Chapter 324: Chapter 323: The Dark Dragon Weeps Blood
"We happen to know a thing or two about this matter."
"Oh? I’m all ears," Qin Ya said with a faint smile.
Upon hearing this, Nangong Wen slowly rose and said, "This banquet is now over. Everyone is to withdraw, except for Marshal Muu, my Teacher, and Teacher Qin."
Hearing his command, the others withdrew one by one. Even the princes and princesses, like Nangong Xinzhi and Nangong Luoyu, were no exception. Soon, only a few people remained.
After a moment, a wave of Divine Thought swept over the area. Huaa Que then nodded to Nangong Wen and said, "Your Majesty, the surrounding area is clear."
"That’s good."
Nangong Wen then turned to Qin Ya and said, "Teacher Qin, please don’t take offense. This matter involves state secrets and was not something we could discuss in public."
"It’s fine."
"Teacher Qin, do you remember the Dark Dragon Guard?"
At his words, the image of a charming face surfaced in Qin Ya’s mind. He chuckled softly and said, "I remember. In the Academy, I have a student named Gong Yu. She is from the Gong Family, one of the Four Great Noble Families, and she is also a member of the Dark Dragon Guard."
Nangong Wen said, "It’s not just Gong Yu. The upper echelons of the Gong Family, and even a number of hand-picked core disciples, all serve as the Empire’s sharpest blade... the Dark Dragon Guard!"
"When the Venerable Lord subjugated the Four Great Noble Families, the Gong Family had no orders from me and dared not act rashly. Therefore, they remained under the Venerable Lord’s command, feigning surrender while secretly transmitting intelligence to us. This is precisely the reason we’ve been able to hold out against him for so long, despite the vast disparity in power."
"Through the Dark Dragon Guard, we learned that the Venerable Lord uses a strange type of Poisonous Insect to control the leaders of the great Noble Families. Even Elder-level figures like the Lu Family’s Elder, Lu Lihuang, and the Xiao Family’s Elder, Xiao Fei, are unable to break free from the insects’ control."
Hearing this, Qin Ya smiled faintly. He turned his palm over, revealing a small, jade-colored vial, and chuckled, "The Poisonous Insects you mentioned... are you talking about these little things?"
Nangong Wen, Huaa Que, and Muui Yunlie immediately looked over. The vial appeared empty, but as Extraordinary experts possessing Divine Thought, they could naturally perceive the several miserably small Poisonous Insects inside.
"Exactly."
Nangong Wen nodded. "They’re exactly as described in our intelligence reports."
"These Poisonous Insects... Teacher Qin, where did you get them?"
"I took them from the bodies of the few Extraordinary experts I killed last time."
"We have scoured all our ancient records and found no mention of these insects. Their origin is a complete mystery. I wonder, does Teacher Qin recognize them?" Nangong Wen asked.
Qin Ya shook his head. "I do not."
He could recognize almost every insect in the world, but this creature was bizarre. It was very likely a new species that had emerged in the last ten thousand years. Thus, even he could not identify what this insect was.
Qin Ya then asked, "Since these Poisonous Insects can control even figures at the Elder level of the Noble Families, how can Your Majesty be so certain that the Gong Family wouldn’t betray the Royal Family for the sake of survival, just like the other Noble Families, and surrender to the Venerable Lord?"
At this, Nangong Wen fell silent for a moment.
Then, he spoke slowly, "Although I have great faith in the Dark Dragon Guard—they are indoctrinated from childhood to pledge their lives to the Royal Family—there are always exceptions. For instance, when my Teacher was attacked, we received no prior intelligence."
"There are two possibilities. One is that the Gong Family has betrayed us. The other is that the Venerable Lord has already sensed something is wrong with the Gong Family and deliberately concealed this matter from them..."
"Either possibility is extremely disadvantageous for us."
At that moment, a dark shadow streaked in from a distance.
Sensing the shadow, Nangong Wen and the others stopped their conversation.
The shadow arrived before Nangong Wen, knelt on one knee, and said with a sense of urgency, "Your Majesty, the Three Great Noble Families are laying siege to the Gong Family!"
Hearing this, they all jolted.
’It seems it was the latter possibility, then.’
"The Gong Family is crucial to us; we cannot afford to lose them!" Nangong Wen’s expression turned grave as he commanded, "Marshal Muu, assemble the troops and rescue the Gong Family!"
"This subject obeys!"
"Teacher, Teacher Qin, I must trouble you both to accompany me there ahead of the main force."
"Very well."
Upon hearing this, Qin Ya’s figure blurred. He unleashed the Mysterious Speed, and in the blink of an eye, he had crossed a distance of several thousand feet. His speed left both Huaa Que and Nangong Wen stunned.
"To have Teacher Qin’s help is truly a great fortune."
"With speed like that, it’s no wonder he can fight against overwhelming odds."
The two exchanged a look and then streaked off in the direction of the Gong Family’s estate!
「Imperial Capital, South City.」 At the Gong Family estate, the smoke of battle filled the air.
The Su, Lu, and Xiao, the Three Great Noble Families, led by their Elders, had launched a joint attack on the Gong Family. The Gong Family, caught completely unawares, suffered devastating losses!
"Lu Lihuang! What is the meaning of this? Do you intend to rebel against the Venerable Lord?" In the sky, a white-robed elder roared at the three before him. His body erupted with overwhelming power that churned the clouds in all directions, his voice and expression severe.
Lu Lihuang gave a light chuckle, looking at the Gong Family Elder. "Brother Gong... no, perhaps I should say, Chief Instructor of the Dark Dragon Guard. What a prestigious title."
Hearing this, the Gong Family Elder’s expression changed drastically!
’He knew. The Gong Family’s secret identity had been exposed!’
"To think, our Four Great Noble Families have been peers for so many years, and yet Brother Gong turns out to be a lapdog for the Royal Family. It’s quite a surprise, I must say."
"Yes, truly unexpected."
Faced with the taunts of the three Noble Family Elders, the Gong Family Elder remained silent and impassive. He coldly drew a longsword, his eyes sharp as blades as they swept across the trio. "The Gong Family’s first loyalty has always been to the Royal Family! You rebels, aiding a tyrant in his evil deeds! Today, the Dark Dragon Guard will show you no mercy!"
Since his identity was exposed, he no longer hid it. His aura surged, sharp and piercing like an unparalleled Divine Sword. He pointed his longsword diagonally at his opponents and said in a cold voice, "The Dark Dragon Guard hides in the shadows, carrying out all manner of dark and bloody deeds. We will bear the sins of the Empire so that others do not have to. Today, we will let you see for yourselves..."
"...what it means to be the Empire’s sharpest blade!"
"Kill!"
As his words fell, several figures shot out from the Gong Family compound. Each was clad in black, holding a longsword, their faces set with grim resolve. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Gong Family Elder—the Chief Instructor of the Dark Dragon Guard—to confront the three opposing Elders!
"Hmph. A futile struggle!"
Lu Lihuang snorted coldly, and the three Elders launched their attack.
"Hah!"
With a low shout, the Chief Instructor met them head-on with his longsword. CLANG! The sound of weapons colliding rang out as shockwaves of energy rolled outward, battering the surroundings.
The other black-clad figures fought with no fear of death, every one of their moves a suicidal attack with no regard for defense. Fueled by sheer fearlessness, they actually managed to stall two of the Elders!
’Something’s not right with them!’ Lu Lihuang thought, sending a black-clad Swordsman flying back with a palm strike. But immediately, a bloody light flared in the Swordsman’s eyes. With a roar, he charged forward again as if completely unharmed.
"This is... the Blood Burning Secret Technique!"
The Xiao Family Elder’s face grew incredibly grim. The Blood Burning Secret Technique was a Forbidden Skill in Martial Arts. It was a Secret Technique that burned one’s Qi and Blood and True Essence to drastically increase their combat power, but the price was catastrophic. Even if the user survived, their Cultivation would be completely crippled, and they would never be able to set foot on the path of Martial Arts again...
’To think they would actually use such a self-destructive Secret Technique!’
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