Chapter 117: Ready?
Chapter 117: Ready?
There was no turning back now; everyone had reached a point of no return.
Chu Yanyu clearly understood one thing from Lu Qingming’s words—her little schemes had been seen through long ago. All along, she thought she had hidden herself quite well. But in reality, it was more because Lu Qingming didn’t care! It was like a child trying to be clever in front of an adult; every little move was actually noticed. The adult just chose not to say anything, not because they didn’t know, but because they didn’t want to.
As the saying goes, once an arrow leaves the bow, it cannot be called back. Lu Qingming had already played his trump card. With the entry of experts from the Carefree Sect, everything was instantly suppressed, and all disturbances were quelled. Some minor details, some imperfections—they simply didn’t matter to him.
Chu Yanyu said coldly, “Since when did secular conflicts require the intervention of sect forces?”
Lu Qingming replied calmly, “The Carefree Sect is the guardian sect of Great Chu. Under normal circumstances, naturally, they wouldn’t need to intervene. But in extreme situations, for example…” He glanced toward Ling Yi’s side. “When a rule-breaking troublemaker appears, then sect forces will naturally intervene at the first opportunity.”
With that, he gave a faint smile. “To set things right and clear away all enemies.”
Chu Yanyu narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Lu Qingming. “What do you mean by ‘all enemies’? Am I your enemy too?”
Lu Qingming said, “That depends on the choice you make, Eldest Princess.”
Chu Yanyu said flatly, “Then who exactly is the enemy?”
Lu Qingming smiled. “The Qin State, which violates our borders and severs our Dragon Vein, is naturally the enemy.”
At this point, things were already quite clear; there was no need to say more. Everyone could see that Lu Qingming was determined to declare war on Qin.
The members of the diplomatic missions from the other five states held their breaths, each feeling both tense and excited. The planned division of Great Qin was finally back on track.
Qi Gaofeng looked at Lu Qingming and said, “Confusing right and wrong, turning black into white—does Grand Tutor Lu think victory is already in hand?”
Lu Qingming glanced at him and said calmly, “The Qin State repeatedly provokes us and violates our borders. Now they’ve sent people to destroy Great Chu’s Dragon Vein. Where is the confusion of black and white? You need not say more. ‘In war, envoys are not killed.’ Quickly take your diplomatic mission back to your Qin State and await war.”
“As for Ling Yi, since he is not a member of your diplomatic mission and has committed terrible crimes in our Chu State, he shall stay here and face judgment!”
With that, he looked at the seven people who had entered, clasped his hands respectfully, and said, “I ask my seven senior brothers and sisters to take action and clear away the enemies of Great Chu!”
The seven people from the Carefree Sect consisted of five men and two women. All five men were over fifty, wearing Taoist robes, upright in appearance and bearing, with an aura of otherworldly experts. The two women appeared to be in their early thirties, also dressed in blue Taoist robes, beautiful in appearance, with a cold, disdainful look in their brows.
The seven entered the hall without a word, standing there like deep waters and high mountains.
At that moment, the bearded elder, the Young Master of the Qingshan Sect, slowly spoke: “Before that, may I take my fiancée away?”
The timing of the bearded elder’s request was perfect.
This time, Great Qin was doomed to lose! The Chu State had called them here with only one purpose—to pick a reason for war. Or rather, to casually find a reason for war and announce it to their faces: “We are going to fight you!”
It was that simple.
Struggles between nations may seem mysterious, profound, and complex, but in the end, they are merely conflicts of interest.
A weak state has no diplomacy.
When a nation becomes weak to a certain extent, everyone dares to take a bite.
Now, with the aging of the Great Qin Monarch and the recent major upheaval among Qin’s top leadership, Lu Qingming had precisely seized the opportunity. If given another ten or twenty years, Qin might truly have grown strong. But Lu Qingming couldn’t wait.
He needed this achievement! He wasn’t after worldly glory but a breakthrough in the Great Dao. And this was his path.
Whoever dared to block it would die.
The Qingshan Sect couldn’t compare to the Carefree Sect, but it was not far behind. So when the bearded elder made his request, Lu Qingming smiled and nodded. “This is a family matter between fellow practitioners. Please proceed as you wish.”
The bearded elder smiled and nodded, clasping his hands toward Lu Qingming. “Thank you for your fairness, Grand Tutor Lu.”
With that, he glanced around. The man in his early thirties looked toward Luo Xue beside Ling Yi. “Young Madam, please return.”
Everyone turned their gaze to Luo Xue.
Deep within Lu Qingming’s steady eyes flashed a faint trace of mockery. Today, no matter who stood behind you, Ling Yi, you were doomed! Could you afford to offend either the Carefree Sect or the Qingshan Sect? Did you really think the Primordial Spirit Realm made you invincible? The Carefree Sect had experts of that realm too!
Moreover, deep in his heart, he harbored another emotion: the severing of Great Chu’s Dragon Vein actually pleased him the most! Because it meant the Chu dynasty had reached its end. With the collapse of Great Qin, Great Chu… should also change dynasties.
Chu Yanyu hesitated, wondering whether to reveal her master. She believed that if she did, the seven people from the Carefree Sect… would certainly feel apprehensive! No matter how strong a sect was, it was ultimately beneath an Ancient Sect. But this matter… was too big! She didn’t dare mention it!
When she left her master’s side, her teacher, an Elder of the Ancient North Ming Sect, had told her: “The Ancient North Ming Sect does not interfere in secular mortal affairs. Now that you are leaving, you must not mention the name of the Ancient Sect to outsiders. Otherwise, if you incur a fatal disaster, even your master won’t be able to save you.”
Thus, unless absolutely necessary, she could not mention the name of the Ancient North Ming Sect. Her father had already bought her enough time, but judging by the situation… Chu Yanyu sighed inwardly: When a practitioner of cunning methods played an open game, it was truly terrifying! The last straw she had chosen might just be a straw after all. She would ultimately fail by a narrow margin.
Diwu Qianqian frowned, feeling waves of irritation. Of course, she recognized all seven people who had come. The moment they saw her, although their faces showed no expression, they all glanced at her. That glance made Diwu Qianqian realize that the cultivation target she had chosen… would certainly not survive today.
I haven’t even fallen in love yet!
You are about to kill the target I worked so hard to choose?
She was angry.
Very angry!
But there was nothing she could do.
The Sect had its rules. She dared to act recklessly in front of Lu Qingming, but she couldn’t jump around in front of these seven people.
Because if they could come here, they must have the Sect Master’s permission.
And the Sect Master was her master.
Thinking this, Diwu Qianqian looked at Ling Yi with some pity and asked softly, “You… do you still have any last wishes?”
Ling Yi was startled for a moment, then understood. He reached out and patted Diwu Qianqian’s head. “The path you’re cultivating now isn’t right for you.”
“Stop that, be silent!” From among the seven people, a haughty and coldly beautiful woman shouted. A ray of light suddenly shot towards Ling Yi.
This was a test!
Also a warning!
The ray of light disappeared before Ling Yi’s eyes without a sound.
Everyone was shocked.
But the coldly beautiful woman spoke. “This is a warning for you. If you dare touch her again, we’ll chop off one of your claws. If you dare spout nonsense again, we’ll slap your mouth shut!”
“Oho, this one seems somewhat kind-hearted?” The voice of the Enchantress giggled playfully in Ling Yi’s mind.
At that moment, the Qingshan Sect disciple beside the goateed old man looked at Luo Xue coldly again. “Young Madam, please return!”
Ling Yi smiled. “Don’t be afraid.”
Luo Xue nodded, looking over there. “I don’t acknowledge this marriage contract. Back then…”
Just as she was about to speak of the past, Ling Yi patted her shoulder. “Back then, your grandfather was tricked by them. Moreover, their purpose in wanting to marry you is not pure. So, there’s no need to say anything more to them.”
Instantly, a sharp coldness flashed in the goateed old man’s eyes as he looked at Ling Yi. “No wonder Grand Tutor Lu said you are eloquent. You’re quite skilled at using deceitful words to mislead people, aren’t you? You really have some skill, to have a member of the Yaozu willingly follow you…”
There was a Yaozu here?
The vast majority of people present had no ability to see through Hu Xiaoxian’s identity at a glance.
Only a few knew she was from the Yaozu.
Hu Xiaoxian, still eating over there, suddenly felt many gazes fall upon her.
The little fox spirit was still holding a pastry, her mouth stuffed full. She raised her head dazedly. “What’s the matter?”
Ling Yi smiled slightly at her. “It’s nothing. Keep eating.”
“Okay.”
Hu Xiaoxian nodded and continued eating.
The food here is really delicious!
Hu Dali, why aren’t you here yet?
If you don’t come soon, things might really go wrong!
The revival of our Fox Clan… success or failure rests on this!
You must come, you absolutely must come!
Hu Xiaoxian stuffed food into her mouth, anxiously hoping.
The atmosphere in the banquet hall was tense and heavy, but also somewhat strange.
The members of the various countries’ diplomatic missions also felt this strange atmosphere.
It was just… a bunch of people all talk and no action!
Lu Qingming asked the great expert from the Carefree Sect to act, but only one woman from the Carefree Sect made a move to scare Ling Yi, which felt like child’s play.
The Qingshan Sect side called for the Young Master’s fiancée to come over, but after being refused, they didn’t seem to intend to take action either. They were also just talking tough, even bringing the fire onto the Yaozu.
What were they doing?
What were they waiting for?
They were all waiting for the person behind Ling Yi to show themselves!
Draining a massive Spirit Stone Vein overnight, severing the mighty Chu’s Dragon Vein with a flick of a finger.
That feat was something only someone at the Primordial Spirit Realm could accomplish!
Moreover, even within the Primordial Spirit Realm, it would have to be a terrifying existence at the late-stage of that realm.
A cultivator who had just entered the Primordial Spirit Realm probably wouldn’t have such ability.
If this person didn’t appear, no one dared to act lightly.
Of course, if this person never appeared, they wouldn’t wait endlessly either.
Right now, they were watching to see if this person would take the risk of being besieged by the entire Cultivation World to protect Ling Yi.
Wait a little longer, if he still didn’t appear, then it meant Ling Yi had been abandoned!
At that time, there wouldn’t even be a need for these seven to act.
Any random person could suppress him.
No matter how strong his Golden Body was, it was still just a Golden Body.
Everyone was waiting. Some knew what they were waiting for, but many more didn’t.
Those who knew were quite anxious; those who didn’t know were even more anxious.
The Enchantress didn’t care about anything.
But she was also a bit impatient.
“Are you ready yet?” she asked. “If not, I’ll ask again later.”
“…”
Ling Yi glanced at Qin Hao and Gu Tong, then suddenly chuckled lightly. “You two should leave first.”
Gu Tong looked at him. “Are you joking?”
Qin Hao didn’t speak, just looked at Ling Yi, his gaze firm, conveying three words—face this together.
“Trust me.” Ling Yi looked at the two of them, then looked at Qi Gaofeng over there. “Deputy Prime Minister Qi, although I’m not a member of the diplomatic mission, I am one of the Qin People. If they want a fight, then we fight. Go back and prepare.”
Qi Gaofeng thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. “Alright!”
This battle was already unavoidable.
Staying here, this group couldn’t save Ling Yi.
Ling Yi looked at Chu Yanyu beside him. Since this Eldest Princess had fully entered the fray and stated her stance, she could be considered a friend.
“Sister Yu, please help escort the diplomatic mission members out of the country. Ensure their safety.”
Chu Yanyu gazed intently at Ling Yi.
Ling Yi gave her a slight smile.
“Fine.” Chu Yanyu nodded.
This scene once again caught far too many people off guard.
Even the slower reactors could sense something was wrong now.
The Eldest Princess of Great Chu was actually opposing the Grand State Preceptor of Chu?
Endless humiliation filled the eyes of Qin Hao, Gu Tong, and the other mission members.
If they left, it meant they were leaving Ling Yi alone here!
“Trust me.” Ling Yi emphasized again.
Qin Hao and Gu Tong nodded. Under the gaze of everyone in the hall, they left with the Qin State Diplomatic Mission members, hearts brimming with humiliation.
That feeling of shame and bitter indignation overflowed in their chests.
Ling Yi didn’t let Luo Xue leave, nor did he let the timid little fox spirit who was always shouting about running away first if there was trouble leave. The little fox spirit was still eating and didn’t mention running away either.
Lu Qingming’s side didn’t stop them.
Nor did they make any decision to detain the Crown Prince of Great Qin.
If they were going to destroy the whole country anyway, what was the point of holding a Crown Prince here?
Didn’t keeping people cost money?
“I haven’t eaten anything. I’m a little hungry. Get some more food for me.” Ling Yi, sitting there, said to Luo Xue.
“Okay.” Luo Xue smiled beautifully.
Twin mountains of swords or seas of fire—she would just accompany him.
“Ready yet?” The Enchantress asked again; she was getting annoyed.
“Don’t rush. Wait until I finish eating.” Ling Yi said.