CHAPTER 557: CHAPTER 550: THE BATTLE BEGINS_1

"What?"

The old man was startled and bewildered.

Qin Feiyang waved his hand, and the Netherworld Demon Flame and a cluster of purple elixir fire appeared simultaneously.

"The Netherworld Demon Flame has now reached the fourth rank. Once it devours this cluster of elixir fire, it can be upgraded to the Fifth Grade."

"So, I kindly ask for your help, old man, to remove the Blood Covenant from this elixir fire," Qin Feiyang pleaded.

The Lord of the State Office looked doubtfully at the Netherworld Demon Flame, and his Battle Intent surged forth, heading straight for the purple elixir fire.

「Meanwhile.」

Inside Yun State’s inner sanctum.

The Hall Master of the Elixir Palace trembled, a trace of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Has the Blood Covenant been erased? he muttered to himself. Who are you, really? And who is the person behind you?

His status was not as high as that of the Lord of the Yun State Office, so he knew little about the situations in the other major states. For a time, he did not suspect Qin Feiyang.

「In the courtyard!」

As soon as the old man erased the Blood Covenant from the purple elixir fire, the Netherworld Demon Flame automatically revived and lunged at the purple elixir fire.

Very quickly, the purple elixir fire disappeared without a trace.

Simultaneously, the aura of the Netherworld Demon Flame rose rapidly.

Finally, it leveled up to a Five Star Elixir Fire!

The old man watched, entranced. It can actually be upgraded? He had no idea such a magical elixir fire even existed in the world!

Qin Feiyang recalled the Netherworld Demon Flame into the ancient castle and looked at the old man. "If there’s nothing else, we’ll get going."

"Leaving?" The old man came back to his senses, his eyes turning cold. "Even though I just defended you in front of the Lord of Yun State, it doesn’t mean I’m not upset."

Qin Feiyang and Fatty looked at each other, an ominous premonition welling up in their hearts.

"Wang Hong!" the old man suddenly shouted.

WHOOSH!

A short while later, Wang Hong broke through the air and arrived. When he saw Qin Feiyang and Fatty, a hint of anger flickered in his eyes. Suppressing his anger, he looked respectfully at the old man and said, "What are your orders, sir?"

"Put them in jail. They are not allowed to leave, not even by a Half-Step, before the start of the Nine States War," the old man said. "You will watch over them personally. Remember, don’t let them escape again this time."

"Yes!" Wang Hong nodded, then turned to face Qin Feiyang and Fatty, stating expressionlessly, "Let’s go!"

Fatty cast a shifty glance at the jade slip on the stone table and cautiously asked, "What about this jade slip..."

"Get out!" the old man roared before he could finish.

Fatty immediately recoiled in fear and looked at Qin Feiyang, who also wore a helpless expression.

Immediately afterward, the two of them transformed into a stream of light and flew towards the prison.

All along the way, Wang Hong wore a grim face and didn’t say a single word to them.

"He’s the commander of a state, so why is he so narrow-minded?" Fatty couldn’t help but murmur.

"What?" Wang Hong stopped instantly, turning to glare angrily at Fatty. "Did you say I’m narrow-minded?"

"Haha..." Fatty immediately chuckled nervously.

Qin Feiyang also couldn’t help but glare fiercely at Fatty. Wang Hong was already in a foul mood; saying that was just poking the hornet’s nest, wasn’t it?

Qin Feiyang looked at Wang Hong and smiled. "Senior..."

"Don’t," Wang Hong said curtly. "I really don’t deserve to be called ’Senior’." He then turned and continued towards the prison.

Qin Feiyang felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

Upon reaching the prison, the guards, including Li Duo, all looked taken aback.

"Why are you back again?" Guard Commander Li Duo instinctively asked.

"Again?" Fatty’s anger flared instantly, and he roared, "Do you think Master Fatty likes coming to this godforsaken place?"

"Uh!" Li Duo and the others were bewildered.

Wang Hong impatiently snapped, "Enough nonsense, open the gate quickly!"

"Yes!" Li Duo immediately turned, opened the prison gate, and led Qin Feiyang, Fatty, and Wang Hong to cell number seven.

Once the stone door of the cell was opened, Wang Hong said, "Get in. Don’t try to run around, or don’t blame me for breaking your legs!"

The two had no choice but to enter the cell.

Li Duo looked at them with an odd expression and asked, "Commander, shall we put shackles on them?"

"No need," Wang Hong said.

Li Duo paused slightly, somewhat understanding the situation.

Just as Wang Hong was about to turn and leave, Qin Feiyang suddenly remembered Zhao He and asked, "Senior, has there been any problem with Zhao He during this time?"

"No," Wang Hong stated coldly, then turned and walked out of the prison. However, he didn’t leave. Instead, he sat down cross-legged at the prison entrance, closing his eyes to rest.

Seeing this, Li Duo and the others exchanged glances. To think that Wang Hong himself had to personally guard them; this Qin Feiyang was truly a magnet for trouble.

Inside the cell.

Fatty swept his gaze around the cell and grumbled in annoyance, "How come I feel like we have a special connection with this godforsaken place?"

Qin Feiyang chuckled. "Anyway, we have nothing to do now. It doesn’t matter where we stay."

"You sure know how to take things easy," Fatty pouted, but then he snickered. "What do you think that old hag’s expression is like right now?"

Qin Feiyang smiled. That jade slip, at most, contained a high-grade battle technique. A high-grade battle technique wouldn’t be considered much in the eyes of a state lord, and Qin Feiyang didn’t give it much thought either.

But this matter was an issue of face. The Lord of Yun State had come to hold them accountable. However, not only did she fail to find out anything, but she also ended up giving away a battle technique. To her, this was undoubtedly a great humiliation. One didn’t need to guess to know she must be in a terrible mood right now.

"By the way, is she okay?" Qin Feiyang asked.

This ’she’ was naturally referring to Princess Mermaid.

"Not bad, just a little..." Master Fatty leaned in close to Qin Feiyang’s ear, giggling, "Misses you."

Qin Feiyang let out a deep sigh, walked over to the stone bed, sat down cross-legged, took out a Battle Intent Pill, and began to meditate and cultivate. With his great revenge still unaccomplished, he truly didn’t dare to think about such romantic entanglements. The most urgent task was to increase his strength at full speed and prepare for the Nine States War!

「The next morning!」

On a mountaintop deep within the woods outside the city.

Two figures stood side by side.

One of them was an elderly man with graying white hair, but his face was ruddy, making him look very spirited. His entire being also emitted an ethereal air.

The other was a middle-aged man. He was about seven feet tall and quite thin. He wore a white robe, with a few silver hairs at his temples, filled with an air of great experience. His dark eyes were also extremely vibrant, carrying an immense air of authority.

The white-haired old man asked, "Is Feiyang back?"

The middle-aged man nodded and smiled. "He’s back, but he’s been locked up in jail by the Lord of the State Office again."

"That boy really never stops causing trouble." The white-haired old man shook his head helplessly, yet a hint of fondness glinted in his eyes.

The middle-aged man chuckled. "That’s Qin Feiyang for you, isn’t it?"

The white-haired old man nodded and said, "You stay in the State City and protect him in secret, but it’s best not to interact with him too much. With his sharp mind, if you reveal even the slightest clue, he might uncover your identity."

"I understand," the middle-aged man nodded, then asked, "Have you found out the origins of that mysterious valley?"

"I have. It’s Mu Tianyang." Mentioning the name Mu Tianyang, the white-haired old man’s expression was extraordinarily calm, as if he were not concerned at all.

"Mu Tianyang?" The middle-aged man was startled.

"Mu Tianyang was the emperor of the previous dynasty’s Tianyang Empire. Back then, our first emperor of Great Qin was benevolent and did not completely obliterate him. But I hadn’t expected that, far from being grateful, he is now recruiting an army and preparing to overthrow the Great Qin Empire. He should take a good look at whether he has the capability to do so now!" the white-haired old man scoffed.

The middle-aged man asked with alarm, "Then why don’t you get rid of him now?"

"Some things don’t need me to do them." After uttering this enigmatic remark, the white-haired old man vanished into thin air.

The middle-aged man frowned, then also opened a teleportation portal and departed.

「Time flew by!」

The Nine States War had finally begun.

「That morning.」

In the Inner Palace, disciples from both the Elixir Fire Palace and the Cultivation Palace emerged, gathering in the plaza. Everyone was full of vigor, their fighting spirit soaring!

Among them, three individuals stood out the most. They weren’t with the others; instead, they stood apart in the void, like brilliant stars.

One of them was Dong Zhengyang!

As for the other two, one was a young, robust man, and the other was a slender young man.

The robust man had a head of thick, short black hair. His height was extraordinary, a full two meters! He looked like a small giant. His upper body was bare, revealing bronze-colored skin, and his muscles bulged with explosive power! For his lower half, he wore black leopard-skin pants, and his eyes, like a tiger’s, exuded a wild aura!

The slender young man, in contrast, was strikingly handsome. About 1.8 meters tall, he was dressed in a spotlessly white robe. His long black hair fluttered gently in the wind. In his hand, he held a delicate jade flute. He looked dashing and debonair, with an exceptionally distinguished temperament. Many female disciples gazed at him with infatuation.

This man and the robust man were, without a doubt, the two Kings of the Inner Palace who had never revealed themselves before!

At the same time, Ren Wushuang was also in the plaza, but from start to finish, she hadn’t given Dong Zhengyang and the other two a direct glance. Instead, her eyes scanned the crowd, as if searching for someone.

Shen Mei stood beside her. Seeing Ren Wushuang looking around, Shen Mei covered her mouth and chuckled, "You seem a bit too concerned about that newfound younger brother of yours!"

"What nonsense are you talking?" Ren Wushuang blushed and glared at Shen Mei.

"Am I talking nonsense?" Shen Mei teased. "But on second thought, if that lad is so outstanding, even I would have fallen for him. After all, one wouldn’t let a prize like that fall into outsiders’ hands, right?"

Ren Wushuang’s face darkened. "Stop spouting such nonsense. I only consider him a younger brother."

"Really?" Shen Mei gave her a skeptical look.

Seeing that Ren Wushuang was about to lose her temper, Shen Mei quickly waved her hand and said, "Alright, alright, I won’t say anymore. And don’t worry, he’ll definitely come."

Suddenly, she felt a gaze fixed on her. Following it, she immediately saw Lu Xingchen looking at her. A wave of nervousness washed over her.

Ren Wushuang noticed her strange behavior, glanced at Lu Xingchen, her fine eyebrows furrowing slightly, then grabbed Shen Mei’s hand and whispered, "It’s been so long. Don’t overthink it."

"Mm," Shen Mei nodded.

SWISH!

Just at this moment, four figures descended from the sky above the Inner Palace.

"Paying respects to the Lord of the State Office!"

"Paying respects to the Chief Hall Master!"

"Paying respects to the Hall Master of the Elixir Palace!"

"Paying respects to the Hall Master of the Martial Palace!"

All the disciples knelt and kowtowed.

However, Dong Zhengyang, the robust man, the slender young man, and Ren Wushuang merely bowed in salute.