Chapter 20: Chapter 19: Betrayal
Jiang Kaitai’s words were half-truths, half-lies.
If Qin Yuancheng and Chen Yuan had actually done as Jiang Kaitai said—performing the blood sacrifice and then activating the arrays in the courtyards of South City and North City—they too would have been consumed by the Blood Sacrifice Array.
The two arrays in South City and North City were Jiang Kaitai’s true trump cards, which he had reserved for himself.
The arrays in these two locations were not for blood sacrifices, but were Blood Killing Formations.
Once activated, all living beings within a radius of several miles would be devoured by Blood Qi and absorbed into the Seven Kills Stele buried beneath Lianshan City.
These two areas were the most densely populated parts of Lianshan City. A successful activation would yield a massive amount of Qi Blood.
And the person who activated the array would naturally be unable to escape its activation speed; they would be sacrificed as well.
This was the fate of Zhu Zhiping and Qin Yuancheng in the original story.
Jiang Kaitai had hesitated just now because he was reluctant to sacrifice Chen Yuan along with the others.
In his heart, he considered Chen Yuan very ’obedient’ and ’loyal’.
Not only was Chen Yuan obedient and loyal, but his talent was also excellent.
He had reached the Peak of the Body Tempering Realm by practicing a trash Cultivation Technique like the Cyan Wood Heart Method. If Jiang Kaitai could get him a Profound Level or Earth Level technique in the future, his achievements might not be inferior to the young prodigies from major factions.
When the time came for him to merge with the Divine Artifact, he would need some capable men under his command.
However, Jiang Kaitai only hesitated for a moment before hardening his heart and deciding to sacrifice Chen Yuan as well.
He didn’t trust the other Hall Masters of the Celestial Wolf Gang with this matter.
Those old foxes were too cunning; they might not fall for his deception and could even go report him to Murong Qing.
His two young adopted sons were far easier to fool.
Although it pained him to lose a loyal, obedient, and talented adopted son, it was a small price to pay.
As long as he could succeed in one fell swoop this time, what kind of adopted sons and subordinates couldn’t he find in the future?
"Father, rest assured. Eldest Brother and I will help you merge with the Divine Artifact and reach the pinnacle of the Jianghu!"
Chen Yuan’s face was a mask of fanaticism, which made Jiang Kaitai feel a small pang of guilt.
Of course, it was only a small pang.
"Good, good. I will go merge with the Divine Artifact now. Pay close attention to the timing—not too early, not too late."
With that, Jiang Kaitai left.
Qin Yuancheng paced back and forth in the room, a mix of excitement and nervousness on his face, glancing at Chen Yuan from time to time.
He had always felt that the position of Gang Leader of the Celestial Wolf Gang would surely be his. Third Brother didn’t want to compete with him, nor could he.
Now, their adoptive father had found a great opportunity that would bring him even greater power in the future, yet he said he would leave it to the two of them.
’Third Brother doesn’t want to compete now, but will he suddenly want to in the future?’
Chen Yuan didn’t know what was going through Qin Yuancheng’s mind, nor did he care to know.
The moment Jiang Kaitai left, he closed his eyes to rest his mind and calculate the time.
After pacing for a while, Qin Yuancheng couldn’t hold back any longer. "Third Brother," he asked, "shouldn’t we get going? We should get into position ahead of time so we can start the blood sacrifice the moment the hour arrives."
"Are you in such a hurry to die?"
Qin Yuancheng froze, then frowned. "Third Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? I don’t understand."
Chen Yuan shook his head lightly. "Never mind. It’s better to die in ignorance, I suppose."
Qin Yuancheng’s expression darkened.
’How dare Third Brother speak to me like that?’
’Dying in ignorance? With such a great matter at hand, all he does is spout such inauspicious words!’
Just as he was about to scold him, he saw Chen Yuan flick his wrist, and the Yanling Saber was already unsheathed.
In an instant, a brilliant flash of light from the blade streaked through the air like autumn water gliding over a lake.
Qin Yuancheng had no time to react before the blade was at his throat.
’Such a fast blade...’
This was the only thought that flashed through Qin Yuancheng’s mind. With a spray of blood, his head hit the floor.
"In a way, you should thank me.
"The feeling you’d get after helping Jiang Kaitai with everything, only to discover he’d deceived you and planned to sacrifice you all along... it wouldn’t be pleasant."
Chen Yuan shook his head, picked up Qin Yuancheng’s head, and made his way straight to Murong Qing’s residence.
’At least I gave him a relatively painless death. Borrowing his head shouldn’t be too much to ask, right?’
Murong Qing was staying in Jiang Kaitai’s former room, which had been completely renovated with all new furniture.
At that moment, Murong Qing was drinking tea, complaining to himself about how terrible the tea in Lianshan City was.
In Longcheng, he only drank the finest Spirit Tea, which was prepared with several rare and precious herbs. It had a rich aroma and could even promote the circulation of his Inner Strength.
Just then, a knock came from the door.
"Master Murong, Chen Yuan requests an audience."
Murong Qing waved his hand, and a burst of True Qi shot out, pushing the door open.
"Come in."
Murong Qing’s impression of Chen Yuan was actually quite good.
At the very least, he was sensible and knew how to talk—much better than his older brother.
’If that old dog Jiang Kaitai dies in the future, I could suggest to the family that they let Chen Yuan take over the Celestial Wolf Gang.’
’Even being a dog has its requirements. At a minimum, you have to be able to read people and get things done.’
’A useless oaf like Qin Yuancheng isn’t even qualified to be a dog.’
When Chen Yuan walked in carrying Qin Yuancheng’s head, Murong Qing’s brow furrowed.
"Chen Yuan, what is the meaning of this?"
"Master Murong, I have discovered the mastermind behind the blood sacrifices in Lianshan City!"
Murong Qing pointed at the head in Chen Yuan’s hand, his expression baffled. "Don’t tell me the mastermind is Qin Yuancheng."
From his interactions over the past few days, Murong Qing had already gotten a good measure of Qin Yuancheng’s character.
He was an idiot who wasn’t very bright.
Hailing from a minor gang, his perspective and vision were narrow, and he was clumsy in both speech and action.
On top of that, he was petty-minded and always trying to flatter and curry favor with him, but his attempts at flattery always missed the mark.
’A guy like that could cultivate so many loyal Death Warriors? He could fool me for so many days?’
"It is not Qin Yuancheng, but my adoptive father, Jiang Kaitai!"
Holding up the head, Chen Yuan said, "Just now, Jiang Kaitai came to see me and Qin Yuancheng. He personally admitted that he is the mastermind behind the blood sacrifices in Lianshan City.
"The reason is that when he was a bandit, he obtained a treasure map. It recorded a secret location beneath Lianshan City where a Divine Artifact was buried—the Seven Kills Stele!
"From that day on, Jiang Kaitai secretly began training Death Warriors and setting up arrays, all for the sake of one day performing a blood sacrifice to merge with the Divine Artifact!
"However, with your intervention, Master Murong, Jiang Kaitai could no longer proceed with the blood sacrifice at his leisure and had to initiate it ahead of schedule.
"That is why he revealed his plan to me and Qin Yuancheng, ordering us to help him carry out the slaughter for the blood sacrifice while he goes to merge with the Divine Artifact early.
"That bastard Qin Yuancheng was tempted, but I merely pretended to agree. After Jiang Kaitai left, I killed Qin Yuancheng and came to report to you, Master Murong."
In truth, what was buried under Lianshan City was only a fragment of the Divine Artifact, the Seven Kills Stele.
But it was unclear whether Jiang Kaitai genuinely didn’t know it was just a fragment or if he had deliberately told them it was the whole thing to make them more tempted.
Of course, that wasn’t important, and Chen Yuan didn’t bother to correct the detail.
A Divine Artifact was far more enticing than a mere fragment.
After hearing Chen Yuan’s explanation, Murong Qing’s expression changed dramatically.
He was from the Murong Family of Longcheng, which already possessed the Divine Artifact, Star Shifting. This was the very lifeblood of his family.
For this very reason, Murong Qing understood the value of a Divine Artifact far better than Qin Yuancheng did.
The Murong Family’s Divine Artifact, Star Shifting, had an Attribute that was primarily defensive; it could redirect any attack and send it back.
In other words, Star Shifting couldn’t be used for offensive attacks. As long as an enemy didn’t strike first, the Murong Family’s Star Shifting was useless.
But he had also heard the legends of the Seven Kills Stele. It was said to be the manifestation of the Killing Intent Origin, a supreme offensive treasure and one of the most powerful Divine Artifacts even in the Ancient Era.
If they could obtain the Seven Kills Stele, the Murong Family would possess two great Divine Artifacts—one for offense, one for defense. The dream of restoring their kingdom would no longer be a fantasy!
Hadn’t the Zhao Family of the Great Xia secured their empire for so many years precisely because they possessed the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow and the Human Emperor Sword?
If the Murong Family held both Star Shifting and the Seven Kills Stele, how would they be any worse off than the Zhao Family?
However, after his initial excitement, Murong Qing calmed down and stared intently at Chen Yuan.
"Jiang Kaitai is your adoptive father. If he merges with the Divine Artifact, he will surely soar to the heavens. As his adopted son, the benefits you would receive would be countless. Why weren’t you tempted? Why betray him instead?"
Chen Yuan lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Because Jiang Kaitai is cruel and ungrateful. He doesn’t deserve my trust!
"All these years, Jiang Kaitai has been wary of us, his adopted sons. Otherwise, why would he wait until the last minute to tell us about sacrificing for the Divine Artifact?
"What if he simply casts us aside after he merges with it? What would I do then?
"Rather than being kicked away later, it’s better to sell him out for a good price now.
"The Murong Family are descendants of a Royal Family, with a thousand-year heritage. In You Province, you are highly respected and have the people’s support.
"Rather than believe Jiang Kaitai’s nonsense, I’d rather trust in the credibility of the Murong Family and sell him out for a good price.
"I believe the Murong Family will not treat a meritorious contributor poorly, and I trust even more that you, Master Murong, will not treat me poorly."
"Hahaha! Good! Well said!"
Murong Qing looked at Chen Yuan with admiration. "My Murong Family is not afraid of greedy subordinates, but we are afraid of those who are insatiably so!
"Chen Yuan, you are very good.
"You are greedy, but you know your limits. You understand the situation and know when to advance and when to retreat.
"Rest assured, the Murong Family will not treat you poorly, and I, this young master, will certainly not treat you poorly!
"In the future, not only will the Celestial Wolf Gang be yours, but the Murong Family will personally negotiate with the Sun-piercing Alliance to hand over all of Lianshan City to you!"
If Chen Yuan had just spouted some nonsense about betraying Jiang Kaitai out of loyalty to the Murong Family, Murong Qing would have immediately hit him with a Profound Dragon Finger and burst his head open.
’Who does he think he’s fooling?’
But Chen Yuan’s straightforwardness—his clear desire for benefits—was something Murong Qing actually admired.
Greed isn’t scary; what’s scary is being insatiably greedy and not knowing one’s own worth.
That Jiang Kaitai was exactly that type of insatiable person who didn’t know his place.
If he had just handed over the information about the Divine Artifact to the Murong Family back then, they certainly wouldn’t have treated him poorly.
But instead, he was insatiably greedy, daring to dream of possessing a Divine Artifact for himself. His death would be no great loss!
’Divine Artifact Demon Soldiers, relics passed down from the hands of powerful Ancient Demon Gods... are things an old dog like you, Jiang Kaitai, is qualified to possess?’
’Only we, the Murong Family—descendants of royalty, born noble—are qualified to wield Divine Artifact Demon Soldiers!’
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