"Liu Xuan! I couldn't find Ye Chen, but stumbling upon you will do! Since you're here, I'll kill you first!"
Aboard the Ancient Spirit Boat, Qin Xiao gripped an Ancient Jade Slip. The artifact pulsed with an ominous black mist that coalesced, pointing directly toward the Imperial Palace where Liu Xuan was located. Qin Xiao sneered, "That trash Ye Chen is certainly good at hiding! Half a month, and he still hasn't shown his face!"
A black-clad youth stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Young Master, Luo Feng of the Heavenly Net Hall branch previously sent a message saying he was also tracking Ye Chen, but his communication has since gone silent."
Qin Xiao scoffed. "Ye Chen's life is mine to take! If Luo Feng dares to kill him before me, I'll kill Luo Feng!"
The youth's heart seized up. Has the Young Master gone completely mad with bloodlust?
Just then, a Supreme Profound Sect disciple asked, "Senior Brother Qin Xiao, how many Grand Dao Sect disciples are ahead?"
Qin Xiao clenched his fist, his face contorted with murderous intent. "Anyone who dares to block my path to Ye Chen, I will slaughter! If one Grand Dao Sect disciple stands in my way, I'll kill one! If ten stand in my way, I'll kill ten! I will kill until they no longer dare to shelter that waste!"
As his voice dropped, savage spiritual energy surged around him. His brocade robes billowed, and a sliver of the Supreme Scripture's killing aura leaked out, its destructive power immense.
A gray-robed disciple respectfully asked, "Senior Brother Qin Xiao, should we contact Senior Brother Lin Lei and the others to assist us this time?"
Lin Lei and the others were the Supreme Profound Sect's other Divine Son candidates. Since Qin Xiao had joined Supreme Profound Peak, his prodigious talent and rapid cultivation, coupled with the Sect Master's special favor, had made him arrogant and overbearing. The other Divine Son candidates had long been suppressed by him and harbored deep resentment. Thus, within the Secret Realm, they had deliberately led their followers away from Qin Xiao, refusing to cooperate.
Qin Xiao said coldly, "No need."
At that moment, among the Ancient Qin Family disciples, another youth in brocade robes slowly rose. He was the spitting image of Qin Xiao, yet his face lacked his brother's overbearing arrogance, appearing instead somewhat naive and even frail. This was Qin Wang, also a son of the Patriarch, but from a different mother.
For years, Qin Wang had lived under Qin Xiao's thumb, suffering constant beatings until Qin Xiao joined the Supreme Profound Sect, which finally gave him a moment of peace. Qin Wang was terrified of Qin Xiao and obeyed his every command, yet in the deepest recesses of his heart, he harbored intense resentment.
Since childhood, after every brutal beating, Qin Wang would crawl into a dark corner of his room, weeping and fiercely stabbing a small wooden effigy he'd carved in Qin Xiao's image. He would curse Qin Xiao to die young, suffer a sudden, violent death, or watch his cultivation inexplicably plummet, turning him into a waste. One day, Qin Xiao discovered the effigy and nearly beat Qin Wang to death; only the Patriarch's intervention saved him.
Qin Wang slowly approached Qin Xiao, his voice trembling as he asked, "Brother, how should we fight the Grand Dao Sect disciples later?"
Qin Xiao turned, his gaze sweeping over Qin Wang with contempt. "What, are you afraid?"
Meeting Qin Xiao's eyes, Qin Wang shivered uncontrollably. "N-no, not at all."
Qin Xiao let out a cold snort, his voice laced with fury. "Trash! I'm ashamed to share our father's bloodline with you!"
Smack! Qin Wang was sent flying over ten yards, nearly tumbling off the Ancient Spirit Boat entirely.
Qin Xiao roared, "Worthless! If I hadn't promised Father to bring you out for experience this time, I wouldn't let you disgrace me in this Secret Realm! Now, get lost and stay out of the way!"
Qin Wang clutched his face, which was already swelling into a small mound, and mumbled, "Understood, Brother."
Everyone present looked at Qin Wang with pity. Though both were sons of the Ancient Qin Family Patriarch, Qin Wang had lost the race from the moment he was born.
Qin Xiao scoffed and ignored him. Qin Wang huddled in a corner of the Ancient Spirit Boat, swallowing a pill as a flash of intense hatred crossed his eyes. He began to curse Qin Xiao inwardly.
His action just now hadn't been a mistake; it was a calculated move. By deliberately showing weakness in front of the assembled prodigies of the Ancient Qin Family and the Supreme Profound Sect, he ensured Qin Xiao wouldn't force him into battle. He was genuinely terrified that Qin Xiao would send him to his death. He was no match for those Grand Dao Sect disciples! He decided the slap was a small price to pay for saving his life.
Qin Wang stared at Qin Xiao's back and silently renewed his curses. "Brother, I hope you die in this Secret Realm so I can inherit the Young Master position! And as for your fiancée, Nangong Baixue... I will take good care of her." The thought of Nangong Baixue's delicate, fair complexion made his heart pound. She possesses the Primordial Yin Body, after all! For years, he had been biding his time, concealing his true cultivation, and focusing on defensive arts, constantly fearing Qin Xiao would secretly kill him. Sigh... If my brother doesn't die, I'll never be able to stand tall in the Ancient Qin Family!
At that moment, the Ancient Spirit Boat transformed into a shooting star, rocketing toward the Imperial Palace where Liu Xuan was stationed.
Elsewhere, Lu Xuan frowned slightly. "I didn't expect the Ancient Qin Family and the Supreme Profound Sect to run into the Grand Dao Sect so quickly," he muttered. Only Liu Xuan and her group were near the Imperial Palace, and they were clearly no match for Qin Xiao's forces.
Lu Xuan's heart remained utterly unperturbed. He concealed his presence and slipped into a hidden spot, settling in to observe. Should I warn Liu Xuan and the others? No need. Just observe. He had to remember the second article of the Iron Rule of Longevity: Let go of the urge to help others, and respect their destiny.
Moments later, Liu Xuan's beautiful eyes narrowed. She stepped into the air, her long dress fluttering, outlining the perfect curves of her exquisite body. Her black hair cascaded down, and her long, slender legs moved gracefully as she sent her divine sense toward the distance.
A torrent of savage energy was surging there, and the Ancient Spirit Boat was tearing through the void, its passage clearing the clouds and radiating an overwhelming aura. Boom! Boom! Boom! The sound of it breaking the air was like thunder, echoing across the sky.
A roaring voice erupted from the Ancient Spirit Boat: "Liu Xuan, you are here!"
Instantly, Qin Xiao stomped hard on the Ancient Spirit Boat and launched himself into the sky, terrifying divine radiance surging around him as he hurtled toward Liu Xuan. His aura was monstrous, forming a localized storm wherever he moved, with divine rainbows blazing beneath his feet. His face was twisted in a snarl, and with every step he took, his power intensified. "You dared to insult my fiancée, Baixue! Die!"
Liu Xuan's expression turned frigid. She raised a delicate hand, signaling the other true disciples to retreat, and charged directly at Qin Xiao. Brilliant flower petals bloomed beneath her jade-like feet as she moved gracefully. Her long dress shimmered with divine light, and her figure was captivating. Showing no fear, Liu Xuan unleashed her strongest Soul Combat technique.
Shing! A dazzling, multicolored light erupted, weaving into a vast, shimmering net that glittered like a tapestry of stars, attempting to ensnare Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao sneered, his power surging as he slammed a palm strike toward Liu Xuan. Not far away, the Ancient Spirit Boat hovered in the void, the disciples of the Ancient Qin Family and the Supreme Profound Sect watching the battle.
Qin Wang frowned slightly, licking his lips. He muttered under his breath, "This Liu Xuan of the Grand Dao Sect has a unique charm, too. She's alluring and beautiful, perhaps even more so than Nangong Baixue. Why must Brother fight her to the death? He should just take her as a Dao Companion. Or better yet, hand her over to me for proper affection."
Boom! Qin Xiao's palm descended like a shadow covering the sky, carrying monstrous force. The terrifying power crashed into Liu Xuan's attack, causing the space to explode with divine radiance. Liu Xuan was instantly thrown back over ten yards!
Qin Xiao scoffed. "If Luo Lingkong were here, you might be worth my serious attention. You are too weak!" His voice echoed as he continued to unleash terrifying offensive power. Spiritual energy in the void erupted like crashing waves against a shore.
After dozens of breaths, Liu Xuan began to falter. Blood stained her long dress, and her aura grew weak. Seeing this, the other true disciples rushed forward, their killing intent soaring as they confronted Qin Xiao. "Qin Xiao, don't you dare harm our Senior Sister!"
But in just a few exchanges, Qin Xiao struck them down from the sky, leaving them severely injured. "Liu Xuan! Die!" Qin Xiao sneered, his final palm strike descending to crush her.
Just then, BOOM! A sword cry echoed across the void. Sword light, cold and sharp, spanned ten thousand yards, transforming into a massive rainbow that slashed toward Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao spun around abruptly and saw a youth in azure robes flying toward him on a sword. It was Luo Lingkong! Behind him followed over a dozen Grand Dao Sect disciples.
Qin Xiao let out a cold snort. "Luo Lingkong, think carefully. I intend to kill Liu Xuan. Do you truly wish to stop me?"
Luo Lingkong's face was calm and unruffled as he countered, "Qin Xiao, would you like to witness my Instant Void Sword?"
After his previous defeat outside the Secret Realm, where Ye Chen's martial Dao furnace shattered his sword intent, Luo Lingkong's Dao Heart had not broken. Instead, he had gained insight from Ye Chen's 'Breaking Ten Thousand Laws' phenomenon. Now, his Instant Void Sword was even stronger! His Life-and-Death Sword Intent had reached a new height, and during his time in the Secret Realm, he had broken through to Profound Venerate Stage Four! He was eager to find out if his current Life-and-Death Sword Intent was capable of slaying Qin Xiao!
For a moment, the two stood opposed in the void, their battle intent soaring. Qin Xiao did not immediately attack, as he was wary of Luo Lingkong's Instant Void Sword. Luo Lingkong also held back, waiting for Fang Yan and the others to arrive. While his Life-and-Death Sword might be able to kill Qin Xiao, the Ancient Spirit Boat behind Qin Xiao carried dozens of disciples from the Ancient Qin Family, the Supreme Profound Sect, and the Heavenly Blade Sect.
Luo Lingkong knew that after unleashing his ultimate sword strike, he would be left severely weakened, putting the Grand Dao Sect at a massive disadvantage. They were heavily outnumbered! Luo Lingkong glanced at the Ancient Spirit Boat, relieved not to see the other Supreme Profound Sect Divine Son candidates. Even so, if a chaotic battle erupted, it would be seventy or eighty enemy disciples against twenty-something Grand Dao Sect disciples. The advantage was not theirs.
Just then, Qin Xiao swept his divine sense across the area and quickly discovered the underground palace concealed within the mountainous terrain. A slight smile curled his lips. "Excellent! Excellent! No wonder you were lingering here, Liu Xuan. This is the inheritance site of a Martial Great Emperor, and that wisp of Dao Rhyme from the Bronze Ancient Palace has also settled within this underground palace."
Hearing this, the faces of the Grand Dao Sect disciples changed drastically. Qin Xiao had discovered the Martial Emperor's Palace!
From his hidden vantage point, Lu Xuan watched the unfolding drama with keen interest. "Liu Xuan is severely injured and can no longer fight," he murmured. "The Grand Dao Sect disciples are clearly outnumbered, and now that Qin Xiao has found the underground palace, a chaotic brawl is inevitable!"
As his voice faded, Qin Xiao spoke, his tone cold and absolute. "Luo Lingkong, the ultimate inheritance has been revealed! I will give the Grand Dao Sect a choice! Within ten breaths, leave Liu Xuan behind and retreat, or all of you will die here! Ten, nine, eight..."