The resolve to take revenge

Meanwhile, the Azure Feather Dynasty was facing a crisis that threatened to destroy it.

A multitude of unfamiliar experts had suddenly appeared, bringing the entire dynasty to a standstill in an instant.

Experts were falling every moment.

Even more terrifying, these enemies were everywhere. Some were even their own people, right beside them.

Qingzhou had been at peace for too long. Faced with this sudden crisis, it had clearly fallen into a panic.

"Second brother, you bastard!"

"You actually colluded with Central Province experts to scheme against our Azure Feather Dynasty. Are you even a Qingzhou native?!"

Qing Ji, the reigning crown prince of the Azure Feather Dynasty, hurled abuse at the second prince, Qing Yun.

He was in a sorry state, his presence weak.

By contrast, the second prince, Qing Yun, was brimming with confidence. There was no trace of his usual weakness.

Several Central Province experts stood guard around him. The sight made Crown Prince Qing Ji gnash his teeth, but he could do nothing.

"Heh heh heh, big brother, this is the last time I'll call you that."

"Haven't you always wanted to become the Feather Emperor?"

"But do you know? That's always been my wish too."

Madness showed on Qing Yun's face. One moment he laughed, the next he wept.

Scenes from the past flashed through his mind.

His big brother's contempt, his father's disregard, and the dream that remained out of reach no matter how hard he tried.

Why had heaven been so unfair to him?

Since you can't give me what I want, I'll take it with my own hands!

Qing Yun's words only enraged Qing Ji further. "Is that why you betrayed the dynasty and betrayed us?!"

"Even if we all die, do you think you can take the throne? No, dream on! No one will acknowledge your place, no one!"

"Hahahaha! Why should I need anyone else's acknowledgment?"

Qing Yun laughed ferociously. Today, he would show the world just who was worthy of ruling Qingzhou!

Not far away, the reigning Feather Emperor also heard the commotion. He felt worse than anyone.

Since ancient times, the eldest legitimate son had always been named heir.

He had merely followed that custom. What had he done wrong?

If he could do it all over again, he really should have splattered that unfilial son against the wall back then!

Rumble!

With a thunderous crash, Qing Ji was blasted over to where he stood.

Seeing Qing Ji gravely injured, the Feather Emperor immediately exposed an opening.

In the next instant, he too was struck down by a Central Province expert, smashing a huge crater into the ground.

"Cough, cough. Father Emperor, I waited my whole life for you to abdicate. I never imagined that, in the end, father and son would die here together."

Qing Ji spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale as he spoke.

The Feather Emperor struggled to his feet. He had not given up hope entirely.

"The ancestor is still here. As long as he wins, our Azure Feather Dynasty will not fall!"

In the void.

Thunderous booms rang out incessantly. Two Saint Realm experts were battling, their presence terrifying.

Even a wisp of the resulting shock waves would inflict heavy losses on everyone present.

But just as the Feather Emperor's words fell,

the sounds in the void suddenly ceased.

Immediately afterward, a figure shot out and appeared before the Feather Emperor and the others.

It was Ancestor Qingtian.

"It's the ancestor!"

"Could it be that we won?"

The people of the Azure Feather Dynasty were instantly elated, but in the next moment, despair appeared on their faces.

Ancestor Qingtian's chest was covered in blood, his face was as pale as paper, and his presence had weakened to the extreme.

"Hahaha! Today is the day your Azure Feather Dynasty falls. Surrender obediently, and your lives will be spared!"

Another figure flew out of the void. It was a middle-aged man with a terrifying presence. Though he was also injured, he was in far better shape than Ancestor Qingtian.

At these words, countless experts within the dynasty immediately began to waver.

The Feather Emperor's expression turned ugly.

Ancestor Qingtian sighed, glaring viciously at Qing Yun not far away as he said darkly, "I only regret that I failed to see your intentions that day, you beast, and allowed you Central Province bandits to succeed!"

That day, Ancestor Qingtian had noticed something unusual about Qing Yun. He had sensed a trace of a presence that did not belong to Qingzhou.

But he had been in a hurry to enter the treasury and fetch resources for the Lu Clan, so he had thought nothing more of it.

Who could have known that this tiny detail would bring the Azure Feather Dynasty to the brink of annihilation?

"Die!"

Ancestor Qingtian's presence suddenly surged as he unleashed a powerful move at Qing Yun with all his might.

At the sight, Qing Yun went deathly pale and hurriedly roared, "Senior, save me!"

In the end, the Central Province Saint Realm expert intervened and stopped Ancestor Qingtian, but Qing Yun was still blasted away by the terrifying shock wave. He was gravely injured and fell unconscious on the spot.

At the moment Ancestor Qingtian attacked, several core members of the Azure Feather Dynasty also received a covert voice transmission from him-break through the encirclement at once and head for the Lu Clan in White Cloud City!

Hearing this, they immediately sprang into action.

"Hmm? Trying to run? Don't even think about it!"

The Central Province experts reacted swiftly and moved to intercept them.

"I never imagined that the vast Azure Feather Dynasty would fall in a single day."

Reading the battle report that had arrived, Clan Head Lu Qingshan shook his head and sighed.

His adopted daughter, Qing Xu, knelt before him, her eyes red and her petite body trembling slightly.

That was the place where she had been born and raised, after all.

More importantly, Lu Qingshan had already told her how Ancestor Qingtian had helped her over the years.

But now, before she had the chance to repay him, Ancestor Qingtian had already fallen.

"Godfather, I want to avenge Ancestor Qingtian."

Qing Xu suddenly raised her head, her tear-filled eyes brimming with determination.

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan sighed. "Of course. Senior Ancestor Qingtian showed kindness to our Lu Clan as well. But if you want to take revenge with your own strength, you'll have to cultivate diligently and become a true expert as soon as possible."

"I will!"

Just then, Lu Fan arrived.

"Clan Head, that boy Qing Zhe heard the news and has nearly gone mad. He says that if we don't let him leave, he'll kill himself."

The news took Lu Qingshan by surprise. Wasn't that boy terrified of death? Now he actually dared to kill himself.

"Godfather, let me go see him."

Qing Xu rose as she spoke.

Lu Qingshan thought it over. If the Azure Feather Dynasty had truly been destroyed, Qing Xu was probably Qing Zhe's last living relative.

With that thought, Lu Qingshan nodded. "Go, then."

After Qing Xu left, Lu Fan said to Lu Qingshan, "Clan Head, the Azure Feather Dynasty now exists in name only. Although a Central Province power has infiltrated Qingzhou, it's a vast place, and our Lu Clan still has plenty of room to develop."

"More importantly, if our Lu Clan can take in some of the Azure Feather Dynasty's remaining forces, they would be a tremendous help in obtaining Qingzhou's resources."

At these words, Lu Qingshan's eyes brightened slightly.

That was right. How had he forgotten about that?

As expected of a reincarnated Saint, he saw things clearly.

"In that case, I'll leave this matter to you. Whatever methods you use, bring in as many of the Azure Feather Dynasty's remaining forces as you can."

"That shouldn't be too difficult for you."

After all, the Lu Clan and the Azure Feather Dynasty were allies, though they had not helped the dynasty in the slightest. But they had their reasons.

In the entire Azure Feather Dynasty, aside from Qing Xu, only Ancestor Qingtian knew of the existence of the Lu Clan's Ancestor Tianyan.

Without Ancestor Tianyan, the Lu Clan really was not much to speak of.

So it was only natural that they had not helped.

Besides, the ninth prince, Qing Zhe, was still with the Lu Clan. Perhaps, just perhaps, the dynasty could even be restored one day.

Elsewhere.

In a secluded little courtyard.

Qing Zhe knelt prostrate on the ground, sobbing bitterly.

He had never imagined that he had only wanted to come out and enjoy himself, yet had suddenly become a wanderer with no home to return to.

"Father Emperor, everyone..."

Creak.

The gate suddenly opened, and a familiar figure slowly entered the courtyard with heavy steps.

Qing Zhe raised his head numbly and saw Qing Xu looking at him with a complicated expression, her delicate little face now also covered in tearstains.

"Imperial sister..."

"Ninth brother."

Qing Xu spoke. It was the first time she had ever addressed Qing Zhe that way.

Qing Xu slowly approached and pulled Qing Zhe into her arms. Resting her pointed chin on top of his head, she said softly, "I'll avenge everyone. For the ancestor, and for the countless innocent people of the Azure Feather Dynasty."