"So fast?" Qin Luo immediately straightened his back. His heart surged. His people were here. Today, everyone in this place would kneel.
The Great Qin Dynasty was an existence far, far above Tai Xu Holy Land.
In his inherited memories, the founder of the Great Qin Dynasty was a Great Emperor Realm expert. Within Great Qin, anyone granted the title of Marquis was at least a Saint.
The Old Ancestor of Tai Xu was startled and instantly withdrew his aura. He glanced at Liu Changhe, his eyes questioning.
Liu Changhe subtly indicated that he knew nothing.
"Seize this boy!" At the Old Ancestor's command, the Tai Xu elders were about to move.
Just then, Qin Luo shouted, "I am Qin Luo!"
"Sifang Marquis, I'm here!"
With the amplification of the Tai Xu Bell, Qin Luo's voice echoed across heaven and earth.
Boom!
A terrifying aura swept in from outside the mountain gate. A black-armored middle-aged man strode in unimpeded, ignoring everyone as he came to hover above Qin Luo.
His gaze locked onto Qin Luo at once.
"Sifang Marquis, what brings you here?" the Old Ancestor and Liu Changhe asked solemnly.
The aura coming off the Sifang Marquis was slightly weaker than the Old Ancestor's, but no one dared underestimate him, for he represented the Great Qin Dynasty.
Fang Xing's eyes landed on Qin Luo. When a jade pendant appeared in Qin Luo's hand, his pupils narrowed.
Whoosh.
He flashed in front of Qin Luo at astonishing speed, took the pendant, and activated a secret art passed to him via confidential decree.
A red light soon shot out from the jade pendant and merged into Qin Luo's body. At the same time, the jade pendant shone brilliantly as it resonated with the Bloodline Power inside Qin Luo.
They did not know exactly what was happening, but the Old Ancestor and Liu Changhe both felt their hearts sink with a bad premonition.
Ye Chen's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He could no longer comprehend the series of reversals.
"Qin Luo… might not die?" he muttered.
Fang Xing watched quietly and confirmed that the youth before him bore the Bloodline of Great Qin—he was the Ninth Prince whom the Imperial Capital had sent him to find.
He stepped back half a pace and bowed deeply toward Qin Luo. "Sifang Marquis Fang Xing greets Your Highness, the Ninth Prince."
Boom.
The words were like a thunderclap.
Ye Chen staggered, his eyes bloodshot. "He's… a Prince of the Great Qin Dynasty?!"
Jealousy, fury, fear—every emotion roiled in his chest.
He had finally been about to trample Qin Luo underfoot and seize the position of Holy Son, only for Qin Luo to suddenly gain a status far greater than that of Holy Son—the Ninth Prince of Great Qin!
Liu Ruyan also stared at Qin Luo in disbelief. "Senior Brother Qin… is actually the Ninth Prince of the Great Qin Dynasty? How… how is that possible?"
"Impossible. How could Qin Luo be the Ninth Prince of Great Qin?"
"Didn't Great Qin only have eight princes? When did a ninth appear?"
"This is a joke. A huge joke. How could a thief like Qin Luo be the Ninth Prince of Great Qin? I must still be dreaming. Yes, this is definitely a dream."
Liu Changhe's face turned increasingly ugly. He realized the gravity of the situation. If Qin Luo truly was Great Qin's Ninth Prince, then their earlier judgment had completely alienated him.
In the future, Qin Luo would certainly be a deadly enemy of Tai Xu Holy Land.
He stepped forward, voice heavy. "Qin Luo is a child Elder Shen Su of our Tai Xu Holy Land picked up from outside. Sifang Marquis, could there be some mistake?"
Fang Xing glanced at him coolly. "Our Great Qin Dynasty has its own means of verification. There is no need to explain them to Tai Xu Holy Land."
"I have confirmed that His Highness Qin Luo is the Ninth Prince of Great Qin. His status is beyond doubt."
Overbearing. If I say it's true, then it's true. No explanation needed.
"Your Highness Ninth Prince, please accompany me back to the Imperial Capital."
"No rush," Qin Luo said.
It was his turn to take center stage.
He glanced at Fang Xing and asked, "Sifang Marquis, do you know why I am standing here right now?"
"I am being judged by Tai Xu Holy Land."
At these words, the faces of the Old Ancestor and Liu Changhe both changed.
They knew Qin Luo was deliberately rubbing salt in the wound.
"Old Ancestor, rest assured," Liu Changhe secretly transmitted. "In this matter, our Tai Xu Holy Land stands on principle. Even if Great Qin is powerful, it cannot simply bully others."
The Old Ancestor merely nodded and said nothing.
"Oh?" A powerful killing intent flared from Fang Xing. His gaze swept the crowd like a blade. "You dare to judge a prince of my Great Qin Dynasty? Tai Xu Holy Land, your courage is impressive."
The pressure of one man suppressed all of Tai Xu Holy Land into silence.
Only Tu Shouyi, receiving Liu Changhe's hint, stepped forward. He cupped his fists and said, "Reporting to the Sifang Marquis, we did not know earlier that Qin Luo was a Prince of Great Qin. He served as our Holy Son and violated the laws of our Tai Xu Holy Land, so naturally he had to be judged."
Finding his rhythm, Tu Shouyi raised his voice. In this moment, he felt like the focal point of the hall—a warrior who did not fear might.
But Qin Luo's calm sentence instantly pushed him into the abyss. "Just now, he repeatedly tried to put me to death."
Boom.
Fang Xing's killing intent grew tangible. His blade appeared in his hand. "To dare plot against a Prince of Great Qin—you deserve death."
The murderous pressure nearly suffocated Tu Shouyi; he couldn't even breathe. His eyes were filled with terror.
"Sifang Marquis, please stay your hand!" Liu Changhe still had a conscience. Tu Shouyi had stepped forward at his signal, so he ought to shield him now.
"Those who obstruct me share his crime."
Fang Xing showed no intention of relenting. His blade flashed down. Tu Shouyi had only just shaken off the crushing aura when the strike arrived; he had no time to dodge.
He could only shout, "Holy Lord, save me!"
Liu Changhe hesitated. That fleeting hesitation was enough. Fang Xing's blade cleaved down.
Bang.
Tu Shouyi's body crashed to the ground, making many hearts tremble. Some disciples began to shake uncontrollably.
Earlier, they had enthusiastically joined in slandering Qin Luo. Now, watching an eighth-layer Cave Heaven expert die so easily, how could they not be afraid?
As arrogant and elated as they had been moments ago, they were now equally terrified.
Yet one person still dared to speak. Liu Ruyan looked at Qin Luo and said, "Senior Brother Qin, you've changed. Elder Tu was only enforcing the law impartially. Besides, you killed disciples of our Tai Xu Holy Land and stole our sacred artifact. With both witnesses and physical evidence, you are the one in the wrong, Senior Brother."
However, her tone no longer carried the same confident righteousness as before. Qin Luo's change in identity and backing had clearly shaken her.
Qin Luo was entirely sure now—he could almost do as he pleased.
"Enforcing the law impartially? Witnesses and evidence?" Qin Luo sneered and fixed his eyes on Liu Ruyan. "The 'witnesses' you're talking about are just you and Ye Chen, right?"
"Did you personally see me kill disciples of Tai Xu Holy Land?"
"I…" Liu Ruyan suddenly found the words stuck in her throat. Did she see it with her own eyes? She had only seen corpses—and Qin Luo appearing nearby.
"Answer me. Did you *personally* see me kill disciples of Tai Xu Holy Land?" Qin Luo pressed coldly.
"I did not." As soon as the words left her mouth, an uproar spread through the crowd.
No one expected that the key witness had never actually seen anything, yet had still accused Qin Luo so confidently.
"Did you personally see me steal Tai Xu Holy Land's sacred artifact?" Qin Luo continued.
"But in your hand…"
Liu Ruyan hadn't finished before Qin Luo cut her off. "Answer me. Did you personally witness it?"
"No," Liu Ruyan replied honestly.
"Then why are you standing here as a witness? Liu Ruyan, are you just making things up?"
"No, it's not like that." Flustered, Liu Ruyan hastily pushed Ye Chen out in front. "Junior Brother Ye Chen, he… he personally saw you kill our senior and junior brothers."
All eyes turned once more to Ye Chen.
With things already at a life-and-death stage between him and Qin Luo, he had nothing left to fear.
"That's right. I personally saw you, Qin Luo, kill disciples of our Tai Xu Holy Land. And the Four Symbols Swordplay you used, and the Tai Xu Bell in your hands—don't they prove that you stole Tai Xu's treasures?"
"For your own selfish desires, you killed our people and stole our sacred artifact. Did you ever think of Tai Xu's grace in raising and nurturing you?"
"You're just a selfish, vicious villain!"
No matter what, even if Qin Luo was a Prince of Great Qin now, he would nail these crimes to Qin Luo today, so that even in Great Qin, Qin Luo would be mocked.
Qin Luo was not angry at all. He even clapped lightly. "Wonderful. Truly wonderful. What a neat framing."
"However, I say that *you*, Ye Chen, are the one who killed disciples of Tai Xu and stole the Tai Xu Bell and the Four Symbols Swordplay."
Ye Chen snorted. "Qin Luo, with witnesses and physical evidence here, you still want to quibble? Do you really think everyone in Tai Xu is blind?"
He didn't believe Qin Luo could turn the tables now.
Qin Luo only shook his head and ignored him. Instead, he turned to Fang Xing and asked, "Sifang Marquis, may I inspect the ring on his hand?"
"After all, I represent Great Qin. A prince of the Imperial Dynasty cannot be wronged without cause. Don't you agree?"
At these words, a flicker of panic flashed across Ye Chen's face. He had never expected Qin Luo to move to search his ring.
[Ye Chen's mental state has been shaken. Luck -3000. Host gains 3000 Villain Points.]