The Nobility's Calamity (continued)

The woman in glamorous makeup, her brows furrowed with rage, disregarded the chill emanating from her body and focused on defeating her opponent before worrying about her injuries. Her whip lashed out like a raging python, accompanied by hissing and roaring sounds, unleashing a vicious, ruthless, sharp, and chilling intent. A dense array of whip shadows spread out, making it impossible to distinguish which was a real whip and which was an illusion. Each one seemed real, yet all appeared to be illusions, dazzling and mesmerizing, captivating all who beheld it.

He Qichang rose up with his sword, using the swift and powerful Demon Blade: Gale Form to defend. Although he was slightly outmatched, the Demon Blade Art was known for its versatility, and he was able to meet it head-on. In an instant, the longsword and the black whip intertwined, with silver light dancing wildly and sparks flying everywhere.

After a few moments of stalemate, He Qichang gradually lost his grip and began to struggle. With a tremor, his tiger's mouth shattered, and the long sword in his hand was knocked out of his grasp. At the same time, with a loud bang, a burst of energy exploded in his chest, and he was sent flying, coughing up blood.

The thorny whip followed closely, wrapping around He Qichang's waist. The barbs on the whip scratched bloody marks, and it seemed about to tighten and cut him in half, but it suddenly stopped.

The woman in bright makeup was covered in a layer of white frost. Her face, especially her eyebrows, was frozen into ice crystals. Her whole body was stiff, and two frozen snot dangled from her nostrils like icicles.

"Ha, ha, although you won in terms of moves, I'm still the one who laughs last."

He Qichang let out a weak laugh, used his knife to remove the thorny whip wrapped around his waist, glanced at the battle beside him that he couldn't participate in at all, and felt a strong desire to become stronger. He became more determined to cultivate the Martial Form. Perhaps the Martial Form would limit his potential, but he couldn't even touch the edge of it now. Was it not a waste of worry to consider this? Besides, if he really had nowhere else to go, he could always go to the Barbarian Continent.

On the other side, Murong Qing stopped the approaching Imperial Army Guards. Her icy aura froze their feet, sealing their movements. Since they couldn't kill, she was undoubtedly the most suitable of the three to deal with the soldiers.

Si Ming fought Shentu Chuang and Su Yingbo one-on-one. Although he was fighting two against one, he had the Mercury Alloy Body against the outside world and the Bodhi Golden Body against the inside world. He was willing to exchange injuries for injuries. In addition, the two opponents had no coordination whatsoever, so he still had the upper hand for a while.

However, Si Ming knew very well that continuing to delay would be very disadvantageous to his side. Not to mention the increasing number of reinforcements, even if he could defeat the two people in front of him, he would be powerless to protect Murong Qing and He Qichang if they were to attack them.

In their anxiety, a spear of ice and snow suddenly appeared from the sky, carrying a rolling cold current. Wherever it passed, snow covered everything, as if winter had arrived. All things were frozen, and even the activity of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi became sluggish.

"The Glacier Cascades in Reverse!"

With a single thrust of his spear, Shentu Chuang by the Nine-Ringed Golden Saber. Unable to withstand the force, he staggered back three steps. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the surrounding cold air suddenly swirled and contracted, rushing wildly towards him and instantly freezing him into an ice sculpture.

Ling Huanxi appeared, grabbed He Qichang, and turned to Si Ming, saying, "Retreat quickly."

Si Ming quickly unleashed a Mighty Vajra Palm, sending Su Yingbo staggering back several steps. He then grabbed Murong Qing and followed Ling Huanxi away.

Su Yingbo recovered her strength, circulated her Internal Cultivation to evaporate the frost covering her body, looked up at the departing figures of the four people, and did not chase after them.

A moment later, accompanied by a cracking sound, Shentu Chuang broke free from his frozen state. However, Si Ming and the others were no longer there. He clicked his tongue in regret, brushed the ice shards off his hair, and then helped the woman in glamorous makeup expel the cold from her body, creating a misty atmosphere.

A moment later, the woman in glamorous makeup opened her mouth and spat out stagnant blood onto the ground. As soon as the blood hit the ground, it froze into a lump of ice, covering the surrounding ground with a layer of frost.

After the woman in glamorous makeup stood up, she looked resentful. After all, she had been dragged down to the point of mutual injury by a boy whose cultivation was inferior to hers, which was really embarrassing. She couldn't help but take her anger out on Su Yingbo.

"Why didn't you chase after them? You clearly had a chance to catch up with them just now. Even if you couldn't stop them, you could have followed them and prevented them from hiding."

Su Yingbo glanced at the other person, did not answer, sheathed his sword, and left indifferently.

"What kind of attitude is this! Do you think you can get away with this? Don't dream. We, the Remote Heaven Society, are enemies with them, but they won't let a traitor like you go. You won't even be able to protect your wife!"

The woman in glamorous makeup was met with a sharp gust of wind and a cold, murderous gaze. In her current state, she was powerless to resist and could only watch helplessly as the blade slashed towards her neck.

Fortunately, Shentu Chuang was nearby and blocked the attack with his sword. He then warned the woman in the glamorous makeup, "Alright, his wife is what he cares about most. Threatening him with his wife is undoubtedly touching a nerve. If you don't want to die by his blade, you'd better be careful."

The woman with the glamorous makeup snorted but didn't continue to provoke him. Only after Su Yingbo left did she say resentfully, "In just a few days, this guy seems like a completely different person."

"After experiencing the ups and downs of life and killing so many people, it would be strange if his temperament didn't change."

Inside a secluded bar room deep in a slum alley.

Si Ming asked, "What exactly happened in these past three days?"

Yan Jinghong sighed and said, "I am not very clear about the specific details. As for the result, two days ago, the French emperor appointed the Marquis of North Mountain as prime minister and then sent invitations to all the nobles in Capital Prefecture to attend a banquet. The nobles all thought this was a signal that the French emperor was trying to win their favor. After all, France emperors have always tried to win the support of the nobles, and it is extremely common for them to break their previous promises after ascending the throne. Therefore, they did not suspect anything."

That very evening at the banquet, the French Emperor gave a signal by throwing a cup. Su Yingbo, leading a group of executioners, suddenly rushed out and slaughtered all the nobles on the spot, causing a bloodbath. The following day, the French Emperor issued a decree abolishing the privileges of the nobility, declaring that anyone who disobeyed would be executed without mercy. He appointed Su Yingbo as Imperial Commissioner to inspect the nobles throughout the land, granting him the authority to execute first and report later. In a single day, Su Yingbo killed one duke, two marquesses, five earls, and twenty-three viscounts. Only the nobles, due to their low rank, escaped this fate.

Even though Si Ming had prepared himself mentally, he couldn't help but be shocked to hear these words. He knew that the number of nobles in Capital Prefecture was the largest, much like the number of officials in the capital of a country. About a third of the nobles lived in Capital Prefecture. This massacre, even if it was impossible to kill all of these nobles, was no less than cutting off the legs of the noble class—for example, a lord was obviously not qualified to attend the banquet hosted by the emperor.

"How could the Third Prince possibly resort to such extreme measures? He's not that kind of person, and what about Senior Su Yingbo..."

Recalling Su Yingbo during the battle, he was so cold and ruthless that he was completely different from before. If he hadn't personally fought and tested his martial arts, Si Ming would have suspected that someone was impersonating him.

Murong Qing said, "It must be Remote Heaven Society causing trouble."

Yan Jinghong said, "That's how it should be; otherwise, they wouldn't have needed to issue a warrant for our arrest."

Even if the French emperor breaks with the nobles and starts a war, it is ultimately a matter of France domestic affairs. No matter how much Yan Jinghong and others disapprove, they have no right to interfere. Therefore, from the French emperor's perspective, there is no need to target Yan Jinghong and others. Only the Remote Heaven Society is on the opposing side.

"Rumors are circulating that Su Yingbo has joined the Remote Heaven Society and has taken control of the Dharma Emperor."

Why did Senior Su join the Remote Heaven Society? What was his motive?

"Someone saw his wife Ai Qing, who should have been dead..."

Si Ming had no way to refute this. Given Su Yingbo's love for his wife, if the Remote Heaven Society truly had the ability to resurrect people, it would be perfectly normal for Su Yingbo to join the Remote Heaven Society and become its henchman.

Yan Jinghong sighed and said, "When I heard this news, I also felt that Su Yingbo had really been tempted, but the idea of the dead coming back to life is still hard to believe."

Murong Qing frowned and said, "Since such news has already spread, it's clear that many people suspect the Emperor is being controlled. So why do they still obey orders instead of rising up in resistance?"

Yan Jinghong said, "Firstly, the changes happened too quickly, in just two days. Even if someone had doubts, there wasn't time to coordinate. Secondly, it's driven by self-interest. You see, most of the Emperor's subordinates are commoners. They originally wanted to abolish the privileges of the nobility. Regardless of whether the Emperor was controlled or acted in good faith, since the butcher's knife was sharpened and placed in front of them, they were happy to take the opportunity to kill. Even if they wanted to question the Emperor's situation, it should have been after the nobility had been eliminated."

Murong Qing, "After the nobles are eliminated, it will be their turn. Can't you even see that?"

"Blinded by greed, who can remain rational? Even if someone knows this, they'll still take the gamble."

Si Ming suddenly remembered a story: God told a man that he could grant him any wish, but his neighbor would receive twice as much. Zisi replied, "Please, God, gouge out one of my eyes."

If a person is so jealous of their neighbor, how much more so of their enemy? Many would be willing to die together with a nobleman, let alone if the other party were to suffer the consequences first.

"The Remote Heaven Society truly knows how to manipulate people's hearts... In fact, given the Remote Heaven Society's stance, they won't stay in France for long. As soon as they destroy the Divine Pillar, they'll immediately withdraw, unafraid of a counterattack. Their attack on the nobles is merely to create unrest. So, it seems they haven't succeeded yet?"

Yan Jinghong said, "The appearance of the Divine Pillar will inevitably cause strange phenomena, but so far no such phenomena have occurred, which is fortunate amidst misfortune."