Chapter 129: Killing the Right Envoy with a Single Finger—The Crown Prince’s Might!

    In terms of race, there are two broad categories: Human and Myriad Tribes.

    The human race is the most numerous, with the highest number of cultivators and powerful figures, and thus stands as its own major category. The Myriad Tribes, on the other hand, include races like the Jiao Dragon Clan, White Tiger Clan, Heavenly Fox Clan, Soaring Serpent Clan, and many more.

    In the Heavenly Dao Domain, the power of the Myriad Tribes surpasses that of humans. Among them, the Kui Dragon Clan stands out due to its lineage, carrying the True Dragon Bloodline.

    After hearing the full story, everyone finally understood the situation.

    It all started when the Kui Dragon Clan’s envoy, visiting from the Heavenly Dao Domain, took a liking to the Jiao Dragon Divine Son, Yan Qing, and decided to take him back to make him a personal disciple of one of their great elders.

    Overjoyed by this news, the Jiao Dragon Clan, eager to please the envoy, began capturing young girls from Qinglian Immortal Island as local “specialties” to offer as gifts. But they hadn’t anticipated Lin Qi’an’s arrival, who had crippled the Jiao Dragon Divine Son.

    Now, the Xiling Spirit Temple sought a way to smooth things over, aiming to avoid offending both the Kui Dragon Clan and the Beiyang Crown Prince.

    “So, your solution is to blame everything on Qinglian Immortal Island and let them bear the consequences?” Lin Qi’an asked calmly.

    “Your Highness, you must understand that in this world, the weak becoming cannon fodder is common. This is to avoid angering a far more powerful foe,” Yue Lin responded, his tone righteous.

    The people of Qinglian Immortal Island were both furious and terrified. They had been the most innocent party throughout this ordeal, yet now they were to be sacrificed to quell the wrath of the powerful!

    Still, they dared not voice their anger. They had neither the strength nor the backing to resist the likes of the Xiling Spirit Temple or the Kui Dragon Clan. Surviving in this world of the strong devouring the weak was exceedingly difficult without a protector.

    Lin Qi’an remained calm. “I’m curious about something,” he said. “How much profit does your Xiling Spirit Temple have tied to the Kui Dragon Clan? Your fear stems from the fact that this happened in the Western Sea, and you’re afraid that your interests will suffer if they retaliate.”

    Yue Lin couldn’t respond. Cold sweat trickled down his back because Lin Qi’an had hit the nail on the head.

    The treasures produced in the Western Sea—rare marine gems, pearls, and spirit fish—were all traded with external domains. The Kui Dragon Clan was one of their biggest customers. If that trade were to cease, the Xiling Spirit Temple would lose a significant portion of its revenue.

    In modern terms, their GDP would take a massive hit. In comparison, sacrificing Qinglian Immortal Island was a small price to pay.

    “Alright, I take back what I said earlier,” Lin Qi’an suddenly announced.

    Everyone was shocked, especially Yue Lin, who wiped the blood from his mouth and forced a smile, clasping his hands in respect. “I knew Your Highness would see reason. The Xiling Spirit Temple will definitely express its gratitude to Tianjian City soon.”

    Internally, though, Yue Lin sneered, You arrogant brat, flaunting your father’s name to act like a tyrant. Do you think we’re really giving you any face?

    “You may have misunderstood again,” Lin Qi’an interrupted. “Earlier, I said if the Xiling Spirit Emperor himself came, I might give him some face. I take that back.”

    Lin Qi’an stood up, and in front of everyone’s stunned gazes, he shouted, “To curry favor with the Myriad Tribes, you’re willing to sacrifice your fellow humans. If the Xiling Spirit Temple is full of such dogs, no matter how many come, I’ll kill every last one!”

    As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Qi’an extended a single finger. A boundless surge of sword energy instantly filled the grand hall.

    Winds howled, utensils shattered, and wooden tables splintered under the force. The sharp aura seemed ready to pierce the heavens, forcing everyone to instinctively activate their spirit energy to protect themselves as they scrambled backward.

    Heavenly Sword Finger!

    The air twisted as thousands of strands of spirit energy coalesced into an invisible sword, piercing straight through Yue Lin’s forehead!

    In an instant, Yue Lin felt a torrent of powerful energy rampage through his body, tearing apart his limbs and internal organs. His pupils dimmed, and he collapsed backward.

    Dead.

    The high and mighty Right Envoy of the Xiling Spirit Temple, who had brought a trove of valuable gifts, was killed by Lin Qi’an on the spot. No one had dared to imagine such a turn of events, yet here it was, unfolding right before their eyes.

    The shock rippled through everyone, and soon it broke out in a unified cry:

    “The Crown Prince is mighty!”

    His fearlessness in the face of the Myriad Tribes and his unwavering stance to protect his fellow humans was a grand display of righteousness. It filled everyone present with admiration and respect.

    “How do they plan to kill him? He has a powerful protector with him!” Yan Qing spat.

    “The answer is to lure him in.”

    “But Lord Kui may not be willing to get involved...” Yan Qing hesitated.

    “Then we shall provoke him!”

    The Jiao Dragon Clan’s leader and Yan Qing entered a deep, foreboding dragon cave, where Kui Zong resided.

    Though Kui Zong’s cultivation was only at the Dao Transformation Realm, his backing was immense, and thus he had to be treated with utmost respect. The floor of the cave was littered with tiny white bones, remnants of the human girls that Kui Zong had devoured.

    “Lord Kui!” the Jiao Dragon Clan leader called out.

    “Did I not tell you to bring me more girls? Where are they?!” Kui Zong roared.

    “Please calm your anger, my lord... Our Jiao Dragon Clan has been targeted. Even Yan’er’s dragon tendons were taken—this humiliation is unbearable!”

    “WHAT?!”

    The Jiao Dragon Clan leader had prepared a long, convincing speech, but it turned out he didn’t need it. Kui Zong was already infuriated.

    The reason? Yan Qing was secretly the illegitimate son of one of Kui Zong’s high-ranking elders!

    Years ago, one of the elders had a brief tryst with a female Jiao Dragon, resulting in Yan Qing’s birth. Kui Zong had been ordered to bring Yan Qing back to acknowledge him as the elder’s son.

    If that elder discovered his illegitimate son had been crippled, the consequences would be unimaginable.

    “Who?!” Kui Zong’s roar nearly collapsed the dragon cave. “Who extracted your dragon tendons? I’ll tear him apart and return them to you!”

    Kui Zong’s fury shook the entire cavern, the sheer force of his anger radiating outward.

    “If the tendons can be recovered, there’s a chance Yan’er may still be healed. But without them, all hope is lost.”

    “It was Lin Qi’an who took the tendons! Not only that, but he also stopped us from capturing more girls and killed many of our people... He’s a damn menace,” the clan leader spat. “He’s protected by a powerful guardian, making him difficult to kill. However, if you are willing to intervene, we can lure him into a trap.”

    Kui Zong narrowed his eyes. “You want to use me to eliminate him? Bold of you.”

    “We wouldn’t dare...”

    “Fine! It’s just one person. My clan has never feared anyone! Lure him to the dragon cave, and I’ll take care of it.”

    “But what about the strong guardian by his side?” the clan leader asked cautiously. “Though her strength may be reduced in the water, she’s still not someone we can defeat.”

    The Jiao Dragon Clan leader was well aware that his power, at the Sovereign Realm, wouldn’t be enough to hold off a Quasi-Saint, even in their home territory.

    Kui Zong chuckled darkly, “I’ll coat the entire cave with Dragon Lust Venom.”

    Hearing this, the Jiao Dragon Clan leader was secretly horrified. Dragon Lust Venom was a potent mixture created from the fluids secreted by dragons during childbirth, mixed with Mind-Bewitching Incense and Soul-Eroding Flowers.

    It was a drug designed to overpower even the strongest will, amplifying primal urges. Even a Saint could fall prey to it, their power consumed by uncontrollable desires.

    Rumor had it that the powerful guardian by Lin Qi’an’s side was a woman. Kui Zong laughed sinisterly.

    “Let’s see how she handles the true nature of dragons...”

    “Excellent!” The Jiao Dragon Clan leader nodded. “If this plan succeeds, we’ll be able to escape. And if we’re pursued, we can flee to the Heavenly Dao Domain under your protection.”

    “Naturally. The Kui Dragon Clan is always open to new allies.”

    And so, the plan to kill the Beiyang Crown Prince was perfectly set into motion. Even the escape plan was foolproof. This time, they intended to give Beiyang a shock it wouldn’t forget.