To others, the voice was completely unremarkable, but to the two Celestial Shattering Realm Martial Artists, it was like a sudden clap of thunder, booming in their ears!

The expressions on their faces changed drastically, and they involuntarily took several steps back!

This scene left everyone utterly astonished. They stared, dumbfounded like puppets, at the incredible sight before them.

These were the men who had slaughtered the Celestial Level Tributors, leaving most of them dead or wounded. With just the two of them, they had nearly destroyed the entire Cyan Dragon Kingdom!

But now, faced with this young man with a bashful smile, these two had actually retreated! They just... retreated!

"Zhao Xinghe, why are you so quiet? Weren’t you hoping I would come? Why have you stopped talking now?" Qin Li wore a calm, indifferent smile, his face having reverted to that of the down-and-out nobleman from the Great Qi Kingdom.

Although Qin Li wasn’t releasing any oppressive aura, Zhao Xinghe suddenly felt an immense pressure, as if a thousand-pound boulder was weighing on his chest.

"Qin Li, your death is at hand! This Prince... No, I... Let’s see if you can keep this arrogance up until tomorrow!" In his haste, Zhao Xinghe let his old title slip. His face was pale, and his eyes flashed with deep-seated fear.

"Zhao Xinghe, you don’t even deserve the title of prince! How dare you call yourself the Monarch? You beast who disregards his own kin, how did His Majesty die?!" Qin Li’s voice was laced with a tremendous amount of Spiritual Power.

Zhao Xinghe’s mind went blank. He mumbled, "I had him killed. I had my two super Tributors shatter his meridians. Hmph, who told him to think about revoking my status as Crown Prince! He refused the great offer from the New Qin Kingdom and actually wanted to fight to the death... I had to stop him!"

As soon as Zhao Xinghe said this, even the ministers who had been determined to follow him were horrified. They stared at the scene in disbelief. From the resentful yet triumphant look on Zhao Xinghe’s face, it was clear these were words that had been festering in his heart for a long time.

The two Celestial Shattering Realm Martial Artists were aghast. Just as they were about to shout to snap Zhao Xinghe out of it, a heaven-shaking aura erupted from Qin Li. What was even more terrifying was that this aura didn’t affect anyone else; it surged directly toward the two of them, forcing the words right back down their throats!

The sensation was like being about to fly into a furious rage and attack, only to be slapped so hard that your head spins and all your strength vanishes.

"Either die, or get lost!" Qin Li’s words were as sharp and exposed as the edge of a blade!

And these two Celestial Shattering Realm Martial Artists—peerless experts in the eyes of the common world, figures who were nearly deified—exchanged a glance and simultaneously made their move. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

They shot backward, blasting through a thick wall with a deafening crash. Amidst the rising dust and debris, they vanished into the vast night with the speed of thunder and lightning.

They fled as fast as their legs could carry them, wishing they’d been born with two more.

The Royal Guards outside the palace were stunned by the sudden commotion. Once they came to their senses, a group of them rushed in through the two gaping holes in the wall.

Qin Li looked up and barked, "Get out!"

An immense pressure howled forth. The group of Royal Guards who had just burst in, not yet understanding what was happening, were violently thrown back by this force as if they were a pile of trash.

Zhao Xinghe’s face was flushed, and he seemed not to have fully recovered from his daze. Moreover, he couldn’t remember what he had just said.

Lifting his head, he looked blankly at the ministers below, who were all staring at him with strange, complicated expressions. Confused, he asked, "What’s... what’s wrong with all of you?"

The old minister, the one who had been the first to stand and prostrate himself in loyalty at the banquet, now had an ashen face, lined with wrinkles. He shakily stood up, looked at Zhao Xinghe, and slowly knelt. Two streams of cloudy tears rolled down his face as he sobbed, "Your Majesty, the late Monarch... was it truly you who killed him? This old servant cannot believe it, I cannot believe it!"

"What? What are you saying? How could I kill my own father? What kind of joke is this? This is nonsense! Slander! This is your conspiracy, isn’t it? Qin Li, it must be you! It must be you!" Zhao Xinghe’s face was deathly pale as he roared hysterically. He stumbled back two more steps and fell to the ground. The bright, magnificent, and opulent crown, the stately yellow imperial robe—at this moment, they looked utterly ridiculous and out of place on him.

At this sight, even the ministers who had been loyal to him turned their faces away.

Was there really anything more to say?

"It is said that even a vicious tiger will not eat its own cubs. Even beasts know this, even beasts! The New Qin Kingdom is powerful. Rather than fight them head-on, it is better to sue for peace. At least then, we could have secured our status as a vassal state. I believed there was nothing wrong with that! War, slaughter... it may sound glorious, but people die! How many families would be torn apart? How many children would lose their fathers? How many women would become widows?!"

The old minister spoke with tears streaming down his face, and no one present uttered a word of rebuttal. War has always been built on blood—of that, there was no doubt!

"’A single general’s victory is built on the bones of ten thousand.’ I, too, was once full of passion in my youth. But now, I am old... and I fear death. I could even understand you sending the princess away in a marriage alliance! A woman, even a princess, must marry eventually. What difference does it make who she marries? Better to marry a powerful monarch! But... I am an elder statesman of three reigns! Including this one, it would be four! But the most fundamental thing a person can have is filial piety! If you can even kill your own father, who is there that you would not dare to kill, that you would not kill? I am old. I am not worthy of being... an elder statesman of four reigns! I resign my post and will return to my hometown. I will return home... to live out my remaining days!"

The old minister shakily rose to his feet and, step by step, slowly walked out.

Those who had once disdained and mocked him now watched the old man’s desolate departing figure, at a loss for words.

"I, too, shall take my leave!"

"I’m leaving as well."

"This General is also leaving! Dammit, dammit!"

"..."

Of all the civil and military officials in the hall, not a single one referred to themselves as a ’subject’!

In an instant, the hall was completely empty.

The founding ancestor of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom, Zhao Longteng, had established the nation as an illegitimate son, and the value he prized most was filial piety!

Even if a man was vicious, his hands stained with blood, or utterly greedy... as long as he was a filial son, Zhao Longteng would dare to place him in a position of great responsibility!

Because, in his heart, such a man still had principles and a moral baseline!

If a person could betray their own parents, who was there that they could not betray?

"Zhao Xinghe, end your own life!" Qin Li said lightly, looking with pity at the catatonic Zhao Xinghe slumped on the floor.

’Spare him?’ Qin Li never had a habit of sparing his enemies.

"By what right? I am the ruler of this land! Who dares force me to die?"

Zhao Xinghe leaped to his feet and stared at Qin Li with a manic laugh. "Qin Li, you are Qin Li, aren’t you? Haha, I’d recognize you even if you were turned to ash! The Shangguan Family are my eyes and ears. That Alchemist of yours, she’s that Adventurer from the Hunter Guild in Yellow Sand City, right? She’s very beautiful! And that woman surnamed Bu, she’s very beautiful too. I’ve already decided to take them as my Consorts! I’m going to steal every single one of your women! Oh, right, and the Shangguan Family’s daughter, your fiancée, hahaha, I’ve decided to make her my Empress! What do you think of that? I’ll send my super Tributors to Yellow Sand City right now to kill that old dog Chen Yihan and any other fish who escaped the net! Haha..."

Zhao Xinghe’s crazed laughter came to an abrupt halt. A spot of crimson appeared between his eyebrows and slowly expanded. THUD. He fell backward onto the ground, his eyes wide open, as if in utter disbelief that Qin Li would dare to kill him.

Qin Li let out a long breath. ’Zhao Xinghe,’ he thought, ’dying at my hands is a much better fate than dying at the hands of your own brother!’

"Zhao Xinghai, I’ve saved you from the infamy of fratricide. You owe me a favor!" With that, Qin Li leaped into the air and vanished into the vast night.

From the shadows by the entrance of the banquet hall, a young man slowly emerged. He was handsome as jade, with an elegant demeanor. His eyes held boundless joy, but he managed to control his emotions well, giving a calm order, "My Imperial Brother was ambushed by assassins and has been killed. Marquis Qin has gone to pursue the culprit."

From behind him came a soft voice, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Also... promote Marquis Qin to... a first-rank Duke! Bestow Yellow Sand City upon Duke Qin as a permanent fiefdom. It may be... referred to as a duchy!"

"This..."

"Just do it!"

"Yes!"

Like a wisp of green smoke, Qin Li left the Imperial Palace. Standing on a street outside, he released his Divine Sense. Instantly, all the powerful auras within a five-li radius of the Imperial City flooded his mind.

Locking onto a direction, Qin Li’s figure abruptly vanished.

The next moment, he appeared at the door of a very ordinary residence. From inside, an old man slowly walked out. The old man was missing his right hand and appeared ancient and frail, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

"You’ve come?"

"I’m here."

"He’s dead?"

"Yes."

The conversation between them was incredibly simple. They didn’t even ask each other any questions, yet they already knew everything they needed to know.

"I knew you wouldn’t let me go," Shadow said, lifting his head to face Qin Li with a wooden expression.

"If you knew, why didn’t you leave?"

"I didn’t want to." A reminiscent look appeared on Shadow’s face as he said softly, "He wasn’t this kind of person in the past."

"I didn’t force him. His true nature was simply exposed," Qin Li said, his expression just as indifferent.

"Perhaps," Shadow sighed deeply. "After I die, I hope Marquis Qin will treat my twin daggers well. If these daggers pierce the body of even a peerless expert, death is the only outcome! A pity... I am no match for the Marquis..."

As Shadow spoke, a bitter smile formed on his lips... and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. His body slowly crumpled to the ground.

CLANG. The pair of blue-black daggers fell to the ground.