The Heavenly Flame Empire was riddled with competing factions.
Especially among the many princes, open and covert struggles never ceased.
The First Prince's faction, supported by the Left Prime Minister; the Second Prince's faction, supported by the Empress; along with the Fourth Prince and Eighth Prince, formed the four major factions.
As a superpower in its own right, Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate had never made its stance clear.
Under such circumstances, it was absolutely impossible for the First Prince to offend Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate over a mere Liu Family.
Therefore.
At this moment, Chou Yin was merely borrowing the names of the First Prince and the Left Prime Minister to frighten Qin Anlan.
"Chou Yin, are you saying that you were sent by the First Prince and came here sincerely intending to become enemies with my Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate?"
"A misunderstanding, Young Lord. This is all a misunderstanding."
Chou Yin was panicking like mad inside.
His heart pounded wildly, and he did not even dare take a deep breath.
Despair, fear, anxiety, irritation...
All kinds of uneasy emotions surged into his heart.
"I... I was merely misled by petty people. I only wanted to settle this matter peacefully."
"I absolutely had no intention of opposing Young Lord or Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate. I beg Young Lord to see clearly."
Chou Yin grew increasingly anxious, his mind turning to mush.
His instinct to survive erupted, and he blurted out those words without thinking.
Qin Anlan had not originally considered so much. He had only wanted to send everyone in the Liu Family into their coffins, and had not even intended to involve Heavenly Firmament Academy for the time being.
After all.
Standing behind Heavenly Firmament Academy were the Left Prime Minister and the First Prince.
But since Chou Yin had come out to make trouble, and had even dared use the Left Prime Minister and the First Prince to threaten him.
Qin Anlan liked the situation even more.
So what if it was the Left Prime Minister?
So what if it was the First Prince?
The muddier this pool of water became, the better.
After a brief moment of thought, Qin Anlan looked at Chou Yin and said, "Two elders, send Elder Chou on his way first."
Third Elder Qin Gengxin moved at his words, his figure flickering as he vanished.
When he appeared again, he was already behind Chou Yin.
A blood-red saber rose in his hand.
The blade was covered in killing intent and baleful aura.
As it swung, the entire space trembled without end, and a violent gale rose.
That chilling gleam inspired terror at first sight and made scalps go numb.
An invisible blade swept toward Chou Yin.
"Damn it!"
Chou Yin's expression changed drastically.
But to save his life, he could only hurriedly bring out his magic treasure.
In an instant, golden light flashed around Chou Yin, and an enormous bell suddenly appeared behind him.
The bell continued to expand.
The golden radiance it emitted wrapped Chou Yin completely within it.
Bang!
A dull sound rang out.
The blood-red curtain of light slashed into the bell, producing a deafening boom that shook heaven and earth.
Chou Yin, hiding behind the bell, looked utterly miserable.
One strike!
Just one strike.
Qin Gengxin had already carved a crack into his life-saving magic treasure.
If this continued, Qin Gengxin would sooner or later split him in two.
Run!
That word suddenly sprang into Chou Yin's mind.
Even if he would be punished after fleeing back to Heavenly Firmament Academy.
Chou Yin had no other choice at this moment.
Just as Chou Yin prepared to flee.
Qin Gengxin swung the blood saber in his hand once more.
In the blink of an eye, that red gleam completely shattered the bell behind Chou Yin.
"No... don't."
Chou Yin's eyes bulged with fury.
His gaze was filled with terror.
He knew there was still an enormous gap between his strength and Qin Gengxin's.
After all, he was only at the Early Saint stage, while the other party was already at the Late Saint stage.
They were separated by two minor realms.
He was absolutely no match for Qin Gengxin.
But this Purple-gold bell was Chou Yin's life-saving magic treasure.
Even a full-force strike from a Peak Saint stage expert could barely be blocked by it.
Yet now, it had been cut apart by two strikes from his opponent.
"Go die."
Qin Gengxin snorted coldly, and the blood saber in his hand came crashing down without mercy.
The Purple-gold bell was instantly chopped into pieces.
Even Chou Yin himself was cut down by half.
Relying on his instinct to survive, he forced himself to cling to his final breath and tried to escape alive.
"Trying to leave now? Isn't that a little too late?"
Qin Gengxin snorted and waved his hand, directly activating the Nine Dragon Bell suspended in midair.
Brilliant light immediately burst forth from within the Nine Dragon Bell.
Countless rays of light completely sealed Chou Yin within.
Nine divine dragons circled high in the sky, letting out resounding dragon roars.
They completely blocked every route of escape Chou Yin had.
Qin Gengxin swung the saber in his hand.
That blood-red blade tore through the void.
Even heaven and earth themselves seemed to be cleaved apart by that single strike.
The powerful killing intent made people shudder with cold.
"Don't, I am the prince—"
The blood blade was incredibly fast, giving Chou Yin no chance to react.
Before Chou Yin could finish speaking, that terrifying light cut him cleanly in half at the waist.
A dignified Saint-level expert had fallen just like that.
Even when Qin Gengxin stepped forward and cut off Chou Yin's head.
No one had recovered from the shock of Chou Yin's death.
One had to know that he was a top expert at the Saint level.
Even in the entire Heavenly Flame Empire, he was someone who could swagger sideways through the streets.
And now, he had died here so miserably.
How deep, exactly, was the foundation of Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate?
Even someone as powerful as Chou Yin.
An elder of Heavenly Firmament Academy and a Saint-level expert.
After offending Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate, he still could not escape the fate of body and soul perishing.
"Young Master, this old man did not fail your trust."
Qin Gengxin carried Chou Yin's head as he cupped his hands toward Qin Anlan.
"Third Elder, thank you for your efforts."
Qin Anlan nodded slightly.
Then he turned his gaze toward the Liu Family.
"Is this the reinforcements you invited? They seem rather unable to withstand a single blow."
"This Young Lord said I would send your Liu Family to the heavens. Naturally, I will not go back on my word."
"Liu Chongshan, as the head of the Liu Family, we will start with you."
Upon receiving the order, Tu Xiu flashed over to Liu Chongshan's side.
He grabbed Liu Chongshan by the collar and raised the butcher's blade in his hand.
He was about to kill Liu Chongshan before everyone's eyes.
Having come back to his senses, Liu Chongshan kept roaring and begging, "No! Young Lord of the Divine Marquis, I beg you to show mercy. Please, do not kill me."
"Ruyan, what are you still standing there for? Hurry and beg the Young Lord to show mercy and spare me."
Having reacted, Liu Ruyan also realized that Qin Anlan was serious.
She looked at Qin Anlan, pleading as she said, "Qin Anlan, spare my father. He is innocent."
"Beg me?"
"Is that how you beg someone?"
Qin Anlan snorted coldly, his face full of disdain. "Have you ever seen someone begging while standing?"
"Kneel down and beg properly. If this Young Lord is in a good mood, your father may still have a chance to live."
Kneel down and beg?
Kneel before Qin Anlan, that lapdog?
Liu Ruyan had never imagined that this day would come.
Nor had she imagined that after Qin Anlan, that lapdog, rose to power, he would turn his blade on her.
But in the current situation.
If she did not kneel and kowtow to Qin Anlan, begging for mercy.
Her father's life would likely be impossible to save.
Liu Ruyan bit down hard on her lip.
Though her face was filled with unwillingness, she still fell to her knees before Qin Anlan with a thud.
"Young Lord of the Divine Marquis, I beg you. Please be merciful and spare my father."
Though she had been forced to kneel before Qin Anlan.
There was not the slightest hint of surrender in Liu Ruyan's heart.
The fury in her heart could not be put into words.
She swore.
Just don't let me find an opportunity.
Otherwise, I, Liu Ruyan, will pay any price to take revenge on Qin Anlan.
As long as I can safely survive this calamity and find Senior Brother Ye Qingyun someday, I will definitely ask Senior Brother Ye to act and kill Qin Anlan, this vile dog.
Little did she know.
The fury and killing intent revealed in Liu Ruyan's eyes had all been taken in by Qin Anlan.
"Now that is more like it."
Qin Anlan remained impassive. He nodded in satisfaction and calmly gave the order, "Kill!"
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