CHAPTER 551: CHAPTER 535: ASSASSINATION_1

"What’s happening?"

Upon hearing the commotion outside, Qin Wudao raised an eyebrow. He got up, opened the window, and saw a giant suspended Spirit Stone mine raining down Spirit Stones. The sight immediately left him reeling. He rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.

Apart from his heartache over the Spirit Stones, he was rendered speechless by Shen Wansan. The man had just arrived and was already causing such a massive disturbance. No wonder that in his previous life, the founder of the Ming Dynasty almost had Shen Wansan killed!

"Your Majesty, your humble servant has arrived!"

At this moment, the palace door opened. Shen Wansan strutted in, smiling and saluting respectfully, the Space Ring on his finger fully visible.

Ten streams of Treasure Qi pervaded, filling the entire hall!

Show-off! A blatant show-off! Qin Wudao’s brow darkened. A mere minister, flaunting his wealth before Us? Is that really appropriate?

"Xu Chu, Dian Wei, heed my command!"

Sitting in his chair, Qin Wudao commanded in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty’s command is our will!"

The Void tore open, and Xu Chu and Dian Wei stepped out, clad in armor and wielding their weapons, exuding a potent Evil Qi. After saluting Qin Wudao, they were both immediately drawn to Shen Wansan—or more precisely, to the Space Rings on Shen Wansan’s fingers.

My goodness! With Treasure Qi practically radiating like this, how many treasures must be inside?

"Your Majesty, who are these two?"

Shen Wansan seemed a bit bewildered by the sudden appearance of Xu Chu and Dian Wei. Feeling their intense gazes, he asked cautiously. Whether intentionally or not, he even flashed his Space Rings again.

"Remove nine of the ten Space Rings from his fingers!" Qin Wudao pointed at Shen Wansan and ordered, his face dark.

"As you command!"

Xu Chu and Dian Wei, momentarily startled, soon broke into cruel smiles. Rubbing their hands together, they advanced towards Shen Wansan.

"AH!"

"Please, no!"

"You’re hurting me!"

Soon, pig-like squeals echoed from the bedchamber, enough to make any listener’s heart ache and eyes water. Fortunately, Qin Wudao’s bedchamber was protected by a Formation that insulated sound; otherwise, such suggestive cries might have sparked all sorts of wild rumors.

"You two bastards, couldn’t you have been a bit gentler!"

A few minutes later, Shen Wansan lay sprawled on the ground, his clothes disheveled. He rubbed his reddened fingers, his face a mask of grievance. Especially when he saw the nine Space Rings laid out on the imperial desk, his heart bled. He clutched the last Space Ring tightly in his palm, terrified it would also be snatched away.

The treasures in these ten Space Rings were converted from his wealth in his previous life, equivalent to about a thousand Spirit Stone mines! In his past life, he was the wealthiest man in Jiangnan! To put it simply, that’s like being the richest man in the East Border! And now, it’s all gone!

"We were merciful enough to leave you one!"

Looking at Shen Wansan’s pitiful expression, Qin Wudao found it amusing. He then solemnly ordered, "Issue a decree: Appoint Shen Wansan as a Third-Rank Attache, establish the Wanbao Building, and put him in charge of the Qin Dynasty’s commerce!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing the conferment, Shen Wansan was instantly thrilled, a wide smile spreading across his face. Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, from today onwards, he would shed his lowly merchant status and become an official in charge of commerce!

"You may all leave!" Qin Wudao waved his hand.

The three men bowed respectfully and exited the bedchamber.

Eight hundred and thirty-seven Spirit Stone mines!

Once everyone had left, Qin Wudao extended his divine sense to inspect each of the nine Space Rings. Even for him, the sovereign who ruled the world and possessed the wealth of the four seas, the sight of the mountainous piles of Spirit Stones was breathtaking. Truly, far too many! Comparable to half the national treasury!

Perfect for offsetting the costs of war! Qin Wudao mused, touching the Space Rings, a sharp glint in his eyes.

He then put the Space Rings away and began to study the Jixia Academy. The more he understood, the deeper his delight became. He discovered that the Jixia Academy’s functions were incredibly profound. However, to fully unlock its potential, he needed to summon all the Hundred Schools of Thought. Only by uniting their strength could he unleash a power capable of reshaping the world.

The road ahead is long and arduous!

「Starlight City.」

Threads of Blood Fiend Qi enveloped Starlight City, obscuring the sun and lingering heavily in the air. Across the vast land, corpses lay scattered everywhere, submerged in pools of blood, their slumber eternal. Some were disciples of Beidou Palace, others, soldiers of the Qin army.

Alas, Starlight City, now a forest of white bones; the passion of youth still seemed to linger on the broken bodies!

"Sir Nie, we are counting on you!"

On a hill, Ma Chao, his face stained with blood, stood holding his Tiger’s Roar Golden Spear. He looked at Nie Zheng before him and spoke with grave formality. Just moments before, he had concluded a brutal battle, sacrificing thousands of soldiers to break free from Beidou Palace’s encirclement. Thus, his voice carried a profound chill.

"Rest assured, General Ma!"

Nie Zheng, clad in a black robe with the White Rainbow Sword at his waist, returned the salute. As his voice faded, he transformed into a streak of black light and soared towards Starlight City. He shrank to a mere speck of light before vanishing completely.

May your journey be smooth, and may you return safely!

Standing on the hill, Ma Chao watched Nie Zheng depart, a hint of worry flickering in his otherwise cold eyes. He knew well how dangerous this mission was! Under Beidou Palace’s long-standing control, Starlight City had become an iron-walled fortress, heavily guarded and garrisoned by all of Beidou Palace’s strongest cultivators. Calling it a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den was no overstatement; a single misstep could lead to Yellow Spring. Moreover, the seven Xingzuns were always together, undoubtedly magnifying the assassination’s difficulty!

"Pass down the order, prepare for battle!"

After a moment, Ma Chao commanded in a heavy voice. For some reason, the sense of unease in his heart intensified.

"Understood!"

At the foot of the hill, a general saluted and quickly departed.

「Starlight City!」

"Damn it, they escaped again!"

Inside the majestic City Lord’s Mansion, Tianji Xingzun sat on the main seat, his blood-stained Star Sword in hand, roaring in fury. Ever since Guan Yu’s defeat and retreat from Starlight City, he had clashed with Ma Chao over a dozen times. Although he had held the upper hand in every engagement, he had failed to inflict any substantial damage on the Qin army.

He was starting to panic! These numerous battles had made him deeply aware of the Qin army’s terrifying strength! Of course, it wasn’t the Qin army outside the city he feared, but the forces stationed at the Great Qin Saint’s Court’s main camp and those on the Myriad Demon Saint’s Court battlefield. The assassination attempt by the three great Sacred Grounds against Qin had failed! The Myriad Demon Saint’s Court had suffered one defeat after another, losing a vast expanse of territory! Now, seeing more and more powerful experts from the Great Qin Saint’s Court becoming free, while they themselves had made no headway, the pressure he felt was immense.

The other six Xingzuns remained silent, but killing intent flickered in their eyes.

"We cannot delay any longer!"

After a moment of silence, Tianji Xingzun abruptly stood up and declared with determination, "I have decided! Tomorrow, the entire army will advance and fight a decisive battle against the Qin army!"

BOOM!

A terrifying killing intent erupted from him. A brilliant pillar of starlight erupted from the crown of his head, soaring into the ninth heaven and vanishing beyond the firmament.

"Agreed!"

"I agree as well!"

Tianshu Xingzun, Tianji Xingzun, and the others did not hesitate, all echoing their accord. They were all acutely aware that continuing this standoff would yield no benefits for Beidou Palace; indeed, they might even be inching towards utter annihilation in this deadlock.

"Relay the order! All disciples of the Seven Peaks of Beidou, prepare for battle!"

Once an agreement was reached, Tianji Xingzun commanded in a cold, authoritative tone. His powerful voice reverberated over Starlight City.

"Tianji Mountain, acknowledged!"

"Tianshu Mountain, acknowledged!"

"Kaiyang Mountain, acknowledged!"

"..."

The battle order was issued. Disciples from the Seven Peaks of Beidou roared, their fighting spirit surging to the heavens. Boundless starlight erupted as their terrifying might shook the Void. For a time, it was as if heaven and earth had been inverted, the sun and moon displaced, and the cosmos thrown into turmoil!

Tomorrow, huh? I should be able to make it in time!

Lost in their fervor, no one noticed an additional black-robed figure within the heavily fortified city. This figure moved through the Void, his aura completely concealed, seemingly detached from the fabric of heaven and earth. Gazing at the clamoring disciples of Beidou Palace, he let out a cold smirk and, like a phantom, stealthily advanced towards the City Lord’s Mansion.