Although they did not favor the Seventh Prince, if he were to die, they, as his guards, would undoubtedly be punished.
Moreover, their own survival was uncertain.
After all, the man earlier had said that if the royal family failed to satisfy him, he would erase their entire clan.
Whether he could truly do so was beside the point. Eliminating just a few of them would be effortless for him.
One guard sighed and took out a medicine bottle from his robes.
Walking forward, he said, âYour Highness, you are gravely injured. You should tend to your wounds first.â
...
âYoung master, do you truly wish for this so-called âYan Kingdomâ to cede the Hundred Thousand Mountains to you?â
Inside the
spiritual artifact
,
Yan
spoke to Lu Qing.
âIndeed. The Hundred Thousand Mountains are rich with spiritual energy and abundant in spiritual herbs. It is an excellent place,â Lu Qing replied with a smile.
âIn my view, why bother with such complications? With your current cultivation level, Young Master, claiming the Hundred Thousand Mountains is as simple as making a proclamation. Why would you need anyoneâs consent?â
Yan
seemed perplexed.
To it, with Lu Qingâs cultivation and realm, even declaring dominance over the entire world and becoming its sovereign was an easily achievable feat.
Why then would he need the Yan Kingdomâs approval to take over something as minor as the Hundred Thousand Mountains?
âItâs just a pretense,â Lu Qing said with a faint smile.
In truth, this was merely a spur-of-the-moment idea.
The main reason he wanted to occupy the Hundred Thousand Mountains was the existence of the
Jade Transformation Chamber
.
Additionally, he was curious about how the Yan Kingdom would respond.
Of course, if the Yan family proved overly obstinate, he wouldnât mind wiping them out.
Now, it was up to the Yan family to recognize the reality of the situation.
âBring me ink and paper!â
Meanwhile, in the county, Yan Canghai returned to the
county magistrateâs residence
and immediately shouted.
However, once the servants had prepared the ink and paper, he sat at the desk but hesitated to write.
âHow can I make the family realize the gravity of this matter?â
Yan Canghai pondered with great difficulty.
After witnessing the various mysterious and unfathomable techniques and abilities Lu Qing had displayed, he immediately understood the terror of the man.
Lu Qing had reached a realm beyond his comprehensionâa level that defied logic and invoked the fear of gods and ghosts.
To oppose someone like that would likely leave the Yan family devastated, even if they survived.
Thus, he had to persuade the family to agree to Lu Qingâs terms.
But he also knew it would be challenging to convince them.
As the royal family that had ruled the Yan Kingdom for centuries, the Yan familyâs pride was something he understood all too well.
To so easily cede a vast territory like the Hundred Thousand Mountains was unthinkable for the family elders.
It might even provoke intense backlash.
Yan Canghai wrestled with this dilemma for a long time, unable to decide how to phrase his letter.
âMaster, Master Lin Zhirui seeks an audience.â
While Yan Canghai was still fretting, a servant entered to report.
âWhat? Lin Zhirui is here? Quickly, invite him in!â
Yan Canghai was overjoyed and immediately stood to greet him at the door.
When Lin Zhirui entered and saw Yan Canghai, he was momentarily taken aback.
âYour brows are furrowed with worry, and it lingers. Whatâs troubling you?â
âNothing escapes your insight, Zhirui. You must save me this timeâsave the Yan Kingdom!â Yan Canghai pleaded.
âWhat could be so urgent?â Lin Zhiruiâs expression changed slightly. Could it be that a neighboring kingdom was about to invade? He hadnât received any such news.
âItâs about that Lu Xiaolangjun...â
The moment Yan Canghai began speaking, Lin Zhirui grew extremely solemn.
He interrupted, âDid you say itâs about Lu Xiaolangjun?â
â...Thatâs right,â Yan Canghai faltered.
âGo on,â Lin Zhirui urged.
â...Yesterday, Yan Cangshan came to me with a few guards, asking for my help...
Lu Xiaolangjun demanded that our family escort the descendants of Li Weitian to him.
He also asked for the cession of the Hundred Thousand Mountains. But as you know, many of the family elders are extremely stubborn.
They wonât easily agree to Lu Xiaolangjunâs conditions.
Iâm currently at a loss about how to petition the royal court.
So, Zhirui, what should I do now?â
Yan Canghai recounted the entire situation to Lin Zhirui in detail.
Lin Zhirui listened with growing seriousness.
Finally, he gazed at Yan Canghai with a look of speechless resignation.
âWhat else can you do? You only have one choice now: use all your abilities to persuade the Yan family to accept Lu Xiaolangjunâs conditions.
Otherwise, calamity will undoubtedly befall the Yan family.â
Lin Zhirui spoke without hesitation.
Hearing his firm tone, Yan Canghai, who had already leaned toward this conclusion, still couldnât help but ask, âZhirui, is Lu Xiaolangjun truly so terrifying? Has he surpassed the Precelestial Realm?â
To Yan Canghai, only someone who had broken through to the Precelestial Realm could wield such divine and mystical powers, capable of instantly capturing several living people.
âDonât ask such questions. I know that one of your familyâs ancestors recently broke through to the Precelestial Realm.
But donât harbor any illusions. Lu Xiaolangjunâs strength is beyond your imagination.
Let me put it this way: even your newly advanced ancestor would be nothing more than a candle in the wind before Lu Xiaolangjun.â
Lin Zhirui spoke with utmost seriousness.
âBlown out like a candle? Zhirui, are you sure youâre not exaggerating?â
Yan Canghai stared blankly at his friend.
âDo you think Iâm joking? I mean it literally. With Lu Xiaolangjunâs current strength, he could extinguish your ancestor with a single breath.â
Seeing Yan Canghaiâs incredulous expression, Lin Zhirui sighed.
He understood that such a claim was hard to believe.
But he wasnât exaggerating in the slightest.
The Precelestial Realm was merely the
Foundation Establishment
stage.
While it was considered a peak level in the current world, with few equals, Lu Qingâs realm was the
Golden Core Realm
.
Moreover, he was so powerful that even
Nascent Soul Realm cultivators
or otherworldly beings could be easily vanquished by him.
A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator was indeed nothing more than a puff of air to him.
If the Yan family truly angered Lu Qing, annihilation would be their only fate.