Chapter 263: Chapter 261: Ambition
The eyes of the Cui Family’s Celestial Embracing Realm Martial Artists filled with horror. They instantly retreated, trying to dodge the stunning sword strike. But one of them was a fraction too slow. The purple Sword Qi grazed his neck, and he died on the spot.
’Do they really think rank is everything?’
Qin Li stood his ground, calmly watching the petrified crowd. He sneered inwardly. ’So-called rank is just a measure of power, skill, and one’s understanding of the Martial Dao!’
’But so what if their Primordial Power is abundant and their strength is immense?’
’Faced with my unparalleled speed and the Unparalleled Divine Sword, Blood Drinking, a Celestial Embracing Realm Martial Artist stands no chance at all!’
Even Bing Mengyun, who had remained calm and composed, couldn’t help but be visibly moved when she saw Qin Li execute that move and instantly kill a Celestial Embracing Realm Martial Artist.
’Even I probably wouldn’t have the upper hand against him right now! The combat techniques he cultivates, that strange Body Technique of his, and that Divine Sword in his hand... they’re just... too overbearing!’
The Cui family members who had just been besieging Shangguan Shiyu now retreated, their faces filled with horror as they stared at Qin Li. They finally understood why the Cui Family had said to never let this kid go if the opportunity arose. ’So the Cui Family has known how terrifying he is all along!’
’If the opportunity arose?’ All the surviving Cui family Martial Artists couldn’t help but shake their heads. ’What opportunity? The people here are no match for Qin Li at all!’
Qin Li had utterly shattered their confidence.
A Martial Artist could accept being less skilled, but if they lost their will to win, how could they ever hope to defeat their opponent?
But right now, every single one of them was scared witless.
After killing so many of them, Qin Li didn’t have a single scratch on him. Even his fine, close-fitting attire was completely unwrinkled.
"Still want to kill me?" At some point, that simple, earnest smile had returned to Qin Li’s face. His handsome features looked utterly sincere.
But to the Cui family, that smile was the grin of a demon.
"Qin Li... you... you dare to slaughter my family’s people like this! The Cui Family will not let you get away with this!" Cui Qi said, his voice lacking any conviction.
"Is that so? Your Cui Family wasn’t going to let me go in the first place. Killing one or killing ten makes no difference," Qin Li said with an indifferent smile. "I’ll stop the killing here for today. Cui Qi, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Pull back your army. Otherwise, the next time we meet, I’ll be sure to kill you."
As he spoke, Qin Li looked at Bing Mengyun and shrugged. "You saw it. I wasn’t the one who started this. They wanted to kill me, so I was forced to retaliate. Do me a favor and put in a good word for me with the Cui Family Master later!"
Bing Mengyun nodded with a hint of resignation and sighed, a look of profound sympathy on her face. "You didn’t believe me. If you had, how could there have been so many casualties?"
The surviving Cui family Martial Artists cursed her in their hearts. ’Damn bitch! If you had just intervened a moment ago, would so many of us have died?’
But they only dared to curse her inwardly, not letting a hint of it show on their faces. Who knew if she would suddenly go mad and decide to "clean up" the rest of them.
Cui Qi narrowed his eyes at Qin Li and said through gritted teeth, "Qin Li, even if you kill me, I cannot give the order to retreat!"
"Oh? Then I’ll kill you," Qin Li said, taking a step forward.
Terrified, Cui Qi stumbled back several steps before crying out, "Wait! I wasn’t finished!"
Qin Li looked at the terrified Cui Qi, whose face was beet red, and sneered. "Are you going to say that even if I kill you, the Cui Family will just send someone else to be emperor?"
Though reluctant, Cui Qi nodded. "That’s right. I’m just an insignificant figure in the Cui Family, nothing more than a pawn. If you’re truly so powerful, then go take your grievances to the main Cui Family! Don’t you think it’s pointless to bully us small-timers?"
The Cui family Martial Artists behind Cui Qi all looked ashamed, but none of them refuted him. What Cui Qi had said was the truth.
They, who had always been high and mighty, looking down on everyone, finally realized that the Cui Family wasn’t the only one in the world with powerful people. Other families... had them too.
"Heh, so you do have some self-awareness. That’s right, you’re all just a bunch of annoying nobodies. More trouble than you’re worth. I bet even if I ’cleaned up’ all of you, the Cui Family wouldn’t have any objections. The fact that you’ve been fighting for years and still haven’t won—without powerful experts resorting to surprise decapitation strikes—says everything about your competence!"
A faint sneer played on Qin Li’s lips, making the Cui family members, especially Cui Qi, flush crimson with shame. His next words made them feel like they wanted to cough up blood.
"Therefore, I won’t kill all of you. I’ll let you live. It doesn’t matter if you don’t withdraw your troops. Believe me, in a few days, you’ll receive news that the New Qin Empire’s million-strong army has been completely routed. Hmph. Just like I said, if you want to use the machinery of the state to openly destroy another nation, without resorting to surprise decapitation strikes, no one in your Cui Family has the ability! So, I’ll let you live. As long as you’re here, the Five Nations are actually safe. Because... you’re all a bunch of useless trash."
"Qin Li, you’ve gone too far!"
"Qin Li, may you die a horrible death!"
"Qin Li, you’re a bully..."
"..."
Bing Mengyun watched the outwardly fierce but inwardly timid Cui family Martial Artists, completely speechless. ’People like this... no wonder Qin Li looks down on them. They’re truly hopeless.’
Cui Qi did have some talent. When it came to governing a country, few in the entire Cui Family could do better. However, in military affairs, he was no match for battle-hardened generals. Furthermore, the Cui Family looked down on Martial Artists from the Mortal Realm, insisting on keeping the army under their own control.
In the past, they could rely on their numerous Celestial Level Martial Artists to be invincible. Wherever their swords pointed, enemies would scatter. But this was a battle involving millions of soldiers! More importantly, this conflict had successfully drawn out all the powers backing the Five Nations. They had Celestial Level Martial Artists, but the other side had Celestial Level disciples, too!
This brought both sides back to the same starting line. It was safe to say that this was an unprecedentedly difficult war for the Cui Family. Moreover, they were the aggressors, while the Five Nations Alliance was on the defensive. If the Cui Family lost, they could just go home. It was unlikely the Five Nations Alliance would charge into the New Qin Empire to wreak havoc, as everyone knew the New Qin Empire’s Imperial Family was protected by a large number of powerful Tributors.
But if the Five Nations Alliance lost, their soldiers’ parents, siblings, wives, and children would all become prisoners of the enemy, left to be bullied and butchered at will.
Thus, the morale on the two sides was completely different.
And then there was the day Qin Li drove his carriage like a sharp sword straight through the New Qin Empire’s army of several hundred thousand soldiers, slaughtering seventy or eighty Celestial Level Martial Artists in the process!
This had dealt a considerable blow to the morale of the New Qin Empire’s military.
Qin Li gave Bing Mengyun one last, deep look, then took Shangguan Shiyu’s hand. "Shiyu, let’s go."
Bing Mengyun just smiled faintly and said nothing. She turned and returned to the sleeping quarters that had been prepared for her in the imperial palace. She was finally beginning to understand why so many people were attached to the mortal world. ’It turns out you can have this kind of enjoyment here!’
’Compared to this, the way I used to Call the Wind and Summon the Rain back in the Four Seasons Sect seems like a complete joke.’
’The mortal world has its charms after all!’ Bing Mengyun decided that once she finished her current task, she would find a small country, bring it under the Four Seasons Sect’s control, and then she could do whatever she pleased!
Although he hadn’t been able to annihilate the Cui Family’s Imperial Family on this trip, Qin Li was still quite satisfied. It was just as Cui Qi had said: even if Qin Li wiped out the entire New Qin Empire’s Imperial Family, the Cui Family would never stop contending for Cyan Dragon and the other Five Nations. They weren’t after secular lands, but that world-shaking secret!
In this world, absolutely no one could resist such a temptation. ’If you don’t feel its pull, it’s only because you aren’t standing high enough. The gap is too vast for you to even perceive it.’
Simply put, it was the same principle as an ordinary person’s craving for titles and wealth, or a Prince’s craving for the throne.
Everyone wants to ascend to the heavens in a single leap, especially a great clan like the Cui Family, which was already a superpower. If such a family had no ambition, its future would be a cause for concern.
How could the Cui Family’s leaders possibly pass up a chance to shatter the shackles of Profound Island and stand at the apex of the Celestial Essence Continent?
But after he had stirred things up, he believed it would be difficult for the Cui Family to recover fully for at least a decade or two. They couldn’t possibly invest all their energy into the Mortal Realm.
They still had the Venerable Tournament to deal with, and they had to guard against other families who were coveting their position.
Therefore, to the Cui Family, Qin Li’s existence was like a thorn in their side. It wasn’t life-threatening, but it was excruciatingly uncomfortable.
’What I want is for you to suffer. If you’re all feeling good, then *I’m* the one who’s not going to be happy.’
Qin Li leaned back on a luxurious soft couch, his eyes narrowed as he began to plan for the future.
He who doesn’t plan for the future will find trouble at his doorstep. Qin Li seemed immensely powerful now, but if the Cui Family truly cast aside all face and decorum and sent a few of their Venerable ancestors after him, he would likely have no choice but to flee for his life.
That was why another plan had always been forming in Qin Li’s mind.
The Qin Family treated him well, and their power was immense, but it didn’t ultimately belong to him. In truth, Qin Li’s own ambition was just as great. If given the chance, he also wanted to establish a power that was entirely his own.
It didn’t have to be massive, but it had to be completely under his control.
That was why he had gathered everyone close to him this time. He planned to call a meeting after they returned to Profound Island to see what they all thought.
