When Xi Huang saw this, her expression turned ice-cold. In her eyes, Qin Luo was already a dead man.
He had given her no face and even dug out her disciple's Sword Bone. This was the second time in her life she had felt such humiliation.
Boom!
A terrifying soul force erupted from her body. She intended to use the Origin power of the Tai Xu Bell to land a killing blow on Fang Xing.
Seeing this, Liu Changhe's face changed drastically. "Old Ancestor, the Tai Xu Bell!"
If she unleashed that strike, the Tai Xu Bell would be finished—its spirit completely scattered.
The Tai Xu Old Ancestor's expression was also ugly, but he kept his composure.
"We can't control the Tai Xu Bell right now. We can't stop her." After he spoke, he simply closed his eyes, as though unwilling to watch the bell be destroyed with his own eyes.
Fang Xing's face was equally grim. That attack wouldn't kill him, but if he misjudged it, he could be grievously wounded.
At that moment, a hearty laugh sounded from behind him.
"Old Fang, you're slipping."
"Let this old Zheng lend you a hand!"
Boom!
An aura on par with Fang Xing's flared. A burly man wielding a giant axe charged over.
He raised the axe and hacked toward Xi Huang as if splitting the sky itself. The unstoppable force made Xi Huang's heart lurch. "Not good!"
She'd planned to deal with Fang Xing first, then kill Qin Luo, and finally help Ye Chen reinsert the Sword Bone.
But now, another Great Qin powerhouse had suddenly appeared and joined the fight. The danger closed in on her instead.
"Ye Chen, go!" Xi Huang roared. A jade talisman shot from her hand toward Ye Chen.
"Crap!" Qin Luo cursed inwardly. The jade talisman came screaming in. He twisted aside—
Whoosh.
It grazed him, and the shockwave even flung him back. The talisman landed beside Ye Chen.
Ye Chen grabbed it, channeled his energy, and a huge black hole immediately opened behind him.
"Her methods really are vicious," the Tai Xu Old Ancestor said in a low voice as he watched.
If just her soul body was this strong, how heaven-defying would Xi Huang be in her complete state?
He glanced at the black hole but made no move.
Better for Tai Xu Holy Land not to get involved.
Boom!
Deafening explosions rang out. The Old Ancestor and Liu Changhe acted together, blocking the aftermath of the shattered Tai Xu Bell's blast to protect Tai Xu Holy Land from being ravaged.
A colossal wave of force slammed into Qin Luo's chest. He spat a mouthful of blood on the spot.
Pfft.
After coughing up the blood, his chest actually felt much better.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Xi Huang spun around and rushed toward the black hole.
She wanted to escape too.
[Warning: Ye Chen's master is about to flee. System recommends immediately spending all Villain Points to exchange for a treasure to intercept her (grand opening special, limited-time bargain).]
"Exchange! Exchange!" Qin Luo replied without hesitation.
[All Villain Points spent successfully]
[Obtained: Soul-Binding Rope (Low-Grade Saint Rank)]
[Obtained: Soul-Striking Whip (Low-Grade Saint Rank)]
The so-called Soul-Binding Rope appeared in Qin Luo's hand. He couldn't shake the feeling there was something off about this rope, but there was no time to think.
He activated it at once. With a sharp whistle, it shot straight toward Xi Huang.
At the mouth of the black hole, Ye Chen clearly saw his master about to reach him—only for a rope to appear out of nowhere the next second, wrapping around Xi Huang's limbs and neck and slamming her to the ground.
She was less than ten steps away from him.
"Chen'er, pull me up!" Xi Huang shouted.
Ye Chen had just lifted his foot when he saw the burly man with the axe charging in from behind Xi Huang.
He didn't hesitate. He turned around and bolted into the black hole.
Xi Huang stared after him, stunned. The disciple she had painstakingly raised, the one she doted on, had abandoned her?
The instant he stepped through, Ye Chen shattered the jade talisman. The black hole snapped shut.
He ran.
[Ye Chen has abandoned his "golden-finger" master. Luck -200,000. Host gains 200,000 Villain Points.]
Boom! Boom!
Fang Xing and the burly newcomer landed beside Xi Huang. Their terrifying auras bore down on her, snuffing out even the slightest chance she had of breaking the bindings.
They both glanced at Xi Huang, then turned their eyes to Qin Luo.
"Ninth Prince, this is…?" Fang Xing asked.
Only then did the burly man realize this youth was the Ninth Prince Qin Luo the Imperial Capital had been searching for.
He sized Qin Luo up, but didn't see anything that special. The kid's cultivation was decent at best; compared to the other princes, the gap was obvious.
"This is a Soul-Binding Rope, specialized for restraining souls," Qin Luo said seriously.
[System reminder: Host, with 200,000 Villain Points, you can exchange for the Human Emperor Banner.]
[As a variant of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, the Human Emperor Banner naturally has its own unique traits. Having a Human Emperor-level figure serve as the main soul is simply perfect.]
Qin Luo's lip twitched. That was just a glorified name swap.
"Sifang Marquis, may I handle this woman?" Qin Luo asked.
Fang Xing looked at him, then at Xi Huang, and cupped his fists. "Please, Your Highness."
The burly man was stunned. He was about to speak, but when he met Fang Xing's gaze and saw him shake his head slightly, he swallowed his words.
"Good."
With Fang Xing and the others escorting, Qin Luo brought Xi Huang back to his cave residence in Tai Xu Holy Land.
Though called a cave, it was really just a mountain peak. After Master Shen Su's death, only he and his junior sister had lived there; the place felt empty.
As soon as they arrived, Qin Luo made his choice.
"Exchange for the Human Emperor Banner."
[Exchange successful]
[Obtained: Human Emperor Banner (Low-Grade Saint Rank)]
Refine.
Items from the System were easy for Qin Luo to refine.
It didn't take long before he completed the refinement. He turned to Xi Huang with a crooked, ominous smile.
"Time to go in."
Most people's Ten Thousand Souls Banners teemed with yin and baleful energy, but his Human Emperor Banner radiated endless righteous might instead.
Boom!
Qin Luo tossed Xi Huang into the Human Emperor Banner. Then he stated his purpose plainly. "Are you willing to become the main soul of my Human Emperor Banner?"
Xi Huang was no fool; she instantly understood. She roared, "Junior, you dare!"
"I am Empress Xi Huang! How dare you humiliate me like this!"
Empress?
Qin Luo hadn't expected such a windfall and sneered. "What Empress? You're just my prisoner now."
"Whether you submit or not—"
"That's not up to you."
With a thought, the Soul-Striking Whip appeared in Qin Luo's hand. He swung it down without mercy.