CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 73: KILL_1

Five days later, Qin Wudao and his entourage arrived at Baruch City in the western Qin Empire. Standing on the city wall, they gazed westward.

There stood a majestic, divided mountain peak, shrouded entirely in dark fog, its summit invisible. Powerful sealing energies coiled around it, making it appear incredibly mysterious.

"Your Highness, this is a natural relic, but whether a Tier 4 Mustard Seed World lies within is still impossible to determine!" Jia Xu stood beside him, fan in hand, his intelligent eyes sparkling with keen insight.

Behind them, Wu Ming, Wang Lingling, and Peng Shizhuang stood respectfully, listening intently, not daring to interrupt.

"Let’s go to the City Lord’s mansion for now. Considering the time, the prodigies from the other factions should be arriving soon."

Qin Wudao nodded calmly. Since he hadn’t entered the Ghost Tomb, he couldn’t discern any specifics and turned to descend the city wall.

His primary task now was to maintain stability in the western region.

Baruch City was the closest city to the Ghost Tomb, so any factions intending to enter the ruins would choose to stay here.

An hour later, Qin Wudao, along with Wu Ming, Wang Lingling, and Peng Shizhuang, settled into the City Lord’s mansion. Jia Xu went alone to a regular inn, which served as a liaison point for the Hidden Guard. He needed to mobilize the Hidden Guard to closely monitor the martial artists entering Baruch City.

As Qin Wudao expected, unfamiliar martial artists entered Baruch City that same afternoon. They were all independent cultivators who, after being warned by the city gate soldiers, dared not cause any trouble.

As a border city, Baruch City wasn’t particularly powerful, but it had the backing of the Qin Empire. Like seeking shade under a large tree, those without substantial backing naturally wouldn’t act recklessly.

And so, three uneventful days passed.

"HYAH!"

Outside the city gate, a troop of riders galloped forth at great speed. Their horses’ hooves kicked up a cloud of dust. Like a swift arrow, they showed no signs of slowing down even as they approached the city gate.

The riders were all young women, dressed in splendid robes, exuding a noble bearing and a powerful aura.

Each wore a jade petal-shaped token at her waist. The word ’Flower’ was inscribed on both sides of these tokens, and they emanated a faint fragrance.

This token represented supreme authority in the western territories of the East Ancient Domain.

It was the sect token of the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect. Anyone possessing this token was granted unimpeded passage, special privileges, and superior status within the cities of the Withered Flower Domain.

But!

This was the East Ancient Domain!

This was the Qin Empire!

"Halt!" the Baruch City guards shouted sternly, drawing their weapons and forming a human wall before the city gate entrance, bracing themselves.

"Get out of this lady’s way!" a disciple of the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect sneered. Contemptuously eyeing the soldiers she deemed mere ants, she raised her horsewhip high and lashed out viciously. The whip left a trail of afterimages in the air and produced a sonic boom.

Even before the whip landed, the pressure it generated caused the guards, who were only in the Innate Realm, to flush red and stumble backward. If it struck, they would be dead or crippled!

"If you want to blame someone, blame your emperor for killing Sister Wanxian! Today, I’ll kill a few of you grunts first to collect some interest!"

As the whip was about to hit its target, the young woman’s red lips curled into a cruel smile, a cold, murderous intent gleaming in her beautiful eyes.

BOOM!

At that crucial moment, a figure descended from the sky, accompanied by a brilliant sword light that flashed between heaven and earth. It severed the whip and produced a blinding radiance, obscuring everyone’s vision.

The whip-wielding young woman was thrown from her horse by a tremendous force. She coughed up a mouthful of blood and stared in shock towards the city gate.

There stood a young man, holding a battle sword and dressed in a python-patterned robe. His eyes blazed like the midday sun, seeming to illuminate the vast sky.

Noble!

Supreme!

"Which cur dares to cause trouble here? Are you tired of living?"

Qin Wudao’s icy voice, like a sharp sword, pierced the ears of the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect disciples, striking their very souls. It caused an agonizing, throbbing pain, as if they were being sliced by a thousand cuts.

Their warhorses fared even worse; their legs gave out, and they collapsed to the ground.

The dozen or so Ten Thousand Flowers Sect disciples all tumbled from their mounts, looking disheveled and filled with rage.

"You were the one who attacked just now, weren’t you?"

Qin Wudao walked up to the young woman whose whip had been severed, his expression cold. Under her terrified gaze, he thrust his sword forward, its sharp light seeming to shatter the void.

Anyone who dares to harm the people of the Qin Dynasty shall be killed without mercy!

A strikingly beautiful head flew into the air.

Blood splattered!

The ground was dyed red, a shockingly conspicuous sight that sent chills down the spines of the many observing martial artists.

"Senior Sister!" a disciple from the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect cried out, her face etched with grief. Staring furiously at Qin Wudao, she demanded, "You’re too tyrannical! Our senior sister didn’t even hurt anyone! By what right did you use lethal force?"

"One more word, and you die!"

Qin Wudao’s eyes glinted with an icy light. He stood ramrod straight, a faint imperial aura filling the void. An overwhelming, domineering presence permeated the air, making it difficult for everyone present to breathe.

"You—"

One Ten Thousand Flowers Sect disciple remained defiant.

CLANG!

Qin Wudao’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his right hand quivered. Sword Qi slashed through the air, and another head flew up, blood splattering five paces.

Witnessing two of their fellow disciples die so horrifically, the remaining Ten Thousand Flowers Sect disciples were scared witless, their pretty faces turning deathly pale. They dared not speak, much less retaliate.

For a moment, the once-bustling city gate fell eerily silent; even the sound of the wind could be heard with perfect clarity.

After a moment of hesitation, the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect disciples yielded. They picked up the two bodies and, their hearts filled with rage, entered Baruch City.

"The three of you, guard this place. Kill anyone who causes trouble! If you can’t defeat them, come to the City Lord’s Mansion to find me!" Qin Wudao said calmly, sheathing his Xuanyuan Sword.

"As you command!"

From the city wall, Wu Ming, Wang Lingling, and Peng Shizhuang jumped down, cupping their fists as they replied.

"Everyone, consider your actions carefully!" Qin Wudao’s dignified gaze swept across the crowd, and everyone who met his eyes involuntarily lowered their heads. Finally, he cast a profound look into the distance before turning to leave.

"We respectfully see Your Highness off!"

The city-guarding soldiers all knelt in unison, their hearts filled with reverence. Qin Wudao’s intervention had not only saved their lives but had also warmed their hearts.

This was a Crown Prince worth following!

「 」

"Mid-stage Nirvana Realm... This Qin Wudao is quite the formidable opponent!"

On a small hill, a thousand zhang away, several figures with extraordinary auras stood. The Young Clan Leader of the Lin Family, Lin Jiewen, wore a white robe. Handsome and distinguished, he remarked with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

"Before our Young Clan Leader, Qin Wudao can only bow his head and submit!" a Lin Family youth said sycophantically.

"Let’s go. Into the city!"

Lin Jiewen gave a faint smile and walked towards Baruch City.

「 」

"Young Master, that’s Qin Wudao!"

On another hilltop, quite a few figures also stood. Duan Yonghui, dressed in a yellow robe, spoke respectfully, though his voice was laced with intense hatred.

"Interesting. Your own strength isn’t weak. For Qin Wudao to defeat you, it implies his constitution is superior to yours. Truly intriguing!"

At the very front stood a young man in a black robe. He was tall and handsome, his jet-black hair swayed gently, and a flicker of killing intent flashed through his deep eyes. "When the opportunity arises, I, this Young Master, will kill him and avenge your father!"

"Thank you for your willingness, Young Master!" Duan Yonghui was overjoyed and dropped to his knees.

This once-proud prodigy, after suffering the shame of defeat, the pain of losing his father, and the humiliation of losing his power, finally lowered his noble head, prostrating himself at the feet of a contemporary.