This Was the Qin Clan

Tongtian Wanyue suddenly lowered his head and frantically searched through his Storage Ring.

Elixirs, Law Treasure, and even dozens of shimmering magical Law Artifact were scattered all over the ground.

This is what she searched for everywhere after hearing that the Divine Son was collecting magical Law Artifact.

Tongtian Wanyue held these treasures as if they were his entire worth.

However, she was unaware of this.

These things were worthless in Qin Wangchuan's eyes.

Ye Jianwei to one side, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the fan ribs.

They look so alike.

The girl's situation reminded her of herself when she was alone and dejected on the streets.

Despite feeling pity, Ye Jianwei remained silent, like a shadow.

However, the Jiujiu on Qin Wangchuan's shoulder tilted its head and let out a soft chirp, seemingly quite interested in the shiny things on the ground.

His gaze remained fixed on Jiang Yan on the arena below, but his thoughts were racing—

The Heaven-Reaching Pillar is of paramount importance, and this desperate young girl before us may be the "wedge" that will pry open the entire Tongtian Family.

The question is, is she worth the bet?

Thinking about it, Qin Wangchuan suddenly chuckled softly.

Every effect has a cause.

'To plot such a heaven-defying act Heaven-Reaching Pillar naturally requires a... utterly rebellious person.'

He finally turned around, his gaze pressing down on Tongtian Wanyue's shoulder with an almost tangible intensity:

"I want to obtain the Heaven-Reaching Pillar."

Tongtian Wanyue looked up, her silver hair slipping down her shoulders with the movement. "Your His Highness... does 'obtain' mean...?"

"Whether you seize it or control it, it doesn't matter." Qin Wangchuan untied a Dragon Pattern Jade Pendant from his waist and casually tossed it away. The Jade Pendant drew an arc in the air and landed precisely in front of her knees. "In the end, the Heaven-Reaching Pillar is in my hands."

This is unlike any ordinary token; it was transformed from a branch of the Divine Tree that Wood Ancestor personally gifted to Qin Wangchuan when he was crowned the Divine Son.

Deep within the Jade Pendant, a verdant Wood Dragon swam among the vigorous branches, each Dragon Scale imbued with the Undying Power.

It is a genuine Divine Son Token.

He stared into the girl's suddenly contracting pupils:

What is your choice?

Tongtian Wanyue stared intently at the Jade Pendant, as if it were not a warm and beautiful jade, but a red-hot branding iron.

The Heaven-Reaching Pillar --

That was both the responsibility and the belief of the Tongtian Family.

As a member of the main family, to personally plot to hand it over to outsiders—this is more than just treasonous.

This is tantamount to treason and annihilation of one's ancestors, enough to condemn her to eternal shame within the Lineage.

Six months ago, even if she had been driven to the brink of despair, she would never have wavered.

But...

Those memories gnawed at her like venomous snakes: being pushed and shoved by her peers as a child, being called a "white-haired monster"; the cold look in the elders' eyes when her cultivation resources were withheld; kneeling alone outside the ancestral hall on her birthday, listening to the laughter and merriment coming from inside...

The most chilling thing was her brother's soft, smiling voice, "A mere criminal woman, yet you dare to vie with me for the throne? My dear sister, rest assured, I won't kill you, but rather I'll keep you captive until you die!"

She never considered betraying them, but when had her Lineage ever offered her a place to stay?

Suddenly, a thought cleaved through the fog like lightning—

'No!'

'It's not betrayal, as long as I can use this to take control of the Lineage. At that time Heaven-Reaching Pillar will belong to me, and I will belong to His Highness. That would be a form of control, not betrayal!'

The trembling fingertips finally touched the warm Jade Pendant. Tongtian Wanyue flinched as if burned, then clenched it tightly.

For the first time, a resolute flame ignited in those previously timid eyes.

"Wanyue..." She bowed deeply, her voice hoarse yet clear, "I am willing to serve His Highness's vanguard."

Qin Wangchuan nodded in satisfaction. "Go."

He looked down, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "Bring my will to the Tongtian Family."

"Tell them by the way—"

"I don't care what crimes the Tongtian Sinan committed before."

"But now..."

"He is one of my people Chuanliu Pavilion."

"I've said all I need to say. If anyone is still dissatisfied—come find me yourself."

Tongtian Wanyue bowed deeply. "Wanyue obeys the command."

Tongtian Wanyue the order and withdrew, but even after leaving the Floating Island, he still felt unsteady on his feet.

She gripped the Dragon Pattern Jade Pendant tightly, her fingertips turning white from the force, yet she felt no sense of reality whatsoever.

"It actually... did it..." she murmured to herself, as if she were in a dream.

With this person's help, not only can I return to my Lineage, but I might even be able to take revenge on my Eldest Brother!

Although Tongtian Wanyue's fingers trembled with excitement, she took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. "Now... let's go back to the Lineage first."

Her fingertips gently caressed the warm, smooth Jade Pendant as she walked towards the Heaven-Reaching Pillar outside the city.

However, just as they left Tongtian City and were about to step into the teleportation array leading to the Ten Directions Immortal Court...

Dozens of Shadow Figure stepped out from the void, forming a killing formation that surrounded her.

Although these people were masked and deliberately concealed their presence, who else could be chasing her at this moment besides her good Eldest Brother?

"You were sent by our Eldest Brother, weren't you?" Tongtian Wanyue said calmly, as if she had already expected this.

The leader of the men in Black Clad lifted his veil, revealing a face she knew all too well— Tong Mingyuan, the Eldest Brother's most loyal Dao Protector.

"Seventh Miss, wouldn't it be better to live out the rest of your life peacefully?" Tong Mingyuan sighed. "As a descendant of Sin Blood, the Eldest Young Master is merciful and has promised to spare your life, even allowing you to live out the rest of your life in peace."

"But you, you actually dared to dream of seeking the protection of that Divine Son? How utterly laughable!"

"I'm sorry. We can't let you continue to act recklessly, otherwise, it will hinder that That Lord's great cause."

"Mercy?" Tongtian Wanyue's silver hair moved without wind, his voice filled with years of suppressed anger. "Keeping me like livestock until I died, that's his mercy?"

"Am I to be treated like this just because of this gray hair?"

"Further words are pointless." Tong Mingyuan's eyes turned cold. "Since you remain so stubborn..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tongtian Wanyue suddenly revealed the Jade Pendant in his hand!

The Wood Dragon in the pendant reflected a dazzling golden light under the blazing sun, then suddenly raised its head and let out a long cry—though silent, it sent shivers down the Divine Soul of all the men in Black Clad!

"This is the Jade Pendant the Divine Son Qin. Seeing this Jade Pendant is like seeing the Divine Son!" she shouted. Her petite body appeared particularly fragile amidst the crowd, but her delicate face was filled with a determination beyond her years.

"You--"

Tongtian Wanyue held the Jade Pendant high, his gaze fixed intently on the crowd:

"How dare you disrespect the Qin Clan?!"

"You actually..." Tong Mingyuan's expression changed drastically, but he still forced himself to remain calm. "No. Even if I kill you now, no one will know..."

The word "take action" hadn't even been uttered yet...

"Bang!"

To everyone's horror, Tong Mingyuan suddenly exploded into a cloud of blood mist!

Warm blood splattered on Tongtian Wanyue's face, but she stood there stunned, forgetting even to wipe it off.

This man, a highly capable member of the Lineage and the Eldest Brother's most trusted Dao Protector... just died like that?

"How arrogant!"

A detached voice came from the void, clearly from a great distance, yet it resonated distinctly in everyone's ears.

There was no one in sight, only the voice continued:

"The rest of you shall return to the Tongtian Family to receive your punishment."

The sound faded, but everyone could feel that several gazes were still watching them from the Unseen.

"Thump--"

The remaining men in Black Clad knelt down in unison and kowtowed deeply in the direction from which the voice came.

"Thank you for sparing my life, sir!"

They then removed their veils and respectfully stood on either side, making way for a passage.

"We... respectfully escort the Seventh Miss back to her residence."

Seeing her clansmen, who used to treat her coldly, now trembling with fear, Tongtian Wanyue felt a storm raging in her heart.

She knew the Qin Clan was powerful, but she didn't realize they were this powerful!

The Tongtian Family had to show deference to the Qin Clan, yet the Qin Clan... could kill members of the Tongtian Family at will!

Is this an absolute difference in strength?

She gripped the Jade Pendant tightly, feeling the vast vitality emanating from the Wood Dragon swimming within it.

Its mere glimpse of its power was enough to send Tongtian Wanyue's spine—what he held in his hand was not a Jade Pendant, but a trump card that could completely rewrite his destiny!