Chapter 196 : Chapter 196

Chapter 196. Utterly Repulsed

As ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍he spoke, Shi Ritian patted Yuntian on the shoulder again, his tone so gentle it was almost fatherly. “Besides, Brother Yuntian, since you are not in good condition, you should go back and rest first. I will send someone else to handle the scout matter. Just put your mind at ease and do not involve yourself in this anymore.”

Yuntian ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍felt as if he had just been granted a pardon. He hurriedly cupped his fists and said, “Many thanks for your understanding, Brother Shi! Brother Shi, let me say this here and now: you have shown me such great kindness that if you ever have need of me in the future, I will not refuse even if it means dying ten thousand deaths.”

Yuntian ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had never imagined that Shi Ritian could be this magnanimous.

Throughout ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the entire Ancient Royal Clan, everyone knew that an elder of the Dragon-Elephant Giant Spirit Clan stood behind Shi Ritian. That was why he had always acted tyrannically across the entire Ancient Imperial Clan.

If ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Shi Ritian refused to agree to something, no one else could do a thing about it.

That ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was precisely why Yuntian had been so conflicted and so pained before speaking.

He had been afraid that Shi Ritian would reject his request outright.

Yet to his utter surprise, Shi Ritian had not only failed to object, he had even been so considerate. It truly moved Yuntian deeply.

But while Yuntian was nearly overwhelmed with gratitude, Shi Ritian, the one truly in control of all this…

At that very moment, as Shi Ritian watched Yuntian’s sniveling, indecisive demeanor, he felt a wave of nausea.

He could not help cursing inwardly: With a temperament as weak as yours, you are an utter disgrace. No wonder you could not even keep your own woman. With how spineless you are, what woman would be willing to follow you?

In short, Shi Ritian found Yuntian to be a completely hopeless case, little more than a useless waste. Especially now, he found it unbearable to even spare him another glance.

Still, he could only force himself to put on a sympathetic expression. Waving a hand, he said, “Since the two of us have made everything clear, Brother Yuntian, hurry back and get some rest. You have worked hard during this time. And do not worry. I already regard you as a true brother. If I ever need help in the future, you will be the first person I inform.”

It had to be said that although Shi Ritian was vicious, his emotional intelligence was genuinely high.

With only a few sentences, he not only pushed all responsibility off himself completely, he also moved Yuntian so deeply that Yuntian almost wanted to swear brotherhood with him on the spot.

Yuntian nodded, the gratitude in his eyes plain to see. In the next instant, he turned into a wisp of green smoke and vanished from where he stood.

Just before disappearing, he looked desolate and exhausted, as though he had aged ten years in an instant.

Shi Ritian stood where he was and watched him vanish into the night.

Once that figure had completely disappeared, the smile on Shi Ritian’s face vanished at once, replaced by unconcealed contempt and disgust.

“Trash. You really are trash through and through. No wonder Cailin looks down on you. If it were anyone else, they would probably look down on you too. Coward.”

Shi Ritian cursed in a low voice, his tone as cold as a blade quenched in ice. There was not the slightest trace of the warmth he had shown while calling Yuntian his brother just moments ago.

“You could not even protect your own woman. A few extra looks and you cannot take it anymore, and you still expect to accomplish anything great?”

“And you call yourself a prodigy of the Desolate Battle Kui Ox Clan? This is all the ambition you have? You deserve to be passed over for someone else. With the sort of character you have, anyone who followed you would only suffer.”

He let out a cold laugh and turned to walk deeper into the camp.

“Men!”

“Here!” A personal guard from the Dragon-Elephant Giant Spirit Clan hurried forward. Throughout the entire process, he did not dare even raise his eyes toward Shi Ritian, afraid of being implicated in anything.

Without turning his head, Shi Ritian ordered, “Send someone else to the Great Chu Dynasty and continue investigating Chu Feng’s whereabouts and Cailin’s condition… and remember, choose someone clever. Do not send another fool like that waste, the sort who falls apart after seeing a few things.”

It was obvious that Yuntian had truly irritated Shi Ritian, which was why he was dwelling on it so much now.

“Yes!”

After receiving the order and sensing Shi Ritian’s anger, the personal guard withdrew at once.

Shi Ritian stood with his hands behind his back, looking in the direction of the Great Chu Dynasty, cold light flickering in his eyes.

Chu Feng, Cailin…

Go on, be as affectionate as you like.

Very soon, I will show you what it means for joy to turn into sorrow, and what it means that retribution is not absent, only delayed.

Inside Duanhun Valley.

Dawn.

As the last strand of daylight pierced through the clouds and shone into this legendary Fierce Land, an earth-shaking roar suddenly rang out!

BOOM—!

Eight-Colored Divine Light shot into the sky, piercing the nine heavens!

The radiance was even more resplendent than before, illuminating the entire sky. Within a radius of a thousand li, everyone could see this awe-inspiring phenomenon!

The Ancient Killing Array had been completed in full.

“It is done, it is done!”

“Look! The killing array is complete!”

“Eight-Colored Divine Light! It really is Eight-Colored Divine Light! Just looking at that power is enough to fill one with dread!”

The valley instantly erupted.

The warriors of the eight clans all put down what they were doing and raised their heads to look at the divine light soaring skyward, their eyes filled with fanatic excitement.

This was the pride of the Ancient Royal Clan.

“Hahahaha! After seven times seven, forty-nine days, it has finally succeeded. You have all worked hard!”

A burly man of the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan suddenly threw back his head and laughed. His booming laughter shook the surrounding rocks until they rattled, more than enough to prove his strength.

His upper body was bare, and on his chest was tattooed the savage totem of a Nine Netherworld Mastiff. As he laughed, that totem seemed to come alive, its ferocity fully revealed.

“I have waited forty-nine days for this. Every single day I was hauling stones and carving array patterns. I am telling you, my hands were nearly worn raw. Now that the array is complete, we can finally have a proper battle!”

“Exactly!” A warrior from the Heaven-Splitting Armor Clan beside him grinned. “These past days have nearly suffocated me. Once that human arrives, I will be the first to charge out and crush his head beneath my hoof.”

“You?” The burly man from the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan cast him a disdainful glance and laughed. “With your little bit of skill, you should save your breath. That human is a ruthless figure who could even crush Lord Shi Ritian. You want to go up there and throw away your life? Just stay obediently behind the rest of us.”

“Nonsense!” The Heaven-Splitting Armor Clan warrior flushed red and snapped angrily, “My Heaven-Splitting Armor Clan is born with divine strength. How can we be compared to someone like Shi Ritian? Besides, we have the Ancient Killing Array. With the array here, no matter how strong he is, he will still have to kneel—”

“That is true!” The burly man from the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan burst into laughter. “With the killing array here and our eight clans joining forces, even if he had three heads and six arms, he would still die.”

“That is right. He is as good as dead.”

“Kill that young human and raise the prestige of our Ancient Royal Clan!”

The surrounding warriors all chimed in, their emotions running high. It had to be said that the Ancient Royal Clan had not been this lively in a very long time.

Not far away, several warriors of the Fire Chi Clan were gathered around an array base stone, carefully inspecting the array patterns carved into it.

“Elder, Elder, there is no problem with these array patterns, right?” a young warrior asked nervously.