Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Jiang Yi spoke in a clear manner, and his intention of mockery was obvious. He didn’t have any complaints if anyone was to plot against him openly or in the dark. However, since they kidnapped Jiang Xiaonu and the others, he was truly looking down on Dugu Qiu.
Dugu Qiu’s expression didn’t change. He laughed lightly and replied, “Jiang Yi, you are wrong. Kidnapping your family is also a kind of plotting in the dark, although we might not be as upright. No matter is it military or conspiracy, don’t we do all these for the result? No matter what the methods are? Hence, it didn’t matter if I wanted to do it or not. As long as it is for the Martial Arts Hall, I will do whatever it takes. I hope you can understand.”
Understand your ass!
Jiang Yi wanted to burst out with a cuss, but Jiang Xiaonu and the others were still in the hands of the Martial Arts Hall. He had no choice but to endure it. After staying silent for a moment, he said, “Chief Hall Master Dugu, state your terms then.”
Dugu Qiu nodded lightly and picked up his teacup to take a sip of tea. He then slowly put down the teacup and spoke in a serious expression, “Jiang Yi, we have different stands, so please pardon us for all the offending incidents in the past. I can promise to release your family unscathed, at the same time… I can guarantee you to be the ruler of the continent—the new thearch—and guaranteed eternal glory for your future descendants!”
“Huh!”
Jiang Yi was astonished. Dugu Qiu was truly here to negotiate, and he was extremely sincere. The conditions that he gave were also very generous, and if it was anyone else, they would be giving it serious considerations. After all, it was the pinnacle state of one’s life to become a thearch. Furthermore, one could even guarantee glory for future generations. This temptation was too much.
Jiang Yi paused for a moment and spoke calmly, “What do you need me to do?”
Dugu Qiu and Ji Tingyu looked at each other while the latter spoke for the first time since she entered, “Jiang Yi, you don’t have to do anything, and the Martial Arts Hall will not interfere with anything you do. Once you become the thearch, you just have to make sure that the Kingdom Wars will continue to be conducted. You can allow the six vassal kingdoms to continue existing, or you can split the continent into countless vassal kingdoms. As long as you are happy, you can do whatever you want; and the Martial Arts Hall will not meddle in your affairs. Of course… there is one more thing. You have to offer your soul seal.”
“Hahaha!”
Jiang Yi laughed hysterically as though he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. Elder Lu and Elder Zeng were infuriated again but were suppressed by Dugu Qiu.
After Jiang Yi finished laughing, Dugu Qiu stood up and spoke in a solemn expression, “Jiang Yi, I can make the Divine Blood Vow. As long as you hand over your soul seal and promise that the Kingdom Wars will continue to be conducted, the Martial Arts Hall will not meddle in anything else. Otherwise, all of us will die of a miserable death.”
The Divine Blood Vow was the most serious vow on the continent.
There were legends of those people that made the Divine Blood Vow said that they would be punished by heavens if they went against the vow. This was a serious matter, and the ceremony required plenty of complicated processes and was very efficacious. There was once a Vajra Realm martial expert who violated the vow in history, and he was dead after being struck by lightning.
At this moment, Jiang Yi actually believed that Dugu Qiu didn’t lie to him. If he was to offer his soul seal and promised that the Kingdom Wars would continue, the Martial Arts Hall would surely carry out the earlier conditions stated by Dugu Qiu.
Would Jiang Yi offer his soul seal? Or perhaps to say… would he compromise with the Martial Arts Hall?
Obviously not!
Putting aside the revenge for Zhuge Qingyun that he must serve—if he was to offer his soul seal, he would be a slave for the Martial Arts Hall for his entire life. What was the use of becoming the thearch if his life was in the grasp of others? He would rather die than be alive in such a situation. What was there to be pleased about?
This wasn’t the life that he wanted, and he wasn’t an individual who would easily compromise. Thus, he grinned and said, “What if I don’t accept?”
“There is no other choice.”
Dugu Qiu shook his head and spread out his hands. “We will have to reluctantly kill you. You know too much, and if you don’t submit to the Martial Arts Hall, you have to die!”
Ji Tingyu stood up as well and sighed. “Jiang Yi, I hope you don’t make a mistake. Those who went against the Martial Arts Hall in history—even if you are a Heaven Monarch expert, you will have to die, too! The Martial Arts Hall is much stronger than you can ever imagine. Those who comply will prosper and those who rebel shall die!”
“Is that so? I would like to see exactly how strong the Martial Arts Hall is.”
Jiang Yi grinned as his body burst with a murderous aura. The Fire Spirit Pearl lit up and poured out bundles of flames. His hands lit up as well as he got ready to release the Nine Heavens’ Dragon Flames.
He had an unyielding character since he was young, and they were asking him to be a slave for the Martial Arts Hall? In their dreams!
Furthermore, he didn’t believe that he didn’t have any chances. As long as he could eliminate the four of them, would the Martial Arts Hall dare to kill Jiang Xiaonu and the others?
The one who struck first would gain the upper hand!
They were at such a close distance. If Jiang Yi was to release the Netherworld Ghost Flames—putting aside the Chief Hall Master, Ji Tingyu and the two other elders would be easily incinerated, right?
However—!
Something happened that made Jiang Yi astonished. Just as he released the Netherworld Ghost Flames, the Chief Hall Master’s hand flashed with light and sent a palm strike at him. The air around him shook, and he actually vanished.
“Uh…”
Jiang Yi’s body reappeared in mid-air, and he was looking around with confusion… as though he had seen a ghost. He was actually forced to teleport?
“What kind of spatial dao pattern is this? It can actually force others to teleport?”
Xia Tingwei and the Ling Clan’s Patriarch had both comprehended spatial dao patterns. Xia Tingwei could teleport through the spatial crevices and could vibrate the spatial zones to stop Jiang Yi from instant-shifting. He had never heard of a spatial dao pattern which could teleport the enemies away.
“Marshal!”
Roar!
Grandma Silver Flower and the Yazi Beast soared through the air and stood beside Jiang Yi anxiously. When they saw his expression, it was obvious that… the negotiations had failed. It meant that there was going to be a fierce battle ahead.
“Sigh…”
Dugu Qiu led the others out from the Martial Arts Hall while he and the two elders soared into the sky. Dugu Qiu’s eyes locked onto Jiang Yi, who was on the Yazi Beast, and asked a final question, “Jiang Yi, are you sure you want to fight?”
“Enough of your nonsense!”
The Fire Dragon Sword appeared in Jiang Yi’s hand, and he used it to point at Dugu Qiu while demanding, “Let go of my people and hand over the culprit that plotted against Principal Zhuge. Promise not to provoke me again, and I can let the Martial Arts Hall survive. Otherwise… I will make sure all the Martial Arts Hall’s establishments in the continent are disintegrated.”
“Haha! What an ignorant fool. Jiang Yi, I will let you see the Martial Arts Hall’s foundation. I will let you see why even the Demon Empress didn’t dare to provoke our Martial Arts Hall!”
Dugu Qiu transmitted a statement while his ancient divine essence ring lit up. A pagoda appeared in his hand, and he gently lifted it. That pagoda flew towards the sky and rapidly expanded, quickly turning into a 300-meter tall and 300-meter wide giant pagoda.
This giant pagoda was made with an unknown kind of black bricks, and it looked simple yet impressive. It was emitting an ancient and almighty aura presence. It felt as though it was a cardinal treasure that had existed since the start of time.
“What artifact is that?”
Jiang Yi started at the pagoda while Grandma Silver Flower and the Yazi Beast had a dignified expression. They originally thought that the pagoda was an offense-type artifact, but they couldn’t feel any pressure from it. It didn’t even have the aura presence of a saint artifact or a heaven artifact. It looked just like an ordinary pagoda.
“Multitude Beast Pagoda, open!”
Dugu Qiu’s hand flashed with light as an essence force was shot at the pagoda. The ancient pagoda glowed with radiance while a large front door opened up. Immediately after, everyone in the city was extremely shocked by what happened next.
“Howl-Howl!””Wu-Wu!””Roar-Roar!”
Deafening and shocking roars could be heard as massive beasts rushed out endlessly from the pagoda. Every beast was more than 30 meters in height and had appalling aura presence. They were all peak-grade demon kings!
One, two… nine… a hundred!
In just the blink of the eye, half the sky was occupied by the giant beasts. The aura presence from a hundred peak-grade demon kings had caused the air in Stellarsky City to stop flowing. Everyone below was in despair as they knew that no matter which side came out victorious, everyone here would probably not survive.
Jiang Yi swallowed his saliva and spoke only after a good moment, “Goddammit. The Martial Arts Hall’s foundation is actually so terrifying…”
