Supreme Alchemist-Chapter 2416 - 2406: All Cards on the Table

No matter how you calculate, there’s no difference. At least, that’s how it seemed in Di Lingtian’s eyes. Regardless of what trump cards Long Yan might still have, even if his Cold Saber was ineffective against Long Yan, in terms of sheer strength, he was still above him.

As for that dangerous blade light from before, Di Lingtian estimated that Long Yan wouldn’t be able to unleash it again. After all, even he had only seen it used once by an Immortal from the Liu Family. Clearly, this youngster still harbored many secrets, but once Long Yan was dead—

All of those things would belong to him. The thought brought a trace of pleasure to Di Lingtian.

But, of course, things couldn’t possibly go exactly as Di Lingtian wished. With a flip of his palm, the last Rainstorm Pear Flower Needle appeared in Long Yan’s hand.

Earlier, he had retrieved three of them from Tang Long. One had been accidentally discharged during his research into its mechanisms. Another had been used on the crowd at the Inner Mansion’s entrance. This one in Long Yan’s hand was the only remaining needle.

"What? You think you can use this thing to hurt me?"

Di Lingtian, seated among the martial world’s revered seniors, displayed not the slightest scruples about using hidden weapons in a fight. True to his cunning nature, he believed that any method, however lowly, was justified as long as it secured victory.

"What if it works?"

A smirk tugged at the corner of Long Yan’s lips. He had no intention of deploying his last Rainstorm Pear Flower Needle so casually. Right now, he stomped his right foot heavily on the ground and charged toward Di Lingtian.

Long Yan currently lacked True Qi, making a swift victory out of the question. That last shred of pseudo-True Qi he had was funneled into the Martial God Array. He had to thank the Heavenly Soul for loosening his Seal; without it, confronting an opponent like Di Lingtian would have left him with no choice but to surrender outright.

"Impressive courage!"

Di Lingtian roared, his robes billowing as he erupted with force. The entire pavilion was reduced to rubble under his outburst of power. But that mattered little to Long Yan—there was no time for regret now.

All he could do was bet everything on this fight.

Their figures clashed repeatedly in the air. From the very beginning, Long Yan had been at a disadvantage. Previously, with the upper hand in weaponry, he had been able to suppress Di Lingtian. Now, however, things had changed—Di Lingtian, armed as well, turned the tables.

After merely two or three exchanges, Di Lingtian identified a flaw in Long Yan’s techniques and drove a punch directly into him. And it didn’t stop there—before the pain could fully spread through Long Yan’s body, Di Lingtian’s next attack had already arrived.

The overwhelming force of his momentum felt as though a single punch could shatter Long Yan entirely. Blocking a slash from the Cold Saber caused Long Yan’s wrist to go numb. This level of combat had already thrown him off rhythm.

Even fear seemed to emanate from the Cold Saber itself. Any slight delay would result in Long Yan taking one or two punches, which, though not fatal, clearly showcased Di Lingtian’s strategy of boiling a frog in warm water. He was waiting for the moment when Long Yan could no longer endure, reducing him to a helpless state.

Di Lingtian licked his dry lips. He could deliver a fatal blow to Long Yan at any moment, but doing so would leave the secrets he coveted buried forever. Chief among these were the pseudo-True Qi and the Rainstorm Pear Flower Needle, both of which piqued his curiosity immensely.

As for the Rainstorm Pear Flower Needle—Di Lingtian had consulted skilled craftsmen from his own household, but even after wasting nearly an entire box of needles, they couldn’t uncover its secrets. This battle provided the perfect opportunity to force Long Yan to reveal the schematics of the weapon.

"You know," Di Lingtian said mid-fight, his strikes as relentless as ever, "I’m not entirely opposed to you being with my daughter. But with a family as vast as the Emperor Clan, we need to have something solid to back us up. If you lack strength or fail to make a substantial contribution to our clan, you’re putting me in a difficult position."

As their punches, kicks, and blade strikes collided, Di Lingtian somehow managed to chide Long Yan with ease. His underlying message, of course, was that Long Yan should hand over the secrets of the Rainstorm Pear Flower Needle and the pseudo-True Qi.

But there was no way Long Yan would fall for such an obvious trap. Handing over these secrets would neither guarantee his survival nor secure his position. Among the many skills and insights on the path of cultivation, Long Yan could clearly distinguish which were more valuable to him.

Moreover, gaining acceptance within the Emperor Clan wasn’t as simple as bringing them benefits. If the Emperor Clan were truly a unified entity, he wouldn’t be standing here alone today.

"Spare me your false pretenses. If you need loyalty, go adopt Chen Long or that lapdog of yours, Di Zishu, as a son."

"That’s not fair, Long Yan," Di Lingtian replied, feigning indignation. "Who would take a dog and call it a son? Besides, if you hand over those secrets, won’t this vast Emperor Clan be yours to inherit someday?"

Ignoring the mockery in Long Yan’s words, Di Lingtian continued coaxing him without restraint. In the past, under the influence of the Heavenly Soul, Long Yan might have fallen for this deceit. But now, he understood too well—these two secrets were his sole lifeline.

Without them, Di Lingtian would kill him without hesitation. Without secrets to barter, Long Yan’s existence would be utterly insignificant.

A cold smile curled on Long Yan’s lips. This old fox thought he could have it all—how laughable. Such attempts at playing both sides would have no effect on him. If he couldn’t count on anyone else, Long Yan certainly wouldn’t lower himself to rely on others.

Why endure humiliation when he could carve out his own path to survival for both himself and his lover?

With that thought, the fear that had gripped his heart melted away like snow under the warm sun. This clarity even sharpened his movements, catching Di Lingtian off guard and forcing him to retreat instinctively, wary of some hidden gambit from Long Yan.

This was exactly what Long Yan wanted. If Di Lingtian continued to pressure him without pause, his trump card would remain useless. But just as the two separated—

"Azure Dragon’s Mysteries!"

Behind Long Yan, a dazzling emerald radiance shimmered. The specter of an Azure Dragon materialized, looming tall. This was Long Yan’s ultimate trump card, a secret gift bestowed upon him by the Heavenly Soul amidst the illusions of the Heart Inquiry Road.

"Please let this work," Long Yan muttered.

Seeing the emerald glow behind Long Yan, Di Lingtian desperately tried to evade the strike. But airborne as he was, escaping wasn’t so simple.

"Time Imprisonment Finger!"

The Azure Dragon roared and surged toward Di Lingtian. Even the air seemed to freeze as time itself came to a halt. The attack struck Di Lingtian squarely in the chest.

"What... what have you done to me?"

Though his mind was still conscious, his every movement had slowed to an agonizing crawl. For the first time, Di Lingtian was truly afraid. He cursed himself—had he dealt with that pretty-faced brat sooner, he wouldn’t have landed in this predicament.

Despite all his caution, in the end, Di Lingtian had still fallen here, in the most humiliating way. How ironic, how lamentable!

"Goodbye!"

With those words, a Rainstorm Pear Flower Needle appeared in Long Yan’s hand. He activated the mechanism, releasing the needle straight toward Di Lingtian.

"Pffft!"

The air filled with the metallic tang of blood as a long blade pierced through Long Yan’s chest!

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