Chapter 230: Chapter 227: Eradicating the Roots
Jin Quan had been suddenly released, and by none other than the two Patriarchs, Nangong Yi and Zhao Ruifeng, who had appeared in person.
This threw Zhang Shao, who had witnessed the entire thing, into a panic.
After leaving the Celestial Prison, he immediately sought out Yan Hong and Wang Chen to discuss the matter.
The three of them were the ones who had plotted against Mo Qi Within the Pass. If Jin Quan had truly latched onto the Blessed One, then none of them would be able to escape.
Who would have thought that just as the three of them gathered, they would run into Jin Quan right here.
Zhang Shao was startled at first, but after seeing no sign of Nangong Yi or Zhao Ruifeng, he relaxed.
He narrowed his eyes as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
’Something’s not right!’
’If the Blessed One truly valued Jin Quan so highly, to the point of wasting an opportunity to make a request of the Empire just to pardon him, there’s no way he would let a newly released Jin Quan live in the guest area.’
’At the very least, they should have met first for a welcome reception, right?’
This seemed to confirm his other suspicion.
’The Blessed One’s pardon of Jin Quan was just a transaction! A deal between Mo Qi’s group and the Blessed One!’
’In other words, the Blessed One was only able to ring the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell back then because he had significant help from Mo Qi’s group.’
’Pardoning Jin Quan must have been an additional condition for their help—the price they demanded.’
’Thinking about it this way, there’s no friendship between the Blessed One and Jin Quan.’
’On the contrary, the Blessed One might even resent Jin Quan for causing him to waste his chance to make a request.’
’If this speculation is correct, then my worries are for nothing.’
Zhang Shao’s reasoning was sound and his logic tight, but it all rested on one fundamental assumption: Mo Qi was dead, and the Blessed One was someone else entirely!
Unfortunately, he didn’t know that not only was Mo Qi not dead, but the so-called Blessed One was merely one of his External Incarnations!
What he knew even less was that this minor miscalculation would lead to a world of difference in the outcome.
"Well, well, look who it is. The traitor himself," Zhang Shao sneered. Believing Mo Qi to be dead, he had no fear of Jin Quan alone.
Jin Quan’s breathing grew heavy as he glared furiously at Zhang Shao.
His hatred for Zhang Shao was so immense that a thousand rivers and a hundred seas could not contain it.
He had dedicated his entire life to the Wolf Fang Sect, only to be branded a traitor in the end. It was pathetic and laughable.
"Enough talk, Zhang Shao! I’m taking your life!"
Jin Quan roared, his burly frame like a mountain as a massive Grotto Heaven materialized behind his head.
With a single step, the earth trembled. His Mental Realm surged forth like a tidal wave, crashing down on Zhang Shao with overwhelming force.
Zhang Shao merely stood with his hands behind his back, a disdainful sneer on his face. He didn’t move.
"Insolent!"
Wang Chen and Yan Hong, who were standing nearby, barked in unison.
One was a Tributor of the Imperial Academy, the other a Renowned Master.
Although the guest area was not technically inside the Imperial Academy, it was still under its jurisdiction.
For an outsider to attack right in front of them was a blatant show of disrespect.
The two of them summoned their own Grotto Heavens, both of which far surpassed Jin Quan’s in size and power.
Jin Quan was only at the peak of the Early-stage Void Realm, while of the other two, one was at the Mid-stage Void Realm and the other at the Late-stage Void Realm. Their Cultivation was far stronger than his.
Just from the clash of their Grotto Heavens, Jin Quan didn’t even last a second before he coughed up blood and collapsed. His own Grotto Heaven shattered into pieces, its light dimming.
"Despicable!" Jin Quan stared coldly at Zhang Shao. It was one thing to use their numbers against him, but he didn’t even have the courage to fight him one-on-one.
’He’s utterly unworthy of being a sect master!’
"Despicable?" Zhang Shao walked forward and planted a foot on Jin Quan’s chest.
"What do you think this place is? A bustling city street? Attacking whenever you feel like it? Hmph, ignorant!"
Only then did Jin Quan realize that, blinded by rage, he had forgotten this was the Imperial Academy’s guest area, where fighting was strictly forbidden.
"According to the Imperial Academy’s rules, I wouldn’t face any consequences even if I killed you right now." Zhang Shao sneered and suddenly stomped down hard.
CRACK!
Jin Quan’s chest caved in.
PTUI!
A mouthful of blood sprayed out. The hatred in Jin Quan’s eyes intensified, gradually turning into madness.
He suddenly grabbed Zhang Shao’s leg, reversed his True Essence, and sent it surging toward his Dantian.
"Even if I die, I’m taking you with me!"
Zhang Shao was horrified, inwardly crying out in alarm, ’Not good, he’s going to self-destruct his Dantian!’
He never imagined Jin Quan would resort to such a move.
At that critical moment, a cry of "Dad!" echoed in Jin Quan’s ear, causing his self-destruction to halt.
Zhang Shao seized the opportunity to kick Jin Quan away, retreating with Wang Chen and Yan Hong to a safe distance.
A fat figure and a thin one appeared outside the guest area. It was Jin Sanpang and Liu Hui, who had rushed over after receiving the news.
After Nangong Yi and Zhao Ruifeng left, they immediately reported back to Li Shimu. Li Shimu had already investigated Jin Quan’s identity and thus notified Jin Sanpang.
Seeing Jin Quan’s wretched state, especially after that final kick from Zhang Shao, Jin Sanpang instantly flew into a rage.
"Kill!"
An unprecedented killing intent enveloped Jin Sanpang. His usually naive expression vanished, replaced by one of grim determination.
With two giant hammers in hand, Jin Sanpang charged recklessly toward Zhang Shao and the other two.
Liu Hui, of course, needed no prompting. He immediately activated his Dragon Transformation. He would definitely advance and retreat alongside Jin Sanpang.
"Hm? It’s you two!"
Instead of being alarmed, Zhang Shao was delighted. ’Perfect timing. I can finally pull out the weeds and get rid of the roots!’
Although Jin Sanpang and Liu Hui were now Official Disciples of the Imperial Academy, what about the status of Wang Chen and Yan Hong?
Yan Hong, in particular, was one of the Imperial Academy’s Eight Great Masters.
For disciples to attack a Renowned Master was not merely a matter of insubordination; it was an act of outright treason!
According to the Imperial Academy’s rules, they could be killed on the spot.
"Kill them, and eliminate this future trouble!" Zhang Shao reminded them in a low voice.
He could kill Jin Quan, but he couldn’t lay a hand on Jin Sanpang and Liu Hui. After all, they were Imperial Academy disciples. Even if they broke the rules, it wasn’t his place as an outsider to interfere.
Only Wang Chen and Yan Hong could act.
Wang Chen and Yan Hong exchanged a look and nodded simultaneously.
They had long since heard from Zhang Shao how terrifying Jin Sanpang and Liu Hui were. Since they had already made enemies of them, they absolutely could not allow the two to grow stronger.
"Attacking a Renowned Master without authorization is a capital offense, punishable by immediate execution!"
Yan Hong raised his hand, and his Grotto Heaven flared with power, pressing down on the charging Jin Sanpang and Liu Hui.
"No!"
Jin Quan’s heart burned with anxiety. But he was too grievously injured; he couldn’t even stand, forced to watch helplessly.
"Execute my ass!"
A coarse shout erupted from nearby.
"I’d like to see who dares to lay a single finger on them today!"
SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH!
The sound of rushing air filled the sky as figure after figure materialized out of thin air.
In a brief moment, thousands of powerful auras appeared. The guest area was surrounded on all sides, even from above, by a dense crowd of people, sealing off the hundred-zhang radius completely.
Grotto Heaven after Grotto Heaven shone with brilliant light, pulsing with Spiritual Energy—a truly magnificent sight. All of them were aimed directly at Zhang Shao and his two companions.
Yan Hong was so frightened he froze on the spot, not daring to move an inch.
Wang Chen and Zhang Shao were also dumbfounded. If this wasn’t an illusion, then they were currently surrounded by thousands of Void Realm experts.
