"No! No! Qin Xuantian, I mean you no harm!!"

Red Flame Maiden was already in a panic, looking at Qin Heng with utter fear. She kept backing away, almost wanting to flee on the spot.

The foundation of a Soldier Master is the Spiritual Treasure within their body!

Without the Spiritual Treasure, a Soldier Master is just a mortal!

Seeing Qin Heng forcefully extract the golden bell from Bai Zhanyun's body, Red Flame Maiden was completely dumbfounded. This was far beyond her understanding, shocking her to the core.

Ever since the Divine Weapon Palace was established, a Soldier Master's existence was bound to the Divine Weapon or Magic item integral to them. Never before had anyone been able to separate a Soldier Master from the Divine Weapon or Magic item within them! Even if a Soldier Master were beaten to death, the Divine Weapon or Magic item within them would shatter as well, making separation impossible. Only when a Soldier Master died a natural death or willingly separated the Divine Weapon or Magic item from themselves could the two be parted. Otherwise, it was utterly impossible!

But what was happening now!? This Qin Xuantian, known as the invincible Martial Artist in the world! He actually, with a mere gesture, snatched the Spiritual Treasure from within the Soldier Master—it was simply inconceivable!!

"I know." Qin Heng glanced at Red Flame Maiden, then ignored her. Holding the small golden bell in his hand, he turned to Bai Zhanyun and said indifferently, "Soldier Slave, do you have anything else to say?"

"Ahhh! Qin Xuantian! How dare you take my Spiritual Treasure! You'll suffer a terrible death!!" Bai Zhanyun's eyes were bloodshot, his gaze brimming with hatred as he bellowed, "You actually managed to take the Spiritual Treasure from within a Soldier Master! The Divine Weapon Palace will never spare you!!"

"The Divine Weapon Palace? What's that? If they dare to come, I'll just kill them with a single punch," Qin Heng sneered. "On this Earth, there is nothing I, Qin Xuantian, fear."

"Hahaha! Ignorant whelp, you overestimate yourself!!" Bai Zhanyun looked at Qin Heng with disdain, saying, "You will regret this! You will pay the price for your arrogance! Prepare to die!!"

BANG!!

Bai Zhanyun suddenly raised his palm and struck his own head. With a muffled thud, he collapsed, blood flowing from his seven facial orifices, and died on the spot.

The so-called Soldier Master, who just moments ago was swaggering and acting all high and mighty, actually committed suicide?

Is he afraid I would interrogate him? Qin Heng chuckled lightly, turned to Red Flame Maiden, and said, "Does your Divine Weapon Palace also have such a rule?"

Qin Heng did not yet know what the Divine Weapon Palace was. However, that did not prevent him from saying so.

"There are too many secrets in the Divine Weapon Palace." Red Flame Maiden shook her head slightly, saying, "Although at our level, we know very little, we still mustn't reveal anything, or it could bring about catastrophic disaster. The dead keep secrets best, so he killed himself."

"The dead keep secrets best?" Qin Heng shook his head, looked at Red Flame Maiden, and said with a smile, "Are you sure?"

"Am I not?" Red Flame Maiden was stunned. Then, as if she realized something, a chill ran down her spine. She looked at Qin Heng with uncertainty and alarm, saying, "Don't tell me, don't tell me you have some soul-manipulating technique??"

"You know about soul-manipulating arts?" Qin Heng looked at Red Flame Maiden with interest for a moment, smiled, and said, "It seems the heritage of this Divine Weapon Palace is indeed quite special. Yes, you guessed correctly. Before me, the dead are actually more cooperative. Making the dead speak is far simpler than making the living talk."

"Who are you?" Red Flame Maiden looked at Qin Heng incredulously, her eyes wide, her face filled with astonishment. "You cannot possibly be just a Martial Artist who accidentally obtained an ancient inheritance!"

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, Qin Heng appeared in front of Red Flame Maiden. His hand waved lightly, instantly penetrating the flames enveloping her, and clasped her slender, fair neck.

"Who gave you the courage to question me?"

"Qin Heng! She is my master!" Li Jiao became somewhat panicked; the situation had completely exceeded her expectations.

"You!!?" Red Flame Maiden looked at Qin Heng in utter shock, a storm of horror raging in her heart. Gazing at Qin Heng, her eyes filled with fear, she said, "Senior, I beg you to spare my life! I truly hold no malice!"

"If you had even the slightest malice, you'd be a corpse by now," Qin Heng said, ignoring Li Jiao. He looked at Red Flame Maiden and stated indifferently, "However, you did indeed harbor the thought of testing me earlier. You may escape death, but you cannot escape punishment. Stay by my side as a maidservant for now."

"Yes, thank you, Senior! Thank you so much!" Red Flame Maiden breathed a sigh of relief.

She had initially thought that Qin Heng merely mastered a Secret Technique to extract the Spiritual Treasure from a Soldier Master's body and that his strength might not be great. Therefore, she subtly attempted to test him to decide her future attitude. However, Qin Heng's strength far exceeded her expectations. With her power, comparable to that of a Martial Saint, she was subdued by Qin Heng in an instant, without the slightest ability to resist. Such power was simply astounding!!

"From now on, call me Immortal Venerable," Qin Heng said, glancing at Red Flame Maiden.

Then, with a flick of his finger, he killed Li Feng and Li Zheng, turning them to ash. He said to Li Jiao, "This is what I promised you. From now on, you are the Family Head of the Li family. Whoever disagrees will die!" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveIꜰire.net

Before Li Jiao could respond, Qin Heng left with Red Flame Maiden. He had merely helped an old friend with a minor issue; now that it was resolved, he naturally departed.

Li Jiao stood dumbfounded, watching the departing figures of Qin Heng and Red Flame Maiden, speechless for a long time. The image of Qin Heng, like a Heavenly God, had been firmly etched into her heart.

I must grow strong! One day, I too will be worthy to stand by his side!!

Qin Heng took Red Flame Maiden back to the hotel.

Of course, he couldn't help but evoke envy from the reception staff once more. Previously, it was a legal loli with an amazing figure; now, he had switched to an older-sister type with an even better physique and equally stunning looks. This guy's luck with women is simply out of this world!!

Qin Heng paid no attention to this, but Red Flame Maiden felt somewhat out of place. She had lived in seclusion in the deep mountains and, even a century ago, had only spent a year or two in the mortal world. In truth, mentally, Red Flame Maiden was much like a young woman who had just come of age.

After arriving at the hotel room, Qin Heng didn't hesitate and immediately summoned Bai Zhanyun's soul.

Before the soul could react to the shock, Qin Heng instantly performed the soul-searching technique that had so terrified Red Flame Maiden, directly reading Bai Zhanyun's memories.

Among them, the most crucial information concerned Soldier Masters. This was a group Qin Heng had never heard of before.

Soldier Masters were initially called Soldier Slaves.

Their specific origins are untraceable. It is said that they already existed tens of thousands of years ago during the Mythological Era; they were supposedly mass-produced combatants, created by powerful Martial Artists of that time for a crucial battle.

The power of Divine Weapons and Magic items is boundless, but if controlled by just one Martial Artist, their potential is limited. Moreover, a Martial Artist might possess several Divine Weapons and Magic items, with many being left unused.

Thus, a great power developed a method using the might of Magic items or Divine Weapons to enhance ordinary mortals, thereby creating a large number of combatants with substantial strength in a short period! These became known as "Soldier Slaves."

A single Spiritual Treasure could create at least ten Saint-level combatants. If higher-grade Magic items were used, even more numerous and powerful "Soldier Slaves" could be created!

Later, as the Mythological Era ended and Spiritual Energy gradually depleted, the relics of the Immortal Mansions receded from the world. Even the entire world, the very heavens and earth, were undergoing changes. Countless powerful experts either departed or perished.

And so, a new era began…