncontrollably.
Chen Tiangang reached out his trembling hand and gently stroked her cheek, his eyes filled with love, guilt, and reluctance.
“It’s my fault, it’s my mistake, it’s my fault that I harmed the Chen family, harmed all our clansmen. But you can’t die here, you must live.”
He slowly turned around, looking at the frantically pursuing temple soldiers and Wu family guards, a resolute glint in his eyes.
“Go! Go through the back gate of the backyard! Hurry!”
Before Chen Wanqing could say anything more, Chen Tiangang had already turned around abruptly, and like a madman, rushed out again!
“Come on! If you’re not afraid to die, come at me!”
He roared, unleashing his full True Immortal Realm aura. His golden palm print swept across the area, sending the dozen or so Temple soldiers at the forefront flying!
He stood before Chen Wanqing, like an unyielding mountain, blocking all pursuers.
Chen Wanqing watched her father’s bloodied, lonely, and majestic figure, tears streaming down her face like broken beads.
She gritted her teeth, her heart filled with endless pain and hatred.
Finally, she stomped her foot and turned to run wildly towards the backyard.
“Chase her! Don’t let her get away!” Wu Lingyun shouted immediately upon seeing this.
The Temple soldiers and Wu family guards were about to give chase when Chen Tiangang stepped forward, blocking their path once again.
“If you want to chase her, you’ll have to get past me first.”
He raised his hand and a long sword, radiant with light and brimming with spiritual energy, instantly appeared in his hand.
It was his natal magic weapon, the Chen family’s treasure passed down for thousands of years—the Azure Cloud Sword.
The white-haired old man looked at him, a faint hint of admiration flashing in his eyes: “Chen Tiangang, you’re a good father, but unfortunately, you chose the wrong path and the wrong side.”
Chen Tiangang sneered, his laughter filled with sorrow and arrogance: “Enough nonsense! Let’s fight! Come on!”
Holding the Qingyun Sword, he no longer defended, no longer hesitated, and charged directly into the crowd like a drawn sword!
The elders of the temple were not to be outdone, swarming forward and attacking!
This time, Chen Tiangang held back, no longer defended, but attacked frantically, risking his life!
He knew clearly that every moment he held on, Chen Wanqing had a better chance of escaping.
The sword flashed, the air chilling.
The wind howled, shaking heaven and earth.
Blood splattered, staining his robes crimson.
Fifty rounds.
Three more deep, bone-revealing wounds appeared on Chen Tiangang’s body, dripping with blood, yet he still did not retreat a single step.
Seventy rounds.
Another wound slashed from his shoulder down to his waist, flesh torn open, excruciating pain, yet he continued to fight.
Ninety rounds.
His left arm was struck hard by an elder’s palm, the bones instantly shattering, hanging limply at his sides.
Yet he still gripped the Qingyun Sword tightly with his right hand, gritting his teeth and persevering, still fighting!
“Father!”
From afar came Chen Wanqing’s heart-wrenching cry.
She hadn’t run far; she hid behind a corner in the shadows, watching her father fight bloodied and battered, her heart breaking, her pain unbearable.
Chen Tiangang heard his daughter’s cries, but he didn’t turn back.
He couldn’t turn back.
If he did, Wanqing would soften, would give up on escaping.
He could only fight, fight on, fight to the last moment, fight until he fell.
One hundred rounds.
Chen Tiangang was covered in blood, a blood-soaked figure, his clothes tattered, wounds covering his entire body, his breath barely perceptible.
Yet his eyes remained bright as stars, unwavering as iron.
He stared intently at the two True Immortal Realm elders before him, a bitter yet proud smile slowly curving his lips.
“Come on… come again… I can still fight…”
A flicker of fear crossed the hearts of the temple elders.
So many of them, besieging a heavily wounded man, and several had already fallen.
How could Chen Tiangang not fall?
The white-haired elder snorted coldly, his eyes icy, and looked at Wu Lingyun beside him: “Young Master Wu, have your Wu family members all come at us! Let’s finish this quickly!”
“Alright!” Wu Lingyun nodded without hesitation.
Instantly, the Wu family’s guards and experts all joined the battle.
A dozen top experts surrounded Chen Tiangang.
The pressure on Chen Tiangang instantly surged!
After only ten rounds,
the white-haired elder seized an opening and struck Chen Tiangang’s chest with a powerful palm strike!
“Pfft!”
Chen Tiangang spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground.
“Father!”
Chen Wanqing could no longer control herself and rushed out from the shadows like a madwoman.
Chen Tiangang’s face changed drastically when he saw her, and he shouted with his last ounce of strength, “Wanqing! Why haven’t you left yet! Leave now! Hurry!”
Chen Wanqing ran to his side, crying, and carefully helped him up, tears dripping onto his wounds: “I won’t leave… I won’t leave… I can’t leave Father alone… I want to stay with you…”
Chen Tiangang looked at her, his eyes filled with heartache and helplessness, and said weakly, “Silly child…how could you be so foolish…I don’t deserve this…”
He struggled, using the last bit of strength in his body, to slowly stand up, once again shielding Chen Wanqing behind him.
The white-haired old man slowly walked up to him, looking down at him, his tone indifferent: “Chen Tiangang, you have done your best, you have done more than enough. Hand over Chen Wanqing, and I can give you a quick death, a dignified one.”
Chen Tiangang slowly shook his head, his voice weak but incredibly firm, each word deliberate: “Want to touch my daughter…unless…step over my dead body…”
The white-haired old man sighed softly: “Stubborn to the end, unrepentant to the death.”
He waved his hand, and the temple soldiers stepped forward again, their killing intent palpable.
Just at this critical moment.
“Protect the patriarch!”
“Protect the young lady!”
The remaining six elders of the Chen family, covered in wounds and with torn clothes, still roared and rushed forward, blocking Chen Tiangang and Chen Wanqing!
They instantly clashed with the temple soldiers and martial arts guards!
The red-faced elder slapped a temple soldier away, turning to Chen Wanqing, his voice hoarse: “Miss! Go! Don’t worry about us! Go!”
The white-haired elder pierced a martial arts guard’s throat with his sword, his voice hoarse: “Miss! Go! Don’t let us sacrifice in vain! Don’t let us die in vain!”
Another elder, surrounded by three temple soldiers, was stabbed multiple times, his robes stained with blood, yet he still clung tightly to a soldier, refusing to let go.
He looked back at Chen Wanqing, his eyes filled with endless guilt and regret: “Miss…we’ve wronged you…we were greedy…we harmed the Chen family…we deserve it…”
His words trailed off.
A long sword pierced his heart.
His body went limp, and he slowly collapsed into a pool of blood, lifeless.
“Third Elder!” Chen Wanqing cried out, her voice heart-wrenching.
Another elder, surrounded by several men, coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell heavily to the ground.
On his deathbed, he gazed at Chen Wanqing and murmured weakly, “Tell Kai…we were wrong…we…deserve to die…”
Chen Wanqing knelt on the ground, trembling, tears blurring her vision.
She watched as the elders who had watched her grow up and loved her dearly fell before her, one by one, leaving forever.
Her heart was breaking. She was
in unbearable pain. The red-faced elder, surrounded by three temple soldiers, was stabbed multiple times, his body covered in wounds, yet he fought on relentlessly, refusing to retreat.
With his last ounce of strength, he slapped two soldiers away, then slowly collapsed, gazing in Chen Wanqing’s direction with a relieved smile: “Miss…take care…”
The white-haired elder was struck hard on the crown of his head by a palm strike from the white-haired elder.
Blood splattered. He
died instantly.
Before falling, he looked at Chen Wanqing, his eyes filled with love, reluctance, and worry: “Miss…go quickly…live on…”
All six elders had perished.
The Chen family had completely lost all resistance.
Chen Wanqing knelt on the ground, looking at the corpses and blood everywhere, tears silently streaming down her face.
“No…no…don’t die…”
she murmured, her spirit nearly broken.
Chen Tiangang struggled to his feet, using his last ounce of strength to pull her up, his voice hoarse: “Wanqing…go…let’s go…”
He grabbed Chen Wanqing’s hand and rushed towards the back door without regard for anything else.
Behind them, pursuers closed in relentlessly, their battle cries deafening.
Chen Tiangang ran frantically, turning back to fight. He slapped away a pursuing soldier with a palm strike, then pierced another’s throat with his sword, but the enemy’s numbers were simply too overwhelming.
Finally, they reached the back gate of the courtyard.
Chen Tiangang suddenly shoved Chen Wanqing away violently.
“Go! Go quickly! Never come back!”
Chen Wanqing fell to the ground, turning back to look at him, tears streaming down her face: “Father! What about you? What will you do?”
Chen Tiangang looked at her, a smile both tender and desperately etched on his face.
“Father can’t leave… Father must stay and keep the ancestors of the Chen family company… But you, you must live.”
He slowly turned around, gazing at the pursuing temple soldiers and Wu family guards, a resolute glint in his eyes. ”Come on!”
he roared, wielding the Azure Cloud Sword, and charged forward again!
Sword light flashed, blood splattered.
He pierced the heart of a martial arts guard with his sword, and then slapped away a temple soldier with a palm strike.
But his wounds were too severe. He
lost too much blood, his breath grew weaker, and his movements slower.
Finally, the white-haired old man caught up.
His eyes were cold and emotionless, and he struck out with a powerful palm strike, hitting Chen Tiangang squarely in the back!
“Pfft—!”
Chen Tiangang spat out a mouthful of blood, his body collapsing forward, crashing heavily to the ground, unable to rise again.
“Father!”
Chen Wanqing cried out, frantically trying to rush back.
With his last strength, Chen Tiangang turned his head with difficulty, looking at her, his voice so weak it was almost inaudible: “Go…go quickly…go find Kai…tell him…it’s your father who wronged him…it was your father who was wrong…tell him…to protect you…”
He paused, a deep pain, regret, and despair flashing in his eyes.
“And… tell the ancestors of the Chen family… it was I, Chen Tiangang… who was incompetent… it was I who destroyed the Chen family’s millennia-old foundation… I… regret it… I really regret it…”
His voice grew weaker and weaker.
Finally, he slowly closed his eyes.
His body completely lost its life force.
The head of the Chen family, Chen Tiangang, had fallen.
“Father!!!”
Chen Wanqing’s cries were shrill and desperate, echoing throughout the night sky, heart-wrenching.
Wu Lingyun slowly walked to Chen Tiangang’s corpse, kicked it disdainfully to confirm that he was completely dead, and then slowly raised his head to look at Chen Wanqing not far away.
In his eyes, that lewd and greedy light flashed again.
“Miss Chen, your father is dead, and the Chen family is finished. Now, you are mine.”
He waved his hand and shouted sharply, “Chase! Find her alive or dead! Don’t let her escape!”
Chen Wanqing looked at her father’s cold corpse, at the blood of her clansmen scattered on the ground, at the Chen mansion that had become a living hell, her heart filled with endless pain, hatred, and despair.
She knew.
The Chen family was finished.
A thousand-year-old foundation, destroyed in an instant.
She gritted her teeth, enduring the excruciating pain in her heart, turned around and rushed into the boundless night, running wildly.
Behind her, Wu Lingyun led a large group of pursuers, hot on her heels, their shouts of battle deafening.
“Chen Wanqing! You can’t escape! Surrender obediently!”
“Chase! She’s injured, she can’t go far!” Chen Wanqing ran desperately, fleeing with all her might, running frantically without regard for anything else.
Tears streamed down her face, dried by the wind, only to flow again.
But she dared not stop.
Not even a single step.
To stop meant death.
To stop would be to betray her father’s sacrifice, to betray the elders’ efforts, to betray all the clansmen who died protecting her.
She had to live.
She had to find Kai.
The night grew deeper, pitch black.
Chen Wanqing ran madly through the desolate mountains and forests.
Blood flowed incessantly from the wound on her back, staining her clothes red.
Her calves were also cut by rocks during her escape, each step sending piercing pain through her.
But she dared not stop.
She knew clearly that Wu Lingyun and the pursuers were right behind her, relentlessly chasing her.
She closed her eyes, focusing her senses on the dragon-locking collar that Kai had once worn and that he had later taken away.
There was a faint connection between the collar and her.
Over there.
In the direction of the wasteland.
Kai was in that direction.
She gritted her teeth, ignoring the excruciating pain and the despair in her heart, and accelerated again, sprinting towards the wasteland.
Behind her, the firelight flickered, growing ever closer.
The shouts of battle and the sounds of pursuit grew clearer.
But she didn’t look back.
Not even once.
She just kept running, running, towards the direction where Kai was, towards that only hope.
Dawn was approaching, a faint glimmer of light appearing on the horizon.
The wasteland was now almost in sight.
Chen Wanqing, disregarding everything, rushed into the vast wasteland.
Behind her, Wu Lingyun, leading his pursuers, continued relentlessly, his voice vicious: “Chen Wanqing! You can’t escape! The wasteland will be your burial ground!”
Chen Wanqing still didn’t look back.
She just kept running, running, towards the direction the collar sensed, towards that only light in her heart. Tianlong Valley is hidden deep within the vast mountains thousands of miles north of Yunxian City.
This place is shrouded in layers of restrictions laid down by the ancient dragon ancestors, with clouds and mist constantly swirling and veiling, completely obscuring the valley.
Even if ordinary cultivators flew past it countless times, they would only perceive it as a desolate wilderness with sparse spiritual energy and rampant demonic beasts, completely unaware that behind the clouds lies a blessed land where the dragons have secluded themselves for millennia, harboring ancient secrets powerful enough to shake the entire Fourteenth Heaven.
Kai followed behind Long Hao and other powerful dragons, step by step traversing the layers upon layers of obscure ancient restrictions.
With each restriction passed, the surrounding spiritual energy became denser, and the ancient pressure in the air grew heavier.
Only when the last layer of pale golden light dissipated before him did he truly step into this legendary dragon holy land.
The sudden unfolding scene before him startled even Kai, whose composure far surpassed that of ordinary people, causing him to pause slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Mountains embraced the valley like arms, firmly cradling it in the center.
Above the valley, instead of the usual blue sky and white clouds, auspicious clouds formed from pure, golden dragon energy flowed and churned slowly, almost as if alive. The
oppressive aura emanating from that dragon energy was as vast as the ocean, as ancient as the primordial wilderness; simply standing below and looking up was enough to make one’s heart tremble, involuntarily giving rise to a sense of reverence.
On the ground, pavilions and towers stood side by side, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Their architectural style was completely different from the magnificent palaces of human cultivators; they lacked elaborate carvings and paintings, yet exuded the unique majesty, ruggedness, and grandeur of the dragon race.
The palaces were constructed primarily of thousand-year-old wood and ten-thousand-year-old spiritual jade. Dragon patterns of various shapes were engraved on the beams and pillars, each pattern containing the essence of the universe, with faint echoes of dragon roars reverberating within.
In the distance, rolling mountains rose and fell, spiritual springs gurgled, and exotic flowers and herbs bloomed everywhere. The air was filled with the intoxicating fragrance of ambergris, and every inch of land contained extremely pure dragon vein power.
Further into the distance, several colossal dragons, thousands of feet long, stretched their bodies, swirling and dancing among the mountains.
Their scales shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, their massive claws tore through the clouds, and their long tails swept across the peaks. Distant and desolate dragon roars echoed from the clouds, causing the void to tremble slightly, displaying the supreme majesty of these ancient divine beasts.
“Your Majesty, please follow me. The clan leader has been waiting for a long time,”
Long Hao bowed deeply, his tone extremely respectful, slowly leading the way, not daring to overstep his bounds in the slightest.
Kai nodded slightly, suppressing the shock in his heart, and followed Long Hao deeper into the valley.
Along the way, the dragons they encountered stopped to watch.
There were tall, handsome young dragons in human form, graceful and beautiful female dragons, and young dragons who had not yet fully transformed, only showing half their tails or horns.
Their gazes all fell on Kai, filled with curiosity, heartfelt awe, and a complex mix of emotions—anticipation, excitement, and a touch of emotion at the dawn of a thousand years of silence.
The Dragon Emperor’s Bloodline.
These four words carried an incredibly heavy and crucial meaning for the entire dragon race, which had lived in seclusion for millennia.
It was the supreme symbol of the dragon race, the sole proof of command over all legitimate dragons, and the only hope for fighting traitors and restoring the dragon race’s glory.
For millennia, the dragon race of the Fourteenth Heaven had been fragmented and hidden away, all because of the fall of the Dragon Emperor, the interruption of their bloodline, and the absence of a leader.
Now, the appearance of pure golden dragon blood is like a thunderbolt thrown into a dead abyss, rekindling hope in all the dragons who remained true to their nature.
Kai continued on his way, feeling the gazes gathering from all directions, but he felt no arrogance, only a sense of solemnity.
He knew very well that this golden dragon bloodline brought him not only power and prestige, but also countless troubles and crises.
Passing through one magnificent palace after another, crossing several white jade bridges engraved with dragon patterns, Long Hao finally stopped before a grand hall standing in the very center of the valley, its imposing presence reaching its peak.
This hall was entirely constructed of deep blue dragon jade, towering a thousand feet high, with nine lifelike five-clawed golden dragons coiled on its roof, seemingly ready to soar into the heavens at any moment.
Above the palace gate hangs a huge plaque, several meters wide, with two ancient and imposing characters, “Dragon Palace,” engraved in ancient dragon script.
The characters contain boundless dragon might; just one glance is enough to shake one’s soul and prevent one from looking directly at them. ”Your Majesty, Clan Chief Long Zhan is waiting respectfully inside the hall.” Long Hao stepped aside to make way, bowing respectfully.
Kai took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions within him, and strode into the Heavenly Dragon Hall.
The hall’s interior was far larger than imagined.
The dome was immeasurably high, inlaid with countless luminous pearls and star jade, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime.
The surrounding walls were engraved with lifelike dragon reliefs.
From the ancestral dragon of the Primordial Era to the Dragon Emperor of the Middle Ages, and then to the powerful dragons of modern times, each relief recorded a piece of the dragon race’s history, majestic and awe-inspiring.
In the main seat at the center of the hall sat an elderly man with graying temples and an aged face, yet his majesty remained undiminished.
The old man wore a golden robe embroidered with nine dragons playing with a pearl, his face resolute, his wrinkles etched with the marks of time, yet showing no signs of decline.
Especially his dragon eyes, which flashed with a sharp light when they opened and closed, as sharp as a blade, seemingly able to pierce the heart.
His aura was as deep as the sea, restrained yet exuding a powerful pressure that made heaven and earth tremble.
This man was Long Zhan, the current patriarch of the Heavenly Dragon lineage and one of the pillars of the Dragon Clan.
Seeing Kai step into the main hall, Long Zhan slowly rose from his seat and walked down the steps to stand before Kai.
He did not speak immediately, but quietly looked at Kai, his gaze carefully examining him. In his weathered dragon eyes, a mixture of emotions—excitement, relief, and solemnity—flashed, lingering for a long time.
After a moment, Long Zhan suddenly bent his knees slightly, bowed deeply, and performed the most solemn and honorable kowtow of the Dragon Clan. His voice was old but extremely solemn:
“Long Zhan, patriarch of the Heavenly Dragon lineage, pays respects to His Majesty the Dragon Emperor!”
This bow represented the complete submission of the entire Heavenly Dragon lineage to the Dragon Emperor’s bloodline.
Seeing this, Kai quickly stepped forward and gently helped Long Zhan up, his tone sincere: “Clan Chief Long, there’s no need for such formality. Please rise. I am not some Dragon Emperor, but merely an ordinary cultivator with the bloodline of the Golden Dragon. I am unworthy of such a grand gesture.”
Long Zhan slowly straightened up, maintaining his respectful posture, his gaze fixed intently on Kai, his tone unwavering.
“Your Majesty is mistaken. The Golden Dragon bloodline is the supreme blood of our Dragon Clan’s emperors, worshipped by all dragons, one in ten thousand.” ” Since Your Majesty possesses such supreme bloodline, you are undoubtedly the rightful and divinely ordained ruler of our Dragon Clan.
This is a fact witnessed by Heaven and Earth, and cannot be changed, whether Your Majesty acknowledges it or not!”
Kai remained silent for a moment, knowing that arguing with Long Zhan on this matter was pointless, so
he simply stopped dwelling on it. He raised his hand and gently pointed to the black collar around his neck, a bitter smile on his face: “Clan Chief Long, since that’s the case, then let’s not stand on ceremony. To be honest, I’ve been placed under a restriction, which has been suppressing my cultivation. I beg Clan Chief Long to remove it for me.”
Only now did Long Zhan truly notice the inconspicuous black collar around Kai’s neck.
His gaze sharpened, and after a brief sweep of his divine sense, his expression immediately darkened, his brows furrowing tightly.
“A spirit-locking restriction, a tracking restriction, and multiple powerful binding restrictions… three restrictions stacked together, the method is insidious and extremely sophisticated. This is clearly the work of a human cultivator.” “Your Majesty, who exactly put this on you? Why would they want to harm you like this?”
Kai’s eyes turned slightly cold as he calmly recounted the Chen family’s actions.
Upon hearing this, Long Zhan instantly unleashed a terrifying dragon’s might, causing the entire hall to tremble slightly. He snorted coldly, his voice filled with rage.
“The mere Chen family, relying on their meager cultivation, dared to treat His Majesty the Dragon Emperor of my Dragon Clan in this way, harming the bloodline of the Emperor. They are utterly courting death and deserve to die a thousand deaths! If I have the chance, I will make this Chen family pay a terrible price!” ”
With that, Long Zhan said no more, slowly raising his right hand.
Golden dragon energy condensed wildly in his palm, transforming into a dazzling golden light, containing boundless dragon might and pure power.
He gently placed his palm on the black collar.
Instantly, countless black runes on the collar lit up, flashing violently, writhing wildly like living things, seemingly desperately resisting the intrusion of the dragon energy, emitting a hissing sound.
“Hmph, a mere human restriction, daring to show off before the dragon race.”
Long Zhan sneered, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. The golden dragon energy in his palm suddenly surged, its power multiplying.
Pure dragon emperor aura flowed into the collar through his palm, melting snow like the sun, instantly suppressing all the black runes. A
crisp cracking sound rang out.
The runes on the collar instantly dimmed, as if stripped of all power. Then, fine cracks spread rapidly like a spider web. A
muffled
thud followed.
The spirit-locking collar that had suppressed his cultivation shattered completely, falling from Kai’s neck and landing on the cold ground, turning into a pile of useless scrap metal, no longer posing any threat.
The moment the collar shattered, Kai felt a sense
of lightness throughout his body. The oppressive, clinging force had vanished without a trace.
His limbs and bones felt incredibly free, and the long-dormant spiritual energy within him began to surge wildly. His golden dragon bloodline also stirred slightly, emitting a joyful hum.
He gently stretched his neck and muscles, exhaling a long breath of stale air, a long-lost relaxed smile appearing on his face: “Thank you, Dragon Clan Chief, for your help in resolving my predicament.”
Long Zhan withdrew his hand, waved it, and said respectfully, “Your Majesty is too kind. Protecting the Dragon Emperor and relieving the clan’s troubles is simply my duty, nothing to boast about.”
With that, Long Zhan waved his hand, and several dragon clan maids immediately entered respectfully from outside the hall, carrying shimmering jade boxes.
The jade boxes were opened, revealing various rare and precious herbs and elixirs, overflowing with spiritual energy and exuding a fragrant aroma, almost condensing into liquid.
Thousand-year-old Dragon Essence Fruit, ten-thousand-year-old Dragon Blood Mushroom, pure Dragon Marrow Liquid, Marrow Cleansing Pill, Spirit Gathering Pill… each one was a priceless treasure in the outside world, enough to cause cultivators to scramble for it, yet now it was piled up before Kai like ordinary objects, countless in number.
“Your Majesty has been traveling and exhausted these past few days, and has been trapped by restrictions, suffering considerable internal injuries and a significant depletion of spiritual energy. These rare treasures and elixirs are a small token of our Heavenly Dragon lineage’s goodwill. We urge Your Majesty to accept them, take good care of your health, and recover to your peak condition as soon as possible.”
Kai looked at the mountain of treasures piled up before him, brimming with spiritual energy, and sighed inwardly.
It was said that the Dragon Clan possessed profound resources and were as wealthy as a nation; seeing them today, it was indeed true.
These treasures, if placed outside, would be enough to instantly elevate a small sect to a regional hegemon, but here in the Dragon Clan, they were merely items casually taken out for recuperation.
He didn’t stand on ceremony; now was the time when he needed power, and there was no need to feign arrogance.
He immediately nodded and reached out to store all the treasures into his storage ring: “Since that’s the case, then I won’t be polite.”
Kai began to use these resources to restore his strength.
Deep within Heavenly Dragon Valley, in a secluded cultivation chamber sealed by numerous restrictions and with extremely dense spiritual energy.
Kai sat cross-legged on a futon crafted from ten-thousand-year-old dragon jade, his eyes closed, golden light flowing endlessly around him, his aura deep and restrained, like an unfathomable ocean.
He showed no sign of slackening, utilizing the vast cultivation resources provided by the dragon race, along with various dragon treasures obtained from the ancient dragon pool, to cultivate with all his might, frantically increasing his strength.
Dragon Essence Pills melted instantly upon entering his mouth, transforming into incomparably pure spiritual energy that surged into his dantian;
Dragon Blood Mushrooms were refined, nourishing his physical body and strengthening his golden dragon bloodline;
Dragon Marrow Liquid flowed along his meridians, cleansing his bone marrow, making his foundation incredibly solid;
and various ancient dragon jades and dragon vein hearts continuously provided pure energy. One by one, rare and precious materials were refined and absorbed by him without reservation, transforming into the purest spiritual energy and dragon essence, surging wildly into his body, cleansing his limbs and bones, and strengthening his dantian and qi sea.
His aura was rising at a terrifying speed, visible to the naked eye.
Peak of the second rank of the Upper Immortal Realm…
His aura trembled, and his bottleneck shattered. Third
rank of the Upper Immortal Realm…
His spiritual energy surged again, and his momentum rose steadily.
Mid-stage of the third rank of the Upper Immortal Realm…
Peak of the third rank of the Upper Immortal Realm…
“Boom…!”
An incomparably powerful aura erupted from Kai’s body, sweeping through the entire secret chamber like a tsunami, impacting the surrounding restrictions, and producing a series of booming sounds.
Kai slowly opened his eyes.
Two golden beams of light flashed from the depths of his eyes, like two small suns, sharp and piercing, unstoppable.
Peak of the third rank of the Upper Immortal Realm!
In just three days, he had broken through several minor realms from the peak of the second rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, directly soaring to the peak of the third rank, and was only one step away from the fourth rank!
Kai slowly stood up, clenching his fists.
The surging power within him, like a rushing river, filled him with confidence.
Breaking through several realms in three days—if this cultivation speed were to spread, it would surely shock the entire Fourteenth Heaven, leaving countless exceptionally talented cultivators dumbfounded and incredulous.
But Kai knew very well that this was far from enough.
The pursuers from the Divine Temple were everywhere, their strength formidable;
the Demon Dragon Clan was eyeing him covetously, eager to seize his bloodline;
and there was also the unfathomable, perilous lower-level rules of the Fourteenth Heaven… He had to become stronger, strong enough to sweep away all enemies, strong enough to protect those he wanted to protect, strong enough to overcome all obstacles in his path.
Kai concealed his aura, pushed open the door of the secret chamber, and stepped out.
Outside the door, Long Hao had been waiting respectfully for a long time. Upon seeing Kai emerge from seclusion, he immediately bowed and greeted him with great joy: “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Your cultivation has greatly improved, and your strength has increased dramatically!”
Kai waved his hand and said calmly, “It’s nothing. I only broke through with the help of external forces. Long Hao, where is the Dragon Clan Chief now? I have an important matter to ask him.”
Long Hao nodded quickly: “Your Majesty, rest assured, the Clan Chief anticipated that Your Majesty would emerge from seclusion today and is currently in the Dragon Palace, awaiting Your Majesty’s summons.” …
Inside the Dragon Palace.
Upon seeing Kai enter, Long Zhan immediately sensed the change in Kai’s aura, a flicker of undisguised surprise and emotion crossing his eyes.
“Your Majesty has emerged from seclusion so quickly? And your cultivation… has actually broken through several minor realms in just three days, reaching the peak of the third rank of the Upper Immortal Realm?
Such talent, such speed, is truly rare throughout history. Even the Dragon Emperor of yesteryear might not have been able to match it in his youth!”
Kai smiled faintly: “Clan Chief, you flatter me. If it weren’t for the massive resources provided by the Heavenly Dragon lineage, I wouldn’t have been able to progress so quickly.”
Long Zhan shook his head, his expression serious: “Your Majesty is mistaken. Resources are certainly important, but one’s own talent and foundation are fundamental.
If it were someone else, even if the entire Dragon Clan’s treasure trove were piled before them, they might not have achieved such a breakthrough in three days.
All of this is due to Your Majesty’s exceptional talent and profound blessings.”
The two took their seats, one as the head and the other as the tailor.
Kai abandoned all formalities, his expression turning serious as he looked at Long Zhan, his tone utterly solemn: “Clan Chief Long, I’ve come to you today to inquire about something. Those three demonic dragons that chased me before were incredibly powerful and of mysterious origin. I want to know, what exactly are they? And why were they so determined to kill me?”
Upon hearing this, Long Zhan’s smile slowly faded. After a moment of silence, his expression became extremely grave as he slowly spoke: “Since Your Majesty is so sincere in asking, then I will no longer conceal anything and will tell you the truth.”
He took a deep breath, as if recalling an incredibly heavy chapter of history.
“Ten thousand years ago, before his fall, the ancient Dragon Emperor foresaw an impending catastrophe for our dragon race.
To preserve the dragon lineage, he ordered the entire dragon race to be dispersed, hidden in various corners of the Fourteen Heavens, to recuperate and await the day when the Dragon Emperor’s bloodline would reappear.
Our Heavenly Dragon lineage is one of the branches that was ordered to hide in these Fourteen Heavens.”
“However, human hearts are unpredictable, and not everyone in the dragon race was willing to obey the Dragon Emperor’s arrangements and endure for ten thousand years.”
A portion of the dragon clan, driven by evil intentions and greed for power, were unwilling to remain unknown and secretly colluded with the ferocious demons.
Using their own dragon blood and flesh as a catalyst, they actively merged with the demonic energy of the demons, abandoning the glory of the dragon race and transforming into monsters that were neither human nor demon, yet possessed immense power. ”
These traitors who betrayed their clan and allied with the demons are the demonic dragons who have brought shame upon the entire dragon race.”
At this point, a deep pain and hatred flashed in Long Zhan’s eyes: “They betrayed their ancestors, betrayed the dragon race, and allied with their mortal enemies. They are the greatest disgrace to our dragon race in ten thousand years, and also our most dangerous and ferocious foe.”
Kai listened calmly, his expression unchanged, but he already understood.
Long Zhan continued, “For ten thousand years, the demonic dragon lineage has been secretly growing stronger, absorbing traitors, colluding with the demons, and its power has grown increasingly formidable.
They hide in the dark corners of the Fourteenth Heaven, waiting for their opportunity to erode the power of the orthodox dragon race.” ”
Now that Your Majesty’s Dragon Emperor bloodline has appeared in the world, it is both a deadly threat and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them.”
“The threat stems from the fact that the Dragon Emperor bloodline is naturally a natural counter to the Demonic Dragons. With a single call from Your Majesty, you can command all the orthodox dragons, gathering all their forces of resistance to utterly destroy their conspiracy.”
“The opportunity lies in the fact that the Dragon Emperor bloodline itself contains unparalleled supreme power.
If they can capture Your Majesty and devour your Golden Dragon bloodline alive, their strength will undoubtedly increase several times over. They might even break through their cultivation barriers and reach that legendary, unattainable realm, one that even the Dragon Emperor himself never reached!”
He looked at Kai with a solemn gaze, enunciating each word with utmost seriousness: “Therefore, Your Majesty, the Demonic Dragon lineage will hunt you down like madmen, sparing no expense to capture you and seize your supreme bloodline. Your future situation will be extremely perilous.” Chen
Ping nodded slightly. He had already guessed this when he was being chased by the demonic dragon.
He looked at Long Zhan and calmly asked, “I understand. And what about you? Your Heavenly Dragon lineage found me, supported me, and what do you want me to do? Please speak frankly.”
Upon hearing this, Long Zhan immediately stood up from his seat, walked to Kai, and bowed deeply to him again, his tone sincere and urgent: “Your Majesty, I dare to beg Your Majesty to intervene and help my Heavenly Dragon lineage revive the Dragon Clan of the Fourteenth Heaven and restore the Dragon Clan’s former supreme glory!” Kai raised an eyebrow, his tone calm: “Revitalize the Dragon Clan?”
“Exactly!”
Long Zhan raised his head, his eyes burning with anticipation. “For ten thousand years, although my Heavenly Dragon lineage has lived in seclusion here, barely surviving, we have never forgotten the glory of the Dragon Clan, nor the entrustment of our ancestors.
However, the Demonic Dragon lineage has developed too quickly in the shadows, its power growing ever stronger. My Heavenly Dragon lineage is unable to withstand it alone, suffering defeat after defeat. Now we can only cower in Heavenly Dragon Valley, barely surviving, and at any moment we face the risk of being wiped out.”
“Now that the Dragon Emperor’s bloodline has reappeared, this is the only hope for the revival of our Dragon Clan! Your Majesty possesses the Golden Dragon bloodline, making you the born emperor of our Dragon Clan, to whom all dragons submit.
As long as Your Majesty is willing to step forward, raise your arm, and command all the orthodox dragons under heaven, gathering all our strength, we will have the hope of completely crushing the Demon Dragon lineage, reclaiming everything that belongs to the Dragon Clan, and restoring the glory of the Dragon Clan that once dominated the nine heavens!”
He stared intently at Kai, his eyes filled with expectation and pleading: “Your Majesty, are you willing to lead us to revive the Dragon Clan?”
Kai remained silent for a long time.
He looked up at Long Zhan, his tone frank and without any concealment: “Clan Chief, I will speak the truth. I have little interest in the revival of the Dragon Clan or the glory of the Dragon Clan.
I came to the Fourteenth Heaven for only one purpose: to go to the Holy Domain of Light and find a way to restore the divine soul within the Soul Crystal.”
Although Kai was also a dragon, and a Golden Dragon at that, he did not currently have a strong sense of mission to restore the glory of the Dragon Clan in the Fourteenth Heaven.
Although he possessed the bloodline of a golden dragon, and everyone said his father was a golden dragon, there was still no conclusive evidence that his father was actually a dragon!
It was not uncommon for human cultivators to possess the bloodlines of other races.
A hint of disappointment flashed in Long Zhan’s eyes, but he didn’t press the matter further, simply nodding silently.
Kai continued, “However, one thing at a time. Those three demonic dragons repeatedly hunted me down, trying to kill me; I’ve remembered that debt.
And that Chen family, they repaid kindness with enmity; I will settle accounts with them later. As for the Divine Temple, I will make them wish they were dead.”
He paused, his tone becoming firm: “Since the demonic dragon lineage insists on capturing me, I won’t sit idly by.
Before I finish my own business and leave the Fourteenth Heaven, I can help you deal with the demonic dragon lineage. As for revitalizing the dragon race, that can wait until I finish my own business.”
Upon hearing this, Long Zhan was first stunned, then his face erupted with undisguised elation. He immediately bowed again, his voice trembling with excitement.
“Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty’s words are enough for me! Even if it’s just dealing with the Demon Dragon lineage, it’s still an immense favor to my Heavenly Dragon lineage!”
Kai waved his hand, his tone calm: “Don’t be too happy yet. I’m only at the third rank of the Upper Immortal Realm right now, while there are many True Immortal Realm experts among the Demon Dragons. If we really had to face them, I might not be their match.”
Long Zhan quickly shook his head, his tone certain: “Your Majesty, please don’t underestimate yourself! Your Golden Dragon bloodline is the blood of the supreme emperor of the Dragon Clan, naturally restraining all Dragons.” Although those demonic dragons have fused with demonic energy, becoming neither human nor demon, they are still fundamentally rooted in the dragon race.
Under His Majesty’s bloodline pressure, their strength will be suppressed by at least 30%, preventing them from unleashing their full power!
He paused, then added, “Moreover, many of the treasures His Majesty obtained from the ancient dragon pool are ancient treasures lost by our dragon race, possessing boundless power.
As long as His Majesty studies them carefully and uses them skillfully, his strength will surely increase greatly again. At that time, he will even be able to fight against demonic dragons at the True Immortal Realm!”
Kai nodded slightly, completely agreeing with this point.
Each of the unknown treasures obtained from the ancient dragon pool contained terrifying power, but he hadn’t had time to study them carefully yet.
“By the way,”
Kai suddenly remembered something important and asked, “Do you know about the Dragon Emperor’s Decree? What is its origin? What is its purpose?” ”
Long Zhan hurriedly explained, “Your Majesty, the Dragon Emperor’s Token is the personal token of the ancient Dragon Emperor, representing his supreme authority.
The entire dragon race, regardless of location or branch, must obey the Dragon Emperor’s Token as if the Dragon Emperor himself were present, without exception!”
“Before his fall, the Dragon Emperor passed several Dragon Emperor’s Tokens to a few of his most trusted elders, instructing them to use them to command the dragon race and assist the new emperor when the Dragon Emperor’s bloodline reappears.
Unfortunately, due to countless wars over the past ten thousand years, the Dragon Emperor’s Tokens have changed hands many times, and most have been lost to the annals of history.”
Kai frowned slightly, his tone grave: “But that Dragon Emperor’s Token was stolen by a demonic dragon named Long Mo.”
“Long Mo!”
Upon hearing this name, a cold glint and killing intent flashed in Long Zhan’s eyes, and he gritted his teeth: “That traitor who betrayed his race!” ” Back then, it was he who colluded with the demons, luring the demon dragons to invade the Dragon Pool, causing our dragon race to suffer heavy losses!
Your Majesty, rest assured, that Dragon Emperor’s Token is our dragon race’s most precious treasure, and it must not fall into the hands of the demon dragons! We must find a way to retrieve it!”
“Don’t worry, I’m now at the third rank of the Upper Immortal Realm. That Long Mo is nothing but trash in my eyes. I will retrieve the Dragon Emperor’s Token myself,” Kai said confidently.
“With Your Majesty’s confidence, there is hope for the revival of our dragon race!”
Long Zhan’s eyes were filled with longing! …
While Kai was peacefully cultivating in Tianlong Valley and discussing countermeasures against the demonic dragon with Long Zhan
, outside Yunxian City, on the vast wilderness,
a disheveled figure was frantically fleeing for her life.
It was Chen Wanqing.
She had been fleeing for three days and three nights without sleep.
For those three days and three nights, she hadn’t dared to stop for a single moment. When she was extremely tired, she would bite her tongue hard to stay awake with the excruciating pain;
when her legs were weak from exhaustion, she would forcefully circulate the last of her spiritual energy to support her running;
her wounds bled and became infected, and she could only tear off pieces of her clothing to bandage them haphazardly, with no time to heal.
She dared not stop.
Not even a single step.
Behind her, Wu Lingyun, with a large number of Wu family guards and soldiers sent by the temple to assist, relentlessly pursued her like a leech, impossible to shake off.
If she stopped, only death awaited her, along with a humiliation even more terrible than death.
“Chase her! All of you, chase her now! Don’t let that little bitch get away!”
On the desolate plains, Wu Lingyun rode atop a ferocious, jet-black beast, his gaze fixed on the staggering, thin figure ahead, his eyes filled with excitement, greed, and ruthlessness.
Chen Wanqing, you can’t escape.
No matter where you run to, I will bring you back.
You are destined to be my woman.
Chen Wanqing felt her vision blurring, her legs
numb and devoid of feeling. Each step felt like walking on knives, excruciating pain.
Her spiritual energy was exhausted, her body on the verge of collapse, held together only by an indomitable will.
She closed her eyes again with difficulty, sensing the aura of the spirit-locking collar that had once worn around Kai’s neck.
Over there.
Right ahead.
Kai was in that direction.
She could clearly feel that faint yet familiar connection growing stronger and stronger.
She was almost there.
She was almost there.
Chen Wanqing gritted her teeth, biting her lips until they bled. With the last of her strength, she took another step and ran frantically forward.
Two more hours passed.
The setting sun dyed the sky blood red.
Chen Wanqing had completely lost track of time, not knowing how far she had run, only that the sky had gone from noon to dusk, and from dusk to the approaching night.
Just as she was about to collapse,
a vast, towering mountain range suddenly appeared before her.
Clouds swirled among the mountains, a mystical aura emanating from them, with faint golden light emanating from within, mysterious and majestic. A brilliant light of hope suddenly shone in Chen Wanqing’s cloudy eyes.
Here.
This is it!
The feeling was crystal clear.
Kai was in these mountains!
She used her last ounce of strength, rushing towards the mountains as if her life depended on it.
Behind her, Wu Lingyun also saw the strange and mysterious mountains, his brow furrowing slightly, a hint of doubt on his face.
“What is that place? Why is the spiritual energy so strange, and why is there a faint golden light?”
A guard who had followed him for many years hurriedly stepped forward and whispered, “Young Master, that’s the deepest part of the Cangmang Mountains. It’s said that powerful demonic beasts roam there year-round, making it extremely dangerous. Few cultivators dare to approach. Should we… continue chasing?”
Wu Lingyun sneered, a hint of disdain and ruthlessness flashing in his eyes: “Chase! Of course we should chase! We’ve already chased this far, just one step away from catching that little bitch, how can we give up? Even if it’s a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, I’ll brave it today!”
He suddenly waved his hand and ordered, “Everyone, follow me! She’s exhausted, she can’t escape!”
A large number of guards and soldiers immediately followed, rushing towards the mountains.
Chen Wanqing ran desperately, getting closer and closer to the mountains.
Closer.
Even closer.
The collar’s sensing power had reached its peak.
Kai was right in front of her, right in these mountains!
She even seemed to see Kai’s figure.
But at this crucial moment…
“Stop! Don’t run anymore!”
A cold, sharp shout suddenly rang out.
Several powerful figures rushed out from the side like tigers descending a mountain, directly blocking her path.
Wu Lingyun, leading all his pursuers, finally caught up with her completely at this moment.
Chen Wanqing’s face instantly turned deathly pale, devoid of any color.
She instinctively wanted to turn and run, but found herself surrounded on all sides by her pursuers, completely blocked, like an iron barrel.
She had nowhere to escape.
Wu Lingyun leaped down from the back of the demon beast, a smug, confident smile on his face, and slowly walked up to Chen Wanqing.
“Miss Chen, why did you stop running? Keep running. Weren’t you supposed to be a fast runner? You’ve been running for three days and three nights, making this young master chase you so hard.”
Chen Wanqing gasped for breath, her chest heaving violently, her beautiful eyes fixed on Wu Lingyun, filled with deep-seated hatred and disgust.
Looking at her disheveled state—her clothes tattered, covered in dust and blood, her hair disheveled, her face pale—Wu Lingyun couldn’t hide her stunning beauty and pitiful charm. A lewd glint flashed in his eyes as he greedily scanned her from head to toe.
“Miss Chen, do you know? For these past three days and three nights, the more you’ve tried to escape, the more excited I’ve become. The harder the prey is to catch, the more satisfying it is when you finally have it. Don’t you agree?”
Chen Wanqing gritted her teeth, each word hoarse yet filled with boundless hatred: “Wu Lingyun, you despicable scoundrel, you deserve to die a horrible death!”
Instead of being angry, Wu Lingyun burst into laughter: “A terrible death? Miss Chen, you can’t just say things like that. Now, your life and death are completely in my hands. With just one order, you’ll be torn to pieces, leaving no trace of your body.”
He took a step forward, pressing closer and closer.
Chen Wanqing subconsciously took a step back, only to find her back pressed firmly against the cold, hard mountain wall, with nowhere left to retreat.
Wu Lingyun slowly walked up to her, suddenly reached out, grabbed her chin, and forced her to raise her head and look directly at him.
“Chen Wanqing, do you know? From the first time I saw you at the Chen family, I wanted you. You’re so beautiful, there’s no one else like you in the entire Yunxian City.”
He moved closer to her face, his breath carrying a nauseating, metallic stench, his tone vicious: “What’s so good about that Kai?
A fugitive wanted by the Divine Temple, a mere first-grade Upper Immortal, does he even deserve a beauty like you?
Today, I’ll show you clearly who truly deserves you!”
Chen Wanqing struggled desperately, pushing against Wu Lingyun with both hands, but he held her shoulders firmly, making her unable to move.
“Let me go! Wu Lingyun, let me go!” she shouted sharply, her voice filled with despair.
Wu Lingyun’s sneer deepened, his eyes turning sinister: “Let go? You think I’ll let go just because you tell me to? You’ve been running for three days and three nights, making me waste so much time and effort, and now you want me to let you go? Do you think that’s possible?”
He suddenly waved his hand and shouted sharply, “Men, hold her down!”
Several guards immediately stepped forward, like hungry wolves, and pinned Chen Wanqing to the ground, rendering her unable to move.
Chen Wanqing struggled desperately, cried out, and fought back, but it was all in vain.
She was only an eighth-grade Upper Immortal cultivator, and the three days and three nights of fleeing had already exhausted all her spiritual power and physical strength.
Now, facing Wu Lingyun, a ninth-grade Upper Immortal, and numerous guards, she was like a lamb to the slaughter, utterly powerless to resist.
Wu Lingyun slowly squatted down, looking at Chen Wanqing, pinned to the ground, tears streaming down her face, her clothes disheveled, a perverse pleasure and triumph welling up inside him.
“Miss Chen, don’t cry. Obey me, and I promise you’ll enjoy wealth and luxury, and never have to worry about food or clothing. But if you insist on not obeying…”
His eyes turned cold, and he reached out, grabbing Chen Wanqing’s collar.
“Rip!”
A piercing tearing sound rang out.
Chen Wanqing’s outer garment was ripped open, revealing her snow-white skin and pink undergarment.
“Ah!”
Chen Wanqing let out a shrill scream, desperately covering her chest with her hands, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls.
“No! Get away! Get away from me!”
Wu Lingyun looked at her terrified, desperate, tearful appearance, his eyes filled with even greater excitement, a ferocious smile spreading across his face: “Scream! Scream louder! The more you scream, the more I like it!”
He reached out again, his target aimed at the last piece of clothing covering Chen Wanqing.
Chen Wanqing closed her eyes in despair.
Tears silently streamed down her face.
Kai…
where are you…
I’m so scared…
please come and save me… ” Please…
come save me… ”
Her heart was filled with endless despair and helplessness.
At this critical moment, a split between life and death, a deafening dragon roar suddenly erupted! The power of that roar was like a thunderclap from the heavens, its terrifying might sweeping in all directions, causing the pursuers’ eardrums to ache, their blood to surge, their feet to falter, their faces pale with terror. Wu Lingyun’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air, unable to move forward an inch. He abruptly raised his head, his expression changing drastically, his eyes filled with extreme fear. A dazzling golden light crashed down from the sky! The light was so intense that everyone could not open their eyes, unable to look directly at it. The golden light slowly dissipated. A tall and aloof figure hovered silently in mid-air, then slowly landed in front of Chen Wanqing. It was a young man. He wore a golden dragon robe, his face cold and his eyes icy. He exuded a suffocating, terrifying pressure emanating from the depths of his blood. He stood silently before Chen Wanqing, like an unshakeable mountain, shielding her from all danger and humiliation. It was Kai. Chen Wanqing slowly opened her blurry eyes. When she saw that familiar yet unfamiliar, incredibly reliable figure, all her strength crumbled instantly. Tears welled up again, her voice trembling with endless grievances, longing, and the relief of surviving a calamity, as she murmured, ”Kai…” Kai didn’t turn around, but simply stood with his back to her, his voice soft yet incredibly firm, softly saying, ”Miss Chen, I’m late.” These five simple words were like a reassuring pill, instantly calming Chen Wanqing down, all her fear and despair vanishing. Wu Lingyun, seeing Kai suddenly appear, was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, his face ashen, his voice trembling: “Chen… Kai?! What are you doing here?” Kai slowly turned his head. His gaze first fell on Wu Lingyun, then swept over the trembling, fear-stricken guards beside him, and finally settled on Chen Wanqing behind him, her clothes torn, her face disheveled, and tears streaming down her cheeks. At that moment, his eyes held no emotion, only an extreme coldness. Within that coldness lay a world-destroying killing intent. Kai looked at Wu Lingyun, his lips parted slightly, his voice calm, yet carrying a chilling intent that could freeze the heavens and earth. ”Wu Lingyun, you’re courting death…”