Chapter 285: Southern Domain in Peril

The Da Xia Battle Department had spent months preparing for the Martial Arts Arena tournament, a competition that stirred up a storm among the major powers of the Imperial Capital. And yet, it was all over far too quickly.

The battle between Qin Tianxuan and Luo Qilin held no surprises.

In less than a second, Luo Qilin, who had taken twelve pills, collapsed to the ground!

When Prince Lanling, Li Tangsheng, came to, the Martial Arts Arena was in chaos.

The representatives from the Daqin Royal Family and the Divine Doctor Ye Family were standing there, running around like headless chickens, frantically making calls to report the situation to their families in the Imperial Capital.

Luo Qilin and that man, Qin Wanchun, had already been taken away by the Celestial Guard of the Battle Department.

“The man’s already fucking dead! What’s the point of taking him away?” a representative from the Qin Race demanded furiously.

Huang Tian slowly appeared, a hint of mockery in his voice. “Who said he’s dead? If he really were dead, wouldn’t that mean there’s no witness?”

‘What?!’

The Daqin Royal Family’s worst fear had come to pass.

Luo Qilin might be done for, but if that Qin Wanchun was still alive, the Luo Family massacre would be traced back to their family.

‘At all costs, we have to kill that Qin Wanchun! The evidence was found in his stomach, but that evidence has nothing to do with our family’s upper echelons!’

‘Kill Qin Wanchun and pin all the blame on him!’

Huang Tian let out a cold smile. “Pass the order! Cut all signals in the Martial Arts Arena!”

Instantly, all signals were cut. No internet, no phone service.

The members of the Daqin Royal Family and the Divine Doctor Ye Family at the scene clamored and tried to rush forward, but they were immediately blocked by the people from Dragon Platform Phoenix Hall!

Li Tangsheng turned his head, looking around. “Where is Qin Tianxuan?”

Huang Tian came to his side. “No need to look. Tianxuan has already left. He has to go back for his daughter’s birthday. By the way, would you like to send a gift as well?”

‘Gift my ass!’

Li Tangsheng was the host of this competition. With things in such a mess, he was in no mood to celebrate some little girl’s birthday.

Huang Tian just smiled and turned to leave.

“Wait!” Li Tangsheng suddenly calmed down, stroking his chin in thought. “Please help me prepare a generous gift and have it sent to the Jin City Night Emperor’s Mansion. I must send this birthday gift.”

A glint flashed in Huang Tian’s eyes. “Alright, I’ll have someone see to it immediately.”

But inwardly, he was amused: ‘This Prince Lanling fellow actually has some sense. Right now, getting on Tianxuan’s good side is the most important thing. Heh, what a cunning old fox!’

Meanwhile, Li Tangsheng looked around and grew anxious again. “Where’s my daughter? Where’s Qingcheng? Shit! Are the guards dead?”

A few of his personal guards appeared, looking uneasy. “Reporting, my lord! The young lady left a note. She took no one with her and left on her own. It seems she followed the Night Emperor’s entourage!”

Li Tangsheng snatched the note, his face turning pale.

The note, written in elegant handwriting, said: “Dad, I’m very interested in that Night Emperor. I’m going to hide my identity and hang around him for fun. Don’t worry, I won’t let myself be taken advantage of.”

‘My heavens…’

Li Tangsheng pressed a hand to his forehead. ‘My foolish daughter, what are you trying to do by his side? What will I do if you get hurt?’

Composing himself, Prince Lanling looked at the chaotic scene before him, angrily raised his golden seal, and struck the bronze gong squarely.

With a deafening CLANG, the scene fell silent.

Li Tangsheng swept his gaze over the crowd. “I am in charge here, representing the Imperial Capital! All of you, sit down!”

But the crowd remained standing.

Li Tangsheng sneered. “Regarding the annihilation of the Luo Family, I saw the evidence just now. No one is to speak another word on this matter. We will await the verdict from the Battle Department’s judiciary division!”

The crowd began to stir.

Li Tangsheng’s eyes darkened. “I have a good relationship with the Qin Family and the Ye Family, so I would never frame anyone. But all of you will remain here! You will explain the matter of that Qin Wanchun.”

The faces of the Qin and Ye Family representatives turned grim.

‘If there’s a real investigation, no one will be able to escape involvement.’

Li Tangsheng calculated inwardly. He didn’t want to blow the matter out of proportion. He couldn’t afford to offend the Qin and Ye Families too deeply.

Thinking of this, he raised his hand and ordered the four guards beside him, “Go down and record everyone’s name. I will hand them over to the Imperial Capital Battle Department. We are merely witnesses in this matter, not participants!”

The four guards bowed to accept the order and walked down from the viewing platform to begin recording names.

Just then, a long cry echoed from outside.

Outside the Martial Arts Arena, a torrential power gathered in mid-air, coalescing into the force of a single palm strike that instantly shattered the front wall!

A tall figure appeared, treading over rubble and dust.

He was draped in a black cloak that concealed his entire body!

His face was hidden in darkness, but his aura was one they had only ever seen on Qin Tianxuan.

‘An expert on par with the Night Emperor?’

‘Who could it be?’

THUD! The man in black burst through the dust and rubble and, with a casual flick of his hand, sent a figure crashing into the center of the Martial Arts Arena!

It was none other than the Qin Family steward, Qin Wanchun!

THUD! Another figure was slammed to the ground. Upon closer inspection, it was Luo Qilin!

The two key witnesses to the Luo Family’s annihilation had been intercepted and eliminated by this man in black while on their way to be interrogated by the Battle Department.

The man in black produced the evidence in his hand.

CRACK CRACK CRACK. He crushed it directly.

A low laugh echoed from beneath the black cloak. “The Qin Race does not need others to run their mouths about our affairs! The case of the Luo Family’s annihilation ends here. I don’t want to see anyone investigating it further!”

As soon as the words fell, he waved his hand!

Li Tangsheng’s four guards collapsed on the spot, blood streaming from their mouths and noses.

A tyrannical aura swept across the entire Martial Arts Arena, causing even the dust to freeze in mid-air.

Everyone from the Qin Race and the Ye Family in the arena was overcome with elation, bowing in unison. “We greet you, Lord War Monarch!”

The man in black snorted. “This competition was truly boring. The ‘invincible’ Night Emperor? He’s merely a foe I once defeated. I was only in seclusion for a few years, and you’ve let the prestige of the Daqin Royal Family fall to this state. And you still have the gall to greet me!”

BOOM!

BOOM!

Like a clap of thunder, the man in black stomped his foot, and a ring of energy radiated outward.

Everyone from the Qin Race and the Ye Family on site screamed and collapsed to the ground.

The ring of energy surged toward Li Tangsheng.

Huang Tian shouted, thrusting his hands forward.

Using all his strength, he just barely managed to block the wave of energy.

But the man in black had already vanished.

Huang Tian’s hands trembled, and it took him a long moment to catch his breath.

Li Tangsheng, hiding behind him, was drenched in sweat.

“Who… who in the world was that?”

“Qin Zhan Jun!” Huang Tian’s eyes were filled with terror. “He’s come out of seclusion!”

Li Tangsheng wiped away his sweat. “That name sounds a little familiar… To think the Qin Race still has such an expert!”

Huang Tian’s brow furrowed deeply. “Your Highness may not know, but back when Tianxuan went to the Qin Family to retrieve his mother’s belongings, it was this very Qin Zhan Jun who gravely injured him! Back then, he was already the number one expert of the Emperor Clans. I never expected that after so many years in seclusion, he would become even stronger!”

Li Tangsheng was aghast. “Even with the Night Emperor’s abilities, he couldn’t defeat this Qin Zhan Jun?”

Huang Tian shook his head. “At the time, Tianxuan had been poisoned by the Ye Family and was at less than ten percent of his full strength. That’s one reason. On the other hand, the sect and influence behind Qin Zhan Jun is the truly terrifying part.”

A heavy mood fell over both of them.

The mess at the Martial Arts Arena was now a foregone conclusion.

No one could convict the Qin Family. There wasn’t even a chance to interrogate anyone.

As they were sighing, a military vehicle tore wildly into the Martial Arts Arena. An officer who looked like a strategist leaped out, ignored the chaotic scene, and dropped to one knee. “Report! The Southern Domain is in peril! Three lines of defense have been broken! The enemy has invaded Da Xia Territory!”